ALL CAMPUS RADIO NETWORK

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

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

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Epic; 2016] Rating: 5/10 Key Tracks: “The Duke,” “Culling” Following last year’s VII: Sturm und Drang is The Duke, the new Lamb of God EP is a dedication to the band’s late friend, Wayne Ford. Vocalist Randy Blythe comments on the subject matter on their website saying, “A little while ago I became friends with a fan named Wayne Ford – he was terminal – leukemia. He was very calm about his impending death, and we discussed it very openly. I lear

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Polyvinyl; 2016] Rating: 6.5/10 Key Tracks: “Something Ain’t Right,” “interspace,” “Being No One, Going Nowhere” On their latest, STRFKR persist the bouncing electronic jams that they’ve come to be known for. Being No One, Going Nowhere asserts a mission statement with its title, claiming anonymity while putting down the weight of self and destination. It feels far reaching and pretentious, but the music to find here is still fun nonetheless. Al

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Stage 6; 2016] Rating: 6/10 Kelly Reichardt takes the creative helm as director, screenwriter and editor with her latest work, Certain Women. Set in small town Montana, the film features three narratives that look into the lives of three different working class women. The vignette style of Certain Women comes from being adapted from Maile Meloy’s collection of short stories, Both Ways is the Only Way I Want it. Unconventional narrative format me

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Don Giovanni; 2016] Rating: 8/10 Key Tracks: “Perfect, Dark,” “Song About Sex,” “Qualified” It’s hard to be a woman. It’s hard to be black. If you live with a media-scape that doesn’t represent people who look like you, or you live in a society that doesn’t take you seriously because of the color of skin, life can be impossibly frustrating. It can be hard to explain too, but Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo puts words to turmoil under the name Sammus – an

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Interscope; 2016] Rating: 6/10 Key Tracks: “Joanne,” “Hey Girl,” “Come to Mama” Lady Gaga is nothing short of a pop icon. She’s shocked the entertainment world with the power and unpredictability of her live performances, made statements clad in raw meat, advocated for LGBT rights and started a career in acting. Gaga’s influence extends far beyond music, invigorating both pop and art. Media consumers have come to learn that what should be most e

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Party Smasher Inc.; 2016] Rating: 7.5/10 Key Tracks: “Wanting Not So Much To As To,” “Fugue,” “Nothing to Forget” The Dillinger Escape Plan has had a career spanning nearly two decades. Their sixth and final album caps their discography on what can best be described as thoughtfully experimental. Dissociation pays homage to everything it was built on, while also exploring what it can be in and of itself. Dillinger’s latest shows smart and interes

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Epitaph; 2016] Rating: 6.5/10 Key Tracks: “Angel in the Snow,” “Do You Really Want to Not Get Better?,” “Reversing Machine” The Long Beach natives of Joyce Manor have been putting out intense and sporadic jams about young-adult angst since 2011. A self-titled debut and two subsequent releases (one with their current label Epitaph) have established Joyce Manor in the punk realm, as well as built them an increasingly growing fan base. The band is

By Tanner Bidish, Contributor [Bayonet; 2016] Rating: 6.5/10 Key Tracks: “Arbitrarium V,” “Super Low,” “Audrey Horne” super low marks the sophomore release of Warehouse. The Atlanta-based indie-rockers made their debut last year with Tesseract, which gave them some traction and appeal. Most quintessential to their sound is vocalist Elaine Edenfield’s range and style. She is capable switching from low and harsh growls to melodic lulling. Edenfield shines on the record as the p