Justin Bieber’s ‘Changes’ is dead on arrival

Latest stories

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Green Day’s new album proves punk rock isn’t dead

By Skyler Graham | February 13, 2020

On this album, the band reveals how musical innovation means both crossing genre lines and transcending time and regional boundaries. 

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Boom or bust: Why 2020 is shaping up to be rap’s 1930

By Ben Brutocao | February 7, 2020

Now that rap has overtaken rock as the most profitable genre, it is reasonable to view hip-hop as its own economy.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Billie sweeps and Ariana’s snubbed at an uninspiring Grammys

By Jonathan Pertile | February 5, 2020

Although it may be disappointing that Eilish gobbled up nearly every award in sight, it’s encouraging to see a new vanguard of artists winning at the Grammys.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

A letter to XXXTentacion’s estate: Stop releasing music

By Ben Brutocao | January 31, 2020

In his brief career, Jahsen Onfroy, or XXXTentacion, quickly became a source of immense controversy.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Mac Miller gives a final goodbye on the unfinished ‘Circles’

By Derek Chen | January 25, 2020

After a year and a half, the family of beloved rapper Mac Miller has decided to release “Circles,” Miller’s sixth studio album that he had been working on prior to his death in 2018.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Halsey’s ‘Manic’ is meaningful and heartfelt or something like that

By Jonathan Pertile | January 24, 2020

When Halsey confesses, “Man, I’m a f—ing liar,” at the close of her new album “Manic,” on track “929,” it comes as a revelation that, perhaps ironically, “Manic” is the most truthful work of Halsey’s career. 

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

2020 Grammy Awards: Who should win, who will win

By Jonathan Pertile | January 6, 2020

It’s time to take a look at the nominees and predict who should win (and who actually will) in the top categories. 

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Camila Cabello’s ‘Romance’ is one of 2019’s best pop albums

By Jonathan Pertile | December 18, 2019

With her sophomore album “Romance,” Camila Cabello has provided a fantastically cohesive, entertaining work that is a thrill from start to finish. 

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Editor’s picks: The best music of 2019

By Will Atkinson | December 9, 2019

Recess Managing Editor Will Atkinson chooses his five favorite releases of the year.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Coldplay undergoes creative resurrection on ‘Everyday Life’

By Aaron Paskin | December 3, 2019

Coldplay’s first two albums played constantly in my dad’s car when I was a kid.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

The album length war

By Ben Brutocao | November 27, 2019

In January 2018, Migos dropped all 106 minutes of “Culture II.”

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Freestyles: Carefully labored effortlessness

By Ben Brutocao | November 20, 2019

To many, the term freestyling immediately inspires a vision of the XXL Freshman yearly cypher, prompting nostalgia of Kodak Black’s trouncing of whoever picked that “lil sorry a** beat.”

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

FKA twigs twists sound and story in ‘Magdalene’

By Stephen Atkinson | November 16, 2019

Mary Magdalene is one of the first women history robbed.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Jeff Goldblum is making sure jazz finds a way

By Jonathan Pertile | November 10, 2019

“Jazz, uh, finds a way,” or so says Jeff Goldblum’s Spotify playlist.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

‘Jesus Is King’ is a refreshing change of pace for Kanye West

By Derek Chen | November 1, 2019

The rapper’s ninth album combines the “old Kanye”’s flow and style with the “new Kanye”’s more spiritually-oriented lyrics and production.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Surviving as a punk band in the post-punk era: Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World’s new albums, reviewed

By Skyler Graham | November 1, 2019

Two bands that had their heyday in the late ’90s and early 2000s both released albums this month.

---

CULTURE  |  MUSIC

Kim Petras perfects spooky pop with ‘Turn Off the Light’

By Tyler Kopp | October 28, 2019

Petras combines last year’s EP with nine new tracks to form the cohesive, tantalizing 17-track album of your nightmares.