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Jon Simmons to play Friday SPA Noontime Concert

Posted by Christopher Will on 02/03 at 10:00 AM

Who: John Simmons (from Balance and Composure)
When: Friday, February 3, 12PM
Where: Penn State HUB-Robeson Center, Study Lounge (above Panda Express)

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Lana Del Rey’s “Born To Die” Album Review

Posted by Christopher Will on 02/02 at 06:06 PM

Grade: B+

Lana Del Rey.  If you’ve heard her music and seen her performances, then you probably have a strong opinion about her.  There really is no middle ground for the pop starlet.  She has been beset by controversy and scorn since she gracefully touched down onto the YouTube music scene last August with her single “Video Games,” which has garnered over 24 million views since.  The song and music video scored her a record deal with Interscope, the scorn and praise of millions of blogs across the Internet, and unfortunately, even lawsuits. Her transition from a bleached-blond, jazz-pop artist with a failed debut album to the retro-pop, brunette seductress surrounded by worldwide hype has also sparked rumors of plastic surgery and selling out.  Her live performance on SNL left many people completely disgusted, and her legitimacy as a musician has been questioned time and time again. Her debut album Born To Die, which dropped January 31st, has been praised as one of the most anticipated albums of 2012.  Scores of critics have been skeptical about this release, wondering if Lana Del Rey’s debut will live up to the hype and attention that’s been amassing the past few months.

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Artist on the Rise: Kendrick Lamar

Posted by David Porter Callanan on 01/27 at 02:55 PM

Kendrick Lamar is a hard spitting lyrical wordsmith that hails from Compton, California. Although the city is known as the birthplace of “Gangster Rap,” Kendrick’s style is more insightful to everyday life and culture in Compton as opposed to just the gangsta aspect. One fan described him as having the consciousness and lyricism of Lupe Fiasco with the presence and charisma of Pusha T. I couldn’t agree more. Kendrick was signed at the age of 16 by his current record label Top Dog Entertainment (TDE). Along with label mates Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q and Ab Soul, they form the group “Black Hippy,” who have called themselves the new “Westside Connection.”

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Local Bands to Know: Flashback Forward

Posted by Matt D'Ippolito on 01/26 at 05:00 PM

Student rockers Flashback Forward are tired of the same old, same old in State College. That’s why the band is trying to invigorate the local music scene with its own brand of hard rock, something members of the band say is missing here.

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Local Bands To Know: Runaway Heroes

Posted by Christopher Will on 01/26 at 02:37 AM

With such a large and diverse student body, Penn State University flaunts a brilliant local music scene among students, composed of young men and women with innovative minds and exceptional talent.  However, very few acts have shown as much promise so early in the game as the indie-rock outfit Runaway Heroes. With singer/songwriter/guitarist Ryan Fox (sophomore – advertising), bassist Collin Edger-Smith (sophomore – engineer), singer/guitarist Zane Matsko (sophomore – English), singer/lead guitarist Nate Spilman (sophomore – business), and drummer Mike Hickman (freshman – economics), Runaway Heroes showcases a novel brand of alternative rock, brimming with musicality and meaning.

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Album Review: The Dreamer, The Believer by Common

Posted by David Porter Callanan on 01/18 at 01:13 PM

Common - The Dreamer, The Believer Review

Grade: B+

    After a three year hiatus from the rap game, Chicago veteran MC Common dropped his 9th studio album, “The Dreamer, The Believer” (TDTB) this past December. The album’s release marked his first album since 2008’s “Universal Mind Control” (UMC.) Although UMC was Grammy nominated, it received poor reviews and was considered to be a disappointment among Common’s fans. This time around, Common recruited longtime friend and Chicago native No I.D. to produce the entire album. TDTB is the first time the two have worked together since 1997’s “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.” The album is also the first release on his new record label “Think Common,” even though he is still technically signed to Kanye West’s “G.O.O.D Music,” Imprint.

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2012 Breakout Artist: Wallpaper.

Posted by Christopher Will on 01/16 at 05:51 PM

Eric Frederick may have started Wallpaper. as a mocking depiction of pop music, but his quirky lyrics and exceptional production have elevated the project to levels far beyond playful satire. While Frederick is the sole producer behind Wallpaper., he’s created an alter ego - the sleazy Ricky Reed - to commandeer the vocals and lyrics. Frederick intertwines funk and soul with muscular synthetic loops and off-the-wall beats, while his other self, Reed, spins tales of excess, booze, parties, and women with a mixture of low, gritty rapping and singing.

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Creating a New Year’s Eve Party Playlist

Posted by Devin Weakland on 12/28 at 08:00 AM

Now that the holiday buzz is starting to slow down, it’s time to get ready to ring in the new year!  Whether you’re planning a chill night with close friends or a fancy party with everyone you know, you definitely want to commemorate 2011 with a killer playlist of the songs that mark favorite memories of the year. Here are four easy tips for creating the perfect party playlist for New Year’s Eve:

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Ryan Kappy’s Top 10 Albums of 2011

Posted by Ryan Kappy on 12/26 at 09:28 PM

Music for the year 2011 was one for the ages. I followed releases from about 50 bands in both the major and independent labels, and genres from alternative rock to metalcore. But there were a select few albums that I truly became in awe of based on the flow and overall sound of the album. Here is my top ten list of my favorite albums of 2011.

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Artist to Watch: Machine Gun Kelly

Posted by Lindsay Carolla on 12/06 at 01:31 PM

Machine Gun Kelly is a tall tattooed white kid with a bad attitude that reps Cleveland, Ohio. He’s is only 21 years old, and has already had public disputes with fellow emcees Yelawolf and Kid Cudi, called out Lebron James for being a weak athlete, and been arrested for disorderly conduct after he single handedly organized a flash mob in a suburban mall via Twitter. Machine Gun Kelly is loud, obnoxious, and he really doesn’t care about anything but music and enjoying himself - or what he calls “raging.” But, despite, or perhaps in spite, of his abrasive demeanor, this kid can rap. Not only can he flow faster than Twista, but Machine Gun Kelly can rhyme about pretty much anything. Together his talent and rebellious nature produce the perfect recipe for the next big thing.

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Breathe Carolina played Penn State at Alumni Hall, Friday, 12/2

Posted by Ryan Kappy on 12/05 at 05:07 PM

‘Crunkcore’ specialists Breathe Carolina brought their dancing shoes to full intensity at the HUB this past Friday, sponsored by the Late Night Committee of the Student Programming Association (SPA).

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SPA Presents Breathe Carolina at Alumni Hall, Friday, 12/2, 10PM

Posted by Ryan Kappy on 12/01 at 01:49 PM

Breathe Carolina, an electronic rock group from Denver, CO, will be bringing their dance style music with screaming vocals to Alumni Hall in the HUB this Friday, 12/2, at 10PM (doors open at 9:30PM). This concert, sponsored by the Late Night Committee of the Student Programming Association (SPA), has free tickets with a valid PSU student ID.

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New Music Video “Wake Me Up” by Ryan Tennis

Posted by Devin Weakland on 11/28 at 04:04 PM

Acoustic folk musician and Philadelphia native Ryan Tennis has recently released a music video of his song “Wake me Up” from his latest album Goodbye to the Ground.

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra Plays Bryce Jordan Center Tonight

Posted by Pat Baxter on 11/18 at 04:41 PM

In what has become something of a winter holiday tradition, the prog-rock Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is making its way across the United States to the delight of millions.  Tonight (11/18), they bring their pyrotechnics to the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA at 8:00PM.

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Artist to Watch: Childish Gambino

Posted by Lindsay Carolla on 11/10 at 03:26 PM

Childish Gambino is a truly unprecedented lyrical genius. He’s better known as Donald Glover, a 28-year-old television star and comedian, but with the release of his first hip-hop album Sick Boi in 2008, it was clear his music career was no joke.

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