Music Reviews
“SMB” by Odetari ft. Hongjoong of ATEEZ is a fun, fast paced track with attitude
Joanna Simon -
Odetari is a music producer known for going viral on platforms such as Tiktok, with energetic beats and a unique style of music. He has contributed greatly to the hyperpop genre that’s become popular on social media, with many clips generating choreographies and fan edits.
The collaboration with Hongjoong got leaked when fans noticed an accidental release of a song...
Riverside is home to countless creative individuals with a passion for music. Bands play at venues like Birdcage Comic Cafe or Back To The Grind. If asked about local influences, many bands would undoubtedly point to The Bellrays as a backbone of the scene.
The Bellrays were founded by University of California, Riverside (UCR) alumni and married couple Lisa Kekaula...
Music Reviews
‘EPIC: The Ithaca Saga’ is an emotional ending to a unique retelling of the Odyssey
Joanna Simon -
**Spoiler Alert**
“EPIC: The Musical” is a series of albums by Jorge Rivera-Herrans that retell Homer’s Odyssey in song form — specifically inspired by the style of musicals. The songs in this series of sagas include many musical aspects common in musicals, such as background choruses, character dialogue and sound effects for certain scenes.
Each “saga” is an individual album, detailing...
Music Reviews
Ethel Cain’s ‘Perverts’ is a controversial but unique indie album that left fans and critics puzzled
Joanna Simon -
Ethel Cain is an indie artist who amassed a sizable cult following after the release of “Preacher’s Daughter,” an extensive and highly praised album with a rich storyline, haunting ambience and unique emotions captured through her voice and production. In turn, fans eagerly anticipated the release of her next album, “Perverts,” which came out on Jan. 8.
The album was...
Music Reviews
Lil Baby & 21 Savage’s newest single marks its territory in this year’s rap game
Ian Palma -
After one week of being released, Atlanta-based rapper Lil Baby’s new album “Who Hard as Me” (WHAM) has received moderate-to-high acclaim from fans and critics alike. It has even reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200. Known for songs such as “Drip Too Hard,” Lil Baby has a streak when it comes to releasing highly praised albums,...
Music Reviews
Stray Kids’ ‘GIANT’ is an energetic, yet sentimental Japanese release with stories to tell
Joanna Simon -
Korean pop group Stray Kids has gained incredible popularity in the past year, and they continue to follow the K-pop industry’s tradition of having Japanese releases to cater to their large Japanese fanbases. “GIANT” was announced on Sep. 30 on Stray Kids’ Japan account on X with a mysterious image labeled “KING GIANT.”
The album itself was released on Nov....
It has been a phenomenal year for music. Between Charli XCX’s “Brat” creating a whole summer trend and Kendrick Lamar’s up-beat diss-track “Not like Us” topping the charts, music fans of all genres are being spoiled.
Following the success of their massive moments, both Charli XCX and Kendrick Lamar have run victory laps around their competition, in the form of...
Music Reviews
Jorge Rivera-Herrans “EPIC: The Vengeance Saga” is a thrilling climax in a fascinating series of concept albums
Joanna Simon -
*Spoiler Alert*
Jorge Rivera-Herrans has been working on a series of albums since he was a college student in 2019, and starting 2022 he’s been releasing them all, with the final album in the series likely set to come out in a few months. Before officially releasing songs, he gained fans on TikTok by posting behind the scenes clips of...
On Nov. 4, fourth-generation K-pop boy group TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) released their seventh mini album “The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY.” The members are credited as songwriters for the six songs.
The album is introduced by “Heaven,” a disco-pop track. This number is about reuniting with that special someone and exploring all the deep depths love has to offer. As the...
Having not dropped a full length album in three years, Tyler, The Creator has followed up with one of his most personal entries in his entire discography. With the album duration coming in at 53 minutes, in the 14 songs Tyler reflects and explores in detail his experiences as the child of a single mother, and the way this...













