“Maggie” by Cedar Sparks: A Ghost Story
In the final act of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Duke Theseus and Queen Hippolyta come upon the two missing couples as they wake up in a glade and begin to recount vivid anecdotes of magic and witchcraft. Bemused, Hippolyta remarks on how strange yet strikingly similar their stories are, to which her fiancé […]
“Quarterback” by Clearbody: Energetic, Emotional Punk
The concepts of longing for the past and regretting decisions from your life are no strangers to the punk rock genre. While some may say this genre is too simple, which makes the music boring, others will say that it is that simplicity which helps this genre thrive. By simplifying the instrumentation, more room is […]
Martha Skye Murphy’s “Self Tape”: A Full-Body Experience
Listening to Martha Skye Murphy’s music isn’t a mindless activity where the sounds droning out of our earbuds get our half-attention or where the notes are confined to a state of perpetual existence as ‘background noise.’ Rather, her music is a full-body experience. Perhaps what’s most masterful about Murphy’s latest release “Self Tape,” is that […]
“Overwhelmed” by Crossing i’s Dotting t’s: Bracing, Satisfying Emo
Get out your eyeliner and dark T-shirts. Emo is back, and the one-man-band Crossing i’s Dotting t’s serves up a roaring reminder of why we loved it. “Overwhelmed” is a blazing, gritty song – the brainchild of Matthew Mucerino, the artist behind Crossing i’s Dotting t’s. The song is defined by its passionate guitar riffs […]
“Cat’s Cradle” by Tigers Jaw: A Playful Metaphor for a Tangled Truth
One of the best things about kids (or worst, pick your poison) is how attached they get to the most random trends. Silly bands, rainbow loom bracelets, those weird little eraser toys that no one ever actually used for erasing—they all hearken back to simpler times. And of course, the pillar of schoolyard fads: string […]
“Whirlpool” by Told Slant: Craving Somebody’s Return
The one thing in the world that will always be more painful than somebody you’re interested in not wanting to speak to you is somebody who was previously interested back in you no longer wanting to speak to you. Coming to terms with the loss of anyone close, whether they be a friend or lover, […]
“Glove” by Cryogeyser: Lost in a Crumbling Relationship
Being in a crumbling relationship and realizing your relationship is crumbling are two entirely separate things. Sometimes you’ll realize it on your own, and other times it will take leagues of friends and those who are close to you to help you come to terms with what is happening. With “Glove,” by Cryogeyser, a three-piece […]
Greta Morgan and the Art of Acceptance: “When The Sun Comes Up”
Life, as we’re all well aware, is unpredictable. And no matter how much we prepare or how hard we fight against it, change is inevitable. As George Harrison declared in his presently-relevant ballad “All Things Must Pass”: “sunshine doesn’t last all morning/ a cloudburst doesn’t last all day… all things must pass/ all things must […]
The Sonders Bombs’ “Crying Is Cool”: Let It All Out
In the music video for their latest drop, “Crying Is Cool,” The Sonder Bombs frolic around in murky lake waters, blow bubbles, chow down on hot dogs, and tell scary stories in the dark. It’s the kind of summertime fun that seems like a pipe dream, a distant memory of all our delightful summer plans […]
The Besnard Lakes’ Latest Philosophical Dive: “Raindrops”
As someone who was born in October, fall has always held a degree of personal significance that has set it apart from all the other seasons. Throughout my life, I’ve equated it with introspection, and have been hyper aware of the predictable mix of nostalgia and eagerness that kicks in the moment that the leaves […]
