New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Boogie, Bring Me The Horizon, James Blake and more. Boogie - Everything's For Sale Honesty. It’s the quality that Shady Record’s newest star, Boogie, is showcasing on his … Continue reading New Music Roundup: January
Atlanta rapper Future needs little introduction. The trap-rap powerhouse has been one of the leading faces of the current rap generation for much of this decade and a highly influential figure on both the commercial and artistic fronts of mainstream hip-hop for many years now. Known for his signature auto-tune croon style of rapping, Future's … Continue reading Future – Future Hndrxx Presents: The Wizrd
In this decade, there aren't many artists who come as praised and respected by critics, fans and musicians alike as Sharon Van Etten. Prior to her latest release, each of her four studio albums had been well received for their harrowing portrayals of the human condition and consistently stellar vocal performances. She is a champion … Continue reading Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
As much as some people hate the cliché of a new year and all that it symbolizes, there is something refreshing about starting clean from the top of the calendar - reenergized vision, sudden motivation, a blank canvas. Such is the case for music. Like every other year, the start of 2019 fills us fans … Continue reading Staff picks for the most anticipated records of 2019
We spoke with the Portland musician on the inspiration for his new album, the dynamic of recording solo, his favorite acts around PDX and more.
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, Jeff Tweedy and more. 21 Savage - i am > i was 21 Savage returns with his sophomore album that truly shows he was … Continue reading New Music Roundup: December
100 of our favorite songs from the year that was.
One of music's most transcendent qualities is its timelessness, its ability to exist outside of the parameters of minutes and hours, days and nights, years and decades. It can be as beautiful 50 years from now as it was yesterday. Equally, it can take on a completely new life of its own when absorbed in … Continue reading Best of 2018: Top 10 Special Releases
Some of my favorite music this year came in the form of EPs, which for the sake of time, I guess you could consider very efficient. Nevertheless, this year's best short albums gave us some outstanding debuts from new faces, notable sidesteps from well-established veterans and so much more. Here are 10 of my favorite … Continue reading Best of 2018: Top 10 EPs
In 2018, I had the pleasure to come on board at Riffs and Rhymes and give my opinion about multiple artists and styles of music. With that being said, 2018 was such a great year for music! The amount of music that was covered this year was very constant and diverse. No matter what week … Continue reading Best of 2018: Matthew’s Top 10 Albums
By this point, I suppose 2018 hardly needs an introduction. There's a lot going on outside and today's music reflects that, as art always tends to do. If there's one positive thing we can all agree on is that there is truly an infinite amount of great music being released into the world on a … Continue reading Best of 2018: Roberto’s Top 10 Albums
I’ll never forget the first time I heard a song by Tash Sultana. I was scrolling through Instagram and one of my friends posted a video he’d made using Sultana’s song “Notion” in the background. Although I had never heard of this artist, it all sounded somewhat familiar to me. I don’t know what you … Continue reading Tash Sultana – Flow State
What defines a classic record? For a lot of people, it varies. Some people think it comes down to strictly the music and that it needs to be exceptional to be called a classic but in today’s increasingly short attention span and lifespan of an album’s relevancy, it’s hard to really call anything a classic. … Continue reading Best of 2018: Potential Classic Rap Albums
When looking back over the past several years, so many pop punk artists have gone from being upcoming artists to one of the bigger names in the game, and Boston Manor is no exception. In 2016, the boys from Blackpool, United Kingdom decided to draw their line in the sand with their debut LP Stop … Continue reading Boston Manor – Welcome to the Neighbourhood
To put it plainly, 2018 was a lot. Parts of my self and sanity were tested because life came around so fast and I didn’t know how to cope in healthy ways. I finished my last semester of undergrad and graduated, got into the best relationship of my life, moved to a new city, and … Continue reading Best of 2018: Tyler’s Top 10 Albums
Since the 1990s, the list of underground hip-hop stalwarts to gain cult-like followings runs deep and potent. Punchline specialists like Big L and slick spitters like Mos Def and Talib Kweli of Black Star emerged as prominent figures on the East Coast prior to the turn of the century. Come the early 2000s, Atmosphere and … Continue reading Earl Sweatshirt – Some Rap Songs
An inside look at the prolific SoCal outfit and their creative inspirations.
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Action Bronson, Mike WiLL Made-It, Rosalía and more. Action Bronson - White Bronco Amidst filming his ongoing television show (highly recommend for foodies and weed-heads) and other out-of-booth … Continue reading New Music Roundup: November
I remember the first time hearing singer, songwriter and producer Lido: I was 18 years old, watching a YouTube video of an “electronic artist” performing next to a professional orchestra. My curiosity was intrigued by the unimaginably paired vocoder complementing the viola string section; such oddly distant instruments had somehow found sweet spots in the … Continue reading Lido – IOU 1 / IOU 2
Every era has its group of entertainers that eventually achieve household name status. From Michael Jackson and Prince to Justin Timberlake and Beyonce, each generation of music is keen to producing a select number of individuals fit for center stage. Anderson .Paak is perhaps one of this decade's notable show stopping performers. A multifaceted talent … Continue reading Album Review: Anderson .Paak – Oxnard
There is a thirst for Asian voices to be heard in popular media.
Movies are narrative visuals that provide a message or story to not only entertain audiences but convey feelings that can’t just be word vomited. A biopic is a film that conveys this underlying message, but also gives the audience this full bodied figure in a moment of their life. On NØIR, Smino paints his self-portrait … Continue reading Smino – NØIR
Nearly two years in the making, the Curren$y and Freddie Gibbs collaborative album which fans have been waiting on could not have come at a better time. Curren$y, never one to slack on musical output - an ironic contrast to the stoner persona evoked in his music - has a discography now pushing well over … Continue reading Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Fetti
Colter Wall's music embodies the mythos of a travel-worn troubadour on a seemingly never-ending journey. His rich baritone voice cuts through the dry sound of his guitar fearlessly and forcefully, yet maintains the calmness of still water in the summertime. His sound is rooted in foundational elements of country and folk music: lonesome tales of … Continue reading Colter Wall – Songs of the Plains
Do you remember those nights? C’mon now….you know what I’m talking about, right? Those nights. Alright, let me get you right. You already pregamed with the homies and y’all riding round town, heading to the function. Everybody on one and once you get to the spot, the place already kinda crowded. You get your cup … Continue reading Vince Staples – FM!
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Adrianne Lenker, Kurt Vile, Twenty One Pilots and more. Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss Big Thief's Capacity was one of the most endearing records of 2017. That same intimatacy is … Continue reading New Music Roundup: October
In its most bare form, folk music is powerful enough to bring people together and shape culture through compelling storytelling and imagery. Even today, there is still a place and an audience for the singer-songwriter who leans on little more than their voice and guitar to craft their songs. Marissa Nadler finds herself in this … Continue reading Marissa Nadler – For My Crimes
The former major label protégé is marching to the beat of his own drum.
Catharsis (noun): purification or purgation of the emotions, primarily through art. Amid releasing two records in the span of a year with psych rock outfit The Shorelines, Santa Barbara based singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Maxton Schulte found himself with an abundance of written material, much of which largely stemmed from significant personal experiences and feelings towards … Continue reading Maxton Schulte – Retrograde Emotion
“Let’s get back to this boom-bap shit.” One of the opening lines by frequent album narrator and voice actor, Steven Blum, gives us exactly what we're supposed to expect from Logic’s fourth studio album, YSIV. The Baltimore rapper takes a break from creating sci-fi story he’s been expanding the past few albums to get back to … Continue reading Logic – YSIV
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