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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

This image released by Country Love Train/XL Recordings shows "Romance" by Fontaines D.C. This Aug. 23 album release highlights the Irish band's versatility. (Country Love Train/XL Recordings via AP)

‘Romance’ delivers addictive versatility

By Brynn Krug, Lifestyle Editor | August 28, 2024

Fontaines D.C. brings a rare sense of tonal versatility in their latest album, “Romance.” Beginning with a song of the same name, an eerie melody strikes the listener. The following tracks switch from down to Earth to eagerly energetic, ending with...

The National performs live on Stage AE in 2017 as green spotlights illuminate the band members. The National's new album "First Two Pages of Frankenstein" is out now on all music streaming platforms.

‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’ is predictable, repetitive

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | May 3, 2023

The National, a long-running alternative rock band, in 2023 sounds a lot like it did 20 years ago, only now with more celebrity cameos. The lack of change sounds like a bad thing, but it isn’t. In these uncertain and unpredictable times, a little...

The album cover of Norman Lake's debut album, "Songs for Long Distance Lovers," which features a woman standing looking out over a field. Lake sat down and talked about this album with the Northern Star last week.

Norman Lake on ‘the emotions that terrify us and we run from’

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 7, 2023

Norman Lake’s “Songs for Long Distance Lovers” delves deep into what it means to be apart from the one you love. Joey MacMahan is the man behind Norman Lake, a name that MacMahan uses as a stage name. MacMahan showed up to our meeting in a gray...

If there’s one genre that has experienced the most sweeping changes in the 2010s, it’s R&B.

Top 5 R&B albums of the past decade

By Zulfiqar Ahmed | January 27, 2022

The past decade produced some exceptional music that continues to define what the future of music is going to look like. R&B as a standalone genre of music has slowly diluted into multiple sub-genres, combining the instrument selection from hip-hop,...

Goldblum jazzes up resume with debut album

By Peter Zemeske | November 14, 2018

Jeff Goldblum, an actor who has starred in many fan favorite movies, such as “Jurassic Park” and “Independence Day,” has released a debut jazz album with his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, in which he plays piano.The album, titled “The...

Clarence Clarity tries on new sound in ‘Think:PEACE’

By Tyler Neal | October 10, 2018

Clarence Clarity seems to be going in a new direction on their latest record “Think:PEACE,” sanding down some of their rougher edges and experimenting with more mainstream electronica influences to make their music more listenable.Released Oct. 4,...

Lil Wayne drops ‘Tha Carter V’

By Tyler Neal | October 1, 2018

“Tha Carter V” is an excellent return to form for Lil Wayne, a legendary MC who has spent too long releasing mediocre music. The album features vsmart beat choices, mostly good to great features, and Wayne’s best lyrical work in years. It’s a...

Eminem’s “Kamikaze” lacks substance

By Peter Zemeske | September 3, 2018

Eminem’s latest album “Kamikaze,” released Aug. 31, manages to say very little while at the same time being vulgar as ever.“Kamikaze” is the tenth studio album from Detroit-based rapper, Eminem. The album took many fans by surprise, as there...

Plain White T’s try out new sound

By Ginger Simons | August 27, 2018

The Plain White T’s eighth studio album “Parallel Universe” sits at the intersection of heartbreak and catchy synthesized beats. Released Friday by Fearless Records, this album acts as a slight departure from the band’s typical sound.Where the...

‘Breakfast Club’ star’s album underwhelms

By Katie Finlon | April 9, 2013

Molly Ringwald, famous for playing Claire from the John Hughes movie “The Breakfast Club,” released a jazz standard album—I guess weirder things have happened. Ringwald’s 10-track album “Except Sometimes” debuted Tuesday. The album had jazz...