Topic: Music

Growing up, I would often hear complaints, usually from adults much older than myself, about the sorry state of modern songwriting.

Gabe Simon ’20 released his debut album, “Mr. Adrian Goes to Kihei” last week under the stage name of “Dogmanjones.” Now available on Spotify and Apple Music, Dogman’s tracks resist any sort of neat denomination.

For the student band Megafauna, production is at the core of their music. They craft synth-driven indie rock songs with both their laptops and guitars — even during their live shows, the computer plays drums.

Through an exploration of the subconscious and a confrontation of grief, rapper Earl Sweatshirt reveals more of himself than ever before in “Feet of Clay” — an album only 15 minutes long.

In her second studio-length album “MAGDALENE,” cross-genre artist FKA twigs employs her emotion-laced voice as a medium for self-reflection, dancing between genuine emotion and cliched heartbreak.

On Sept. 27, Marc E. Bassy released 14 new tracks on his album “PMD.”

On her fifth major-label studio album, “Norman Fucking Rockwell!,” Lana Del Rey delivers 67 minutes of  psychedelic, soft-rock ego trip. Rich with references to Californian Laurel Canyon rock, the album’s greatest strength is what its popularity says about her audience’s attraction to nostalgia.

In 2017, Taylor Swift unveiled a darker, angrier side of her personality through her sixth album, “reputation.” The controversial album lived up to its name and challenged the way people perceive Swift — both musically and personally. 

Self-described as a “brass-house” trio, Too Many Zooz boasts an impressive sonic profile, with pop songs acclaimed by The FADER, a performance with Beyoncé at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and an appearance on the track “Daddy Lessons” of Beyoncé’s album “Lemonade.”

The elaborate domed ceiling of Central Congregational Church lent the University Chorus and Chamber Choir an air of both visual and acoustic grandiosity during their performance Saturday evening.