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RIFF’d: Bruno Mars’’24K Magic’
Bruno Mars‘ third studio album 24K Magic is a feeble attempt at interpreting ’80s pop. Normally he thrives in these situations with a touch that has made him something of a golden-boy. Unfortunately...
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RIFF’d: The Weeknd’s ‘Starboy’
There are no surprises on The Weeknd‘s third studio album Starboy. Everything is mapped out in plain English, a one dimensional plan than even the most casual fan can follow. He delves yet again into...
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Listing: 5 Moments of Equilibrium from John Legend’s ‘Darkness and Light’
John Legend has always been one love song away from going off the deep end. His polished image, movie star looks and near-storybook life has made him an ideal figure in R&B, an artist comprised...
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RIFF’d: J. Cole’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’
J. Cole‘s fourth studio album 4 Your Eyez Only is mired in anxiety and apprehension. A project that presents more questions than answers. Gone are the nostalgic moments of yesteryear, in its place,...
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Notes from Mr. Sandman: Phat Kat
Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ – a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep,...
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SONGLYRICS Presents: Lyricist of the Year – De La Soul
If you follow hip-hop culture long enough one thing you’ll notice is how easily rap collectives can dissolve. It’s natural, happens to the best; egos, money, fame, creative differences, it all factors...
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SONGLYRICS Presents: The Top 10 Albums of 2016
As with our 50-best single narratives, artists came out of the woodwork in furious fashion once with projects that all restored our faith in humanity, and ways in which to diffuse the nonsense...
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SONGLYRICS Presents: The Top 15 Lyric Videos of 2016
As with last year’s contenders, we’re in a new era of the lyric video as a new art medium. There was no genius Bob Dylan, channel-flipping “Like a Rolling Stone” entry this year, but from Canada punks...
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SONGLYRICS Presents: The Top 50 Lyrics of 2016
Aside from a certain orange overlord with tiny hands assuming power, it wasn’t a bad year, guys, in the music world. It’s depressing as hell that a campaign of anti-Trump 30 tracks in 30 days, that...
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Rhyme nor Reason: 21 Savage
Introducing ‘Rhyme nor Reason’ – a SONGLYRICS’ look at lyricists that make us want to jam a pencil in our brain. Or as a man named Shakespeare once wrote: ‘Was there ever any man thus beaten out of...
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Best Lyric Vids of the Week: Volume X
At The Drive-In return from a 17-year silence with a hauntingly vindictive take on predatory sexual abuse, Laura Marling kills it softly pink with a lovely tale about sweet, fleeting love, Animal...
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RIFF’d: The Shins’‘Heartworms’
The Shins aren’t the type to rush inspiration, and for their fifth studio album Heartworms they take essentially the same approach; slowly crafting a narrative that says a lot without revealing too...
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Best Lyric Vids of the Week: Volume XI
Neil Young calls it like he’s been seeing it since Mother Nature began to be on the run, a Christian husband-and-wife duo take on the Syrian refugee crisis, Blink-182 pay homage to suburbia and more...
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RIFF’d: Rick Ross’‘Rather You Than Me’
With his ninth effort, Rather You Than Me, Rick Ross has revealed yet another telling chapter in his growing legacy. After several health scares, some of which put his life at serious risk, he adopted...
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Best Lyric Vids of the Week: Volume XII
Future Islands poach viral sign-language interpreter Jonathan Lamberton, a group of upstart Italian rappers dish out credit-rolling thug life at the gas station pump, Kevin Morby lets the bygone...
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RIFF’d: Jamiroquai’s ‘Automaton’
After a seven-year hiatus Jamiroquai is back, but instead of bringing something fresh to the table he’s serving up bland, featureless emotions; like an egg, smooth but with no distinguishable...
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RIFF’d: Joey Bada$$’‘ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$’
On his second studio album All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, Joey Bada$$ shows the world what it means to be a patriot. Having already delayed the album once, he looked at this as an opportunity to pen an open...
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Best Lyric Vids of the Week: Volume XV
Shakira dabbles in watercolor expressions of love, some self-prescribed “UK Metalcore saviours” do not go gentle into that good parental night, Jesus and Mary Chain get attacked by a strobe light, and...
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Best Lyric Vids of the Week: Volume XVI
New Def Jam starlet, Brenda Mada, throws a good ol’ fashion underage rager, country star Ron Pope shows up a day after 4/20 with a celebration of doobage, The Zombies bring their jail pen pal...
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RIFF’d: Mr. Mitch’s ‘Devout’
Mr. Mitch‘s Devout is precisely what the title suggests, a revelatory project that encapsulates his core values. He closely analyzes love, family and fatherhood; embracing the many challenges that...
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