Throwback Thursday | “Vienna” – Billy Joel (1977)
Michael Thistlethwaite, Writer/Volunteer
February 20, 2020
In 1977, Billy Joel, one of the greatest pop-rock musicians of the twentieth century, released my favorite of his career: The Stranger. Not only does this album still hold up incredibly well for fans of his, but it also contains some of Joel’s most iconic and fantastic songs he’s ever written. ...
In-Studio & Interview | MikeyyAustin – “Spare Change” (Live @ WDBM)
February 19, 2020
On the horizon of a new album release, the Impact basement thumped to the funky bass of Tyler Tesla, a member of local Lansing group MikeyyAustin and the Soulcial Club. This Lansing-based jazz-soul band was formed in 2017 has played events across the city to raise money for local Lansing charities. ...
Passive-Aggressive Breakup Pop | “Let’s Be Friends”- Carly Rae Jepsen
Kyle Davidson, Writer/Volunteer
February 19, 2020
So, maybe your Valentine’s didn’t go quite as planned. Maybe your date showed up an hour late, or didn’t show up at all. Maybe they did show up but they weren’t aware it was a date and now things are awkward. If any of these scenarios sound familiar then it’s time to take a page from one of...
Joining a Legacy | “No Time to Die” – Billie Eilish
Matt Stando, Senior Staff Editor
February 18, 2020
If you were to look at the catalogue of James Bond theme songs, they would provide a perfect time capsule of popular music that year. Beloved artists like Madonna, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and Tina Turner have made their mark on the series. As such, it only seems appropriate that Billie Eilish joins the Bo...
Finding Answers in Ambiguities | “Cut Me” – Moses Sumney
Mason Vore, Writer/Volunteer
February 17, 2020
Defiantly genre-bending, Moses Sumney has always worked in an area that’s difficult for most to categorize. His first album, 2017's Aromanticism, is about “lovelessness as a sonic dreamscape” that “seeks to interrogate the idea that romance is normative and necessary.” It’s a bold and explorative account of love in a way that’s never been done before. T...
Third Time’s The Charm | “I’ll Take Care of You” – Gil Scott-Heron
Matt Stando, Senior Staff Editor
February 14, 2020
In case you aren’t aware, today is the 14th of February, commonly known as Valentine’s Day. Given that, I’d be remiss to not talk about a song that deals with love and devotion. Though Gil Scott-Heron passed almost a decade ago, his final album I’m New Here is still finding new life. British...
Throwback Thursday | “Lovesong” – The Cure (1989)
Amber Kienutske, Programming Director
February 13, 2020
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, let’s take a moment to reflect on one of the greatest love songs ever written. It’s rare that a band is able to mirror the euphoric highs and heartbreaking pitfalls of love the way that the classic post-punk English band The Cure could. One prime examp...
Beats Without Borders | Astrud Gilberto & Bossa Nova
Sarah Beltran, Senior Staff Writer
February 12, 2020
When discussing the impact of music across cultures, we have to talk about bossa nova. Birthed from the young artists of Rio de Janeiro in the late 1950s, it combines American jazz with Brazilian samba. What makes it most notable is the full-circle delivery of bossa nova to the U.S. via hit singles lik...
New & Vintage | “Off My Mind” – Hazel English
Sarah Beltran, Senior Staff Writer
February 11, 2020
Hazel English has released another dreamy single from her upcoming first full-length album, Wake UP! The Aussie singer-songwriter released “Shaking” last year, her first single since her vibrant double EP “Just Give In/Never Going Home.” In addition to showcasing her improved production quality...
We Watch It For The Music | Sex Education
Kayla Effner, Writer/Employee
February 10, 2020
Season 2 of the hit Netflix show Sex Education is back with a soundtrack even more incredible than the first season, thanks to American singer-songrwriter Ezra Furman. With executive control over the show’s music, Furman has managed to translate the enigmatic feeling of the show into sound. While it’s set in the present, the costume design...
Ballad of Synths | “Do U Wanna” – Porches
Sarah Beltran, Senior Staff Writer
February 7, 2020
Aaron Maine, otherwise known as Porches, has released his second single since his 2018 album The House. For the past two years, he has been working on his fourth studio album Ricky Music. The new song, “Do U Wanna,” is an explosive yet introspective ballad that experiments with new moods and production methods. “Do U Wanna” keeps Porches’ usu...
