album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Rusty Reid
Imagine a geezer, an authentic child of the Sixties, an old “never-was” troubadour with a style and message born of the idealism of that revolutionary generation and honed through decades of study, experience and passion, trying to break through the noise and orgy of self-aggrandizement that is the contemporary music biz! Ridiculous, eh? Foolhardy! Audacious stupidity! Sheer cluelessness!
By Rusty Reid5 years ago in Beat
14th of July, 1986: 'Knocked Out Loaded' by Bob Dylan Is Released
When I first read the fact that I was about to write an article consisting of five things I like about Knocked Out Loaded, I was absolutely terrified and filled with dread. I was really thinking about abandoning this article altogether, but then I said, “No!” I said that I was going to show people that this album is actually pretty good and that they are just mean. It deserves its place in Bob Dylan’s discography as being a pretty different album in every sense of the word. It takes place in what I have personally called the “Cocaine Years.” It was very apparent that Bob Dylan was taking an awful lot of cocaine, and really, between Empire Burlesque and Knocked Out Loaded and even in the strange sound of Down in the Groove, I think it’s safe to say that the cocaine years didn’t do Dylan much service in terms of luck and money. This doesn’t mean, however, that the albums are trash and not worthy of their place in the Dylan canon. Let’s get on with this then. Without further introduction, I will explain five things I love about the album Knocked Out Loaded (1986). The album is regarded as one of his worst efforts (if not the worst effort). I, however, wouldn’t call it that. What I’m really trying to say here (and I will repeat myself if I have to) is that this album is good, you guys are just mean. Here are five things I love about the album Knocked Out Loaded (1986).
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Beat
Lil Skies 'Shelby' Album Review
Kimetrius Foose, or more commonly known by his stage name, Lil Skies, is a 20-year-old rapper and songwriter from Pennsylvania. He released his debut album Shelby in March 2019 through his label Atlantic records. Lil Skies got his recognition in the rap game with his mixtape Life of a Dark Rose,which was released in late 2017 and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 charts. I got introduced to the rapper when listening to his single “Red Roses,” which peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
By Dakota Thomas5 years ago in Beat
Gregory Fuentes Presents “Because the Internet”
Foreword The following is a collection of short stories and reactions to a well-loved album. This should be read for entertainment and inspiration purposes. Some of the events described may be challenging to read but rest assure, nothing is fiction. Each song and their subsequent orders do not need to be listened to before reading in order to understand the context. I do recommend actually listening to Because the Internet at some point, up to you. It just makes things easier. Credit to Donald Glover, The Boy, a.k.a. Childish Gambino.
By Gregory Fuentes5 years ago in Beat
Searching For Sasquatch: 'Cabin Fever' Review
What happens when you take three friends with undeniable love and passion for music? You get the up and coming group Searching For Sasquatch. These small-town Connecticut boys are working to make their mark in the music world with their first album Cabin Fever, released on July 6th, 2019. Brendan (Hiero), Peter (James Parker), and Teddy (Jay Koi) have been friends for years and always shared a love for music and innovation. With the same dedication and drive to create something bigger, Searching For Sasquatch was born. This has been years in the making so make sure you give them a listen and drop a follow to see what else they have up their sleeves.
By Kelly Daly5 years ago in Beat
Don't Look Away from Trevor Rabin's 'Can't Look Away'
When it comes to the rock music scene, Trevor Rabin is perhaps best known for his work as a guitarist within the band Yes. The progressive rock band became more of a pop rock band in the 1980s when he joined. But Rabin was still capable of being heavy when he needed to be. Following Yes' Big Generator tour, Rabin took some time to work on his fourth solo album, Can't Look Away, which was released July 10, 1989.
By Steven Shinder5 years ago in Beat
Album Review: 'Doom Days' by Bastille
If you are a fan of alternative music, you've probably heard of the band, Bastille. Their 2013 hit, "Pompeii" rocked radios for a bit, and the band has been releasing music ever since in the form of three studio albums, four mixtapes titled Other People's Heartache 1 to 4, and two non-album collaborations, one being the instant 2018 hit "Happier" with Marshmello.
By Cody Deitz5 years ago in Beat
My Name Don't Exist
I recently saw Noname in concert in Chicago when she opened for Anderson .Paak (I’ll be talking about .Paak’s performance more in depth at another time). Noname is, of course, incredibly talented, but also incredibly charismatic, and full of energy while on stage. It was whimsical to see her kinky straight wig blow in the wind as she performed some of her hits. The feeling I felt after the concert inspired me to dive into my hard drive and pull out a song analysis I did for Noname when Room 25 first dropped. Here is that analysis.
By Azaria Brown5 years ago in Beat
Jay Park - ‘Nothing Matters’ EP Review
Just under four weeks ago, Jay Park released The Road Less Traveled, his first studio album since 2016. It was an inconsistent-yet-intriguing offering; a record that offered up some staggering highs, but matched them with excruciating lows. Songs like “Feng Shui,” a lyrically humorous, vibrantly produced number provided ample amounts of enjoyment, and tracks like “Legacy” showcased Park’s ability to still strike a poignant note with his lyricism, as well as it shone a light on his versatile abilities as an artist. But, with “Ben Baller,” amongst others, lacking the depth that the Korean Hip-Hop staple has had a reputation for upholding, the album still felt like it was missing something.
By Nathan Sartain5 years ago in Beat
Lizzo | 'Cuz I Love You' | Album Review
Lizzo, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit (Michigan), is a 31 year old singer and rapper. In April 2019 she released her third studio album Cuz I Love You, her first major studio label released with Atlantic Records. Now I started to take notice of this album when the first single, "Juice," was announced as Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’ for Monday 7th January 2019. At first I wasn’t sure what to think about this song, but it definitely paved the way to finding more of her songs and developing a quick love for this extremely talented artist.
By Joe Harris5 years ago in Beat