Dermot Kennedy is somewhat of an anomaly in the music industry. The Irish artist hasn’t even released an album yet but has over five million monthly listeners of Spotify, over 21 million streams of his most popular song “Power Over Me” and is touring in venues across the world. If there’s anyone the media should […]
Category: Reviews
Soundbite: “Better Oblivion Community Center” by Better Oblivion Community Center
A few of the universe’s loose threads came together when Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst met by chance. In 2016 they played the same show, LA music event Swampy Soiree at the Bootleg Theatre, and recognized the power in each other voices. On Jan. 24, the two surprised-dropped “Better Oblivion Community Center,” the debut album […]
Soundbite: Varsity
Varsity is an American indie rock band from Chicago, IL that formed in 2013. The band is comprised of five members: Stephanie Smith, lead vocals and synth; Dyland Weschler, guitar and backing vocals; Patrick Stanton, guitar; and Stolz brothers Jake and Paul who play the drums and bass guitar. Their music style is very upbeat […]
Soundbite: “Heard It In a Past Life” by Maggie Rogers
On Jan. 18, Maggie Rogers released her highly anticipated debut album, “Heard It In A Past Life.” The title just so happens to be a perfect fit — I definitely feel as though I’ve heard it in a past life. Each of the twelve tracks sound like songs I grew up listening to in car […]
Soundbite: “How to: Friend, Love, Freefall” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Rainbow Kitten Surprise, originally a two-piece band from Boone, NC, started their music careers in 2013 with their first studio album “Seven and Mary.” They had a humble start, producing their music from a college dorm room. This album blended the two men’s voices into a welcoming harmony set with calming guitar, which defines their […]
“You”: a comprehensive review
Over winter break, Netflix released an original series “You,” based on the 2014 novel by Caroline Kepnes of the same name. The show follows bookstore manager Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley from “Gossip Girl,” who instantly falls for an aspiring poet as soon as she walks into his store. The infatuation starts off innocent […]
Soundbite: BALLADS 1 by Joji
Formerly known as YouTube character Filthy Frank on the channel TVFilthyFrank, Joji’s rise to fame as an alternative lo-fi artist was quite a turn. Formerly, Joji produced comedy hip-hop songs like “Fried Noodles” and “Are you Serious.” Straying away from his comedic background, Joji joined the Asian music label 88Rising, which also features artists like […]
Soundbite: HOAX
HOAX is an indie band from Long Island, NY. Their vibe is something between groovy pop, “the sound of beautiful sadness” and 70s-esque jams; it’s heavy on head-bopping drum beats and melodic chimes. HOAX is comprised of members Mike Raj (lead vocals and guitar), Frantz Cesar (bass), Paul Brower and Kevin Lopez (guitar) and Jacob […]
Soundbite: “Petaluma” by This Wild Life
Sometimes it seems that the music industry is clouded with autotune, electronic and computer-based tech and meaningless lyrics to the point that many listeners have forgotten what the simplicity of music can be: just a guitar and a lyricist. But acoustic bands like This Wild Life are working to change that narrative in the music […]
Bookshelf: “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt
Anyone who has ever felt alone has wished they had some kind of personal companion to turn to when loneliness becomes overwhelming. In “The Goldfinch,” Donna Tartt builds on this premise by asking what happens when one’s solution to loneliness also happens to be a felony. Our protagonist Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, becomes […]