Imagine you just released a big-budget pop album and are touring what feels like every corner of the world. On top of that, you are quite literally blasting off to outer space. Yet, all the general public seems to be paying attention to right now is a 2009 single that sounds nothing like anything else you have ever done, and people are starting to want more. If your name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson and you go by Katy Perry, no need to imagine.

Riddled all over my feed as of late are snippets of Katy Perry’s “Thinking of You,” the single sandwiched between “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot n Cold” on one end and “Waking Up in Vegas” and “California Gurls” on the other. Unlike those songs and most others in her career, including the record-setting singles from ‘Teenage Dream’ that currently tie the record with Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ for most number-one singles from the same album, this song kind of faded into obscurity. However, with Katy Perry launching into space while most people are fine with her staying in cruise control, people have been reminiscing about staying tuned to Katy Hudson over Katy Perry – and there’s no better song to do that with than “Thinking of You.”

After the departure of their previous vocalist and guitarist Issac Woods, there was a lingering question over where Black Country, New Road would take their music. After all, Ants from Up There was quite a heavy hitter in the post-rock scene, being an indie darling in itself. If there was one thing that was guaranteed, it was that the rest of the band had some big shoes to fill. However, I am here to tell you that their recent release, Forever Howlong, is quite an apt follow up from their Bush Hall performances, even if I am hesitant to say it surpasses AFUT.

The debut single from this album “Besties” is admittedly a departure from the more recognizable sound of their previous works, but it is difficult to ignore the baroque roots that are clearly present, even if they end up being slightly drowned out by the more initially upbeat lyrics. However, I would argue that one of the songs where this album truly shines is the third and final single that they released prior to this album’s release: “For the Cold Country”. It is on this track that the complexity of this album shines, the song invoking a sort of unusual knightly energy that I was aching to hear more of on the final release, though admittedly that may be some of this reviewer’s fantastical preferences leaking into their musical taste. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention a personal favorite of mine of this album as well. “Salem Sisters” is an interesting auditory experience, a story of a summer barbecue beautifully punctuated by rising and falling instrumentation, leaving me hooked from the moment the song started.

The Backyard Brawl hits the diamond as the West Virginia Mountaineers (23-4) welcome in their arch rival the Pittsburgh Panthers (16-11). 

Pitt comes into this Big 12 ACC matchup with a below .500 record in ACC play at 3-6. They have lost three consecutive ACC series against Georgia Tech, NC State and most recently to Boston College. The Mountaineers sit at 4-3 in Big 12 play coming off a high scoring series win in Provo Utah against the BYU Cougars where they scored 29 runs in their two wins. 

To say “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Kendrick Lamar’s Seminal work, aged like fine wine over the past 10 years would be a grand understatement – this album aged akin to a 1762 French Cognac. The album dubbed “TPAB” online is taught in university classrooms across the country, played at protests, featured at number 19 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Best Albums of All Time list, and hailed as one of the best, if not the best, Hip-Hop albums of all time by casual listeners and critics alike. I could parrot many past talking points when discussing this album: Extraordinary creativity, consistent theming, lyrical complexity, musical complexity, stellar production, ridiculous feature list, and conciseness in its message. Instead, I would like to celebrate the album’s 10-year anniversary (this past March 15th) by highlighting TPAB’s longevity and staying power. If you take anything from this article, it is to give this album another listen (especially with the lyrics pulled up alongside as a reference, as you will likely need them).

What I believe makes this album so remarkable is that it may not be “topped” in the foreseeable future, even by Kendrick himself. While “Untitled Unmastered,” “DAMN,” “Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers,” many of his various side projects and most recently "GNX” have been excellent, earning Lamar 37 Grammy nominations, it is hard to see TPAB being dethroned. Somehow, this album has managed to remain relevant and arguably become more relevant. Themes discussed on the album, such as racial inequality, the Black American identity, the trap of fame, exploitation, the cycle of trauma, survival in the face of great odds, the complex relationship between capitalism and the music industry, spirituality, redemption, self-love, self-loathing, institutional racism, and the intricacies of the American political system, continue to be paramount in the American struggle. Simply put, this album discusses things that are present now, will be present for the foreseeable future, and may not ever go away.

Ross Hodge, a Dallas, Texas native and 2nd year head coach at North Texas, makes the jump from the American Conference to the Big 12. Hodge has gone 45-23 in two years at North Texas

Hodge has helped lead some of the best defenses in the country in the last few years and was very successful doing so. Hodge, in his first season at North Texas, finished with a record of 19-15 and an appearance in the NIT. In his second season, North Texas made major strides; they currently have a record of 27-8 and are now in the Final Four of the NIT after finishing second in the American Conference. Hodge also played a huge role in the success North Texas had under current Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland. 

Most people will lock eyes with that iconic red album cover and immediately recognize it as “Semi-Charmed Life” or “that one album with that one suicide song.” Which it is, of course, but many don’t recognize it for what it also is: one of the best debut alternative rock albums of the 1990s. And if you’re one of those people—don’t worry, that’s what I’m here for.

Third Eye Blind’s self-titled debut came out on April 8th, 1997, starring Stephan Jenkins as lead vocalist and Kevin Cadogan on guitar. Brad Hargreaves and Arion Salazar are on drums and bass, respectively, ultimately forming the band that would come together and make the album what it is—a late 90s anthem of angst, broken hearts, filled with that signature pop-rock-post-grunge sound, dripping with crystal meth addictions and self-hatred. Even nearly 28 years later, this 57-minute-long record is an important listen for downcast teenagers (and young adults) everywhere.

The West Virginia Mountaineers (19-3) are set to face long-time rival Marshall (12-12) once again in an in-state showdown at Kendrick Family Ballpark. 

The Mountaineers are looking to bounce back after dropping their first series of the season, after losing two out of three games against Arizona. Despite the setback, they look to get back on track in win column against a Thundering Herd squad looking to pick up a big-time win. 

The sixth-seeded West Virginia University Mountaineers (24-7) will duel the 11-seeded Columbia University Lions (24-6) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The Mountaineers had a historic regular season, being the second in which they were ranked in all 20 AP polls. Led by the two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year JJ Quinerly, the Mountaineers are ready to make a March Madness run. 

The West Virginia University Mountaineers (18-1) host the Arizona University Wildcats (16-4) in the Mountaineers’ first Big 12 home series. 

The Mountaineers are 1-0 in conference play, with a win against preseason favorite Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The Mountaineers and Cowboys had two other games scheduled for last weekend, but both were postponed due to extreme weather conditions in the state. 

Long-time readers may recognize a trend in my album reviews-- specifically, I tend to obsess over emo-adjacent albums with blue covers (IKHT, Combat, starling, some others). This article is no different.

Mend, Move On, released in 2014, is the first studio-length album from Australian melodic-hardcore-turned-pop-punk band Trophy Eyes, and as you may have gathered, I’ve had it on loop for about a month now. The album has a bit of everything, from its half heavy, half hauntingly melodic shouted vocals and crushingly introspective lyrics to its quintessential emo drums and guitar parts. And a blue album cover, of course.