Oldies – Concert: 12/27 – The Disco Biscuits @ College Street Music Hall
November 8th, 1985 (soul-pop)
The year after New Edition released their second album, their self-titled album reached even higher heights than their debut with “Candy Girl.” New Edition found themselves indebted to MCA Records after taking a loan out to escape a limiting production contract they unknowingly agreed to. This meant that the next series of albums released came from financial and commercial pressure to pay this debt off, and the founding member of the band, Bobby Brown, didn’t like this direction. Because of that, this is the last album that they recorded as a whole before he stepped into a solo career with less control, until the comeback in 1996. “All for Love” is not a bad album for the band, but besides a bad rap about why kids should stay in school, they are all conventional, upbeat, catchy soul-pop. The theme of the album, being relationships, love, and friendships, is very ironic considering this is pretty much the breaking point for both the frontman, his bandmates and the label. With most of the members being comfortable producing some bubblegum pop for a money cushion, Brown gradually became more demanding in creative and vocal fronts. This eventually led to his termination after this album, and then they marketed it as a quartet. For New Edition, the name in itself is meant to mean a new form of the Jackson 5, with similarities in their most popular hits like “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Candy Girl” before accepting more ‘80s beats and technology to produce their arguably most popular album, “Heart Break” in 1988. They gave a modern blueprint for more young black male pop groups and actually followed in similar steps to the Jacksons as well. “All for Love” isn’t the most groundbreaking music, but it honestly sounds magically polished compared to the cracks beneath the surface, of breaking through new fame, financial and creative restriction, and also losing a band member who’s supposed to be holding it together. I recommend “Count Me Out,” “A Little Bit of Love,” “Who Do You Trust” and “Kickback.”
November 9th, 1981 (synth/ alt-pop)
Men at Work probably have one of the most unconventional turns to spotlights, having their debut album, “Business As Usual,” rejected twice from their U.S. label for not “having any hits on it.” Of course, this album actually became one of the most well-performing international albums of any previous Australian band, and was the first Australian band to have an album and a single both holding No. 1 positions at the same time. The singles that we still relate to as their greatest work, “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now?” are so diverse, experimental and unexpected that no one could foresee the influence that they would have on an entire country. “Down Under,” especially, would become an Australian Anthem. However, a lot of their country unity ended when an Australian Music Company that owned the rights to “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree” sued the band for copyright infringement of the flute riff that appears in the hook of both songs, written by Marion Sinclair in 1932. Larrkin purchased the rights to the song in 1990, and when the courts ultimately deemed that it had been infringed, they received 5% of the song’s royalties from 2002 onward. Obviously Colin Hay included the flute melody from the song as a nod to the culture, but then sparked a landslide of effects years after the song had reached fame, Hay feeling like their most popular song and what they were so proud of was somehow stolen work, and a cash grab from Larrkin initially wanted 40-60% of the royalties which is outrageous for a flute riff that they didn’t even write and Sinclair died in 1988, having definitely heard the song and deciding not to sue. Debut albums like this one are so special to compare the future growth of the artist to because normally debut albums are the least funded, and most creatively true to themselves, but nothing has beat this level since. Overall, the album is not bright and cheery in any way; most of their songs have dark or personal meanings. “Helpless Automaton”, “People Just Love to Play With Words” and “Be Good Johnny” all stem from some sense of insecurity, incompletion, and not fitting in or understanding the world around you. I recommend all these songs, plus “Down By the Sea” and “I Can See It In Your Eyes.”
November 9th, 1962 (soul)
The most important, and the foundational Detroit Motown band, was formed in 1955 by a group of six teenage friends: Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Warren Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Ronnie White. The Miracles would go on to change the sound of soul, pop, and blues, in addition to paving the way for future success in Motown Records like The Supremes, The Temptations, or The Jackson 5. Right before the release of my favorite album, “The Fabulous Miracles,” they released two of the singles, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” and “Happy Landing,” which would later be cited as inspiration and even covered by The Beatles. Any song that The Miracles released could be a hit, having over 50 charting singles. This group was changing the soundscape of mixing genres, like pop, rock and blues, all into this addictive, unique sound that became what Motown is and is still inspiring artists around the world. I recommend the entire The Fabulous Miracles album, as it changed my life the first time my record store boss pulled it out from behind the counter and exposed me to a sound that honestly doesn’t exist anymore, but for good reason, because no one can replicate its perfection.
Global – Concert: 12/12 – Dakha Brakha @ Fairfield Theater Co.
YEONJUN’s newest solo project, “NO LABELS: PART 01,” shows a completely different side of TXT’s oldest member. Instead of leaning into polished, high-energy pop, this release feels personal and stripped down, like he’s letting MOA into his head without any filters. The songs mix alternative pop, R&B, and subtle electronic touches, but the focus stays on YEONJUN’s voice and the emotion behind it. Lyrically, the project is about breaking out of expectations and defining yourself on your own terms (hence the title). It’s confident, raw, and a little vulnerable, proof that YEONJUN isn’t afraid to experiment outside the boundaries of his group sound. With a unique marketing strategy and feature from KATSEYE member Daniela Avanzini on one of the songs, there is no doubt Yeonjun is setting new records for the K-pop industry once again. Whether you’re a long-time MOA or discovering him for the first time, “NO LABELS: PART 01” is worth a listen.
New release “Time Time Time (I’m in the Palm of Your Hand)” by Yndling, a dreamy indie-pop track that feels like drifting through a daydream. Yndling is the project of Norwegian artist Silje Glasø, known for creating soft, vibey music that balances emotional depth with a calm, ethereal sound. Her songs often explore vulnerability, soul-searching, and the hazy spaces between memory and feeling. On “Time Time Time (I’m in the Palm of Your Hand),” she captures that dizzying sense of being completely absorbed by someone, where time feels like it’s no longer your own. With airy vocals and warm, hazy production, the song wraps you in a quiet emotional pull that stays long after it ends. Whether you’re studying, relaxing, or walking across campus in your own little main character movie scene moment, this song sets the perfect mood.
Waterbaby is a rising Swedish artist known for her soft, minimalist take on indie R&B. Her new track, “Beck n Call,” feels intimate and gentle, built around breathy vocals and a slow, floating beat that gives the song space to breathe. What makes “Beck n Call” stand out is how quietly emotional it is. Waterbaby captures the feeling of always being available for someone, even when they don’t give the same energy back. It’s vulnerable without being dramatic, like a late-night confession you whisper to yourself. The production stays light and airy, almost like a secret, which makes the lyrics hit even harder. If you like songs that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into someone’s private thoughts, add this one to your playlist. I would recommend it to fans of the movie “Call Me By Your Name;” the instrumental is reminiscent of the soundtrack to the film, and it gives the same vibes.
Hip-Hop/R&B – Concert: 12/12 – A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie @ Total Mortgage Arena
This week, Quavo teamed up with Yeat and BYNX for a brand-new single titled “New Trip,” and it’s exactly what the title promises: a total sonic ride. 2025 has already been a standout year for Quavo, with a lineup of singles that prove he’s still one of the most versatile names in hip-hop. Most of his drops this year have featured collabs, and honestly, I love seeing how easily he molds his sound to whoever he’s working with. “New Trip” leans into this futuristic, almost psychedelic rap vibe that feels both modern and a little nostalgic. The production, handled by BYNX, is sleek and experimental, full of trippy layers and glitchy textures that pull you straight into their world. Yeat brings his signature distorted, off-kilter energy, while Quavo rides the beat effortlessly with his cool, confident flow. It’s giving high-energy luxury, something you’d blast while speeding down a highway at night with city lights flashing past. What I love most is how this track balances chaos and control. It’s loud, it’s weird, but it still feels so put together. “New Trip” proves that Quavo’s still evolving, finding new sounds that fit his lane while playing with different textures and tones. If this is any hint of what’s next for him, I’m fully buckled in for the ride.
TheARTI$t dropped a new single titled “I Need You,” and honestly, it might be one of my favorite releases of the year so far. From the very first listen, it feels like you’re transported straight back to the 2000s, that soulful, emotional R&B era where love songs actually made listeners feel something. TheARTI$t’s voice carries this raw, aching tone that makes the track feel deeply personal, like he’s truly yearning for something, or someone. That kind of emotion in music feels rare these days, which is exactly why this song hits so hard. This is his first release since his June album “Who I Am,” and it shows a slightly more emotional and reflective side of him. Even though TheARTI$t is still considered a smaller artist with around 200K monthly listeners on Spotify, this track feels like a breakthrough moment, the kind that makes people stop scrolling and really listen. “I Need You” is heartfelt, timeless, and proof that TheARTI$t deserves way more attention on the charts.
2BYG, which stands for “To be young and gifted,” released their first album this week titled “The Yearbook.” This album consists of nine songs, with a total length of 23 minutes. With only 69K monthly listeners on Spotify, 2BYG is showing fans that they are capable of releasing more than singles, yet still making all of them bangers. What I love most about this album is its low-key nature. The album itself is not too overstimulating, a perfect start as they dip into the music world. My current favorites on the album are “Karma,” “Twin” and “Wassup.” All three have different sounds, but tie the R&B boyband sound together perfectly. For example, “Twin” I could listen to while hanging around, yet “Wassup” I would blast as I’m driving. Another small piece I enjoy about the album is “Love, Actually… Kinda,” which consists of asking individuals if they believe in love while a soft piano plays in the background. This truly adds to the realness of the album. I am overly impressed by their first album, and cannot wait to hear more from them in the future.
Country/Folk – Concert: 12/11 – Whiskey Myers @ Toyota Oakdale
Quite possibly the second most-wanted unreleased song on streaming, other than Tyler Childers’ “Jersey Giant,” Cody Johnson released his cover of “Travelin’ Soldier” this weekend. The song, originally written and sung by Bruce Robinson, is more famously covered by The Chicks. The song follows a young man forming a bond with a young woman before being sent off to war, a timeless message that can still ring true today. Three years ago, Johnson released his acoustic cover of the song on YouTube, to the tune of 58 million views. To this day, it’s still his second most viewed video, behind his mega-hit “Til’ You Can’t.” The version released to Spotify, however, is a studio cover, instead of acoustic, which disappointed many fans and me. Johnson’s voice might just be the best in the genre, and it especially shines in the acoustic version. The Spotify version isn’t bad by any means, but it just doesn’t match the prestige of the acoustic version. Either way, many fans and I are just happy to have the cover on streaming platforms, because it took Johnson forever to release it despite fans clamoring for years.
Vincent Mason, the “Hell Is A Dance Floor” star, released his debut album “There I Go” this weekend, featuring eight new songs, as well as the six he already released as singles. Mason’s 100 million stream hit mentioned above is on the album, which is sure to be the star of it. I was not too familiar with Mason before this album. I knew his name and a couple of his songs, but nothing more than that. After listening to the album, though, I am definitely a fan. As someone who has a bias towards the slower, sad country songs, I was really impressed by the upbeat songs on this album. Tunes like “Little Miss” and “Wish You Well,” which were previously released as singles, were really fun. I also loved the last two songs, “Days are Numbered” and “Good Run – worktape.” Mason’s voice, to me, has Gavin Adcock and even some Jack Johnson influence, but he finds a way to make it unique and unlike anyone else I can think of. His praises have been sung by artists like Parker McCollum, as he opened for him and other artists like Jordan Davis, Riley Green and Luke Bryan in the past. I have a feeling this album will end up as one of my favorites of the year, and will hopefully see some award consideration, even with its end-of-the-year release date. Just a really great debut album from an artist who is on mine and many radars.
Levi Turner is an artist I would recommend to almost any country and folk fan. I think he makes phenomenal music, and I was very excited to see him drop a single this weekend. The last bit of music we got from Turner, outside of his latest two singles, was in November of 2024. His only album, titled “Allergy Season,” was released in 2023, right around the time I found him. The title track, as well as “Drunk Driving Airplanes,” are some of my favorite country/folk songs out there, and I think it’s a great, quick album. His voice is very unique and has a lot of old-time country influence to it. “Bad Tattoos” is a pretty run-of-the-mill song from Turner, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. If anything, it makes me even more excited for any new music in the future, and hopefully an eventual album. If that album comes, I have a feeling it will be a top pick in a future weekly.
Rock/Alternative – Concert: 12/18 – Streetlight Manifesto @ Toad’s Place
The latest album from Teem Jesus and the Jean Teasers, “GLORY,” is a much more pop-like sound than a lot of what the band has done in the past. The all-female Australian-based band had previously been known as a bit of a mix of pop-punk, grunge and indie rock, but this new album sounds almost closer to something from Olivia Rodrigo. The band’s rock roots are still very present, and it still has that raw energy of some of their past work. However, there is a much more noticeable pop-rock sound. I personally feel like this sound almost fits the band better, and I found a lot of the guitar riffs and choruses to be very catchy. This album was a big change for the band and a new experiment with their sound that really works well.
Kings of Leon released four new songs on what the band called “EP#2” which had a lot of range in tone and sound. The first song on the EP is “All The Little Sheep,” is like an alternative rock song with strong guitars and strained vocals. The second song is “To Space,” which is something that is more like what you’d expect from Kings of Leon and is more driven by energetic drums. The third track is “Pit to the Rind,” which is much slower than the other tracks on the EP, before the fourth and final song, “The Wolf,” which has a very fuzzy guitar sound and more energetic drums driving the song. If you are a fan of Kings of Leon, there is definitely a song on here for you.
Portugal. The Man’s latest album, “SHISH,” is a wild ride that jumps from one genre to the next without warning, sometimes making you double-check if you are still listening to the same album. The album features everything from a mellow synth-filled indie vibe to a punk track with heavy distorted guitars. This album loves to jump around, going back and forth between aggression and vulnerability while still finding a way to remain cohesive. This constant changing makes the album feel very unpredictable, but also acts as a perfect example of Portugal. The Man’s experimental nature as they are album to blend so many extremely different genres into one cohesive album.
Pop & Indie – Concert: 3/23 – Jordana @ Space Ballroom
Kelsea Ballerini has blessed us with a gorgeous single off her upcoming EP “Mount Pleasant.” This single, “I Sit In Parks,” is raw and emotional following her breakup with ‘Outer Banks’ actor Chase Stokes. She covers her feelings since the relationship ended and mentions how great her career currently is. She also mentions wanting to be a mother but not knowing if that opportunity has passed. It’s a very personal song that we are lucky to have shared with us. The song also ends with the line “Taryn’s due in June, the album’s due in March,” which is causing excitement amongst fans who always love new Kelsea music. This song has a similar sound to Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange,” so if you like her, you’ll also like this song! I can’t wait to hear the rest of this EP next week!
“The Fate of Ophelia- Alone In My Tower” version is so pretty! It keeps the energy of the original but with a soft guitar and layering of Taylor’s voice. I did not like the acoustic version of “Elizabeth Taylor- So Glamorous Cabaret Version” at all; I thought it was boring. I think the pop elements do a lot in that song, and taking them out just didn’t hit the same. I liked almost all of the acoustic versions, and I like that Taylor clearly had fun with the names on these versions. While some of the songs were very pretty, I think what people love most about this album is the “glitter gel pen” pop aspects, and the acoustic versions take that out. I do love being able to hear Taylor’s voice more raw and the calming aspect some of these versions have. I think there can be different situations for each version to be used.
I may be alone here, but I had no idea that Hilary Duff released music!? I know her as a Disney Channel star, so this was news to me. Her last release was a feature in 2020, and she has released a few albums. This week, she released her latest single, “Mature,” and I think it’s fun. The entire song is based on being told you’re mature for your age and the difference in meaning it has throughout life. I think it’s a good song, and I hope she releases more soon.
