album review

REVIEW: Thrice return with powerhouse new record, ‘To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere’

Artist: Thrice Album: To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere Genre: Rock It’s been a while since we’ve heard any new music from Thrice, but they’ve welcomed us back with complete and utter ease in “Hurricane,” the first track off of the band’s ninth LP, To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere. With buzzed guitars […]

REVIEW: Ariana Grande’s powerhouse vocals shine on ‘Dangerous Woman’

Artist: Ariana Grande Album: Dangerous Woman Genre: Pop Label: Republic Records Let me start this review by stating an extremely obvious fact: Ariana Grande has a damn good voice. It’s the kind of voice that comes along infrequently, the kind that makes you want to stand in your shower and belt as hard as you […]

REVIEW: DONOTS stay consistent with ‘CARAJO!’

Artist: DONOTS Album: CARAJO! Genre: Punk, Pop-Punk Label: OK! Good Records With ten albums under their belt throughout the last two decades, it’s pretty safe to say that DONOTS is one of Germany’s premier punk acts. They have served as support for several bands in the punk sub-genres, including Green Day, Midtown, and Rancid. They […]

REVIEW: ‘Coloring Book’ is Chance The Rapper at his best, most reverent

Artist: Chance the Rapper Album: Coloring Book Genre: Hip-Hop, Gospel Where were you when you first heard “Ultralight Beam”? Was it during the streaming event Kanye West held at Madison Square Garden to premiere The Life of Pablo? Beyond the event that is a Kanye album release, we also got the already famous verse from […]

REVIEW: Modern Baseball mature gracefully with sincerity intact on ‘Holy Ghost’

Artist: Modern Baseball Album: Holy Ghost Label: Run For Cover Records Genre: Indie-rock, emo, pop-punk, grunge, whatever we’re calling The Killers these days Sincerity is arguably the most important aspect of the songwriting process. There’s a good reason why the general populous tires of bands who spend years writing the same record over and over again. […]

REVIEW: White Lung transport us to ‘Paradise’

Artist: White Lung Album: Paradise Genre: Post-Punk Label: Domino 2014’s Deep Fantasy brought about a whole new level of exposure and acclaim for White Lung. For an idea of its impact, Rolling Stone rated it as the 38th greatest punk album of all time. No pressure for the follow-up, right?

REVIEW: After months of anticipation, Drake’s ‘Views’ lands with a thud

Artist: Drake Album: Views Genre: Hip-Hop Label: OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment It feels like Views (formerly Views From The 6) has been a shadow hanging over Drake since he announced it to Billboard all the way back in 2014. Last February he dropped If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and we thought it […]

REVIEW: Henrietta offer quality indie rock on ‘Paper Wings’

Artist: Henrietta Album: Paper Wings Genre: Indie Rock Label: Animal Style I was a big fan of Henrietta‘s debut, The Trick Is Not Minding. Playing nothing like a debut, the band create incredibly emotional business, drowned in massive guitars and gritty vocals that are sure to bring up discourse on Pedro The Lion. On their […]

REVIEW: Pity Sex keep it simple on ‘White Hot Moon’

Artist: Pity Sex Album: White Hot Moon Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Label: Run For Cover Records There’s typically this underlying expectation with every musical act that a second album has to be bigger and different than its predecessor. Sometimes, though, bands refrain from taking huge risks and instead opt for the safe route, still managing […]

REVIEW: Western Settings elevate their game with ‘Old Pain’ EP

Artist: Western Settings Album: Old Pain Genre: Punk, Rock Label: La Escalera Records, Creator-Destructor Records Fresh off the release of last year’s debut full-length, Yes It Is, San Diego’s Western Settings have released a six-track EP, called Old Pain, ahead of their upcoming U.S. tour in May. Much like the debut, Old Pain is full […]

REVIEW: The Fall Of Troy rip and shred through ‘OK’ with purpose

Artist: The Fall Of Troy Album: OK Genre: Screamo/Hardcore Label: Self-Released I know it’s cliche, but ignorance is bliss. Truthfully. Especially when it comes to music. Ignorance from hype and expectation. Without both of those mindsets, you’re allowed to listen to a new song or record in the most pure form. Now, obviously this is […]

REVIEW: A$AP Ferg branches out, gets personal on ‘Always Strive And Prosper’

Artist: A$AP Ferg Album: Always Strive And Prosper Genre: Hip-Hop Labels: ASAP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records When listening to 2013’s Trap Lord in anticipation of A$AP Ferg‘s new release, Always Strive And Prosper, I was reminded of how much I loved the moments of introspection and storytelling on that album. Yes, Ferg the […]