Benjamin Ricci

Dear Music Maker – You’re Doing Just Fine

Did you see that meme about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague? How about Isaac Newton - did you see the article about how he developed differential and integral calculus (among other things) whilst in quarantine? But how about you? Did you lose weight,...

Record Review: Yo Soybean

Yo Soybean Manifest Blasphemy Athens, GA Yo Soybean brings youthful angst to traditional folk sounds on its new self-released Manifest Blasphemy. Lyrically centered, the songs highlight front man...

Record Review: White Hinterland

White Hinterland Eidolon Portland, OR "Celestial pop companion” Portland duo White Hinterland is back with Eidolon, the ancient Greek word for a ghostly reincarnation. The songs on this album are...

Record Review: The Division

The Division Embrace Poquoson, VA "Embracing melody and brutality" The Division experiments with different sounds and vocals in their debut album Embrace. The alternative metal album includes...

Record Review: Tennis

Tennis Cape Dory Denver, CO “Love-tinged seafaring lo-fi pop” Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley met while studying philosophy in college, where the two vowed to sell their collective belongings and...

Record Review: Susan Werner

Susan Werner Kicking The Beehive Chicago, IL “Stirring up trouble where she can” Fans of folk staple Susan Werner might double-check their disc when first placing Kicking The Beehive in the stereo....

Record Review: Smoke or Fire

Smoke or Fire The Speakeasy Richmond, VA “Poetic, Political, Punk” When the words “Fat Wreck” and “Speakeasy” are found on an album, sophomoric antics in a backroom bar come to mind. But Fat Wreck...

Record Review: Smith Westerns

Smith Westerns Dye It Blonde Chicago, IL “Youthful band creates complex sounds” Smith Westerns combine innocence and freshness of youth on their sophomore release Dye It Blonde. With glam and pop...

Record Review: Rachel Goodrich

Rachel Goodrich Rachel Goodrich Miami, FL “A joyful, lo-fi carnival” On this self-titled release, Goodrich demonstrates brilliance and wisdom beyond her age. Full of creative spunk and witty spark,...

Record Review: Pile

Pile Magic Isn’t Real Boston, MA “A heaping pile of bold, brilliant rock” Standing on the cross lines of rock, punk, and post-rock, this trio of brash Bostonians has recorded an album of lavishly...