The Ithacan

‘I Said I Love You First’ shows Gomez’s renewed love

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • March 27, 2025

On March 21, Selena Gomez released her fourth studio album and first in almost five years. The album, “I Said I Love You First,” was made in collaboration with her fiancé, songwriter and producer...

Gaga brings plenty of musical ‘Mayhem’ with her latest album

By Sheelagh Doe, Life and Culture Editor • March 20, 2025

Fans of Lady Gaga have been patiently waiting for the pop-rock star’s return to writing music and as of March 7, they got it with the release of her seventh studio album, “Mayhem.” Gaga has resurfaced...

‘People Watching’ spotlights Fender’s vulnerability

By Billy Wood, Staff Writer • March 6, 2025

After over three years of silence, British rocker Sam Fender released his anticipated third studio album, “People Watching,” on Feb. 21. Fender, now 30, has maintained his indie musical style on...

‘So Close To What’ hits its peak

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • March 5, 2025

On Feb. 21, singer-songwriter Tate McRae released her third studio album, titled “So Close To What.” The album comes after McRae had a breakout year in 2024, with her hit song “Greedy” from her...

Alessia Cara brings raw feelings in ‘Love & Hyperbole’

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • February 19, 2025

On Feb. 14, singer-songwriter Alessia Cara released her fourth studio album titled “Love & Hyperbole,” which Cara began writing in 2021. For the four years up until release, Cara made sure to...

The Lumineers don’t get ‘Automatic’ praise

By Gianna Izzo, Contributing Writer • February 19, 2025

Over a decade after The Lumineers rose to prominence with their breakout hit “Ho Hey,” they returned with their fifth studio album “Automatic,” released Feb. 14. The folk band stays true to their...

The Weeknd dives deep in ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

By Billy Wood, Staff Writer • February 5, 2025

When The Weeknd released his fourth studio album “After Hours” in the spring of 2020, he set off what would become his most ambitious project yet. What we know now is that “After Hours” was just...

Bad Bunny shows strong Latin American unity in ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOTos’

By Mariana Contreras, Staff Writer • January 23, 2025

Almost a decade after Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio— known as Bad Bunny— started to gain recognition in the U.S. Hot Latin Songs lists, he released his sixth album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOTos,”...

Kendrick Lamar continues to flaunt West Coast confidence in ‘GNX’

By John Baker, Staff Writer • December 3, 2024

On Nov. 22, one of hip-hop’s most beloved icons, Kendrick Lamar, released his sixth studio album “GNX” by surprise. Although there were no singles or promotions for this release, there was certainly no lack of anticipation after his feud with Canadian rapper and music superstar Drake. This beef was one of the ugliest and most vicious rap beefs, with scathing accusations made on both sides. The battle between the two hip-hop moguls was capped off with Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” — which does not appear on this new release — debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning over 900 million streams over just a few months.

Tyler, the Creator connects with fans in ‘CHROMAKOPIA’

By Kellyanne Kearney, Contributing Writer • November 12, 2024

Tyler, the Creator dropped his most personal album to date Oct. 28. “CHROMAKOPIA” explores themes about Tyler’s struggles with love, sexuality and the idea of fatherhood. To get a full week of Billboard chart tracking, artists typically release new music on Fridays at midnight, but Tyler chose to release his album on a Monday at 6 a.m. instead. He said he wanted his fans to be able to listen to the album with their full attention. He also made the creative decision to hide his features upon release, so they do not distract fans from listening to the full album.

Pixies raise the dead with eerie rocking melodies

By Sheelagh Doe, Staff Writer • October 30, 2024

Pixies has come back to haunt October with their spooky spectacular ninth studio album “The Night the Zombies Came.” The album holds a theme of horror with stories of zombies, hypnosis and being chased from the perspective of a decapitated chicken. The band has been long known for its imprint on rock music in the 1980s and early 1990s, but as of March this year, its bassist Paz Lenchantin left the group and fans have been eager to hear what the band’s new sound will be. Emma Richardson, the new bassist, pulls through with her smooth vocals on various tracks in the new album. Bass lines are the glue to any song and Richardson proves her ability to keep up with the large shoes left for her to fill, while also adding her own style.

Hippo Campus’ new album ‘Flood’ is underdeveloped and overall disappointing

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Managing Editor • October 2, 2024

On Sept. 20, Hippo Campus released its fourth studio album. Although the title “Flood” can evoke auditory memories of the band’s past triumphs like singles “Monsoon” or “Bubbles,” the album has neither the emotion of the former nor the ingenuity of the latter. Hippo Campus’ new album does not exhibit the same musical quality that put the band on NPR Music’s favorite new artists list in 2017.