Living Vicariously through littleDEATH’s “Losemyhead”
littleDEATH surprised me. I guess you can’t completely judge a book by its cover or a band by its name. Right away I thought, “This is not my genre.” I joke about being punk. I am not. At all. I love a good pop-punk number riddled with teen-angst. But if you took one look at […]
I’ll admit it: I still like Coldplay
The pop cultural rules of musical taste are as follows: If you unironically play “Wonderwall” by Oasis on guitar at a party, you deserve no respect. Nickelback may not actually be that bad, but you’re never allowed to say that. Ever. Hating Coldplay is the easiest way to display your dominance in a room. With […]
Tell All Your Friends About Linying’s “All Our Friends Know”
“All of Our Friends Know” by Linying is an alluring surprise through which I floated. The first shock was her voice. The initial note sets a clear, creative tone for the song. It pierces through as a central part of the mix. Following my astonishment with her vocals was an appreciation for the musical production. […]
Come Rest in the Power of “Jacob From the Bible” by Jake Wesley Rogers
After listening to “Evergreen” by Jake Wesley Rogers, I thought I had reached the mountain peak of emotional pop music. Yeah, I can see how that’s dramatic, but his voice, his message, and his emotion are clear and effective. I felt so much after hearing it live for the first time. Seeing his passion while […]
James Ollier’s “All That’s Good” is a Celebration of the Present
Happiness is often short-lived. We crave and pursue contentment, but we always want more once we get it. How do we deal with this innately human tendency? In his song “All That’s Good” from his latest EP “The Nomad Frays”, James Ollier shows that we can derive happiness from appreciating and enjoying moments of happiness by […]
Running Red Lights’ “Calls of Prudence” Review
pru·dence /pro͞odns/ noun noun: prudence; plural noun: prudences 1. the quality of being prudent; cautiousness. “we need to exercise prudence in such important matters” What comes to mind when you hear the word “prudence?” For me, I imagine a colonial mother. The word has a puritanical connotation in my mind. I think of novels like Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter or […]
Mike Xavier Cautions Against Selfishness in “Open Letter”
A hunger for success can bring you money and fame, but it can come at the expense of your personal relationships. What does it mean to “make it” and why is it viewed as the only path to happiness? In his new song “Open Letter”, Mike Xavier writes about the perils of this belief and […]
The Emotional Charge of Nikita Afonso’s “Holy, My Heart”
Break-ups tend to suck, don’t they? Of course, they vary in severity and fault, but there’s one particular kind that I think Nikita Afonso is addressing in her new song, “Holy, My Heart:” the kind that takes you by surprise. To start of, the title itself connotes a certain shock. She sings “holy, my heart,” […]
Dance the “Holiday” Away with Retro City
From the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri — known to some as “The City of Roses” — we have Retro City. Becoming buds at their local college before forming their band, they bring influences from artists such as Colony House, Young the Giant, and The Black Keys. Today they bring us a lively track titled […]
Jared Henry lives life “Running Wild”
From Arkansas, today we have Jared Henry who, according to his YouTube bio, is “a professional downhill skateboarder, singer-songwriter, and full-time adventurer.” One of his many tales of adventure is brought to us today by his song “Running Wild,” in which he spins a tale of a road trip resulting in a stuck jeep and a […]
