Reviews

AOTW: Will Stratton – Points of Origin

Thursday, April 17th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Fiona Galang ’27

Song of the Week: Will Stratton – Points of Origin

Released: March 7, 2025

Rating: 8/10

RIYL: Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, Adrianne Lenker

Will Stratton is a New Jersey native singer-songwriter and composer. His first album, What the Night Said, received wide critical praise especially since Sufjan Stevens guest featured with his oboe. His second album, No Wonder, featured Essie Jain.

Just a month ago, he released Points of Origin, alluding to his birth-state of California. He includes themes about climate change and generational alienation. This is a very mellow album, something you can relax to. “I Found You,” was released in September of 2024 and it’s a leading single of Stratton’s. “Firewatcher,” is definitely my favorite song from this album. It reminds me of a song they would play in a coffee shop. I could probably fall asleep to this album– in a good way! “Temple Bar,” is more of an upbeat song on this album, but still includes Stratton’s soft vocals. Great album to listen to if you want to pretend you’re in a Hallmark movie.

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Staff Picks: Liz’s Top 5

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

Hi, I’m Liz, the Public Relations Director at WLOY, and here are my top 5 songs of the week!

5. “Enter Sandman” – Metallica: One of the best intros in music, no question. It also opens Zombieland, one of my favorite movies.

4. “As Good As I Once Was” – Toby Keith: An easy-going and funny country song that never gets old. It’s got that classic Toby Keith humor, and honestly, it’s just a good time every time it comes on.

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SOTW: “Am I Your Girl” – Peach Pit

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Isabelle Braudakis ’25

Song of The Week: “Am I Your Girl” – Peach Pit

Released: April 4, 2025

Rate: 9/10

RIYL: The Backseat Lovers, Hippo Campus, Wallows

Indie pop darlings Peach Pit are back and better than ever with the release of the deluxe edition of From 2 to 3. This record leans into late night longing with the help of dreamy guitar textures and a band more confident than ever in their identity.

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AOTW: Tory Lanez – Alone At Prom

Thursday, April 10th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Elizabeth Kosik ’25

Album of The Week: Tory Lanez – Alone At Prom

Released: December 10, 2021

Rate: 10/10

RIYL: PARTYNEXTDOOR, Lil Tecca, Miguel

Tory Lanez is mostly known for mixing rap and R&B, but Alone at Prom is a full shift into a retro ‘80s sound. It’s not a typical project from him, but it shows he can commit to a theme and still make it polished. The album stands out because it doesn’t feel like he’s just trying to be nostalgic—he actually pulled it off.

Every track on Alone at Prom hits, with no skips. “The Color Violet” is smooth and catchy without trying too hard. “Midnight’s Interlude” keeps that moody feel going but doesn’t get boring. “Pluto’s Last Comet” sounds like the kind of song you’d hear in the last scene of a movie, and “‘87 Stingray” brings the energy back up without breaking the vibe. Even if this isn’t your usual style, the songs are easy to get into and stay stuck in your head.

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Staff Picks: Liz’s Top 5

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

Hi, I’m Liz, the Public Relations Director at WLOY, and here are my top 5 songs of the week!

5. “Amazing” – Rex Orange County: As my senior year concludes, many of these tracks remind me of my earlier college years. “Amazing” was released in March 2022 during the spring of my first year, and it brings me back to those spring days spent with my best friends.

4. “Looking at You” – Two Friends, Sam Vesso: One of my favorite tracks from my first year at Loyola is by Two Friends, who played at our Loyolapalooza—I fell in love with their music after that.

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SOTW: “POP” – Miso Extra

Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Genevieve Torkornoo ’25

Song of The Week: “POP” – Miso Extra

Released: March 20, 2025

Rate: 9/10

RIYL: Born At Midnite, Maddie Jay, Kaeto

Miso Extra is a rising solo artist of Japanese and British heritage, seamlessly infusing her identity into her music. Her song “POP” is an alternative pop track with an upbeat tempo that leaves a lasting impression on listeners. Blending both English and Japanese effortlessly, the song features a catchy chorus that echoes “pop, pop, pop” in the air—a fun and infectious tune that’s hard not to sing along to.

Her song “POP” gathers inspiration from both the Western and Japanese music industries, Miso Extra creates a unique sound that feels fresh yet familiar. If you love upbeat, cute, and catchy pop or alternative pop, “POP” by Miso Extra is a must-listen!

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AOTW: Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – I Said I Loved You First

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Sylvia Gredzinski ‘27

Album of The Week: Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – I Said I Loved You First

Released: March 21, 2025

Rate: 8/10

RIYL: Gracie Abrams, Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter

Selena Gomez is a multi-talented singer, actress, and producer known for her emotional, diary-like songwriting and smooth vocal delivery. From her early pop hits with Stars Dance to the introspective sounds of Rare and Revelación, she has continuously evolved as an artist, blending pop, R&B, and Latin influences.

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Staff Picks: Ethan’s Top 5

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 by Liz Kosik

Hi, I’m Ethan, the Events Coordinator at WLOY, and here are my top 5 songs of the week!

5. “Stacy’s mom”– Fountains of Wayne: Do I even need to describe why this song is here? I think we all can agree this song is amazing from start to finish. The chorus is just such a classic and most people who hear it just have to sing along.

4. “House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals: I have family from Louisiana so whenever I hear this song I think of them. I called them this week and not even an hour later Spotify suggested this song. The song brings a familiar feeling when listening and it’s hard not to enjoy hearing that organ play!

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SOTW: “Love Me” – Elvis Presley

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Elizabeth Kosik ’25

Song of The Week: “Love Me” – Elvis Presley

Released: October 19, 1956

Rate: 10/10

RIYL: Ritchie Valens, Paul Anka, Billy Joel

Elvis Presley, often called the King of Rock and Roll, revolutionized music with his blend of blues, country, and gospel influences. Born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, he rose to fame in the mid-1950s with his charismatic performances and swooning nature. His early success with Sun Records led to a major contract with RCA, launching a career that made him an icon. By 1956, he had become a household name, known for his stage presence and untouchable hits. His self-titled debut album, Elvis, showcased his raw talent, featuring a mix of rockabilly energy and heartfelt ballads that would define his legacy.
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AOTW: Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U

Thursday, March 27th, 2025 by Liz Kosik

by Fiona Galang ’27

Album of The Week: Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U

Released: February 14, 2025

Rate: 6/10

RIYL: PARTYNEXTDOOR, The Weeknd, Bryson Tiller

Drake is a Canadian rapper and singer who was inspired by Jay-Z and Clipse. In 2009, So Far Gone was where he really gained traction with “Best I Ever Had,” and “Successful,” which are still getting hundreds of thousands of plays to this day. Thank Me Later, Take Care, Views, Scorpion, Certified Lover Boy, I could go on and on about all his 29 hit albums. $ome $exy $ongs 4 U has some big shoes to fill.

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