review
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Five underground albums that got me through 2025
I had more than one person tell me that 2025 was a tough year for them. Whether it be socially, politically, or just several external factors that were weighing on their mind, it was not an easy year to separate the art from whatever else was going on in the world. It also doesn’t help
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In conversation with Chris Messineo: bringing ‘The Strange Dark’ to light
Before movies ever felt like a career path, they felt like a kind of magic for Chris Messineo. Growing up, Messineo believed the people who made films lived somewhere far away on the West Coast, in a world that felt unreachable. It wasn’t until his twenties, as independent film began flourishing outside of Hollywood, that
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RiverJAM Music hosts thrilling line-up at Songs & Stories concert series
On Jan. 9, RiverJAM Music hosted yet another sold-out night as part of their Listening Room: Songs & Stories intimate concert series in Red Bank, NJ. Fronted by English singer-songwriter James Maddock, Reagan Richards and Gordon Brown of Williams Honor, and the legendary guitarist Ricky Byrd, the night was pleasantly filled with both philanthropy and
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In conversation with Jess Chase: the confessions of ‘Carnage’
Upon first meeting Jess Chase, it is immediately apparent that she’s undeniably confident, earnest, and passionate. A self-made artist, Chase has dedicated her life thus far to something that’s always been consistent: music. “I’ve been doing music my whole life,” she began. A transplant to New York City from Washington state, Chase attended high school
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In conversation with Kevin Blackwell of Sassparilla: ‘Honey, I’m Using Again’ is a confession and a prayer
Americana/punk band, Sassparilla, returns with their eighth record, Honey, I’m Using Again, on February 20, 2026. The Portland, Oregon, and Golden, Colorado, based bandmates Kevin Blackwell, Doug Ebert, and Dan Power worked together on the project, recording the entire album from Blackwell’s basement. Sassparilla quickly made their mark on the Portland music scene, bound by
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REVIEW – Yubiori returns angrier than ever on sophomore album
Yubiori2 is an extension of everything Japanese rock band Yubiori delivered on their debut album yubiori, only bigger. The music is louder, the horns are in your face, and lead singer Yoshiaki Tamura has made it a point to make sure his voice is front and center within the mix. As strange as it may
