Music

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.

December 28, 2021

In Review: Beach House’s “Once Twice Melody: Chapter 2” Fights Ephemerality Through Repetition

By Razeen Ahmed

The chapter showcases the band’s versatile ability to stroll between experimentation, love ballads, psychedelia, shoegaze, and ethereal sounds.

December 2, 2021

UCSB Alumnus THREEZERO Releases Debut Album

By Marisol Cruz

With a newly released album, “SEEING DOUBLE,” Santa Barbara musician THREEZERO is making strides with an ever-evolving sound.

November 18, 2021

In Review: Lunar Vacation Cultivate Indie Pop Bliss on “Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp”

By Adam Majcher

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.

November 18, 2021

In Review: Pop Princess Taylor Swift Paints the Town Red With “Red (Taylor’s Version)”

By Natalie Perez

“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.

November 18, 2021

In Review: Beach House Releases the First Chapter of Their Upcoming Album “Once Twice Melody”

By Makenna Stark

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.”

November 11, 2021

In Review: ABBA Returns To Deliver More Polished Pop Anthems

By Sam Franzini

After 40 years of downtime, demand from fans and numerous pushbacks, ABBA’s ninth album, “Voyage,” was released last Friday.

November 9, 2021

On This Day: A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauders,” Rap’s Most Uplifting Classic Album

By Jadon Bienz

A Tribe Called Quest's third studio album, “Midnight Marauders,” is the pinnacle of their fun style and has stood the test of time as a never-ending party inviting all to join.

November 4, 2021

Delirium 2021: Rappers Denzel Curry and Doechii Light Up Storke Plaza

By Sunidhi Sridhar

Doechii and Denzel Curry both showcased their remarkable talent and versatility as musicians and the ebullient crowd that descended upon Storke Plaza demonstrated, as always, that UCSB does it better.

November 3, 2021

Artsweek on Spotify: Study Tunes To Get Through Midterm Season

By Lorna Kruesel

I found that I can be productive with my studying while listening to music with words, so I present to you a little collection of songs I enjoy listening to while studying.

November 2, 2021

Dream Through the End of the World With Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Banisters”

By Razeen Ahmed

The record is so calming and beautiful that if you were to fall asleep to it, you would dream beautiful dreams.

November 1, 2021

Artsweek on Spotify: October Tracks of the Month

By Artsweek Staff

As we say goodbye to October, the Artsweek staff selected some of the best new releases to drop in the past month!

October 28, 2021

Artsweek On Spotify: Spooky Halloween Bangers Throughout the Years

By Jadon Bienz, Evan Gonzalez

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

October 28, 2021

In Review: Want Self Esteem? Listen to Her New Album, “Prioritise Pleasure”

By Sam Franzini

Taylor’s taken on the task of combining bold, brash pop music with piercing and honest lyrics, and on “Prioritise Pleasure,” it all comes together.

October 26, 2021

Wilco and Faye Webster Hit the Stage at the Santa Barbara Bowl

By Makenna Stark

Following a nearly two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff Tweedy and his bandmates hit the road again to finish out the West Coast leg of the “Ode to Joy” tour.