On This Day: Nas’ “Illmatic,” The Gold Standard of Rap

April 19, 2022 by and

The songs and stories of “Illmatic” represent the perfection of every trait associated with purist hip-hop, from tales of struggle to intricate writing to unique instrumentals.
read more

Record Recap: 53 Years Since Led Zeppelin’s Explosive Debut

January 13, 2022 by and

However, on Jan. 12, 1969, a new band would define the sound and look of rock and roll in the 1970s and beyond with their debut album: Led Zeppelin.
read more

Artsweek On Spotify: Spooky Halloween Bangers Throughout the Years

October 28, 2021 by and

From orchestral compositions to heavy metal classics to hip-hop collaborations, the exploration of horror through music is ubiquitous in every genre of music.
read more

On This Day: “Grace” by Jeff Buckley

August 23, 2021 by

Buckley should have been a superstar, but listeners can still appreciate his little body of work for the creative genius it is.
read more

On This Day: Shades of Sentimentality in Frank Ocean’s “Blonde”

August 20, 2021 by and

With his genre-blending on “Blonde,” Ocean once again pioneered a new style of R&B.
read more

On This Day: Frank Ocean’s First Masterpiece, “channel ORANGE”

July 10, 2021 by and

His 2012 debut album “channel ORANGE” showcases Ocean making a splash with a lush and intimate collection of songs about the awkwardness of navigating maturation and relationships.
read more

On this Day: Bon Iver’s Breakthrough

June 17, 2021 by

Perhaps no artist has had a bigger impact on modern indie folk music than Bon Iver.
read more

On This Day: The Beatles’ Escapism Through “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”

May 26, 2021 by and

Prior to their 1970 disbandment, The Beatles refreshed their creative drive via the escapism central to their historical concept album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
read more

On This Day: “Carrie & Lowell” By Sufjan Stevens

March 31, 2021 by

Despite having only a 43-minute runtime, the album covers a lifetime of the complicated relationship between Stevens and his mother, along with the sadness that follows the death of a loved one.
read more

On This Day: The Weeknd’s Drearily Hedonistic Debut Project, “House of Balloons”

March 21, 2021 by and

The project has become a landmark in 2010s R&B — a dynamic showcase of The Weeknd’s insecurities about love and coping dive into the maximums of hedonism.
read more

Record Recap: In Memoriam of Chick Corea, Trailblazer of Jazz Fusion

February 23, 2021 by and

Corea was a highly lauded pioneer of jazz fusion — a genre that reinterprets jazz music by using alternative inspirations like rock, metal or Latin music.
read more

On This Day: The Best And The Worst Of The National Anthem

January 27, 2021 by and

The national anthem has had its share of musical and sociopolitical controversies throughout the years.
read more

On This Day: “1984” and Van Halen’s Jump into Superstardom

January 9, 2021 by

“1984” is an important body of work for modern listeners as a timestamp in the evolution of rock music — the birth of hedonistic rock with pop appeal.
read more

Record Recap: What To Expect With Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy”

January 6, 2021 by and

Given Drake’s success with his stylistic charisma, the naming of his next album hints at the project being symbolic of a victory lap filled with allusions to his previous work.
read more

Record Recap: In Memoriam of Eddie Van Halen

October 21, 2020 by and

Eddie Van Halen was not only one of the most innovative and unique guitarists of all time, but a musical inventor and a pioneer in guitar construction and technology.
read more