Ryan Diller ‘13

At least for me, this was a great year for music.  Particularly, this was a great year for the radio.  Never have I found so much to enjoy on both Top 40 and Alternative radio.  Sure, there were still unbearable songs that made me change the station every time they came on, such as “Call me Maybe,” or “Stronger...

Is it safe to declare The Black Keys the best rock ‘n’ roll band in the world?  They’re certainly the most universal, with their songs equally beloved by alternative, indie, and, at long last, mainstream rock fans.  Made up of just two laid back guys from Akron, Ohio with great senses of humor in guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer...

Whether they intend to create a positive or negative portrait of the genre, most forms of country music can be associated with the image of the hard-living, alcoholic musician channeling his emotions of sorrow and regret through an acoustic guitar.  In reality, the sounds most often played on country music radio stations is slick, over-produced Nashville ilk. Like mainstream rock...

Artists experiencing alienation from their surroundings is nothing special.  What makes an artist great is his total sense of self-awareness and ability to communicate his thoughts and emotions.  Unfortunately, mindsets that lend themselves to self-awareness often result in an inability to interact with others in a socially acceptable manner.  Unable to find meaning in their interpersonal relationships, misunderstood artists...