

Album Review: The Flaming Lips - Oczy Mlody
By Maria Lubanovic, Contributor [Warner Bros.; 2017] Rating: 5.5/10 Key Tracks: “Oczy Mlody,” “We a Famly,” “Nigdy Nie” After emerging on the alternative scene in 1983 with their psychedelic sound, The Flaming Lips are always guaranteed to release their own unique take on alternative music. Their newest album, Oczy Mlody, has some great moments that make the album an interesting listen. Most of the tracks on Oczy Mlody are soft and ambient, with unique instrumentals. The titl


Album Review: You Me At Six - Night People
By Marvin Dotiyal, Contributor [Infectious; 2017] Rating: 4/10 Key Tracks: “Plus One,” “Give,” “Spell It Out” You Me At Six’s Night People is not what you'd expect if you religiously chanted the chorus to “Save It For the Bedroom” back in 2008. Even if you only saw them because they frequently toured with All Time Low, you still had a blast singing that song. Hailing from the UK, You Me At Six is best known as a pop-punk/pop rock band during their career; however, in Night Dr


Album Review: The xx - I See You
By Diana Powers, Contributor [Young Turks; 2017] Rating: 8/10 Key Tracks: “Replica,” “Lips” Back in 2009, English trio The xx, consisting of Jamie xx, Romy Croft and Oliver Sim released a self-titled debut that became one of the most talked about indie releases of the decade. Their minimal, sultry, brooding sound was fresh and original, making xx a truly great album, which, although unassuming, remains one of the most influential indie releases in recent years. 2012’s Coexist


Album Review: SOHN - Rennen
By Sam Tornow, Editorial Director [4AD; 2017] Rating: 6/10 Key Tracks: “Signal,” “Dead Wrong,” “Harbour” To freeze in the shadows of giants is a role no one wishes to uptake; although, for giants to exist, there must ants who gaze upward. SOHN is an ant in the self-perfecting realm of R&B, where artists like Frank Ocean, The Weeknd and Blood Orange tower over all. Even in the newly popular indie-R&B field, SOHN exists in a musical plane below James Blake and the elusive FKA T


Album Review: Surf Curse - Nothing Yet
By Jon Fuchs, Music Director [Danger Collective; 2017] Rating: 9/10 Key Tracks: “Doom Generation,” “Cronenberg,” “All is Lost” Back in 2013, the Reno, NV-based surf-rock duo Surf Curse became one of the most underrated indie bands of the past few years. After releasing a demo tape, their debut record Buds, and the Sad Boys EP all in one year, the team of Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck gained an audience with their exciting guitar melodies, sad and relatable lyrics and quirky


Album Review: Code Orange - Forever
By Eli Shively, General Manager [Roadrunner; 2017] Rating: 7.5/10 Key Tracks: “Forever,” “Bleeding In The Blur” If Turnstile’s mastery of bouncy power chord grooves and neo-P.M.A. persona have made them the “good guys” of the current hardcore landscape, Pittsburgh’s Code Orange are its snarling, brash heel characters — many fans of the genre love to hate them, but their ability to make innovative heavy music is undeniable and has kept them relevant in the scene for almost hal


Album Review: Half Japanese - Hear the Lions Roar
By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Fire; 2017] Rating: 6/10 Key Tracks: “Attack of the Giant Leeches,” “The Preventers,” “Do It Now” Half Japanese is known for their persistent unmusical style and upbeat punk jams. On their 16th full-length release, Half Japanese ironically shows that their long career is key on consistency. Hear the Lions Roar is a journey through sci-fi and thriller movies, joyous bops and romantic wonderings. Half Japanese doesn’t break the mold with this rele


Album Review: Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 3
By Jon Fuchs, Music Director [Self-Released; 2016] Rating: 8.5/10 Key Tracks: “Legend Has It,” “Hey Kids (Bumaye),” “2100” In a time of political division, racial tension and non-stop paranoia, Run the Jewels is the rap group America needs. With two amazing self-titled albums under their belt, the dynamic duo of Killer Mike and El-P have created some of the catchiest, raunchiest and most politically-charged rap anthems of the decade, each filled with enough anger and energy t


Album Review: The Weeknd - Starboy
By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Republic; 2016] Rating: 6.5/10 Key Tracks: “Starboy," “Reminder,” “Sidewalks” From mixtapes to a breakthrough Grammy winning album, Able Tesfaye – a.k.a. The Weeknd – is indisputably talented. Last year’s Beauty Behind the Madness was met with critical acclaim, created many new fans and left them wondering what’s next; the answer came sooner than expected with his third studio album Starboy. The latest album showcases Tesfaye’s seductive falsett


Album Review: Metallica - Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
By Justin Cudahy, Contributor [Blackened Recordings; 2016] Rating: 6/10 Key Tracks: “Atlas, Rise!,” “Halo on Fire,” “Spit Out the Bone” It’s safe to say that Metallica is one of, if not the most influential heavy metal band in all of music. Albums such as Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are widely considered to be the band's best, as it established their genre of music right from the start. Unfortunately, since the start of the new century, the band has had trouble f