The year 2014 was a big year for 21-year-old Meghan Trainor. The newcomer burst onto the scene with her smash hit “All About That Bass,” a retro-styled, upbeat track that quickly rose to the top of the charts. Basking in her newfound success, Trainor decided to enter the New Year with her debut album, “Title.” Full of fun and...
Released on October 13, "The Name Chapter: FREEFALL" by TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) signifies a transition from the dreamlike realm of Neverland to a poignant exploration of reality. This marks the culmination of an era and a fresh phase of growth for TXT. The second full-length installment in their “Name” series, "The Name Chapter: FREEFALL," is a compelling narrative...
I like to think that when I look back at writing for this newspaper years from now, some of my articles, even written through the constraints of a music or film review, will reflect somewhat what state of mind I was in. After all, even behind this faceless writing you see on the page or screen, I’m sitting here...
From her allegedly manufactured image to her atrocious live performances (YouTube her now infamous performance on SNL) and the much-anticipated debut of her second album “Born to Die,” Elizabeth Grant, the real name of the 25-year-old New York native “Lana Del Rey,” has absolutely nowhere to hide, much less offer up any good explanations for her tarnished image as...
Robert Lees, SSW- Monsieur Perine:
The winners of a Latin American Grammy award for being the best artist of 2015, Monsieur Perine is still a relative unknown in the United States. Blending cumbia, native to their home country of Colombia, and American jazz, Perine has created a unique, upbeat sound that just makes you want to move with a smile...
Taylor Swift’s remix of her song “Karma,” featuring Ice Spice, was the most anticipated track on the new deluxe edition of her “Midnights” album, titled “Midnights: Til Dawn.” The song was released on May 26 along with an official music video that featured the increasingly popular rapper. Swift revealed the new tracks and deluxe album two days prior via...
With “Louder,” Lea Michele has released her very first album with Columbia Records as a solo recording artist. Most of her work has been on Broadway and “Glee,” where she was constantly singing covers of popular songs with her castmates. Michele’s soprano voice is big and beautiful, and in her new album she produces a sincere and sentimental work...
Harry Connick, Jr. transports listeners to the Mardi Gras parade with his latest album “Smokey Mary.” Its release is timed perfectly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his Krewe of Orpheus. This group is one of the largest super krewes that organize momentous parades. Connick reprises a unique jazzy style in the fashion of his previous album “She” to...
I initially felt pretty relaxed as I sat down to listen to Katy B’s sophomore album “Little Red,” but halfway through, I was energized and feeling the groove. The British-born, Mercury Prize-nominated artist brought forth an excellent, synth-heavy house album that is bound to hit dance floors everywhere (if it hasn’t already). Not only were the beats extremely catchy,...
Over the past few years, folk music has been making a comeback — with a big change. Rock’s influence has added new guitar riffs and edgy vocals. The Avett Brothers thrive on this change. Only 13 months after the release of “The Carpenter,” they dropped “The Magpie and the Dandelion,” using songs they recorded in the same sessions as...