Music

New Talent: Isla Vista Bands to Watch in 2018

January 18, 2018 by

Everyone watching the Isla Vista music scene, myself included, can’t wait to see what these bands are going to do.
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The Friday Review: Saturation III by Brockhampton

January 6, 2018 by

Brockhampton just doesn’t stop. Their first three albums sound like no one else’s, and all of them are among the best rap albums of 2017, so Brockhampton may not remain on the periphery of mainstr...
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The Year of the Album: a Look Into the Future of Media Consumption

December 8, 2017 by

The advent of music editing technology has made the process of recording easier, slicker and faster — which makes a Beatles-esque creative yield even more achievable. This year, we saw a return to t...
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This Year In Music: Artsweek’s Favorite Albums

December 8, 2017 by

Saturation is quite possibly my favorite release of the year and proved the group to be a simultaneously experimental and accessible force in today’s music scene. Tracks like “Gold,” “Heat” ...
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Meet SALES: The Minimalist Pop Duo That Crafts Bedroom Beats

November 29, 2017 by

SALES creates an amalgamation of indie, dream pop, hip hop and rock to produce something that is otherworldly to the ear. Their hip hop-influenced production backs electric guitar to create a sound th...
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Tropicalia Fest Opens in Long Beach with a Splash

November 16, 2017 by and

The musical acts, along with the assortment of Mexican cuisine, created a festival culture that resonated among the evolving Latinx culture of Southern California.
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Tchami Takes on Delirium 2017 with Surging Tracks

November 8, 2017 by

Cheers from the audience roared vivaciously as Tchami began bumping his initial beats shortly before 11 p.m.
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Tracks of the Month: October 2017

November 1, 2017 by , and

Intimate and sleek, “It’s Okay to Cry” is a can’t-miss pop song. The singer/songwriter/producer’s first solo venture in two years is accompanied by a stunning video in which she uncharacteri...
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7 Spooky Songs for Your Halloween Playlist

October 31, 2017 by

Hopefully, these creepy selections can help you get in a festive mood as you prepare for the spookiest night of the year.
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The Friday Review: The OOZ by King Krule

October 27, 2017 by and

As some of the best things in life, Marshall’s voice is somewhat of an acquired taste. Its abundant richness can be overwhelming to the unaccustomed listener, but the low register and thick South Lo...
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Tchami to Play Delirium 2017

October 25, 2017 by

Regarded as a trailblazer of his genre, future house — a subgenre of electronic dance music that possesses a combination of deep house and EDM tendencies — Tchami hit the mainstream in 2013 after ...
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SWMRS Deliver Exhilarating Sounds at Velvet Jones

October 25, 2017 by

The adrenaline of a garage rock show is comparable to drinking 10 Vietnamese iced coffees in one sitting. Bay-area band SWMRS rose to prominence after releasing their album Drive North, which featured...
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The Friday Review: Cry Cry Cry by Wolf Parade

October 20, 2017 by

Wolf Parade isn’t afraid to take risks on their comeback album. The linear “Incantation” is them at their most assertive and unafraid. The band unleashes a horn section after the song’s first ...
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Andrew Bird Soars with Melodic Sounds at Campbell

October 19, 2017 by

Behind his aslant silhouette on stage, the visual recording of Echolocations: River played on a backdrop. Bird plays the violin in sequence with the video projection.
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The Flaming Lips and Mac Demarco Ignite SB Bowl

October 12, 2017 by

The Flaming Lips and Mac Demarco put on a weird, wonderful show — one that lit up the Santa Barbara Bowl with bright lights, beautiful colors and smiles alike.
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