‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ enchants one loyal, nostalgic Swiftie
Rating: 4.5/5 stars I prefer to call myself a “Taylor Swift enjoyer” above a “Swiftie.” I like most of her music, but I will never be the fan who defends her every move. She has written bad songs and released…
“Fionna and Cake” promises new, more mature adventures
Rating: 4/5 stars The world of “Adventure Time” continues to expand after the end of the original series, as “Fionna and Cake,” a new Max original, seeks to bring new depth to the Land of Ooo. This is not the…
Jimmy Buffett leaves behind genuine, caring legacy for beloved fans
At the beginning of the month, America mourned the loss of one of its finest artists. Jimmy Buffett (“Margaritaville”), who rose to stardom with his tropical rock music, passed away Sept. 1 at the age of 76. His fans known…
Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion pop, lock, flip hip-hop on new bop
Rating: 5/5 stars Historically, the music genre of rap has been dominated by men, with early influential figures being Dr. Dre (“The Chronic”), Tupac Shakur (“All Eyez On Me”, The Notorious B.I.G. (“Ready to Die”) and many more. However, the…
Olivia Rodrigo returns gutsier than ever on long-awaited sophomore album
Rating: 3.5/5 stars Olivia Rodrigo’s (“SOUR”) sophomore album “GUTS” was released Sept. 8. “GUTS” has 12 songs that expand on the issues of girlhood, heartbreak and societal pressures. Rodrigo released two singles off of the album: “vampire” on June 30,…
“Barbie” takes on human condition with humor, heart
Rating: 5/5 stars After months of waiting and weeks of fabulously pink-fashioned press touring, “Barbie” arrived in theaters on July 21 and did not disappoint. Director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) spun any preconceived notions of the film on their heads…
‘The Diplomat’ delivers tense drama and suspenseful cliffhangers
Rating: 5/5 stars Netflix has released “The Diplomat,” a short series of eight episodes about an hour each. Starting with a serene moment, the show then drops viewers literally like a bomb into the center of the action. The first…
Mac DeMarco’s 199-track snoozer ‘One Wayne G’ egotistic at its core
Rating: 1/5 stars Readers expect a music reviewer to listen to the entirety of an album. It is only 30-90 minutes of the reviewers’ time, they say. But sometimes it is the artist’s fault. Musicians, like experimentalist AG Cook (“Apple”)…
Post Malone releases cathartic new single on healing
Rating: 4.5/5 stars On his single, Post Malone (“Twelve Carat Toothache”) doubled down on developing his sound, while struggling to free himself from a toxic relationship. “Chemical,” although released as a single on April 21, was included as a part…
Jethro Tull returns with mythological flute tunes, poetic Icelandic lyrics
Rating: 3.5/5 stars Sit down and prepare for a musical deep dive into Norse mythology with Jethro Tull (“Zealot Gene”). The band released their new album “RökFlöte,” roughly meaning “rock flute” on April 21. Since their previous drop was only…
