It’s impossible to have heard nothing about Miley Cyrus lately, whether it’s regarding her half-naked routine at the VMAs or admitting that her songs are about drug use. Especially after several performances of her single “We Can’t Stop” this summer, most of the attention she’s been getting has been on her behavior, not her music.
“Bangerz” is Cyrus’ fourth album...
Cage the Elephant’s third LP “Melophobia” takes us on a journey into the mind of the band’s lead singer, Matthew Shultz. Known mainly for their chaotic combinations of punk, blues and garage rock, their latest album displays many different sides to the band, highlighted by experimental combinations of various elements and genres of music.
“Telescope” sees Shultz losing the role...
Los Angeles-based indie rock duo Best Coast is back again with “Fade Away,” the follow-up mini-album to their sophomore record, “The Only Place” (2012). Heavily influenced by Fleetwood Mac’s sentimental tracks about love, “The Only Place” was focused on Best Coast’s hometown, toning down the band’s distortion-happy music to produce a sappier album that pined about their love for...
Kings of Leon’s recently-released sixth album, “Mechanical Bull,” delves into family issues, hardships and the personal troubles of lead vocalist, Caleb Followill. Despite these darker themes, “Mechanical Bull” is full of fun songs intertwined with touching melodies of love, family and second chances.
Their first track and single, “Supersoaker,” is a bright summertime song with upbeat guitar melodies that create...
Honestly, I wanted to like Grouplove’s latest effort, “Spreading Rumours.” I really did. And while not completely devoid of good songs, bland and uninteresting are some of the only words I can use to describe the band’s second album.
“Spreading Rumours” starts off on a fairly strong note. The haunting “I’m With You” proves that Grouplove is capable of a...
Back in 2007, MGMT’s platinum debut record “Oracular Spectacular” brought in unexpectedly high acclaim that surprised not only their audience, but themselves. The album’s mishmash of songs rarely stuck to a single genre, jumping from psychedelic rock to funk-inspired electronica — and yet, they maintained a unique sense of character that seemed to perfectly fit the emerging band.
After their...
Southern California’s own 30 Seconds to Mars has released another stellar album with “Love Lust Faith + Dreams.” As the title suggests, the band explores themes of lost loves, chasing dreams, losing oneself and new beginnings.
Their single, “Up in the Air,” is definitely one of the best and most defining songs on the album. As Jared Leto sings, he...
After her career with Disney ended, Demi Lovato's struggles and triumphs came to a head in 2011 with her heartbreaking single, "Skyscraper." Although the Disney star had difficulties with eating disorders, self-harm and a painful breakup, “Skyscraper” was definitely an artistic and passionate song that reflected her growth as a person. Her new album, “Demi,” doesn’t quite live up...
For most of its nearly hour and 15 minute length, Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories,” sounds like a revolution. Despite the few moments the album doesn’t quite reach its soaring heights, Daft Punk’s record remains the most exciting and unique of the year. The duo, consisting of Frenchmen Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, turned their backs on the...
Famous for their 60s-style pop tone, She & Him continues that trend in “Volume 3,” the duo’s fourth studio album. Consisting of the famous actress Zooey Deschanel and Matthew Ward (M. Ward), She & Him is an indie pop duo that strives to incorporate retro sounds into the current music sphere.
“Volume Three” brings back all the things that made...