Staff Picks: September

Lauren Drapeau – Editor-in-Chief:

With the commencement of autumn, tumultuous adjustment periods and a smidge of post-summer heartache, I’m proud to announce: INDIE ROCK IS SO BACK! I’d like to honorably mention “At Home” by Slow Pulp. As somebody who desperately tries to avoid any reminder that winter is approaching, I listen to this song at night with my car windows down and the cool breeze doesn’t seem so bad.

Nathan Robillard – Managing Editor:

My car spun off of a highway this week. “Eat Your Young” by Hozier was playing. Highlight of the whole experience. I will still listen to this song. My car won’t, according to Belleville towing and Flynn Automotive.

Maia Hembruff – News Editor:

As the leaves begin to turn and we wave goodbye to summer, I have been perusing genres of music that bring a sense of calm to this transitional period. One song that has stood out to me in particular is “Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down” by ALO ft. Jack Johnson. Its simplistic, feel-good lyrics and rhythm are guaranteed to pick up my mood any day of the week, and the childhood nostalgia of Johnson’s music is perfect for making time feel slower when surrounded by so much change.

Ellie Sennhenn – News Editor: I found an autumnal artifact while thrifting this August — a burgundy plaid and brown leather messenger bag, reminiscent of 2014. With gold buckles and an adjustable strap, it encapsulates all that is good in the fall months: comfort, fashion and nostalgia. This October I have started to pair my love of this bag with an obsession around Florence and the Machine’s “High as Hope” album. Every track on this album transports me into a world of earth-toned flannels and Doc Marten boots — and I love it.

Ryan Pelillo – Arts and Entertainment Editor:

I’ve had a very English rock summer, and that trend has made its way into the fall semester. As of late, I’ve had “Favourite Worst Nightmare” by Arctic Monkeys on full repeat. I think the rapid change-ups of emotion that the album invokes encapsulates the beginning of the semester for not only myself, but a lot of college students in general. Not to mention the riffs are catchy enough to be in your head after only one listen. I second the indie rock statement from our Editor-in-Chief.

Zack Petrick – Sports Editor:

Over the summer I took a short weekend trip to Baltimore with a friend to visit his roommate and see the Orioles face the New York Yankees (even though I’m a Mets fan) in a highly anticipated weekend series. Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who was an All-Star this season, chose “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani and Akon as his walkup song for the season. It is a song that gave the crowd a jolt of energy and nostalgia, so when I heard it in July I was reminded of how catchy the song really is. Since then it has been my go to song when I need a burst of energy or if I’m already in a good mood.

Aidan Cahill – Photo Editor: This summer, I took new perspectives on a lot of music I enjoyed when I was younger. This isn’t to say I stopped liking it, but I found new and interesting aspects to enjoy. Buried in my musical rediscovery was a hot take suggested to me by our arts and entertainment editor, Ryan Pelillo: “The New Abnormal” is The Strokes best album. After relistening to the record though, I find it hard to argue anything else. While “The Adults Are Talking” may be the song people remember from it, “Ode to the Mets” may just be the definitive example of what makes the album so great. It manages to both be smooth and atmospheric, yet swelling, powerful and dramatic at the same time.

Owen Tierney – Newscast Editor:

As someone who has been working freelance documenting the local music scene in Rhode Island for a little over three years now, I can assure you that screamo group Told Not To Worry is one of the best bands you can see. Their performances are always electric, galvanizing usually sedentary audience members into thrashing machines. On the group’s debut self-titled single track “Told Not To Worry,” lead vocalist, Jane Wilson, describes the struggles of living in our world with a poignancy and relevance I think we can all relate to. Wilson belts out “Every year feels steeper than the last,” and I can hardly imagine a better way to describe the dread of growing old in a society that moves so fast.

Jenny Arnold – Social Media Coordinator:

This summer I took on a love for “dad rock.” More specifically, I have had “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, on repeat. This song is very nostalgic to me for many reasons but mainly because of the lyrics that are touching, “She’s got a smile that it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories.” Every Tuesday and Thursday while I make my way from Narragansett to campus I throw on this tune and get myself ready for the day.

Sully Cummins – Production Manager:

September is one of those transition months where I don’t know what music to listen to. In the fall I listen to mostly acoustic stuff, and in the summer my music taste is super upbeat and fast. My favorite song this month has been more of the latter – “BALD! REMIX” by JPEGMAFIA and Denzel Curry. I like these two artists because of how erratic their music can be, it scratches my brain very nicely. Also, Denzel Curry’s flow in this song is so crazy. A close second would be “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” by The Strokes. I’ve been listening to them a ton this summer, and I will always be an indie head at heart.