BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Graphic: @beyonce on Instagram Long before the days of sought-after country artists like Toby Keith, country music has always prided itself on two things: storytelling and being the voice of the everyday American. However, Beyoncé’s experience suggests otherwise. Beyoncé’s latest effort, “Cowboy Carter,” the first LP by a Black woman…
BY COLIN BISH, STAFF WRITER Graphic: Wikimedia Commons During PlayStatio’s recent live stream, State of Play, Sony revealed an upcoming sequel for the critically acclaimed action-adventure video game “Ghost of Tsushima,” produced and released by Sucker Punch Productions in 2020. When I heard the news, I was filled with excitement. “Ghost of Tsushima” is my…
Photo: David Scibilia / The Bona Venture BY: HANNAH WEST, CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Hickey Dining Hall is a crucial part of being a student at St. Bonaventure. Though it is one of the social hot spots on campus, everyone has something to say about the food and, more amusingly, the music. While I heard “Fein”…
BY: LILLY GOODMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Album Cover from albumoftheyear.com Stars from Wikimedia Commons The soundscape of the hip-hop genre is constantly evolving, and few artists command attention like Travis Scott. His fourth studio album, “UTOPIA,” follows his 2018 album, which cemented his place in atmospheric music production. In the grand scope of Scott’s career, “UTOPIA”…
BY: LILLY GOODMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Photo from Albumoftheyear.com Stars from Wikimedia Commons Green Day’s 2024 album “Saviors” marks the band’s blistering comeback, reclaiming a rebellious edge. Over the four decades of their career, they have evolved through 14 studio albums. With “Saviors,” Green Day once again captures the raw energy and defiant spirit that defined…
BY: HANNAH WEST, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Morgan Wallen has millions of loyal fans; but why? In January 2021, Morgan Wallen released his most popular album, “Dangerous.” Just a month later, an unethical scandal came to fruition — Wallen was caught on camera, under the influence of alcohol, shouting a racial slur.…
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Graphic: Joseph DeBell / The Bona Venture Michael Smith’s case should serve as a reminder that regulation in the music streaming industry is not just about preventing financial fraud — it’s about preserving the integrity of music. The recent arrest of Smith, who managed to swindle $10 million through a…
BY: LILLY GOODMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Graphic made by Joseph DeBell Few bands have managed to seize the essence of surf rock quite like Weezer. With their unique blend of geek rock, catchy hooks and unmistakable guitar riffs, the band has earned a devoted fan base since their 1994 debut. 5.)“El Scorcho” From Weezer’s “Pinkerton” LP,…
BY COLIN BISH, STAFF WRITER Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The introductions of name, image, and likeness (NIL), the transfer portal and new conferences have shaken college football to its core. The norm we have been accustomed to for decades has changed completely. Oklahoma and Texas are leaving the Big 12, and the PAC-12 hangs…
BY: HANNAH WEST, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Graphic made by Joseph DeBell As fall approaches, it’s time to watch the leaves change and listen to famous New Englander, Noah Kahan. In July of 2022, Kahan released the title track from his “Stick Season” album. Since then, he has not looked back. In 2024, the Vermonter went on…
BY BOB BERETTA, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Image courtesy of St. Bonaventure So many things have changed since I first walked this charming campus as a mass communication major, played on the baseball team and served as a staff writer for The Bona Venture almost four decades ago. There’s the Swan Business Center, the quick center for…
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Album cover courtesy of @sabrinacarpenter on Instagram ALBUM SCORE: 3/5 Stars Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album, “Short n’ Sweet,” marks a new chapter in her career, one full of surprises and contradictions. While she’s often heralded as the fresh face of pop, she’s not exactly a newcomer. At 25, she already…
BY: HANNAH WEST, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons With the rise of superstars like UConn’s Paige Buekers and entertaining feuds between players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, women’s college basketball has had more viewers than ever. One of the more underrated consequences of this is that scandals in the league get swept under…
BY: LILLY GOODMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Cover art courtesy albumoftheyear.com Some could argue that “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” is Tommy Richman’s greatest piece of music, but after listening to “THE RUSH,” audiences were forced to question that notion. Richman is a popular name in the music industry in 2024, with 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Richman’s…
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Image courtesy of Joseph DeBell A recent episode of The Rest is Entertainment podcast highlighted an intriguing trend: the near disappearance of bands from the music charts. Osman pointed out that bands dominated the charts in the early ’80s and ’90s for over 140 weeks each. But in the past…
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons If you couldn’t tell by the ivy changing color outside of Devereux Hall, it’s time to face the reality: summer has ended. And with it, the annual debate among music lovers reaches its peak: what was the song of the summer? Declaring a definitive song…
BY JOSEPH DEBELL, OPINION EDITOR Album cover courtesy of @eminem on Instagram ALBUM SCORE: 2.5/5 Stars Eminem’s latest album has some highlights and a captivating concept, yet it lacks the revelatory moments expected from his Slim Shady persona. Released on the 25th anniversary of “The Slim Shady LP,” “The Death of Slim Shady” reflects Eminem’s…
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…
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…
BY COLIN BISH, STAFF WRITER Photo Courtesy of @JVSwaps on X The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite the mass online scrutiny McCarthy has received, the 2023 National Champion will succeed as Kirk Cousins’s heir apparent. The NFL hype for McCarthy rose after…