The Age of the New Romantics//

In the wake of Taylor Swift's newest - and first documented pop - release, 1989, I wanted to take the time, simply to say: THIS ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE.

Now, I'd also like to take the time to say that this will not be objective or an official review; I was just suddenly compelled after about my twelfth listen to the album to share my personal thoughts on it, as well as the girl behind it.

Although I've had complete faith in Taylor Swift for about seven years now, I was completely terrified when she announced a "pop" record. I thought that she had finally succumbed to the industry's pressure to dilute her material to make it more salient to the Top 40 savvy general public. But she didn't, and what came out of all the doubt was pure shock.

Every song is different sonically, yet the album is so coherent. It's eclectic and nostalgic and fearless (in true T-Swift fashion). The 80's influences are evident, fitting for an album titled 1989. Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel are most likely celebrating the return of their glory days' sound. Swift could have easily ripped off the greats of the decade, trying to replicate a sound under all the autotune, but she doesn't. She realizes that she is Taylor Swift and has the talent and capacity to create something new and refreshing, Again, she does just that.

My favorite track off the album is "Out of the Woods", and there is no doubt about this one. Perhaps it's that it was co-written by Jack Antonoff (of fun. and Bleachers) - and it is pleasantly noticeable. Swift's voice is most passionate and urgent in this one. It's airy and dark, and, composition-wise, out of the park. A close second is the fun and angular track, "Blank Space". I'm hung up on the line, "but I've got a blank space, baby, and I'll write your name." On paper, it's nothing that will take your breath away, but the melody aces it.

And once I got past the blinding sounds, I opened the album booklet. Her foreword is another masterpiece in itself. She argues that we should celebrate each day. She's advocating change here, people. C H A N G E. But the good type of change, the one in which we grow to be luminescent and legendary. Perhaps the most poignant among these words are, "I've told you my stories for years now. Some have been about coming of age. Some have been about coming undone. This is a story about coming into your own. And as a result... coming alive." In those five sentences, Taylor Swift has captured life, particularly the things we often hide behind dusty curtains and forget about. Yet, she makes sure to bring them back into the light, as they are so important.

The vintage Polaroid, scribbled black handwriting, pale aesthetic of this "new" Taylor is commendable, especially in the age of bright-colored pop stars with tight ponytails. It still shines, but she shies away from the sun, and instead embraces the moonlight and all the songs that come with the night.

So, Taylor Swift has done it again. She's brushed off and hushed the critics. She's made a soundtrack to be played in the background of neon teens' lives. She says it herself, "These songs were once about my life. They are now about yours." So, if you find this album to your liking, make it your soundtrack and dance, cry, lead, and love to it. Because it's no longer hers, it's ours.


//Angelia//

REVIEW: Alveron//Wolf Gang: Now I Can Feel It (and oh damn is it good)

5/5 stars

Waves to watch: Ghosts In My Life, Lay Your Love Down, Alveron

Genre: Alternative

Goes great with: WALK THE MOON, Grouplove, Two Door Cinema Club, Passion Pit, The Naked and Famous, MGMT

Just coming off the American leg of their co-headline tour, British alternative band Wolf Gang dropped their much anticipated second album, Alveron (Cherrytree Records), on October 21st. The group’s debut album Suego Faults (Atlantic), written and recorded by lead man Max McElligott and legendary producer Dave Fridmann (of The Flaming Lips), released in 2011 prompting McElligott to add drummer Lasse Petersen, guitarist Gavin Slater, and bassist James Wood. In early 2013, the group signed with the American label Cherrytree Records. Their most recent album was produced by renowned producer, Flood (known for working with acts like U2 and Nine Inch Nails).

The transition of sounds from Suego Faults- with McElligott as a solo artist- to Alveron- produced as a full fledged group- is a graceful one. Alveron is an energized album laced with sincerity and complexity. This sophomore album showcases the qualities that make Wolf Gang one-of-a-kind: dreamy vocals, symphonic beats, and electronic melodies. The lyrics are genuine, narrative, and thoughtful- a definite strong suit for this group. Wolf Gang effortlessly combines alternative and classical influences to create the kind head bobbing tracks that you won’t mind getting stuck in your head.

The individual members of Wolf Gang are undoubtedly talented, but their real strength comes in the ways they compliment one another. This album demonstrates that quality well. The title track begins simply with McElligott on the mandolin (got to love a good mandolin riff) and Wood on the piano, but builds in intensity with the addition of Petersen on the drums and Slater slaying lead guitar. The vocals soar and the rhythm section is spot on. “Ghosts In My Life” is mesmerizing to listen to, putting the listener into a musical trance, with McElligott’s lead vocals and Slater’s hypnotic harmony.

“Lay Your Love Down”, the albums first single, is upbeat and pop-y with great lyrical nuggets like, “There was change, in the blacks of your eyes / From the gold to the greys of our skies”. If “Lay Your Love Down” is the question (asking “If I stay, would we fall? / Would we rise?”), then “Killing Kind” is the answer, proclaiming that “Yeah your love is the killing kind”. Wolf Gang slows it down a little bit with “Underneath The Night”, but still maintains the the sort of unadulterated energy that is characteristic of these guys. Alveron also includes the songs featured on the group’s first EP, Black River: the title track, Last Bayou, and Back to Life.

The first time I listen to an album, I usually struggle to get into it. I tend to dislike most of the tracks until I’ve heard them all a couple more times. Rarely do I find an album where I genuinely enjoy every song on it. I’m pleased to say that Alveron is one of those rarities for me. For their first full length album, Wolf Gang hit it out of the park and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.

xx. Sheridan

courtesy wolf-gang.co.uk

For more on Alveron and Wolf Gang, hear it from the guys themselves.

REVIEW: Resurrection//New Found Glory: Burning Down Bridges While Still Remaining On Their Feet

3/5 Stars

Wave to Watch: "Ready and Willing"

Genre: Pop Punk

Goes great with: Brand New, Man Overboard, All Time Low, Real Friends 

For New Found Glory, this past year has been a tumultuous one, a whirlwind surrounding the release of guitarist Steve Klein after "personal differences", namely convictions of inappropriate conduct involving a minor. Yet, New Found Glory still bounce back, even if they are now governing a ship without their long-time member.

The 2000s pop-punk patriarchs' eighth LP is a youthful one, mixed with adult, although sometimes awkward, moments, which can be attributed to the fact that this was NFG's first main stab at writing without their sole lyricist. Some lines seem forced and blundering, as if the listener could fill the line in better themselves. But Gilbert's classic and usual hardcore approach drives each song, even during the moments where you wish the song would just end, partly due to the blatantly childish lines that litter much of the album. When Resurrection gets one right, it soars, when it misses, oh, does it miss. 

The album opens with a tortured ring that leads into the classic NFG chugging "Selfless", which sets the scene for the trend of clichés on the album, yet the line, "I’m just dust in the breeze, but I want to be a hurricane” force feeds at least one spectacular line into the song. The title track may be about the turmoil in the band in recent years and "The Worst Person" is a blatant stab at Klein, spitting, "the whole time you were abusing the ones you loved." 

The track to watch, however, is "Ready and Willing", which arguably could have served as the opening track, scorching through with the line, "I defied the odds." And looking at NFG's timeline, yes they have, notoriously climbing to the top quickly after signing with a "proper" label, as well as remaining respected patriarchs in the scene throughout the years.

The album drowns in a case of the "mid-album blues", only to be somewhat salvaged by the fluid "Vicious Love", which will make you want to bob your head for the entirety of its 3 minutes and 23 seconds. The bridge of "Stories of a Different Kind" emerges from the darkness, offering the sentiments, "I've been around the world a thousand times/Had people shouting out my name/To later on forget all the words they sang/ And it never felt the same." 

"Angel" burns through, driven by the Grushka (bass) and Bolooki (drums), defaming an ex with flying words. Gilbert's riffs in "Stubborn" are catchy and brilliant, and Pundik's vocals soar, making the track one of the album's high points. The penultimate track, "Living Hell", is the lyrical strong point of Resurrection, promising, "Can I give you a ride back home/You can tell me where I went wrong". It remains sentimental without becoming too maudlin and trite.

Finally, "On My Own", offers some hope for the future, affirming that they'll "start again" and "do it again". Even after the rough seas of 2013, NFG has blazed a path for themselves, although rocky at times, in 2014 with Resurrection and the world can't wait to see what they do next. Because, believe it or not, New Found Glory is going to be okay.

//Angelia//

welcome new friends

Sheridan here- co-founder of The Native Soundwaves. Columbus, Ohio born and raised and currently studying at The Ohio State University. I’ve been known to drive eight hours for a good concert and the promise of adventure. I’m passionate about being creative (photography and writing are my first loves), people, languages, God, traveling, soup, Jeopardy trivia, and, of course, music. My secret dream is to be in a 90's girl band, but realistically I’d like to become a photojournalist and use my talents to improve the lives of others. Being a band photographer would be pretty cool, too.

I like to live by the phrase “don’t put me in a box.” It can be applied to pretty much every area of my life, but especially in my music tastes. In other words, I’m not picky. I don’t like to choose favorites, but I do have some artists I find myself going to back to over and over again: The Beatles, Mumford and Sons, One Direction, The 1975, Lorde, Passenger, Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ingrid Michaelson, Pentatonix, Wolf Gang, and the Avett Brothers. I grew up listening to my parent’s classic rock (U2, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones,) the Jackson 5 and Green Day, but discovered the worlds of indie, alternative, folk, and singer-songwriter and fell in love. Give me a mix CD and I’m yours.

Last thing you need to know, I am always and unapologetically being myself. I don’t see any use in being anyone but that. I hope that comes across well. Anyways, I’m excited to get to share the beauty that is music with you in this little corner of the internet and I hope you enjoy the adventure.

Here's a little something I've been listening to by Kodaline:


xx. Sheridan

//Is anybody O U T there?//

I thought I'd take a little bit of time to introduce myself, since I am the co-founder of The Native Soundwaves.

First of all - and arguably least important - my name is Angelia. I'm originally from Cleveland, but now I am kicking it at OSU for the next four years. I like music (obviously), black & white photos, pizza, concerts (again, obviously), posters, complaining, storms, creating, and staying up until 4 AM. Starting a band has always been plan A for me, but if that doesn't work out, I'm planning on studying journalism and writing about music for a living.

When it comes to music, I will give everything a try because I am so annoyed with the marginalization that is alive in today's society of genres. And by that I mean, yes, I do like One Direction. Real talk (is that appropriate to say? Of course it is): although my iTunes library is way too large, I do have a few favorite artists that I will defend until the end: twenty one pilots (since we both can call Ohio home, they get precedence), My Chemical Romance, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, Arctic Monkeys, All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, Phillip Phillips, R5, Lorde, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, and the genres of pop punk and classic rock in general. But again, as I mentioned before, I'm just so deeply in love with music that it all excites me.

I cannot guarantee that I will not cut the lights and sounds and start talking philosophically from time to time. I like doing that. That type of chaos keeps me right on the border of sanity and insanity in the end. I hope you all enjoy listening to our little adventures with music from here on out.



Here's a new jam from the lovely Gerard Way to dance to at the inauguration of this blog right now. (The Bureau//Hesitant Alien)

 For always (hopefully), //Angelia//