Shonen Knife still going strong in “Overdrive”
Still going strong in their now 33-year-long career, Shonen Knife released “Overdrive” earlier this month. Formed in Osaka, this three-part group has a sound that has consistently been associated with pop-punk and alternative rock....
Chuck Inglish barely misses the mark on “Convertibles”
Hip-hop is far from dead. But if you prefer underground music because mainstream artists are tainting the genre, you may have heard of Chuck Inglish. His newly released album, “Convertibles,” distinguishes the rapper from...
“Here and Nowhere Else” is Cloud Nothings’ magnum opus
Cloud Nothings has come a long way since its inception in 2009. What started off as a solo project by lead vocalist and guitarist Dylan Baldi has turned into a full-fledged alt-rock powerhouse. After...
Shakira successfully incorporates mature themes in her new album
Shakira’s self-titled new album, “Shakira,” is a mixture of reggae, pop, Spanish and rock melodies combined with a few poetic and acoustic songs. This is the Colombian singer’s 10th studio album, and although she...
Timber Timbre brings uniqueness to “Hot Dreams”
If you’re anything like me, you’re the type of person who takes pride in searching high and low for music that most people have probably never heard of. Instead of listening to the never-ending...
Away from the Swamp: Why the soundtracks of Shrek 1 and Shrek 2 are...
As I walked around Far Far Away Record Store, wallowing in the thought of never seeing our beloved Green One again, I suddenly heard a sound. “Somebody once told me the world is gonna...
All “Girl”, no substance on Pharrell Williams’ latest
Pharrell Williams has quietly dominated the music industry for quite some time by helping produce some of the biggest albums for today’s hottest stars, including Miley Cyrus, Usher and Jay-Z. However, in 2013 he...
Lea Michele’s “Louder”: loud, but not much else
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...
Real Estate’s “Atlas” is stand-out surf-rock
Real Estate has never been a band to step beyond its self-imposed borders. Since its debut, the band has had its feet pressed firmly into the sand of the chill, psychedelic and carefree surf-rock...
Powerful hooks, emotive lyrics define the Fray’s “Helios”
From desperately attempting to save the soul of a person struggling with drug addiction to doubting the benevolence of a supposedly kind and nurturing God, the Fray have taken us through some of life’s...