128 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(09/14/20 10:14pm)
The three-member rock band Point North has returned with their third album Brand New Vision. Originally founded in California, the band consists of vocalist Jon Lundin, guitarist Andy Hershey, and drummer Sage Weeber, who play progressive rock. The rock genre has undergone many phases since the 90s with bands like Nirvana and All-American Rejects, and 20-plus years later, mainstream rock has evolved into something more pop-inspired, but with the same emotion that rock provides.
(09/14/20 10:10pm)
“This digital life was not for them. Not in a mean way, they meant no offense. It’s not you; it’s them, and they needed more. They didn’t know what that ‘more’ was, but they needed it, so they went to find it, and this is that.”
(09/14/20 10:04pm)
This year has been full of surprises but nothing quite as crazy as the surprise release of Taylor Swift’s latest album Folklore. This is Swift’s eighth album, and it’s a great one for sure. Quarantine has been good to Swift, and she reveals her full potential once again with the follow-up to Lover — which was her greatest album to date. The cover art of Folklore is perfect with its ominous black and white forestry. There is nothing like an unexpected, album drop from one of the greatest female artists of our time, and album eight shows that surprises are worth waiting for. At last, the Swifties have been saved.
(09/14/20 10:04pm)
Neon Trees’ six-year break has paid off with the band releasing an innovative album full of quirky fun and frenzy that makes their sound unique. 2014’s Pop Psychology was a success, but album four shines with brighter passion. The Neon Trees have always captured that sense of youth and confusion as a young adult, much like Foster the People and The 1975. Many artists with a pop background discuss being young and unsure about life through their tracks, and Neon Trees are no different; however, they are doing better with differentiating themselves. Their new album I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is both a triumph for the quirky band and a blessing in this grim year we’ve all been living through. While Pop Psychology relied on simple pop physics and dance beats, this fourth album gives its listeners a new edge to the band’s sound with a familiar message of love and marauding life as we know it.
(09/10/20 5:30pm)
by Conner Tighe
Ms. Pac-Man blessed the world with a whole new generation of players in 1981. After Pac-Man’s success, creator Stan Jarocki decided he wanted to attract a wider audience demographic. While he was successful, this was unfortunately one of the many examples of sexism that spurred the video game world back then. Video games have since become more inclusive of the demographics portrayed in their games. According to a study by the Arts Management & Technology Laboratory, female characters were found to be over-sexualized due to the recent 3D technology in the mid-1990s. However, the underrepresentation of female characters and the sexism that surround femininity in the video game industry have decreased. Entire series have become centered on females just as much as male characters. Here are the top five most powerful women in video game history.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="86"] Image from Kingdom Hearts Wiki[/caption]
5. Kairi (The Kingdom Hearts Series)
A short-haired girl who runs alongside her friends Sora and Riku on Destiny Islands, Kairi was a part of many people’s childhoods as the darkness devoured her heart in Kingdom Hearts. Sora and Riku both go looking for Kairi, crossing paths and eventually battling each other. Kairi appears in the next two sequels where she’s strong, compassionate, and Sora’s love interest.
With the power to wield a Keyblade—like Sora and Riku—Kairi fights the darkness alongside everyone else. Her character becomes powerful, and the games show Kairi’s progression of age and the inner turmoil she has within. At times she goes from a damsel in distress to the one saving Sora. Kairi will stick with fans long after they finish the “Kingdom Hearts” series.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="244"] Image from A New Game Plus[/caption]
4. Chun-Li (The Street Fighter Series)
In 1991, fans of Street Fighter 2 could hear the sound of the legendary lightning kick coming from a woman dressed in blue. Chun-Li was the first female character in the Street Fighter series, which would later expand to an additional five games. Chun-Li’s lightning kick is nearly unstoppable and is a sure victory for players (I won’t tell you the secret button combo, though). Chun-Li seeks revenge for her father after he is killed by M. Bison, the main antagonist of the Street Fighter series.
3. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds)
After Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended its seventh season in 2003, a video game was released later that year featuring the cast. Most of the cast lent their voices to their animated characters for gamers to experience. Buffy Summers finds herself once again protecting Sunnydale from the ultimate evil known as The First, the first evil ever to be on Earth. Summers is witty and tough as nails. In the game, you battle vampires, demons, and zombies, playing not only as Summers but the other cast as well.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="421"] Image from: TechnoBuffalo[/caption]
A year earlier, Xbox released Buffy the Vampire Slayer exclusively on the Xbox, but the game doesn’t compare to Chaos Bleeds. The latter allows Summers to perform unique combos on her enemies. As Summers, the gamer will fight evil in the present-day Sunnydale and eventually travel to an alternate dimension Sunnydale where evil reigns. Summers has been a powerful female icon since the early 90s, and this game enforces that.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="270"] Image from Fanpop[/caption]
2. Ada Wong (The Resident Evil Series)
The Resident Evil series features a variety of characters, including multiple males and females. While Wong’s character wasn’t the first female to appear, she’s by far the most cunning and exciting character. Her persona is very much like a modern Catwoman with mysterious motives and an untapped consciousness that no one can figure out.
Wong’s first appearance was in 1998’s Resident Evil 2. Since then, she has appeared in Resident Evil 4 and 6. Mainly sporting red attire, her most famous outfit being the classic “woman in the red dress" look, she pops in now and then to assist the main characters in their times of need. She uses a grapple gun that commonly gets her out of sticky situations while also wielding a small arsenal of weapons. Wong is the definition of a double agent, and she shares some interest in rookie cop, Leon Kennedy—another main character.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="394"] Image from Game Informer[/caption]
1. Lara Croft (The Tomb Raider Trilogy)
While Croft’s character has appeared in a variety of Tomb Raider games, I’ll reference only the best: the Tomb Raider trilogy. Born into the Croft family, Lara shares a family interest in history and geography. After surviving a deadly plane crash in Nepal when she was little, she accidentally activates a strange dais that opens a portal. Lara’s mother, Amelia, disappears into the portal. Since then, Croft vows to find her mother while searching for Excalibur, a sword that activates the portal.
Croft is armed with her double pistols and climbing gear as she traverses deadly terrain, most of which are tombs. Croft’s story is interesting due to the mystery that surrounds her past and family. Amazingly agile, she is able to do acrobatics with ease. Croft uses these skills to outsmart enemies and booby traps within the tombs she traverses. Lara Croft was a large part of my childhood, and no other female character has come close to Croft’s brilliance.
Sources: Arts Management and Technology Laboratory
Images: A New Game Plus, Fanpop, Game Informer, Kingdom Hearts Wiki, TechnoBuffalo
Featured Image: Microsoft
(09/03/20 4:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
With brown curls and a dreamy smile, young pop idol Shawn Mendes has been blessing the music world and fans alike since “Life of the Party,” his 2014 debut single. Since then, the musician has produced three albums and has taken part in several collaborations with the likes of Taylor Swift (“Lover”), Astrid (“Air”), Khalid (“Youth”) and love interest Camila Cabello (“I Know What You Did Last Summer,”/“Señorita”).
Mendes has always connected with other musicians. Years ago, he was still on his way to becoming famous when he met Cabello. The two met in 2014 on Austin Mahone’s summer tour, where Cabello found an interest in Mendes. The two were in a game of public tweets, hinting about their friendship and experiences working together between 2014 and 2018. Mendes has always been excellent at telling his love life and struggles through his songs. An example of that is through "Señorita," the summer bop that changed everything between him and Cabello. Many speculated that there was chemistry between them, but from then on, the spark between the two was undeniable.
10. “Treat You Better”
The singer’s second album Illuminate was nothing short of amazing, with Mendes telling fans about his love and feelings of loneliness for an unknown love interest. With every album, there’s a track that stands among the rest, and then there’s the track that is skipped over. “Treat You Better” is the weakest of Mendes’ work as the message is drone and gray with appeal. The track talks of the singer’s jealousy and comparison of him to a certain someone. The message doesn’t land, and it’s best to skip this track as it takes any listener back to those cringey high school days.
https://youtu.be/lY2yjAdbvdQ
9. “Mercy”
Again from Illuminate, Mendes does better with a track of love and a woman’s rage that drives him mad. The beginning hymn of the piece is soothing and only gets better with each passing second. The singer explains how his heart is sensitive about his girl, and he wishes she would have mercy on him. Mendes, like so many other artists, took a universal message and spun it with rhythm and a winning track of sadness and emotion. Mendes is no stranger to having love issues like most people in their early 20s, but crafting the idea into art is fantastic; the line “I’m prepared to sacrifice my life. I would gladly do it twice” gets me every time.
https://youtu.be/KkGVmN68ByU
8. “Believe”
A song of inspiration and seeing hope, this Mendes track was featured on the “Descendants” soundtrack, which premiered on Disney Channel in 2015. The music video shows a community coming together to recognize unity and the central message focuses on humanity and our flaws. The message is fantastic and represents Mendes’ character. The singer has always displayed points of positive reinforcement and genuine kindheartedness.
https://youtu.be/IZMYO_iT-r0
7. “Something Big”
Mendes had an epiphany while he was on Austin Mahone’s tour. The young singer’s fame was snowballing, and Mendes expressed his surprise with this newfound acclaim by producing “Something Big.” The piece itself is terrific with its pop inspirations and repetitive line, “woah, woah…” you get the picture. Mendes was discovered over the now-dead platform Vine and has since grown into someone unforgettable in the music industry. “Something Big” is what we’ll all be saying years from now about his career.
https://youtu.be/mytLRy32Viw
6. “Youth”
The only collaboration on this list, “Youth” features Khalid as he aides Mendes on this track of self-discovery about being young. The singer understands that it’s difficult being young in a changing world, and “Youth” is more of a proud statement of finding oneself. No one stays young forever, and being youthful is something many of us take advantage of. The message Mendes wants the listener to take away? Enjoy being wild while life allows you.
https://youtu.be/sJUGAIf1Px0
5. “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
A quick Latin music appeal and soft vocals envelop Mendes’ piece of art that talks about a wandering man—that man being Mendes. In this song, the singer is going all-in with this mysterious girl. When the song was released, radio stations everywhere couldn’t get enough of the rhythmic appeal of this fast-paced guitar song. The pop star proves again that a relationship is empowering, and love is a mysterious thing.
https://youtu.be/dT2owtxkU8k
4. “Ruin”
Mendes has always clarified that John Mayer has been one of his longtime inspirations in the music industry. In a 2018 interview with Time, the singer said Mayer was his “favorite person in the world.” One can’t help but wonder if that inspiration was behind this beautiful track. One of the singer’s slower tracks, it proves that sometimes slower is better. The message is sad, providing listeners with a loss that Mendes was facing at the time of an ended relationship. Seeing your ex with someone can be great, but it can also be sad, and Mendes is all about showing his vulnerable side.
https://youtu.be/m-nCLLnQA5c
3. “If I Can’t Have You”
I can’t help but bang my head or tap something nearby to the beginning rhythm of number three on the list. “If I Can’t Have You,” believe it or not, was written by Mendes for singer Dua Lipa, according to Teen Vogue. A fast tempo and repeating lyrics are always golden with this pop star. The cover art is beautiful and resembles a beach vibe, featuring a slight outline of Mendes with waves crashing. The single is a piece of art with a heart of longing and wordplay of dreams. If Mendes can’t have you, he’ll undoubtedly write about you.
https://youtu.be/oTJ-oqwxdZY
2. “Lost in Japan”
Japanese aesthetic and slight references to Bill Murray’s “Lost in Translation” surround this heavenly song that earned number two on this list. Zedd’s version of the single is incredible, although authenticity reigns supreme here. Mendes is in love within this song, and he wants to party, have fun, and explore his desires. “Lost in Japan” expanded the boundaries that the singer was afraid to cross with his earlier work. Listeners can feel Mendes coming into his own with this Juno Award-winning track. Nothing feels like being lost in an unknown city with a beautiful woman. Mendes can tell you about the experience.
https://youtu.be/ycy30LIbq4w
1. “In My Blood” (Portuguese Version)
Half English, half Portuguese, “In My Blood” inspires all around the world with Mendes growing from his pain and struggles within his life. This single easily earns its spot because of its universal message, and if anyone reads the news, Mendes had a lot to say about the track. In a 2018 interview with Elite Daily, Mendes says, “This song is the closest song to my heart that I’ve ever written, and I hope you guys love it.” We love it, Shawn. We more than love it. The overlying message of inner strength and self-awareness ties to his rosy image that was the center graphic for his last tour. Roses grow through rain and shine. Mendes inspires all with his music, saying that everything will be okay. We need that message now more than ever.
https://youtu.be/D9Fq68qMMBM
The singer has gone dark in the music world unless you count the time he sang “What a Wonderful World” live with Cabello. It’s rumored that Mendes may collaborate with Justin Bieber on something after he was spotted outside of a recording studio where the two have been seen previously. Mendes has been good friends with Bieber’s wife Hailey, and if something is going on, it may be Mendes’ most significant piece yet.
Sources: Elite Daily, Teen Vogue, Time, YouTube
Featured Image: E! Online
(09/02/20 7:33pm)
by Conner Tighe
The three-member rock band Point North has returned with their third album Brand New Vision. Originally founded in California, the band consists of vocalist Jon Lundin, guitarist Andy Hershey, and drummer Sage Weeber, who play progressive rock. The rock genre has undergone many phases since the 90s with bands like Nirvana and All-American Rejects, and 20-plus years later, mainstream rock has evolved into something more pop-inspired, but with the same emotion that rock provides.
2018’s album A Light in a Dark Place introduced Point North to the world, and two years later, the band continues to dazzle rock fans with their clear, emotional vocals centering on relationship drama and a dark aesthetic. Brand New Vision stays true to the band’s sound with little change but soars high.
“Into the Dark” introducing change
Point North introduced one of their most popular songs on Spotify, which was “Into the Dark,” earlier this year as a single. It’s one of their more well-known tracks, and it's one of their best because of its change in rhythm and fast-paced pop appeal. The pop genre is no stranger to entangling itself with other genres, sometimes for the better and sometimes not so much. The song “Into the Dark,” much like the album’s cover art, makes listeners feel as if they are floating or falling into a dark abyss of emotion. The original single was fantastic. Brand New Vision introduces an updated version of the track at number two on the list. Sleeping with Sirens’ Kellin Quinn lends his voice halfway through the song, and honestly, it’s not a bad addition. The band tampered with one of their greatest tracks, and it actually sounds better. The phrase “don’t mess with a good thing” does not apply here.
Out of the dark
Point North, much like the late Nirvana, has this appeal of darkness. The band is impressive in their own right, but there’s a battle raging within the mind of their music. Much of what is expressed in Brand New Vision in songs like “Into the Dark,” “Nothing Left to Lose,” and “Lethal” have this depressive vibe, but it seems like music is a savior for the band. There’s this common theme with bands like Point North where listeners are stuck in a dark cave at the beginning of the song but find the light to escape by the time the song ends.
This sort of symbolic head game is gripping, and listeners will quickly catch on to a theme of political injustice within the album. Point North wants to connect with their listeners, and there are a variety of songs with this message of holding on during tough times, even when, in the case of track nine, “No One’s Listening.” Hopefully, though, fans of this band will listen, because Brand New Vision is compelling and a perfect representation of rock’s sound in 2020.
Hidden messages
Musicians making political statements is nothing new and has been going on forever, it seems. Nancy Sinatra, Rage Against the Machine, Green Day, and Point North are just a few of the brave souls who have put themselves out there to speak against injustice. Listeners will detect anti-Trump messages within several tracks like “Distant” and “No One’s Listening” that speak to the ongoing controversy with ICE. The band is smart enough not to make Brand New Vision entirely politically affiliated, but they do it just enough so as to be noticeable.
Top Tracks:
Nothing Left to Lose
Into the Dark (feat. Kellin Quinn)
No One’s Listening
Recommended if you Like:
All American Rejects
Rage Against the Machine
Sleeping with Sirens
Featured Image: Genius
(08/26/20 6:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
“This digital life was not for them. Not in a mean way, they meant no offense. It’s not you; it’s them, and they needed more. They didn’t know what that ‘more’ was, but they needed it, so they went to find it, and this is that.”
From a band that started as a small group of believers and friends, The Wonderlands have jump-started their music career with their first album This Digital Life. Lead vocalist, guitar player, and Ball State student Miles Jena befriended bassist/vocalist Adam Steele in the eighth grade.
“We started as a two-man band called We Thee Ubiquitous and wrote folksy/indie music. We did that for a while but were unsatisfied because we could never play big rooms or events,” says Jena. Since then, two has grown into five band members. Jillian Gavigan provides keyboard/vocals, Derek Johnson lends his talent with drums, and Patrick Oakes plays guitar and vocals.
This Digital Life is more than another album in the alternative/indie world; it’s a story of these five members coming together to tell an important message about young love and becoming more in the present rather than the trend with technology.
“Free Falling” in passion
There is an absolute passion and aesthetic charm in every track. With atmospheric appeal and digitizing vocals, the message becomes ever more apparent that The Wonderlands know what’s happening with young love. “Morning, Mourning'' shows genuine hurt and resilience in fighting with ourselves when it comes to love. The track talks about how love affects us as people, and just as we lose ourselves within love, we find ourselves when love ends. There is mourning of what once was both within us and within our partner. Yet, as the band implies, it’s all a part of growing up. The track provides a brilliant, emotional message of hurt and hard truths that appeals to listeners.
A new beginning for folk
The Wonderlands have established themselves as a folk/indie band with clear inspirations from jazz and coffee shop music alike. This Digital Life features some collaborations that show The Wonderlands have connections in high places. Nothing is accomplished without friends, and this album is no different. Track six, “Feels Like,” stands out among the rest of the songs due to the collaboration with Saint Lavender and Trey Campbell on this track. The song is a definite jazz phenomenon with a sound that’s soothing and worth repeating on the playlist. The work of collaborations and lyrics behind these tracks are hopefully opening up a new world of Folk music.
If this is the new future of small bands emerging into the music world, keep it coming. There is little room for criticism when it comes to this message of solace without technology enveloping our lives and being present in the now. Having friends that believe in you and support your dream is what The Wonderlands are all about. The music is an honest presentation of talent and folk in a new age.
Getting lost in This Digital Life
This Digital Life contains a message of losing oneself to life and priorities that many people can relate to. Finding yourself again while maneuvering school, friends, and other activities is stressful but comes with perks: love, a passion for music, and friendship. “The meaning behind This Digital Life is that I was searching for answers as to how to live in this digital age. I was extremely frustrated with the fast-paced short-attention-span life I was living, feeling like I wasn’t going anywhere and was trapped by ads and everyone trying to grab my attention,” says Jena.
While getting lost may be a dreadful thing, The Wonderlands show that getting lost is the best way to be found. This Digital Life makes listeners rethink their lives and ponder their experiences with every note. This five-member band is trying to be something different and breathe new life into a repetitive genre that many of us know all too well. The Wonderlands are here for a new age of music and are here for their fans. They know technology has become a dire need in our lives, which severs real connections that we all might create otherwise. This piece of art is a clear sign of standing strong together with a message of clarity and community.
Top Tracks:
Feels Like
Let’s Take a Ride
Anthem
Recommended if you like:
The Lumineers
The Wallows
Mumford & Sons
Featured Image: Facebook
(08/06/20 6:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
This year has been full of surprises but nothing quite as crazy as the surprise release of Taylor Swift’s latest album Folklore. This is Swift’s eighth album, and it’s a great one for sure. Quarantine has been good to Swift, and she reveals her full potential once again with the follow-up to Lover — which was her greatest album to date. The cover art of Folklore is perfect with its ominous black and white forestry. There is nothing like an unexpected, album drop from one of the greatest female artists of our time, and album eight shows that surprises are worth waiting for. At last, the Swifties have been saved.
There is a grace and bravery that stems through this sad and grim album. With an echoed sound and lessons that only Swift could manage to convey through song, there is something here that Lover couldn’t offer. Folklore is more of a co-parent with Lover — not any better or worse — but simply touching on different topics of discussion proper for this sad summer of disease and unfortunate data. Folklore is a hero of our time, and it is doubtful that there will be anything like it for the rest of 2020.
The last hurrah for summer 2020
Folklore introduces a new side of Swift to her longtime fans. Her transition from country to pop was slow but worthwhile in her search for sound; now, album eight is introducing an alternative path for the singer. There is an indie appeal in many of her tracks like “The Last Great American Dynasty,” “The 1” and “August.” All create fresh sounds that Swift performs exceedingly well. The album is fantastic. It’s everything we need for this “cruel summer.” Speaking of cruel, there are some suggestions of hurt where the singer hints at the pain of breakups.
Swift has been happily dating actor Joe Alwyn, but Folklore might suggest that something has happened between the two. These lovebirds have been together for three years and have even been quarantining together — which is the new dating of 2020. It’s possible that Swift could be dwelling on past love affairs, but many guess the tracks like “Illicit Affairs” and “Mad Woman” have to do with her relationship with Alwyn. This is all speculation of course, but nothing is completely off the table — as we’ve seen in everything going on this year. Whether Swift and Alwyn are broken up or not, this album is a celebration of sadness and being together or apart during the year of COVID-19.
Folk in Folklore
Is it pop? Is it indie? Is it folk? Swift brings a variety of genres to her latest album. Light wispy echoes and harmonicas break up the pop appeal — which is unlike the singer’s usual sound — but its uniqueness is appreciated. There’s so much to dissect in this 16-track folktale. Secret messages and unfamiliar sounds are only pieces of the puzzle presented here; like the cover art, listeners will feel like they’re wandering through a forest of whispers and echoes of the past. It’s soothing to listen to. Swift is telling us that we aren’t alone in our fights within ourselves and with this year. We all have universal struggles and Swift shows she understands this.
Time for collaborations
Indie folk band Bon Iver lent its talent to track four, “Exile,” which is a wonderfully strong song. It’s a slow, melodic piece about relationship issues that everyone can relate to from their own lives. If nothing else, listeners should hear what “Exile” has to say as they, too, will become entranced in its beautiful message and sound. Rock band member Aaron Dessner from The National co-wrote 11 of the 16 tracks that are featured on Folklore. Swift has never had trouble connecting with others in the music business, and the singer once again demonstrates the possibilities that collaborations bring to the table.
Top Tracks:
Invisible String
Exile
August
Recommended if You Like:
Kelsea Ballerini
Selena Gomez
Ed Sheeran
Featured Image: Official Charts
(08/05/20 7:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
Neon Trees’ six-year break has paid off with the band releasing an innovative album full of quirky fun and frenzy that makes their sound unique. 2014’s Pop Psychology was a success, but album four shines with brighter passion. The Neon Trees have always captured that sense of youth and confusion as a young adult, much like Foster the People and The 1975. Many artists with a pop background discuss being young and unsure about life through their tracks, and Neon Trees are no different; however, they are doing better with differentiating themselves. Their new album I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is both a triumph for the quirky band and a blessing in this grim year we’ve all been living through. While Pop Psychology relied on simple pop physics and dance beats, this fourth album gives its listeners a new edge to the band’s sound with a familiar message of love and marauding life as we know it.
“New” best thing
Much of I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is upbeat with a sense of pride and accomplishment in who they are — no matter what the band is talking about. “New Best Friend” and “Nights” take a pop approach to hard lessons in life and feel exceptionally honest; their perseverance and youthful sound in a world full of mixed-up noise is tasteful. If music enthusiasts were to dig a little deeper into the songs, they might discover something amazing; not only listening to the lyrics but also processing them is important for understanding any album. “When the Night is Over” and “New Best Friend” will hype anyone up.
The band is not afraid to mix up their sound with tracks like “Mess Me Up” that address painful pasts, specifically evil exes. It’s safe to say we all have those toxic pieces of our pasts, and — like a puzzle — we come together again once we sort through the mess. Neon Trees produce a fresh sound which opens a gateway to fresh opportunities — for both the band and their listeners. We wanted something new from the band, and we got it.
Single and singing
The 10-track album mainly talks about being single and living with that as a tough learning experience. “Living Single” and “Going Through Something” touch base on this and separate themselves from the rest of the pack. These two are fast-paced and talk about living single and having fun. Society encourages us to always be searching for love rather than learning to be independent. Neon Trees counteract that statement to create an enjoyable and beautiful message in song.
People tend to appreciate something that goes against the norm, especially in the music industry. This album is what we all needed this year. This is not the time to be looking for love, but a chance to learn more about ourselves. COVID-19 is something that we never could have expected — but we’re adapting — and Neon Trees give us a prime example of that adaptation. I Can Feel You Forgetting Me is a strong album with a message of independence and a fun frenzy of emotions that many young people will find extremely relatable.
Skeletons of a past life
I Can Feel You Forgetting Me has shown the world that Neon Trees may have finally reached their full potential in sound and overall message. The album is invigorating and devoted fans can see pieces of past music etched into the songs with each track differing from the last. While six years may not seem like a long time, it has been a lifetime for this band’s sound and talent. New listeners need to follow-up their listen of this album with the band’s discography to see the journey Neon Trees has gone through, as there is a great deal of growth revealed. 2014 is long gone and 2020 has shown a lasting positive message from these musicians.
Hidden gem
There is plenty to enjoy in I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, but the true gem of this album comes right after track one. “Used to Like” is easily the best of the 10 tracks. It’s a fast-paced song that stays true to what Neon Trees are all about: total confusion and fun as young adults. Inspiration from old tracks like “Sleeping with a Friend” and “Animal” shine through six years later in this song. Neon Trees are shying away from what they once were, but they still aren’t afraid to hearken back to their roots through sound. This album is a definite upgrade.
Top Tracks:
Used to Like
Nights
New Best Friend
Recommended if you like:
Foster the People
The 1975
Walk the Moon
Featured Image: Vevo Songs
(07/29/20 8:47pm)
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.
(06/18/20 6:00pm)
With everything going on in the world right now, it’s natural to feel some nostalgia for simpler times, like the 90s, when you could throw on a bright neon shirt, some baggy jeans, and go out and see all your friends. Luckily, I have compiled a list of the ten best movies from the decade to help you live out your 90s nostalgia during quarantine.
(06/18/20 4:00pm)
Since their founding in 2003, All Time Low has always done what they do well—rock. The band originally began with seven members, but now has only four: Alex Gaskarth as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Jack Barakat as lead guitarist, bassist and backing vocalist Zack Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson. All Time Low has been consistent with their discography by releasing nine albums so far. Their previous album, It’s Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute was released in 2019.
(06/04/20 5:05pm)
by Conner Tighe
(05/28/20 7:29pm)
by Conner Tighe
(05/28/20 3:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
(05/16/20 9:42pm)
by Conner Tighe
(03/13/20 8:18pm)
In 2009, Justin Bieber released his first album My World, which sold 137,000 copies within the first week. Flash forward 11 years, Bieber is now married to model and TV personality, Hailey Bieber (formerly Hailey Baldwin) and has five studio albums including Changes. His music has gotten better over the years and there is a positive jump from his last album Purpose to Changes. Bieber is different now with both his music and his personal life. Changes is Bieber’s most unique album to date and possibly his best.
(02/20/20 4:19pm)
by Conner Tighe
In 2009, Justin Bieber released his first album My World, which sold 137,000 copies within the first week. Flash forward 11 years, Bieber is now married to model and TV personality, Hailey Bieber (formerly Hailey Baldwin) and has five studio albums including Changes. His music has gotten better over the years and there is a positive jump from his last album Purpose to Changes. Bieber is different now with both his music and his personal life. Changes is Bieber’s most unique album to date and possibly his best.
Bieber hinted that he would release a new album in 2020. The album features several collaborations and a whopping 17 songs. His music is more unique now than what it once was; Changes is a blend of R&B and pop, while his previous albums seemed to be more pop. It’s euphoric and not molded to fit society’s standards of what his music should be, breaking away from the “cutesy” man that we all know. With Changes, he has established who he is as both an artist and a human being.
(02/18/20 9:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
This year has had a great start with music. Selena Gomez returned with her best album yet. Justin Bieber will release Changes on Valentine’s Day. Adele is even rumored to return to the music world this year. Although not entirely new material, Poolside is not afraid to maintain its genre: disco. The daytime disco band is background music, and Low Season proves to be no different this time around. It’s assumed that this band would hope to rise above this. Poolside is not hoping to strive to be different or even better this time. According to member Jeffrey Paradise, the album was not formed for a Grammy but more for a way to pass the time.
Paradise also states that “this album expresses all the ups and downs and highs and lows of life, love, loneliness, success, failure and the beauty in searching for something more.”