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(11/07/21 9:37pm)
Following the release of his widely praised All My Heroes Are Cornballs in 2019, Barrington Hendricks, better known as JPEGMAFIA, delved even deeper into his rap niche. In the next two years, Hendricks dropped two extended plays (EPs), appropriately titled EP! and EP2!, that experimented further with the already inventive genre. His fourth album LP!, combines the melodic nature of his more recent output with his signature avant—garde production to create one of his most expressive and unique works yet.
(11/20/21 5:13am)
Radiohead is one of the largest rock bands of the 1990s and the 2000s. Their trajectory from their decent debut to their artistic peak at the turn of the century was unprecedented and thrilling. The band’s journey can now be streamed on Bandcamp, as they recently released their discography on the platform. The move came just weeks before they planned to drop a reissue of two albums, Kid A and Amnesiac, that adds unreleased B–sides from the era.
(11/01/21 12:20am)
In the moments leading up to Lucy Dacus’ performance on October 20th at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer, a series of home videos showing Dacus' upbringing were projected onto the stage. The audience saw videos of newborn Lucy in her mother's arms, to an elementary–aged Lucy singing to the camera, with her face getting closer and closer with each note, until she was kissing the lens. Later, we see Lucy as an awkward teenager: the girl who experienced the first loves, heartbreaks, and more–than–friends friendships that became the fodder for Dacus’ third album, Home Video.
(11/07/21 9:42pm)
Singer–songwriter Gracie Abrams released her first EP, minor, during July 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. From her bedroom, she was able to reach listeners through her melancholic songwriting and soft vocals. The EP was accepted by Abrams’ fans with open arms. It was a product of its time, an intimate and nostalgic project that allowed teenagers in quarantine to long for a better time. As a whole, the project is special because of how utterly personal and relatable it is. Now, as the air turns chilly and the leaves signify the arrival of fall, Abrams’ music becomes a perfect companion for the season.
(10/25/21 12:30am)
The sound of Pop–punk is unmistakable—fast tempo, infectious melody, a wall of sound composed of roaring electric guitars and thumping drums, and very angry youth.
(10/25/21 8:03pm)
Posthumous releases have been a central topic in art ethics, most notably after a consistent wave of deaths plagued the hip–hop industry back in 2018. The discussion has covered many artists, from Juice WRLD and Lil Peep to Amy Winehouse and Tupac Shakur. One of the largest figures in the debate has been Mac Miller, who passed away in Sep. 2018, shortly after the release of his fifth studio album Swimming.
(11/01/21 12:40am)
Last year, the Spain–based Argentinian singer and rapper Nathy Peluso blew up on Twitter after an appearance on “A COLORS SHOW,” where she sang “SANA SANA.” To call the performance lively is an understatement; it showcases her eccentric performance style in the best way possible. Soon, users began to share clips of the video to poke fun at her outlandish performance style, referring to her as “hip–hip–hoppa girl” based on the song’s chorus. The video demonstrates the aspects that set Peluso apart in the way she uses performance to convey her artistic persona.
(11/01/21 9:02pm)
When Ariana Grande was announced to replace Nick Jonas as a coach on The Voice, the entertainment industry freaked out. Riding off the success of the sister albums sweetener and thank u, next and her recent number one album positions, Grande, a two–time Grammy–winning artist with six Billboard Hot 100 hits under her belt, has been at her prime; so it came as a surprise that she would offer her services to The Voice. Although Grande’s decision to be a coach on The Voice was an odd one for her career–most stars on the show like Kelly Clarkson and John Legend are past their peak– it’s extra perplexing that she chose The Voice, a competition that by now is largely known for never realizing anyone’s stardom aspirations.
(11/01/21 8:56pm)
It’s midterm season again, and after months of virtual learning, we are adjusting back to in–person learning, but that also means in–person tests. Good–ole pencil and paper is making a comeback y’all. So when you’re getting the grind down with your next midterm, these are the songs you should play that will get you back into the zone.
(11/07/21 6:17pm)
A popular metaphor for K–Pop is that it’s just like candy. Be it the bubble gum pop sound that popularized the genre in the early 2010s, or the addictive bass lines and mass production that define it today, the genre’s influence is undeniable. In tandem with the global fanaticism around K–Pop, there’s a musical movement impacting the way global listeners consume Korean music: an indie–rock revival. With fall (and seasonal depression) just around the corner, we could all use a little serotonin boost. Here are four K–Indie bands to freshen up your autumn playlists.
(10/18/21 5:42am)
When it comes to current music in Philadelphia, no artist comes close to the iconic status of Meek Mill. Mill’s underdog story turned him into a champion for Philly, most notably with the city’s ubiquitous embrace of his 2012 anthem “Dreams and Nightmares.” Despite establishing himself as one of Philly's largest artistic figures, his hardships didn’t disappear. Behind multiple high–selling albums and mixtapes, the rapper has been caught up in a whirlwind of legal issues and personal drama. This mixture of fame and troubles has consistently been a compelling theme in Mill’s music, and that theme continues in his newest album, Expensive Pain; however, the album is uneven in emboldening that message.
(10/16/21 3:00am)
Sarah Tudzin knows how to milk a moment. You hear it in “MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA,” the onomatopoeic pop–punk rager that she put out under her Illuminati Hotties moniker this past April. At the song’s climax, she lets forth a gasp, a villainous cackle, and then squeals into the microphone: “If you’re not laughing, baby / then you’re not making money!” The title of her new album, Let Me Do One More, makes things abundantly clear: She has the stage, and she has no intention of getting off until somebody kicks her off. And Tudzin couldn’t have chosen a better moment to release these deranged and tender songs into the wild.
(10/16/21 3:04am)
When “Scars To Your Beautiful” blew up overnight in 2016, Alessia Cara faced a dilemma that had plagued many in her path: develop a strong fanbase and cruise to constant success, or fade into irrelevance once the next one–hit wonder appears. But unlike artists such as Meghan Trainor, Carly Rae Jepsen, or Iggy Azalea who chased more hits, Cara was content with making music that was personal to her. The music video for her early single “I’m Yours” perfectly showcases her humble personality. Instead of choreographed dance sequences or high–budget CGI effects, the video is taken with a selfie stick and includes only Cara and her brother strolling through a suburban neighborhood.
(10/10/21 9:00pm)
Music fans have been thoroughly spoiled this year. Lorde broke her four–year silence since her last critically acclaimed album, Melodrama, which inflated our excitement with fast–paced tracks like “Green Light” and brought us crashing down to earth with piercing ballads like “Liability.” Her latest album Solar Power, released in August 2021, took a different approach from her past repertoire—and while not all Lorde fans enjoyed the shift, many indulged in the excitement of new releases.
(10/04/21 9:27pm)
When the group of musicians on stage played the familiar opening chord of "Motion Sickness," the crowd gathered at the Mann here in Philly exploded with it. Phoebe Bridgers and her band arrived a few minutes past 9 p.m., and each member was decked out in the classic skeleton onesie except for the artist herself. Instead, she was dressed in a sequin–adorned blazer that reflected across the faces of the audience.
(10/10/21 9:21pm)
In the wake of 2020, many musicians felt compelled to comment on last year's mayhem through their art; Bo Burnham’s Inside dealt with personal complications from the pandemic, and Lil Baby’s Grammy–nominated single “The Bigger Picture” tackled police brutality and protests that occurred last summer. Similarly, Injury Reserve, also affected by personal loss, responded by largely reforming their sound. In 2021, they released one of the most disorienting albums that mainstream hip–hop has ever seen.
(10/06/21 7:52pm)
If one mentions "Satan shoes" in conversation, there’s a good chance that you’d think of Lil Nas X’s inflammatory marketing tactic to promote “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” 666 pairs of these scandalous shoes were produced, leading to criticism from pastors, praise from the Church of Satan, and a Nike lawsuit, but it got the job done: “MONTERO” became the fledgling pop star's second number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. He used the media attention it garnered to promote his third single “INDUSTRY BABY” with Jack Harlow, which peaked at number two.
(10/06/21 2:12am)
Humans crave approval. For some musicians, this may be in the form of commercial success, sold–out global tours, or widespread media attention. For other artists and a select group of fans, appreciation comes in the form of overly favorable reviews. Publications such as Rolling Stone and Spin have reviewed and rated albums for decades, and some seek validation for their accomplishments through their approval. Good scores can lead to bragging rights and appearances on Grammy campaigns, while a poorer reception can cause an artist to find new inspiration in their music. Although these reviews have been a staple in the music industry, the purpose they serve now is flawed and inconsistent.
(09/21/21 8:54pm)
Through star–crossed, Kacey Musgraves narrates the cautionary tale of life after a beautiful marriage and a devastating divorce. Despite the hype she created surrounding her recent release—with promotional efforts such as interviews and a short film—she tells the story gently and thoughtfully, almost like a secret told to a close friend, in hushed tones and wistful sighs.
(09/20/21 3:38am)
The remix album is a strange format; its conceit inherently undercuts the original album, as if it needs improvement, while simultaneously offers up seemingly unnecessary new versions of old songs. Last year, Dua Lipa teamed up with the Blessed Madonna for Club Future Nostalgia, a fun but ill–timed release in the middle of a pandemic. In the case of Lady Gaga's Chromatica, its corresponding remix album Dawn Of Chromatica somehow both lacks ideas and overflows with them. Where the original skimped on forward–looking production in favor of radio–friendly sleekness, Dawn blasts its way through balls–to–the–wall hyperpop.
