Stories by Shamik Ganguly
'Reincarnation' ruins Rastafarianism with Snoop reinvention
- RCA
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
Researching or thinking too hard about Reincarnated will only disappoint, so reserve this album for your “Summer Jams” playlist and give it no further attention.
Bobby McFerrin to bring latest vocally indulgent endeavor to University Music Society
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
On Thursday, Bobby McFerrin comes to Hill Auditorium to present his latest project, “spirityouall.” This new endeavor of McFerrin’s seeks to pay homage to African American spirituals and to his father, an operatic baritone who was himself a dedicated performer of these traditional songs.
Single Review: Yasiin Bey revives classic Mos Def beats in 'The Light Is Not Afraid of the Dark'
- Rawkus
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
The beat rolls with a subtle, classic Mos Def bass line and the track literally crackles like an old record. Yasiin takes the risk of rocking a chorus that’s the lowest, quietest part of the track, and it works.
Cold War Kids lack momentum on 'Lonelyhearts'
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
On Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, Cold War Kids take fewer liberties with tempo and harmony and essentially leave it to the vocals to capture interest.
Notebook: Delving deep into musical culture and technique
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
An artist can spend a lifetime delving through history to form a solid foundation of context, and he can spend another reaching out into oblivion trying to find his most personal sounds to achieve pure expression, but the crucial effort lies in finding the best way to do both.
Depeche Mode presents unremarkable concoction of past sounds on 'Delta Machine'
- Columbia
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
Though some new synths and techniques appear, Depeche Mode just doesn’t steer itself or the industry in a new direction with Delta Machine.
Walk Off The Earth saunters with diluted reggae vibe on 'R.E.V.O.'
- Columbia
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
Walk Off The Earth is a good example of a band that knows how to take advantage of changing trends in the music industry, riding the success of a “Somebody I Used to Know” cover into it’s latest album release.
Marsalis's 'World of Mallets' full of polyrhythm
- Basin Street
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
Jason Marsalis defies expectations on In a World of Mallets, his new album with the Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet.
Darwin Deez dazzles with sophomore effort 'Songs'
- Lucky Number
BY SHAMIK GANGULY
Songs for Imaginative People is fresh, and will snag new listeners just as it will impress fans of the last album. Its main downfall is that it doesn’t really shove any memorable melodies into your head on a first listen
