Review of Best Coast’s ‘The Only Place’
It's almost summer, which means that there are plenty of feel good summer albums to come out in the next month or so. And really, what's more summer than California? Follow up question; what's more California than the LA duo Best Coast? Fronted by Bethany Cosentino and backed by Bobb Bruno, the duo have really become known →
Review of Tenacious D’s ‘Rize of the Fenix’
I remember when I was younger, cracking up to the Jack Black and Kyle Gass' music video for "Tribute" off of the first Tenacious D album. I still laugh to this day when they get to "Rock!" And I might be the only one here, but I did laugh during their movie The Pick of Destiny - regardless →
Review of Karmin’s ‘Hello’
You might have heard Karmin in a lot of different places. The majority of people have probably heard her cover popular artists on YouTube like Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, while others (including myself) heard them when they played on Saturday Night Live earlier this year with host Zooey Deshanel. Both of the songs that they played during →
Review of Silversun Pickups’ ‘Neck Of The Woods’
When having to describe a band like Silversun Pickups to friends, I'd portray them as a collection of different pieces of art. I know that sounds weird, but it's rather true if you think of it. Each one of the California-based quartet's albums (including EPs) evokes different feelings and moods that are just as colorful as their album →
Review of Father John Misty’s ‘Fear Fun’
It's funny how one guest spot in one music video can peak someone's interest about a project, artist, or band. Case in point, Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza. If it wasn't for her guest spot in Father John Misty's music video for "Hollywood Forever Cemetary Sings." If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have even known about →
Review of B.o.B.’s ‘Strange Clouds’
B.o.B blew up a couple of years ago because of the power of two tracks; "Nothin' But You (feat. Bruno Mars)," and "Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams)." These two songs catapulted the ATL rapper into the pop music stratosphere, creating quite a big tear between hip-hop fans in the process. Some enjoyed him because of his energetic flow and →
Review of Damon Albarn’s ‘Dr. Dee’
Damon Albarn is a legend. If you don't know who he is, then I suggest you take a seat. Albarn was the frontman to the great 90's band Blur, then went on to be immortalized as 2D in the alternative tour de force known as Gorillaz. When he's not doing both of those things, he can be →
Review of Jack White’s ‘Blunderbuss’
Just over a year ago, The White Stripes informed the world that they were no longer making music together. As sad as it was then, I've come to a place of understanding and fulfillment. They didn't leave us with a bad album (or any bad albums in general), and became one of the most loved duos of our →
Review of Neon Trees’ ‘Picture Show’
I don't like backtracking as much as the next reviewer, but in the case of Neon Trees, I kind of have to. I stated in the music section of our Looking Forward To section earlier this month that their music would fill in the electric-alternative hole that The Killers left for us a couple of years ago. And →
Review of Death Grips’ ‘The Money Store’
If you are anything like me, you appreciate music that sounds different from what is being played by everyone. This can bring you into some fun and memorable territory, like the alternative trio Battles or the soulful throwback sound of Mayer Hawthorne. But other times, it takes you to a place that almost makes you scared for yourself →
Bully: A Perspective
Before I get into Lee Hirsch's documentary Bully, I would like to state my own stance on the topic of "bullying." When I was younger, I was the one being picked on because I was different, whether it was because of what I looked like or how I spoke. I've gone to the brink and back with my →
Musical Opinion: Will Anyone Become A Real “Classic?”
Back when I was younger, I was brought up on whatever was playing in my family's car radio. Normally, it was the "oldies." These oldies, including The Beatles' "Elanor Rigby," Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Boston's "More Than A Feeling," contributed to not only my personal tastes in music, but some of my first memories of music period. →
Review of Bassnectar’s ‘Vava Voom’
Before I even knew the word "dubstep," I knew Bassnectar. One of my friends in college just so happened to be blasting "Cozza Frenzy" through the halls, which immediately sparked my interest. Ever since then, I've been digging through his back catalogs, downloading most of his free library on his website, and blaring it wherever I can. →
Review of No Room for Rockstars – The Vans Warped Tour
If you don't know what Warped Tour is, let me explain. The summer-long tour is a showcase of the alternative music scene, including acts that make you mosh, and others that can mellow you out. That's why I love it so much. In the day when the 200 band tour come to my hometown, I get to →
Review of Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded”
Nicki Minaj is going through an identity crisis. And that is not just because she is portraying different personalities in her music. Minaj is labeled as hip-hop, an MC if you were. She even got the nod on MTV's Hottest MCs list at number four. But she is also a pop artist, making songs that are →
Review of Dev’s “The Night The Sun Came Up”
If you don't know who Dev is, then you must not go to the clubs that often. Maybe some songs that she was featured in could jog your memory? How about Far-East Movement's "Like A G6," or New Boyz' "Backseat," or anything really with The Cataracs. She's been featured and sampled in numerous songs - more or →
Review of Cathy Heller’s ‘Imagine Nation EP’
I'm not really old enough to say this, but I'm going to anyways - pop music isn't what it once was. With the wave of electronic pop out there, it's easy to forget that singer/songwriters still exist in today's music. Hopefully, us music listeners will go back to basics and remember that a piano and a voice is →
Review of The Mars Volta’s ‘Noctourniquet’
Years ago, I was flipping between the two MTV shows that were on. I don't remember what was on the first one, but MTV2 had The Mars Volta's music video for "The Widow" (off of their 2005 album Frances the Mute) playing. To this day, it is the only music video that legitimately scared me. Maybe it →
Review of Odd Future’s ‘The OF Tape, Vol. 2′
There are two ways I can approach writing this introductory paragraph for Odd Future, the most controversial rap collective since N.W.A.. One, I can fly my Wolf Gang flag in the air and say that their new album, The OF Tape, Vol. 2 is the best thing ever, or I can be like a lot of critics and just →
Review of The Shins’ ‘Port of Morrow’
As my personal evolution into the alternative scene continued to expand over my teenage years, I happened to find a small little movie called Garden State. In this movie, Sam (played by Natalie Portman) hands over her headphones to Andrew (played by Zac Braff), and tells him that "this song will change your life." The song was The →
Review of The Ting Tings’ ‘Sounds from Nowheresville”
Remember years ago, when getting nominated for a MTV Video Music Award was a big deal? No? Well I don't blame you. But in fact, there was once a time when a relatively unknown getting nominated for their biggest award was a huge deal. I mean, that's what happened to English twosome The Ting Tings back →
Review of Say Anything’s ‘Anarchy, My Dear’
Where do I begin with Say Anything? Max Bemis and Co. went from being in the green graces of the alternative scene by mixing in delightfully anthematic lyrics (more like poems) and some amazingly catchy riffs. Their first album ...Is A Real Boy and their follow-up In The Defense Of The Genre were two amazing two-disc sets filled →
Review of SSX (XBOX 360)
Years ago, when "next-gen" meant the PS2, I was introduced to what would be one of my favorite sports franchises of all time when I played the original SSX back in 2000. I still remember the commentators telling me that "Snow plus Dream equals SnowDream." From then on, the franchise has always had a soft spot in my →
Review of WZRD’s Self Titled Debut
Before I start talking about WZRD, I'd like to talk about Kid Cudi for a moment. When he first stepped onto the scene, everybody applauded him for being so different in his original debut, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day. Then, he released a vastly different album a couple of years ago in the form of →
