“The Flood” produces evocative MN imagery

Katie Cashman, Staff Writer
February 17, 2011
Filed under a&e featured, Music Reviews

Mason Jennings returns to his roots in his 9th studio album, a collection of previously written and once lost songs that he never released over the last 18 years of his career. “The Flood” embodies Jennings’ classic style with simple, yet beautiful, acoustic melodies. “The Flood” is a rainy... Read more »

Rihanna produces shallow, meaningless music

Maddie Hibbs, staff writer
January 4, 2011
Filed under Music Reviews

With the release of her newest album “Loud,” Rhianna seems less willing to create songs with deep meaning like the popular “Umbrella” or “Unfaithful.” Instead she is making shallower melodies with crude lyrics that certainly seem less likely to be incorporated into the next Glee episode. In... Read more »

Follow up albumn lives up to expectations

Reily Dillon, staff writer
January 3, 2011
Filed under Music Reviews

After about two years of practicing, recording and writing, one of the most famous rock bands, Kings of Leon, released their fifth album. With great success from their last masterpiece they had to make sure this album would satisfy the fans. “Come Around Sundown,” one of the most anticipated alternative... Read more »

Pass up this new mash-up

Logan McMillen, staff writer
January 2, 2011
Filed under Music Reviews

The “blender” metaphor is so cliche, but I don’t think I can help but use it when talking the newest Girl Talk album, a nonsensical juxtaposition of top-40 samples and ultra-catchy dance beats aptly titled “All Day.” If you don’t know who Girl Talk is, then there is something wrong with... Read more »

Cities 97 Sampler, still alright

Keegan Swenson, staff writer
January 2, 2011
Filed under Music Reviews

Every year hundreds people wait outside the Target store nearest their homes in the cold and harsh winter to receive a copy of the Cities 97 Sampler, an album in which all the proceeds go to local Minnesota charities. This year’s album, the 22nd anniversary, follows the same trend as the previous 21:... Read more »

Swift speaks now about everyone who has ever done anything to her. Ever.

Taylor Kenyon, staff writer
January 1, 2011
Filed under Music Reviews, Top Stories

Taylor Swift fulfills fans’ expectations by releasing her long anticipated album, “Speak Now,” and gets another round of revenge on those who have done her wrong over the past few years. But this time Swift also sings about times when she has broken another person’s heart, and an easy-going childhood... Read more »

Weezer produces eighth quirky record

Maddie Hibbs, Staff writer
November 2, 2010
Filed under A&E, a&e featured, Music Reviews

After their last mainstream album, Weezer takes a trip back to the old days with their new album “Hurley,” which hit stores September 14. With well-designed lyrics and string-breaking guitar solos, the Weezer fans love is finally back. The ten track album includes three bonus songs, one of... Read more »

Asylum: disturbingly familiar

Matt Muenzberg, Staff Writer
October 18, 2010
Filed under A&E, Music Reviews

Metal band Disturbed’s new album “Asylum,” a strong performance of everything we’ve already heard from them before, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart on September 5 by selling 179,000 copies, making it their fourth straight album to do so. The album has Disturbed’s usual mix... Read more »

Arcade Fire out indies themselves again

Kale Walch, Staff writer
October 18, 2010
Filed under A&E, a&e featured, Music Reviews

In their third album, “The Suburbs,” Arcade Fire has crafted much more than an album of smooth and beautiful sound; they created another piece of smart and cynical social commentary. Here, the audience sees the once young and optimistic Arcade Fire growing up. After Arcade Fire’s first and finest... Read more »

Goo Goo Dolls finallly make something for the rest of us

Taylor Kenyon, Staff writer
October 18, 2010
Filed under A&E, Music Reviews

The Goo Goo Dolls’ first album in four years, “Something For The Rest Of Us,” strays from the band’s previous albums with darker and more ambitious tracks. The album, released on Friday, August 27, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200. The trio started out in Buffalo, New York in 1986.... Read more »