We are back to the ‘90s when it comes to just about everything in today’s pop culture: fashion, makeup and now, music. Never Shout Never’s 4th album “Indigo” seems to bring an abrupt end to the band’s indie days in exchange for a classic pop-rock sound reminiscent of Sonic Youth. The retroactive resonance accentuates the entire band this time...
Over the past 10 years or so, baroque-pop-influenced music has made a steady comeback. The likes of Arcade Fire, the National, St. Vincent, Regina Spektor and more have helped popularize the format characterized by emotional guitar builds, "wo-oh" choruses and strong, melodic piano and string sections. Continuing in this vein, Lanterns on the Lake attempt to establish their own stake in...
This week’s episode of “True Detective” officially makes it the most unique detective narrative I have ever witnessed. Time becomes the ultimate motif in this episode, titled, “The Secret Fate of All Life,” as the philosophical Rusty Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) introduces his view on fate and how everyone is reincarnated to relive their lives over and over again in...
After phenomenal success with their hit album “Night Visions,” Imagine Dragons is back with their latest album, “Smoke + Mirrors.” This album is good news for fans of their previous work, who will recognize frontman Dan Reynolds shouting at the top of his lungs, a mix of pop and rock elements and of course, an ever-prominent drum line. Imagine...
She’s a lovelorn, quirky girl. He’s the other half who conveniently matches up to her eccentricity. Together, their personalities mesh into the seemingly appropriate recipe for a perfect unconventional couple. A story deviating from the orthodox standards of relationship? Interesting, I thought. What could go wrong? Well, it turns out that there could sometimes be too much dependency on...
Hailing from the Bible belt state of North Carolina, Mathew Lee Cothran is a singer-songwriter with notoriety in the DIY (do-it-yourself) scene of indie rock. His musical projects include the band Elvis Depressedly, solo work under the name Coma Cinema, a one-off project called Gremlins with Teen Suicide’s Sam Ray and work under his own name. Fans of Cothran’s...
Compared to episode one’s frantic and fast-paced season opener, “Trick or Treat” and “Nor’easter” are both less chaotic and much more focused and intense. Any doubts regarding “Asylum” is assuaged as the suspense and freakiness of the second and third episodes add tons to the mystery and madhouse that is Briarcliff.
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After seven years and a handful of disagreements and reconciliations, it seems we’re finally getting “A Better Tomorrow,” what is rumored to be the last Wu-Tang Clan album. Whether it’s arguments over the artistic direction of the crew or people getting short-changed during business agreements, it seems like the Wu isn’t short of controversy. Nonetheless, this aging group of...
The rock band Crobot, equipped with their funk-rock revival sound and new age psychedelic elements, recently released their sophomore effort, “Welcome to Fat City.” For loyal fans, this album delivers the exact same hardcore sound from their first album, “Something Supernatural,” but unfortunately that’s not enough to keep this album interesting.
“Welcome to Fat City” offers 12 tracks that follow...
Whether it’s Barn shows, Block Party, Spring Splash or Heat, attracting a diverse lineup of artists for a diverse set of Highlanders has been a difficult task. A poll last year by the HUB put hip-hop as the campus’ favorite genre at 17.5 percent, pop and rock came in not far behind at 13.9 and 13.4 percent. Heat tends...