Music – The SoCC Blog

Pitchfork Music Festival Review: Alvvays, The Smile, Big Thief, King Krule, Palm, Florist, & more

13Aug

By Marina Malin1 Comment

Music, Reviews, Shows

Pitchfork Music Festival Review: Alvvays, The Smile, Big Thief, King Krule, Palm, Florist, & more

Written & photographed by Marina Malin. After spending a copious amount of time throwing bright-colored fabrics on my bed, scattering through sewing patterns, calling friends for fashion approval, and rearranging mini skirts and accessories to find visually intriguing cohesion, I make my way to Chicago. This extensive routine, though costing me 3 hours of sleep, was worth it as I was about to embark on the most pretentiously trendy destination of the weekend: Pitchfork Music Festival. Pitchfork prides themselves on being "The Most Trusted Voice in Music." Naturally, their audience embodies that. The sea of listeners rock flashy totes and tees that engrave their musical devotion like tattoos: Silver Jews, Panchiko, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Jonathan Richman, and Sparklehorse to na...

Album Breakdown: “the record” by boygenius

28Apr

By m_ryan@coloradocollege.eduNo Comments

Album Reviews, Music, Reviews

Album Breakdown: “the record” by boygenius

Written by Mckenna Ryan I simply need to talk about the genius (haha) new album from renowned Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker indie outfit, boygenius. All three musicians have been consistently slaying for years, both in their breathtaking solo work and 2018 self-titled EP. Bridgers has found the most mainstream success, but Baker and Dacus have an equally notable ability to craft complex, emotionally dense lyrics perfectly highlighted by stripped down production. The three of them come together under boygenius to create a unique, blended sound informed by their close friendship. the record shifts from the solidly indie sound of their previous work to something somewhat more upbeat and rock influenced, and it is great. At its core, the album is a series of love...

redveil drowns Boston in sold-out tsunami of a show

24Apr

By m_wagner@coloradocollege.edu1 Comment

Local Shows: Previews & Reviews, Music, Reviews, Shows

redveil drowns Boston in sold-out tsunami of a show

a.i. generated art of Water 2 Fire written by Mack Wagner After breaching the transit system, I step off the B train and scuttle towards a line of mostly college-aged kids inching towards the double-door entrance of the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Massachusetts. Post security check and pat down, a dull green hallway, ridden with posters and names of past performers (including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ween, Billy Joel, Wilco, Joan Jett, and the Pixies), funnels me into a room buzzing with anticipation for the second night of quickly up and coming, independent Maryland rapper-producer redveil’s first headlining tour titled “Water 2 Fire.” Locally known as “the Paradise,” this venue has a capacity of around 900 bodies. Offering up general admission tickets only, co...

26Oct

By soccNo Comments

Music

SOCC Writers’ Favorite Fall Albums

Our first collaborative post of the school year brings new names and faces to the blog! With autumn in Colorado Springs coming to an end, SOCC writers reflect on their favorite fall albums- old and new- as we gather in the amphitheater under snowy Pikes Peak. Sam Briley This fall I have been listening to Dots and Loops by Stereolab. I really enjoy is relaxing instrumentals and the friendly voices throughout the album. Its a very light album that I love listening to while I drive and appreciate the changing weather! Charlie Marks One of my favorite albums ever, and what you can hear me blasting in the shower is, Steven Miller Bands Greatest hits 1974-78. This album is put together so incredibly well that every song flows in and out of the next. A mixture or rock and roll a...

2Jan

By Emily Faulks1 Comment

Music

The SoCC DJs’ Best Albums of 2020

Here are some of the SoCC DJs’ favorite albums of 2020 year in no particular order: Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition- Your Old Droog I was introduced to Your Old Droog by a close friend of mine that often shares with me notable Jewish artists. YOD excels when it comes to storytelling, lyricism (especially in freestyle), and samples. Remaining completely independent, Your Old Droog tells his own story as a Soviet Ukrainian born Jew growing up in Brooklyn, which is undoubtedly unique. The samples on this album give a real soviet feel, utilizing staticky classical Russian samples and featuring instruments like the oboe or the accordion. He even raps some whole verses in Russian which is just so exciting to hear. This album was recorded starting in isolation back in March, and serves as an...

22Oct

By MaeveNo Comments

Music, Playlist, Uncategorized

NEW PLAYLIST: reflections on deflections, avoidance, navigating the shitstorm

By Maeve Goodrich Is this playlist a direct manifestation of my Covid consciousness? YES. Warmest of welcomes. If you're in the market for some delightful tunes with which to harmonize whilst screaming into the void, I've got some great news: this playlist. This playlist is the news. Woooo. A fun little compilation reflecting (and deflecting) the feelings of undistilled rage and melancholy that have so kindly accompanied this shitstorm of a year. Attempts at peace, laughter, and comfort are also documented here, mostly because they say a diverse diet is a healthy one. There's a song all about hummus, for f--k's sake. Existential dread is best served with snacks. Cheers. VOTE AND STUFF https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6r2GXVqHJCCT8czwf9LYKP

12Sep

By Augie VossNo Comments

NEW RELEASE: Still Woozy shares single “BS” and music video

by Augie Voss We caught up with Sven Gamsky—known to fans by the moniker Still Woozy—during a virtual press conference earlier this week. After an exclusive early listen to his new track ”BS,” he joined Universal Music’s °1824 creative team for an intimate Q&A. Gamsky has been redefining the bedroom-pop scene without even dropping an album. His single “Goodie Bag” has been a staple on indie- and alt-pop playlists since it was released in 2017, and the 2019 Lately EP saw collaboration with Omar Apollo and Elujay, amassing over a hundred million streams on Spotify alone. “BS” is quintessential Still Woozy, bouncy and dynamic. It features everything that makes his music so irresistible and instantly recognizable—rich and spacey vocals, playful drums, and deep, zesty bass. ...

15Feb

By Emily FaulksNo Comments

Music, Playlist, Uncategorized

NEW PLAYLIST: Cardiac Passages

Last weekend I took a road trip to Nebraska through Colorado and Kansas. All the states blended together with white rolling hills and the occasional windmill cluster, perfect for a naturally-induced ego death. My mind cleared into nothingness as the song “Sensitive” by Mr. Twin Sister came through my headphones. The ambient instrumentals and Andrea Estella’s eerie voice washed over me as I drifted into a trance. The chorus repeats the lines "Is this romantic dreaming?/ Is this just an illusion?” and then concludes the song with "A memory?” The theme for this playlist is romantic dreaming, where you feel out of touch with reality because you are entranced by a memory or by a creation of a future memory. The lucid instrumental passages in the songs take you out of time; through romantic ...

CONCERT REVIEW: Wilco at The Mission Ballroom in Denver

8Dec

By Mimi NortonNo Comments

In Case You Missed it, Local Shows: Previews & Reviews, Music, Reviews, Shows, Uncategorized

CONCERT REVIEW: Wilco at The Mission Ballroom in Denver

Wilco won’t let you down. Over the course of twenty-five years and eleven albums, they’ve established a fervent fanbase. Their live performances have a solid reputation; they’re known to play at least two-hour sets at every show, and they always include some fan favorites along with the songs from whatever album they’re promoting. In fact, they even have a spot on their website to enter song requests for different shows. When I saw them on Nov. 19, frontman Jeff Tweedy announced that it had been twenty-five years and two days, to be exact, since their first show. When he said this, I was applauding just like everyone else, but I found myself regretting that it was only my first time seeing them. I went to the show on my own, and the two hours I spent alone in the front of the crowd ...

18Nov

By JaneNo Comments

Music, Reviews, Shows, Uncategorized

Concert Review: Twin Peaks with Post Animal and Ohmme

On the brisk and clear night of Saturday, November 2nd Chicago indie rock took Colorado by storm. Twin Peaks headlined Englewood’s The Gothic Theatre, supported by Post Animal and Ohmme. All three groups hail from Chicago, a city well-known for some of the nation’s best early blues and jazz, as well as its current thriving and exciting alternative scene. There is no doubt that the groups that took the stage in Englewood this November are following in the footsteps of the Chicago greats. Ohmme, composed of the power duo Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham and supported on the drums by NNAMDÏ, took the stage first, with an attentive crowd waiting to hear some fresh sounds. They jumped right in with heavy, purposeful guitar riffs and alternating harmonies that were left hanging in th...