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Posts tagged as “music”

(Archive April 2019) Revisiting a Classic: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

By Natalia Maltais | Observer Contributor

Image from Amazon, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots owned by The Flaming Lips and Warner Bros.

With catchy sci-fi themes and vivid imagery, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by the Flaming Lips is a diamond in the rough.

The album starts with “Fight Test”, a bubbly, yet heavy pop song that’s a call to action. It begins with a passive fighter, “I thought it better not to fight, I thought there was a virtue in always being cool.” As Coyne sings over warped, humming keyboards and a thick bass he begins to realize he’s ready to fight, but still fights his own skepticism. “Cause I’m a man not a boy and there are things you can’t avoid. You have to face them when you’re not prepared to face them.” read more

(Archive April 2019) Producing a Dream

By editorialteam on April 3, 2025

Student Describes Love of Making Music

By Abreyana Moore | Observer Contributor

Photo from Skitterphoto, pexels.com

Keishaun Hornsby, 21, finds time to produce beats and work toward his dream of becoming a successful producer.

Hornsby found the inspiration to make beats from his favorite producer Metro Boomin. Metro Boomin’s style, creativity, and sound selection is what drew Hornsby to the producer and what gave him the idea to start producing. To stay focused and work hard, Hornsby thinks of the quote “When you want to breathe as bad as you want to succeed, then you’ll be successful.” read more

Black History Month at MWCC: A Capella Singers Debut

By editorialteam on March 23, 2025

By Princess Yeboah | Assistant Editor

Ball in the House
Photo from MWCC

A capella singers went above and beyond by introducing essential black history to Mount Wachusett Community College Community on February 26, 2025 at 12:30 P.M. The performance, “And Now I See: Race, Racism, and American Music” was shown by a men’s a capella group, Ball in the House. They hospitably embraced the community with tunes originally sung by black singers and the history behind them such as “Hound Dog”, (Originally by Big Mama Thorton and sung by Elvis), “A Change is Gonna Come”, (Originally by Sam Cooke sung by Bob Dylan) “My Girl” and “This Little Light of Mine.” read more

(Archive December 2017) Arcade Fire Concert in Toronto

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Rachel Aster | Observer Contributor

Photos by Rachel Aster

Arcade Fire had a strong finish to the North American leg of their current tour for their new album, Everything Now. The last two shows of the tour took place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on November 3rd and 4th with opening band and local Toronto legends, Broken Social Scene. 

The Montreal based band made quite the entrance setting up the stage as a wrestling ring and entering with the announcement of each member and their height and weight as done in a wrestling match. The core 7 members of the band had this entrance for every show of the tour to ensure they could interact with their fans, high fiving them as they entered the stage.  read more

(Archive November 2017) America’s Sweetheart Finally Evolves Into the Queen of Mean

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Michael Parahiala | Observer Contributor

Taylor Swift, everyone’s favorite- or least favorite, depending who you talk to- pop star released a new song and music video August 27. “Look What You Made Me Do,” from her new album Reputation, already has over 5.5 million views, the record for most YouTube views in twenty-four hours, and opinions on the song and the singer alike are mixed at best. 

Both the song and its music video are edgier than what most have come to expect from Swift.  From imagery of her actually rising up out of a cage to hard hitting, angry lyrics promising that she is different than “the old Taylor” and that she and karma are coming for the people on a referenced list of names, Taylor seems to have changed her entire image. The video ends with multiple versions of the popstar fighting with one another; the singer openly mocking how she’s been perceived from the start of her career to current time. read more

(Archive November 2017) Alternative Country on the Harbor

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

Featuring Sturgill Simpson and Opening Act Fantastic Negrito

By Jennifer Lamontagne | Observer Contributor

A smoky boat fire clouded the Harbor air before Sturgill Simpson took to the stage and fired up his special brand of alternative country music Saturday night at the Blue Hills Pavilion in Boston.  Simpson rocked the house with his Kentucky swagger and heartfelt lyrics.

Fantastic Negrito, touring in support of “Last Days of Oakland” opened the show.  The band performed a forty-minute set of heavy bluesy roots rock, which included “An Honest Man” and “In the Pines”.  The band’s funky/jazzy beats were upbeat and energizing and the lead singer Xavier Dphrepaulezz sure knows how to work a crowd by weaving in his past as a person and performer in-between songs. read more

(Archive April 2017) How Chance the Rapper Shines a Bright Light on Rappers

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Jamie Parker | News Editor

Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, also known as Chance the Rapper, has been making moves lately that show how different he is from other rappers. In the beginning of March, Chance donated one million dollars to Chicago Public Schools. This along with his message he raps, show that he is shining a whole new light on modern day rappers.

Chance the Rapper is a product of the Chicago Public Schools, which have gotten a lot of negative attention recently for their current state. This is what sparked his idea for the donation. Rising to fame without the help of a label has put Chance in a unique position of unrestrained artistry, and freedom. He seems to be using this freedom to convey a holistic sense to his listeners. With the message of God flowing strongly throughout his newest album, “Coloring Book,” he is truly proving to be doing the work of a greater being.  read more

(Archive April 2017) Ned Flanders-Themed Metal Band Shows How Pursuing Your Ideas Pays Off

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Jason D. Greenough | Observer Contributor

Okilly Dokilly

Have you ever had an idea that you thought would be great, but then never built onto it because you second guessed yourself? Did something ever cross your mind, and you got excited about it, but feared that some people might look at it like a joke, so you passed up the opportunity? Well, I have a story about how going through with that one really strange idea can really turn out to be an awesome experience.

I love going to concerts. Metal and punk shows, mostly. The atmosphere is wonderful, and especially when there are lesser known bands on the bill, it makes it even more interesting, because I get to hear some new music that I usually wind up liking later on. Every band has something to offer, and when those opening acts blow the roof the place, which they often times do, I sometimes feel a sense of connection to the band, and it’s mainly due to the fact that I could be on that same stage if I just worked out a single idea longer than a week or so. I know I could be, but I second guess myself too much. I always have that feeling of connection, but it really hit me hard when I went to see Mac Sabbath at the Worcester Palladium on March 25th.  read more

(Archive March 2017) An Interview with Sylvie Abate, Musician from Fitchburg

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Bryon Harris | Observer Contributor

Sylvie Abate is a local musician out of Fitchburg, MA. Along with being a multi-talented musician, Sylvie also shares a passion for helping others and creating a stronger community. Sylvie will be putting together a benefit music concert to celebrate and empower women.

From a very young age (12), Sylvie was immersed in music. She studied classical guitar at the HART School of Music then later on attended New England Conservatory. Sylvie later went on to form multiple bands that were all successful and played for many large groups. These experiences set the stage for Sylvie passion for music. read more

(Archive March 2017) Interview/Review of Local Musician Julie Cira

By editorialteam on September 10, 2024

By Bryon Harris | Observer Contributor

Julie Cira hails from the Happy Valley of Northampton, MA. She describes herself as alt-country/Americana, sometimes lo-fi indie rock, a femme-fatale, punk at heart.  Cira is relatively new to the Western Mass music scene and has made a notable entry with her self-titled three song EP.  All three songs on the EP display solid, engaging song-writing delivered by Cira’s warm and intimate vocals.  It is clear that Cira has passion and heart. Her music is soulful. read more