Reviews
AOTW: Karmic – “Disco Submarine”
Thursday, November 10th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
by Analia Cortez ’25
Release: September 2022
Rated: 8/10
RILY: Thunder Jackson, PRESSYES, Little Element, Leyya, 5K HD, Wargirl, DIVES, Cari Cari, Roast Apple.
In September 2022, Los Angeles and Vienna-based Karmic released their debut album. “Disco Submarine” was born into the Indie Pop world after being recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown. The intention of this album was to get a connection formed between people and music. “Disco Submarine” is built around the idea of a small space with music where closeness and connections could be created. The variety of sounds produced for this album echo the waves of emotions that were experienced not just through the pandemic, but everything in their five years together. A personal favorite from this album would have to be the sixth track “Boomerang“. Tracks four and five – “Dive Bar” and “Mantra” – are a close second and third. These songs have an upbeat yet relaxing feel to them, making them suitable for homework, a nice walk, or simply relaxing! This sound on this album is one I would listen to on occasion, however, overall, I enjoy the vibe of it and do take a strong liking to this. For a more upbeat feel, I would suggest checking out their singles “Wisdom Pie” and “Little Lucille“.
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Rocky Horror Picture Show 2022
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
by Aliyah Smith-Bradley
On October 31st, 2022, WLOY and Spectrum presented the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it was amazing! For those of you who don’t know, WLOY’s screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 10+ year tradition (and eventually we will succeed in having it outside on the quad). WLOY shows it every Halloween and this year was in collaboration with Spectrum. Spectrum is a LBGTQ+ support service at Loyola University Maryland. This year we held a costume contest with the winner taking home a new turntable and a picture disc of 45th Anniversary Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack!
Rocky Horror was a huge hit this year! With Halloween falling on a rainy Monday, celebrating it with a movie was perfect. The event had about 60 students and 19 contest competitors. For the contest, we had so many students with amazing costumes to judge it was tough. In the end, Elvis Presley (a Loyola student) won with an astounding round of applause. Everyone had a great time watching with some students shouting along with the Rocky Horror Audience Participation Script. This event was personally one of my favorites with the candy, welcoming community, and seeing everyone in their costumes.
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AOTW: Alvvays – “Blue Rev”
Monday, November 7th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
by Ameila Dunat ’25
Alvvays – “Blue Rev”
Released: October 7, 2022
Rating: 7 / 10
This Toronto band’s third album has been in the works since their 2017 album Antisocialites and it was definitely worth the wait. Alvvays is an Indie Pop band from Canada formed in 2011. After a 5-year hiatus, they’ve released Blue Rev, a shoegaze collection of 14 tracks, all with bittersweet lyrics and psychedelic sounds. My favorite tracks from this album were “Easy on Your Own”, “Tile by Tile”, and “After the Earthquake”. “After the Earthquake” was my favorite out of all of them because of its upbeat melody. “Easy on your Own” and “Tile by Tile” both feature whimsical vocals and sophisticated melodies making them sound just like the previous albums. Listening to this album made it seem as if no time had passed since I last heard the sounds of Alvvays many years ago! (more…)
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AOTW: Jonathan Jeremiah – “Horsepower For The Streets”
Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
by Aaliyah Smith-Bradley ’24
Jonathan Jeremiah – “Horsepower For The Streets”
Release: September, 2022
Rated: 9/10
RIYL: Lord Huron, Hozier, Donovan Woods, Family of the Year, Bronze Radio Return.
If you love music that sounds like an orchestra with the violins, piano and chorus in the back, then this is the album for you. When I first heard Horsepower For The Streets, I was in shock. I thought Hozier and Sam Smith were the only ones that knew how to mix Pop music with Soul. (more…)
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SOTW: Kurt Vile – “Like Exploding Stones”
Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
SONG OF THE WEEK: Kurt Vile – “Like Exploding Stones”
By Ameila Dunat ’25
This laid-back and dreamy alt rock tune, “Like Exploding Stones”, is the fourth track from Kurt Vile’s new album. Philadelphia artist and songwriter Kurt Vile wrote this album before and during the pandemic. It was mainly self-produced and self-recorded in his home studio.
Despite its slow tempo the psychedelic sounds of the guitar and synth make for a rather meditative song. This song is a doorway into the depths of Kurt’s mind- he sings about his racing thoughts and the weight of stress he carries. Although the lyrics aren’t exactly peaceful, the song sounds like a magical daydream. Some other alternative/indie songs of his I recommend if you enjoy this one include Loading Zones, One Trick Ponies, and Wakin on a Pretty Day.
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AOTW – Phoneboy
Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 by The Professor
ALBUM OF THE WEEK by Ben Ostrowski ’24
Phoneboy released a self-titled album as their first full-length project in 2021 and they absolutely killed it. A place where the toe-tapping grooves of pop meet the relatable lyrics of indie rock. The band describes a “phoneboy” as someone who is too sucked into their phone that they don’t pay attention to the world happening around them. On the contrary however, “Phoneboy,” from the New Jersey trio is guaranteed to get you off your phone and you’ll probably wind up rocking your socks off as a result.
Firstly, the vocals on this album are immaculately descriptive and give you a clear feeling for what the song is meant to be about. A song like “Fomo” that’s bursting with melodies and ramped-up choruses while exploring the madness of everyday anxieties. The guitar riffs are just as entrancing. From the intro and various riffs in the Weezer-inspired “Sweater Song” to the acoustics of ending track “Lately,” there is no sound not heard on this record. (more…)
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SOTW – Kilby Girl
Sunday, December 19th, 2021 by The Professor
SONG OF THE WEEK: The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”
By Ben Ostrowski ’24
Indie-pop rock has never sounded so good. “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers comes from their first album “When We Were Friends” and has been a hit ever since, with 130 million streams and counting. The song is a hint towards Kilby Court, a popular outdoor music venue in Salt Lake City, the area the band reigns from. The Backseat Lovers wrote the song about the type of girl that would frequent the venue.
With catchy bass lines, mellow verses that build up into an upbeat chorus, and instrumental experimentation, it’s difficult to sit still while listening to “Kilby Girl.” And if you didn’t think the song couldn’t get any better and just when you think it’s over, the band throws you for a loop with a great turn around ending to once again up the energy and bring the song back to life. The experimentation can be heard with introducing some soft guitar and the harmonica to lull the song to a close.
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The Maine – XOXO review
Thursday, November 18th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
The Maine – “XOXO: From Love & Anxiety in Real Time”
Rating 10/10
Reviewed by Ben Ostrowski ’24
On their most recent album, The Maine have been tapping into our deepest, darkest, and most vulnerable feelings. “XOXO: From Love & Anxiety in Real Time” is all about unconditional love, the good and the bad.
From start to finish, you experience all aspects of a relationship and gain an understanding that it is all facets – not just the good bits – that make love so special, and that push you to be stronger in any relationship. From the lustful infatuation that defines album opener ‘Sticky’, to the warm embrace ‘Face Towards the Sun’
“XOXO: Love & Anxiety in Real Time” is some of The Maine’s strongest material, telling a powerfully detailed story while simultaneously making it so relatable. The understanding that so many emotions can exist in one single space, makes you recognize that love doesn’t make everything better, but having a rock to lean on during the rough times makes things easier. It’s a love that continues to grow with each listen until you’ve all but burst. It’s the most authentic kind of love there is, and it on that will always have you coming back to this magnificent record.
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Album of the Week: Fleece – “Fleece EP”
Monday, March 1st, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Reviewed By: Anna Markulis
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Babe Rainbow, Post Animal, Paul Cherry, Gold Celeste, Post Animal, Sugar Candy Mountain
Canadian psychedelic indie rock band Fleece has released four happily laid-back songs in their newest EP titled Fleece. While the band formed in 2014, it was not until 2017 that they gained a large following after posting a parody YouTube video which gained over 7 million views titled, “How to Write and Alt-J Song”. Since their formation in 2014, Fleece has released three albums and even went on a North American music tour in 2017.
Despite its release in the dead of winter, Fleece EP is reminiscent of the warm summertime. Each one of the four tracks sounds like a trip to the beach, particularly in the third track “So Long” which is carried by a warm and uplifting guitar riff throughout the song. “Do U Mind (Leave the Light On)” showcases Fleece’s more psychedelic side of their musicianship with their dreamy, almost unintelligible lyrics and groovy instrumentals. Go check out Fleece EP now!
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Album of the Week: Waltzer – “Time Traveler”
Friday, February 26th, 2021 by Ronnie Gruseck
Reviewed By: Anna Markulis
Waltzer – “Time Traveler”
Released: January 29th, 2021
Rate: 8.5/10
RIYL: Woes, Burr Oak, Spacebones, Ohmme, Falcon Jane, Anna B Savage
Chicago musician Sophie Sputnik has released her debut album as Waltzer, Time Traveler. This album combines influences of punk, garage rock, and doo-wop to create a noisy, emotional, and energetic listening experience in just eight diverse tracks.
Waltzer shares her struggles with ADD, comparing her attention span to a swinging lantern in one of the most unsettling tracks, “Lantern.” She sings, “I read all the books only halfway through, my attention span is a swinging lantern.” “I Don’t Wanna Die” is perhaps the most cynical track on the album but is undeniably the catchiest as it blends hard garage rock with a 1950’s pop twist. Overall, Time Traveler is a unique album that shows off the versatility and potential for more good music by Waltzer.
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