New Backxwash album proves to be heavy, suffocating
Zambian-Canadian rapper Backxwash (“Daddy Issues”) released her fourth full-length album “HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING” on Oct. 31. This concludes a trilogy of albums in which Backxwash reflects on her past while embracing a neo-gothic…
Carly Rae Jepsen charts new territory with ‘The Loneliest Time’
Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen (“Dedicated”) released her sixth studio album “The Loneliest Time” on Oct. 28. The album is consistent with Jepsen’s stylistic disco-esque synth pop, though She said that she wanted to “broaden the spectrum of what the…
Hochul best choice for governor
Gov. Kathy Hochul is awful. Here is why you should vote for her. Jumaane Williams’ loss in the New York Democratic primary proved once again the unwillingness of the party to nominate a progressive candidate. While centrists like Gov. Hochul…
Taylor Swift album ‘Midnights’ is one not to sleep on
American singer-songwriter and jet owner Taylor Swift (“Carolina”) released her tenth studio album, “Midnights,” on Oct. 21. The album is a detour from the “Taylor’s Version” re-release project she had completed with her two previous releases. “Midnights’” release was special,…
New Backstreet Boys album butchers Christmas classics
The Backstreet Boys (“DNA”) released their first Christmas album “A Very Backstreet Christmas” on Oct. 14, 72 days before Christmas. The album was intended to be released last year, but was pushed back due to the pandemic. But Backstreet is…
Pardoning of marijuana crimes good start but not enough for justice, equality
President Biden pardoned all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession on Oct. 6. This decision will impact thousands of innocent Americans convicted for a crime grounded in baseless fear-mongering and institutional racism. The White House estimates about 6,500 people…
Middling King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard album lacks creativity
Australian rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (“Omnium Gatherum”) released their 21st studio album, “Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava,” on Oct. 7. The album is the first of a trio of albums the band announced for…
Annual Pumpkin Fest returns to city of Oswego
The Oswego chapter of the YMCA held its annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 1 and 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Washington Square Park. The Pumpkin Festival, which is co-sponsored by the City of Oswego, included…
Aimless ‘Fossora’ exhausts listeners with drawn out songs, concepts
Icelandic singer and producer Björk (“Country Creatures”) released her tenth studio album “Fossora” on Sept. 30. The album comes five years after the release of her last project, the folktronica-inspired “Utopia.” “Fossora” takes a new sound holding up to the…
Laker Review highlights four ‘spooktacular’ Halloween songs
For the month of December, radio stations switch their playlists to entirely carols, novelty songs and other wintertime songs from the austere tradition of “Silent Night” to the white guilt of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Halloween gets no similar…
