Music

In Review: A Celestial Flight Through Yung Lean’s Mind in “Stardust”

When he joins forces with production masters like Skrillex, fine-tuned vocalists like twigs and his classic squad of Swedes, Lean shows that he has no reason to be humble.
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King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Perform at The Arlington Theatre

Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard brought their mind-altering brand of psychedelic rock to the Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara.
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In Review: Banks Slithers Her Way Toward Independence on “Serpentina”

With Banks’ era of immense change and suffering behind her, the growing pains of “Serpentina” — er, shedding pains? — are mostly understandable.
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In Review: Charli XCX Tries to Crash Into the Mainstream

“CRASH” is an album swerving in the direction of current pop sounds. The result is an album that veers off-course sometimes but ultimately has Charli in the driver’s seat, pedal to the metal.
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In Review: Beach House’s Dreams Come True On “Once Twice Melody”

Alternative musical duo Beach House awakens after the longest break in their entire 15-year discography with their eighth studio album, “Once Twice Melody.”
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In Review: Mitski’s “Laurel Hell” Waves Away Sad Girl Season

Mitski has just released her sixth studio album, “Laurel Hell,” but don’t get confused. It is by no means “Sad Girl Season.”
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Staff Writer Picks for Most Anticipated Albums of 2022

Here are Artsweek writer Lorna Kruesel’s most anticipated albums of 2022!
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In Review: The Lumineers Release Their Fourth Studio Album “Brightside”

“Brightside” is an ode to the love stories from all walks of life, and all the poignant and wistful pain that accompanies them. 
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In Review: We Are “SICK!” of It

Earl Sweatshirt’s new album “SICK!” is nothing short of greatness.
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In Review: Purgatory Sounds Like a Hell of a Time in The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM”

The Weeknd’s ambitions to bend genres and explore new sonic territories within his own paracosm results in a record that is quite commendable, if not dazzlingly timeless.
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In Review: Beach House’s “Once Twice Melody: Chapter 2” Fights Ephemerality Through Repetition

The chapter showcases the band’s versatile ability to stroll between experimentation, love ballads, psychedelia, shoegaze, and ethereal sounds.
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UCSB Alumnus THREEZERO Releases Debut Album

With a newly released album, “SEEING DOUBLE,” Santa Barbara musician THREEZERO is making strides with an ever-evolving sound.
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In Review: Lunar Vacation Cultivate Indie Pop Bliss on “Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp”

Lunar Vacation have finally dropped their anticipated full-length debut album, “Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp,” which takes their dreamy, layered aesthetic and elevates it to new levels.
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In Review: Pop Princess Taylor Swift Paints the Town Red With “Red (Taylor’s Version)”

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” is a re-recording of her fourth studio album “Red,” and it’s not surprising that it’s even better than when it first came out. 
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In Review: Beach House Releases the First Chapter of Their Upcoming Album “Once Twice Melody”

At midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 10, Baltimore-based musical duo Beach House sent their fans into a sublime trance with the release of the first chapter of their upcoming album, “Once Twice Melody.”
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