Neo-psychedelia has been making waves in the indie music scene for the past couple years, with bands like Tame Impala bringing back that classic Beatles sound as well as Animal Collective incorporating psychedelic elements into experimental electronic/rock music. Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) chose to go the second route and incorporated these psychedelic influences into their own unique, lo-fi and...
As a West Coast rap pioneer, Snoop Dogg’s 13th album is a return to the soulful G-funk sound of his earlier career, as if he’s already bought into his own caricature of himself. Even Pharrell Williams’ stellar production turns out to be nothing other than what could be expected. “BUSH” is a fun, smooth and incredulously boring album that...
I hate it when critics cry foul just because an artist decides to change or go in a new direction on an album. It can be very trendy to say that, they’ve abandoned their roots and somehow wronged their fan base. That’s not to say that fans and critics don’t have a right either to dislike or criticize the...
“Actions,” Turn to Crime’s second musical effort, is probably not for everyone, and even then it will probably attract a small core following with its very unique synth-pop and experimental sound. The band takes influences from ‘80s pop and even as far as ‘60s psychedelia. In Turn to Crime’s second album, though, this well-known sound marries an alternative-rock, post-punk...
Damon Albarn has become the type of musician to tackle many projects in his career. From the mix of hip-hop, electronic and alternative group Gorillaz to his solo album “Everyday Robots,” each project he works on is an experiment, a workspace to try new sounds and ideas. “The Magic Whip,” the first album to be released by Blur in...
Alabama Shakes’ stunning second album, “Sound & Color” is a tour de force alt-rock album that effortlessly combines a paired-down blues rock with lead singer Brittany Howard’s intense vocals. Alabama Shakes creates an introspective and mellow atmosphere that perfectly fuses blues and gospel in a way that only a genuinely Southern band could. This album is an astonishing work...
Tyler the Creator, devilish mastermind behind the Odd Future label, is back with his fourth studio album, “Cherry Bomb”: a gnashing, at times jazzy revolt against fame, with an in-your-face feel that departs from its predecessor, “Wolf.” Although “Cherry Bomb” has excellent synth beats and guitar riffs, it ultimately gets bogged down by poor mixing, with Tyler the Creator’s...
I know almost nothing about professional wrestling.
When I was on my junior high’s annual eighth-grade graduation trip to Washington, D.C., I had to beg to watch the Ducks win the Stanley Cup on TV in between my roommates wanting to watch WWE. To be honest it could have been another wrestling league. I didn’t know and didn’t care. My...
“I should have known better / Nothing can be changed / The past is still the past / The bridge to nowhere.”
We are all constantly grieving. No matter our positions in life, we are almost always grieving for something. These things vary in weight, of course. A failed test. A lost wallet. A lost job. A lost house. A...
Singer-songwriter Mat Kearney’s fifth album, “Just Kids,” is a sentimental evocation of childhood and youth. Although the tracks on the LP are all well-produced and masterfully layered, they suffer from being far too formulaic, with the musical arc similar in almost each song, which feels awkward on an album so production-heavy. Moreover, the lyrics feel contrived, and the desperate...