Natalie Schlabs’ “Go Outside”: A Timely Reminder for Self-Care
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a bit of a shut-in. While most kids were running around outside in the sun with their friends, I was inside my dark bedroom playing video games on my computer. While everyone began freaking out about their social lives when it was announced that we […]
“The Cheek” by Sprints: An Energetic Punk Anecdote
Entering my fifth month of quarantine, I can’t help but get a little bit restless (well, to be honest, the restlessness started around week one). It turns out that, as nice as it sounds, a person can only sit in bed for so many days doing nothing before they start to lose their mind. Despite […]
“Balcony Scene” by Nervous City Nervous Self: A Bittersweet Shakespearean Dream
Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and as such one of his most misunderstood. It’s widely recognized as one of history’s greatest and most tragic romances, and the titular couple have become a byword for star-crossed lovers. However, others read it not as a romance but as a cautionary tale. To […]
Laura Gagné’s “I Love You Friend” is a Bite of Heaven
Canadian singer-songwriter Laura Gagné serves up whimsical sweetness in her 2020 release, “I Love You Friend.” This is a song about the circular nature of longing and regret. It’s a song about the inextricable link between love and pain, about the rise and fall of closeness and detachment – and its slick, soaring sound will […]
SAER’s “Start a Fire”: Approaching Grief with Curiosity
Full disclosure: SAER’s May 2020 release “Start a Fire” will definitely make you cry on the drive home – and I mean that in the best way. SAER, a multi-skilled artist who serves as the singer, songwriter, and producer of his own music, approaches grief with a tender curiosity in this song…and it’s powerful stuff. […]
Chatting with Sleepy Gonzales about “Sally on the Avenue”, Dream Pop, and Anthony Fantano
Dream pop bands aren’t known for their sense of humor. After all, dream pop prioritizes music over lyrics; from Mazzy Star to Cocteau Twins, dream pop lyrics range from cryptic to incomprehensible. The genre also values sincerity and romanticism, which doesn’t leave much room for irony. But Sleepy Gonzales, the Canadian band behind “Sally on […]
The Delicate Poetry of Jenny Dee’s “Wolves”
The simplistic emotion is my favorite thing about Jenny Dee’s music. From the moment she starts singing, the tone her voice possesses automatically draws you into whatever she has to say. Her delicate indie-folk aura is evident in her new debut album, Dancing From A Distance released on March 6. Every song is fairly minimalistic, […]
Oliver Say’s “Am I Always So Wrong?”: A Gorgeous, Falsetto-Rich Slow Dance
There’s something to be said for a good falsetto. In the wrong hands, it can be a weak, mewling stab at tenderness and intimacy, a crutch used by reedy-voiced R&B hacks and guitar-toting soft-bros. But when it’s done right, it’s a useful, versatile tool in any singer’s arsenal; depending on the needs of the song, […]
Kate Mills’ “Fall Apart”: Strength in Vulnerability
Vulnerability is very often likened to weakness. Because of this, people tend to avoid showing their true feelings when it might make them look vulnerable. “Fall Apart”, the first track on Kate Mills’ recently released debut album Each Bittersweet Drop, melodically illustrates this common theme – the belief that to show emotion is to show […]
“Stay Late” by Jay Rosie: Love for a Night or Something More
Today’s world is a weird one. I know that, as a twenty-three year old, I don’t have much say in critiquing my own generation in comparison to the ones that came before, but I stand by my statement. One of the biggest double-edged swords for my generation, in my opinion, is online dating. Stick with […]
