Bebe Rexha: “Expectations” (Warner Bros. Records) Melanie Wedemeier July 4, 2018 Albums, Reviews Bebe Rexha’s debut album is good, to say the least, but what’s even better is the array of genres Rexha plays with on Expectations. Featuring artists from rap, contemporary R&B, and country -- fused ...
5 Seconds of Summer: “Youngblood” (Capitol Records) Debra Kate Schafer June 27, 2018 Albums, Reviews It has been three years since we last heard from the Australian foursome who were first thrust into the spotlight opening for the English quintet (later turned foursome, as well), One Direction. Although...
The Get Up Kids: “Kicker” (Polyvinyl Records) Debra Kate Schafer June 27, 2018 Albums, Reviews When I scroll through my music library on my phone, I always laugh a bit to myself when I get to the letter “H.” Why? Because I have about eight or nine songs with the name -- “Holiday” -- that range fro...
Mike Shinoda: “Post Traumatic” (Warner Bros. Records) Melanie Wedemeier June 27, 2018 Albums, Reviews My initial reaction to Post Traumatic -- while listening to the first twenty seconds of the opening track -- was dread. As a diary of Mike Shinoda’s experiences from the loss of bandmate Chester Benningt...
Welles: “White Trees and Red Trashes” (300 Entertainment) Debra Kate Schafer June 27, 2018 Albums, Reviews There are certain people in this world who just “get” music. Some of the biggest stars of today still don’t “get” music and they possibly never will. To be one with music is to clearly interpret feelings...
Father John Misty: “God’s Favorite Customer” (Sub Pop) Melanie Wedemeier June 20, 2018 Albums, Reviews Heartbreak sucks. Being exiled to a hotel room during a brief separation from your wife sucks even more, and that is what God’s Favorite Customer is here to chat about. As you’d expect with any...
Chvrches: “Love is Dead” (Glassnote) Debra Kate Schafer June 6, 2018 Albums, Reviews Creativity is not something that you can necessarily learn. Creativity is something that you have deep within you, found in the depths of your mind, alongside your hopes, dreams, and imagination. Creativ...
Beach House: “7” (Sub Pop) Debra Kate Schafer May 30, 2018 Albums, Reviews Beach House’s seventh studio album is appropriately titled 7. Despite the fact that that makes complete sense, it would have also made sense to have named it “Amazing” or “Marvelous” or some other extrem...
Charlie Puth: “Voicenotes” (Atlantic Records) Debra Kate Schafer May 30, 2018 Albums, Reviews 2 Charlie Puth is constantly on everyone’s radar, even if you don’t know it. Since his first song back in 2015 (the smash hit and Paul Walker tribute, “See You Again,” alongside Wiz Khalifa), to his debut ...
Arctic Monkeys: “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” (Domino Recording Company) Debra Kate Schafer May 23, 2018 Albums, Reviews It’s as though the skies opened up and the sun shone simultaneously. The rain, the harsh reality of heavy raindrops seems to have poured down over the Arctic Monkeys. Although similarly, the bright, illu...
