Label: Sub Pop Genre: Lite Indie Pop Reviewed by: Mak Kanekkeberg
Adagio by Σtella is a beautiful album that she began making while on a boat in the mediterranean. It captures all the bubbly sounds of the ocean and has an upbeat danceable tune. It’s jazzy, pop-y, and fun. The album features sparkling keyboard, bouncy drums, soothing strings, and exciting electronic sounds. “Adagio”, the title track jumps the listener straight into the album with a sweet and soft ballad with a catchy and playful tune. Perfectly fitting a dinner party or cooking vibe. This is definitely a song you could play while romantically dancing around your kitchen in the late hours of the night. Track 4, “Baby Brazil” which features Las Palabras is bouncy, vibrant, and lively. Perfect summer beach-y song to listen to with friends. Track 5 “Can I say” is perfect for Laufey music enjoyers, the beat is very reminiscent of Laufey’s signature sound. Overall, Σtella does such a lovely job on this album, it all flows so seamlessly and carries a similar theme throughout. The feature of the Greek language within several of her songs also connects Stella to her roots as she grew up in the center of it all, Athens, Greece.
New Music. . . It's been so long! I. . . I missed you!!
Inhaler - Open Wide
Label: Polydor Genre: Indie Rock Reviewed by: Anthony Cusat
Inhaler’s third album release Open Wide leans even more into their contemporary indie rock style while incorporating in late 20th century pop influence. The infusion of emotion into the lyrics and composition of the album resonates in a similar way to an early Kings of Leon or U2 (which the band shares a familial connection to Bono) but with the sonic quality of todays indie/alt rockers. It’s impossible not to appreciate the real time maturation of the bands sound and possibly the direction of the 2020s indie sound.
No . . . your eyes don't deceive you! This is New Music returning for the spring semester! Appearing before you is all of the wonderful music submissions WUVT has received in the new year. Enjoy!
Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Ebo Taylor - Jazz Is Dead 22 - Ebo Taylor
Label: Jazz Is Dead Genre: Afro Beat Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
The swirling horns and gritty guitars are reminiscent of his seminal seventies recordings that made him one of Africa’s most prolific and revolutionary artists of all time. This album captures polyrhythmic percussion and twangy, fuzzed out guitars that prove that rhythm is key. The ensemble of Ghanian background vocalists emanates a uniquely spiritual sound that takes the listener back to Ebo’s prime.
Hello, music enthusiasts! We've got a heaping pile of in-depth album reviews for you, sourced from none other than WUVT AM trainees, Bryce McCormick, Gabriel Kadi, Georgia Nickens, Alex Van Marcke de Lummen. Be sure to catch their FM shows Mid-January!
Nick Drake is the quintessential “starving artist”. He began recording music in 1967 to little success or acclaim. He was a folk artist, and hoped to capitalize on the success of other similar artists of that time such as Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan to no avail. His first of three albums, Five Leaves Left, was released in 1969, only sold 6,000 units, and got very mixed reviews by the few critics that reviewed it. His following album, Bryter Layter, released in 1971 to more positive reviews but the sales didn’t reflect it. Struggling with depression, substance abuse, and the perceived failure of his music career so far, Drake recorded his third and final album with a bit of a twist. This album would be entirely his own work; no backing band, no collaborators, no other writers, just Nick Drake and his guitar...
ClickRead morefor Bryce's FULL review of the Album, as well as reviews from Gabriel, Georgia, and Alex!
Wait a second. Does that sayOctober?Yes! Before you is a denser collection of all the glorious new music submissions WUVT has received in the last month! Enjoy!
Aaron Frazer - Into the Blue
Label: Dead Oceans Genre: R&B / Retro Soul Reviewed by: Matt Nowinski
Falsetto heaven on a cloud of silky, old-timey soul. This is Aaron Frazer's (drummer and singer for Durand Jones & The Indications) second solo album after his aptly-named 2021 premiere, "Introducing...". "Into the Blue" mixes sounds from Motown, Stax, and even some western twang. The instrumentation is multi-layered, with several tracks featuring orchestral arrangements and backup singers. At times though, the album sounds a bit like a movie soundtrack. The best tracks feature Frazer's crooning over driving rhythmic melodies. Overall, this album is a solid choice for a chill evening.
