Browsing All Posts By Sam Bodnar
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Reviews 4
9ScoreRelatable: The Perfect Word for Lauren Duski’s “Costume Party”
In three minutes, Lauren Duski made me cry and re-evaluate my true motives. Her newest single, “Costume Party”, is that relatable. “Costume Party” defines the war inside myself ...
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Album Reviews 1
7ScoreBlending Pop, Country and Soul: Dan + Shay Impress Again
Upon hitting the market in 2016 Obsessed was instantly one of the top country/pop albums of the last decade. Blending themes of summer time and love, the album ...
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Album Reviews 9
6.5ScoreOne-Hit Wonder: Chloe Kohanski’s “Come This Far” Has a Deeper Message
NBC’s “The Voice” has yet to produce a mainstream artist. The only two notable successes (arguably) of the show are Cassadee Pope and Jordan Smith. Pope, the Season 4 ...
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Reviews 0
7.5Score“Little Girl” Reflects Christina Grimmie’s Love for Her Mom
Mother’s Day honors the millions of moms that routinely sacrifice everything to make their children’s world a better place. Breakfast in bed, cleaning the house, going out to ...
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Single Reviews 9
7ScoreKhalid and Normani’s “Love Lies” Among Top Singles of 2018
Khalid and Normani’s “Love Lies” impresses with its R&B beats and flirtatious lyrics. In three minutes of trading cutesy love lines, Khalid and Normani use their easy-going personalities ...
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Single Reviews 2
6.5ScoreChris Blue’s “Blue Blood Blues” Lacks Authenticity
Audio Tuning significantly devalues artists with incredible voices. It takes away from their authenticity as singers. Hip-hop/rap performers like Kendrick Lamar or Logic incorporate audio tuning and background ...
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3 Of The Week 9
3 Of The Week: Fall Pop Albums
Hyping up fans for upcoming albums is a tactic artfully administered among today’s top selling artists. Through releasing a few songs early, fans are able to gauge how ...
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Album Reviews 0
8.5ScoreAdam Wakefield: Adam Wakefield – EP
Nashville nurtures unique artists from all kinds of angles in the music industry. It’s a legendary place where folks gather to play their music and meet up-and-coming artists. ...
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Single Reviews 0
7.5ScoreAlisan Porter: Change Single Review
In the midst of an increasingly hostile political atmosphere, our society is at war with itself. Endless controversies within the government, activist groups sparring with discrimination; these are ...
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Single Reviews 11
4.5ScoreSundance Head: How I Want to Be
Growing up we are reminded at every meal not to bite off more than we can chew. Simply put, it is because we’ll choke and overwhelm ourselves. Just like ...
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Album Reviews 0
7.5ScoreHillsong United: Wonder
Tranquility is one of the most perfect feelings to ever enter my body. When I am at peace with myself, my day is brighter, the people around me ...
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Album Reviews 12
7ScoreChristina Grimmie: All is Vanity
It has now been a full year since her death. Yet, her legacy still massages the ears of her fans as it travels through their headphones. All is ...
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Album Reviews 0
7ScoreMidnight North: Under the Lights
Traveling the country and sharing music with appreciative audiences sounds like a dream come true. Along with the experience comes meeting new people, extending a fan base, and ...
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Editorials 6
Season 12 of “The Voice”: The Finale
This is it: the final week on Season 12 of “The Voice”. All throughout the competition Aliyah Moulden, Jesse Larson, Chris Blue, and Lauren Duski have sang their ...
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Editorials 4
Semifinals: Top 8 on Season 12 of “The Voice”
Season 12 is nearing its end and with half of the remaining eight artists going home, the contestants and coaches gave everything they had. On this week’s semifinals, ...
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Editorials 0
Top 10: Recapping Double Elimination
Following this week’s episode, only one more week remains until the finale. Monday night, the remaining 10 artists took it a step up in order to advance to ...
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Editorials 10
Top 11 Recap: Season 12 of “The Voice”
With the Top 10 looming, the remaining contestants powered through rehearsals to deliver unforgettable performances. Artists sang for America’s votes and two of them went head-to-head in an ...
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Editorials 5
Fate in the Fans’ Hands: Top 12 Results on “The Voice”
This week marked the second round of live episodes on Season 12 of “The Voice.” The fate of the remaining artists is now in the hands of the ...
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Album Reviews 10
8ScoreChristina Grimmie: Side B EP
Thousands of hours are dedicated to creating an album that is unique and beautiful. Between composing emotional and catchy lyrics, utilizing the right instruments and executing harmonies, artists ...
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Editorials 0
Playoffs: Night 2, Season 12 of “The Voice”
Tuesday was the second live episode and the final night of the playoffs. Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani each witnessed six of their artists fight for votes in ...
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Editorials 7
Live Playoffs: Night 1, Season 12 of “The Voice”
Monday marked the first live show of Season 12. Blake Shelton and Alicia Keys’ artists performed for voters, while Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani’s teams will be performing Tuesday ...
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Editorials 6
Final Knockouts: Week 7 on Season 12 of “The Voice”
In the final week of recorded episodes, artists brought their A-game in order to advance to the live playoffs, which begin next week. Only Alicia Keys had a ...
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Editorials 0
Knockout Matchups: Week 6 of “The Voice” Season 12
At this stage in the competition, the coaches only have one steal to claim that special artist for the live playoffs. Coaches utilized a new method of coaching ...
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Editorials 7
Recapping Battle Rounds: Season 12 of “The Voice”
Season 12’s final week of the battle rounds is complete. From pop to country to R&B, artists worked with their coaches and last week’s advisers in a fight ...
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Editorials 0
Recapping Week 4: Battle Rounds on Season 12 of “The Voice”
Monday and Tuesday were the first two nights of the Battle Rounds. Artists worked with guest advisors, moved on to the Knockouts, changed coaches, and some went home. ...
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Editorials 0
Recapping Blind Auditions: Season 12 of “The Voice”
Week three of the blind auditions is in the books and now the attention turns to the Battle Rounds. In this next round, coaches will pair up two artists ...
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Editorials 0
Recapping Week 2: Season 12 of “The Voice”
At the conclusion of week two, 14 new artists stepped into the spotlight and advanced one step closer to realizing their dream. While few graciously and gallantly took over ...
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Editorials 0
Recapping Week 1: Season 12 of “The Voice”
Season 12 of the hit Emmy winning show, The Voice, came back on Monday and showcased diverse artists from all over the United States. With four hours of ...
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Album Reviews 0
6.5ScoreJessie James Decker: Gold
As a high school student in AP Literature and Language courses, I have been trained to identify rhetorical devices- specifically imagery, and Jessie James Decker‘s visual imagery in her ...
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Single Reviews 8
6ScoreSingle Review – Imagine Dragons: “Believer”
In previewing album number three, the Imagine Dragons have come out with an upbeat and spellbinding new style. “Believer”, delivered by lead vocalist, Dan Reynolds, celebrates life’s pain for making him a believer in ...
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Single Reviews 12
5ScoreSingle Review: Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road”
Sam Hunt is computerizing country with his poppiest release to date. The Georgian country singer’s new single definitely took an alternative road in comparison with his previous work by sticking ...
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Album Reviews 4
6ScoreTrain: A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat
Train’s latest release perfectly fits its title, A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat. Nearly all of the 11 tracks are exciting, and connect with the alcohol and girl aspects ...
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Editorials 0
Alfie Arcuri: The Next Sam Smith?
We’ve all heard an artist that sounds exactly like another and typically, we don’t appreciate the tasteful techniques or the vocal tones as much. They aren’t as pleasing ...
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Album Reviews 4
6.5ScoreForlorn Strangers: Forlorn Strangers
“People want something that is authentic and real.” This one-liner from guitar and mandolin virtuoso Chris Banke is the most empowering message behind the Forlorn Strangers’ new self-titled album. ...
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Album Reviews 5
6ScoreDevvon Terrell The Renaissance
He couldn’t bring it back to life because there was nothing to revive. The Renaissance was a sparkling cultural rebirth of architecture, art, and intellect between the 14th ...
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Album Reviews 10
6ScoreFlorida Georgia Line: Dig Your Roots
A plant’s roots remain firm in the ground and develop overtime as it’s nurtured. They don’t disconnect and dance away to other types of life growing around them, nor do ...
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Album Reviews 0
7.5ScoreJustin Moore: Kinda Don’t Care
Country music is consistently producing new additions to develop the face of its style, and Justin Moore is healthfully contributing. Sadly, country albums are starting to lean more towards pop, which ...
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Show Reviews 1
Beautiful-The Carole King Musical
After a fabulous stint on the Broadway Stage, a national tour for Beautiful was cast and began its trip around the United States late last year. Jessie Mueller, the original Carole ...
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Editorials 0
Playlists are Magical
In no way whatsoever am I going to claim that I have the finest taste in music. Nor am I an expert with critically analyzing and identifying every ...
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Album Reviews 2
7ScoreJordan Smith: Something Beautiful – Deluxe Edition
The following is an update to Sam’s original review of Something Beautiful, which can be found here. Months ago, Jordan Smith, winner of “The Voice”, released his first ...
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Album Reviews 9
6.5ScoreOf Dirt and Grace: Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong UNITED has always impressed listeners with their harmonious serenity of gospel music, and that quality production continued in Of Dirt and Grace. Despite a lack of energy in this ...
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Album Reviews 0
7ScoreCaitlyn Smith – Starfire EP
Talented artists that want to stay on top of the food chain in the music industry need to be able to convey several emotions and cover multiple genres. Lady ...
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Album Reviews 0
4ScoreAmerican Authors: What We Live For
Picture being perched on top of a ski slope, blanketed with snow, looking down at a smooth ride ahead. You take off and feel the exhilarating rush of ...
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Album Reviews 8
4ScoreRed Hot Chili Peppers: The Getaway
Before you continue reading, I want to make it very clear that I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I always have and I always will, but it is ...
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Reviews 0
6.5ScoreSingle Review – Christina Aguilera: “Change”
In the aftermath of the Orlando attack, people of all backgrounds congregated together to show their love and support. Christina Aguilera did her part by writing a song in ...
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Album Reviews 3
7ScoreDan + Shay: Obsessed
Obsessed is nowhere near an overstatement for this diverse album lighting up the sky. The country-pop team of Obsessed is lead by Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, who ...
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Album Reviews 1
9ScoreThe Complete Season Ten Collection Alisan Porter
Every wide-spread, blazing fire develops from something, no matter how gigantic or minuscule. Alisan Porter, though seasoned from appearances in musicals like “The Ten Commandments” in Los Angeles and ...
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Editorials 5
How Hamilton Made History More Interesting
When we think of reading through historical events, irritating memories of our high school and college textbooks typically surface first. It’s not that history is a completely dull ...
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Album Reviews 7
7.5ScoreBlake Shelton: If I’m Honest
The aphorism “Honesty is the best policy” seemed to slip the minds of certain individuals on the release of Blake Shelton’s newest album: If I’m Honest. In the ...
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Album Reviews 9
6.5ScoreSawyer Fredericks A Good Storm
The ability to travel back in time has long been sought after and finally the phenomenon has been achieved… just not in the way you’d think. Artists with ...
