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Manifesting meaning in marvelous music

I think everyone goes through that point in their life where music takes on a special meaning-certainly one or two albums must stick out in your mind.

The Daily Cardinal Presents: The Top 10 Albums of the Year

1. Bon Iver's self-titled album was the uncontested best album of the year, and not just because Justin Vernon is Wisconsin's golden boy.

Desk sessions are the way to be heard in the age of the internet

Recording a band with sub-par equipment isn't fun. You'd think I would remember this from that time I was in a ska band in high school, but Friday night I decided to try my hand at it again. Local boys Baristacide came out to The Daily Cardinal office and set up all of their gear, helped me out by finding a controller to run the mics through so I could get audio and played a set of pretty awesome pop-punk-for-people-who-hate-pop-punk. After seven songs and a few minor technical issues, we ended up with more than enough for a good session.

True confessions of an internet addict

Lately, I've had a creeping worry that the Internet will be the death of everything beautiful, patient and human. I look around at dead-eyed freshmen stroking their smart phones, and I can't help but ge but get this self-righteous indignant lump in my throat. Humanity isn't worthy of getting everything instanteously. I don't think we can handle the responsibility.

Locals find their inner rockstar with Gomers at High Noon

Rockstar Gomeroke is all about the dark stage, the illuminating lights and friends hanging out to hear you sing your favorite song with the Gomers, a local band.

There's a reason for cheer this December

I adore the holiday season. Christmas music, sparkly lights, a general air of happiness, delicious sugar-ridden treats that induce that yearly 3-to-5-pound weight gain over the course of a month-yes, fond memories. However, I can't help but be a little alarmed by the holiday-themed marketing campaigns creeping in well before Thanksgiving.

Critiques in the eyes of a humble critic

I've had this notion in my head for a few months that maybe people are more important than music. It's an obvious idea, but when discussing music I think there's this admittedly natural tendency lionize form, texture and notes on a page. This tendency most often manifests in serious musicians.

Anthem of a revitalized romantic

It's not Lily Allen, it's you

British pop star Lily Allen has carved her niche in the new wave of pop music that has come out of the UK in recent years. Allen's music creatively personifies her free-spirited attitude, her wild personal life and the issues people face growing up. 

No more denying Yellowcard's return

Yellowcard: Pop-punk veterans Yellowcard are touring in support of their latest record, When You?re Through Thinking, Say Yes, and are bringing Every Avenue and Go Radio with them.

Holy smokes: Popes on stage this Saturday

‘50s crooner up and joined a punk band, will be playing at the High Noon Saloon this weekend with the Smoking Popes.

Dessa performs live Wednesday

In a world of increasingly pedestrian and piddling hip-hop, Dessa of Doomtree stands as a true visionary, crafting baroque and intricate songs about life and loss and everything in between.

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All prevails with hateful lyricism

I had to write about Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All at some point. Over the last year, critics and bloggers have written hundreds of articles, think pieces and columns about the already infamous Los Angeles rap ""family"" led by Hodgy Beats, Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator. Admittedly, the glut appeared about six months ago, when the crew finally broke into the mainstream in a very large and boisterous way.

Girls to descend on Madison tonight

Girls are coming to the Majestic Theatre tonight. So is the band.

It's not the end of the world as we know it

When R.E.M. broke up last week, I didn't feel the loss. When the White Stripes called it quits, sure. When Sony announced it was firing Sam Raimi and rebooting the Spider-Man franchise, Jesus; I didn't answer my phone for a day and a half. Instead, I just sat alone in my apartment and drank, cursing Topher Grace at the top of my lungs. There really wasn't much else to do.

Thrice strikes Major chord on latest album

The first thing I noticed when I put on Thrice's Major/Minor was how much heavier it was than Beggars. This is finally the record I've been waiting for since I first heard The Artist in the Ambulance eight years ago.

Festival brings global sound to students

Sergent Garcia: Specializing in a fusion of French punk, indie rock, Jamaican reggae, and Carribbean and Latin groove he calls ?salsamuffin,? Sergent Garcia will be one of many international acts at the MWMF this weekend.

No 'Protest' against Swingin' Utters latest

I was 13 years old the first time I heard the Swingin' Utters—their single ""Glad"" was featured on a compilation from Warped Tour. The speed of the song combined with the punchy delivery of the lead vocals and melodic guitar drew me in, and from there I was hooked. Returning from an eight year recording break with Here, Under Protest, the band still manages that pull, even as their sound is further refined.

Will Silverstein manage to 'Rescue' their popularity?

In 2005, Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein successfully reached the mainstream with their hit album Discovering the Waterfront, but in the years since they have struggled to recreate the sound that got them there. Their next two albums, 2007's Arrivals & Departures and 2009's A Shipwreck in the Sand, both received mixed reviews, but overall neither album could captivate their audience like Discovering the Waterfront did. There may be hope for the band in their latest album, however, which brings a mixing of soft and hard-core rock for an altogether strong and entertaining release.

Personal evolution

This weekend, I went to the place I like to call ""home-home,"" that is, a wooded and wet six acres of land in the township of Rudolph, 15 minutes north of Wisconsin Rapids and two hours north of Madison (Madison is ""home""). I took the opportunity to find out what I was thinking about 10 years ago, at age 11 and a half.