For centuries, music criticism had been a strictly patrician occupation. Scholarly music discussion was reserved for the highest sects of…
My recent vice has been the Spotify Original Podcast titled ‘Dissect’, hosted by Cole Cuchna. A ‘long form musical analysis broken into short, digestible episodes’, this podcast analyzes hit albums dedicating each episode to a song. Not only does it break down the lyrics and references, but it goes deep into the musical composition analyzing chords, beats, and production…
When I listen to “Mingus Ah Um”, I rarely consider the many people, events, and pieces that form this magnificent puzzle. I instead always see a pathway lined with naked trees and carpeted with orange and brown leaves stirring with the breeze, and Charles Mingus never fails to engross me in his wonderful, autumnal world. Released in October of 1959, “Mingus Ah Um” plays like fall weather. It can turn from a gentle, relaxing breeze, to a whipping, howling gale in an instant, and Charles Mingus isn’t afraid to place those two sides together in stark contrast…
With their conspicuously violent, horror-core sensibilities, the Misfits confounded audiences in the late 1970s—mainly childlike onlookers come to witness the primordial fatalism of East Coast punk rock up close. The Misfits greatest songs encapsulated a minimalistic post-Ramones translation of rock ‘n’ roll invoking peculiar 1950s doo-wop harmonies delivered straight from the warm coffin of Elvis Presley…
When I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed I love to distract from my current state of mind with an upbeat and funky album, and there’s no better remedy than Steve Lacy’s, ‘Apollo XXI’. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, Steve Lacy is a jack of all trades when it comes to the music industry…
Tekashi 6ix9ine has always been seen as that annoying kid in school that never seems to run out of new things to annoy you about. That business model has proven to be quite effective, as 6ix9ine has become one of the most talked-about rappers in the world. I’d estimate every teenager who listens to hip-hop, the largest genre in the world right now, has heard of 6ix9ine. But with his post-’rat’ releases, most recently his 2nd studio album TattleTales, everyone seems to suddenly, finally, be losing interest…
After pushing and testing modern music boundaries for more than thirty years, Napalm Death goes further by continually refining their sound, refusing to get stuck, pressing forward, growing, and evolving…
There are plenty of events from 1975 applicable to 2020, but none of what I mentioned are the real reason as to why I am looking 45 years into the past. I’m looking at 1975 because on August 25th, Bruce Springsteen released his climactic cornerstone rock album, Born to Run….
Weezer’s latest single, “The End of the Game”, is a driving force carefully crafted to continuously propel you forward from start to finish. With steady, heavy power chords guiding you along like a train on a mission, scenic “views” of acrobatic guitar riffs sprinkled throughout to joyously catch you by surprise, and a melody that is both simplistic and infectious at the same time, this song is a seamless blend of Van Halen-style rock and the kind of mood-elevating pop you sing along in the car to with your friends…
If you are in need for the perfect summer night drive song, I have been loving “Guilty Conscious” by 070 Shake. This creative piece tells a story while allowing the listener to get lost in the futuristic beat. Somehow feeling very nostalgic, and comfortable this song really speaks to the listener. Lyrically, the song takes you on a journey feeling pain, sadness and release…