Tag Archives: music

Album Review: SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

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I’m sure you have all heard the very popular song, driver’s license, by Olivia Rodrigo. But have you listened to the entirety of her album? I think it is one that definitely deserves a review post.

The opening track, brutal, isn’t necessarily one of my favorite songs to listen to. I do love the fact that it starts off strong and I think it makes a great introduction to the album. It is definitely relatable to me, and I’m sure it is to other teenagers as well.

The second track on the album, traitor, is definitely a very well-thought out, emotional song. But, I personally think it has been overplayed. When it first became popular, I heard it all the time on the radio and on various social media platforms. I do love the song, I think it is amazing, but it is way too overplayed.

The tenth track, favorite crime, is one of my all-time favorite songs by Olivia. It is so incredibly emotional and you could tell that the story behind the lyrics is very personal. The bridge of the song has to be my favorite part of the song, it really sums up the purpose of the song.

Overall, I rate this album an 8/10. It isn’t something I would listen to on a daily basis, but I do listen to it once in a while. I do enjoy most of the tracks on it, if not all, but some are definitely over played. If you like heartbreak-pop, I would definitely recommend this to you.

Album Review: evermore (deluxe version) by Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift. We all know her, or at least I would hope everyone knows who she is. Her career began back in 2006, when she was just sixteen years old. Her debut single, Tim McGraw, will always remain in the back of my head.

This album opens with the track, willow, which I’m sure many of you have heard at some point on the radio. It is not one of my absolute favorite songs on the album, but I don’t dislike it either. I think it is a very good introduction into the complex album of evermore.

The fifth song on the deluxe version, tolerate it, is one of my all time favorite songs by Taylor. The piano in the beginning just suits the lyrics so well and I enjoy it so much. The bridge of the song has to be my favorite part though. You can really hear the anger and emotion in her voice and I love it.

My all time favorite song by Taylor is on this album. The song happiness, is absolutely one of the best songs I have heard throughout my life. The lyrics are incredible and the bridge is absolutely amazing. The way the song starts of soft and then progresses into a more aggressive tone is just so clever to me.

In conclusion, I rate this album a 9/10. I love it overall, but there are a few songs that I wouldn’t listen to on a daily basis. I do recommend listening to this album, even if you’re not a fan of Taylor Swift; I can guarantee you will discover at least one song you enjoy.

Spotify vs. Apple Music: Which is Better?

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The age long debate of the century: Spotify vs. Apple Music. Below are points listing off the pros and cons of each music streaming service as well as the author’s thoughts. Also, feel free to participate in the survey at the bottom of this article.

Spotify

Pros:

  • Users can easily navigate Spotify with its organized interface
  • Spotify can curate playlists based on one’s music taste
  • The AI DJ can introduce one to new songs
  • Offers a free version of Spotify

Cons:

  • The free version offered interrupts the user with ads
  • The lists of playlists on the side on the computer version can be overwhelming at times
  • Sending too many emails containing either terrible deals or news expensive concerts
  • Some songs can only be accessed as a podcast in order to upload them to the site

Apple Music

Pros:

  • Boasts more songs, podcasts, etc. than Spotify
  • No need to download an app if the user has an Apple device
  • Offers a free trial for one to even six months
  • Compared to Spotify’s sound quality, Apple Music’s is more crisper

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer a free version of its service
  • Not as “cool” because Apple Music isn’t as popular for teenagers
  • The service doesn’t encourage user engagement with others
  • Costs a dollar more than for Spotify’s premium

Author’s Thoughts

As a Spotify user, clearly I am team Spotify! What really drew me in to purchasing a subscription for the premium version was the multitude of opportunities for me to engage with my friends. I can easily look to see what my friends are currently listening to or even create a playlist with them combining our music tastes through the new Blend feature. Additionally, the overall appearance of Spotify both allows for simplicity and an aesthetically pleasing interface.

Album Review: COSMIC by Bazzi

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Although this album came out in 2018, I still listen to it daily. It is so insanely good and I would recommend it to everyone, no matter what kind of music you like.

The opening track, Dreams, is so beautiful. In the beginning, there is this sort of ambience. It is a comfortable ambience though. To me it sounds like the wonderous world of REM sleep, which is when we have dreams.

The second track, Soarin, is incredible. It instantly starts out strong and it just keeps getting better and better. I love the beat of it and the chorus. The ending closes out the track so well and I love it so much.

The sixth track on the album, 3:15, might be my all-time favorite song by Bazzi. I loved it when the album was just released, and I love it even more now. This song was what made me fall in love with music in general. I memorized all the lyrics in one night, and I don’t think I will ever forget them.

The last song I will be talking about, Cartier, is another one of my top five songs by Bazzi. The vocals are very pretty and I feel like it really shows of his vocal range. The end of the song fades out and it sounds like it was just meant to be.

Album Review: young forever by Nessa Barrett

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Nessa Barrett was originally known for being popular on the very popular social media platform, TikTok. She would post videos with other well-known people on the platform, and this is what caused her to “blow up.”

Nessa began her music career in 2020. Back then, I knew about her, but didn’t necessarily listen to her music. To be honest, I only really knew her by her name.

When she released her album young forever in October of 2022, I was instantly captivated from the start. I’m not a huge fan of pop music, but I feel like she really puts her own style into her work.

The opening track, tired of california, is just so relatable to me. The chorus is extremely catchy and I honestly can’t get enough of the song. There is a child choir in the background during the end of the song, and it really pulls it all together.

One of my top 5 tracks on the album, dear god, is so incredible. The vocals are beautiful. There is this sense of calmness in the melody, and I think it is amazing.

Another one of my favorite songs on the album, lovebomb, is so relatable to me. The lyrics are so captivating and I fell in love with the song the very first time I heard it. You can truly hear the emotion in her voice. It is so raw and honest, which I appreciate.

Album Review: Invitation to Her’s

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One of my favorite relics from nostalgic summers is the music I discovered as the weeks passed. From windy summer nights to morning heatwaves, my fondest memories from those three-month vacations are the playlists I used to make. As I take a trip down memory lane, the first album that reminds me of those “good old days” is Invitation to Her’s.

Album Cover Art for Invitation to Her’s by Her’s.

Indie pop band Her’s released their second album, Invitation to Her’s, in 2018. A year after its release, I came across this project and quickly fell for the duo’s witty lyrics and catchy soundscapes. More specifically, I was captivated by the duo’s ability to balance each track on this album. From groovy instrumentals to clever bridges, Her’s contrasted their low and punchy vocals with soft falsetto melodies. In just a few moments, some of the best songs on this album would feel like a completely different experience.

“Harvey” and “Love on the Line (Call Now)” were by far my favorite tracks on the album, most likely by nostalgic bias. The groovy instrumentals and catchy lyrics immediately kept me hooked onto their music, and their riffs would replay in my head for days on end. Other songs, such as “She Needs Him,” transitioned from a lively song to a dreamy, slow-paced instrumental solo. Her’s knew when and how to balance their tracks; some songs had their moxie settle until the end, and others turned to a different tune.

Although some songs like “Breathing Easy” and “Under Wraps” were not as upbeat as the other tracks on this album, their soft and lounge-inspired soundscapes were just as compelling. Each song on Invitation to Her’s was unique in its own way, which is why there is at least one song that will impress you. For this reason, this album has been my go-to recommendation for years, and I find myself coming back to those blazing summers from the moment their drums kick in. Whether we’re stuck in another freezing winter or blossoming into a new spring, Invitation to Her’s is an album for every season and every music fan. Give this album a try; you won’t regret it!

Album Review: Evermore by Taylor Swift

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In July of 2020, acclaimed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift surprise released her eighth studio album, Folklore. Fans were shocked by her abrupt dive into the alternative-indie genre after being a global icon of pop music for years. On December 11, 2020, she followed up by surprise releasing her ninth album, Evermore, shocking her fanbase once again.

Evermore is a 15-track album of alternative rock and indie folk songs. Swift collaborated with Aaron Dessner on the album, and most of it was recorded at the Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley. It features the bands Bon Iver, Haim, and The National. As a cottagecore-inspired escapist album, Evermore is most known for Swift’s incredible and haunting storytelling and poetic lyricism, which is backed by fingerpicked guitar, melancholy piano melodies, and soft percussion. This album is a musical storybook full of tales of marriage, infidelity, heartbreak, grief, love, and human emotion. In my opinion, the following are the most well-written songs on Evermore:

Track 2: “champagne problems” – This song is the story of a woman who turns down her partner’s marriage proposal, shocking all their family and friends. As Taylor Swift stated, the characters were “longtime college sweethearts [who] had very different plans for the same night, one to end it and one who brought a ring.”

Track 5: “tolerate it” – This beautifully written song tells of a never-ending struggle where the narrator wants love from their partner, who isn’t paying attention to the narrator at all. Swift drew inspiration from the novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, explaining that the young woman in the story put in much effort to impress her husband, yet he merely tolerated her love.

Track 9: “coney island ft. The National” – This song features back-and-forth conversational lyrics between two characters who were previously involved in a relationship. Through somber and nostalgic lyrics, the narrator regretfully apologizes for not loving their partner enough.

Track 10: “ivy” – In “ivy,” Swift sings about a woman falling in love with someone who is not her husband, leading to a secret affair.

Track 15: “evermore” – As the title track of the album, “evermore” is a piano ballad about the narrator’s journey from an endless stretch of deep depression to a place of hope and healing.

To conclude, Evermore is a beautiful album that stirs up emotions in listeners. I would absolutely recommend this album, especially if you enjoy reading classic literature and can appreciate the beauty of Taylor Swift’s lyricism.

Happy listening!

The question pounds my head
“What’s a lifetime of achievement?”
If I pushed you to the edge
But you were too polite to leave me
And do you miss the rogue
Who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?
Will you forgive my soul
When you’re too wise to trust me and too old to care?

-Taylor Swift, “Coney Island”

-Lam T.

Album Review: Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time

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As a fan of the dream pop scene, my biggest challenge is finding new albums to listen to. My current favorite songs have been stuck in my music rotation for months, and I’ve been trying to expand my music taste for some time now. Luckily, I struck gold a few months ago and came across the criminally underrated album Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time, and I am more than glad that I did.

Released in 2013, Ceres and the Calypso in the Deep Time is an album created by Candy Claws, a Colorado-based music group. Their strange knack for storytelling came to life in this project specifically. This project explores the adventures of a seal-like animal and a human girl throughout the Mesozoic Era, journeying through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras. The members of Candy Claws collaborated with poet Jenn Morea to write the lyrics for this album. Her expertise in writing blossomed throughout her lyrics, each song depicting the beautiful landscapes of our world. Candy Claws built off of her writing by filling each track with dreamy vocals and various sounds, whether using stringed instruments or electronic synths. Most importantly, the band’s diverse music inspirations are what creates an immersive scenery for their audience.

Album Cover Art for Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time by Candy Claws.

Candy Claws’ interesting production style is inspired by countless music eras, most notably 50s bossa nova, 60s pop, and 90s shoegaze. Their inspirations, along with their production talent, is what makes Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time different from other albums. Every track feels like a different experience, but they all add up to create a cohesive project along with a light-hearted story. The poetic lyrics and small references to Earth’s beauty tie into the atmospheric feel that this album is going for. All of these details left me admiring Candy Claws’ talent in musical production, but also their ability to make a world simply out of sounds.

When I came across Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time, I was first intrigued by the cover art. After a lot of research, my interest for this album peaked, and I knew that I had to give it a listen. My love for niche artists and conceptual albums thrived as I listened to each track, even more so around the end. Although Candy Claws’ production can sound confined or distorted, I personally enjoyed their take on the dream pop scene. I guarantee that somebody in the music world will have a newfound love for this album, especially shoegaze or dream-pop fans. Ceres and Calypso in the Deep Time may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth a listen!

Album Review: Midnights by Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights, was released on October 21, 2022, barely over a week ago, and is already shattering world records. Midnights is a lyrical pop album with 13 tracks, which she has shared are the stories of 13 sleepless nights throughout her life. These beautifully written songs are deeply personal, and Taylor sings about emotional struggles in a raw and honest way.

Let’s get into some of the songs on Midnights:

Track 2: “Maroon”

“Maroon” tells the story of a failed relationship and the powerful emotions she felt throughout it. Taylor sings of many different shades of red, a color that symbolizes passion. Taylor has said that “red emotions” are the most powerful; with affection, love, and warmth on one side and jealousy, frustration, and miscommunication on the other; which are shown in “Maroon.”

“The burgundy on my t-shirt / When you splashed your wine into me / And how the blood rushed into my cheeks / So scarlet, it was / The mark thеy saw on my collarbone / The rust that grew bеtween telephones / The lips I used to call home / So scarlet, it was maroon”

Track 5: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

In “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” Taylor sings of waiting to be noticed and loved. She tells of how she still felt alone after reaching fame; and how she hosted celebrity parties and struggled with an eating disorder, waiting for love to save her, but ultimately realized that she is on her own.

“From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes / I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this / I hosted parties and starved my body / Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss / The jokes weren’t funny, I took the money / My friends from home don’t know what to say / I looked around in a blood-soaked gown / And I saw something they can’t take away / ‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned / Everything you lose is a step you take / So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid”

Track 12: “Sweet Nothing”

“Sweet Nothing” is a sweet and beautiful song about finally meeting someone who feels like home and just being comfortable around them. Taylor sings about how her romantic partner isn’t constantly demanding more from her and loves her unconditionally.

“They said the end is coming / Everyone’s up to something / I find myself running home to your sweet nothings / Outside, they’re push and shoving / You’re in the kitchen humming / All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing”

Track 13: “Mastermind”

In “Mastermind,” Taylor confesses to her partner that she was determined to win him over from the moment she saw him, so she “masterminded” a plan to make him fall in love with her. She confesses that she only manipulated him because of feelings of anxiety, because she cared so much. In the end, she realizes that her partner knew the entire time and played into her trap because he saw who she truly was and loved her anyways.

“No one wanted to play with me as a little kid / So I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since / To make them love me and make it seem effortless / This is the first time I’ve felt the need to confess / And I swear / I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian / ‘Cause I care”

Also, 3 hours after the release of Midnights, Taylor surprise released 7 more tracks on what she called Midnights (3am Edition). Her lyrical genius clearly shines through on this album, and I loved every minute of it! Give Midnights a listen!

-Lam T.

Album Review: Superache by Conan Gray

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Singer-songwriter Conan Gray’s widely anticipated sophomore album, Superache, was released on June 24, 2022. If you haven’t heard of Conan Gray, he has previously released an EP called Sunset Season and his debut album, Kid Krow. You may have heard his songs “Heather”, “Maniac”, and/or “Memories.”

Superache is a pop album with beautiful vocals, lyricism, and style. It is centered around the themes of love, friendship, and childhood trauma/abuse. Following are the tracks that stood out to me the most on this album:

Track 1: “Movies”

“We go to parties with people you know

We’re holdin’ hands but it’s all just for show

‘Cause Monday through Friday we both barely spoke

They don’t know, they can’t know”

This track touches on the flaws beneath the surface of the narrator’s relationship. On the outside, the relationship seems perfect; however, as the narrator tells us, there are many major problems within the relationship.

Track 4: “Best Friend”

“Who else is gonna grocery shop with me at 2 AM?

Who else will take that picture for you just to get revenge?

You’re just as psycho as me, just as sick inside the head”

This track is written to Conan’s best friend since seventh grade, Ashley. It tells of their unconditional and platonic love, a rare and beautiful thing. In this song, listeners can truly hear Conan’s love for his best friend and how he would do anything for her.

Track 5: “Astronomy”

“Stop trying to keep us alive

You’re pointing at stars in the sky that already died

Stop trying to keep us alive

You can’t force the stars to align when they’ve already died”

“Astronomy” is a song about two young lovers drifting apart when their romance dies out and they both realize that their lover is not the same person they fell in love with anymore. Conan compares this relationship to astronomy, specifically the stars.

Track 8: “Family Line”

“Scattered across my family line

God, I have my father’s eyes

But my sister’s when I cry

I can run, but I can’t hide

From my family line”

This track touches on Conan’s rough and traumatic childhood. He sings about abuse inflicted by his father and how his life has been influenced by the holes in his family life. The concept of family line is that someone can never truly detach from their family, as characteristics existent in their family live on in the person themself.

Track 12: “The Exit”

“Feels like we had matching wounds

But mine’s still black and bruised

And yours is perfectly fine now”

“The Exit”, the final track on Superache, tells the story of two former lovers and their separate pathways after a failed relationship. The narrator observes their past lover in love with someone else, happily moving on as if their relationship never happened. On the other hand, the narrator is still stuck on their broken relationship and the future he believed they would have.

To conclude, Superache by Conan Gray is a beautifully written album that is completely worth listening to. Every track on the album is well written and takes listeners into another world. Definitely give Superache a listen!

-Lam T.