Preston Radtke

Email Preston Radtke

---

Articles

ENTERTAINMENT

Frankie Cosmos continue to fulfill their potential on ‘Vessel’

By Preston Radtke / April 7, 2018

The only alarming thing to come out of 'Vessel' is the realization of just what the band could do next within their genre. Instrumentally, the record is an indie pop masterpiece, a gorgeous fusion of sonic innovation and contextual efficiency. As one of the most personality-driven acts around, Frankie Cosmos had a tall order replicating the mood and temperament of past releases. Fortunately they evolved yet again, throwing more complex, but still realistic subjects onto the audience. Finally, the emerging talent of Bailey, Martin, and Pyenson takes center stage, an emergence that simply states that future Frankie Cosmos conquests may further employ the capabilities of these underrated musicians.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

U.S. Girls bring angst to the dance floor on ‘In a Poem Unlimited’

By Preston Radtke / February 26, 2018

'In A Poem Unlimited' is by far the most ambitious and well-rounded record to date for Meghan Remy. The record finds a balance between genre experimentation and authenticity, a balance that most artists struggle with. Remy finds an equally impressive vocal balance, knowing when to quiet down and when to blow the roof off, an awareness that was inconsistent at best previously. Thematically the LP disarms you with assumptions. In a pleasant, easygoing song, she may soon be talking about killing a man; in a song about the gender pay gap, the drums may sound like they’re being played with a toothpick. Remy plays with moderation, goes left when the listeners say right, and forces them to observe the world through the lens of a woman in 2018.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Freedom’s Goblin’ by Ty Segall is a perplexing array of strange new sounds

By Preston Radtke / February 6, 2018

'Freedom’s Goblin' shows that 10 LPs in, Segall is certainly not resting on his laurels. Though his forays into different genres are inefficient and haphazard, the fact that he so boldly attempts them is admirable enough. What’s less admirable is how long the record is, and how it seems to lose drive and focus, something that could have been negated through better organization or even splitting up the LP into more than one record. The true majesty of the record shines through with its dedicated theme of highlighting his love and appreciation for his weathered yet understanding wife Denee.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Porches miss the mark miserably on ‘The House’

By Preston Radtke / February 6, 2018

'The House' by Porches falls short in so many ways. From the invasion into the synth-pop world to the horribly unfitting vocals, virtually everything on this album is a disappointment. With luck though, Aaron Maine and co. will learn from this colossal waste of time and build something with greater depth and refinement in the future.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Frankie Cosmos climbs further up the indie steps with “Jesse”

By Preston Radtke / January 19, 2018

On their previous two albums, Frankie Cosmos painted amateur musical portraits of youthful urban life, but there was always the tiniest bit of predictability. “Jesse” could be the entryway to a new, more in-depth world of musicality for the group. The song’s structure and Kline’s vocals have helped the outfit paint with more elaborate colors and textures than we’ve heard from them before.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

The Year in Review: Byte’s Top-Reviewed Albums of 2017

By Ryan Fine , Preston Radtke , Sarah James and Phil Akin / December 29, 2017

Music reviews were a new endeavor for Byte this year, but it was a great first year to cover. We saw some disappointments from previously loved artists like Arcade Fire and Blondie, to be sure, but we also saw some pleasant comebacks and changeups from the likes of Lorde, Aimee Mann and Paramore. Some of these albums made us smile and others made us cry, but they all left some sort of indelible mark on us, and that’s why they’re the best albums of 2017.

---

MUSIC

Florist scurries back to the treehouse on ‘If Blue Could Be Happiness’

By Preston Radtke / October 17, 2017

'If Blue Could Be Happiness' is a promising and fulfilling step forward for Florist. It is by far not a perfect product, but the complex arrangements, mature themes and more appropriate instrumentation paint a prosperous picture of the future for this burgeoning artist.

---

MUSIC

Weezer brings an all-out dud to the table with "Beach Boys"

By Preston Radtke / September 28, 2017

It has been said over and over again, but Weezer would do well to harken back to their success in the mid-1990s.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Alvvays take a hesitant step forward with 'Antisocialites'

By Preston Radtke / September 22, 2017

Many listeners anticipated new releases from the janglers, but instead Rankin and company spent their time in vans and onstage. 

---

MUSIC

'American Dream' by LCD Soundsystem is brooding, introspective, and real

By Preston Radtke / September 9, 2017

It’s hard to say much about LCD Soundsystem that hasn’t already been said. Headed up by producer James Murphy, the band has oft been difficult to pinpoint for even the wittiest, snobbiest journalists.