JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR The album cover is courtesy of @taylorswift on Instagram Taylor Swift’s latest move to block Charli XCX from a number-one debut on the U.K. album charts reeks of insecurity and pettiness. Fans have accused the pop star of using shady tactics to overshadow Charli XCX’s critically acclaimed album, “Brat.” The timing… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR The album cover is courtesy of @dontoliver on Instagram ALBUM SCORE: 2.75/5 Stars While it may draw comparisons to Travis Scott, under whose label Don Toliver releases his music, “Harstone Psycho” is a slight step forward from his previous projects. Toliver’s latest album is a testament to the Houston rapper’s unique… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR Album cover is courtesy of @sinatra on Instagram ALBUM SCORE: 4/5 Stars Stars are courtesy of WIkimedia Commons Frank Sinatra’s “No One Cares” album is a classic crooning record, even if its peaks aren’t as grand as the magnum opuses of “In The Wee Small Hours” or “Where Are You?” Actor… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Aidan Vaughn ALBUM SCORE: 3.5/5 Stars Stars courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Hailing from the Inland Empire in California, Aidan Vaughn bids a short yet fulfilling set of songs in his latest work, “Sincerely, Alexander.” Vaughn is a singer, songwriter, rapper and producer who showed shades of Tyler the… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The recent decision by authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya to ban music based on tempo is not only absurd but represents cultural authoritarianism. The ban, which limits songs to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute, aims to align with the “Chechnyan… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons J. Cole, a sought-after rapper raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is known to many as an artist with lyrical prowess. Recently, Cole finds himself entangled in a web of controversy. This time, it’s not just about a rap beef with Kendrick Lamar; it’s about a transphobic… Keep Reading
JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons South by Southwest (SXSW) has lost its integrity. The once exciting Austin Texas music festival is now becoming less of a music festival and more of a billboard on which they platform defense contractors, including Raytheon subsidiaries and the US Army. SXSW first appeared in 1987… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy @weareumaw on Instagram It’s time to tune into the reality of the music industry. The melodies we love are oftentimes composed against a backdrop of economic struggle for the artists who create them. While the Living Wage for Musicians Act may not be a silver-bullet solution to unethical… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimeida Commons Even though music can be a powerful tool in politics, the “Nikki Haley Anthem” is more laughable than uplifting. With 2024 being a presidential election year, it looks like Americans are getting the same matchup as the 2020 Election: Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. However,… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons In a landscape brimming with talented artists creating compelling music, it’s time to move past Kanye West’s divisive legacy and embrace new voices. Polarizing Chicago rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and former presidential candidate, Kanye West, collaborated with the talented singer and songwriter, Ty Dolla $ign,… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Amid the media attention that arrives with the Grammy Awards, it’s important to remember that the capitalistic system through which artists get paid is still broken and unfair. While we usually talk about this “unfairness” in the context of Spotify because of its questionable and… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Photo courtesy @lilnasx on Instagram If many sought-after and heterosexual hip-hop artists can depict themselves as Jesus Christ or place themselves on a crucifix with little to no backlash, why are people upset when Lil Nas X does it? The only clear answer is that bigoted and homophobic people can’t… Keep Reading
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Photo courtesy of @thebeatles on Instragram Even though there are minor issues with the mixing process, The Beatles’ new single “Now And Then” is an emotional epilogue to the band’s 60-plus-year journey. The song was once a passionate John Lennon piano ballad demo from 1977 and was later completed… Keep Reading
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Album cover courtesy of @taylorswift on Instagram ALBUM SCORE: 2.5/5 Stars Stars cortesy of Wikimedia Commons Even though most of the re-recordings of Taylor Swift’s older records have demonstrated improvements in sound, much of the initial magic is lost on “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Taylor Swift is an artist who… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Spotify logo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The recent reshuffle of Spotify’s royalty model has led the music-streaming platform to brazenly screw over smaller musicians more than ever. In short, the Billboard and Music Business Worldwide reports both highlight that the royalty-model changes will include a new threshold of minimum… Keep Reading
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons After his Vancouver concert Saturday night, Lil Yachty owes his fans an apology — at the very least. Yachty’s performance was cut short due to safety concerns after concertgoers stampeded the arena floor’s general-admission section. Numerous videos and reports from the concert detail the… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR photo courtesy of @champagnepapi on Instagram stars courtesy of Wikimedia Commons On Drake’s new album “For All The Dogs,” he is less interested in perfecting a sound and is more concerned with giving his audience every kind of Drake. Since his two previous albums were detours in sound, “For… Keep Reading
BY: JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Joe rates “Bewitched” 4/5 stars photo courtesy of @laufey on Instagram stars courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Even though Laufey’s sophomore album “Bewitched” needs a little polishing, it deserves its flowers. The recent album from the Billie Eilish-endorsed artist combines modern pop and 50s crooning jazz with classical compositions. Though… Keep Reading
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR photo courtesy of @zachlanebryan on Instagram Stars courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Zach Bryan’s self-titled album arrives amid a significant moment for country music, where chart-toppers have ranged from cloying love songs to regressive political statements. Zach Bryan’s latest effort is easily one of the better country records this year… Keep Reading
photo courtesy of @oliver_anthony_music on Instagram BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Whether or not you believe Oliver Anthony is a right-wing industrial plant or apolitical, some of the lyrics in his contemporary folk song “Rich Men North of Richmond” amplify conservative talking points, even if he didn’t intend them to be interpreted that way. … Keep Reading