Sampling — the practice of using a recorded part or melody from one song in another — has been a force in popular music, especially in hip-hop beats, for decades, and it has always been controversial. Countless artists have waged lawsuits against others whose songs are partly made from theirs, and costs for clearing samples… Continue reading Hey Now, That’s The Wrong Song: On Song Mashups
Boygenius: How to Succeed in Doing the Bare Minimum
Boygenius isn’t revolutionizing anything.
Crucified in Crimson: A Performance Review of Aurora Gray’s New EP Christian Park
Last October, I witnessed my first Afrikan Heritage House Soul Session. These monthly gatherings display the talents of Oberlin’s Black community while incorporating such cultural elements as shoe-throwing as a form of applause. A stand out in the extensive lineup was Aurora Gray ‘27, an independent artist whose soft-spoken, but controlled vocals are soothing enough… Continue reading Crucified in Crimson: A Performance Review of Aurora Gray’s New EP Christian Park
Bloody Bugs and Forest Rock: Time Bug at Porchella
On May 11, The folk-punk band Time Bug will perform a 20-minute set at Porchella at Tank Hall at 3:30 pm. Porchella — which has become an Oberlin tradition — is the ultimate ‘darty.’ Every year, Tank Co-Op welcomes all students to their humble front porch for some sun with a groovy soundtrack. This year,… Continue reading Bloody Bugs and Forest Rock: Time Bug at Porchella
Fronzoli and Its Psychedelic Supremacy
It’s not difficult to be immediately fascinated by the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. The chaos of their name alone is provocative, but their sixth album, Fronzoli (2023), takes their intrigue to a whole other level. I’ve been an adoring fan since I first started listening around 2020 and an obsessed freak ever since I saw… Continue reading Fronzoli and Its Psychedelic Supremacy
Mandolins and Baritones and Whiskers On Kittens (Preview for Oberlin Sinfonietta)
By Grant North The Oberlin Sinfonietta will perform its final free concert of the 2023-2024 academic year in Warner Concert Hall on Thursday May 2nd at 7:30pm. Led by Timothy Weiss, this ensemble traditionally plays a wide array of pieces from the Classical era to the contemporary with straightforward instrumentation. The Sinfonietta often aims for… Continue reading Mandolins and Baritones and Whiskers On Kittens (Preview for Oberlin Sinfonietta)
Preview of Concert: Oberlin Chamber Orchestra
The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Raphael Jiménez, is presenting its final concert this academic year at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 3 in the Finney Chapel. This concert features three pieces from three different eras, including Cashel Day-Lewis’s Black River Prelude, a world premiere, Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist… Continue reading Preview of Concert: Oberlin Chamber Orchestra
Sarah Krohn at the ‘Sco
“We used to go by different names — Sarah Krohn of Mascs and Men. That was when I had a mullet. Then we were Sarah Krohn of Femmes and Friends because I grew out the mullet. Then we were like ‘we need a new name,’ but we never settled on it, so now we’re just going… Continue reading Sarah Krohn at the ‘Sco
Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: Bitter, But Good
Two hours after Taylor Swift released her eleventh album The Tortured Poets Department, she surprise-released a bonus disc, subtitled The Anthology, doubling its length to over two hours. Few of those extra tracks earn their place on the full record, and their inclusion makes the double album a more arduous listen than it needs to… Continue reading Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: Bitter, But Good
26th Annual Folk Fest Coming to Oberlin in Early May
Every year since 1999, Oberlin College’s Folk Music Club has hosted Folk Fest — a free weekend-long music festival that brings in musicians and bands to perform in Oberlin. This year’s will run on Thursday, May 2 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm, Friday, May 3 from 8:00 to 11:00 pm, and Saturday, May 4 from… Continue reading 26th Annual Folk Fest Coming to Oberlin in Early May
thecounterpoint.org 