Albums - The Daily Cardinal

ARTS

Joey Bada$$’s ‘ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$’ boldly critiques political climate

By Logan Rude | Apr. 10, 2017

On his debut album in 2015, Brooklyn MC Joey Bada$$ rapped, “Always drop hot s--t / Toroidal Flow keep constant / And I won't stop 'til I reach Christ Conscious.” With his latest project, ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, he’s still dropping hot shit, and he’s one step closer to fully understanding how the world, and more specifically, America, works. In an interview with Genius at the end of February, Joey made a bold statement; he claimed to be a better rapper than Tupac.

ARTS

Kendrick Lamar returns with ‘The Heart Part 4,’ a challenge to hip-hop

By Francisco Velazquez | Mar. 27, 2017

You could argue that a Gemini has multiple personalities all in one hour. It makes for an exciting conversation on the brink of anticipation.

ARTS

Frank Ocean returns with ‘Chanel,’ a way to hold on and let go at the same time

By Francisco Velazquez | Mar. 13, 2017

There is something about sexuality that will never stop talking. It carries itself on the streets of Amsterdam or in the crude parts of Berlin Sexuality is a two-sided mirror in rotation.

ARTS

Earl St. Clair releases stellar debut EP

By Dan Held | Mar. 9, 2017

What would you get if you mix the vocal range of James Brown, the energy of André 3000, and the emotional deep south blues of B.B. King? Look no further than Earl St. Clair’s debut EP, “My Name is Earl.”

From his 2011 debut, Childish Gambino has continued to demonstrate his vast creative talents.

ARTS

Childish Gambino hits hard with new album

By Francisco Velazquez | Dec. 5, 2016

His debut in 2011 delivered pop reflection on ourselves and the sensibility of meaningful music. Childish Gambino returns with funk and pushes the hip-hop limits.

ARTS

Bruno Mars glams up in vegas for new music video

By Francisco Velazquez | Oct. 10, 2016

Bruno Mars returns in a head-turning, hypnotic fashion, and brings us along for the ride through a Vegas night at its finest, the city of glitz and gambling.

Danny Brown presents his dark past in new impactful album.

ARTS

Danny Brown shares his story in new album

By Logan Rude | Oct. 3, 2016

Oddball rapper Danny Brown has returned after three years with his new album Atrocity Exhibition.

ARTS

Kehlani releases new video for expected album

By Francisco Velazquez | Sep. 26, 2016

Kehlani brings back the assurance of self-love and pride with release of her new music video “CRZY.” The video is directed by Benny Boom and features a catchy beat and eye-popping visuals to match.

ARTS

Julia Jacklin discusses her accelerated breakthrough in the music industry

By Shaye Graves | Sep. 20, 2016

Just one year ago, 25-year-old Julia Jacklin was a factory line worker making essential oils in a Sydney suburb

Mac Miller continues to create entertaining work with his recent release of the LP turned album The Divine Feminine.

ARTS

Mac Miller releases new 10-track album

By Edgar Sanchez | Sep. 19, 2016

Pittsburgh based rapper Mac Miller released his The Divine Feminine LP last weekend. The initial EP, turned full 10-track album, is a mixture of funk and electro R&B samples accompanied by a slew of features. The once keg-standing “frat rapper” has grown since the days of Blue Slide Park and his craft has benefited as a result.

Lady Gaga continues to be an amazing singer, performer and artist.

ARTS

Lady Gaga re-enters music scene with creative new single

By Francisco Velazquez | Sep. 15, 2016

It’s been three years since the queen of pop filled our speakers with another club banger and the wait is finally over with her latest release of “Perfect Illusion.” Gaga’s new single is co-written and co-produced by Mark Ronson, Kevin Parker, Tame Impala and BloodPop. Coined as one of the biggest pop stars of our generation, Gaga is back with a lyrical vengeance and few customized metal shorts to match.

ARTS

Kanye's album delivers a beautiful, dark, twisted heartfelt mess

By Daniel Kershner | Feb. 25, 2016

Kanye West’s long-gestating, and perhaps still unfinished The Life of Pablo is a beautiful, heartfelt mess.

ARTS

Top 25 albums of 2015

By Daily Cardinal Arts Staff | Dec. 6, 2015

1. To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar It’s rare to see an album as tightly woven together into a perfect story as Kendrick Lamar’s second full-length album, To Pimp a Butterfly.

News

Songs from new Ellie Goulding album blend together with popular EDM trends

By Rose Lundy | Nov. 16, 2015

Since her breakout hit, “Lights,” in 2010, Ellie Goulding’s indie-dance tracks have consistently topped international music charts. The British singer’s third album, Delirium, demonstrates yet another shift toward EDM. With the help of a wide array of producers and collaborators, Goulding’s simple ballads are transformed into dance-floor anthems.

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Record Routine: Ritual misses the intricacies of rage in self-titled debut

By Michael Frett | Nov. 10, 2015

There’s few emotions rawer than rage. It’s an easy emotion to relate to—how often have some of us broken down against some misfortune or against someone who crossed all the wrong wires at the perfectly wrong times? Of course, most of us bury it and move on with our lives, since respect rarely follows bloodshot eyes and swollen veins.

News

Garrett Borns triumphs in evocative new album

By Paul Blazevich and By Rachel Schulze | Nov. 3, 2015

Electrifying pop hooks. A dreamy voice of smooth gold. The vibrations of pulsating synthesizers. All are recurring themes on Garrett Borns’ first studio album, Dopamine.

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Ben Folds orchestrates lackluster pop, stunning strings

By Theda Berry | Sep. 17, 2015

Ben Folds’ new album, So There, is essentially two albums in one.

News

Record Routine: Marina and the Diamonds stands out from homogeneous pop on Froot

By Rebecca Lawlor | Mar. 27, 2015

As I sat down on autopilot to listen to my weekly assigned album, I pressed play on the first track of the album and something happened: I began to smile. In the midst of an extremely frustrating, stressful day, the voice of Marina Lambrini Diamandis, accompanied with a simple piano track, filled me with joy. I realized that in the middle of College Library I was sitting alone with a huge smile across my face, as if I had just won a thousand dollars. The simplest track on the album made me remember all over again why I fell in love with music in the first place.

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Record Routine: Pearson Sound explores with club beats

By Michael Frett | Mar. 11, 2015

While scouring the internet for background on Pearson Sound’s self-titled debut, something stuck out to me. Reviewers had an interesting habit of dividing the record into two categories: club music and experimental music. It was as though one couldn’t be the other; “Glass Eye” was clearly the minimalist grind for the club, while “Headless’s” warbled echo swirls with the kind of antipathy that wouldn’t be caught dead on a dancefloor.

News

Record Routine: Yet another round of hits from Kelly Clarkson

By Rebecca Lawlor | Mar. 9, 2015

The three-time Grammy winner and American Idol icon Kelly Clarkson returned to the music scene last Tuesday after the birth of her daughter with the release of her eighth album Piece by Piece. The album is Clarkson’s first original album since her 2011 Platinum record Stronger.