Music

July 2, 2022

Tracks of the Month: June 2022

By Marisol Cruz, Isabella Chichioco

Start your summer off right with these newly released songs from June picked by the Artsweek’s staff!

May 24, 2022

In Review: Rina Sawayama Goes to Hell With Signature Style

By Sam Franzini

The multitalented musician released “This Hell,” the lead single to her album releasing this fall, “Hold The Girl.”

May 14, 2022

In Review: The Welcome Solar Powerification of Carly Rae Jepsen

By Sam Franzini

"Western Wind" shows a more vulnerable, freer side to Jepsen, and her allusions to love as a natural process are refreshing and peaceful.

May 10, 2022

In Review: Tove Lo Continues Her Winning Streak With “No One Dies From Love”

By Sam Franzini

Based on “No One Dies From Love,” her upcoming record is likely to fit perfectly into her already solid discography.

April 21, 2022

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

By Razeen Ahmed

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.

April 21, 2022

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Perform at The Arlington Theatre

By Derek Mejia

Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard brought their mind-altering brand of psychedelic rock to the Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara.

April 14, 2022

In Review: Banks Slithers Her Way Toward Independence on “Serpentina”

By Sam Franzini

With Banks’ era of immense change and suffering behind her, the growing pains of “Serpentina” — er, shedding pains? — are mostly understandable.

March 22, 2022

In Review: Charli XCX Tries to Crash Into the Mainstream

By Sam Franzini

“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.

March 5, 2022

In Review: Beach House’s Dreams Come True On “Once Twice Melody”

By Adam Majcher

Alternative musical duo Beach House awakens after the longest break in their entire 15-year discography with their eighth studio album, “Once Twice Melody.”

February 10, 2022

In Review: Mitski’s “Laurel Hell” Waves Away Sad Girl Season

By Sam Franzini

Mitski has just released her sixth studio album, “Laurel Hell,” but don’t get confused. It is by no means “Sad Girl Season.”

January 24, 2022

Staff Writer Picks for Most Anticipated Albums of 2022

By Lorna Kruesel

Here are Artsweek writer Lorna Kruesel’s most anticipated albums of 2022!

January 24, 2022

In Review: The Lumineers Release Their Fourth Studio Album “Brightside”

By Lola Watts

“Brightside” is an ode to the love stories from all walks of life, and all the poignant and wistful pain that accompanies them.

January 24, 2022

In Review: We Are “SICK!” of It

By Lorna Kruesel

Earl Sweatshirt’s new album “SICK!” is nothing short of greatness.

January 20, 2022

In Review: Purgatory Sounds Like a Hell of a Time in The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM”

By Razeen Ahmed

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.