The Bwog Staff discusses the albums that defined their semester. For some of us, it was our first semester on campus adjusting to the frantic pace of city life. For others, they were celebrating some of their last time on campus. We hope you enjoy our selections.
Jenny Zhu
Lorde’s Melodrama. Do I even need to explain??? Pure pop perfection. Lorde has this magical quality that makes the album colorful, witty, and youthful at the same time.
Victoria Arancio
Broods, Conscious. I saw them at the meadows this year and I really liked their set. I listened to them more as semester continued. They’re really good for a chill night in your dorm, or if you’re wanting to feel a lot of emotions.
Ramisa Murshed
Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast – I listened to this album for almost the entire semester. I had it playing all the time: while doing homework, when walking to class, while eating alone. “Diving Woman” especially reminds me of when I’d play it in the summer while going on late night drives with my friends at home.
Zack Abrams
MASSEDUCTION – St. Vincent. During my first semester here, everything has felt like a lot, from the work-hard to the play-hard. St. Vincent’s music is manic and exciting without sacrificing thoughtful lyrics, exactly how I feel about Columbia!
Zoë Sottile
Saturation II by Brockhampton – This album came out at the start of the semester and it made me feel at home as I dealt with all the anxiety and stress of being in a new place with all new place. It’s smart and fun and interesting and sounds like nothing I’d ever heard before.
Sarah Kinney
Lotta Sea Lice – Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile. This album is full of cathartic guitar work and clever, fun, and beautiful lyrics/vocals. Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett both have such distinct voices and they go so so well together. It’s very mellow and honest which is a nice contrast from the chaos of the city.
Mia Lindheimer
reputation – Taylor Swift. Haters gonna hate (hate, hate, hate, hate), but Taylor keeps delivering bops. This album is full of relatability but also songs to gas you up. For once, Taylor makes herself the agent of action in this album, just like you need to be while studying for your damn finals.
2 Comments
@Anonymous Slowdive – Slowdive
Slowdive returned from their hiatus in epic fashion, delivering a lush and dreamy album that truly makes for a mesmerizing listen. The album’s dense and layered soundscape best reveals itself with concentrated listening, an ideal exercise for moments of anxiety and tension when one needs to tune out distractions and relieve some stress. Their live performance at Terminal Five was equally epic, the guitars and amplifiers distorted in ways that capture shoegazing at its finest.
Honorable Mentions:
(Sandy) Alex G – Rocket
Fever Ray – Plunge
Zola Jesus – Okovi
@Sarah Kinney mmph rocket was def in my top three as well