Authors Articles by Jon Birondo '15
Jon Birondo '15
Jon attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Grand Prairie before attending Jesuit. He began writing for The Roundup his junior year, covering his main interests: movies and music. He now heads the Arts & Entertainment section as the Co-Editor. Aside from writing, Jon is a member of the drumline, plays a variety of instruments, and is currently working on a short film. Jon hopes to attend the University of Texas to have a career in the film production business. Jon also co-founded and helps run the music review site Pretty Neat Grooves with his friend Michael White. You can find it at prettyneatgrooves.com. His favorite band is Radiohead and his favorite movie is The Social Network. He lives with his parents, two younger siblings, and dog.
It's me! I'm back again, here to recap the year in music! You may remember my article last year, where I crowned Kanye West's spectacular album Yeezus as the best album of 2013. I then challenged 2014 to beat 2013, for the latter was an incredible year for music. And 2014 flexed its muscles and proved to be a...
WATCH THE TRAILER BEFORE READING!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIP_gtjDtfE]
Normally I don't say this with films, but believe the hype. Because Whiplash is not only an amazing film, but it's also one of the greatest films to come out of this year. Already heralded as one of the best films of the year and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance...
AC/DC
Rock Or Bust Album Review
Albert/Columbia Records
Released December 2, 2014
Genre: Hard Rock
AC/DC is one of the most instantly recognizable bands out there today. The amount of music and influence they've produced to the world has been almost omnipresent. Known for their instantly catchy songs, lightning fast riffs, and their numerous "amp to 11" hits," it'd be almost impossible to be...
Alt J
This Is All Yours Album Review
Infectious Records
Released September 22, 2014
Genre: Indie Pop, Experimental Rock, Folktronica, Indie Folk, Art Pop
Listen:
English trio Alt-J are one of the most prominent up-and-coming bands to come out of the underground music scene in the last few years. Their debut album, 2012's spectacular An Awesome Wave, introduced the world to a band that fused...
Iceage Plowing Into The Field Of Love Album Review Matador Records Released October 7, 2014 Genre: Punk Rock, Noise Rock, Art Punk, Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Cow-Punk (Punk Rock with Country influences) Allow me to catch you up to speed, because this band is criminally under-covered. Formed in 2008, Â Danish punk band Iceage who release their debut album, 2011's New...
Flying Lotus
You're Dead! Album Review
Warp Records
Genre: Jazz Fusion, Experimental Electronica, Experimental Hip Hop, Nu Jazz, Neo Jazz, Psychedelic Jazz IDM, Wonky-Hop, Space Jazz, Experimental-Futuristic-Jazz-Infused-Electronic-Magic
Released: October 7, 2014
Every single album that Steve Ellison has released under the Flying Lotus moniker has been a conceptual piece of art and music, encompassing transcendent ideas that have emotional ties to his upbringing. From...
Interpol
El Pintor Album Review
Matador Records
Released September 9, 2014
Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk Revival, Gloom Rock
Interpol is undoubtedly in love with with New York City. You can hear it in their music, their lyrics, and in the albums they create. Even when they aren't explicitly expressing the Big Apple, they evoke what it feels like to be in New York:...
U2
Songs Of Innocence Album Review
Island Records
Released September 9, 2014
Genre: Rock
The "surprise album" has been a working concept over the past year, from Jay Z's "Samsung-only" marketing scheme for Magna Carta Holy Grail to Beyonce's "out of nowhere" approach. But how about the "Surprise! you already have it!" gambit that U2 just did at the Apple Cupertino event on September 9,...
