Music
-
ALBUM REVIEW: Denizen Tenant by Joseph Williams
This is a two part review. Check out our review of I Found The Sun Again by Steve Lukather. When you hear the name John Williams, what typically comes to mind is Superman, Star Wars, or Indiana Jones. What’s remarkable about the elder Williams’ career is how iconic it is, permeating all parts of pop culture and cementing the modern orchestra as something cinematic. His legacy is one that few artists ever achieve. And yet, his music is not his only legacy. John’s youngest son is Joseph, who also happens to be the frontman of Toto. Joseph Williams is one of those guys who puts it all out there when…
-
ALBUM REVIEW: I Found The Sun Again by Steve Lukather
This is a two part review. Check out our review of Denizen Tenant by Joseph Williams. One of the greatest guitarists of all time is a man you probably don’t know by name. He’s played on over 1,500 records for names like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Cher… and that’s not even the highlights. Chances are one of your favorite 80’s tracks has him on it. Steve Lukather, ladies and gentlemen. is a living legend. And then there’s Toto. TOTO, MAN!!! For four decades, Luke’s been the lead guitarist for the band that spawned “Africa,” “Rosanna,” “Hold The Line,” and more. Anytime the man plays, it’s exciting.…
-
The Weeknd’s transformation into Daft Punk is a win for music
Warning: this article discusses depictions of violence and abuse. Reader discretion is advised. One of the most unique musicians working today is Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd. His work is catchy, memorable, and above all, deeply visceral. He brings a veneer of class to lyrics of melancholy and heartbreak. He’s off-putting to some, and to others a lyrical genius, spitting fresh R&B with falsetto highs. The Weeknd began a stride in 2016 at the 58th Grammy Awards, winning awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best R&B Performance, and wrapping the year with the release of his triple platinum album, Starboy. Starboy was a work that draws its strength from…
-
How HAMILTON’S Lost Song Changed Everything
If you listened to the cast album of Hamilton, you pretty much had the entire play pumped into your ears long before the musical landed on Disney+. There are minor differences you’ll notice when watching it up close for the first time, like King George’s damp performance in You’ll Be Back or how My Shot is referenced (visually) in The World Was Wide Enough. The album is fantastic and alone is one of the greatest works in Broadway’s history. However, it missed one song and that one song recontextualizes everything. Miranda intentionally cut Lauren’s Interlude (Tomorrow There’ll Be More of Us) from the album. Saying he wanted: “at least one…
-
The 10 Best Songs from HAMILTON
Hamilton hits Disney+ this weekend, and millions will be watching the show for the first time. The Broadway production has been around for five years and produced some fantastic songs. Today, we’re going to rank the Top 10 Songs of Hamilton. 10. Yorktown (The World Turned Upsidedown) The Seige of Yorktown is a massive moment in our nation’s history. In this showstopping number, we see just how that battle went down. The music is incredible and creates a feeling of action and excitement. Hercules Mulligan’s rap is easily the best part, but the whole number feels like a grand finale. The immigrants got the job done. 9. Alexander Hamilton A…
-
Review – Hamilton: An American Musical
Hamilton is a hip-hop musical based on the life of the United State’s first Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda). The film shows us the life of Alexander. A young, scrappy, and hungry teenager is willing to give his life for his country’s freedom. We see his early years to his death. Without going into spoilers [can you spoil history?], Hamilton is a film about legacies, ambition, sacrifice, and loss. The rivalry between Alexander and Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) is the plot’s driving force. Two different world views from very flawed individuals. The entire cast is phenomenal. Leslie Odom shines as Burr and delivers the film’s best performance. Then we…
-
Don’t Go It Alone: What to Watch, Play, and Listen to During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Unless if you’ve been living under a rock, you know allllllllll about COVID19 aka Coronavirus aka the greatest threat to mankind since memes. Most of the globe is currently under quarantine or social distancing, and that can get boring very fast. My good friend Michael already made a list of 14 shows to watch while self-quarantining, but there’s a lot of content out there. So here’s my own list of media to catch up on while you survive our microscopic buddies. Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access) Star Trek on TV has been in a lull since Star Trek: Nemesis. Sure, we had three great movies from Bad Robot, but…
-
SONG REVIEW: “Ocean to Ocean” by Pitbull feat. Rhea
The most important thing to know about "Ocean to Ocean" is that "Ocean to Ocean" is not a song: "Ocean to Ocean" is freedom.
-
REVIEW: BLACK PANTHER: THE ALBUM
Are you on ten yet? You will be once you hear Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar’s latest stylings in Black Panther: The Album. Part movie soundtrack, part hero-inspired concept album, Lamar teams up with some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop and R&B to craft a groove fit for a king. Does The Album live up to the hype? Let’s journey to Wakanda and listen in… [This Review Contains Minor SPOILERS for Black Panther: The Album.] The moment Lamar says “Wait” on the title track, you realize he means business. Lighting a match to precede the rhyme spitting, Lamar uses “Black Panther” to contrast his ambitions in the rap world…
-
Retrospective Review: BATMAN Soundtrack by Prince
Batman and Prince go together shockingly well. The Batman character and Prince’s music and public persona are complete opposites yet somehow Prince was able to make an entire hit album to go along with the 1989 film. Batman (1989) is a true testament to how talented Prince was. It’s been nearly thirty years since the Batman film and album were released. In the thirty years since dozens of superhero films have been released. Their success at the box office and their success with critics has overshadowed Batman to point where it has become an afterthought in most people’s minds. The Dark Knight trilogy has replaced the Batman films of…
