Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0VoEcMTHmVAKC1pmTvbUlb?si=6a3303e267694941 

Jacob’s picks

1. Code Orange – “My World”
2. Kanye West – “Never Abandon Your Family”
3. Kacy Hill – “Seasons Bloom” 

Hardcore punk band Code Orange present a lot of ideas in their brand of hardcore. “My World” features a variation of hardcore riffs, vocal styles and atmospherics. Code Orange is at their artistic best with songs like “My World.” 

“Never Abandon Your Family” didn’t make the standard version of “Donda.” This was disappointing. Thankfully, with the release of the deluxe album, one of West’s most vulnerable tracks saw an official release. West’s vocals are painfully heartbreaking, detailing the dynamics of a faltering marriage. “Never Abandon Your Family” continues West’s remarkable run of painful tracks in a new era of his life. 

American singer-songwriter Kacy Hill has a gift when it comes to indie pop. “Seasons Bloom” radiates warmth and encouragement for the listener. Producers Jim-E Stack and Ariel Rechtshaid create a wondrous track that blends ambient pop with a chorus that feels like a perfect throwback to the ‘80s and ‘90s era of pop.  

Madelaine’s picks

1. Steve Lacy – “Some”
2. Slow Pulp – “High”
3. Yellow House – “Better Views”

Alternative R&B artist Steve Lacy is known for his song “Dark Red,” which has over two million plays on Spotify. Lacy’s song “Some,” released in 2016, deserves the same amount of attention. While the song may be short, coming in at just under two minutes, the content more than makes up for it. “Some” does an incredible job at showcasing Lacy’s soulful voice.

Slow Pulp is an alternative indie band from Chicago. “High” is the band’s most popular song on Spotify, with over six million plays. This song comes off of the band’s 2019 EP “Big Day,” and is one of the band’s heavier sounding songs. “High” starts off with an acoustic guitar riff and light vocals courtesy of lead singer Emily Massey, before diving into a heavier rock-inspired chorus.

Indie band Yellow House’s song “Better Views,” comes off of the 2017 EP “A Carnival of Fears.”

The song starts off slow, but picks up halfway through. “Better Views” is incredibly catchy and perfect for anyone’s winter playlist. 

Daija’s picks

1. Taylor Swift – “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)”
2. Hozier – “Shrike”
3. Big Red Machine – “Gratitude” 

Swift, unable to buy her masters back, decided to re-record her old albums. Her album “Red” was the latest record to be released again. “All Too Well” on the original record was already a hit, but with the 10-minute version, fans get new lyrics and more details about Swift’s relationship. With the song now at 10 minutes, it tells the full story of a young relationship as well as the happiness and pain that comes with it. 

“Shrike” is from Hozier’s sophomore album “Wasteland, Baby!” It includes popular tracks like “Movement” and “Almost (Sweet Music),” but “Shrike” deserves just as much recognition and is arguably one of the best songs on the album. Hozier crafts a beautiful song with the sultry smooth feel of the violin, and the lyrics detail a love that will never be forgotten.

Big Red Machine is an indie folk band consisting of musicians Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner. “Gratitude” isn’t lyric heavy and relies mostly on the melodies and instruments, but luckily, that is Dessner’s strong suit. Dessner perfectly blends electric guitar and piano together and Vernon accompanies that with lyrics about appreciating the land you live on and the food you have. 

Kyron’s picks

1. Kansas – “Carry on Wayward Son” 
2. Asia – “Heat Of The Moment”
3. Bobby Caldwell – “What You Won’t Do for Love”

“Carry on Wayward Son” is a song that inspires. The chorus alone gets stuck in the listener’s head and is overall perfect for workouts or times when you just need something to keep you going. 

“Heat Of The Moment” is an ‘80s classic love song about the early stages of teenage romance. At its core, it’s an apology about mistakes made in relationships and mistreatment of one’s partner.

The lyrics and instrumentals are spot on with Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love.” It’s about the sacrifices people make for love, and the power love has to keep people striving to keep their relationships stable. 

Quade’s picks

1. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
2. Toto – “Africa”
3. Rick James – “Super Freak”

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a timeless song to say the least. The song has been covered, deconstructed, and analyzed to bits and pieces. This doesn’t change the fact that the song is quite possibly the magnum opus of Queen’s run as a successful band featuring chilling vocals and an awe-inspiring chorus.

Toto’s other songs like “Hold the Line” and “Rosanna” held up really well after they first premiered, but “Africa” will always be special because of the mystical instrumental track that gives the whole song a sense of adventure and intrigue.

“Super Freak” by Rick James can be described as nothing less than a bop. The synthesizer beat hasn’t aged a single second for a song that was released when people were still doing the boogie. The lyrics are simple, but that never stopped anyone from having a good time with this song.