On a rainy Saturday in March, Core DJs moved into the student center with lights, sound, and balloons for our annual music festival COREFEST 2024!
In front, the lounge area was converted into an indoor market with local and student vendors selling everything from clothes and jewelry to art and ceramics! The station gave away free copies of an art zine made with submissions from our DJs, in addition to selling festival T-shirts, tote bags, and stickers.
Moving through the crowd and into the concert, bands lined the walls selling...
Each year, 90.3 The Core attends the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference. At this two-day event, college radio stations from across the nation (and beyond) gather together to meet one another and attend panels on how to improve their stations!
IBS has been supporting college and high school radio and media since 1940, and is led by a team of passionate volunteers and is sponsored by different businesses and organizations including the College Radio Foundation. More information about IBS is available at ibsradio.org....
On Saturday, February 24th, 2024, fellow DJs Rachel from Impulse Control, Jenna from The Great Escape, and I (of Snoopy Waves) trekked to Philadelphia’s own Union Transfer in pursuit of The Paranoyds, a grrrl powered garage rock band from Los Angeles, California. In January, we were offered the life-changing opportunity to bear witness to the sheer force wielded by this band as they opened for The Kills, a popular rock band that we had previously not heard of. Additional accommodations such as a post-show interview and press pass rocked...
I have been extremely excited about this album for the longest time, staying up till midnight for each single to drop, which was utterly worth it. I have been listening to this band for a few years, and they are easily one of my favorites. Mannequin Pussy is a band that started sometime in 2013 originating in Philadelphia, with Colins “Bear” Regisford on the bass and vocals, Kaleen Reading on the drums, Maxine Steen on the guitar, and finally, Marisa Dabice, who plays guitar and provides vocals as well. This new album shows how...
Each year, The Core hosts Rutgers' only live music festival: COREFEST! And this spring, we're back in a big way! We're packing 4 great acts into one festival, where you can rock and shop from lots of local vendors. You won't want to miss it!
Welcome back to our Meet the DJ series! This week, get to know more about DJ Arora, host of Astral. You can catch her show on Sundays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST.
Name: Vidushi
DJ Name: Arora
Pronouns: She/her
Major/Year of Graduation: Cognitive Science and Data Science, 2025
After training a record number of DJs last semester, the station's spring schedule is packed with live programming! It truly is many voices one station.
Find the times of your favorite shows, and check out some new ones on our schedule page!
2023 is coming to a close, and we've asked our DJs to tell us their top 5 albums from this year. Here we list the top albums of all the DJs who sumbitted. To see our featured DJs, check us out on instagram @thecorefm!
DJ Rachel's (she/her) Top 5
Host of Impulse Control
1. Sweeping Promises, Good Living is Coming for You
Of all the shows I’ve been to, this was the most intimate and sincere performance I’ve been lucky enough to experience.
To close off the US leg of his ‘OO-LI And’ tour, WOODZ landed at Kings Theatre, New York.
WOODZ, also known as Cho Seungyoun, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and producer. Needless to say, he’s a multihyphenate.
My conversion from a casual listener to a fan was quite immediate. I can’t imagine anyone else not becoming a fan, whether it be of his music or...
The evening of October 27th rolled around, which meant the night to see Tennis at Asbury Lanes was finally here. Not to be mistaken with the sport, Tennis is a married duo composed of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. Their retro aura is memorable, playful, and undeniably sweet, with a sound that reigns in groovy and blissful melodies. I was absolutely enamored the first time I had heard them live during their tour for Swimmer, released in 2020. Since then, I couldn’t wait to see them again.
Each show I attend has...
Friday, October 27th, the Cook Student Center was rocked by this year's Spooky Sounds Coffee House. The annual haunt featured acts from our open mic, drag performances, and local bands. Our audience and performers showed up and showed out in costume with friends and fiends to rock, mosh, and see local artists live.
Our first performance was by Opal (@fairycolalime) who sang original songs played live that evening by Dan (@kuh.pree) on guitar. The two also played originals from their band Dizzy! (@dixxyexpt) "fairy indie band." The...
See How the Core celebrated College Radio Day!
College Radio Day is a way to spread awareness about the medium and introduce it to a new audience of listeners. As noncommercial radio, we can provide our community with live, free, alternative programming with new, unique, and local artists. To learn more about College radio day, read more on their website.
The Core Celebrated by asking our DJ's to tell us what college radio means to them:
* See below for college radio art by DJ Charlie from Snoopy Waves!
* Check out...
Local New Brunswick band Latchkey Kids recently just released a brand new single, Mo(u)ring Anthem, and In order to celebrate this single release, they held a release party concert at the Second Reformed Church, on College Ave. alongside other hometown New Jersey bands, Tula Vera and See Plus.
The show made the perfect back-to-school giveaway, and thanks to Latchkey Kids and Save the Cat Touring, two lucky Core listeners were able to win free tickets by participating on our instagram @thecorefm. I went with some fellow DJ's to table...
Meet the faces behind the station! These department leaders are elected representatives of the DJs at 90.3 The Core. If you're looking to get involved, don't hestitate to reach out! All emails are available on our contact page!
Check out our Executive Staff and Music Staff for the 2023-2024 school year with art by Promotions Director Devin Edwards.
At this year's Involvement Fair, College Ave was once again swarmed by incoming and returning students looking for ways to spice up their campus lives. Our DJs braved the heat and the rain, to share our love for The Core with everyone who stopped by!
The more voices the merrier! We look forward to meeting new students each year, and we hope to see you at our General Interest Meeting: Monday, September 11th, at 9:00pm in the Cook Student Center, Room 202. Meet the executive staff and current DJs and learn what it's like to...
Skating Polly was founded in Oklahoma City, OK, back in 2009, when step-siblings Kelli and Peyton were only 9 and 14 years old, respectively. In 2017, Kelli’s brother hopped on the drums. And now, they’re rockin’ out in Tacoma, WA. Negative reviews of some of their earliest work always bothered me—they didn’t see the vision. But the tongue-in-cheek, achingly riotous proclamations in “How Stuck You Are” off their 2013 album, Lost Wonderfuls, launched my heaviest steps through college:...
In celebration of her return with the long-awaited debut album With a Hammer, Korean American DJ, producer, and singer Yaeji embarked on a twenty-four-night-long North America tour. After running through her longest of tours yet, Yaeji finally reached the first of two sold-out nights at Brooklyn Steel.
Montréal artist Ouri ignited the evening by gracing early birds with a performance driven by the layers of her eclectic musical history. The classically-trained musician captivated by electronica effortlessly entranced the...
Concert Review: Aly & AJ at The Fillmore Philadelphia
Eighteen years after their first release, I was finally able to see former Disney stars turned Americana and indie synth pop darlings Aly & AJ. Best known musically for their 2000s hit "Potential Breakup Song" that had a major resurgence in a viral video in 2020, Aly & AJ, two sisters with about two decades of music industry experience, have put together a show that highlights their new and more mature sound while paying homage to their pop rock roots.
At 7:30 I pulled up to the venue, The Fillmore Philadelphia, named after the...
Best Corefest Ever?
Most Core DJs agree! With headliners Sweeping Promises and Ratas En Zelo, and local bands Hot Dress and Daddy's Closet, it was certainly our best fest yet. We also had over twenty community-based artists and vendors tabling outside the multi-purpose room. There was never a dull moment! For a full list of Corefest vendors and where to find them, check out our Instagram @thecorefm!
Local Bands
The show started with the genre-defying act Daddy's Closet, the brainchild of singer-songwriter-producer AJ...
On February 14th, 2023, we had our Valentine's Day Coffee House. There were heart-shaped donuts and coffee as our DJs lead games of "DJ Soulmate" in between acts. We filled the Livingston Cafe with live music and covered it in pink streamers for a perfect date with college radio. <3
The evening started with amazing original songs from Zoe, with beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Find them through their linktree!
Following was The Core's very own DJ Jim, host of Mind Games with James 5:00-7:00pm on...
I can't think of any other band I'd travel 6 hours and back for with no hesitation.
Having missed the NYC show due to being abroad, I spent much of my time wallowing over the lost opportunity. Then the wallowing transfigured into anticipation once the idea to see Alvvays (pronounced "always") perform in Montréal sprung. Oh, how indescribably glad I am that my partner suggested this trip up North, so I could cry, sing, and dance to my all-time favorite songs.
Alvvays is an indie-rock/power pop band originating from Prince Edward...
I attended a wonderful concert on Saturday, February 25th and here I am with a review!
The 100-year-old Dunellen Theatre is a wonderful, smaller venue making it an intimate kind of gathering there on Saturday night. Plus, connected to the theatre is Zupcos Bar and Grill with great bar food that they served at tables in the theatre. Every row had tables. Don't you want to go...
Now for the music:
Completely new to me, the band Resurrextion aka ResX was very very excellent. They rocked...
Saturday, February 11th, The Core partnered with Rutgers club RU Thrifty to host a clothing swap in the upstairs of Livingston Student Center.
Students brought in the clothing they didn't wear anymore to exchange them for something new! This sustainable way to shop (or swap) is cost-effective and a great way to get involved in the community.
We had a wonderful setup thanks to RU Thrifty, and a great selection of items thanks to everyone who came and participated. So many students found new clothes they loved,...
Greetings dear reader, and happy new year from both myself and all the DJs here at 90.3 The Core! 2022 was filled with so much amazing music that this breakdown was originally going to be about fifty albums long. However, as the list matured, I decided to focus on a smaller number of albums that I could talk about more in-depth. Condensing my favorite albums into a top twenty-five for the year allowed me to focus on what music truly made an impact on me. The only problem I encountered making this list was deciding which Drake...
We asked our DJs to rank their top 10 favorite albums from the past year to send off 2022!
Get recommendations from your favorite Core DJs and see how all of the albums stack up in our Station Top 10, based on the individual ranking of each DJ who participated.
Check out our 3-part Instagram series to see the complete list of DJs and what people are saying about their top albums of 2022 @thecorefm!
This past December, The Core held its first-ever Vendor Fair showcasing student and community artists. Our DJs turned the upstairs of Livingston Student Center into a winter wonderland! Students and passersbys got to meet and explore the artwork and craftsmanship that our community has to offer! Supporting local artists meets holiday shopping!
The Core also provided some free expression for the attendees in the form of button-making! Those who didn't find anything to buy didn't leave empty-handed. The event offered students a place to...
Feeling grateful for the amazing night we had at this year's Corenucopia!
The night began with a bang, or rather a clap, as the audience kept time for the singer, and DJ Mary Heyns: Photophobic Blonde, host of Flipside Radio.
We eased into the evening with a chill jazz duo Ariana Sowa on saxophone and Jacob Hurlock on keyboard.
Kristin Field followed and played a roaring and showy set with many an intense sax solo that contrasted her shy and polite demeanor.
Stir-Fried cooked up an amazing set to end the night, showing off...
Monster mosh, graveyard smash, these are just a few of the words people are using to describe the phenomenon that was our Spooky Sounds Coffee House on Friday, October 21st.
The Coffee House was held in the Busch Student Center, and we enjoyed sweets and cider as we listened to some amazing local artists:
Jilly kicked off our night with some sweet original songs, followed by raccoon solo performer I’ve Made Too Much Pasta serenading the crowd with their accordion.
The mic was open in between...
Friday October 7th, 2022 was the 12th annual College Radio Day and The Core celebrated in style as DJs and students designed and created their own buttons at Passion Puddle on Rutgers Cook/Douglass Campus. In addition to hosting special late-night/early-morning shows!
It was a beautiful fall day to celebrate the amazing phenomenon that is College Radio, and generate awareness for the unique and fearless free programming college radio stations offer. The Core is proud to be a "DIY" station, adding to...
I went to the Union County Arts Center in Rahway Thursday night, October 27 to see Celebrating David Bowie.
The Arts Center theater is beautiful, and the staff went above and beyond to be helpful. A very wonderful place to see a show. The musicians that took part in this Tribute to David Bowie are as follows:
Very talented Adrian BelewSinger-guitarist Todd RundgrenRoyston Langdon of SpacehogWonderful Angelo BundiniAnd whoa Jeffrey GainesExcellent saxophonist Ron DziublaExcellent funky bassist Angeline SarisAnd wonderful drummer Michael...
The Beths and Rosie Tucker Crash Into The Atlantic at Asbury Lanes
For weeks on end, I was giddy in anticipation of The Beths’ Asbury Lanes show on August 26th. I felt I’d waited the entirety of my college radio career for this gig, mostly because I had first discovered The Beths’ music in one of our station’s free CD bins during my first semester at Rutgers, in Fall 2018 after a Core training meeting. While we’re not supposed to judge a CD by its cover, a watercolor illustration of a distressed young woman in a yellow dress being stared down by her reflection, a depiction of her...
The Involvement Fair was a great success! Over 100 of you signed up to join The Core!
Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at our table, ask questions, and sign up to join our emails! Our DJs had a lot of fun meeting all the interested students and creative minds that joined in. The fall semester is in full swing, and you know what that means: new shows, a new show schedule, new DJs in training, and lots of new events to plan! We’re so excited!
People who entered our Back To School Giveaway on Instagram...
Just in time for the new school year! See what our DJs have been digging the most in our new station playlist on our Spotify @90.3 The Core! Check out our chart toppers and listen to some...
Indie Rock singer Phoebe Bridgers’ soft, poignant, and striking vocals filled the shore as fans sang along at her sold out Stone Pony Summer Stage show in Asbury Park. Crowds wrapped around a number of blocks as early as 1 am to see Bridgers for her Reunion Tour, some bearing the heat for as long as 20 hours. Once the lines finally piled into the venue, you’d find more crowds of dedicated fans decorating the boardwalk, beach, and parking lot, the Summer Stage not nearly big enough to contain her rapidly growing fanbase. ...
Yesterday we hosted our annual Alumni BBQ, a fun-in-the-sun event that brought DJs from various locations & generations together to eat summer foods & reminisce about favorite Core memories! We had about 30 DJs show! This was a much anticipated gathering, since we were unable to have our BBQ for the past two years. We had hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, tortellini salad, watermelon, popcorn, selzers and sodas galore. DJs brought out The Big Tent with our logo on it to stake a claim on some shade.
One alumnus recalled his...
WOW!!! Corefest 2022 was a blast! This year, we held Corefest on 3/26 in the College Ave Multi-Purpose Room. We had a really amazing turnout with over 200 attendees. This event was truly so much fun with some really amazing acts.
First up, we had local band, Valentine's Day, who crushed it. They self-identify as a "queer and WOC (women of color) band from New Brunswick" with an incredibly cohesive sound and a very cool style. Next up was Toads, another local band who absolutely shredded. They describe their music as "Like Black...
Congratulations to everyone at 90.3 The Core who submitted, was nominated, and won awards at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards! Shoutout to Mindy, Charlie, and Steve for their wins & the folks behind the 90.3 Instagram and Mike Wollman for their nominations.
March 1st marked the start of the 82nd Annual Conference hosted by IBS. Every year, numerous high school and college radio stations gather in New York City to attend sessions on best promotional practices, women in media, radio industry panels, and more. This...
Hello everyone! We are so excited to announce our Back2Skool merch sale!!
We will be selling raccoon sweatshirts designed by our DJ Mike and bumper stickers by our very own Minhee and Elvis (Promotions Director and Head Music Director).
Sweatshirts = $15 1 bumper sticker = $5, 2 for $8 **all purchases with sweatshirts will come with a free mask or phone wallet **all purchases of stickers will come with a free pin
We have run out of 2XL sweaters and are running low on purple stickers!! (We will...
Hello everyone! Hope y'all have had a good start to 2022!! To commemorate all the amazing music that was released in 2021, our exec staff wanted to share each of our top 10 albums of 2021! Scroll through our picks below!
On Saturday, November 20th, we revisited our annual Corenucopia event, a tradition in which we give thanks to beautiful music, beloved friends, and fun times by throwing a show headlined by local artists from New Brunswick’s music scene. Our event was hosted at the George Street Co-Op, a non-profit natural food store located on Morris Street. The upstairs cafe space was brightened with warm lighting and colorful hand turkeys, hand drawn and cut by our own DJs and DJs-in-training at a new event called Lending a Hand(Turkey). Inscribed on...
This past Wednesday, we had the amazing opportunity to cohost a blood drive in collaboration with NJ Blood Services! NJ Blood Services is a nonprofit organization located in New Brunswick, dedicated to providing life-saving blood services to people in need. Each blood donation can save up to 3 individuals and we are so happy to be able to help out with such an important service!
Thanks to our 90.3 the Core exec staff + DJs, we were able to get almost 40 donors! We are so grateful for this community and sincerely appreciate each...
We had the amazing opportunity to sit down with 55 million+ streamed hyperpop artist Glitch Gum to hear about his creative process, latest singles, and collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers and 100 gecs.
We chatted about his thought process behind his iconic name, how his song "Never Met!" became unexpectedly viral overnight, his pop-punk musical influences, and his new album "Life After the Demise of Planet Gumball." He also was kind enough to give us helpful advice into how he uses the music program, Logic, in addition to how he...
We wore masks of a different sort to this Halloween-themed event than we may have expected to years ago, at our last in-person Spooky Sounds Coffeehouse. This year we reanimated Spooky Sounds for our first in-person event since the pandemic. Spooky Sounds was held at Chamber 43, a record, antique, and coffee shop all in one, on George Street. Each local artist that performed was scary-good, including some of our very own DJs and trainees who played spooky sounds from a guitar and microphone in place of a board and transmitter for a change. The...
Get excited for our annual Spooky Sounds Coffee House! This show is going to be so special - not only is it our first year back in person since the shutdown, but we will also be celebrating 50 years of college radio! Bring a friend and come celebrate with us :)
This event will be hosted by our friends at Chamber 43 on 356 George St. in New Brunswick on 10/26 from 8:30-10:00PM. We are so so excited to see y'all there!!
On Tuesday, August 31st, Core DJs came together for the first time since being sent home due to COVID-19, to welcome potential new DJs at Rutgers’ Involvement Fair. We tabled at booth 800 near Brower Dining Hall from 3-6pm, giving away holographic conical party hats with “Listen to 90.3 The Core!!” scrawled in Sharpie marker, stickers, zines, colorful flyers, and of course, free CDs! The Core booth was swarming with youth eager to share their passion for music with the local community. All the while, a special live episode of...
Our musical horizons are constantly broadening as we receive an influx of music amidst these ever-changing times. Whether it’s a highly anticipated album from our favorite indie rock sweethearts (have you listened to Jubilee by Corefest 2018 headliner Japanese Breakfast?), the perfect summer soundtrack, a local artist’s big break, a promising single, or a...
Hello everyone, we hope y'all have had a good summer so far! As the fall semester approaches, some of our exec staff wanted to share our favorite tunes of Summer 2021!! Check out our playlists on Spotify below :)
Our very own DJ Alex zoomed in with a new puppy owner and singer, guitarist, and songwriter Stefan Babcock of critically acclaimed emo group PUP. We dive into their new EP, creative songwriting, nihilistic children's books, and more! Check out the full interview below!
As the semester is wrapping up and finals season is approaching, make sure to check out our April edition of the Corezine for some awesome art! Shoutout to everyone who submitted and our Program Director Charlie for putting this together :)
As another digital exam season is approaching, we thought we would share the 2019 edition of our Corezine to bring back some happy "in-person" memories! Enjoy the nostalgia and we are all looking forward to a bright, post-pandemic future! A big shoutout to our Program Director for documenting all these memories :)
Happy New Year everyone! Although most of us spent the past semester in quarantine and not in our studio, our Core community still managed to create a lot of amazing art and host fun remote shows! If you are interested in seeing what we've been up to, make sure to check out this compilation of artwork created by our very own Program Director below!
We're proud to present the second part of our digital Local Artist Showcase! Make sure to check out these very talented musicians who deserve more attention.
1. The Break Plans
Based out of Freehold, NJ, The Break Plans create melodic, indie pop music you can dance to -- with an alternative rock vibe. Or, "Rock N' Roll with an EDM soul," as we put it!
A big thanks to all of the talented artists who performed at our Virtual Spooky Sounds Coffeehouse! If you missed the event or would like to revisit the performances, feel free to check out the videos below!
1. ...nothing follows
2. Pronouns in Bio
3. Quietly Mtty
4. Erotic Novels
...
We're proud to present the first part of our digital Local Artist Showcase! Make sure to check out these very talented musicians who deserve more attention.
1. Travelers of An Empty Mind
An eclectic mix of metal instrumentation with vocals derived from rock-rap hybrid acts and black metal screams. Travelers of an Empty Mind is a band of high school friends, Chris Travis and Fred Quayenortey, from Old Bridge, NJ. They specialize in the combining of hip hop and metal into their own funky style. Led by Chris's aggressive...
Make sure to check out these personalized study playlists curated by our very own Exec Staff members to help you get through the rest of the online semester! Hope you enjoy and happy studying!
1. Remote Yearning by Liz (Tech Director)
Description: For anyone looking to stay alert during your evening study session, this is the playlist for you! Whether you’re the antagonist of an 80s sci-fi movie or a student doing your control systems problem set, this mix of electronica, digital hardcore, and shoegaze can be...
As a public NJ community and student-led radio station, we wanted to speak out as an organization and formally condemn the injustices that have occurred in the past few months.
While many of you have already donated, protested, or signed petitions, we want to remind everyone that the fight for black lives does not end here.
In order to take action, the first 100 people who send us a screenshot of their...
Our own DJ Tall Guy had the incredible opportunity to interview Philadelphia post-hardcore band, Mewithoutyou! Tune in to hear them discuss tour-life, their new record, religion, and other engaging and interesting topics. Make sure to check it out!
Our Rock Director Alex had the opportunity to chat with Common Holly, Quebec Indie artist, before her show at Trans-Pecos, Queens on December 6th, 2019. Give a listen to their conversation as they disucss her musical inspirations, growing up in Montreal, and current Spotify favorites!
Common Holly was touring with her most recent release, "When I say to you Black Lightning", her sophomore album. It is described as an "exploration of the ways in which we all experience pain, fear and self-isolation, and how we can learn to confront...
This is stellar. Starset's Divisions is the Ohio space rock group's third album. A concept album like their previous work, Divisions takes this band to an entirely new dimension. A commentary on humanity's last defensive struggle to maintain freedom of thought in a world controlled by our own technology, the 13-track journey opens with an ambient dialog. Describing a barren world empty of brainpower and emotion, the opener sets us up for the spacecore darkness of "Manifest" and the electronic despair of "Echo." We move on to...
Philadelphia-native Anna Shoemaker sat down with our Head Music Director Jordan to discuss the release of her newest EP, “Everything is Embarrassing” and her musical influences. Give it a listen!
Concert Review: Motion City Soundtrack @ Webster Hall
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of witnessing the return of pop-punk legends Motion City Soundtrack at the newly refurbished Webster Hall. The band had broken up back in 2016 after being active for nearly 20 years and decided it was time to hit the road once again. With support from The Sidekicks and Gregory Stovetop, the night was full of high-octane jams and infectious singalongs that had us all feeling alright.
When Motion City took the stage, it was like a switch went off in the crowd. For the openers, you had the typical head nodders...
Concert Review: Caroline Polachek @ Warsaw and Rough Trade NYC
I will never forget the day that my friend sent me the link to Caroline Polachek’s “Door” music video this past June. At the time, I was spending my summer at UC Berkeley as a research intern, and her tracks (including the successive singles “Ocean of Tears” and “Parachute”) defined this period for me. Needless to say, her live show at Warsaw in Brooklyn on 1/18 was a personal and special night.
The stage was embellished with a minimalist gate designed by Timothy Luke. Her arrival on stage was...
Ari Katz and Tannis Kristanjson from musical projects Lifetime and Miss TK & The Renge sat down with our Head Music Director, Jordan Adragna, on his show It Came From The Basement (on Sundays 6:00-8:00PM) to discuss New Brunswick basement shows, NJ hardcore, and more.
January's DJ of the Month is Alex Aiello, our hardworking RPM director! Get to know the meaning behind his show name, favorite artists of the moment, and Music Staff experience. Alex's show Random Wave Generator blazes the airwaves Thursdays from 6:00PM - 7:00PM.
BENEE is an up-and-coming artist hailing from New Zealand. Her most recent EP “Fire on Marzz” was released this June, and it mixes soulful vocals with R&B-inspired production. I discovered her around the time her EP dropped, and I immediately became a huge fan. She recently went on a mini-tour in the US, and one of those stops was at Rough Trade NYC on October 21st.
Rough Trade NYC is located in Brooklyn, and it is a record store with a small venue in the back. When I walked in, I took a quick glance at their...
December’s DJ of the Month is the iconic voice of Thursday show Zebraforce AND our station’s essential production director, Joe! Joe does it all. Get to know Joe and his work at the station in our interview below :)
Concert Review: Bombay Bicycle Club at Brooklyn Steel
UK-based indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club made waves this January after announcing that they were ending their three-year hiatus and making new music. I have been a massive fan of them since 2011, and I was ecstatic to hear that they were getting back together. They later announced that they were going on tour across the United States to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their debut album “I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose.” When I found out that one of their shows would be on October 8th at Brooklyn Steel, I did not...
November's DJ of the Month is the one and only host of Bangers & Mash, Abby Allegro! Read more about our local music director as she shares her experience being on The Core music staff, latest local music favorites, and the perks of being a part of The Core! You can catch Abby on the airwaves 7:00-8:00pm :)
It’s A Hot Jersey Summer
Have you ever wondered what a summer’s day in Jersey sounds like? This tape is the closest you’re gonna get to capturing the vibes of a sizzling summer’s day in the active garden state. If you know anything about Jersey summers, you know for a fact that on any given day there’s never a lack of waves or functions to go to. Even if the move is to sit on the steps or in a yard and share a moment with the homies, it’s never a slow summer. The tape is packed with a diverse, superstar...
L.A. based experimental hip hop group CLIPPING. (featuring Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes) sat down with our Loud Rock Director, Ethan Gilardi, to discuss their new album, burning pianos, science fiction, horror movies, and ABC sitcom, The Mayor!
CLIPPING. is currently finishing up their North America tour, having just performed at Rough Trade NYC in Brooklyn October 8th. Their latest album, There Exists an Addiction to Blood, is out now!
Check out our YouTube to listen to the interview! ...
Hub City Sounds: Rock New Brunswick Festival Recap
On Saturday, September 21st, 90.3 The Core participated as a vendor in the Hub City Sounds: Rock New Brunswick festival. The free, family-centered festival took place on The Yard on College Avenue and featured clothes/music vendors and performances by local bands and DJs. Members of the station tabled the event, alongside other vendors including Spina Records and By the By Vintage. Visitors perused stands and local eateries, with many reclining on lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the live music.
This year’s Rock New Brunswick...
School is back in session! You can catch our September DJ of the Month on the airwaves Tuesdays from 9:00am-11:00am, if you aren't in class. Our dearest Development Director Sophie speaks at length about her current musical obsessions, favorite Core memories, and lore behind her show name.
The Bronx is Back
Scott La Rock Music Group's own Flock Goddy shakes the block with his latest project “West Side Nights” hosted by DJ Big Deezil, the mixtapes king. The Bronx native represents with pride as he puts his pen game to the test. As a certified product of his block, Flock proves he is ready to carry on the tradition of his borough producing everlasting legends. He never hesitates to speak his mind as he discusses both the good and evils of the hood. The tape is a true testament of the potential that Scott La...
As the school year rolls around, get to know our August DJ of the Month, Mike Sabatella! Mike joined The Core this past semester and has been interning at the station this past summer; check out his interview below as he discusses his Core internship participation, favorite artists of the season, and more!
Confession time: I walked into this concert knowing exactly one (1) song by the headlining band, Silversun Pickups, a Los Angeles alt-rock band with shoegaze influences. Am I a fake fan? Maybe. However, that didn’t stop me from having a blast at their performance at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on 7/21 with alt-pop duo, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (iDKHOW). I attended the concert on a whim—I was already a fan of IDKHOW, a duo composed of vocalist/bassist Dallon Weekes (formerly a member of Panic! At The Disco)...
It's the return of the real. After a year hiatus, Goon Squad Entertainment's Founder and CEO, Max Lowe releases a reminder of things to come. The Royalty EP plays as a lyrical exercise that only strengthens his potential to position himself as an artist capable to compete at a top-notch tier. Although the playlist is short, there is nothing sweet about the music being curated. His tone on both tracks is consistent. His bars draw upon the battle rap influence he became a scholar. In turn, he provides a prophetic and philosophical...
July’s DJ of the Month blesses our airwaves every Friday, our beloved Promotions Director, Gianna Pecorella! Read below; DJ Charlie speaks at length on their 90.3 the Core experience, riot grrrl, the sheer bliss that is meeting Screaming Females, and much more!
Irish chamber pop outfit the Divine Comedy have always been something of an English major’s band in my eyes. Never mind the name they cribbed from Dante’s epic - their 1993 debut album Promenade featured songs inspired by Fitzgerald short stories (“Bernice Bobs Her Hair”), Wordsworth poems (“Lucy”), and Chekhov’s plays (“Three Sisters”). 2016’s splendidly historical Foreverland found frontman Neil Hannon dressing as Napoleon and singing about Catherine the Great....
90.3 The Core is excited to hold a ticket giveaway for 2019’s Mad Liberation Festival!
Set in the pine barrens of South Jersey, Mad Liberation is an independent camping, music, and arts festival with a heavy emphasis on empowerment and self expression. The lineup hosts a wide array of artists spanning electronic, rock, and hip hop genres, including headliners Screaming Females, WIKI, Eartheater, and some of our own...
90.3 the Core’s Head Music Director Jordan Adragna and Loud Rock Director Ethan Gilardi got the opportunity to speak with NY hardcore punk band, Show Me the Body!
Show Me the Body is currently touring in the United Kingdom with their new record Dog Whistle, which was released earlier this year. The album tackles the changing landscape of their long-term home, New York City, and is described by Atwood Magazine as “an exhilarated call for community”.
Check out our YouTube to listen to their...
June’s DJ of the Month is our new Head Music Director, Jordan Adragna! DJ Tall Guy shares with us the origins of his DJ name, his most recent musical fascinations, and his passion for supporting rising, local artists.
Summer is here and the school year is over! As this year's crop of seniors graduates, we at the Core are welcoming in new executive staff for the 2019-2020 school year. May's DJ of the Month, DJ Liz, will be taking over as the Webmaster - read on to learn more about her!
Get familiar with Hoolagang's Teeroy. His latest project, Gorilla Talk, is an honest testament of his trials and tribulations as a street soldier. In a culture of capping and social media acting, Teeroy chooses to channel his individuality and truth to create music that is not only relevant to a general audience, but a real reflection of the rough realities that come with a hood upbringing. Teeroy directs Gorilla Talk as an opportunity to demonstrate his versatility as not only a heavy hitter classic spitter but a modern...
April's DJ of the Month scorches the airwaves on Friday evenings with an eclectic blend of experimental, hardcore, and more! DJ Batboi speaks at length on being one of our two Loud Rock Directors, the origins of his moniker, and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to interview one of his favorite artists.
It’s everyone’s favorite time of year, when winter releases its stranglehold on us and seasonal affective disorder retreats back into the basement! Having just experienced the first 80° day in a good while, Retrospectacle is celebrating with songs that are perfect for warmer weather and the change of seasons.
The Divine Comedy - The Pop Singer’s Fear of the Pollen Count (1993)
British chamber pop group The Divine Comedy tackles the real issues on this one. As beautiful as springtime can be, the mild weather and...
Concert Review: The Sound of Animals Fighting @ Terminal 5
On March 8th I had the pleasure of witnessing one of the most prolific bands of our time. Formed initially in California in 2004, The Sound of Animals Fighting emerged onto the scene rather mysteriously. They did not credit anyone by name because it would create far too much buzz, but the band possessed quite a lot of star power, including members of Circa Survive, RX Bandits, Chiodos, and Finch. In their life, the band has released a trilogy of albums: The Tiger and The Duke, Lover… The Lord Has Left Us, and The...
On Sunday, March 31st, music lovers of all stripes congregated in the College Ave Student Center to celebrate Corefest 2019. A shimmering wall of CD garlands greeted attendees entering the venue, as well as colorful art and photography from local artists. Vendors were positioned along the back wall selling art, stickers, jewelry, and more. Among the crowd were Local Music Director Jordan and future Promotions Director Gianna, who were able to give their input on the four bands who took to the stage that night.
Flycatcher & Bathing In...
Charly Bliss is a Brooklyn-based rock quartet that has made a name for themselves with their upbeat, 90’s alternative sound that has been described by critics as “bubble-grunge.” I discovered them when they opened for Tokyo Police Club at Irving Plaza back in 2016. They immediately caught my attention with their raw and energetic stage presence. When I found out they would be playing at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on March 8th, I jumped on the chance to buy tickets to see them again.
The opening act was a local band...
Concert Review: Yoshi Flower, KennyHoopla, Rebounder @ Elsewhere Zone One
This past Saturday night I saw singer-songwriter and producer Yoshi Flower perform at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. Yoshi Flower is unique in that he takes his inspirations from hip-hop, electronic, and rock music and applies those sounds into his own music. Most of his songs are mixed, both melodious and bombastic, or as he says, “equal parts Zen and ratchet.” This blending of genres is how he caught my attention in the first place; thank you Spotify Discover Weekly playlist!
This is Yoshi’s first headlining tour, with five stops...
Concert Review: Herbie Hancock at the Bergen Performing Arts Center
Let’s start off with a little background about Herbie Hancock. If you don’t know who he his, then he is certainly someone you should check up on. As of now Herbie is 78 years old, and in the sixth decade of his professional career, and is still performing and composing. Hancock started his career with Donald Byrd, and then moved on to become Miles Davis’s pianist. Herbie Hancock is a jazz legend, and helped evolve and redefine jazz. Over the years he drifted through jazz, funk, post-bop, different fusion styles, even electro....
90.3 the Core's own Ethan Gilardi got the chance to sit down with Alexis S.F. Marshall of DAUGHTERS before their show at Union Transfer in Philadelphia!
Rhode Island-born art-metal outfit DAUGHTERS are touring in promotion of their new record You Can't Get What You Want, released in the fall of 2018 to critical acclaim. The album, their first since 2010, has been praised by Pitchfork for its "uncompromising compositional choices—hypnotic dissonance, martial drums cranked to incapacitating volumes, scathing vocal repetition,...
DJ of the Month - Flipside Radio with Photophobic Blonde
February's DJ of the Month is a long-time favorite - Flipside Radio with Photophobic Blonde has graced the airwaves for over ten years! It was wonderful to speak with her and learn more about one of the Core's DJs par excellence.
Ladies and Grrrls, I believe you’ll have a blast bopping to Juliana Hatfield’s latest album, Weird. Hatfield has previously made music with Blake Babies, Some Girls, The Juliana Hatfield Three, and The Lemonheads, known within the indie scene for writing raw, emotional, and accessible feminist socially-aware tunes. Juliana Hatfield admirably crafts a confessional, solid pop punk rock album that truly deserves and demands attention. My favorite lyric from the first track, “Staying In”, is “If I go out,...
Local Album Reviews - Bury Yourself, Good Game, Fence + Acqui, Paper Towels
Bury Yourself - Off Season
NJ hardcore just received the gracious gift that is Bury Yourself. Off Season is their debut album and it’s short, it’s sweet, it’s simple, and boy does it go hard. The first seven tracks are all under two minutes, so there is truly no time to do anything else but rip. Standouts to me are “MVP” and “Leveler,” but they’re all heavy and high-energy. The first (and only) break from this energy is "Cycles", the 8th track and the first song longer than...
This Valentine's Day, you can help us benefit animals in need and experience some puppy love yourself! Come out to the College Ave Student Center and take photos with some adorable dogs.
January's DJs of the Month are two powerhouse members of the Core executive staff! You can thank Sophia for planning some of this past Fall's most exciting events like the Spooky Sounds Coffeehouse and CORE-nucopia. You can also thank Kat for heading our music department (all that cool new music you hear on the air? Without DJ Kat that wouldn't be happening!) Most importantly, you can credit them with bringing some excellent music to the air with their show Toast and Alternative Jams. It was great to talk with both of them and learn how...
This January, we’re shining a spotlight on a musician who has flown under the radar for over fifty years, and is still making music today! I’m talking about the wonderful and mysterious Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9th, 1943. Scott’s remarkable history spans continents, decades, and a shocking shift in genre from pop-song crooner to avant-garde cenobite.
His career started as Scotty Engel, a cherubic Californian teen idol, and he recorded several songs in the late 1950s before joining up with singer John...
For anyone who does not already know, I am a huge fan of the progressive rock group CHON. So much so that I’ve seen them five times in the span of three years. A few months ago, I found out that they would be playing their 2nd album Homey in full with a string quartet. This was a good enough excuse for me to see them a 6th time on December 8th in a bowling alley located in Asbury Park, NJ.
The venue they performed at was called Asbury Lanes, a bowling alley that doubles as a concert venue. It is one of many famous venues located in...
As 2018 comes to a close and the new year beckons, we asked our DJs to take a look back at their favorite albums that were released this year! Scroll down to find top 10 lists from your favorite DJs.
December's DJ of the Month is a DJ who has been with us for two years now. In that short time, she's become a beloved Core presence both on and off the air! Sophie has gotten involved with music staff, event planning, and helping us stay tech issue-free as our Tech Director. I can also count on her to deliver quality concert writeups for the website. It was a pleasure to interview her!
Jon Bellion’s long anticipated album, Glory Sound Prep, was released into the world on November 9th. Jon Bellion is a multitalented songwriter, artist, and producer who, at just 27, has quite the list of achievements. Bellion has been awarded a Grammy for his contribution to “Monster” by Eminem and Rihanna, has recently collaborated with Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato for the song “Fall in Line”, and co-wrote and produced Jason Derulo’s “Trumpets”. Bellion also has hits of his own,...
Concert Review: Triathalon / Girl Ultra / The Marias @ The Foundry
This past Friday I saw Triathalon and Girl Ultra at the Foundry in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, psychedelic-soul group the Marias, originally on the roster, had to drop last minute, so it ended up being a two band gig. I have been to the Fillmore before, which is on the lower level of the building, with the Foundry being a way smaller venue on the second floor. On the same night, electronic duo Louis the Child was playing downstairs at the Fillmore and the difference between the two crowds was palpable. Seeing teenagers running around in...
Concert Review: MAX, Bryce Vine, EZI @ Irving Plaza
Three incredible artists and a sold out NYC venue, would you believe me if I told you it was a Tuesday night? This past Tuesday, I was privileged enough to be guestlisted through the station to see EZI open for MAX at Irving Plaza. EZI is a 23 year old American artist who is signed to Steve Madden's label 5TownRecords. Born in NY, her dance pop hits are filled with meaningful lyrics and catchy melodies. Her music reminds me of an upbeat fusion of Billie Eilish and Kailee Morgue, although she has her own unique style of course. She...
I spent my weekend at hardcore shows - Saturday night in Asbury Park and Sunday night in Brooklyn. After months of eager anticipation, holding on to tickets I bought in August, I was finally going to see Lifetime, who were playing their first show in over a year. Lifetime are legends of New Brunswick past, like their friends in The Bouncing Souls and The Gaslight Anthem. Back in the early 90’s, when basement shows were just starting to become a Rutgers staple, Lifetime had a house off of the Cook Douglass campus where they used to throw...
A couple of Fridays ago, I saw the Minnesota based indie rock band, Hippo Campus, perform at New York’s Terminal 5. This was the third time I’ve seen them - I have to say this wasn’t my favorite time I’ve seen them live, but the show was pretty great. They are currently on their Bambi tour, promoting their newest album of the same name. Bambi is a shift away from their typical style; it’s experimental while still staying true to Hippo Campus’ native sound (this is mainly attributed to...
Concert Review: Mom Jeans. / Just Friends / awakebutstillinbed / Retirement Party @ Union Transfer
On Halloween, I trekked down to Union Transfer in Philadelphia for yet another concert. My friends convinced me the day before to drive down to see Mom Jeans. with them! I didn't have any other Halloween plans and I had an unplanned Arthur costume, so I was down for the adventure. In my usual fashion, I didn't plan this trip very well and we missed Retirement Party, what was a shame because I was really excited to see them! We got there halfway through the second band, emo group awakebutstillinbed. Although I had never heard of them before,...
Our periodical DJ interview segment is returning to the website! Today, we're featuring Lady K, whose entirely K-pop themed show is a beloved Core mainstay. (She was also the previous Webmaster who trained me for the position, so I have her to thank for being here!) Keep scrolling to learn more about the illustrious Lady K.
On October 21st, I saw Brockhampton for the second time at Terminal 5 on their "i'll be there" tour. I’ve seen them before on their Love Your Parents Tour in January at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, which was truly amazing. However, since that concert, they have lost a member and released a new album I wasn't totally enthused about. Anyone who knows me knows I stan Brockhampton so much. When the whole thing with Ameer Vann happened, I was worried. Ameer had been one of my favorites and I couldn't decide if I would...
90.3 the Core is proud to present a Halloween-themed coffeehouse this Wednesday!
The event will take place on Wednesday, October 24th, at 8:30pm. It will be at Hidden Grounds, the 4C Easton Ave location (the one by the train station). We'll have a host of local talent playing acoustic tunes until 10:30pm.
ADDITIONALLY! Want to really get into the Halloween spirit? Come in costume! The person in the finest Halloween regalia will win an item of Core...
Hi all! This is Julia, your humble Webmaster and die-hard new wave fan. In this segment, I’ll take a look back at music history and dredge up some interesting tunes from decades past!
It’s October! To celebrate the season, here are some hidden horror-themed gems from the 80s. Tired of...
On September 29th, I finally saw Alvvays at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. I bought these tickets months ago, and was very excited because I actually had tickets to see them last time they were around but something came up and I always regretted missing it. As the concert approached, I started listening more to their newest album, Antisocialites, and realized I never gave it the appreciation it deserved. Molly Rankin, the vocalist, has the voice of an angel, and it really came through live despite her claims of being sick. Rankin's...
Concert Review: Childish Gambino at the Wells Fargo Center
One Monday, I was blessed with a text: “yoooo you like childish gambino at all??” There was a quick correspondence and before I knew it, I was on train to Philly on a Tuesday afternoon. Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, was playing a concert at the Wells Fargo Center and I had a free ticket. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I had never been to a concert at an arena like that before, but I expected it to be impersonal and not any different from my average concert. I have never been more pleased to have been wrong. This...
Album Review: Jukebox the Ghost - Off to the Races
Jukebox the Ghost, an indie pop trio, recently finished their first leg of touring following the release of their fifth studio album, Off To The Races. Jukebox the Ghost consists of pianist and singer Ben Thornewill, guitarist and singer Tommy Siegel, and drummer Jesse Kristin. Formed at George Washington University, Jukebox the Ghost has been in the music scene for quite some time. They've toured with notable artists such as Ben Folds, Jack’s Mannequin, Ingrid Michaelson, and A Great Big World. Their high energy songs along with their...
On Friday, October 5th, hundreds of college radio stations will come together to celebrate the unique medium of college radio. The Core is proud to count ourselves among them!
Come out to the Livingston Circle (behind the Livingston Student Center) from 1-4 PM and enjoy some live music from local acts Flycatcher, Shred Flintstone, and Johnnycola. We hope to see you there!
CHON is a four-piece progressive rock band from San Diego, California. In the past, they have toured with bands such as Animals as Leaders, Dance Gavin Dance, and The Fall of Troy. I first saw CHON in 2015 at Webster Hall in New York. They put on a great show, and I even got to meet some of the members afterwards. Since then, I have seen them four more times, and each time they would put on a better show. On June 8th, I saw them perform at the Playstation Theater in New York City for their Super CHON Bros 2 tour. The show itself was awesome....
The school year may be over, but The Core never rests! This DJ of the Week introduces Julia, our new Webmaster for 2018-2019! Name: Julia Schaefer DJ Name: DJ Julia (creative, I know!) Show Name: Beat Surrender Show Genre: Rock/Classic Alternative School/Year/Major: SAS/Junior/ITI & English Major Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ How long have you been at The Core? Since my freshman year, so three years now!...
This DJ of the Week is featuring DJ Fresco & Jess from Ask A Punk! They host a talk show that features local bands and artists from the New Brunswick music scene. They are both graduating seniors, so tune in for their LAST SHOW THIS FRIDAY May 4th at 6pm! Keep scrolling to learn their secrets to getting guests on the air. (Spoiler alert: it's easier than you think!) Names: Suraj Ganguly & Jess Munzial DJ Names: DJ Fresco & Jess Show Name: Ask A Punk...
Corefest 2018 Artist Spotlight: Japanese Breakfast
The headliner for this year's Corefest is none other than the transcendentally interstellar Japanese Breakfast! Japanese Breakfast is an experimental indie pop project by Michelle Zauner, the former frontwoman for Philadelphia-based emo band Little Big League. It all started when Zauner returned to her hometown in Oregon in 2013 to care for her ailing mother, who was suffering from cancer. Zauner used music to cope during that difficult period, and her musical musings led to the creation of Japanese Breakfast and her debut solo album...
BØRNS is an indie-pop singer/songwriter originally from Michigan. His hit single “Electric Love” went platinum in 2017, and he’s been gaining publicity ever since. His music and voice are both in a way nostalgic, but also fit into modern pop music. BØRNS is very invested in androgynous and gender-bender fashion, sporting crop tops and nail polish in his early career. His debut album, Dopamine, came out in 2015, and his most recent album, Blue Madonna, came out while he was on tour in 2018. My friends and...
This eponymous album by Motorcade is their first as a group, but individual members have previously been involved in a wide variety of bands including St. Vincent, The Apples in Stereo, The War on Drugs, The Deathray Davies, Baboon, Daniel Johnston, Cliffs of Insanity, Pleasant Grove, and The Baptist Generals. The 80's tend to come up when describing Motorcade’s sound but I think that does them a disservice. James Henderson (keyboards) has acknowledged this was one of their influences, but they've done what all good artists do and have...
Special News & Public Affairs Broadcast on 2/28 at 9am!
In light of February turning into March, News and Public Affairs are teaming up for a special broadcast! We will be discussing important events/topics concerning Black History Month and how we can continue using our voices moving forward into Women’s History Month.
Poppy is a singer, internet phenomenon, and cult leader. (That last one is a joke. Maybe.) For the past few years, she has garnered a substantial YouTube following with her catchy bubblegum pop tunes and surrealist skits that satirize celebrity culture, internet culture, and social media. On January 31st, I got a chance to see her live at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. It was by far the strangest concert I have ever been to. It was also the most fun I’ve had at any concert. The opening act was a DJ named Charlotte, a character...
December is always a slow month for K-pop since most artists are either releasing holiday music or taking a break, but that doesn't keep me from making a list and checking it Twice. ;)
1. Boy - The Boyz
A solid debut song for this new boyband. EDM-ish pop
DJs of The Week: Mark & Steve from Sounds Inflicted
For this winter installment of DJ of the Week, we are featuring Mark and Steve from Sounds Inflicted! These are two of our most experienced DJs, having been at The Core for over 12 years! Read below to learn how they keep their show fresh and fun.
In this spotlight on world artists, we take a look at the marvelous life and discography of Dalida – an Egyptian-Italian singer, actress, and model, who sang in French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, German, English, Japanese, Hebrew, Dutch, Turkish and Arabic. Her career spanned over thirty years, leaving a lasting mark on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures. Although Dalida was very famous in Europe in the Middle East, even earning the title “Saint Dalida” among European audiences, she failed to crack the US market, unlike...
Here are the Top 10 Albums of the Year from some of our 90.3 The Core DJs! Have any of your favorites made the list? If not, hopefully you discover some new faves!
Concert Review: Chance The Rapper at Forest Hills Stadium
I caught Chance The Rapper's Be Encouraged Tour at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY on September 26. There must be something in the water in Chicago because the talent coming out of that city is unmatched. This was my third time seeing him in concert, and each time the crowd has grown bigger. As far as the setting goes, this particular venue fits an enormous crowd. The lighting and pyrotechnics were insane – there was no need to use the flash on any of my snaps. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a louder confetti explosion, and...
Since their first release, the band Alvvays has been making an impact in the exciting genre that is indie-pop. “Antisocialites” is their long awaited second album following their self-titled debut in 2014, which included their breakout hit “Archie, Marry Me”. The band’s Canadian lead vocalist, Molly Rankin, has a melodic, fairy-like voice that blends beautifully with the remaining band members’ groovy pop sound. This release is endlessly exciting for many reasons. Firstly, “Plimsoll...
Big thanks to everyone who turned out to CORE-nucopia at the George Street Co-op! We had a great time rocking out with Ultra Deluxe, Halcionne, and Ragged Lines. Click here for a video recap of CORE-nucopia. And stay tuned for more Core events!...
1. A View of Earth from the Moon - Closer To A Ghost
Seattle singer/songwriter Jonathan Fickes is the artist behind A View of Earth from the Moon. The record is big and driven, pulling on themes of heartbreak and styles from the Seattle indie rock scene. The album is invigorating, ambitious and full of lush, romantic melodies.
2. Anti-Flag - American Fall
Anti-Flag has something new to tackle on the band’s 10th album. The music addresses today’s political and media climate and the “politics of...
4. Here Come the Regrets - Epik High (feat. Lee Hi) (English-language hip-hop collab between Korea's most infamous rap group and Korea's ultimate soulful R&B vocalist)
5. I Wander - Ha:tfelt (aka YeEun from Wonder Girls delivers another cathartic blend of R&B and...
21-year-old musician, Hazey Eyes, is classically trained in a slew of instruments, but on Some Reason focuses on the piano and electronics. In doing so he creates a “3 a.m.” vibe. The music is soothing yet passionate, lulling you to sleep at some points while providing refreshing shots of energy at...
In my opinion September was a little slow for the K-pop scene. But that doesn't mean there weren't some serious jamz that were released! Check out my top ten below!
1. Best of Me - BTS (Get ready to shuffle!)
2. Change Up - Seventeen Leaders (Smooth and swaggy)
Click here to listen to a recap of our special election show from Sunday November 5th. Our news team covered voter registration, polling locations and much more! Your voice matters this Election Day, November 7th. Don't forget to vote!
1. The Pack A.D.-Dollhouse Are the hopes and dreams of 90’s grunge still breathing in Canada? Vancouver, British Columbia based duo, The Pack A.D., would have you believe it on their latest album Dollhouse. With guitar tones and snarky lyrics reminiscent of L7, Dollhouse is a heavy-hitting punk and garage rock gem. 2. The Zombies-Odessey and Oracle 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s iconic album. The Zombies’ sunny and psychedelic 60’s vibe is a fresh and relaxing break from...
Hello Coreheads, it's your resident K-pop fanatic, Lady K! I'm going to start a segment where I list my favorite K-pop songs of the month. However, I can't neglect all the awesome songs that came out over the summer, so here's my fave list of them! 1. Anck Su Namun - Yezi (this song is like Korea's version of Bodack Yellow #banger) 2. As If It's Your Last - BlackPink (fire emoji fire emoji fire emoji) 3. Babe - Hyuna (for all the wannabe cougars out there) 4. Coloring Book - Oh My Girl (Lady...
To the delight of fans across the world, St. Vincent is back with her new album Masseduction. On the surface the album is loads of fun! Dig a little deeper and you’ll find lyrics about sexuality, addiction and loss, as well as swirling synths, punching drums and frantic guitar shredding!
2. Nai Palm - Needle Paw
Lead sing of future-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote, “Nai Palm,” has released her debut solo record. The...
Introducing the first of our DJ of the Week series! For DJ of the Week for the 3rd week of October 2017, we have our rad News Director, Naadiya Drake! Name: Naadiya Drake School/Year: SAS/Senior Hometown: Willingboro, NJ DJ Name: Diya Drake Show Name: Vibe Radio Show Genre: Urban (Hip Hop, R&B, neo-soul, jazz) How long have you been at the Core? I joined my freshman year...
Concert Review: Lustmord & Aaron Dilloway at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
Friday the 13th in Brooklyn, New York truly lived up to the hype of the holiday, as Lustmord and Aaron Dilloway, two of the darkest and most unsettling noise artists in the past 25 years, joined forces for a night of apocalyptic sounds that would have made Jason Voorhees himself proud. Both artists have had their names thrown around in underground rock circles for years; Lustmord for his work with both Tool and the Melvins, and Dilloway for playing in the highly influential avant-garde band Wolf Eyes. For the most part though, they have...
Born and raised in Egypt, Ash (full name Ashraf Moawad) is one of the forerunners of Middle Eastern-infused deep house. His style has slowly gained popularity in European countries such as Greece and Turkey, where he, along with other artists such as filous, manage to dominate the music scene. His single, Mosaique, made it to number two on the Spotify Viral 50 in Turkey. Q: Can you talk to me about your upbringing? A: I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, went to the French Lycée and...
Concert Review: Manchester Orchestra at Terminal 5
On September 29, 2017, I had the pleasure of going to see Manchester Orchestra with Foxing and Tiger Jaws at Terminal 5 in New York City. To start, Terminal 5 is such an amazing venue—I’ve yet to attend a bad concert there. However, be warned: if you’re seeing a band with any form of upbeat music, or even a single upbeat song, this venue has a tendency for crazy mosh pits. I may or may not have gotten caught up in one, but that’s a story for another time. Foxing The first band to take the stage was...
Following his 2016 debut hit “Take my body higher,” Shoffy has gained popularity as a singer/songwriter who specializes in downtempo electro, indie-pop and R&B. Since then, he has released singles such as “Faces,” and “Motions,” that have solidified his laidback, deep electronic sound. His self-titled debut album, Shoffy, is a strong sophomore release, which features his signature vocals accompanied by melodic sounds coming from different instruments, such as chilled out guitar riffs, amplified piano...
Since her breakout album Sprinter was released in 2015, Torres has been perceived as a controversial, captivating artist. Her music leaves the listener with an uneasy feeling, as one song of hers combines the kind of minimalistic music featured on works by the likes of the xx, with dark, eerie lyrics that resonate with one’s deepest darkest thoughts. Torres deals with music as a form of art that need not be analyzed and explained, but simply felt in the present – leaving you with pure, honest emotion.Her new album, Three Futures,...
New Brunswick natives Semiotics have been the hidden gem of alternative emo rock, with a slight early 2000’s pop punk vibe (think Motion City Soundtrack). With jumpy melodies and relatable lyrics, Semiotics surely is a band worth checking out if you’re looking for a fresh, reviving sound. Nicholas Rapon, co-singer and co-guitarist of the band, has been booking shows since he was in high school, and not necessarily just in New Brunswick. Originally only playing in his house, Semiotics have since played various DIY venues and...
From the underground NJ music community comes Montclair based indie rockers, Hodera. United By Birdcalls is Hodera’s first official full length release. Led by Matthew Smith, Hodera has undergone several lineup changes until establishing a consistent collective of musicians both touring and recording. The band takes on an indie-alternative form, with their music embodying characteristics of the classic Midwestern emo blended with a folky tone. United By Birdcalls narrates the listener through a therapeutic release...
With two years and various lineup changes under their belt, Montclair based quartet Gifts have dropped Seven Songs, a solid and confident EP that provides the perfect starting block for a band who finally has all its working parts in order. Rather than add another band to further clutter the, "emo," tag, let's call this something like: Dark Math-Tinged Pop-Punk. Though only, well, seven songs, this album is a truly fulfilling listening experience with great narrative at its core. First and foremost, let's talk about the drumming....
Is it possible to receive a cease and desist letter from a deity? Bernardsville, NJ's dreamy, groovy post-rock four-tet Vasudeva might know the answer to this question; at the moment, the Indian god after whom this band is named hasn't taken any legal action. Vasudeva probably wouldn't do that kind of thing anyway: his name translates to "good deity", and he never told a lie in his lifetime (!!), so he seems pretty content with things. What a good name to describe the music these dudes make, then. Vasudeva's debut Life in Cycles...
Little Big League was just signed to Run For Cover records, and is still a relatively unknown band. That makes listening to them cool, right? Nevertheless, one word to describe their music is “sick.” Sick in the fact that there’s so much diversity in a single album that it makes for a dynamic adaptation to the “indie-emo revival” genre (and not in the idea that this album makes me sick and nauseous). When compared to previous releases, Tropical Jinx does not seem to stand out as much, however. The sound seems to...
A romp is a fun and energetic event, full of the youthful carefree moments that were so frequent before things like school and emotions got the best of you. We’ve all been to romps, had romps, created romps, but as we grow older we’ve either lost interest in the types of release that adolescent hijinks offered, or we simply don’t have time for them anymore. New Brunswick’s own Indie quartet ROMP, lead by vocalist/keyboardist Madison Klarer and fleshed out by Lucas Dalakian, Mitch Gollub, and Luke Bamford represent an...
I’m going to tell a story I’ve told before: the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I saw Real Estate play a free benefit show in their hometown of Ridgewood, NJ. I grew up twenty minutes away in a small town in the same county, so I felt a strong connection with the band and this show in particular. Opening for Real Estate were two lesser known Ridgewood-based bands: Toasted Plastic and Spook Houses. LVL UP, the Internet’s new power pop buzzboys, are also from Ridgewood; specifically, two members of...
Radiator Hospital has released a plethora of albums that have all been fantastic, and Torch Song is no exception to this streak. Every song is a solid piece of instrumentation. Sam and his lineup of ever changing recording artists collectively put together a melodic and beautiful sounding album. Each song has an 80’s to 90’s pop reminiscent vibe, all while still keeping with a low-key, “underground” punk rock motif. Previous Radiator Hospital albums have had the same, similar structure to Torch Song. Every song Radiator...
How do you make a 15 minute EP about 20-something pains set in a world of bodegas and Dorito crumbs stand out? An initial answer when listening to New York native band, Crying, is to set some expertly arranged high-energy chip-tune leads at the forefront. But then again, can a few 8-bit notes really hold people’s attention for longer than those 15 minutes where you’re either browsing the internet like a zombie or driving to a job that you hate? “Get Olde” succeeds by blasting through your speakers with immediately...
Don’t be fooled: although Cloud Nothings’ third album, Attack on Memory, may only feature eight tracks, it is nothing short of colossal. Attack is one of those rare albums that can be played through time after time, each time revealing something new about an album you thought you already knew so well. Although it’s only January, I’m already convinced that this will be one of 2012’s most memorable albums. Glancing at the album’s cover, you might get the impression that this album encompasses the feelings of...
Streetlight Manifesto has a way of teasing its fans; Anticipation for their albums always seems to be a rampant, relentless affair. Add to that their re-releases (Keasbey Nights Volume 2), covers (99 Songs of Revolution), and side projects (Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution) and you’ve got a hungry fanbase desperate for new material. Once again, lead singer Tomas Kalnoky delivers rehashes of old material, this time in the form of acoustic “lullaby” renditions of various songs from the three full-lengths. However, don’t...
Back in February, The Black Keys won three Grammy awards for their album Brothers, including Best Alternative Music Album. Most bands upon winning a Grammy either sell out, fade into obscurity, or have every following album compared to the award winning one. Thankfully, only one of these has happened to the Black Keys. With their 7th studio album El Camino, The Black Keys have neither sold out nor faded away. They simply went back into the recording studio, wrote a few songs, and created one of the finest albums of the year. El Camino is...
Album Review: Dntel - Life Is Full of Possibilities
Ten years after its initial release, Dntel’s Life Is Full of Possibilities still sounds as fresh and unparalleled as it was then. To celebrate this momentous album’s ten-year anniversary, it was re-released as a deluxe edition featuring a few unreleased tracks and a plethora of remixes. The album that laid the cornerstone for the formation of The Postal Service still immediately grabs listeners in with its first track, “Umbrella.” Chris Gunst’s airy vocals force listeners further in, until the beat has fully...
Metal music often appears ridiculous to outsiders because of the plethora of highly specific subgenres that fans of the style create. Is it really necessary to define grindcore with highly sexual lyrics as ‘porno-grind’? Do people really expect a group of bands dubbed ‘post-ironic beardcore’ to be taken seriously? Yet I think of all of these subgenres, the most obnoxious and unnecessarily specific has to be ‘djent’. The name itself, according to Wikipedia, is an onomatopoeia for a specific type of guitar...
Rock the Bells, the touring hip hop festival or bonanza, I should say, never ceases to amaze me. However, this year’s edition definitely takes the cake thus far. To say the 2011 Rock the Bells concert at Governor’s Island, NYC, went well would be an understatement. As lovers of the hip hop culture, we had the opportunity to witness not 1, not 2, but 11 of the greatest hip hop albums of all time being performed by heavy hitters including Black Moon, Mobb Deep, and Nas! The line up of albums performed in its entirety at Rock the...
I've always found it really tough to get into black metal. I like lo-fi music, and I like fast, brutal music, but I could never make the natural transition to black metal. I think it's because much black metal sounds art-less to me. Whenever I hear a band like Mayhem or Darkthrone, I get the feeling that the performers are making the songs up on the spot. They seem unconcerned with composition or melody. Sure, there are some cross-over black metal groups like Keep Of Kalessin that add a more composed aspect to the sound, but even then, I get...
Concert Review: Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino at Vintage Vinyl, Edison, NJ Record Store Day, April 16, 2011
Could it have been any rainier that Saturday? Excellent, a rainy day is a good day to go to a record store. ANY day is a good day to go to a record store, but that day is one that I'll never ever forget. Ian Axel performed a short set of inspired music, live at Vintage Vinyl with Chad Vaccarino. Five songs later, of which Chad joined in for two, I knew that they were exceptional musicians. I knew it to be true. Ian is his piano. As he performs, the music emanating from that piano is rich and vibrant and awesome!! I talked to Ian briefly after...
Peter, Bjorn and John are an excellent band! They recorded this 11-track CD in Malmoe, Sweden. They sound like they could come out of the late sixties, early seventies with their songs, and I’m not complaining. All the songs are very good. One track that stands out in my opinion is “I Know You Don’t Love Me,” the longest (and last) track on the CD. There is a strong drumbeat, and the lyrics are more somber than the song would sound if there were no lyrics. Another stand-out track is “Lies.” This song has...
Album Review: Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines
If the Beach Boys and The Cure started a garage pop band, it would probably sound like Telekinesis. Admitting to being inspired by The Cure’s “dirty bass lines,” Michael Benjamin Lerner attempted to evoke the “weird lust of a seedy bar on a Saturday night.” His sophomore release 12 Desperate Straight Lines clocks in at just over 30 minutes, but each track demonstrates perfection. Lerner describes track 3, “50 Ways,” as “the most complicated song I’ve ever written.” It’s a song...
Even though she is already recognized as a talented singer because of her involvement in Floetry, Marsha Ambrosius is facing the next challenge in her career: reinventing herself as a solo artist. As a huge fan of her “rain like” voice, I am highly anticipating her debut effort on J Records, Late Nights and Early Mornings. However, there are a few things I would like this Liverpool, England native to keep up with, her self-esteem. I am well aware that Floetry’s split was due to “creative differences.” We were used...
When I read the announcement on As Tall As Lions’ myspace that they were retiring back in early October, I was heartbroken. As a die hard fan for three years, I couldn’t accept that this was the end. The bright side to all of this was that they were playing a handful of shows the last couple of weeks in December for their “Farewell Tour.” I bought the tickets immediately, and on December 21st, 2010 I fortunately got the chance to see one of my favorite bands for the first and last time. At around 9:30 P.M., As Tall As...
Brooklyn indie pop duo Matt and Kim released their album Sidewalks on November 2, 2010 and so far it is gaining mass popularity; some even proclaiming it as one of the best albums of 2010. Matt and Kim returned with the hyper beats and energetic electronic synths they are known for, but the songs are a little less hectic and in your face as they were in their previous album Grand. There are many tracks off this album worth mentioning, the best probably “Good for Great,” which has the most phenomenal introduction melody that they...
As the legions of people out there who worship the ground that Anthony Green walks on will tell tell you, Circa Survive puts on an incredible live show. An experimental rock band based out of Philadelphia, they compose music that defies simple classification. They have the energy and rhythm of post-hardcore bands like At The Drive-In, the densely-layered guitar tones of an indie-rock band like Minus The Bear, and the abstract lyrical approach that I can only compare to Aaron Weiss of contemporary punk rockers mewithoutYou. The music is equal...
The first time I heard Ra Ra Riot was on the radio about three years ago driving to a friend’s house in the summer. I heard “Can You Tell,” their first single off of their first album, “The Rhumb Line.” For a while, I thought it was the new Vampire Weekend single (turns out the two bands are actually pretty tight). When I found out that it was Ra Ra Riot, I checked out “The Rhumb Line” and became a fan for it’s mix of Indie-Poppy vocals, cool bass lines, upbeat and almost Reggae-influenced drums,...
Album Review: Oceansize - Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up
I've been a Muse fan for ages. You know, Muse, that ridiculous British rock band with that song in Guitar Hero? They're one of those groups with an incredible sound and energy. As I began to listen to more progressive, technical music, I noticed that they just don't have that same kind of compositional depth that really keeps me coming back to the music. I wanted something that keeps that kind of over-the-top, theatrical feel yet balances it with a more finely attuned ear for song composition. Essentially, I was looking for Muse meets Godspeed...
D.C. rapper Wale proves that he is aware of the potential pitfalls an underground MC faces in the game. Like his 2009 album, “Attention Deficit,” Wale uses his love for the hit 90s sitcom, “Seinfeld” as inspiration. Wale cleverly uses excerpts from the popular sitcom without being too gimmicky. Even though you will crack a smile while listening to Wale’s latest work, “More About Nothing” does show Wale emerging from the “cool guy” to a thinker. Besides the hit songs on the mixtape,...
There are two types of people: those who love Nathan Williams and the music he makes under the moniker Wavves, and those who hate his guts. The past has not been too kind to the San Diego native, but it seems the negative vibes have only encouraged his growth as a musician. Now a solid three-piece band, Wavves has been joined by former Jay Reatard band members Billy Hayes and Stephen Pope. The sound of the band has changed immensely from Williams' days recording ultra-fuzzed-out songs in his bedroom. Where Wavves and Wavvves are albums...
Live music has a powerful effect on me, to the point where concert tickets are probably the thing I spend the most money on. A concert excites me and gives me something awesome to look forward to. With this kind of feeling, it's easy to see how a bad show could put me in a bad mood. But not this one. I saw Good Old War perform at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ on Friday, June 25. They're a folk-rock band that specializes in chill, groovy, feel-good music. Being a metalhead, their style normally isn't my thing, but they do it so well, it's hard not...
To call The Roots' latest album, How I Got Over, "long awaited" or "anxiously anticipated" is an understatement. As usual, the band brings nothing but a jazzy sound combined with old school flows to their latest album. How I Got Over finds The Roots in a somewhat pensive mood by discussing society’s “cutthroat” behavior mixed with politics and religion. Thus, the message the album gives is clear: The Roots are awake.Two songs that stood out to me the most on How I Got Over are “Walk Alone” and...
Album Review: Red Sparowes - The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer
Red Sparowes are an instrumental post-rock band. To those who might not know what that means, the genre is described as orchestral rock. I find it difficult to listen to post-rock because the songs tend to be very long and take a long time to make their musical "point." However, I didn't encounter this problem with Red Sparowes' 2010 release, The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer. Red Sparowes stays true to the post-rock aesthetic while keeping the music interesting. I think the thing about this record that interests...
The meeting of Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss seems like it’s out of a romantic movie. She was a fifth grade teacher with a background in pop singing. He was working in a Brooklyn restaurant after being the guitarist of post-hardcore outfit Poison the Well for some years. They met. A week later they were recording music and would become known as Sleigh Bells. The music is all a production of Miller, who say it all starts with and revolves around a beat. The beats laid down on Treats sound like they are straight out of an underground...
Crystal Castles’ sophomore album Crystal Castles (II), which was supposed to make its debut on June 7, 2010, will now make its official debut on May 25th. The band moved up the release by a couple of weeks due to its leak on April 19th. Crystal Castles (II) has been available online digitally since the day it leaked. This album shows a much more mature sound for the band. Following the 8-bit terror of their self-titled debut, Crystal Castles (II) offers the listener a softer and lusher sound. Although some of these 14 tracks contain the...
Eternal Summers are one of my favorite new bands. They play short songs that combine hazy tranquility with speedy punk. It's fun to rock out to but it's dreamy enough to zone out to. Unfortunately, before the interview, I did not know much about the band, so I decided to conduct it to find out some information about Nicole Yun and Daniel Cardiff (the guitarist and the drummer, respectively). First off, I just want to thank you for doing this interview! I really enjoy your music, I must have listened to your EP about a dozen times within...
With Our Last Night’s sophomore release on their current label Epitaph, following the 2008 release of The Ghosts Among Us, they have once again set a standard for bands in the Metalcore/Screamo genres. They have perfected the art of balancing their screaming and clean vocals as well as contrasting their heavier riffs with chorus-like anthems in their own unique way. We Will All Evolve is Our Last Night’s way of letting the world know that they are capable of much more than creating just another CD to satiate the palate of your...
Interview: Yung Mars: Givin’ the folks ‘Something Fresh’
On April 19, 2010, I spoke with San Francisco’s own Yung Mars. The near three-thousand mile distance wasn’t enough to stop the dialogue between me and this musically-inclined emcee. We spoke about the power of collaboration, the “Almighty white emcee comparison”, and “Something Fresh Music”, which, according to Mars, will be comin’ at ya’ll soon. Deev on the Takeover: In 2007, your self titled debut reached No.3 on the CMJ Hip-Hop charts, and it was the only self-released album at the time to...
Concert Review: Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine with Mirrors & Wires, Common Enemy, and Witch Hunt
Jello Biafra was one of the guys who started the San Francisco punk band the Dead Kennedys in 1978. They were one of the first punk bands in the US to write politically-themed songs, using their music as a reflection of society's ills and excesses. Among the first punk bands to incorporate humor, they were known for holding a satirical mirror to the popular music of the time, and they were a major influence on hardcore & punk bands that followed. The Dead Kennedys disbanded during an obscenity trial which took issue with a poster included...
Album Review: Streetlight Manifesto - 99 Songs of Revolution
As a Streetlight fan, I had high expectations that were not met. To say that this project is ambitious is an understatement. At this rate, their next cover album should be released somewhere around 2030. The album begins with "Birds Flying Away" by the singer/songwriter Mason Jennings. It starts off with a subtle, yet, minor key ska groove. I feel that "Hell," originally by the Squirrel Nut Zippers is the best song on the record. They took a classic and made it better by adding leaps and bounds. Also, Kalnoky's well...
Album Review: Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
I think we can all agree that individuality is not admired in the music industry. There are only a few artists that try to stay away from commercial radio and wind up with huge successes. Fortunately for Badu, she is one of them. Throughout it all, Badu has amazed us by staying true to herself which pays off in her latest album.I’ll be honest, I did not think that Erykah Badu’s new album was going to be worth the listen. Her last CD, “New Amerykah Part One” left me puzzled and was too experimental. However, when I did a...
Brooklyn based indie band MGMT recently "released" their new album "Congratulations". The reason released is in quotes is because someone recently leaked all of the songs onto the internet, allowing people to listen to the album long before it was due. In response to this, MGMT decided to put of all of the tracks to "Congratulations" on their website for people to listen to as streams. They didn't allow people to download it for free though, and instead give people the option of preordering the album at their own...
Album Review: Kidz in the Hall - Land of Make Believe
With three albums and mixtapes that hit the streets hard, I think it’s safe to say that Chicago natives Kidz in the Hall have enough credibility in the underground rap game. However, their LP did not live up to my expectations as a hip hop fan. MC Naledge and Double O have a pattern of gathering a lot of controversy whenever they drop a single, but, I didn’t get that feeling while listening to their latest album. “Jukebox” featuring MC Lyte on the hook makes you ask in your head “did you really have...
"When I'm on my death bed, I'll think of these three nights," said Matt Embree to the crowd near the end of the show. The people who attended them will never forget them, either. Progressive ska band Rx Bandits played three shows at NYC's Gramercy theater back-to-back-to-back. These shows were special because they were album shows; they played their 2003 album The Resignation on Thursday (3/25), their 2006 record ....And The Battle Begun on Friday (3/26), and their most recent album, 2009's Mandala on Saturday (3/27). I was lucky...
Album Review: Shooter Jennings and Hierophant - Black Ribbons
Never satisfied in being known as just the son of Waylon Jennings, Shooter rounds up a whole new gang of outlaws to form Hierophant . Don’t be fooled by his down south heritage. While Shooter is more than apt at making solid country-rock, for Black Ribbons he infuses noisy rock, electronica, and even Stephen King into what could be one of the best concept albums of the year. The horror guru is central to the albums story. A tale revolving around Will O’ the Wisp, a radio talk show host being taken off the air by...
While listening to Usher’s newest tracks at the station, I’ve noticed that he is sticking to what was an already successful theme – confessions. Usher comes back with another "tell all” album named after his scrutinized divorce with his ex wife and stylist Tamika Foster Raymond with Raymond V. Raymond. What starts off as a good spirited, "I'm just getting over her," type of sound quickly jumps into a party driven project. Usher displays some level of maturity in songs such as There Goes My Baby and...
It's been 10 years since Goldfrapp's debut and there is no question the electro duo has inspired current pop artists and spurred countless imitations. Goldfrapp diverged from their dance feel with 2008's folky Seventh Tree, but have returned and shaped Head First into an album soaked with an 80's and optimistic pop feel. Rocket and Believer are two tracks guaranteed to pick up considerable hype, yet I can't help but feel this album lacks the attitude associated with Goldfrapp's last retro-dancey album, "Super nature." The album...
Album Review: Fabolous - There is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service
Listening to this mixtape made me think that fellow “Brooklynite” Jay-Z had a long and inspiring talk with Fabolous. You can tell Fabo (Fabolous, yes spelt FABOLOUS) clearly feels as if there is no competition, hence the name of the mixtape. While Fabolous has been consistent since his first apex, I do admit that I thought Loso (Fabolous) was going to fall off hard. However, since Loso's Way was released last summer, his career seems to skyrocket. Unlike most rappers, Fabo’s swag complimented his new mixtape. From Rihanna's...
On March 6th, Norwegian indie rock singer and cutie Sondre Lerche played a show over at Hoboken’s legendary music venue, Maxwell’s. Despite the premature St. Patty’s Day celebration, Lerche’s music was able to bring Hoboken at an ease during the night. To start off the night, he played “Good Luck” from his new album, Heartbeat Radio, which then perfectly segued to Airport Taxi Reception. His set throughout the night also consisted of hits such as Two Way Monologue, Phantom Punch, and Sleep on Needles. At one...
Don’t let their up beat summertime sound fool you, when it comes to performing, Savoir Adore does not mess around. 90.3 The Core was fortunate to have them record a live session that aired on Wednesday March 10th at 8pm on Eclecticism. It featured several previously unreleased tracks including “Hollywood,” “Honestly,” and “Sparrow”. They showed up to the station ready to go and believe me they went in! The first song they played was the unreleased “Hollywood” and then...
The words distinct and fusion come to mind when listening to this interesting album. B.C. (The Black Child) is definitely using the art of hip hop when it comes to story telling. The album itself was created for a purpose, to send a message, to make a point, to tell a story about hip hop from a futuristic, time traveler riding the rhyme, out of space point of view. As a matter of fact, the quality of sounds and beats on “Time Capsule” also plays on that theme. When listening to some of the tracks it takes one...
Album Review: Wu-Tang - Return of the Wu and Friends
Ok, I know why you’re all reading this. You saw the name Wu – Tang and got excited that they may just hit us hip hop fans with another classic. Don’t get gassed. Return of the Wu & Friends is just a mix of remixes and unreleased tracks from The W and other albums/freestyles from 2000 – 2008. It would’ve been dope to hear some remixes to classic Wu - Tang joints on 36 Chambers, right? Compiled by DJ Mathematics, Return of the Wu seems to pay more homage to the legendary MCs. Tracks such as, “Clap...
For anyone who is even remotely familiar with the group Portugal.The Man, this record should come as no surprise to them. The quartet, based in Wasila, Alaska, is notorious for their impressive and highly heterogeneous musical output, consisting of five full-length records (all with a completely different sound) and innumerable EPs since 2004. Their discography, however, is marked by not only quantity, but quality as well, and their first 2010 release, American Ghetto, is no different. Portugal. The Man is a constantly-evolving group that...
JEFF the Brotherhood is the project of Tennessee natives Jamin and Jake Orrall. The brothers grew up playing guitar and drums just for the heck of it. JEFF can be described as a “kraut punk” band. Their music is psychedelic and experimental while having a good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll vibe and punk attitude. The band has been compared to early Sonic Youth, Hawkwind, and Wipers. JEFF has shared the stage with Jay Reatard, Ex-Models, Battles, Sonic Youth, and play often with New Brunswick’s own Screaming Females....
Kasim Sulton, in his own right, is an excellent performer singer/songwriter. He is well known for touring with Utopia, Todd Rundgren and Meat Loaf, but if you haven't seen him take a stage over by himself you are missing out on a wonderful thing. The sound in the M Room was like magic for Mr. Sulton. He played for approximately 90 minutes and it went by too fast. Clever banter in between songs, an audience completely won over, and excellent guitar and voice. At one point he sang an inspired an a capella song entitled, Does Anybody Love You? A...
After a decade of absence – the jazz/soul singer Sade is back! I think it’s safe to say that Sade is a powerful figure in the music industry. For Sade, Soldier of Love is a work that continues her excellence from her last album, Lovers Rock. After hearing the album, I can say confidently that this is another classic CD under her belt.Each track explains her journey 25 years into her career. The song that stands out the most without a doubt is “In Another Time.” The saxophone and string quartet allow...
Four Tet’s There Is Love in You (Domino Records), is something you wouldn’t want to miss. Four Tet is the project of Kieran Hebden of the post-rock band Fridge. There Is Love You is the fifth release from Four Tet, but is the first full-length in over four years. If you’ve never heard Four Tet, the sound is far from the post-rock sound of Fridge. It takes on almost a newly reborn house beat that combines other genres as well. Hebden typically samples a variety of sources including hip-hop, electronica, techno, jazz, and folk....
We’re approaching Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re hitched up for the holiday or you’re enjoying the single-life, you need to be listening to Beach House’s Teen Dream. This album not only made me remember why I love Beach House, but also why I love to love. Teen Dream is easily Beach House’s best album. It maintains Beach House’s west coast lo-fi pop sound, but on this album we get some of the best dream pop I’ve heard in a while. Beach House incorporates more of a romantic 80s...
Concert Review: Gogol Bordello at Webster Hall 12/28/2009
It's hard to imagine musicians who collaborate with Madonna and perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live as punk rockers, but punk is an attitude and Gogol Bordello's live shows prove it to their audience with ferocious energy and heart. All nine band members are on stage almost a hundred percent of the time, but I'm venturing to say 30% of their time on stage, they're in mid-air, not actually on the stage. You can verify the numbers on your own time.At 9pm the lights went out, the giant sling-shot image lit up in red and in front of it sauntered Eugene...
The Wrens played their much anticipated 20th anniversary shows December 4 in Hoboken, NJ. For those who haven't been paying attention, The Wrens as a band turned 20 this year and played three sets at Maxwells: an all-request set, the album The Meadowlands in full, and one with an emphasis on "new songs" and this was the set I caught. The final set proved to be an amazing blend of both old and new and everything in-between. They opened as they are prone to with the everyone-get-on-stage one at a time softer than on the LP version of...
Usually, I would turn the other cheek when I heard any Trey Songz album, then I heard his latest work Ready. Trey Songz decision to put two mixtapes out this year, Anticipation and The Genesis has benefited him through his internet fanbase. Because of this wise decision, his album Ready is definitely a success. Throughout the entire album, Trey Songz paints a picture of scenes that would happen behind closed doors. Now, the act of making love has always been Trey Songz’s “bread and butter” in the past. However, this new...
You know that band with the ultra-catchy sound that you’ve always wanted? Savoir Adore has come to the rescue! This Brooklyn boy/girl duo has one of the most addictive and infectious albums out right now. Now, a lot of bands are coming out of Brooklyn these days, but Savoir Adore is something different. Trust me. Your ears will thank you. Much akin to Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire, Savoir Adore has the same quality of lush innocence in their music. Not only can these two capture something that few new indie bands can, they also...
On Oct . 23, the Halloween spirit was immense at mtvU’s very first Ulalume festival held at The Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Ghosts, clowns, vampires, and everything in between, decorated the venue and the Halloween festivities were plenty. There were rides and games galore, but the haunted house really put the icing on the cake. Contrary to how it may have seemed, the Ulalume festival was not all about Halloween. Right next to all of the festivities was the stage where an awesome set of artists put on an...
Aggressive, emotional, intense: three words to describe Brand New’s album Daisy. This album is a huge step for the band, proving that they can still produce music that defines them and shows maturation throughout the years. Brand New has been a band for nine years now and this is their fourth full-length album. This album, like the past three, is an almost complete different sound than the previous. While The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me showed that Brand New knows a thing or two about writing music, Daisy is a step above. This...
For the past 15 years, the original Only Built 4 Cuban Linx has been Raekwon the Chef’s greatest achievement. With the recent release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, Wu – Tang fans definitely have something to look forward too. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II definitely recaptured the essence of Raekwon’s first LP. You immediately return to the summer of ’95 due to the familiar rhythms and verses on “Return of the North Star.” Raekwon reprises his role as the confidant, “uncle – like figure” and...
With his Def Jam days over, Jay-Z’s move to his own Roc Nation records brings with it his latest musical offering, The Blueprint 3. Produced (mostly) by Kanye West, The Blueprint 3 is one of the best hip hop albums of the year. The tracks on Hov’s latest material are golden. However, “Real as It Gets,” a track featuring Young Jeezy, has more of a “Southern twist” to it, something Jay-z fans aren’t used to. The heavy hitters on this album are the singles” Run This Town” featuring Rihanna and...
A rainy, stormy evening did not deter a sold out crowd from attending Camera Obscura's east coast portion of their US tour. The band has recently signed with 4AD records and have released their fourth album "My Maudlin Career". The highly anticipated followup to 2006's "Let's Get Out of This Country" has not failed in delivering the music Camera Obscura is known for, and shows promise of this notable band's star rising higher. The crowd seemed curious as experimental violinist Anni Rossi opened up the show at Webster Hall...
“We’re all supposed to start trusting the government again ‘cause it has a friendlier face now, right?” - Mr. Lif: Welcome To The WorldThis wonderful piece of work throws away all the usual conceptions of what a Hip Hop album should be and instead brings Lif’s own idea of what Hip Hop should be and do into the limelight. To start with, the beats on this album just sound amazing. Everything flows perfectly. From the simplest inclusions of drumming and horns to the more complicated scratching and ambient noises that...
For those of you who don’t know him, Sage Francis is one of the most respected names in the indie hip hop scene. As an accomplished slam poet and the owner of Strange Famous records, he has plenty of experience under his belt (seven albums actually) and it clearly shows with his most recent mixtape “Sick of Wasting.... .“While his last album (released roughly three years ago), “Human the Death Dance”, was a bit of a departure into the more poetic style of rap he has become known for pioneering, Sage returns to...
Wow! Mos Def is back on the music scene! After two not so critically acclaimed CD’s, Mos Def brings a lot of heat with this album. I felt this album lived up to Mos Def’s image. The beats are sick [meaning hot] and get your head bouncing while enjoying Mos’s flow. “Quiet Dog,” a song strictly made for the mean streets in Brooklyn, has a nice percussion beat and reminds us Mos Def doesn’t only come with smooth and jazzy lyrics, but can be aggressive. “Life in Marvelous Times” is a trip down memory...
When I first came across the new Deer Tick album, “Born on Flag Day”, I didn’t know what to think. I’d never heard their music before, and I didn’t even know what genre they fall into. I’ve heard so much about this band, but I’ve never had an opportunity or a reason to listen to their music. I thought that this was going to be another country album full of “America!” and “my cat got run over last week” and “I drank myself to sleep” type lyrics. I was completely...
A burst of light and blaring synthesizers were exposed to view as a single white sheet fell from stage at April 18th's sold out Lily Allen concert. The full crowd at the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia started to scream as Allen emerged from the bright, white light singing the lyrics of “Everyone’s At It.” Wearing a strapless one-piece outfit and lens-less, hot pink sunglasses courtesy of opening band, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Allen commented on how uncomfortable her outfit was. The British singer commended...
If you would’ve mentioned the words “grizzly bear” to me a couple weeks ago, I would’ve thought of a giant brown bear charging after me in the middle of the forest. So what comes to mind now? The beautiful sounds of a brilliant band from New York City. Edward Droste, the vocalist and guitarist for the band, formed Grizzly Bear in Brooklyn in 2004-2005. Droste was originally planning on a solo project, but after help from Christopher Bear, drummer and vocalist, on Grizzly Bear’s first album a four-piece band began...
The Harvard grads who decided to scrap their multi-thousand dollar educations to become musicians (who thought that would ever work?) released their album GRRRR… on Dead Oceans on April 17th and I’ve got to give it to them, these guys can create a catchy tune or two. Definite “home runs” on the new album which features thirteen tracks include “The Ancient Commonsense Of Things”, “The Magpie”, “Dirt On Your New Shoes”, and “Don’t Hide Away”, in that order. The...
I have been waiting with baited breath for this album for a while, just to warn you of the gushing praise to follow. But if you haven’t heard of Dan Deacon, a bit of introduction is in order. Dan Deacon, a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in Purchase, NY is known for having helped found Wham City an artist collective in Baltimore, which could really have its own article. He is possibly the most prominent musician associated with the collective, though the others (Adventure, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez,...
When I first came across this CD, I thought, “Great, another covers album. Is there no more creativity left in the world?” I’ve always thought it was a little bold for today’s artists to take on the best of the best. But upon playing the album, Beck’s opening cover of Bob Dylan’s “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” wasn’t a disappointment at all. So I thought, “Maybe this was just a lucky shot.” Up next was a cover of one of my favorite bands, The Kinks, done by The Kooks, which turned...
Album Review: These Are Powers - All Aboard Future
When I first played this album, a friend asked, "What is this avant-garde hipster trash you're listening to?" I consider myself an outsider, someone who likes things outside the mainstream. But my indie mentality was wounded, even though I'd never even heard of These Are Powers before, and I'm no fan of noise rock or no wave or whatever you'd call this. Unfortunately, I was unable to defend this...spastic, electronic noise that was coming out of my computer speakers. Jump back to the fall semester of 2008. After playing new...
Coconut Records, musician/actor Jason Schwartzman’s one-man band, released the second album Davy following the success of 2007’s Nighttiming. Schwartzman started out as the drummer of the now disbanded Phantom Planet (which he references in the song “Drummer” with the lyrics “I was a drummer in a band that you’ve heard of..”). After leaving Phantom Planet, he became more involved in the film industry. Most recently Schwartzman has worked with director Wes Anderson, writing and starring in...
What should you expect from an album that has the lyrics “come on, let’s get high” within the first thirty seconds? A good amount. Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish dance-rock quartet behind the 2004 hit “Take Me Out,” are back with their third album: “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” After garnering much critical acclaim for their first two albums (“Franz Ferdinand” and “You Could Have It So Much Better,” respectively) their third album is a concept album revolving around a “night...
