Seth- March, 2008

Seth is a local Grand Rapids artist I reviewed for my freelance job at Revue magazine. This was such a fun album to listen to, while Seth was great to talk to about information regarding his new album.

Flogging Molly- March 24, 2008

I loved reviewing this album. I've always been a Flogging Molly fan, and this album stays true to their Irish roots while incorporating quick, hard-hitting punches in the form of songs.

Goldfrapp, March 17, 2008

I was a bit disappointed with this album. I've always been used to the duo's hip electro-pop sound. 'Seventh Tree' was far from that. A good album, but not our same beloved Goldfrapp.

The Raveonettes- Feb. 25, 2008

I enjoyed this review since there is an interesting comparison to The Velvet Underground, one of my favorite bands. Though not as layered as TVU, The Raveonettes still produce cool art-rock.

This review was actually sent into a Rolling Stone College Journalism contest. Cross your fingers!

Lenny Kravitz- Feb. 12, 2008

The Lenny Kravitz review is the one that intimidated me the most. This man has been making music almost as long as I have been alive, with his first album coming out soon after my fifth birthday.
What I learned from this review is Kravitz is a seasoned artist who knows rock music. After the review was published, it quickly became my favorite.

Jack Johnson- Feb. 7, 2008

Although his music is popular around the college circuit, I ended up giving Johnson a mediocre review. His songs have only slightly changed since his debut album in 2002. There were only a few songs that stood out on the album, while the rest just merged into each other.

Vampire Weekend- Feb. 4, 2008

Like Sia, Vampire Weekend was also one of my favorite artists to review. Their sound is so fresh and original, I had nothing but great things to say about this New York-based band.

Sia- Jan. 28, 2008

This album was the most fun to review. Sia is an artist who is creative and eclectic. She has a great voice and knows how to use it. Listening to her album was quite the musical ride.

Natasha Bedingfield- Jan. 21, 2008

This is the review that really challenged me during the writing process. I normally do not listen to mainstream pop music, choosing indie or classic rock over mainstream radio, but the challenge is what helped me to become a stronger and more objective writer.

Rilo Kiley- Oct. 22, 2007

Here is the first album review that I wrote for the Grand Valley Lanthorn. My first venture into the world of album reviews was one that was scary and exciting. The best aspect about reviewing albums is that I can be creative, yet still hold up to AP Style standards. Here is the first example of my stepping into creative waters.