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Music

A Halloween Perfomance at Red Rocks

On October 31st, 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, for the first time. This legendary venue has been showing musical acts since the 1940s and includes a gorgeous view overlooking the Denver skyline. This concert in particular featured five performances over the evening. Lexa Gates, Meechy Darko and Zombie Juice from Flatbush Zombies, Earl Sweatshirt, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, and finally Denzel Curry were all on the bill to celebrate Halloween at this sold-out show.

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Music

Album Review: Deadbeat is Groovy and Deceptive

After five long years between album releases, Kevin Parker, the brains and primary artist behind Tame Impala, has finally given fans a new record to spin. During that break, we’ve gotten new music sprinkled in between: features on other artists’ records, movie tie-in songs, and even his executive production work on Dua Lipa’s 2024 album Radical Optimism. But with the introduction of Tame Impala’s new album, Deadbeat, we’re given sonic themes in the artist’s catalog that we’ve never quite heard before.

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Music

An Evening with Ethel Cain

As Ethel Cain’s Willoughby Tucker Forever tour came to a close, I had the pleasure of attending the St. Paul show on September 19, 2025, with overpriced resale StubHub tickets. As the stage was set and the house lights dimmed, my friends and I were treated to a mysterious and emotional performance that showed why Hayden Anhedönia, through their alter ego Ethel Cain, remains one of the most captivating acts of the year.

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Music

Retrospective: Albums from the Blog Rap Era

The internet was a different space a decade ago. Rather than the digital entity that controls our lives and serves as our main window to media and information, the internet used to be a place to escape the real world. While our current technological integrations can still be seen as beneficial, you have to admit that our digital footprints and online presence have taken a complete 180.

Along with how we interact with the internet, the way we consume media has changed too. Somewhere between CDs and Spotify was a time when artists had to promote their music differently. Blogs and mixtape distribution websites dominated as platforms for artists to share their music for fans to download. These records were often lower-budget and carried a DIY aesthetic that inspired listeners to share and create something of their own. My goal here is to outline some of the best and most noteworthy albums and mixtapes from that era and explain what they did right.

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Music

A Brief Forum on Collecting Vinyl

Before we had the luxury of streaming any song we want with a tap of a screen, listening to music took a little more effort. You had to use actual tools, like dropping a needle on a vinyl record or popping a CD into a drive. There’s something romantic about the idea of going back to these more “primitive” methods. It feels nostalgic, maybe even a little cooler, like you’re doing it for the aesthetic. But for me, collecting vinyl is more than just a novelty. It’s practical, meaningful, and a lot of fun.

My goal is to break down why I love collecting records, what makes the experience so rewarding, and even point out some of the downsides that come with it.

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Music

Album Review: Chance the Rapper plays it safe on Star Line

Chance the Rapper returned this weekend after a six-year break between albums. Star Line, his new record, feels like a visit from a familiar friend, reminding you of the good times. Many songs capture the same magic found in his 2016 Grammy Award-winning mixtape, Coloring Book. While the return to form is welcome and fans genuinely want to see Chance succeed, the lack of risks leaves the project feeling derivative after the first listen.

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Music

Album Review: Ethel Cain’s Newest Album is Heartbreaking

Hayden Anhedönia returns with their second album release of the year under the stage name Ethel Cain. The record exists as a concept album that tells the story of a young Ethel falling in love and eventually separating from the character in the title, Willoughby Tucker.

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Music

Album Review: Alfredo 2 is Hot

Last week, on July 25, 2025, rapper/vocalist Freddie Gibbs and legendary hip-hop producer The Alchemist released their follow-up album to the Grammy-nominated Alfredo. A sequel that hardly came out of nowhere, the pair’s symbiotic chemistry had left listeners begging for more after the original’s success.

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Music

An Evening with Father John Misty

On July 19th of this year, my friends and I saw Father John Misty at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City for his current Mahashmashana tour. With a runtime of over 90 minutes, including two encores, the content was worth the price of admission. This was not my first time seeing the performer live; my last time was in 2022 at the Palace Theater in St Paul. Both times included brilliant set lists, a comfortable atmosphere, and overall good vibes.

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