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Benny the Butcher delivers album of the year contender with “Burden of Proof”
By ANTHONY DECICCO | Oct. 22, 2020Album: “Burden of Proof”
Arts
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The UB Music Department continues to rehearse in-person during COVID
By ANASTASIA WILDS | Oct. 16, 2020Sarah Gawlak, a senior biochemistry major, has played the trumpet in the UB Concert Band since her freshman year. But this semester introduced new challenges that even this long-time musician never experienced before.
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Westside Gunn continues streak of consistency with “Who Made the Sunshine”
By ANTHONY DECICCO | Oct. 14, 2020Album: “Who Made the Sunshine”
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On “Savage Mode 2,” 21 Savage and Metro Boomin produce their best work yet
By ANTHONY DECICCO | Oct. 9, 2020Album: “Savage Mode 2”
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The top 5 most-anticipated video games of fall 2020
By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 28, 2020There’s no shortage of video game releases this fall to drain UB students’ time and bank accounts. We can’t go out much anymore, but we can stay home and discover new worlds. Here are some of The Spectrum’s favorite video games dropping this fall.
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Armani Caesar’s Layered Persona Shines Through on Her Debut Album
By QUINN KENNEDY | Sep. 27, 2020Album: “The Liz Tape”
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Camoflauge Monk, ToneyBoi, Jae Skeese and other local hip-hop artists share their craft with the Buffalo community from behind a plexiglass window
By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 17, 2020Local music venues, artists and UB’s art programs have been hit hardest amid the COVID pandemic. But Buffalo creatives and the UB Arts Collaboratory are finding creative ways to perform and showcase their art — all while staying safe.
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Conway the Machine shines on debut album “From King to a God”
By ANTHONY DECICCO | Sep. 17, 2020Album: “From King to a God”
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The arts continue to thrive at UB even during a pandemic
By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 10, 2020With Buffalo COVID cases rising and social distancing measures still in place, UB’s theatre and dance department has had to get creative with how to showcase student and faculty work, while still following university protocol.
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Dance students find unique ways to practice their craft in quarantine
By ANASTASIA WILDS | May 8, 2020Kelsey Wegman used to never want to share the stage. Like most dancers, she dreamed of big, dramatic solo numbers, dancing center stage, spotlight following her every move. But now the sophomore dance major wants nothing more than to pirouette next to her peers. Her private studio space is lonely, and watching her friends dance from hundreds of miles away during Zoom classes just isn’t the same.Dance students find unique ways to practice their craft in quarantine
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‘Making a Door Less Open’ is a rough transitional album for Car Seat Headrest
By ALEX WHETHAM | May 7, 2020Album: Making a Door Less Open Artist: Car Seat Headrest Label: Matador Records Release Date: May 1 Rating: 6/10‘Making a Door Less Open’ is a rough transitory album for Car Seat Headrest
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Great games you can pass the time with during quarantine
By ALEX FALTER | May 7, 2020Reading this, you’ve likely endured life in quarantine for over a month now, desperately looking for ways to pass the time. Well, millions of people are turning to video games, but not all are sure of what their next play should be.
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No tour, no problem: Jack Harlow talks productivity during pandemic
By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | May 4, 2020After the cancellation of his “Roaring ‘20s Tour” that had a stop at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom in April, Jack Harlow still heard some good news last month. And it wasn’t just good. It was gold.
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The show must go on, but not during the pandemic
By JUSTIN WOODMANCY | Apr. 29, 2020From SXSW to Justin Bieber’s “Changes” tour, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the postponement and cancelation of music performances across the world. While many fans are coping with FOMO and hundred-dollar ticket losses, local musicians, promoters, labels and small venues –– the backbone of Buffalo’s music community –– have stopped their operations entirely. Without a realistic date in place for a return to normalcy, members of the Buffalo music community are adapting to stay relevant, productive and in business. They can’t do what they love right now, and in some cases, they’re up against a financially uncertain future.
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Peering through the veil of wizardry and mystery: A conversation with DJ Rozwell
By ALEX WHETHAM | Apr. 27, 2020With muffled samples of paranormal television, lo-fi hip-hop beats and the occasional 16-bit synthesizer comprising his signature sound, no one sounds quite like DJ Rozwell. The West Virginia hip-hop producer gained notoriety in 2014 with “None of This is Real,” a mix meant for playing on shuffle with a five-six second crossfade to replicate the randomized elements of old ‘80s text-based and rogue-like role-playing games.
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‘The New Abnormal’ struggles to break out of The Strokes’ past
By ALEX FALTER | Apr. 21, 2020Artist: The Strokes Album: “The New Abnormal” Label: RCA Release Date: April 10 Rating: 6/10
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Rapper Marc Mighty is learning to ‘keep faith’ in strange times
By ALEX WHETHAM | Apr. 18, 2020Rapper Marc Mighty had everything all set up. While finishing his new EP “The Iliad,” he planned release shows in his hometown, photography sessions and even new recordings.
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Hundred Plus Club’s ‘Need Boost’ twists influences to sound fresh and familiar
By JUSTIN WOODMANCY | Apr. 8, 2020Album: “Need Boost” Artist: Hundred Plus Club Label: Admirable Traits Release Date: April 3 Grade: 8/10
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Music department’s final ‘Brown Bag’ concert of semester to stream online
By ALEX WHETHAM | Apr. 6, 2020Despite the Covid-19 pandemic preventing in-person gatherings and concerts, the music department's “Brown Bag” concert series will go on as scheduled online Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. on the department’s Facebook page. Eric Huebner, UB music department’s director of undergraduate studies, will host the concert, which will run approximately an hour in length. As per the conventions of the concert series, the performers and pieces will not be announced until the concert is in progress.
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The best shows to binge watch during quarantine
By ALEX FALTER | Apr. 6, 2020It’s been roughly a month of quarantine and you’ve already binge watched all of your favorite television shows, some possibly more than once. Before you resort to rewatching “Rick and Morty” for the tenth time, be sure to check out this list of marathon-worthy shows.
