Category Archives: Music & Playlists

GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo (Album review/comparison)

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Olivia Rodrigo came out with her second studio album, GUTS, recently. Now most have heard her chart-breaking songs from her last album, SOUR, like “Drivers License” and “Deja Vu”, with the album as a whole hitting around 300 million streams. But her new song “Vampire” itself has reached about 100 million streams and the album, GUTS is at 200 million streams so far with an upcoming world tour to it. At only 20 years old she has had a very successful acting and music career winning 3 Grammys. On her new album there are 12 songs. My personal favorite songs are “Lacy” and “Get Him Back!”

Lacy, is a 2:57 minute song which dives deeper into comparing oneself to this perfect type of person named Lacy. I love this song because of how relatable it can be and the metaphors she uses in the song like, “skin like puff pastry” and “eyes white as daisies” portraying the amount of effort and potential time she put into this song. It is more of a mellow song with amazing lyrics.

Get Him Back!, a 3:31 minute song dives deeper into the idea of a toxic ex knowing all the bad or annoying things he did but also remembering the fun times with him and deciding if you really want them back or if you just miss the idea of them. The song is very upbeat, fun, and not to structured which gives a unique vibe to it.

I personally love this artist but her new album does not impress me as much as her old one, SOUR. She is overall a very talented artist with so much more to give! I recommend you check out her new music and even her old music!

Lovejoy: An Album Review

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Lovejoy is a indie rock band that is founded by William Gold, who goes by Wilbur Soot. The members include Ash Kabosu on drums, Joe Goldsmith on guitar, Mark Boardman on drums, and Wilbur on vocals and guitar. On October 14th, 2021, they released an album titled Pebblebrain. It features seven tracks, of which four of them I will be going over.

The first song is “Oh Yeah, You Gonna Cry?” This energetic piece is about a man, presumably someone Wilbur knows, who hasn’t gotten over his ex-girlfriend yet. In it, Wilbur states that the girl was too good for him. It’s sort of adding insult to the man’s injury, as from the lyrics you can assume that Wilbur is in love with the girl as well.

Next up is “Model Buses,” which is a reference to the UK’s prime minister’s strange hobby of crafting models of buses. The song is about a girl, presumably the same one from “Oh Yeah, You Gonna Cry?”, who is now single and fears a new relationship. Similar to beliefs about the prime minister, they are both “Scared of the future”

“Spitting spite as fast as saliva,” sings “Concrete,” a song in which Wilbur finally gets together with the girl but things don’t seem as well as he thought they would. The lyrics seem to insinuate an unhealthy relationship between the two, saying “If I had it my way, you’d sleep on the concrete floor.”

Finally, “Perfume” is my favorite song in the EP. Initially, it was going to be scrapped from the album until his friend, Tommy, told him not to. It tells the story of after their breakup, with the girl going back to her old ex. Wilbur says, “I can still smell her perfume,” suggesting that he misses her. Unlike the other songs, we get a view from the girl’s perspective. The lyrics show how she wanted to be in a relationship, saying “It seems like all her friends abruptly fell in love, and she was in the dust.” This was most likely the reason for their break-up, as she wasn’t fully committed to the relationship, instead using it for a better status.

In total, the Pebblebrain album is one heck of a ride. Not only that, but the songs are incredibly catchy. I highly recommend this to any pragmatic lovers, who don’t want a fantasy love song and instead a reality check on how tough love can actually be.

Listen and download music by Lovejoy free with your library card on Freegal.

Yours Truly (10 Year Anniversary) – Ariana Grande

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Although Ariana Grande, global popstar is experiencing some heat by the media for supposedly cheating on co-star Ethan Slater; I remain a fan of her music. I think it is big that we can identify an artist is a human beyond their music but the topics discussed in music can contribute to their image and should be proceeded carefully.

However, I came here to talk about Ariana’s re-recording of her debut album Yours Truly. This album is one of my favorites from her because of classics like Honeymoon Avenue, Daydreamin’, as well as The Way ft. Mac Miller.

I think the reason I enjoy this re-recording is how insane she sounds in singing. Not insane as in crazy but insane as in awe. She has immensely improved since the last time fans heard her sing I believe to be in 2020. However, she has been starring in Broadway musical Wicked which could be reason why her vocals have gotten better knowing she has gotten training and lessons guided to singing.

Everyone should give it a listen especially if you haven’t heard her debut album originally, it truly is beautiful. Also, for those who know Mac Miller passed away she inputted instrumentals during her part of The Way to exemplify his feature more prominently. I think even with all the backlash she is receiving people should still listen to the album regardless because the music is after all just a re-recording.

-Madison C.

Album Review- Folklore by Taylor Swift

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In 2020, Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album Folklore, an anthology album where every song tells a different story. These stories cover topics from love, to escapism, to nostalgia. I especially love this album because of its indie-pop feel. Here are some of my favorite tracks on the album and why.

Cardigan: One of my favorite songs on the album is Cardigan because of its nostalgic feel about looking back on what it was like to be carefree and young, like when the song says, “when you are young they assume you know nothing.”

The Last Great American Dynasty: Another one of my favorite songs on the album is The Last Great American Story, which is based off of the previous owner of Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island house, Rebekah Harkness. One of my favorite parts of this song is the storytelling within the song about her house’s history.

Exile (Feat. Bon Iver): Exile is one of the sadder songs on the Folklore album, but I still like it very much. One of my favorite parts of this song is how Bon Iver and Taylor Swift’s voices both contribute to the song’s sound and story so much through the duet.

The Lakes: One of my favorite songs on Folklore is the bonus track The Lakes. The Lakes is about escapism and the need to escape from your daily life, which is something that everyone can relate to. Another theme I like in this song is letting your old self go so you can venture and find your new self.

Overall, Folklore is a creative album with many great songs on it, and these were just a few. I would rate this 10/10 and I would recommend for everyone to take a shot at it!

Music Review: Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo

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Most of you have probably listened to the single “Vampire” released by Olivia Rodrigo earlier in this month. Being an Olivia Rodrigo fanatic has led me to adoring this song but I also would like to elaborate on just the song.

If you haven’t heard Olivia Rodrigo is releasing her sophomore album “Guts” on September 8th, 2023. This was a change in the directive we originally saw in her debut album, SOUR where she was experimenting with a plethora of genres. I personally find it SUPER exciting she is branching away into other directives and not just sticking plainly to one thing. Ok now let’s get into the song.

If I’m being quite honest when I heard it the first time, I was a little conflicted on whether I enjoyed it or not. However, I definitely think the more times you listen, the better it gets. The general idea of song is applicable to a lot of things in life, which made it relatable and understandable for most people.

I think the range Olivia displays in this song is AMAZING. There were many different tones used throughout the song which in my opinion makes it so good. I like knowing the direction this album is heading and hopefully, she will be dropping another single before the release of the album to keep her fans entertained.

I would give this a listen despite your music taste. Many don’t listen to Olivia Rodrigo because her music is typically viewed as “overhyped” but it is for a reason. Knowing she’s a “newer” artist in the industry and YOUNG, is amazing. That’s another reason why I enjoy her music so much is that she’s super talented for her age and it’s nice knowing I’m listening to someone who grew up in the same sort of generation as us.

-Madison C.

Why is Taylor Swift rerecording her albums?

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Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

As famed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift continues to expand her discography as a prominent influence on the 21st-century music industry, you may be wondering why she is releasing a “Taylor’s Version” of her past albums. The short answer is, she is rerecording and rereleasing her first six albums, of which she does not own the original recordings.

In 2005, Swift signed with Big Machine Records, which owns the masters (original recordings) of her first six albums. Under Big Machine, Swift did not own her music and was thus unable to control the way her songs were used. Big Machine sold to music manager Scooter Braun, who then sold Swift’s masters to Shamrock Holdings. As a result, each time Swift’s original recordings from her first six albums are streamed or bought, profits are gained by Braun. In 2018, when the Big Machine contract expired, Swift made the switch to Republic Records, where she made sure to acquire possession of her future masters. She now owns the four albums she has released since then—Lover, folklore, evermore, and Midnights.

Red (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift is now in the process of rereleasing her first six albums—Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and reputation. She released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) as her first rerecording in April of 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) in November of 2021, and most recently Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The rereleases of these albums showcase her stronger and more mature vocals on all the songs she has written throughout her career.

As part of the rereleased albums, Swift has released new tracks “from the vault,” called “vault tracks,” which are songs she wrote for the original album that were never released. She has released six vault tracks for Fearless (Taylor’s Version), nine for Red (Taylor’s Version), and six for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Swift is three album rereleases away from owning all her masters. She writes, “Artists should own their own work for so many reasons. But the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.” So if you want to support Taylor Swift in her journey as an artist to own her art, make sure you stream Taylor’s Version!

-Lam T.

Album Review – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

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Taylor Swift’s most recent release came out early July, a re-recording of her third album, first released in 2010. The re-recording contains 22 songs, the originals plus 6 that didn’t make the original album. Most of the songs contain minimal changes, but her matured voice sounds amazing with the songs she wrote during her early 20’s. Here are a few of my favorites.

Mine (Taylor’s Version) – The first track takes on a new meaning in the re-recorded version. “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine” could be in reference to the fact that she now owns this album again. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.

Sparks Fly (Taylor’s Version) – One of my favorite songs from the original Speak Now, I was pleased to hear her richer, older voice, on a song that leaned more into the country genre in the original album.

Never Grow Up (Taylor’s Version) – Swift singing “Wish I’d never grown up” hits even harder, as she’s now in her 30’s. This song written by a girl just leaving her teenage years has always been one of her saddest songs in my opinion and the new version just has another level of tragedy in it. The end of childhood is rarely written about in songs but Swift did it perfectly.

Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) [Featuring Fall Out Boy] – Upon first listen this was my favorite vault track. I was surprised to hear the beating drums on this album, but thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope this song gets the praise it deserves!

I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) – The night of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), there was an Eras Tour show where Swift unveiled a video for I Can See You. It’s a sneaky anthem to seeing high school crushes in hallways that easily gets stuck in your head.

Go give Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) a listen! What was your favorite song on it?

Album Review: Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams

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Good Riddance is singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ debut album, released on February 24, 2023; and written and produced by Abrams and Aaron Dessner. The album is 12 songs, and on June 16 Abrams released a deluxe edition of the album, which features 4 bonus tracks. Good Riddance is an album unlike most I have personally listened to; and Abrams’ raw, brutally honest songwriting shines through on this album as she reflects on past relationships with others and herself.

Further, many of my favorite songs and albums are written from the perspective of a person who has been the victim of a situation or relationship, the “good guy.” On the other hand, the songs on Good Riddance are written from the other perspective—from the person who has made the mistakes. I really love this fresh perspective, as it was really interesting to hear the raw and honest thoughts of someone who has done someone else wrong through the art of music. Following are a summary of some tracks on Good Riddance:

Track 1: “Best” – a song in which the narrator admits that they were not the best partner in their past relationship. Through her stinging lyrics, Abrams takes accountability for the mistakes she made and the faults she had throughout the relationship.

Track 2: “I know it won’t work” – a song about going through a tough time with someone and wanting to be with them again despite knowing that it won’t work. Though the narrator and the aforementioned person have cut ties, they still linger in each other’s minds, “never really leaving.”

Track 5: “I should hate you” – a song about being unable to hate someone despite how deeply they have hurt you. Throughout the song, the beautiful lyrics echo the way the narrator loves someone so much that they cannot hate them and would even go back to them after all the hurt.

Track 11: “The blue” – the only love song on Good Riddance, where Abrams sings about the inescapable connection between her and someone she has fallen in love with. In the song, she sings that they “came out of the blue” unexpectedly, and she couldn’t help but fall for them.

All in all, Good Riddance was an honest, emotionally intense, and beautifully written album. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it if you already love Gracie Abram’s music or are looking to try something new.

Happy listening!

-Lam T.

Five Seconds Flat- Lizzy McAlpine (Album Review)

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Lizzy McAlpine is a young musician who was born in Pennsylvania and started writing music when she was in 6th grade. Her second alternative album that she released in 2022 is called, Five Seconds Flat, which consists of 14 tracks and features from FINNEAS, Ben Kessler, Jacob Collier, and Laura Elliot. This album describes the loss and deep thoughts that go through her mind and the love that she has always imagined for herself along with hypothetical thoughts.

The song, Ceilings, became very popular overtime and depicted the idea of a nonexistent relationship feeling like a movie. Towards the beginning of the song she sings, “it feels like the start of a movie I’ve seen before” and at the end of the song she sings, “it feels like the end of a movie I’ve seen before” coming back to reality and realizing it was all a fantasy. A relatable lyric in the song is “I would say all of this but I don’t want to ruin the moment” which can mean trying to not to risk anything yet making memories.

My personal favorite on the album is track 11, Hate to Be Lame (feat. FINNEAS) which is a mellow and suspenseful song. In this song she admits her true emotions and feelings to others. She also describes how she makes excuses for herself in certain situations, “tell myself it’s not the right time or something dumb”. My favorite part is halfway through the song when the beat starts to pick up, and the volume of their voices increases, ending with FINNEAS’s deep voice and joining the two together in harmony to wrap up the entirety of the song.

All of her songs on the album are unique with different meanings and even though the songs Ceilings and Hate to Be Lame (feat. FINNEAS) are amazing and popular (in my opinion) her other songs have more to offer and can be relatable and nostalgic. I very much recommend this album and her music in general!

Everything I Know About Love Album Review

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On August 26, 2022, Laufey, a singer-songwriter from Iceland, released her first full lengthened album, Everything I Know About Love. The album consists of many songs that have different meanings varying from growing up and being a hopeless romantic. The album consists of her most popular songs such as Valentine and Fragile.

I personally love all of the songs but my favorite song in this album for now would be Slow Down and Everything I Know About Love. One of my favorites is Slow Down because the song sounds really calming to me but I especially love the whole message of the song, which is to enjoy the present and cherish it and slow down. I love the message of Slow Down because I spend most of my days doing the same things over and over again and I always wait for things to end and never really cherish the present and my moments. My other favorite song is Everything I Know About Love because the song sounds more upbeat than the other songs and I just love how the song sounds. 

Overall I really loved the album Everything I Know About Love by Laufey and it’s definitely one of my favorite albums. Although it may not be the style of music most people would like, I definitely recommend at least trying to listen to the album or one of Laufey’s songs at least once.