Edwin Arnaudin – Staff Writer Rating: 5 Stars Absence apparently does make the heart grow fonder. Five years after the stiff and snoozy Wincing the Night Away, a new-look Shins returns with Port of Morrow, quite possibly their best album to date. Energized from his Broken Bells collaboration with Danger Mouse, lead singer/mastermind James Mercer
Comments Off 
“The Only Place” by Best Coast
Kieran Anderson – Staff Writer Rating: 4 1/2 stars ” I want babies to be created to this music. I want people to have their yoghurt while listening to this record. ” said Best Coast frontwoman Bethany Cosentino in a recent interview with The Guardian. Bethany just might get her wish. After listening to The
Comments Off
“Anarchy, My Dear” by Say Anything
by Auburn Petty – Editor-in-Chief Rating: 5 Stars I was really nervous to listen to the new Say Anything album because their last release, Say Anything, is one of my favorite albums. I seriously love every single song on their self-titled album, so I was a little worried that I would be disappointed with Anarchy,
“Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey
Edwin Arnaudin – Staff Writer In mid-January, Lake Placid, NY native Lana Del Rey became the first artist since Natalie Imbruglia in 1998 to play “Saturday Night Live” before releasing her first major-label LP. Born to Die is that album and follows a pair of EPs, including 2008’s Kill Kill, released under her birth name,
“Voyageur” by Kathleen Edwards
Edwin Arnaudin – Staff Writer Canadian singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards teams with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on her latest album in hopes of boosting her brand of Americana. Voyageur is Edwards’ fourth studio album, following Failer (2003), Back To Me (2005), and Asking For Flowers (2008). Rating: 2 Stars
“Rich Forever” by Rick Ross
Nina Rajagopalan -Staff Writer Rick Ross is a Miami rapper who’s repertoire includes epic and irresistible tracks such as “I’m A Boss” and “Hustlin.’” He’s assembled an all-star line up for this mixtape which marks his fifth solo release. Ross raps about how awesomely rich he is while the likes of Nas, Drake, and Wale contribute
“Fallen Empires” by Snow Patrol
Edwin Arnaudin – Staff Writer Snow Patrol is an Irish/Scottish alternative band that formed in 1994. The group achieved international success in 2006 after the song “Chasing Cars” appeared on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Snow Patrol is: Gary Lightbody (vocals), Nathan Connolly (guitar), Paul Wilson (bass), Johnny Quinn (drums), and Tom Simpson (keys). Fallen Empires is
“Cults” by Cults
Cody Hehner – Staff Writer Cults (Madeline Follin – vocals, Brian Oblivion – vocals, guitar, percussion) formed in 2010 in Manhattan New York their self-titled debut album, Cults, was released on June 7, 2011, by Columbia Records. They will be playing a show at The Cats Cradle in Carrboro, NC on March 4th 2012. Rating: 4 Stars
“Dracula” by Nurses
Eric Janoski – Staff Writer After an initial tasting of Nurses newest offering Dracula some are moved to draw on comparisons to Animal Collective and other experimental, electronic, psychedelic indie-pop-rock melody-driven bands. The Portland-based trio is made up of Aaron Chapman on vocals, guitars, and keyboard, John Bowers on backing vocals and keyboard, and James
“The Dreamer, The Believer” by Common
Edwin Arnaudin – Staff Writer Common is a rapper and sometime actor (Wanted, Date Night) from Chicago and is generally considered one of hip-hop’s top lyricists. No I.D., Kanye West’s mentor and the producer of Common’s first three albums, handles the beats. Common has released eight previous albums: Can I Borrow A Dollar? (1992), Resurrection (1994), One