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Rap and Race: BlackLivesMatter Music
Although viewed by some as mindless lyrics and 808 beats, rap becomes especially meaningful when listened to in its historical and social context. Rap serves as a way to highlight injustices, particularly those faced by black Americans. Rap first took a distinct form in the 1970s in New York City. As disco began its decline, […]
Revisiting Allo Darlin’s Debut Album 10 Years On
Though they released three albums over the course of their relatively short career, Allo Darlin’s self-titled debut remains their strongest work. It’s an album I can only describe as ‘lovely’. Listening to it is like meeting up with an old friend. From spring to late summer it’s essential listening for me. But rather than the […]
Review: DONT WALK 2020
World ending? Party like it! This past Saturday, revelers by the busload were transported to a fantastic event that has for years been the highlight of the Spring social season. The event, of course, was this year’s iteration of DONT WALK, the student-run and modeled fashion show whose annual fund-raising events have attracted heavy hitters […]
Preview: FS Afterparty (ft. Weiss)
FS2020 – Music Preview The Record sat down with FS head of music James Wearmouth to chat about the up and coming FS2020 and what musical delights we can expect this Saturday. Apart from fashion, a core element of the FS experience is the music. Attendees have year after year looked forward to FS as […]
Review: Sofar Sounds 2.2.20
Alongside the lengths of ruined cathedral wall and beside the susurration of the sea, I trod a seemingly perilous path amidst a most sable night. As the faintest drops of rain began to fall, I was beckoned by the light of the inauspicious location for the forthcoming Sofar Sounds performance – unknown to me until […]
The Top Ten Worst Songs of 2019
2019 has been an unusual year in pop music. The biggest hits of the year have come from completely fresh artists (Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, to name a few) while the traditional big names in pop have been floundering relative to these newcomers. The charts have become an odd melting point for a […]
The Thin White Duke – David Bowie’s Fascist alter-ego
Alter-egos are synonymous with David Bowie. Whether talking of the renowned Ziggy Stardust, Halloween Jack or Aladdin Sane, Bowie’s theatrical performance gave a persona to each album he made. But in January 1976, with the release of Station to Station, he took on his final role of the Thin White Duke. On the back of his […]
Belgian House: The Unsung Hero of European Rave Culture
If asked what comes to mind when you think of Belgium, what would you say? Waffles. Tintin. A thriving underground rave scene? As unlikely as it seems, Belgium’s contribution to the distinctly 90s cultural epidemic that was European rave has been long understated. Before the all-night superclubs that encouraged bad fashion and even worse decisions, […]
Daphne and Celeste at Reading Festival 2000
Angry crowds, moshing, and bottles of piss being thrown everywhere. I’m not describing a UKIP rally but instead Daphne and Celeste’s infamous opening set at Reading Festival 2000. After nineteen years it still remains one of the most talked about performances amongst the festival’s illustrious history of musicians. But how is it that Celeste Cruz […]
A Reading Week Playlist, For Revision or Rambling
It seems pertinent to address the discrepancy between the independent learning week plans of St Andrews’ students, and the subsequent soundtrack to these (potentially) languid, late fall days .Whether this upcoming week leads you into to the concrete confides of the library, clad in your favourite fleece and sweatpants, or off onto an Alpine ski […]
Review: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The first thing that needs to be said in any review of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is that Tim Curry deserves an Oscar. With that out of the way, we can move on to the second thing: even Tim Curry at his best just can’t beat the sheer joy of flinging a […]
In Defence of a cappella
This article was written as a response to: Trash Thursdays – A cappella, by Calum Esler Why anyone would want to read the milquetoast spew of ignorance published on this blog last week, when the very third sentence contains a straight-up lie, is beyond me. But having been asked to write a response, and mindful […]
Trash Thursday: A-capella
For an alternative view, check out Kyra Ho’s rebuttal article In Defence of a cappella Pitch Perfect is a pretty good film, I’ll be the first to admit that. However, no matter how much love I have for that film and everyone in it I still find it truly impossible to enjoy a-cappella. From the […]
Why Music Tuition Must Be Protected
In 2017, Edinburgh Council attempted to close down its most famous music school, and proposed further cuts to state schools music budgets. This was met with fury from hundreds of music teachers and pupils across the city, and prompting the Council to drop the proposals. Now, budget cuts have again been proposed that will halve […]
Why Radio is still relevant.
Ever since the invention of television almost 100 years ago, we’ve been told time and time again that the death of radio is imminent. Despite this constant threat, […]
Stop the BOP
After a long week it’s finally Friday night, so what are your plans? Maybe you’re after a low key night at one of the many pubs and bars in town; there might be an event on at the Vic; or maybe you feel like dancing. But the only real club in St Andews is the […]
Tracks for Conquering Cape Cod as a Californian
For the Massachusetts coastal elites, a slow paced, languid lifestyle is a fundamental as the lobster roll. The summer inhabitants of Cape Cod take life with a gentle wink, their sailboat printed shorts shrugging at life’s gravitas. Arnold Palmers flow, golf balls fly, and tanned arms reach for more oysters. Here’s an essential blend of […]
What to listen to while running
I spent far more time than was probably healthy choosing a subject for my first article as Editor of Star News. The plan was to give you all some deep and intelligent analysis of all the cool and interesting music I’m listening to, but I don’t listen to cool and interesting music, and I’ve never […]