Music for listening: Album Reviews

The Backseat Lovers is an American Indie Rock band from Provo, UT. The band was formed in 2018 and is composed of lead vocalist & guitarist Josh Harmon, lead guitarist Jonas Swanson, bassist KJ Ward, and drummer Juice Welch. They have released several singles and two studio albums that have characterized their music as high energy and straight from the heart. The band has quickly gained a following for the relatability of their songs and their dynamic live performances.  I was told about this band a little over a year ago. A friend knew their manager somehow and talked a lot about them for a while. I was hesitant to listen because from how he described them, it sounded like another small band with an LA-type alternative vibe. I ended up finding one song after another that I loved and saw them perform this past summer. What I love about this band is how they are taking indie rock and making it their own. It feels like there are a lot of indie rock bands growing now but this band has

Every week I feel as though I describe whatever album I write about as "unique." I stand by this because I feel my music taste is unique. After all, not many people listen to the music I do! This artist though is a more popular one. Kid Cudi is a rapper most of my peers are familiar with, so instead of describing this album as unique to my taste, a more appropriate term would be "ahead of its time."  "Man on the Moon: The End of Day" is an album he released in 2009. It follows a loose narrative structure that tells the story of Kid Cudi's alter-ego, "Mr. Rager," as he navigates through life. It is known for its blend of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. This debut studio album was such a critical and commercial success that it cemented Kid Cudi's place in the music industry very early in his career. I know a couple of these songs by heart but have never gone through and listened to the whole album. I'm hoping to find a few new ones

Choosing what album I do each week has honestly been the hardest part of writing this blog. What makes it easier is just listening to what I usually choose to listen to and choose what artist I want to write about that week. From there I can look at their discography and pick which album would be best to review.  This week, I chose to write about one of my favorite artist's only full-length album. Briston Maroney's "Sunflower" is a 10-track project that showcases his impressive range and unique style. It mixes indie, rock, folk, and pop, with strong emphasis on storytelling and personal reflection. It is an impressive debut album from an artist with a bright future ahead of him.  I had the chance to see him live this past summer at a festival named "Bonnaroo," shortly after he released this album. I wasn't sure what to expect from him live because I wasn't sure his songs would be very fun to be at live but he chose a good set that made it fun.  The s

For this week, I'm back to country music! I began this blog with my favorite artist, Zach Bryan. I followed up with a few more favorites from different genres. After running out of genres to go to, this band is next on my list for country music. I began listening to them early on in high school. Because of this, I have a special connection and nostalgia around some of their songs.  The album of theirs I chose to review this week is named "Humble Folks," an 11 song album released in April of 2016. It has a captivating blend of country, folk, and americana music. The lyrics explore the ups and downs (mostly downs) of life, love, and loss. I will give each song a listen, describe them briefly, and rate them out of 10. Then, give the album an overall rating.  1: "One I Want" A medium tempo, but upbeat song about loving someone. Fiddle is used quite a bit which I like. Rating: 8 2: "A Good Memory" A song about an ex-girlfriend, who is now just a good memory

For my fifth album review, I am incorporating a lesser known band. My friend introduced me to them a few weeks ago and I loved a song called "T-Love." Quarters of Change is a progressive rock band known for their experimental sound. Based in Los Angeles, California, their influencers include Pink Floyd, Tool, and many others.  Their latest (and only) album "Into The Rift" is a journey that takes listeners on a ride through different musical landscapes. With a blend of psychedelic and experimental rock, the album showcases the band's versatility and musical prowess. The band's unique sound and dynamic performance make this album a must-listen for fans of off-center, genre-defying music.  Again, I will listen to each song and rate/describe it. Then, give the album an overall score out of 10. 1: "T Love" This song utilizes amazing guitar and vocals, and incorporates a driving percussion from the drums that makes you move along to it. Rating: 10 2: &qu

I've hit a different genre every week thus far. This will not be the week I break the streak! The next logical step in my genre exploration is rap, obviously. The first rap album I could think of has less to do with the artist and more to do with my love for one of the songs on it. "Flashing Lights" by Kanye was a song that I sang in my organization's sing act, so I chose the album "Graduation" because of this.  This is West's third studio album and was released in 2007. It showcased Kanye's innovative production style and catchy hooks more than any his previous work had. With guest appearances from artists like T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Mos Def, this album helped solidify Kanye's place as a boundary-pushing musician. A common theme of the albums and artists I am choosing for these blogs is just that: boundary pushing. Here are the song reviews, and overall rating! 1: "Good Morning" An upbeat and optimistic introduction to the album. Ratin