Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album, “Evermore,” was unexpectedly released on Dec. 11, 2020. This fifteen-song album is a “sister record” to her previous indie-pop album, “Folklore,” and features themes of love and grief through the use of storytelling. The album’s lead single, “Willow,” is an indie-folk song about wanting andContinue Reading
Rating: 10/10 “Good Days” by SZA was released on Dec. 25, 2020 and was the best Christmas present I have ever received. I think so far, I’ve probably listened to it around a million times because it’s just that good. The guitar-tinged riffs, background flutes, and dreamy vocals perfectly blendContinue Reading
Rating: 4/5 Just seven months after announcing a set of three EPs that would kick-start a new era in her career, Miley Cyrus changed directions and released a full-length rock album instead. Cyrus’s new album, “Plastic Hearts,” exudes a level of self-awareness that many other artists her age have yetContinue Reading
Rating: 5/5 방탄소년단, also known as BTS, released their fifth Korean-language studio album on Nov. 20. The eight tracks on the album span a variety of genres, from the slow, melancholy “Blue and Grey” to the upbeat “Dynamite.” Compared to the band’s previous albums, “BE” features the most member involvementContinue Reading
Rating 3.5/5 American alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins recently released their eleventh studio album, “CYR,” which is the second part of the band’s “Shiny and Oh So Bright” series of albums. Their album has twenty tracks of synth-pop and is their most ambitious release ever since the band’s 2000 break-up.Continue Reading
Rating: 5/5 “The Queen’s Gambit,” a Netflix mini-series released on Oct. 23, 2020, follows the life of orphan-turned-chess-prodigy Beth Harmon. Focusing on Beth’s experiences competing in chess tournaments, the show touches on issues of substance abuse, women’s inequality, and adoptive families. A factor that drew me to the show wasContinue Reading
Rating: 4/5 That time of year has arrived, pushing open the floodgates of holiday movies and TV shows on Netflix to watch with loved ones and enjoy the holiday spirit. The Netflix original, “Dash & Lily,” which premiered on Nov. 10, 2020, is about two teenagers alone on Christmas, seekingContinue Reading
Rating: 5/5 The film “If Anything Happens I Love You” was released on Nov. 20, 2020 on Netflix, depicting two grieving parents as they cope with the loss of their daughter from a school shooting. The animated film has no dialogue, but spoken words were not needed to capture viewers’Continue Reading
Rating: 3/5 On Nov. 13, Lil Nas X dropped his new single, “Holiday,” in anticipation of the holiday season. The song’s release was a success, earning a top 40 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and over 40 million views on Youtube as of Nov. 30. In “Holiday,” LilContinue Reading
Rating: 3.5/5 Between being a champion for early childhood literacy and making contributions to COVID-19 vaccine research, Dolly Parton released her album “A Holly Dolly Christmas” on Oct. 2. The album includes 12 tracks, ranging from familiar Christmas tunes to originals written by the “Jolene” singer herself. The holiday albumContinue Reading
By Vania Castro Rating: 4/5 “Monsoon” is a thought-provoking film that captures the common experiences many Asian-American immigrants have with cultural confusion. It tells a story of separation between the culture of the place one resides in and the culture of one’s place of birth. The movie stars Henry GoldingContinue Reading
By Evelyn Fu Stevie Wonder – “Where Is Our Love Song,” featuring Gary Clark Jr. A melodic ballad reminding people of love and hope for humanity inspired by the current societal conflicts. The melody felt unique, and is a beautiful song. Stevie Wonder – “Can’t Put It In The HandsContinue Reading