Review: This is… – Icona Pop

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This is…

Icona Pop

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-love-it-feat.-charli-xcx/id688137160?uo=4″ title=”Icona Pop”]

Grade: B-

Swedish duo, Icona Pop released their second studio album, This is…, September 24, 2013. Known for their hit, “I love it” the album is young, fresh and fun. It’s a fast car, top down, party album.

Review: Sistrionix – Deap Vally

 

Deap-Vally-Sistrionix-2013-1200x1200Deap Vally

Sistrionix

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/creeplife/id711878714?uo=4″ title=”Sistrionix-Deap Vally”]

Grade: C+

 

Who would’ve thought the rock duo, Deap Vally would meet each other in a crochet class in California! Lindsey Troy on guitar and vocals, and Julie Edwards on drums and vocals released their debut album, Sistrionix, early this year. With comparisons to the [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-white-stripes/id2456318?uo=4″ title=”White Stripes” text=”White Stripes”], [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/joan-jett/id916187?uo=4″ title=”Joan Jett” text=”Joan Jett”] and [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/janis-joplin/id365673?uo=4″ title=”Janis Joplin” text=”Janis Joplin”], the two has taken the music world by storm.

Review: Melophobia – Cage the Elephant

MelophobiaCage The Elephant

Melophobia

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/come-a-little-closer/id683346293?uo=4″ title=”Melophobia”]

Letter Grade: B

 

Melding together the upbeat songwriting that made their first two albums so successful, with a distinctly more lo-fi sound, the third release from Bowling Green Alt-rockers, Cage the Elephant, continues to drive more traditional Rock N Roll into the mainstream.  Melophobia, the follow up to 2011’s wildly successful [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shake-me-down/id409370037?uo=4″ title=”Thank You, Happy Birthday” text=”Thank You, Happy Birthday”], starts off with two fast paced jams before slowing down in the third track, [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/telescope/id683346293?i=683346495&uo=4″ title=”Telescope” text=”Telescope”], a slow moving, somewhat sad, surf guitar fueled little ditty that is stuck somewhere in between [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-beach-boys/id562555?uo=4″ title=”The Beach Boys” text=”The Beach Boys”] and [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mac-demarco/id501437762?uo=4″ title=”Mac Demarco” text=”Mac Demarco”].

Review: Glow and Behold – Yuck

YuckYuck

Glow and Behold

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/glow-and-behold/id694888704?uo=4″ title=”Glow and Behold”]

Letter Grade: C+

 

Reviewed By: Margaret Jokoh

On September 30, 2013, Yuck released their album, “Glow and Behold.” Contrary to their name, Yuck, is a band who makes great music. The indie sound is brighten up with the influence of trumpets and the use of distortion pedals. “Glow and Behold” is smooth and very clean all the way through. Songs like, “Lose my Breath” definitely “glow” more brightly on the album than some of the other songs on the album.

Top 20 Tracks Week of 10.13.13

Reflektor_Single_cover

1. “Reflektor”- Arcade Fire [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reflektor/id697069412?i=697069710&uo=4″ title=”Itunes”]

2. “Don’t Save Me”- Haim [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dont-save-me/id576494267?i=576494383&uo=4″ title=”Itunes”]

3. “Recover”-Chvrches [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/recover/id611187047?i=611187341&uo=4″ title=”Itunes”]

Review: Volcano Choir – Repave

VC.SP_DP_Gate_Cover_rev [Converted]Volcano Choir

Repave

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/byegone/id658345787?uo=4″ title=”Itunes”]

Grade: A

The organ drone that kicks off Repave, the sophomore album from Eau Claire based band Volcano Choir, immediately captures the listener and sets them on this epic journey of an album. Justin Vernon and friends have been hard at work since [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bon-iver/id273428126?uo=4″ title=”Bon Iver” text=”Bon Iver “]hung up their instruments at the end of 2012. Vernon already released one album with his band [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-shouting-matches/id610046049?uo=4″ title=”The shouting matches” text=”The Shouting Matches”] this year, and while that was a foot stomping and jug blowing good time, Repave and Volcano Choir pick up where Bon Iver left off. Just as the lead single, “Byegone”, had alluded to over the summer, each song grows in complexity from beginning to end, resulting in an album of rich folk anthems.

Review: Let’s Be Still – Head and the Heart

head.heartThe Head and The Heart
Let’s Be Still

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shake/id677361076?uo=4″]

Letter Grade: B+

 

Reviewed By: Margaret Jokoh

October 15, 2013, The Head and The Heart released their sophomore album, Let’s Be Still. The album is comforting and soothing with the influence of meaningful lyrics. For those who are new listeners to the band, it has a mix of folk, indie and country, reminiscent of Mumford and Sons and Passenger. You can tell that every song is carefully thought out; though many songs are very simple, when it boils down to it, this is what makes the band truly genius. They show you that a band does not need the complexities of instruments and voices to not only make a great song, but a great album.

Review: Days Are Gone – Haim

HaimHaim

Days Are Gone

[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-wire/id681237313?uo=4″ title=”Days Are Gone”]

Letter Grade:

(There are no A+’s at Loyola)

 

Reviewed By: Margaret Jokoh

On September 27, 2013, sisters Danielle, Este and Alana of Haim released their debut album, Days are Gone. The album has a very elective sound, with it ranging from classic hip hop beats to funky guitar riffs. This is represented in songs like, “My Song 5” and “Running If you call my name.” Without fail, the sisters continue to portray their classic sound with synthesizers, dope drum beats and their hypnotizing melodic voices.

New York: A Love Story

Written By: Jordan Hernandez
Mack-Wilds-New-York-A-Love-StoryYoung, sexy, talented, and smooth are all words that can be used to describe new musical artist Mack Wilds. With an album set to hit stores on Monday, September 30, Mack Wilds is ready to wow fans for the first time as a rapper/ singer. Does the last name Wilds ring a bell? Mack, whose real first name is Tristian, started his career off as an actor. Working on top shows like the CWs 90210 and HBOs The Wire, Tristian showed his great range of acting ability and gathered a large fan base. Now, he is showcasing his tough rap flow along side his buttery smooth vocals on his first album New York: A Love Story.