Rock artist Brian Lopez confesses that his new album, Ultra, can’t be easily categorized into a single genre. Lopez’s Tucson upbringing plays an obvious role in his first full-length work, with its drawling melodies and instrumentation, but his sound is far from typical. While Ultra begins with a stereotypical rock song, the subtleties of his slower and layered, both musically and emotionally, pieces make the album worth a listen.
One of the most unique features of this album is its bilingualism. Lopez primarily sings in English and but several tracks feature Spanish, including “El Vagabundo” and “El Pajaro y El Ciervo.” Generally the use of Spanish added a depth to the music, but the overemphasis of traditional Hispanic elements such as mariachi in “El Vagabundo” seemed gimmicky and more appropriate for either an Antonio Banderas or old western film. Read More »

WGTB is presenting it’s Battle of the Bands this Saturday.  Five bands will compete for the title of best band on campus and a chance to open for U.S. Royalty at the WGTB Spring Concert.  Come out to listen to epic musical battle that will define our lives (well at least the semester).  Come celebrate the end of WGTB Week with a free concert.

Saturday, March 31/Bulldog Alley/8:30-11:30 PM/ FREE!!!!!!

The Bands Competing Will Be:

• Maroon 6
• Law Abiding Criminals
• Text Message
• Grasping at Straws
• Mary Ellen Funke

Let the battle begin!

“Mistaking clouds for mountains”…oh, have you ever experienced one line of a song going around and around in your head until either you become sick or your life molds itself to the lyrics?  The latter occurred to me the other day.  I wouldn’t have been able to describe how exactly Mr. Andrew Bird’s words “Danse Caribe” felt so perfect in the moment, I just know that I had this intuitive feeling that they were meant for me.  In fact, the whole of the whistling-fiddling-glockenspieling songwriter’s latest album, Break It Yourself (March 6, 2012), is packed with feeling – little wisps and steamrolling blasts and punctuated pepperings of it.  This glorious record, with beautifully characteristically Bird-esque style and lyrics, is not only Bird’s most accessible yet, it’s also his best.

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Cloud Nothings is an indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Headed by frontman Dylan Baldi, the band has released two albums up to this point; their third album Attack on Memory is their most critically acclaimed album to date. The title is a very literal statement, as it’s  “an attack on the memory of what people thought the band was,” according to Baldi. While he sounds a little pretentious, the description is accurate. Attack on Memory sounds nothing like the punk Cloud Nothings of old. Rather, its dark, raging lyrics give it a much more aggressive sound. Read More »

 When a band with an established niche releases an album after a six-year hiatus, it’s always a bit risky.  Should the record cater to fans or try to attract new followers?  British indie-pop rockers Comet Gain likely faced this question with their latest release, 2011’s Howl of the Lonely Crowd on Fortuna Pop! label.  The album’s success is relative; for fans, Howl of the Lonely Crowd delivers a decently satisfactory crop of new tracks still infused with much of the band’s original energy. However, the album is unlikely to draw first-time listeners into the small dedicated following of Comet Gain. Read More »

★1/2

To say this is not Kid Cudi’s best work would be generous. When the Brooklyn based, Cleveland born protege of Kanye West first announced that he would be forming an experimental rock band later revealed to be titled WZRD, he was understandably met with skepticism. The last time a high profile rapper attempted to release a rock album was Lil Wayne’s ill-advised Rebirth. Kid Cudi’s attempt unfortunately misses the target as well, albeit with brief flashes of strength.

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