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Millennials, Are You Feeling Old Yet? (Happy 20th Birthday to these Emo Albums from 2004)

27Jan

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Millennials, Are You Feeling Old Yet? (Happy 20th Birthday to these Emo Albums from 2004)

Ahhh, yes, 2004: a year characterized by Bratz dolls, Shrek 2, The Da Vinci Code...and emo kids. It almost feels like yesterday, yet we're talking about a time from two decades ago. Let us rip that bandage off for you: 2004 is now as far away from today as 2044. Freaky, right? So, why are we talking about 2004? Well... 2004 was an important year for music, of course! It was an especially important year if you were an OG emo kid. After all, many of the subculture's defining albums were released in the early-mid 2000's. This includes artists who are still selling out tours and indoctrinating a whole new generation of emo kids to this day. If you need a refresher on the bangers of yesterday, here are some of our favorite emo albums (from 2004) that are turning 20 this year. Oof. Say A...

Velvet Rays Chronicles the Essence of Love in Debut Single “Something Different”

13Jan

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

Velvet Rays Chronicles the Essence of Love in Debut Single “Something Different”

Introducing Velvet Rays, the R&B and soul duo making waves from the heart of Houston, TX. The duo is comprised of the talented singer, songwriter, and producer Jayson De Buyl. Along with the multifaceted artist, singer, songwriter, producer, choreographer, and dance teacher Jon Glenn. Their debut single, "Something Different," is available now on Dark Spark Music. The genesis of their single, as described by Jayson, is rooted in the concept of a dream girl. The ideal woman with whom one envisions spending a lifetime. Their mission was clear: to encapsulate the euphoria of new love and convey it in a way that not only makes sense but also breathes life into the hearts of their audience. "Something Different" aims to evoke that exhilarating feeling of encountering someone for ...

2Jan

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

The 10 Best Films of 2023

It's time to take a look at the best films of 2023. I managed to view over 120 new releases this year and there was a lot to love. Despite the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild striking this year, there was a wide array of movies to choose from. The true impact from those strikes will not likely be felt until next year, although the box office of several releases this year were likely less than they could have been due to a lack of promotion. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the overall business - 8 feature films crossed the $200 million mark in ticket sales and 'Barbie' ended up grossing over $636 million domestically. The films below weren't necessarily the biggest hits, but they are the ones that have lingered the most in my mind. Emma Stone stars in 'Poor Things,' ...

ICYMI: ‘Rye Lane’ is a Refreshingly Creative Meet-Cute (Review)

22Dec

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

ICYMI: ‘Rye Lane’ is a Refreshingly Creative Meet-Cute (Review)

'Rye Lane' is the debut feature from director Raine Allen-Miller. Earlier this fall, the it led the pack with a whopping 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). While attending a friend's art exhibition, Dom (David Jonsson) breaks down in a gender-neutral bathroom. His long-term girlfriend Gia has cheated on him with his best friend and Dom just can't take it anymore. He feels safe to have an isolated cry in the bathroom, but Yas (Vivian Oparah) overhears him in the stall next door. The two cross paths later while checking out their mutual friend's artwork on display and Yas clocks Dom by noticing it was his shoes under the bathroom stall. But Yas has recently gotten out of a relationship too and, although she plays it cool, it was also a difficult experience ...

Auld Lang Syne Punked-Up: The Dollyrots’ Cover New Year’s Anthem

31Jan

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

Auld Lang Syne Punked-Up: The Dollyrots’ Cover New Year’s Anthem

The Dollyrots, the dynamic punk-rock trio consisting of Kelly Ogden (bass and vocals) and Luis Cabezas (guitar and vocals), along with current touring drummer Simon Hancock, are gearing up for an action-packed 2024. They've just announced a January tour alongside Bowling For Soup and Lit. Additionally, a March tour with Gymshorts as support is on the horizon. Tickets for both upcoming tours are available now. Before bidding farewell to 2023, The Dollyrots have dropped a punk-infused yet sentimental rendition of the New Year's Eve classic, "Auld Lang Syne," released on Wicked Cool Records. Kelly Ogden reflects on the inspiration behind the rendition, stating, "Usually, when Auld Lang Syne comes on, I feel a bit wistful... I mean, maybe it’s the champagne, but it’s also time to re...

Radiobot: Listen To Debut Single “This World’s On Fire”

17Dec

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

Radiobot: Listen To Debut Single “This World’s On Fire”

Radiobot is a dynamic musical trio featuring Brett Scallions, Billy Harvey, and Eddie Wohl. They're making waves with their debut original single. "This World's On Fire" is available now on all major music platforms via TLG/Virgin Music Group. This and their previously released Bob Dylan cover gives listeners a taste of what's to come from this exciting band. According to the trio, their debut album is set to drop in Spring 2024, In a statement, the band expressed their intentions behind the single, stating, "At a time when the world certainly feels like it's a mess, we hope listeners will enjoy the comical tongue-in-cheek lyrics in this song. That, along with the stomp beat, should get your booty shaking and have some fun with it." Adding an extra layer of entertainment, Radiobot ha...

The Force (Re)Awakens: Djedi Returns With Epic New Single “Ambedo”

16Dec

By Ambur Masen1 Comment

Features, Music

The Force (Re)Awakens: Djedi Returns With Epic New Single “Ambedo”

At the end of last year, we had asked a very important question: will we be seeing The Return of the 'Djedi' in 2023? Well, we're very happy to report that yes, in fact, we are seeing Djedi's return in 2023, and with a huge new track, "Ambedo"! Check out "Ambedo" by Djedi below, via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82VhFA0BCw 'Huge' doesn't even begin to properly describe this new Djedi song, but it was the word that came to mind upon hearing "Ambedo" for the first time. That's probably because everything about it is huge--the intensity, the atmosphere, the emotion... In particular, this tune gives major vibes in the realm of 'epic hero reaches the final climax of his story--and the stakes couldn't be more dire!' As a result, we feel that this song would make for ...