—— Music Reviews ——
Music reviews that I have written. Click to view!
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REVIEW: “WDYTM” by lillimure
Written by: Nicole Ting
With a serene intimacy building to a question that hangs melancholic in the air, “WDYTM” by Lillimure is a mesmerizing track that keeps you hooked when it unexpectedly launches into a flurry of upbeat rhythms reminiscent of the bustle of New York City. This transition parallels the soul of the song: the moment when your quiet idealization of someone breaks and falls apart, into the disappointment of who they really are. Likewise, the title “WDYTM” stands for the continued backing phrase “why do you tease me” that snakes its way through the emotions translated into song and learning.
Hailing from Westchester, New York with a raw, folksy voice, the 19-year-old singer/songwriter Lillimure showcases a fresh, stirring honesty within her lyricism. Marked by the clever, significant persistence of swing notes, this song feels alive with an energy amplified by the lively banter of melodies between the brass, guitars, and keys. This single is about growth in the middle of unpredictability, and resonates deeply and loudly.
REVIEW: “Baby don’t cry” by Lucinda belle
Written by: Nicole Ting
Painting a smoky, jazz noir scene, Lucinda Belle takes your mind to a piano bar in Paris in 1920s with the alluring, smooth lilt of her voice in her newest single “Baby Don’t Cry.” Beginning with a haunting vocal melody over the harp and piano backdrop, she makes you feel like you’re floating along the Seine before descending into a foray of brass and percussion: a madness of jazz beats demanding to be listened to. Belle puts her talent as a classically-trained harpist to good use as she intersperses the entirety of the song with soft harp arpeggios that unexpectedly work – even later, as subtle yet poignant undercurrents within the upbeat jazz. With an incredibly bold and strong voice, Belle charms and convinces her audience, as she croons about forgetting the sadness that comes with endings.
REVIEW: U.N. Article 14 by american high
Written by: Nicole Ting
Dominated by powerful songwriting that focuses on the internal and external grey areas of war in our society, “U.N. Article 14” is a punk rock album by American High with a fun, energetic electric feel. Throwing me back to my Blink-182 punk rock days, this album is the bold, unusual combination of political themes and the punk rock genre that works effectively, forcing you to re-listen to the songs and not only enjoy them, but also internalize their larger messages. Centered around the different areas of present-day social injustice, it collectively addresses the wrongness of the systemic violation of human rights. Every song is personal to the band, and it is clear in the messages behind each song and in the intentionality behind the musicality of each stylistic choice.
Sometimes, punk rock can begin to all sound the same, but in this album, each song is unique in its subject and in its sound. “U.N. Article 14” begins with “Second Sister”: a catchy, upbeat fight anthem for girls and women that has your head bobbing to the electrifying guitar beats. Including two songs characterized by a more indie, acoustic feel, they slow and strip it down over the next five songs. With this shift in instrumentation, it allows a moment for the audience to marinate on the themes spelled out in earnest lyricism, before it gradually accelerates in volume and instrumental complexity. Eventually, American High speeds the album back up with its titular track, “U.N. Article 14,” as an electric yet sobering redirection to the central intent of the album. As a whole, this album is artfully and uniquely formed around the argument that it is immoral to strip someone of a basic human right.
Needless to say, “U.N. Article 14” is a powerful album created by a band of musicians who chose to use their voices to inspire their audience. This is an album that needed to be made and is for everyone, especially those who recognize the need for effective change in a broken system.