Reviews
SOTW: Edwin Raphael – “Have You Been Told?”
Friday, September 1st, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Edwin Raphael – “Have You Been Told?”
Released: March 2022
Rate: 8.5/10
RIYL: 6lack, The Paper Kites, Matt Maltese, Bon Iver, Novo Amor
Edwin Raphael is a singer-songwriter from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Growing up, he discovered his love for music and songwriting at a young age while listening to classic rock and pop albums. He started playing guitar at the age of 12 and eventually began writing his songs inspired by The Beatles, David Bowie, and Prince.
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SOTW: Computerwife – “You Make It Look So Easy”
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Computerwife – “You Make It Look So Easy”
Released: August 2023
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Wyatt Smith, Fleeting Joys, Toner, Devilish Dear
Originating from New York City, Addie Warncke started Computerwife in 2018 during her time at university. Using SoundCloud as an outlet, Warncke compares her earlier music to a diary for her thoughts. In 2020, Addie released her favorite five songs as her debut EP, which led to a contract with Danger Collective Records, all thanks to the strength of her tracks. Computerwife’s music is truly fascinating and intricate, challenging the limits between analog and digital sound. By combining shoegaze, emo, and lo-fi noise pop, Computerwife speaks directly to young girls who feel unease with their identity in the age of digital media.
Computerwife’s “You Make It Look So Easy” perfectly aligns with the theme of Warncke’s music. This track showcases her coming back to herself, really nailing the purpose behind her sound. “You Make It Look So Easy” explores the relatability of our adoration turning into envy when admiring another. As we are constantly exposed to the lives of complete strangers, Warncke creates a relatively heavier and tense track, encapsulating the jealousy that is produced when wishing you had someone else’s life. I enjoy Computerwife’s music and definitely have a few of her tracks on my playlist. The message behind her discography is essential and can be highly influential when dangerously glorifying the appearance of another’s life.
Staff Picks: “Happy Girl” and “Hehehe”
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AOTW: Bennett Coast – “Where Are You Going?”
Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of the Week: Bennett Coast – “Where Are You Going?”
Released: August 4, 2023
Rate: 10/10
RIYL: Dominic Fike, Ashes To Amber, Briston Maroney, ROLE MODEL, Day Wave
Bennett Coast, an up-and-coming musician and filmmaker from Los Angeles, released his latest album, “Where Are You Going?” Born and raised in Northern California, the 22-year-old artist draws inspiration from the differences between youth and maturity and the constant flux of life. Bennett explores these themes, as well as the melancholy of leaving one’s hometown, in his self-taught musical and visual works. (more…)
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SOTW: Mikaela Davis – “Far From You”
Friday, August 11th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Mikaela Davis – “Far From You”
Released: August 4, 2023
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: NOVA ONE, Liza Anne, River Whyless, Liz Cooper
Mikaela Davis is a talented musician who sings, writes songs, and plays multiple instruments, with her harp skills being a standout feature. Her music blends elements of folk, country-rock, and chamber pop to create some pretty textured pop songs. In the early 2010s, she gained attention for covering indie singer/songwriters with her harp, before moving on to create more complex arrangements for her original music. Her first album with a label, “Delivery”, was produced by John Congleton in 2018. Her newest album, “And Southern Star”, is largely self-produced and reflects a mix of modern indie, country, and folk-pop.
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Staff Picks: July
Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
WLOY loves nothing more than being able to share some of our favorite tracks with you guys. Let’s welcome August with July’s hottest hits as we present some monthly staff picks! (more…)
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The Prime: Pop Through The Ages (Pop-Punk)
Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Genre: Pop
Subgenre: Pop-Punk
RIYL: Sum 41, The Offspring, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Paramore
Pop-Punk emerged in the late 1970s as a fusion of punk-rock and pop music elements. It combines the rebellious, DIY ethos of punk with catchy melodies and accessible song structures found in pop music. The genre’s roots can be traced back to the early days of punk rock when bands like the Ramones and Buzzcocks were experimenting with pop hooks and shorter, more pop-like songs. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Pop-Punk truly came into its own and gained widespread popularity.
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AOTW: FIONN – “I Might Start Smoking”
Monday, July 31st, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of the Week: FIONN – “I Might Start Smoking”
Released: June 2023
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Tegan and Sara, Caroline Polachek, Beach Bunny, HAIM
The twin sister duo, FIONN, have found great success through their unique sound, relatable heartfelt lyrics, and undeniable drive. Raised within a musically driven family, Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris have used their gifts since a young age. Taking to busking the streets at age twelve, the Vancouver natives quickly gained notoriety for their raw talent and stage presence. Releasing their first studio album in 2018, FIONN has since made their way back onto the stage after the pandemic hiatus, and has spent the last year writing and recording their new record “I Might Start Smoking.”
(more…)
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SOTW: Alice Phoebe Lou – “Shelter”
Friday, July 28th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Alice Phoebe Lou – “Shelter”
Released: March 2023
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Faye Webster, Nico, Lucy Dacus, Alvvays, Haley Heynderickx
Alice Phoebe Lou is a singer-songwriter known for her soft vocals and resonant lyrics. Born and raised in the coastal town of Kommetjie, South Africa, Alice’s love for music began at a young age. Her adventurous spirit led her to Berlin, where she found creative freedom and a community of like-minded artists. (more…)
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The Prime: Pop Through The Ages (Bubblegum Pop)
Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Genre: Pop
Subgenre: Bubblegum Pop
RIYL: The Archies, Natasha Bedingfield, The Monkees, Gwen Stefani
Bubblegum Pop sweetly burst onto the music scene in the late 1960s, fitting right into the colorful era we know as the 70s. The genre emerged as a rebellion against the popular rock and folk that dominated the airwaves, quickly captivating audiences of all ages. Music legends, The Archies, paved the way with their irresistible hit “Sugar, Sugar.” They were soon followed by ba ds such as The Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Company, all contributing to the music we know and love. (more…)
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AOTW: Tiberius – “Fish in a Pond”
Friday, July 14th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of the Week: Tiberius – “Fish in a Pond”
Released: June 30, 2023
Rate: 8.5/10
RIYL: MJ Lenderman, Pinegrove, Car Seat Headrest, Field Medic, Greg Freeman
Tiberius is the extraordinary creation of Brendan Wright, a musician who hails from Vermont but now calls Boston home. Since dropping their last album, “Lull,” this 26-year-old music producer has been juggling recording sessions between their pad in Allston and the abandoned Sound Museum warehouse. After the release of “Lull,” Wright included members Kevin Polite (bass), Christian Pace (guitar), and Ben Curell (drums) to transfer his individual studio work into a live setting. They’ve become regulars at the nearby 7-Eleven and Dunkin Donuts combo, all while managing a regular job from 9 to 5. It’s been quite the adventure for them, adapting to a DIY community that used to thrive but now emerges from the remains of a post-pandemic world. Wright finds inspiration in these moments and reflects on the uncertainty and uncomfortableness of growing. He speaks about the difficulty of being perceived and finding your place in the world. (more…)
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