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(08/27/19 7:52pm)
by Brandon Carson
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have been one of the hardest working bands since their start in 2011. So far, they have released 15 records, with five records coming out in 2017 alone. On their new album, Infest the Rat’s Nest, Gizzard has made the exact opposite of their April album, Fishing for Fishies. Infest the Rat’s Nest finds the band at a whole new level. The songs are short, sweet, and to-the-point; the drums are using double bass, the guitars are chugging, and the vocals are menacing. Yes, Gizzard has made a metal album. The album tells stories of planet Earth burning to a crisp, superbugs being made out of bacteria and antibiotics, and humans colonizing space, all with ferocious riffs and a wide variety of metal subgenres. While not being their most eccentric album to date, there is still plenty to unpack in what’s certainly their heaviest album yet.
(08/15/19 3:10pm)
by Brandon Carson
Twenty years have passed since Slipknot’s debut album, Slipknot. Since then, the band has released five successful records and played hundreds of huge bombastic live shows. Slipknot became one of the biggest names in metal throughout the past 20 years with their nine members, unique sound, and pure rage and aggression. Five years have passed since their last album, .5 the Gray Chapter, and during that time, longtime percussionist Chris Fehn left the group due to a legal dispute earlier this year. All of the troubles the band have been through resonate perfectly through the record. The aggression and brutality returned along with the band’s experimental side working together perfectly. Slipknot used the same producer from the last record, Greg Fidelman. However, We Are Not Your Kind (WANYK) has a rougher edge to the production that .5 the Gray Chapter was missing. The songwriting is as strong as ever, the songs are heavy, and the album actually feels as if it were made by the entire band.
(07/19/19 4:00pm)
by Tt Shinkan
When you hear “educational music” it probably brings you back to your kindergarten classroom. Sitting on the bright colored carpet, looking up at the teacher who’s teaching your class the latest color song.
As you got older, these songs started to seem “childish." Music is supposed to entertain people, not teach them. However, there are a few songs that slip in there and teach people important life lessons. Take one of my favorite genres, country. Sure, a lot of the more “mainstream” songs are about whiskey, love, and tractors but you do get some hidden gems that actually teach listeners something. Luke Comb’s song, “When It Rains It Pours,” basically teaches its listeners that, even though something bad might happen to you, it might have happened for a reason. John Rich’s song, “Shut Up About Politics,” is basically just that. He literally sings that even though he agrees with one political parties views, it’s still nothing but a “big pile of dirty tricks.” We can all still get along if we just put down our weapons and “shut up about politics.”
https://youtu.be/t_OynNTbd-Q
However, there’s one band that centers their entire career around teaching their listeners, and the genre they’ve decided to do it in isn’t what you would think. Sabaton is a power metal band from Falun, Sweden and almost every song they produce centers around battles and acts of heroism in history. Even their name, sabaton, is a historical reference, referring to the foot armor of a knight.
The band has been around since 1999 and consist of the members Joakim Brodén (vocals and keyboard), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Hannes van Dahl (drums), and Tommy Johansson (guitar). Since their formation, the band has released eight studio albums with a ninth set to be released on July 19th. Seven out of the eight all have the same historical themes to them, with “Metalizer” being an exception. However, their songs illustrate battles fought throughout history as well as telling stories of war heroes the history books didn’t teach us.
I first discovered them when I was a sophomore in college. One of my friends introduced me to them one night and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m a huge history buff and sometimes find myself researching historical events in my free time. I’m also a sucker for good metal music, so Sabaton was the whole package for me. One of the first songs I remember listening to was about an American soldier whose grave I happened to see when I went to Arlington National Cemetery a few years back.
“To Hell and Back” is about the most decorated World War II veteran in America, Audie Murphy, who joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 after forging his birth year by a year. The song details his time in the war as well as incorporating a poem he had written about it later in his life. The poem, “Crosses Grow on Anzio” is referenced in the song:
(06/29/19 4:00pm)
by Baylie Clevenger
I am a huge sucker for pop music. My love for this genre may or may not have stemmed from my adolescent obsession with boybands, but that is beside the point. Regardless of how I came to love this style of music, I am always looking for fresh, new sounds on the pop scene, and Sizzy Rocket has delivered just that with her sophomore album, Grrrl.
Rocket is a Los Angeles-based alt-pop musician known best for her tracks “Bestie” and “Girls to the Front.” Her sultry and fearless pop sound has earned her albums and EPs a top spot in my favorites playlist, and Grrrl is no exception.
(06/28/19 4:00pm)
by Jack Gillespie
Lil Nas X is an artist whose success could only be seen in 2019. Having his 2-minute long novelty country-rap song that samples an obscure Nine Inch Nails song hit the country charts off the back of its meme status on Tik Tok was just the beginning. Then came the Billboard controversy that sparked endless discussion about the segregation of the country music industry and what makes a song “country” nowadays. Then dropped the Billy Ray Cyrus remix that skyrocketed the song to the #1 song in the nation, the 11 weeks (and counting) it has spent at that spot, and all of the pop titans it has blocked from the spot during its reign; from Taylor Swift to Ed Sheerhan and Justin Bieber to Billie Eilish.
All of this context for a song with the lyrics, “My life is a movie / Bull ridin' and boobies / Cowboy hat from Gucci / Wrangler on my booty”.
But as much as this song owes its success to the circumstances surrounding it and the unconventional aspects of modern music promotion, one thing is still certain; whatever, Lil Nas X’s first substantial project is will be a huge indicator of whether he will be more than a one-hit wonder; an odd yet small speck of a phenomenon that’ll be forgotten in a couple of years. So what we got with Lil Nas X’s EP, ‘7,' isn’t exactly the most promising sign.
(06/21/19 8:20pm)
by Brandon Carson
Gold & Grey marks the end of the colored albums from the band’s discography; a perfect streak of albums that fused sludge, noise, and progressive metal. The band’s last record, Purple, introduced a more accessible sound, featuring big, catchy hooks fused with their signature sludge sound. Singles like “Shock Me” and “Chlorine and Wine” took the band to new heights with a Grammy nomination and placed their advanced musicality in the forefront. But Purple was four years ago. Since then, guitarist Pete Adams left, and Gina Gleason joined to become a huge part of the record. On Gold & Grey, Baroness finds ways to surprise the listener with a more progressive edge and a vast soundscape. The amount of heart put into the records could always be heard, but on here, there is no match. The instrumentals are incredible and the songwriting is pure and unpredictable, even if the production might be a small problem at times.
(06/20/19 9:30pm)
by Sydney Norman
Rocketman, the recent biopic about the life and struggles of Elton John, is a film filled with sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, but it also contained depth and so many diamonds. Between its portrayal of Elton’s struggle with alcoholism and how he escaped an abusive relationship, Rocketman paints the life of Elton John as both colorful and inspiring.
The film is not entirely linear and begins near the chronological end, which typically is an overdone scenario in movies, but, in this instance, it was done remarkably well because there was a purpose. Starting the movie near the end allowed us to see things from Elton John’s perspective. As Elton is talking about his life in group therapy, his life story is told in the form of flashbacks that reveal how he learned to play piano and the poor relationship he had with his father. These flashbacks are coordinated with Elton’s songs so that the lyrics make sense with the scene, which makes the film all the more magical.
Although the trailers of the film made it seem like a run-of-the-mill biopic, it leaned much harder towards a movie musical. At first, this is mildly off-putting, especially if you walk in thinking you’re going to be watching a biopic similar to 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, but it worked very well. This type of biopic was risky because it may not appeal to all documentarian types of filmgoers, but it would appeal to all fans of Elton John. Upon further thought, the film is more about portraying life through the eyes of Elton John himself. The color, the dancing, and the music all makes sense when the protagonist is remembered.
Going in-depth into the trauma an abusive relationship can have on someone, specifically showing that relationship from the perspective of a male, made this movie all the more relevant. Seeing as men are less likely to report abuse, showing a relationship of a famous man who overcame the cycle is inspirational.
Recreating the many bedazzled, exceptionally colorful, and elaborate costumes of Elton John was surely a monstrous task, but it was done amazingly well. From sunglasses to shoes to feather headpieces, every costume piece in Rocketman was one for the books, and although these costumes weren’t original designs, the likeness to Elton John’s fashion was astounding.
Taron Egerton, the actor who played Elton John, did the job so well it seems as though you’re watching video footage of Elton’s actual life. Not only could he rock the funky glasses and costumes as well as the musician, but he genuinely embodied a young Elton John. Beyond the general demeanor and voice, there is something special about the way and the energy with which Egerton portrayed Elton John. It speaks volumes about his level of talent.
Impressively enough, Rocketman actually works on multiple levels: it can be watched as a musical without any prior knowledge of Elton John and still makes sense and is enjoyable. The way music is incorporated into big moments in Elton’s life allows the film to be a solid stand-alone feature, which only adds to the remarkability of the film.
(05/28/19 4:00pm)
by Jack Gillespie
Often times, when it comes to pop stars who failed to reach the highest echelons of popularity after a short peak, it’s the material that is released after their peak that can be the most interesting displays. There are artists like Macklemore that continued to try and capture what brought them fame in the first place, Gotye seemed to drop off of the face of the earth with no new material ever to be released, and artists like Kesha who found the lack of pressure from the worlds expectation freeing and came out with their most daring, interesting material.
For the most part, Carly Rae Jepsen fits into the the last category. With her 2015 album ‘Emotion’, she not only collaborated with indie darlings such as Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and Blood Orange’s Devonte Hynes, but came through with the best songwriting and production on a record of hers yet. While it failed to achieve the type of success that she did with the single “Call Me Maybe” or her record, ‘Kiss,' she had a cult classic praised to the heavens from pop and indie publications on her hands.
(05/19/19 7:53pm)
by Olivia Weinzapfel
Compared to the rest of Mac DeMarco’s discography, Here Comes the Cowboy didn’t quite live up to the standards of mellow grooviness that we’re used to from this king of indie. An album-length listen is slow enough to act as a calming sedative to the listener. It’s drawn out with uninteresting—and in some cases predictable— arrangements that more or less parallel DeMarco’s singing throughout the songs. His easy-going voice is common amongst all of his albums, but this one seems to hold a certain monotone dullness to it. The lyrics don’t necessarily shine through either on the surface, but when you take a deeper dive into the meaning, that’s really the only thing making this album one of the most important in DeMarco’s career.
(05/11/19 6:30am)
by Trevor Sheffield
So, here we go again. Another movie based off another vaguely forgotten franchise from years past, made in an attempt to Dracula the clutter of eons ago into the new, hot fad of today. Normally, this kind of thing is reserved for franchises with mass appeal and nostalgia, like childhood TV shows, time-honored playthings, or even arcade machines.
Now, we have a movie based on that one weird-looking rabbit thing on the couch from Zathura. What could possibly go wrong?
(05/01/19 8:23pm)
by Brandon Carson
Australian band King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard made 2017 their year. The band put out five records throughout the year, with only a couple months in between each: Flying Microtonal Banana, Murder of the Universe, Sketches of Brunswick East, Polygondwanaland and Gumboot Soup. The five records added up to a total of 13 albums in their entire discography since 2012, making for an incredible work ethic. In 2018, however, the band took a much-needed break, letting the five records sink in with the fans to decipher where they fit in the “Gizzverse”.
Gizzard returned with “Cyboogie” in January of 2019, surprising fans with its electronic influence and sound. Later, the band announced Fishies, a nine-track record with a heavy blues sound. Fishies finds Gizzard at their most accessible and most different. Once again, the band has made an original album with a sound they haven’t touched upon too much.
(05/01/19 7:24pm)
by Olivia Weinzapfel
Neotheater, the third full-length album from AJR, provides its audience with equal doses of grand symphonic energy and lyrical introspective dread. Like their other albums, the themes focus on self-reflection, but Neotheater revolves mainly around growing up and going through the trials and tribulations of young adulthood. They’ve outdone themselves yet again with their signature beats, unconventional themes, and hard-hitting lyrics. This album is light-hearted in its sound and heavy in its meaning. It’s pleasing not only to ears but also to the maturing conscious, as the music helps us dance through the troubles many of us are facing as we get older.
AJR’s contortion of electro-pop is hard to get tired of, and Neotheater definitely keeps that trademark alive and well. With this album, AJR puts a new twist on their arrangements; this time they lean a little harder towards orchestral sounds. Trumpets, stringed instruments, and more piano sneak their way into the upbeat pops that define AJR’s sound. They infuse these two styles perfectly, and a great track to exemplify this is the very first one, “Next Up Forever.” The compositions in this album are modern on a surface level but have very musical-like undertones. The theater-like music clashes with their contemporary pop, which almost directly defines Neotheater (neo meaning new, and theater meaning… well... theater).
(04/27/19 4:00pm)
by Jack Gillespie
For the past few years, it has become more and more obvious that Lizzo has what it takes to become a star. Not only has she proven with songs like “Boys," “Good As Hell," and “Truth Hurts” that she has a knack for writing tracks just begging to blow up, but she brings the kind of larger-than-life personality. Both in and out of her music she has made it clear what makes an artist like Cardi B an absolute phenomenon.
With the release of the track “Juice”, it seemed like are the pieces were about to come together. On this disco rap throwback, Lizzo comes in with enough energy to light up an entire city. On top of that, she brings a masterfully crafted instrumental that brings a sharp, modern twist to an often overlooked era of hip hop.
https://youtu.be/XaCrQL_8eMY
“Juice” hinted at a promising 2019 for Lizzo, but it was everything that followed that made that promise a reality. Not only was her first record on a major label announced, but the 2nd and 3rd singles for said record showed a much more versatile, fully developed performer, as well as a better array of beats. All signs were pointing toward Cuz I Love You being one of the best pop album of the year. For the most part, the signs were right.
(04/20/19 3:00pm)
by Olivia Weinzapfel
Mat Kerekes’ new solo album is a perfect, early-summer release filled with simple but infectious melodies that function as flawless mood music for the upcoming season. The soft grunge, post-hardcore album, Ruby, is breathing with the spirit of young freedom. Ruby is a refreshing, feel-good creation, but it also captures a bit of audio-induced nostalgia if you were really into the culture that allowed punk rock to thrive.
Kerekes is best known as the vocalist of the alternative rock band, Citizen. Going solo with Ruby, he really showcased his abilities as a songwriter and producer. Ruby is a modernly classic body of work, and the songs that comprise it are hard to keep off of repeat.
(04/19/19 5:47pm)
by Brandon Carson
With their last full-length album, The Dream Is Over, PUP (Pathetic Use of Potential) provided excellent punk tunes with catchy choruses and strong guitar riffs. Now they have done the exact same thing three years later. The songs on Morbid Stuff are engaging, exciting, and well worth the wait. Listeners will find diversity throughout the music, along with fun choruses and great punk riffs. If Morbid Stuff says anything about PUP, it’s that they show no signs of slowing down.
(04/17/19 5:51pm)
by Brandon Carson
Back in 2018, Alaria Spurling, lead guitarist and vocalist of Four Fates, needed three people to back her up for a tiny music festival in Bloomington, Indiana. This led to the formation of a band. Some of the songs they performed at this festival would end up being on their EP. After playing a show at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, the band began working on Realms, which released April 6. On this EP, a completely unique sound emerges as Spurling sings about sadness and trouble. Ian Chambers brings his own flair to the songs with his excellent drumming, Evan Tusing adds an Alter Bridge style to the guitars, and Adam Schaefer completely nails his bass lines. However, Realms’ faults lie in the production and a tiny bit in the structure.
(04/11/19 4:30pm)
by Ian Roesler
The world’s greatest holiday is happening on April 11. It’s not Christmas. It’s not Thanksgiving. It’s International Louie Louie Day! A day celebrating one of the most influential and covered songs in history and of special note, “Louie, Louie” has an odd connection with Indiana. However, we’ve got some history to start with first.
(04/10/19 10:00pm)
by Sam Smith
"When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" is Billie Eilish’s debut album. Eilish has been making music with her brother, Finneas, since she was 14. The now 17-year-old is making major waves in the music world, currently being the 12th most streamed artist on Spotify worldwide. Her album has become the second most purchased album of 2019 a week after its release.
(03/29/19 5:00pm)
By Brandon Carson
American Football were ahead of their time back in 1999 with their first record, American Football. The album had a sound like no other. But shortly after, they broke up. Fifteen years later, the band and many fans celebrated the 15th anniversary of the record. That led to a tour, which eventually led to the band getting back into the studio. American Football (LP2) was released in 2016, to the surprise of many. While mainly a sequel to its predecessor, the record truly captured the band’s sound back to the '90s. With no signs of slowing down, American Football just released (LP3). Yes, it still has the American Football sound they became critically acclaimed for, but this album has a whole new flow. This album breathes, and the listener can feel it. A more atmospheric sound takes control and meshes with the lyrics to where they build each other up. Gorgeous arrangements, great guest appearances and incredibly poetic lyrics create an honest album filled with emotion.
(03/19/19 9:25pm)
by Baylie Clevenger
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte's editorial board.
Throughout history, music has been a defining part of our culture. The '50s brought us doo-wops and the '70s and '80s brought us hair bands and the surge of rock 'n' roll. Even though it is normal for popular music to change decade-to-decade, there are some people who seem to be stuck on that '70s and '80s rock 'n' roll.
Especially since the release of the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which tells the story of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s rise to fame, there have been more and more people to express their negative feelings about modern music. Especially on social media, users seem to feel as if modern music is not as good, with less talent and heart going into it.