Tycho
Awake Album Review
Ghostly International Records
Released March 18, 2014
Genre: Instrumental Rock, Ambient, Chillwave
Tycho's previous album Dive delivered an underrated, if not, unnoticed release from the Sacramento producer, visual artist and musician Scott Hansen in 2011. Awake finds Hansen improving on his atmospheric, chilly sound, using a more emotive, direct, and wistful approach towards his music. Hansen's organic, electronic compositions...
Pharrell Williams
G I R LÂ Album Review
I AM OTHER/ Columbia Records
Released March 3, 2014
Genre: Funk, Neo-Soul, Dance Pop
The first word you hear on the opening track, "Marilyn Monroe," is "different," and then gentle strings arrive, like something you'd hear off of a Lana Del Rey album before the song breaks into some soulful territory. From this point on, it's...
The Sons of Hermann Hall is a curious place. On the outside, it looks like an ancient home, with peeling paint and foggy windows. Even the first floor, which contains the bar and restrooms, maintains a bonafide vintage feel. There’s pool, a water fountain, and some other bar games; there’s also a fully stacked snack bar for people who...
Emotions are curious things. They are complex; no two people respond the same way to a given situation. One thing is for sure, however. They are a deep insight into the dark enigmatic depths of the heart. Belgian band Old Ivy explores emotional ups and downs on their debut Extended Play record titled, "The Greater Mind."
Old Ivy plays a...
What is the definition of Emo? Is it the musical embodiment of Hot Topic stores? Is it, perhaps, an onomatopoeia, because the word "emo" sounds like a whine? Is it a word that MTV just made up? Is it a word that people just made up? Is it even a thing?
Honestly, I have no idea. I just know that...
Mogwai
Rave Tapes Album Review
Sub Pop Records
Released January 20, 2014
Genre: Post Rock, Progressive Rock, Electronic Rock
*For those new to the post-rock genre, the concept is very simple. Take the instruments of rock music, electric guitars, drums, bass etc., take away the vocals and play the instruments to move the music like words would do. See Explosions In The Sky, This...
When Brooklyn based indie-pop band Hospitality released their self-titled album in 2011, the band enjoyed moderate success. Hospitality’s unique rhythm, warm acoustic guitar, bright electric guitar, and friendly tone made the band’s first LP 2011’s hidden gem and cemented the underrated group as one of my favorite indie bands. Now, after having matured and learned from their past, the...
To be a singer-songwriter is to tackle one of the most difficult genres of music out there. It is far from easy to stand out, so singer-songwriters are always being criticized for their lack of innovation. The deciding factor of the singer-songwriter's worth, in my opinion, is their passion and miracle creativity. Senior Andrew Corey pours his heart and...
