One Hit Wonder or Not? Blu Cantrell – So Blu

Album review: Blu Cantrell - So Blu

In the third installment of our One Hit Wonders round, we listened to Blu Cantrell’s debut album, So Blu.
The album was released in 2001 and featured the very famous and very awesome song “Hit em’ up Style (Oops!)”.
But what about the rest of the album? Equally awesome? Well, that’s what we endeavored to find out this month as we dissected So Blu. Does Blu Cantrell deserve to be better known for her body of work? Was she done dirty? We seemed to be aligned for the most part. Tune in to the episode to see what we thought of it.

Continue reading

One Hit Wonders: Blu Cantrell – So Blu

Blu Cantrell - So Blu

For the next four podcast episodes we will be reviewing what are considered to be one-hit wonders. Here we are on our second of four picks with our One Hit Wonders series, looking at artists and albums that were One Hit Wonders – loosely meaning that the album had one or so big singles, then we likely never really heard from the band again. I’ve always liked the song You Get What You Give by New Radicals, bought the album when it came out, but don’t remember listening to it beyond the single, and have been listening to that single a lot recently. Then the Foo Fighters announced Josh Freese as their new drummer in May 2023, and while reading about him, I noticed he drummed on two songs from Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too by New Radicals, and decided to make this my pick for the month. – Scott Coates @ The Sonic Collective

Continue reading

Review of The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground and Nico

The Velvet Underground and Nico

Alain’s pick for March 2023 had us listen to The Velvet Underground’s debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, which was released in 1967, but failed to really make a splash on the music scene until nearly a decade after its release for a variety of reasons. The Velvet Underground would ultimately go on to leave a legacy of influence and high regard in the annals of music history, and we decided to start at the beginning to see if the band is worth the hype.

Continue reading

The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground

For March 2023 we will listen to and share our thoughts on The Velvet Underground’s 1966 debut and almost self-titled album, “The Velvet Underground and Nico”. This album is said to have been one of the biggest influences on rock and alternative music ever, but when it was first released, it was a flop, largely in part to its controversial subject matter. How does it hold up to modern tastes and sensibilities? Will any of us enjoy this album? Tune in at the end of the month to see our review.

Continue reading

THE REVEAL EPISODE – What Connects These Three Albums? – Part 4

What connects these albums Pt 4

For the next four months we are changing up our format to try something fun. Each of us will pick three albums that share a common thread. We want you to listen to these albums and try to figure out what the common thread between them is. We listened to Led Zeppelin 3 by Led Zeppelin, Bookends by Simon and Garfunklel, and Pronounced ‘Leh-‘Nerd ‘Skin-‘Nerd- by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Three very bluesy albums that we all seemed to enjoy

Continue reading

THE REVEAL EPISODE – What Connects These Three Albums? – Part 3

THE REVEAL - What connects these thee albums Pt 3

For the next four months we are changing up our format to try something fun. Each of us will pick three albums that share a common thread. We want you to listen to these albums and try to figure out what the common thread between them is. We listened to Led Zeppelin 3 by Led Zeppelin, Bookends by Simon and Garfunklel, and Pronounced ‘Leh-‘Nerd ‘Skin-‘Nerd- by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Three very bluesy albums that we all seemed to enjoy

Continue reading

What Connects These Three Albums? – Part 4

What Connects These Albums - Pt 4

For the next four months we are changing up our format to try something fun. Each of us will pick three albums that share a common thread. We want you to listen to these albums and try to figure out what the common thread between them is. Member Alain Dupuis is up this month and he chose A Trick of the Tail by Genesis, The Real Thing by Faith No More, and Human by 3 Days Grace

Continue reading

Alice in Chains – Dirt

Alice in Chains

Alain here, with our pick for July 2022. A couple of months ago, my girlfriend seemed to have stumbled onto the band Alice in Chains for the first time, and very quickly began extolling their music, and specifically their album Dirt as being pure genius. High praise from someone who has never really demonstrated much interest in 90s alt rock. So I pretty much HAVE to check it out, right? And why not bring the Sonic Collective family along for the ride!

Continue reading

Review of Dap-Dippin’: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings circa 2015

As we continue to explore the musical genre of Soul, Sonic Collective member Alain Dupuis has chosen for us to review Dap-Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. This album was released in 2002, but you’d never know it by listening to it. As part of the Brooklyn soul revivalist movement that kicked off in the early 2000s, this album sounds like it belongs straight out of the 1960s.

Continue reading