Thursday, January 26, 2017

Popular

No matter what your taste in music is, the occasional catchy popular song will find its way into your head and leave you humming one of the Top 40 Hits of the week. Popular music can often get criticized (you either love it or you hate it), but the intention for the music is to become popular. Artists and producers know how to make a song that numerous people will love. It can be fake, or auto tuned, or only feature four chords over and over again, but it can also be charming. Songs that people love can create bonds over a common interest. Weed out the bad music, and find some good pieces in the large pool of favorites.


The Chainsmokers: In the past, electronic and pop music were separate. Pop music was restricted to it’s basic chords and beats and kept its fan base with catchy vocals, meanwhile electronic used its eccentric beats, but had nothing to hold the audience’s attention without vocals. Then came the Chainsmokers. This band is innovating the newest form of pop music and making it their own. With songs like “Roses,” and “Closer,” reaching the top of the charts for both pop and EDM, you can tell that the duo has a lot passion for the music they create. Their sound is better than their competition, more electrifying. The Chainsmoker’s songs are the ultimate sing-along-with-your friends-as-you-bust-out-embarrassing-moves-in-the-car. The upbeat and catchy melodies ensure this band is never absent at a dance party.


Blurryface: You can say a lot about Twenty One Pilots. Some people think they’re overdone, others think they are life changing. No matter what you say about them, the fact is they’re popular for a reason. Their latest album, Blurryface, showcases all of the reasons that they are so popular. Blurryface is a character the lead singer, Tyler Joseph, made up to reflect all of his insecurities. Through every emotion, they relate to their audience. “Tear in my Heart,” demonstrates how love can make you vulnerable. “Heavydirtysoul,” shows a positive spin on feeling helpless. “We Don’t Believe What’s on TV” gives you hope for the future and the sincerity in the lyrics of “The Judge” makes your head and heart skip a beat. Their rock beat combined with authentic lyrics and messages makes this album one that no one should miss, even Twenty One Pilots cynics.


Pop Discovery: Starboy-The Weeknd, 24K Magic-Bruno Mars, Paris-The Chainsmokers, Genghis Kahn-Miike Snow, All Time Low-Jon Bellion, Cold Water-Major Lazer feat Justin Bieber, HandClap- Fitz and the Tantrums, Not Afraid Anymore-Halsey, Juke Jam-Chance the Rapper, Death of a Bachelor-Panic! At the Disco, Hold Up-Beyonce, Never Be Like You-Flume


Pop Chill: Castle on the Hill-Ed Sheeran, I Don’t Know My Name-Grace Vanderwaal, i hate u, i love u-gnash, This Town-Niall Horan, Love Me Know-John Legend, Way Down We Go-Kaleo,  Too Good-Drake, Pray You Catch Me- Beyonce, When We Were Young-Adele, 7 Years-Lukas Graham, Love Yourself-Justin Bieber, The Judge-Twenty One Pilots


Upcoming Concerts:


Twenty One Pilots-United Center-Chicago, IL-1/28/2017-7:00pm


Jacob Sartorius!!!!!!!-House of Blues-Chicago, IL-1/29/2017-6:30pm


Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Britten and Tchaikovsky)-Chicago Symphony Center-Chicago, IL- Feb. 3&4 -8:00pm


Riff Raff-Portage Theater-Chicago, IL-2/4/2017-7:00pm


I Love the 90s Show ft. Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa, Coolio (along with other food items)-BMO Harris Bank Center-Rockford, IL-2/10/2017-7:00pm


Cherub and The Floozies-Riviera Theatre-Chicago-2/10/2017 9:00pm

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Our Favorites

It’s a new year! Time to celebrate and embrace the change that comes with 2017. We decided that this would be a perfect time to showcase some of our personal favorites. Our music taste is very similar, so we picked an artist and album that we both thoroughly enjoy. The new year brings about many opportunities to discover new music, so pay attention. Ask your friends, cool classmates, even strangers what they are listening to. Try to catch songs that are playing in restaurants or hotel lobbies or stores or bowling alleys. Shazam everything! Continue to listen to your old, endearing collection of favorites, but also wander into the unfamiliar territory of new music. There is so much more to discover.

Artist of the Week- The Walters- The Walters are the ultimate feel good band. Pick a happy memory and there is a Walters’ song that could effortlessly fit that mood. This group of Chicago natives has reached small audiences using their emotion and poignant messages about relationships today. Made up of five men, they are a younger band having only been together for a little over two years. Their songs explore different sounds, from the rock of “Hunk Beach,” to the pure, mellow emotion in “I Love You So”. Their vocals are charming and while listening, you become enchanted with not only the music they produce, but themselves as individuals. That’s how enthralling it is. “Autumn Leaves” and “New Girl” prove this. The mixture of smooth indie and crafty lyrics create songs to adore. With one listen, you will fall in love with these boys.  

Album of the Week- The Next Thing- Each song on Frankie Cosmos’s album “The Next Thing” is an experience. It carries the audience through the lightheartedness of “Outside with the Cuties” to the emotion wrapped inside “Young.” Frankie Cosmos (real name Greta Kline) transcends the emotions of the listeners through her second album. Although only 22, Cosmos relates to people of all ages through heartbreak, relaxation and melodies to match. Her lyrics read like beautiful poetry, and listening to her sweet voice, you feel thoughtful and reflective. She feels personal, as if she wrote the song as a gift to you. Writer Lindsay Zoladz for the New York Magazine described Frankie’s message as a “melodic reminder that the wisest, wittiest person in the room is rarely the loudest one but instead that unassuming girl in the corner, grinning contentedly at her untied shoes”. This sums up Frankie perfectly. The authenticity in her music is something that is lacking in the music industry. It’s striking and refreshing to create a sound truly cherished by everyone.

Georgia’s Favorites Playlist- Black Balloons- Local Natives, It’s Real- Real Estate, Adversity- Beach Fossils, Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games- of Montreal, Feel It All Around-Washed Out, Polish Girl- Neon Indian, These Days- Dr. Dog, Needle- Born Ruffians, Under the Pressure- the War on Drugs, Follow the Leader- Foxygen,

Rachel’s Favorites Playlist- Ms-Alt-J, Tattoos-Angus Maude, Sedona-Houndmouth, Piazza New York Catcher-Belle & Sebastian, Wetsuit-The Vaccines, Sex Tourists-French Kicks, Sea Swallow Me- Cocteau Twins, Home-Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, All of Them Dreams-Tom Rosenthal



Upcoming Concerts:

Ezra Furman- Lincoln Hall- Chicago, IL- 1/12/2016- 9:00pm

Lukas Graham-House of Blues-Chicago, IL-1/17/2017-6:00pm

The Lumineers-Allstate Arena-Rosemont, IL-1/20/2017-7:00pm

Kings of Leon-United Center-Chicago, IL-1/23/2017-7:30pm

Twenty One Pilots-United Center-Chicago, IL-1/28/2017-7:00pm

Jacob Sartorius!!!!!!!-House of Blues-Chicago, IL-1/29/2017-6:30pm

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Britten and Tchaikovsky)-Chicago Symphony Center-Chicago, IL- Feb. 3&4 -8:00pm

Riff Raff-Portage Theater-Chicago, IL-2/4/2017-7:00pm

I Love the 90s Show ft. Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa, Coolio (along with other food items)-BMO Harris Bank Center-Rockford, IL-2/10/2017-7:00pm