Staff Picks: September 2023

Juliana Lepore-Editor In Chief

Miss Olivia Rodrigo released a new album this month, and as someone who was an avid fan of her first album “SOUR,” I had to dig into this new release “GUTS.” While it may be one of the more popular from this album, I can’t help but sing every time “Get Him Back!” comes on in the car. Relatable, punky with a very early-2000’s punk vibe, this song has got to be one of my favorites on the album. Its catchiness is unmatched to some of the others.

Ronan Himelrick- Managing Editor

As the temperatures have started to drop and the dreariness of autumn approaches, my music taste has also slowed down. My favorite song for this time of year is “The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix. This track is a more mellow piece of Hendrix’s legendary discography, but his mastery of the guitar still shines through. Upon every listen, this song surrounds the listener in an auditory embrace, and instantly warms me up. In the past week of rain, this song has kept me from being cold, wet and miserable.

Casey Chan-Smutko- News Editor

I’ve been listening to a lot of music lately but the song I will pick for this month is “The Dumb Song” by AJR. Whenever I’m stressed out or feeling off, I’ll put it on and sing along to it. The lyrics are relatable because there’s always been times where I’ve done dumb things and the song helps me accept them.

Lucas Masiello-News Editor

This month, I’ve been listening to Tyler Childers’ album “Live on Red Barn Radio I & II”. The album, which was recorded in front of a live audience and released in 2018, harkens back to Childers’ bluegrass upbringing with acoustic takes on many of his greatest hits. Among Childers classics, including “Follow You to Virgie”, “Whitehouse Road” and “Bottles and Bibles”, and covers of folk classic “Rock Salt and Nails” and John R. Miller’s “Coming Down”. The relaxed, folky sound of the 30 minute-long album is perfect for a drive to campus or early fall Sunday morning listen.

Lauren Drapeau- Entertainment Editor

This month I’ve decided to revisit a previous favorite of mine from last summer, “Country Livin’ (The World I Know)” by Esthero. I will clarify, this is not a country song. Something about the vocals paired with the melody of strings fills me with waves of various emotions. The beat in the back, the rhythmic beeping, the chords, everything about this song is perfect. 10/10, I highly recommend you give this a listen.

Nathan Robillard- Sports Editor

Following my theme of selecting staff picks that are not remotely related or similar at all, I had a throwback month and started listening to “Instant Crush” by Daft Punk. No particular reason, it just came up one day, I listened to it and it sounded cool. So I kept listening.

Alexa Potamianos- Newscast Editor

All throughout this very rainy September the album “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan has been cycling on repeat just about every time I get in the car. While it is challenging to pick just one song to highlight, I think “You’re Gonna Go Far” takes my number one slot. This song is calming and the line “say whatever you feel, be wherever you are” resonates with me as a reminder to be present and enjoy the moment.

Aidan Cahill- Photo Editor

Just as everyone else has focused on the weather this month, my month has been ruled by “Strange Weather,” by Slaughter Beach, Dog. A warm indie-folk track off their most recent album, the song, and much of the album, feels heavily inspired by Bob Dylan, while still feeling new. The gentle, yet full, instrumentation creates an interesting dynamic that fits wonderfully with the soft vocal delivery and harmonies.

Jenny Arnold- Social Media Coordinator

This month has been filled with a lot of rain, so I’ve found some music that matches the vibe. More specifically, I can’t go a day without listening to “Fall In Love” by Bailey Zimmerman. Its slow beats and warmth gives me that feeling of looking out the window, watching the rain come down.

Nils Fimmers- Production Manager

This month I’ve been trying to read more into the deeper side of popular contemporary music. One song I find both meaningful and encapsulating to modern music culture is Playboi Carti’s “No Time (feat. Gunna)”. On the surface, you might find this song to be a passive listening experience. However, Carti immediately lets us know that is not the case with deeply insightful lines such as “She want new Versace, put medusa on her eyes”. A quote we could only assume refers to current consumer culture and how it blinds the common person to their own autonomy. This deeply impactful approach to social commentary is one of the reasons Playboi Carti is highly regarded as one of the most impactful lyricists of the time.

Molly Cronin- Business Manager

This past month I finished watching Derry Girls (a.k.a the best show ever) and if you’ve seen it then you know the Cranberries are an integral part of the Irish energy of the show. The group’s music became the anthems of the Troubles and Irish independence which makes every piece sound tough. Specifically their song “Zombie,” which was written in response to the Warrington bombings. I love a song with rebellious tones and “Zombie” by the Cranberries is the poster child for an intense uprising.