In 2019, it’s hard to decipher what is and isn’t pop music, and who is and isn’t a pop star. With the rise of streaming and the advent of the internet, you don’t have to amass heavy airplay on commercial…
Author: Connor Thompson
Girlpool releases an album about change in a period of transition
Girlpool’s new album, titled What Chaos Is Imaginary, is an album about change. It embodies the concept of transitions and shifts within a breadth of their manifestations- physical, mental, emotional, and musical. Fittingly, the album offers a diverse set of…
Backstreet Boys cling to old fame with new release
The legendary Backstreet Boys are back at it with a new album, titled DNA. While its name may suggest a foray into each member’s individuality and influences, the only thing to be found on this album is a heartless attempt…
Toro y Moi expands sound in new album “Outer Peace”
On his new album, titled Outer Peace, chillwave paragon Toro y Moi offers an assortment of danceable tracks that tastefully expand his sound to include shades of R&B, house, and hip-hop. Chaz Bear, who operates under the musical moniker of…
The Delines’ new album: An accomplishment in storytelling following tragedy
The Imperial, the sophomore release of Portland, Oregon based band The Delines, is an album of dualities and tensions. Sonically, The Delines stride between the sensual sway of soul and heartfelt twang of country, while the album lyrically explores the…
An Inside Look at the Ashland Music Scene
It was a cool, crisp Nov. night, and I found myself taking refuge inside a small garage in Ashland, Oregon. A well-worn wooden skateboard half-pipe occupied half of the floorspace. Sketches of nude figures drawn with black paint smothered the…
3 women deliver in ‘boygenius’ debut
On their self-titled debut EP, boygenius delivers a dreamy collection of saccharine, folk-infused indie rock that showcase the strengths of three stellar female singer-songwriters. Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus formed boygenius through a mutual admiration. Though all three…
Vince Staples Album Receives 8/10 Stars
On his third studio album, FM!, Vince Staples offers a tight package of heavy hitting tracks, laden with dark themes that listeners have come to expect from the Def Jam rapper. The sonic palette of FM! differs significantly from that…
Flu season: What to know and how to prepare
As the fall season draws to a close, another less beloved annual event begins: the flu season. Last year’s flu season was one of the deadliest in decades. In the 2017-2018 flu season, there were more than 30,000 laboratory-confirmed influenza-related…