Author Archives: Daniel J. Willis
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ALBUM REVIEW: Ricky Reed’s ‘The Room’ is a product of the current era
You probably don’t need a reminder, but 2020 is a weird year. The Room Ricky Reed Nice Life, Aug. 28 6/10 As the national lockdown in the United States enters it’s sixth month, musicians have been busy completing their lockdown albums. Taylor Swift’s surprise release is of course the…
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REWIND: Five Black artists improve white artists’ songs
Aretha Franklin. Courtesy: Wikicommons. So, look: I love Billy Porter. He’s amazing, he’s awesome, he’s a fashion icon. He’s an overall talented man. But… what in the world was that cover of “For What It’s Worth” from the Democratic National Convention? It’s like a skit from a second-tier Adult…
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ALBUM REVIEW: The Old 97’s change up the formula on ‘Twelfth’
The alternative country movement of the mid- to late-‘90s was, above all else, an extremely confusing zeitgeist. A counterpart to alternative rock, alt-country was declared to be the next-big-thing after grunge ran its course, with bands like Drive-By Truckers, Wilco and the Old 97’s. Twelfth Old 97’s ATO Records,…
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REWIND: Celebrate the next Vice President with Jamaican musicians
Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris at the San Francisco Pride Parade on June 30, 2019. Gary Chancer/STAFF. Joe Biden has selected the next Vice President of the United States of America and it’s none other than East Bay native Kamala Harris. First, if you’ve got a problem with her,…
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REVIEW: ‘Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?’ advances Fantastic Negrito’s legacy
Xavier “Fantastic Negrito” Dphrepaulezz first confirmed the title of his third album Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? on Nov. 21, 2019, just four days after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Hubei, China. Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? Fantastic Negrito Blackball Universe x Cooking Vinyl Aug. 14…
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REWIND: In honor of the Outside Lands that isn’t, the best Black artists from years past
Lizzo performs performs at Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2018. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. I was supposed to be at Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park right now. And by “right now” I mean both as I’m writing this and as you’re reading it, since I’m assuming…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Deep Purple’s ‘Whoosh!’ is the rare modern throwback
Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Deep Purple invented heavy metal. Their 1970 album, In Rock, along with Sabbath’s Paranoid from the same year and 1969’s Led Zeppelin II set the blueprint that the genre has been building upon ever since. Whoosh! Deep Purple earMusic , Aug. 7 8/10 Unfortunately,…
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REWIND: Five of the best protest songs in hip-hop
Run The Jewels perform at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on March 13, 2018. Alessio Neri/STAFF. We’re in week… nine of RIFF Rewind’s Black History Month? I think this is the ninth. Wait here for a second and I’ll check. Yes, it appears we’re entering Month Three of Black…
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REWIND: Before the troops are deployed to its streets, let’s spotlight Chicago
Chief Keef, Courtesy. As RIFF Rewind’s ongoing Black History Month comes up on the end of its second month these column topics are getting tougher and tougher. My first thought was to celebrate the second attempt at baseball’s Opening Day by highlighting how recent broken color barriers have been…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Jessy Lanza’s ‘All the Time’ is a study in contrasts, consistency
Jessy Lanza’s third album, All the Time, is, at its core, a study in contrasts. All the Time Jessy Lanza Hyperdub, July 24 7/10 Like its predecessors, the electro-pop LP blends neo-soul vocals with elements of electronica. Where Lanza’s All the Time differs is that leans much harder into the former…
