In our collective imaginations, spring is a time of newness – it’s been glorified and beautified by poets, artists, and musicians for centuries as a symbol of renewal and life.  But the springtime also carries with it the knowledge of impending endings.  Whether you’re a graduating senior or an underclassman saying goodbye to college friends for the summer, you’ll probably have to face a few departures and farewells in the next month or so.  Hem’s sixth full-length album, Departure and Farewell, captures the bittersweetness of partings and new starts with a lyrical and musical eloquence reminiscent of wistful springtime poetry.  Read More »

Back in the days before I called myself a failed jazz pianist, one of my favorite jazz tunes that I had the opportunity to play as a member of my high school’s jazz ensemble was one had a simple structure and was outrageously fun to perform. I think these two features make  Herbie Hancock’s composition “Chameleon” such an enjoyable tune to listen to. Read More »

It is funny how much a year or two can change the public perception of an artist. Two years ago J. Cole was the talk of the town. The young rapper/producer mentored by Jay-Z had released some excellent mixtapes, and was gearing up to release his debut album. And when the last rapper/producer co-signed by Jay-Z was a fellow named Kanye West who went on to be just a minor success, Jermaine Cole certainly had a lot to live up to.

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When I think of waking up on Sunday to some wholesome religious music, French sister duo CocoRosie is definitely not the first group to come to mind.  In fact, just even looking at the “Noah’s Ark” album cover demonstrates a bit of irony for the religious undertones found throughout; a threesome of unicorns in compromising positions isn’t ultimately what comes to mind when I’m thinking about spirituality. Read More »

R&B singer Tony Sway was born in Lacey, Washington. Influenced by musical legends such as Michael Jackson, Prince,  Al B. Sure, 2Pac, and Jon B, Tony Sway has developed a unique sound resembling a few of his influences. His note variations and falsettos pay homage to the likes of both Michael Jackson and Al B. Sure specifically.

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Clad in all black, scruffy beards, and London accents, the boys of Lovelife crowded into the shower of U St. Music Hall to escape that infamous U Hall bass for an interview with WGTB. Coming off a recent showcase at SXSW, as well as a West Coast tour, the band has certainly been on the upswing after the release of two self-released EPs, The Fourth Floor and El Regreso. Read More »

The unofficial saying of Austin, Texas, is “Keep Austin Weird.” After stepping into Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, easily the world’s most intimidating costume store, I realized why. I was overcome with sensory overload, from the male store associates clacking around in stilettos to the sparkly space suits staring me in the face as a strange, musty smell lurked over the entire store. Read More »

I appreciate Grip Of The Gods’ boldness; such a name is a definite assertion of expectation. While their new EP, Take, is not exactly a divine grasp, it will grip and capture you nonetheless. Grip Of The Gods display a sure knack for variation, as their EP constantly shifts between more straightforward, distorted guitar-driven alternative rock, and a spacey, effects driven, Muse-esque space and alternative sound. What I should specify is, they pull these transitions off seamlessly, as otherwise this sound dichotomy could go very wrong. Read More »