Top 4 of April 13-19, 2014

By: Abbie Doyle, Copy Editor

1. Z - SZA

By Travis Boswell, Contributor

Being wrong about an artist is great sometimes. I thought SZA had shown all of her cards in S as a fusion of trap music and R&B, but this album is completely different. What could have been an average album in anyone else's hands is elevated by SZA's hypnotic voice and lyrics that get so specific or personal that they're utterly charming. The shoutout to Pepper Ann cemented my love for the album pretty quickly. There's one more album left in this EP series, which is only going to make the wait feel even longer. I'm fine with keeping Z on repeat until then.

2. Make My Head Sing... - Jessica Lea Mayfield

By Cortney Willis, Copy Editor

Make My Head Sing... is a fantastic album for many reasons. One: It features a songstress who embodies strong female characters from fiction while existing as an actual living person. Two: An amazing amount of growth is seen in Mayfield--she proves she's not a one-trick (or rather one-note) pony. Three: Amazing pedal effects that not only make the listener's head sing, but also spin. Mayfield's vocals are at their finest. With the album, the young artist instills faith in her fans that she's here to stay.

3. Kanye West does something for someone other than himself?

Okay, I’m probably being too harsh on Kanye, but the dude just seems self-righteous and selfish. However, the rapper/producer has been working with Common in order to create jobs and opportunity for youths in Chicago. Common’s organization, Common Ground Foundation, has paired up with West’s Donda’s House as well as the Chicago Urban League to create year-round jobs and opportunities, as well as putting on an annual music festival to raise funds and awareness. Details weren’t given on how exactly these jobs are going to be created, but hey, kudos to West and Common. Now we just wait to see how it progresses.

4. Jack White is, surprise, acting crazy

Record Store Day returned to the lives of vinyl lovers this Saturday, and Jack White decided to go buck-wild for the annual event. He decided to record, press and sell a 7-inch record for RSD on RSD. Okay, so the record is only two tracks and features a band, but that’s still fucking crazy. The A-side is a song to be released on White’s upcoming album, and the B-side was a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Power of My Love.” The 45s were ready for sale within four hours. White broke the Guinness World Record for hauling ass in terms of creating and selling a record. I knew the guy was impressive, but damn. Talk about raising the bar.

Top 5 of February 9-15, 2014

By: Zack Baker, Editorial Director

1. Sun Kil Moon: Benji 
By Sarah Weingarten

Benji is just a sad album. A mopey, depressed album about death and the fear of it. But Sun Kil Moon pinpoints unhappiness perfectly without being angsty. Listeners just have to be in a sad mood to listen to Benji and as a stressed college student avoiding responsibilities, that isn’t very hard. Sun Kil Moon eloquently depicts different varieties of sadness, giving Benji dimension, which is why this album deserves to be on loop. 

2. Behemoth: The Satanist 

By Justin Silk

Five years passed between Evangelion and The Satanist. The longest break between Behemoth albums to date occurred because frontman and main songwriter Nergal was diagnosed with leukemia. Nergal overcame it and, with newfound motivation, was anxious to return to the studio. The Satanist truly sounds like the most inspired Behemoth album to date and is a culmination of the many different styles that the band has experimented with throughout the years. The tight selection of songs and even pace of the album makes it a joy to listen to, and the quality of the music is extraordinarily high. It is debatable whether The Satanist is Behemoth's best record, but it's hard to deny that it definitely feels like the band's most complete work to date. On its tenth album, Behemoth enhances its legendary status as a band and delivers blisteringly brutal, pure evil blackened death metal.

3. Dag Savage: E&J 

By Travis Boswell

Exile and Johaz have only been working together for a few years now, but they sound like they've been collaborating for a decade on E&J. Johaz is a relative newcomer, but glides over Exile's beats effortlessly. He drops plenty heartbreakers about his formative years, but keeps it light with plentiful punchlines when necessary. Exile continues to be on top of his game with his soul-sampling, piano-laced beats. He's been producing classics for over a decade now, and E&J is another compliment to his great track record.

For fans of Exile's past collaborations, E&J has guest appearances from most of them. It does become a problem when they start to get more spotlight than Johaz, but with music this good it's a minor complaint. 

4. Kanye Remixed "Drunk In Love" 

I haven't even heard the original version of this song, but this remix was the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Not only do I finally understand the "surfboart" jokes now, but I also got to hear Kanye West turn "Little Drummer Boy" into a sexual innuendo. It's one of Kanye's most sexually graphic verses in recent memory, and he put out "I'm In It" last summer. 

5. Drake Said Things

First, Drake went off on Macklemore for his Grammy win. Calling him out not only for winning, but also for ignoring every nominee but Kendrick, Drizzy let The Mack know exactly what was on his mind. That was fairly honorable. When he lashed out against Rolling Stone for giving the cover they had promised him to the (late, incredible) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Drake drew some vitriol. Complaining about a lost cover isn't exactly good form, and even less so when it's to one of the most talented actors of our generation. Drake is on one, and regardless of how you feel about his comments, it's fun to sit back and revel in the aftershock. 

Top 4 of January 26 - February 1, 2014

By: Marlena Scott, News Editor

1. Ricky Eat Acid: Three Love Songs

By Zack Baker 

Sam Ray makes music. He makes pop-punk, shimmering indie-pop, ambient electronic, songs that border on house--I could keep going. It's insane that he does it all so well. Three Love Songs is his "debut" album under the Ricky Eat Acid moniker, although he's already pumped out dozens of songs and a handful of releases under that name. Three Love Songs is sporadic, doesn't flow all that well and (intentionally) low-fidelity, but it still manages to hook you. You may not be putting it on repeat after your first listen, but it won't be long before you're going back for more.

2. Slowdive Reconvenes

The dreamy shoegaze staple is reuniting and while I'm thrilled for new music and possibly catching a show, I'm hardly surprised. The genre has gained a strong young adult cult following and there's a huge allure to reliving the fuzz of the '90s. I'm glad Slowdive is coming back for the people and they'll probably make some good money all the while. Maybe Lush and the Cocteau Twins will get the hint and we can save all of our dough for a fuzzy dream-pop summer festival.

3. Yeezianity

I'm sure by labeling himself "Yeezus" Kanye West did not realize this was an open invitation for a 23-year-old privileged dude from Westchester County, NY to build a religion around him. This same guy takes shirtless mirror selfies. He created what is possibly the most uncomfortable video I have ever watched highlighting his religion.

4. Macklemore Wins Best Rap Album

Who the hell votes for the Grammys? Who on earth was the deciding group that shifted the vote to The Heist winning best rap album? This guy is an absolute turd. I think taking a public stance on gay rights is fantastic, especially in such a highly publicized, mainstream position, but there's something about him that rubs me the wrong way. There are plenty of movers and shakers in the gay rights movement that don't wear ridiculous, gaudy coats.

What about The Heist was rap? I remember hearing "Thrift Shop" once and thinking it was a parody. I would consider "Same Love" to be pretty poppy. Just because a guy is speaking into a microphone rather than singing doesn't mean he's rapping..