Ellie Sennhenn – Editor-in-Chief:
I am a sucker for painful lyricism and an unsteady guitar. Pinegrove’s album “Everything So Far” is everything someone would want in these depressing February weeks. Slushy ice, sticky mud, long Facetimes to my siblings; it all reminds me of Pinegrove. Specifically, the song “On Jet Lag.” I will let the lyrics speak for themselves instead of blabbering on: “My departure made my nerves sting / It’s leaving a person, place or thing you know you shouldn’t.” The saddest lyric is: “So I will dissuade I will sleep / I can be patient, probably.” Yeah. I’ll let you sit with that, under lamplight and a thick quilt.
Maia Hembruff – Managing Editor:
Rhode Island’s winter winds have been tearing me down left and right this month, and in protest I have been utilizing my giant headphones to protect my poor ears from the cold every chance I get. As such, I’ve discovered a lot of new music this month. While I’d be remiss to not mention the Bob Dylan kick I’ve been on, I think Billy Bragg and Wilco’s “When The Roses Bloom Again” receives the honor of my February staff pick. I’ve loved Bragg for a while and started getting into his music more last fall, but something about this song… man. Beautifully tragic lyrics, combined with the steady, reassuring rhythm of the drums in the back, make this song a top five in Bragg’s discography for me.
Abbie Chipps – News Editor:
Anyone who has spoken to me in the last two weeks knows that the “How to Train Your Dragon” soundtrack has been running through my earbuds nonstop. There is something about listening to a movie soundtrack that makes even the mundane actions, like walking to class, seem monumental. While skiing in Vermont last weekend, I had devised a plan to listen to “Test-Drive,” the main theme, while going through some trees. I had about 30 seconds of glory before a gong rattled through my earbuds and I ended up over my skis and on my back. Lesson-learned, don’t listen to dramatic music when you are actively trying to not hit trees.
Sadie Brandt – News Editor:
This month, I’ve spent time listening to some of my old favorites, bought years ago for my vinyl collection (I cringed typing that but it’s true). Though not their most popular album, the Arctic Monkeys’ “The Car” was the one I appreciated most upon revisit. Quiet and crooning, “The Car” is fitting for working late in the February snow. A personal standout track is the more 2014-esque “Sculptures of Anything Goes.” The pulsing bass line and signature smooth as butter Alex Turner vocals are a hallmark of any 2010’s Monkeys track, and they stand out against the serene backdrop of “The Car.” Second to “Sculptures,” the cinematic “Big Ideas” gets looped in my head every time I think of it. The album got a bad rap back in 2022 for not being an “AM” copy and paste, but I still think it’s worth a listen.
Ryan Pelillo – Arts & Culture Editor:
I went through two and a half years of college without being exposed to Cocteau Twins, and looking back, I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. I was exposed to their 1990 album “Heaven or Las Vegas” over winter break and have been unable to get it out of my rotation. The chorus effect on their guitar can be described as immaculate. I listened to the entire album on a snowy midnight drive from Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to Kingston and it changed my life permanently.
David Okula – Sports Editor:
I know it’s pretty basic to pick a song by Kendrick Lamar these days, but I’m going to do it anyway. If there was one complaint that I had with Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, which I enjoyed thoroughly, it was that there weren’t enough songs from some of his earlier days. A few weeks ago, I came across the single version of “i,” which I couldn’t remember hearing since it was originally released. I’m glad I rediscovered it because it can really just instantly put you in a good mood with its upbeat nature and strong message. It may not be the peak of Lamar’s discography, but “i” is one of those tunes that you blast in your car without a care in the world.
Nora Kelley – Photo Editor:
Recently I have found myself listening to a lot of Almost Monday. With Kingston being so cold and dreary, this indie rock band from San Diego makes me feel like it’s summer again. My favorite song off their latest album is “Jupiter.” This song makes me want to roll the windows down and drive by Narragansett Town Beach. The album will make you feel like you’re at the beach in the middle of July!
Morganne Judd – Newscast Editor:
Do you need a good song that embodies the feeling of letting go of that one toxic person or group of people in your life? “Tears” by Perrie Edwards is such a good song for letting go and healing. This song helped me move toward letting go of people who were not good for my mental health. “I don’t even care anymore (don’t even care no more) / You can keep the pain of it all (you can keep them all) / I know I’m never getting back all my tears from you.” It also has a disco-groovy vibe to the song that is just so fun to jam out to. It’s all about not caring anymore, and finally moving on from the past. Give it a listen, groove to it.
Brigid Locke – Social Media Coordinator:
I’ve been listening to a surprisingly high amount of music from “Daisy Jones & The Six” recently. Now, I know they’re a fictional band from a TV show based on Fleetwood Mac, but you cannot tell me that they just don’t resemble a tad bit of their flare! “Let Me Down Easy” has been on a constant loop in my spotify and I cannot recommend it enough.
Sully Cummins – Production Manager:
I listen to a lot of super high energy stuff in the winter months to get through it, and I have found myself listening to JPEGMAFIA a ton recently to satisfy that need. His new single “Valentine’s Day Freestyle ’25” has been on repeat for me since it came out. Peggy’s aggressive flow over an R&B sample is a contrast that I love. He’s an artist that I didn’t start listening to until this past summer, and I wish I found him sooner. His production is top two, and not two!
