Niagara - redveil Album Review

Dan Flavin

Music Reviewer

On Aug. 25, 16-year-old rapper redveil released his debut album “Niagara.” The project is filled with jazzy, mellow production, and complemented by redveil’s smooth deep voice and creative flows.

The debut album starts out with a great track in “Campbell.” The track’s high pitched guitar licks and driving horns are paired with multiple vocal chops to create the melody. Although the drums are very simple, it gives enough room for redveil to display his technical ability on the track. His deep voice changes flow in what seems like every line. By changing up his style it keeps the track not only interesting but also memorable. Track two is another great track titled “Weight.” The track's angelic vocal chop is layered with simple strings and trap-inspired drums. His flow on the track is more straightforward to follow the two-step high hats and punching kick. There are more highlight tracks throughout the project, for example, “Bad News” with it’s powerful drums and vocals or “Grass,” which features sparkling piano and smooth flow.

The downside of the project comes with his young age. the quality of the recordings isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible either. The whole album was mixed and mastered by Redveil. He did a good job, but not as perfect as a professional would have done. A lot of the features feel forced as well.

Overall, redveil could be a name to look out for in years to come, and a lot of years that is. At only 16 he sounds better and more mature than a lot of established artists. Despite the flaws, the young rapper redveil’s debut album “Niagra” was great and earned an 8.5/10.

 

Savage Mode ll Review

Savage Mode II Review
Dan Flavin

Best Song: Too many to list
Rating: 8/10

On Oct. 2 rapper 21 Savage and producer Metro Boomin released the sequel to their 2016 trap classic Savage Mode. The original project, known for its dark tones and menacing production, put 21 on the map and helped lift him to the mainstream name he is today.

Savage Mode II opens with narration from Morgan Freeman that will continue throughout the project. He talks about everything from collaboration to snitches.

The story of the album isn’t the number of incredible songs, it’s the lack of bad ones. Metro Boomin’s spooky production is the perfect complement to 21’s dark lyrics and it seems no matter what they do they can’t make a bad song.

The lack of misses doesn’t mean there aren’t also high points. For example “Mr. Right Now (feat. Drake)” brings not only the star power of Drake but also melodies we don’t often hear from 21 himself. Singing with heavy autotune on the chorus with the most light-hearted beat on the project creates for a different kind of vibe listeners aren’t used to with 21 and Metro. Drake's verse is as expected from one of the biggest names in all of music. They both flow well over the reversed melody and upbeat drums.

Another great song is “Many Men.” The song, inspired by 50 Cents legendary track with the same title, brings a new edge to menacing trap music. The spooky sample used only for the first 8 beats rides into the actual instrumental perfectly. The drums on the track are very simple and straightforward, but the hard-hitting kick and powerful snares bring a punch that excludes the need for much more. Metro’s ascending and descending melody brings an uneasy feel to the track.

Metro Boomin’s production throughout the project only cements his name as one of the best trap producers ever. His ability to keep his production sound simple, but secretly hid some complicated sample use and drums is so important to trap music. The simple progressions make the tracks easy to listen to, but the hard drums and pads keep people coming back.

The downfall of the project comes with how repetitive it gets. 21 Savage is a talented rapper, but his subject matter of gang violence and drug use gets old and doesn’t leave a lot of creative room for lyrical content. They did add some tracks to mix up styles, but it was still not enough to break up the monotony of the project.

Overall “Savage Mode II” was great. There are no bad tracks and also a few standouts. Metro Boomin continues to prove how talented he is and 21 keeps on improving. The project overall earns an 8/10.

Five Movies to Escape Quarantine

Olivia Harrison
Staff Writer

Quarantine is wearing on everyone, including me. By now, it’s fun to go outside and enjoy the nice weather, but what about when it rains? Well, you’re probably stuck inside the house again. Sure, you could play video games, cook, bake, hang out with siblings or FaceTime a friend, but what about watching a movie?  You may be thinking, “Okay, I’ll do that, but what should I watch?” Here are my top five movies you can watch during quarantine!!

#1. The Grand Budapest Hotel

If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson movies, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! Set in 1930’s Hungary at a resort and hotel, it stars Ralph Fiennes (from Harry Potter) and Tony Revelori (from Spiderman: Homecoming and Far from Home) as hotel concierge Gustave and lobby boy Zero. After the death of Gustave’s lover, 84-year-old matriarch Madame D, they both attend the reading of her will and find that she has left a famous painting, Boy with Apple to Gustave, much to her son, Dimitri’s delight. Gustave and Zero end up taking the painting and in order to protect it and themselves from Dimitri, they run away on a hilarious adventure. This movie is action packed, funny, historical, and will leave you on the edge of your seat for what comes next.

#2. Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2

In order to watch this series, it is recommended that you watch both in order to get the full story. The movie series is centered around Beatrix Kiddo/The Bride (played by Uma Thurman), and her adventures dealing with the Deadly Viper assassination squad and her ex-lover Bill. After finding out that the Bride is pregnant with his child, Bill crashes Beatrix’s wedding and has the other vipers attempt to assassinate her and her unborn child in the process. However, a few years later, Beatrix wakes up in a hospital, finding herself alive and plans to get revenge on those who crashed her wedding and for her supposedly unborn child. The first movie in the series plays homage to Samurai films of the 80’s while the second pays more homage to Spaghetti Westerns.

#3 Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Now, this is a great movie, and has been a favorite for so many others! Based off the popular comic book series Scott Pilgrim it centers around 22 year-old Toronto bassist Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera), his failing band, and his attempt to get the girl of his dreams Ramona Flowers. However, there’s a twist…he’s put on a video game-esque adventure to defeat her evil ex-boyfriends. If you are a fan of the Toronto rock music scene or indie rock, this movie brings elements of that while being filled with action, humor and a tiny bit of romance.

#4. Akira
Ever wondered what people thought of the year 2019 looked like to people in the late 80’s? Then check out the Japanese animated science fiction film Akira! Although it is animated, this is not a film meant for really young audiences, as there are some dark themes. Set in 1988, the Japanese government decides to drop an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP, or psychological experiments on children go wrong. 31 years later in 2019, Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang, sets off to save his friend Tetsuo from an undercover government project. Throughout the movie he battles antigovernment activists, greedy politicians and irresponsible scientists. It is interesting to compare this movie to our present day! However, it is all in Japanese though, so you will have to read subtitles

#5. Eighth Grade

For those of you who love comedy and in particular Bo Burnham’s humor, then you should watch Eighth Grade. Eighth grade centers around 13-year-old grade Kayla (Elsie Fisher), who secretly makes videos online on how to gain popularity, be confident and other traits that every teenager wants to be. However, behind the screen Kayla is a timid, shy and quiet girl who struggles a lot socially in middle school, specifically eighth grade. In her last week of middle school, we meet Kayla as she struggles being voted “Most Quiet” by her classmates to growing up with single dad Mark who tries to relate to her. This movie is perfect for those wanting a laugh, who are adolescents themselves and those in middle school. It is relatable, poignant, and humorous.

Alfredo- Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist Review: We couldn’t find a single thing wrong with this!

Dan Flavin Nathan Donohoe
Music Editors

On May 29, 37-year-old rapper Freddie Gibbs released his second collaboration album with legendary producer The Alchemist. The project titled “Alfredo” is a strong album of the year contender.
  The intro track starts off the project on a super high note. The sampled guitar lick and simple drums leave Freddie so much room to go to work on the track. He tells stories of his past and how he made it now. He does his fair share of flexing, but instead of flexing money he flexes his experience living on the streets. Freddie Gibbs is one of the best technical rappers in the game and it really shows on the track. His fast flow is still filled with powerful bars and fits perfectly to the beat. Although the track is the shortest on the project, it feels very complete and is a song to be remembered.
  Track three with RIck Ross is “Scottie Beam.” The dancing piano travels up and down octaves incredibly smooth and the simple boom bap drums fill the gaps like it was meant to be. Freddie rolls with the slower tempo and carries bar breaking flows for almost two minutes straight. The hook, although short, is very catchy. The feature Rick Ross is more known for his trap style often working with rappers like Meek Mill, but he runs the slow simple beat like it was made for his voice.
  The best track on the whole project is number 6 “Something to Rap About (feat. Tyler the Creator). The guitar and piano combo on the instrumental could be a song on its own. It creates a nostalgic vibe unmatched by any song in recent memory. On the track Freddie talks about how he is thankful for his rough past because it gave him something to rap about and therefore a career. Just as he is thankful for his past he is also hopeful he will live a full life unlike some rappers we have seen die young recently. Tyler’s verse goes for a different approach as he talks about exactly how the instrumental makes him feel. He describes the beat taking him to a lake with a boat he hasn’t bought yet. Although Tyler is not as technically talented as Freddie, he still runs his verse and creates one of the best songs of the year alongside him. Throughout his verse, he is laughing in the background and even making fun of his pronunciation at the end of the track. The real moments make the song sound real and tangible instead of sounding impossible to make.
  The whole project is amazing and we honestly couldn’t find a negative. Every track was unique, but still fit the theme of the project. The production was flawless, Freddie Gibbs’s bars were perfect, his flows were effortless, the features were great, and the mix and master was top tier. Overall, Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist is a 10/10.

Get ready for Spelunky 2

Cooper Hendricks and Colin Keyes
Staff Writers

Spelunky is getting a sequel in Spelunky 2, which has already been postponed from its originally scheduled 2019 release date.
  Spelunky was a 2D rogue-like platformer game released in 2008 by Derek Yu. The game saw massive underground success for its unforgiving difficulty and unique level design. The original game consisted of you playing as an Indiana Jonesesque character who ventures into an ancient and mysterious cave, which changed stages after every 4 levels. A player would start out in an obvious cave and then move to a jungle, a frozen tundra, a temple, and then to the final boss stage.
  The second game in the franchise, again called Spelunky, was a significant improvement with better graphics and different gadgets as well as a second ending and many new side stages. This game again was given high praise by fans and critics alike for its betterment of the original games already liked qualities. This time there was another final boss, the Devil himself and he was hidden by the most difficult stage in the game: the Underworld.
  Fans of the series were more than excited to hear that the game would be getting a sequel and awaited its release with eagerness and anticipation. The trailer showed new enemies, mounts and gadgets.
  Unfortunately, the 2019 release date that was scheduled never came to fruition and was postponed. The game has no official release date and there is no information as to how close the product is to being finished.

Polo G’s “THE GOAT” has been in our heads for a week

Dan Flavin and Nathan Donohoe
Music Critics

After a breakout 2019, rapper Polo G released his sophomore album “THE GOAT.” The project is full of great storytelling, flows, and melodies that were a little unexpected.
  Polo G’s debut album “Die a Legend” was a sign that he was to be taken seriously as a new up and coming artist. The project showed signs of a lot of great things that came in the recent release.
“THE GOAT” starts out amazingly well with “Don’t Believe The Hype” the tracks mellow piano and distorted guitar complement Polo’s voice perfectly and carry the track along with his flows. Polo G has become known for his ability to tell stories of his past struggles through his lyrics. Throughout the track and the rest of the project he talks of his friends who were killed, his past legal troubles and his determination to not go back to where he came from. “Don’t Believe The Hype” is a perfect start to introduce a new and improved Polo G.
  Track two “Heartless” was released as a single in late 2019, but still fits the theme of the project perfectly.
  Track three and our personal favorite “Martin & Gina” continues the hot streak to start the project. The halftimed guitar during the intro creates an ominous tone that then does a 180 when the beat drops. The dark sounding intro is turned to a love song where he expresses a softer side that he doesn’t often show. The track’s guitar meshes with his sound perfectly and Polo G’s flow switches and melodies have kept this song stuck in our head for a week straight.
  “Flex” featuring the late Juice WRLD is the end of the hot streak to start the project. The track’s simple melody and fast paced drums make for a head bopping banger. The whole song feels like it was meant to be and Juice’s feature is thought to be the last verse he recorded before he passed away in December.
  We could write about the project’s positives all day if there was enough room, but to keep it simple songs like “21”, “I Know”, “Beautiful Pain”, and “Be Something (feat. Lil Baby)” are all incredible.
  There is truly no bad song on the whole project, but there are some weak points. Track 5 “Go Stupid (feat. Mike WiLL Made It, Stunna 4 Vegas, and NLE Choppa)” is one of those points. The track isn’t horrible, but it does not fit the project at all. It feels like it was just thrown in there to boost streams. There are also some mixing errors on the project such as on the track “Be Something (feat. Lil Baby)”. Baby’s verse sounds really quiet in the beginning then all of a sudden is louder and it sounds awkward.
  Although it is not perfect “THE GOAT” incredibly exceeded expectations. Going into the project we were expecting a few solid songs, but walked out with one of the best trap albums of the year. Polo G’s “THE GOAT” is an easy 9/10.

The Last Dance give an up close and personal look at the NBA’s greatest player and we can’t get enough!

Michael Janora and Alex Walinski
Staff Writers

The much anticipated documentary following one of the top, if not the top players to ever play basketball, Michael Jordan, was just recently released. They released two episodes a week following the build-up and fall down of the Chicago Bulls dynasty. There was a special access camera crew there for the teams last season together before the coach got fired and some players were to leave. Many people had many different feelings on the documentary, most being positive from fans and current players as they voiced their opinions on twitter. But most players that played back in the Michael Jordan era had some issues with the documentary. Some responses that were voiced were upset that the documentary showed and talked about one scene where Michael Jordan explained how he saw his teammates doing different illegal things such as drugs or other activities that he mentioned. Others that had to play against Michael Jordan said things like how they didn’t focus on the team and just focused on Jordan and portrayed him as some basketball god. Others were upset about some of the comments that Jordan made, Specifically Horace Grant, who was upset that Jordan said he thought that Grant “snitched” to the media secret things about the team to a book writer who wrote a very personal book about Jordan and the team called ”Jordan Rules” which is a name he got from the infamous Jordan rules that the Detroit Pistons had to attempt to stop or at least slow Jordan.
    The documentary followed every part of Jordan’s life from high school all the way to the NBA and most of his career there. The Chicago Bulls dynasty was the best team ever at the team and still can be argued as the top of list. The documentary was very interesting as it had a lot of never before seen footage. Also, many kids my age don’t really know about Jordans whole career and what went on during the Bulls dynasty. Many just hear about the two three-peats and how great Jordan was. This documentary showed me some very interesting information that I would have never known. Michael Jordan was loved worldwide, sometimes a little too much. Most people would think that this wouldn’t be possible, but as shown and explained, Jordan couldn’t go anywhere without cameras and fans in his face trying to get pictures or autographs from him. He would explain about how his most peaceful times were when he would sit alone in his hotel room and just think to himself and just relax. But the second he walks out of his room he would be bombarded with cameras and questions.
    But Michael Jordan’s winning and success came at a price, mostly for Jordan’s teammates. This is never talked about so without the documentary not a lot of people would have known about this whole situation. Jordan got in multiple fights with teammates at practice and there were multiple interviews of teammates saying they were scared of him. In Jordan’s eyes he saw it as the fact that winning comes at a price. He always would push his teammates to their limits and try to get the best out of them, but a lot didn’t like that because it was out of their comfort zone. Jordan explained how he thought a lot of people might not like him after the documentary is released and as he says in one of his interviews, a lot of people may have thought it was too much, “But that’s you, and you have ever won anything.”
    Another part that I found really interesting was the many issues that went on in Jordan’s career. I never knew there was a foot injury that Jordan suffered at the start of his career, and to make things worse he played on it risking his whole career while he was at the University of North Carolina taking a break from the team. If he were to get re-injured then no one would have known Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time, but what could have been. Obviously, as he is still being talked about today that did not happen and he played out a full career with many achievements. But there were still some other times where Jordan’s character was questioned. At one point everybody thought Jordan was struggling with a gambling addiction and could have potentially been betting on games. This is still a grey area in some spots, Jordan has said he likes to bet and there were many stories where on team planes Jordan would play poker in the back of the plane with a couple teammates for absurd amounts of money. It was also said that he would put major money on his own golf matches. He said he would do this because he liked to make it more competitive. To make matters worse he was seen and recorded paying major amounts of money to a shady man that was known for betting, and some other issues. The man was later put in jail for other unrelated charges from Jordan, but this still makes Jordan’s potential gambling issue seem a little more realistic.
    Overall, we both thought it was really interesting covering the ups and downs of Michael Jordan’s career with the Bulls and what he really had to go through just living life. It showed some of the struggles with the teams front office and what their problems were. But most importantly for us it was really eye opening on how great this man really was. Stories and comments just don’t do it justice. There was time after time where Jordan would play and have an unbelievable game. The documentary didn’t even cover every great game he had and it was still amazing to see how consistently good he was. We both though the documentary was a great watch and can’t wait for there to be more documentaries about others such as Kobe Bryant or the Golden State Warriors.