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Review: Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love

Olivia Rodrigo - You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love
Adam Grundy

After having well-surpassed the dangers of a “sophomore slump” on her second album of Guts, Olivia Rodrigo must’ve felt mounting pressure to continue to deliver on her third major label record. You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love on its surface is a pretty depressing title for a pop artist, but Rodrigo weaves these 13 songs together with veteran ease, precision, and purpose. The LP features a “pinch me” moment for Rodrigo with a guest collaboration with Robert Smith of The Cure, who contributes vocals and harmonies on the record’s tenth song of “What’s Wrong With Me”. She continues her collaborative process with producer Dan Nigro (Chappell Roan, Kylie Minogue), and through this trusted relationship, Rodrigo takes some big creative risks on arguably her most experimental album to date. With so many stylistic choices being made here, the album faced the danger of being a disjointed listening experience, but You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love ends up being the polar opposite of that. Olivia Rodrigo continues to get better and better at her songwriting craft and her third album is arguably her strongest to date.

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Review: Big D and the Kids Table – The Good Ole American Saturday Night

Big D and the Kids Table
Adam Grundy

If there’s one thing you can say about the four-decade career of ska band Big D and the Kids Table, it’s that they have been a model of consistency. Consistently touring, putting out record after record to keep their fans happy and engaged, and honing in on their songwriting craft to make confident material. The band’s latest LP, The Good Ole American Saturday Night continues down the path of this “working man” approach by taking a look back at how far they’ve come as a band, while still accelerating their development as a unit by creating some truly great songs. Big D and the Kids Table continue to fine-tune their dynamic and punchy ska sound on this confident record that is sure to keep their adoring fans coming to the shows and singing back every word.

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Review: Social Distortion – Born To Kill

Social Distortion - Born To Kill
Adam Grundy

There is a real sense of urgency and purpose on the eighth studio album from Social Distortion. Born To Kill was co-produced by frontman and primary songwriter, Mike Ness, and Dave Sardy (Fall Out Boy, Bad Suns) and the new music marks Social Distortion’s first full-length record in 15 years. While the predecessor of Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes seemed comfortable in doing a “victory lap” of the band’s historic career, Born To Kill knocks the listener on their ass and showcases that Mike Ness and his bandmates have plenty left in the tank. When speaking on the multi-year delay between records, Ness shared, “Although this record is out, I’m going to continue the process of writing so maybe there won’t be such a large gap between records. Even when the record’s done, it doesn’t mean the creativity of writing is.” With material this strong, it’s a great sign that we can expect even more Social Distortion in the near future.

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Review: Marc-Alan Prince – Runaway

Marc-Alan Prince - Runaway
Adam Grundy

On the title track of Runaway, Marc-Alan Prince tells the story of, “When I left home I was only 16 / No clue about the world / No clue about anything,” over an energetic acoustic guitar. His voice reminded me a bit of other great storyteller punk singers like Kristopher Roe (The Ataris), Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem), and Mike Ness (Social Distortion), and Prince’s working-man approach to his songs is drenched in authenticity and meaning behind each personal lyric. The second solo acoustic album from Prince was produced by Max Cunningham, and was recorded in Austin, Texas at a rental house that was transformed into a studio. Marc-Alan Prince showcases his great songwriting craft on this enjoyable EP that is sure to evoke some sort of emotions from anyone who takes the time to listen to it.

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Fashn – “Continuation” (Video Premiere)

Fashn
Adam Grundy

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the video premiere of the latest single from Fashn, the NYC-based post-punk project of duo Thomas Peters and Julius Dolls. Blending gothic post-punk, modern indie rock, electronica, shoegaze, and darkwave pop, ”Continuation” carries a cinematic, coming-of-age intensity. If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider supporting this band here.

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Review: American Football – American Football (LP4)

Adam Grundy

Based on the circumstances after American Football’s last record, LP3, it would easy to understand why the band would need a solid seven years to reset before today’s release of LP4. The previous album came out in March of 2019, and when American Football were gearing up for a break after touring in support of the record, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drummer Steve Lamos quit the band in July of 2021 due to personal reasons, while the rest of the band tried to get writing done via Zoom sessions, bearing little fruit. Around that same time, Mike and Nate Kinsella were focusing on their side project, Lies, where they met up with producer Sonny DiPerri. Encouraged by that partnership, American Football would regroup, Lamos rejoined in 2023, and the band would work with DiPerri on LP4. It’s a record that grapples with demons like loss, shame, divorce, and self-loathing in a lyrically heavy package. American Football once again prove why they’re one of the best artists to make music that is simultaneously moody, lyrically deep, and filled with solid musicianship.

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Dua Lip Sues Samsung

Dua Lipa
Jason Tate

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to sell TVs:

The lawsuit includes an image of what it says is the infringing television box. On the box is a photograph of Lipa backstage at Austin City Limits in 2024, which the complaint said is a copyrighted image owned by the singer.

Lipa asserts Samsung has refused to stop using her image despite repeated demands. The electronics company “has been dismissive and callous” to her requests, according to the complaint.