Author Archives: Mike DeWald
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ALBUM REVIEW: You Me At Six land an uppercut On ‘Suckapunch’
English rockers You Me At Six wanted to travel to uncharted musical territory on their seventh studio album, Suckapunch, so they did just that by.going to a place they’d never been. The band went to Thailand to record and the exotic setting allowed the members a new level of creative…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Taylor Swift delivers second lyrical punch on ‘evermore’
Leave it to Taylor Swift to shock the music world by releasing a surprise album just a handful of months after dropping… well, a surprise album. Evermore serves as The Love Below to her own Speakerboxxx. Some of the original cast involved in crafting Swift’s spectacular folklore are back for more, with collaborations by Bon…
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ALBUM REVIEW: M. Ward honors Billie Holiday on intricate ‘Think of Spring’
Matt Ward—better know as M. Ward—feels a connection with Billie Holiday that dates back to hearing her music while shopping at a San Francisco mall when he was in his 20s. Ward has said that as Lady in Satin played over the PA, he was drawn by her voice and…
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INTERVIEW: Rozzi gazes through “Orange Skies” to raise climate awareness
Rozzi, courtesy. San-Francisco-born Rozzi found musical inspiration through the climate tragedy of wildfires and hopes to use it for positive change. The powerhouse vocalist penned what became the haunting ballad “Orange Skies” back in 2019 as a reaction to the Southern California fires. Rozzi breathed in the thick smokey…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Geographer thrives ‘Down And Out In The Garden Of Earthly Delights’
Note from the editor: The new album by Geographer (Mike Deni) had been postponed twice, most recently to Dec. 4. After the publication of this review we found out it has been pushed out again, to April 2021. The review now reflects this. As with so many artists in…
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REVIEW: Miley Cyrus shape-shifts again as vintage rock hero on ‘Plastic Hearts’
Miley Cyrus has covered a staggering amount of musical territory over her seven-album catalog. Each time she reinvents herself, it’s not simply just adding a few new influences; rather, a complete shape-shift that transforms the 28-year-old pop star in every facet. In recent years, Cyrus has gone from a…
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REVIEW: Bring Me The Horizon traverses the pandemic on ferocious ‘Post Human’
Sheffield, England alt-rockers Bring Me the Horizon have an ambitious plan for the release of their forthcoming album, opting to release the record in three EPs. The first installment, Post Human: Survival Horror, could stand on its own merit. Nine tracks and a host of high-profile collaborations make the record immediately…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Sam Smith sets no boundaries on cinematic ‘Love Goes’
“If you want to judge me then go and load the gun,” sings Sam Smith on “Young,” the opening track of the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s new album, Love Goes. In many ways it reflects the mindset of the album’s creation. Smith entered the studio for their latest release with the lone…
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INTERVIEW: Puscifer charts course for ‘Existential Reckoning,’ mysterious livestream
Puscifer, Courtesy: Travis Shinn The shroud of mystery surrounding experimental rock outfit Puscifer is fitting for the uncertain and unsettling times of a pandemic crossed with mass civil unrest. The band, whose core is made up of Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle), Carina Round and Mat Mitchell,…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Kiiara looks to find her way through love interests with ‘lil kiiwi’
Pop singer-songwriter Kiiara quietly burst onto the scene in 2015 with her breakout debut single, “Gold.” The Illinois-born artist had a fresh sound and modern pop foundation with an unorthodox chopped-up vocal production that created an odd but effectively lyrical sound. The song racked up millions of streams, a…