Category: Review

Music, Review

21 & Metro Underperform on “Savage Mode II” [Album Review]

Following up their extended play from 2016, Atlanta rappers 21 Savage and Metro have finally returned with a full-length successor. The art of following up  a successful original is one of the hardest challenges an artist can face, especially when the original has been hailed by some as an essential cornerstone in the shaping of the trap genre. 21 Savage and Metro are far from … Continue reading 21 & Metro Underperform on “Savage Mode II” [Album Review]

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Music, Review

Bruce Spingsteen’s “Letter to You,” a Stellar Live Performance [Album Review]

From the very beginning, Bruce Springsteen was always the everyday person’s artist: a poor guy with huge talent, who had to work hard to gain the attention he deserved. But Springsteen  never fell out of people’s hearts since his breakthrough with Born to Run in 1975. Better than anyone else, Springsteen wrote lyrics that hard-working people from his native New Jersey and low-class neighbourhoods all … Continue reading Bruce Spingsteen’s “Letter to You,” a Stellar Live Performance [Album Review]

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Music, Review

Gorillaz Bring Together Beautiful Talent on “Song Machine, Season One” [Album Review]

In the past, Gorillaz’ albums have often suffered from a lack of consistency, an endless stream of loosely constructed ideas and demos that would sometimes, like on their self-titled debut, result in a masterpiece — but more often result in an unfocused album difficult to grasp. Needless to say, I had my doubts when the group declared the Song Machine project, with songs being released … Continue reading Gorillaz Bring Together Beautiful Talent on “Song Machine, Season One” [Album Review]

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Music, Review

Duckwrth’s “A SuperGood Night” [Concert Review]

Falling in love at the roller rink is just about anyone’s life goal, and Duckwrth provided that feeling and so much more in his virtual concert on Tuesday. He performed the entirety of his 2020 breakout album, SuperGood, and gave each song new meaning by acting out a romantic night at the roller rink with his loved one.  With bright outfits and beautiful people galore, … Continue reading Duckwrth’s “A SuperGood Night” [Concert Review]

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Music, Review

Looking Back: Does “Astroworld” Have Staying Power?

Travis Scott’s Astroworld was released in the summer of 2018 to critical acclaim, lifting the star to elite status in the rap game and providing one of the biggest hit singles of the year, “Sicko Mode.”  Sitting at 17 tracks and just under an hour of runtime, Astroworld immediately comes off as an album that was created to be a grand masterpiece, portraying the heart … Continue reading Looking Back: Does “Astroworld” Have Staying Power?

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Music, New Music, Review

(Four) Season’s Greetings from Dos Monos!

Dos Monos is an experimental hip-hop group from Tokyo, with a roster including Zo Zhit, Taitanman, and Botsu, all of whom provide vocals and rap. Zo and Botsu also work on the production, which features a heavy amount of sampling. Their debut record Dos City, released via Deathbomb Arc (2019) saw them gain traction in Japanese and American markets and pushed them to receiving several … Continue reading (Four) Season’s Greetings from Dos Monos!

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Music, New Music, Review

Album Review: Dayon Greene Flexes, Develops on “Me”

The DMV might not yet be in the conversation as far as hip-hop relevance nationwide, but with albums like Dayon Greene’s Me, which showcases some of the area’s best talent, it certainly will be soon. Me is a story of self-empowerment and growth. Greene, born and raised in the DMV, experiences heartbreak, sadness, questioning, and growth through confidence and self-assuredness on the album, which debuted … Continue reading Album Review: Dayon Greene Flexes, Develops on “Me”

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Music, Review

SZA’s “CTRL” Depicts Growth from Harmful Relationships

After satisfying basic needs like nourishment and shelter, mutually empathetic relationships are crucial for living a happy and fulfilling life. Giving and receiving love is important, but can be clouded and complicated by personal insecurities exacerbated by partner violence. In American social order, masculinity is often toxically constructed to suppress emotional intelligence in men and push down non-masculine ideals as a way to hold men … Continue reading SZA’s “CTRL” Depicts Growth from Harmful Relationships

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