Since the Year has come to an end, we decided to compile SCAD Radio’s staff picks of favorite album from 2022, this was an album that came out from 2022 or an album that they listened to several times that were their favorite from the year.

General Manager – Dylan Guiterrez: 3 Dimensions Deep by Amber Mark

Content Director – Vinay Ranganathan : Once Twice Melody by Beach House

Events Director – David Levy : Babylon Music From The Major Motion Picture Soundtrack by Justin Hurwitz

Events DJ –  Negan Fu : Dawn FM by The Weeknd

Music Coordinator – Hailey Feller : “Superache” by Conan Gray 

Program Director –  Ell Pikor : “If I Can’t Have Love, I want Power” by Halsey

Production Director – Megan Atwell : “Hellfire” by Black Midi

Branding Director – Taylor Eby : “Renaissance” by Beyonce

Social Media Director – Kshirja Raje: “Midnights” by Taylor Swift

Events DJ (ATL) – Caroline Moody : “Confident” by Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper 

Assistant Content Director – Clove Morgan : “5 Seconds Flat” by Lizzie McAlpine

Assistant Events DJ – Christopher Chin :  “Devil For the Fire” by Vundabar

Assistant Music Coordinator- Logan Fitch : “Crash” by Charli XCX

Assistant Program Director- Zach Nguyen: “LP3” by Hippo Campus

Assistant Production Director- Tatiana Zavala: Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by Arctic Monkeys

Assistant Production Director- Riley Samz: Girl Next Door by Kailee Morgue

Assistant Production Director- Mairyn McGilvray: Preachers Daughter by Ethel Cain

Assistant Social Media Director- Avery Naylor-Johnson: Crash by Charli XCX

Listen now on Spotify Staff Picks 

Check out who’s who on “Meet the Staff” 

The post Staff Picks Special: Favorite Album of 2022 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

General Manager – Dylan Guiterrez: “Stuck on the Puzzle” by Alex Turner from Submarine

Content Director – Vinay Ranganathan: “Opening Song – Merry-Go-Round of Life” by Joe Hisaishi from Howl’s Moving Castle

Events Director – David Levy: “Top Gun Anthem” from Top Gun

Events DJ –  Negan Fu: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate

Music Coordinator – Hailey Feller: “Here I Am” by Bryan Adams from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Program Director –  Ell Pikor: “#UnveilTheBeast” by Ludvig Forssell from Belle

Production Director – Megan Atwell: “15 Step” by Radiohead from Twilight

Branding Director – Taylor Eby: “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer from She’s All That 

Social Media Director – Kshirja Raje: “Kun Faya Kun” by A.R. Rahman from Rockstar 

Listen now on Spotify Staff Picks Check out who’s who on “Meet the Staff”

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Written by Clove Morgan

Who wouldn’t want to be the main character of a story? In a generation of daydreamers, it’s only fitting that we find ourselves consuming all forms of media and imagining ourselves recreating scenarios to mimic the content. Whether you’d like to put yourself in a period piece, an action film, or a corny teen drama, you need an immersive playlist to truly get into the moment. Between professing your love to Mr. Darcy in the rain to fighting alongside the Avengers or discovering your crush is a vampire, music is the key to getting there.

Allow me to guide you through the process of devising your soundtrack, but let’s try to model it based on something small-scale and familiar: your daily routine. Of course, depending on your genre of movie the type of music varies; let’s set a ground rule that you cannot immediately align your taste in tunes with your taste in films. No one would play Tupac over a ballroom scene.

First of all, determine the genre you would like to partake in. Ask yourself how fantastical you’d like to go. Do you want to lean into the exaggerated dramatics of cinema? Or pretend your life is a beloved coming-of-age piece? Whatever the answer may be, let it serve as the foundation for your playlist. Then, you can get into the juicy plotlines that will dictate your song choice.

When you wake up, is it slow and tranquil, or abrupt and disturbing? Depending on your answer, open peacefully or with a bang. Consider the pace of your daily events, and you can greatly advance your search for the perfect song. If you’d like to imagine yourself waking up to the sound of birds chirping, I suggest Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals: Aviary”. On the opposite end of things, waking up to “Gangster” by Labrinth, courtesy of the HBO series Euphoria, can provide a kick to the start of your day.

As you go about reviewing your routine, whether it’s occupied by work or class schedules, don’t be afraid of selecting songs based on the feeling they give you. A soundtrack needs to have a cohesive flow, but that should not heed you from picking something to diversify your listening experience.

A good story has a range of accompanying emotions. If you see your arch nemesis, include a song that makes you feel powerful or even one that brings a sense of going into battle. Don’t shy away from love songs when you have a run-in with the object of your affections. In the car or walking, emulate the feeling of an exhaustive journey toward greatness. A well-rounded, engaging character can make or break a story. You’re a compelling individual, express it in your soundtrack!

As your day is coming to a close, decide the ending you think your story deserves. The audience, even if it only consists of yourself, needs a dénouement or a wrap-up of sorts. No matter how inclined to mystery you are, a film needs a finale. If you didn’t have the best day, maybe a melancholic song like “In Safe Hands” by Badly Drawn Boy can become your memorable moment of sorrow. A joyous, heart-warming ending scene may need a touch of Hozier’s “Almost (Sweet Music)”. You put time into this, don’t let it go unfinished.

The experience of creating your main character soundtrack is a reflective one, but it can be fun as well. Listen to new music. Go down rabbit holes and find new artists. Take your imagination to a whole new level. Happy daydreaming!

The post How to Make Your Perfect Main Character Soundtrack appeared first on SCAD Radio.

With a whopping 23% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the only saving grace in this action disaster may have been the covers featured on the Sucker Punch soundtrack. I remember personally being excited for this film to come out, but being very underwhelmed with the result. Aside from the contents of the film, actress Emily Browning did a pretty remarkable cover of the song “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics and “Where is my Mind?” by the Pixies.

Here is the full soundtrack.

Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013)

This classic remake went over a bit better with the movie critics, scoring 49% on Rotten Tomatoes. While the movie was visually appealing, it’s up for debate as to whether the soundtrack for this film was its highlight or downfall. Lots of critics agree that Gatsby’s scenes were lackluster, and the music was offensive to the classic American novel the movie is based on. However, others say director Baz Luhrmann’s twist with artists from today kept them watching. This movie features songs like Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” and Sia’s “Kill and Run”, as well as rap and hip-hop artists like Jay-Z and Andre 3000 for extravagant party scenes.

You can listen to the full soundtrack here.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Alright, I’m making the executive decision to not even look at the critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, because I don’t need a professional to tell me just how bad this movie is. While many mothers across the country enjoyed this steamy smut on the big screen, many young adults avoided the film like the plague, and those in the BDSM community were outraged by the film’s portrayal of their practices. Something unavoidable, though, were the songs featured in the film that played on radio and in advertisements frequently up until the film’s release. With songs like “Earned It” by The Weeknd and “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding, Fifty Shades of Grey really had some bops on its soundtrack.

Click this link for the soundtrack.

Tron: Legacy (2010)

While Disney tried its best to reboot this popular sci-fi film from the ’80s, many felt that it was an action-packed disaster. Personally, I don’t think it was a disaster, it just lacked key moments of story development prior to the action, leaving some viewers confused as to why everything was happening so fast. Alongside the bright lights and gear of the movie were the electronic riffs and synths of Daft Punk, who just so happened to score THE ENTIRE MOVIE. Fans of this techno pop were in for a treat with this movie, and the soundtrack accompanied this sci-fi action flick beautifully, maybe even too good for its intended purpose.

Fasten your seatbelts, the soundtrack is here.

Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof (2007)

Now the biggest reason as to why people dislike this movie is the gore- but hear me out, Quentin Tarantino can’t put a cap on the amount of blood in his films, that’s against everything he stands for. Other hard film critics see that the film lacks a cohesive plot, leaving it somewhat forgettable to those who saw it. Putting it lightly, I have yet to meet anyone who’s favorite Tarantino film is Death Proof. Masking the chaos of the movie is its soundtrack, which Tarantino’s movies excel in, combining a plethora of genres from multiple decades with purpose.

If you’re feeling like stepping back in time to the ‘50s and up, you can listen to the Death Proof Soundtrack here.

Batman Forever (1995)

There are a few reasons as to why audiences and critics DID NOT like this movie one bit. The first problem is the switch in actors for Batman from Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer, which I personally had no qualms with, leaving fans of the films upset that Kilmer didn’t live up to their expectations of the superhero. Others felt that the buildup to the action in the movie was exhausting and left big fight scenes underwhelming. Batman Forever will always be a classic in my heart because of my past abuse to my VHS of it, but unfortunately Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Nicole Kidman’s love interest weren’t enough to appease viewers. One staple that everyone equates to this movie is singer Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose”, oddly romantic but mysterious enough to be featured in this lackluster superhero flick.

To listen to this classic ’90s soundtrack, here is the link.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

The real ticket seller to this film was Megan Fox as a cheerleading demon who preys on her classmates. Hot, right? (I hope you can feel my eye-roll through this article) Many critics complained that this was just another high school horror flick that was too hyped up because of the clout of the actors. Considering this was advertised as a horror film, there weren’t enough scares and just seemed more like a call out to catty high school girls. Despite the disappointment the movie brought, its soundtrack was popular, featuring artists like Panic! at the Disco, Silversun Pickups, and Hayley Williams.

Listen to the soundtrack.

Tank Girl (1995)

Based off the comic illustrated by Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett, Tank Girl was highly anticipated by fans. The movie fell flat when it came to portraying the grittiness of the original comic and came across more as cute to its audience, disappointing hopeful fans of the original story. While actress Lori Petty tried her hardest to come across as tough, the film missed the mark on its chance for big action.Surprising to hear that the band Hole’s lead singer Courtney Love comprised the soundtrack for this film, featuring their own song “Drown Soda” amongst other artists like Portishead, Joan Jett, and even percussive group Stomp!

If you’d like to give the soundtrack a listen, click this link.

Garden State (2004)

Based on other opinions I’ve heard/read, Garden State was an excuse for Natalie Portman to make a bunch of weird noises, and the music was really the only thing to portray the emotion of the movie.  Others claim the film is just poorly written by its star, director and writer Zach Braff, summing the film up as a rip off of the movie The Graduate. I do not personally have any ill will towards this movie, but the soundtrack was its highlight for me. The music choice is somewhat melancholy indie-pop featuring Nick Drake, The Shins, Paul Simon, and Iron & Wine.

If you’re curious to hear the soundtrack, click this link.

Twilight: New Moon (2009)

This list would not be complete with my opinion of the worst movie from one of the most terrible series created. Now before people come after me, I read all the books 4 times over in middle school and have seen all the movies but the last 2. I once was obsessed and a team Edward fanatic, but looking back now on these films, ESPECIALLY Twilight: New Moon, I remember how much I loved the soundtracks for these movies. I’m highlighting the New Moon soundtrack because it 100% was more memorable than the movie. Seriously, I recommend a lot of these songs and still listen to them today.

To hear this MASTERPIECE of a soundtrack, you can access it here.

The post 10 Awful Movies with Great Soundtracks appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Elsie Fisher, an actual eighth grader at the time, is a spectacular lead. In the opening scene we see a young girl awkwardly film a video for YouTube, exactly as you would expect from the average eighth grader. As highlighted by subtle details like vocal fillers and nervous habits, her role feels too real to watch sometimes. The ensemble cast supports Fisher beautifully– with performances from Josh Hamilton as her aloof, but lovable father and Olivia Robinson as a down-to-earth high school mentor. From scenes where Kayla yells at her dad for “looking weird” at her, to a conversation with her friend about Rick and Morty over McNuggets, Burnham’s writing places you perfectly in Kayla’s shoes as one of the most accurate portrayals of a time usually forgotten.

Despite the film’s ability to immerse you in the modern middle school experience, it has one aspect that seems to fall short: the soundtrack. Most of the film is supported by aggressive and abrasive synth music. The film’s score is done by Anna Meredith, a Scottish experimental composer, and her music seems better suited to an indie video game rather than a feature film. Her track “Nautilus” is one of the few tracks that stand out. The undulating synth suggests that of a heartbeat quickly climbing as Kayla braces herself to face her peers in a tense scene. The others, such as “Stay Calm” and “High School”, just feel distracting, and they have more of a resemblance to royalty free music than we’d like to admit. The music actively takes away from the immersive experience that the film tries so hard to create, which is a real shame–in portions where there is no score, the audience is much more enveloped in the middle school drama unfolding before them.

That being said, the sound design overall is fantastic. The scenes involving Kayla’s crush, Aiden, are extremely well done. His introduction features a sample of “Future Club” by Perturbator. This dramatic catwalk-esque theme follows him for various scenes throughout. Although cliché, it does a good job of reassuring the viewer that Aiden is in fact, all that to the protagonist. Another strength is in the use of silence. A prime example of this is in the infamous pool scene. Here Kayla is dropped into the worst thing imaginable for a tweenager–scattered throughout a backyard pool party are the prettiest and most popular kids in middle school. This brings all of Kayla’s insecurities to the forefront; she’s uncomfortable with not only her social standing, but also her body, and both of these are displayed out in the open. As she opens the door, the dramatic music cuts out as she surveys the scene. This hammers in the point that she feels like an absolute fish out of water. Silence is also used effectively in the scene directly following Kayla’s ride home from the mall with her new high school friends. The protagonist has an early taste of what is all too common for teenage girls–after an older boy tries to get Kayla to fool around, she storms into her room. As the door slams, the movie is silent as viewers let out a groan.

The day to day scenes in the school exhibit bubblegum popping, pencil chewing, and brace bands snapping. Real life isn’t supported by a soundtrack, so does Eighth Grade need to be?

The post Eighth Grade Soars, But Soundtrack Falters appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Fittingly, Williams starts us off with “The Adventures of Han”, a jaunty piece that fits Han and is slightly reminiscent of the iconic “Raiders March”. Since Han didn’t really have a set theme before it makes sense Williams gives him one here. From here on out, it’s all Powell. “Meet Han” introduces us to Powell’s tone and it’s great. A drum undercurrent powers the piece, something that’ll happen more than once. I have no idea where this could be in the movie.

“Corellia Chase” gives Powell a chance to show off his action chops while incorporating Williams’ theme. The quick brass and whipping strings are on point. “Spaceport” morphs to a quieter piece with strings front and center while still retaining action vibes. “Flying with Chewie” continues the action from earlier until it quiets down to bring a sweeping, How to Train Your Dragon-esque melody along. If you haven’t guessed, this is probably where Han and Chewie fly together unless Powell likes to play jokes with his titles.

“Train Heist” (likely found during the train sequence from the trailer) gives us a moment to relax before throwing us into the heist with great Williams-style action. Here we get the first mention of an old motif, I believe it’s from A New Hope. “Marauders Arrive” contains the first appearance of an almost African-sounding choir mixed with another splendid blend of Williams and Powell’s styles.

I do want to take a moment and mention this style blend. If you’re familiar with the other Star Wars scores, it’s apparent that parts of the score sound like Williams and parts are Powell. Not only does it work well but also the styles don’t clash. It never feels like the music is two separate styles, fighting each other for dominance. Instead Powell makes them work together by adding the right amounts of each in the pieces.

“Chicken in the Pot” continues in the tradition of “Yub Nub” and “Jedi Rocks”, among others, of having a vocal piece in an alien language. This features an electronic beat with just enough strings to ground it into the score. I bet this takes place at a cantina, perhaps where Han meets Lando. “Is This Seat Taken?” continues a more playful tone; it sounds similar to a piece you might hear in a Persian market.

“L3 and Millennium Falcon” goes back to a quieter tone before introducing us to the Falcon. I know this because of the sudden swell and a second Williams motif lifted from A New Hope. The choir returns before it ends on a harsh note. “Lando’s Closet” keeps the strings front and center. It’s among the prettiest tracks in the score. “Mine Mission” brings action with a marching beat, Han theme playing throughout.

“Break Out” contains brass so fast and intricate you’d be forgiven if you thought Williams wrote it. It’s also one of the longer tracks at over six minutes and contains another New Hope motif. Softer music returns in “The Good Guy” before the last third throws more action and choir our way. “Reminiscence Therapy” is almost guaranteed to make every Star Wars fan smile.

“Into the Maw” keeps the action and motifs rolling. By now, I guess by now the movie would be going into or at it’s last third. “Savareen Stand-Off” introduces a darker tone and a brief choir line that harkens back to the Emperor’s theme from Return of the Jedi. That tone mostly continues in “Good Thing You Were Listening”.

We get a last burst of action in “Testing Allegiance”, probably the last action scene in the movie. It contains the most modern sound in the score so far, which is a slight letdown. Happily, it’s not there for long and the remaining track ignores it. Piano makes a brief appearance and if I’m not mistaken, it might be the first time piano’s been used in the franchise. “Dice and Roll” starts with an odd use of drums but it isn’t there for long as traditional music closes it all out.

I went in knowing that no matter what John Powell wrote it wouldn’t sound exactly like John Williams. So much for thinking that. Powell did a monumental job. He got the chance to show his ability and delivered. Its action-filled, fun, and most importantly (aside from a few moments) sounds like Star Wars. Regardless of your thoughts on the movie, check this out!

FINAL RATING: 4.7/5

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Audience members were captivated by the star-studded cast and the beautiful scenery that presented themselves in the trailer before the box office even had time to put a price on the tickets. All of these things were great, but the true star of the movie was when the soundtrack dropped on February 9th.

The soundtrack was curated by Kendrick Lamar with the help of others also signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. The soundtrack features other stars such as The Weeknd, SZA, Travis Scott, and Zacari.

Like any fan of the M.A.D.D City artist would say: “You know it’s lit when Kendrick producing the soundtrack!”

Although I love the Compton Prince himself, he’s not the only musician whose songs have us excited for the film. Recording-duo Run The Jewels’ song “Legend Has It” is basically BP‘s theme song. It can be heard throughout its trailer. The song is most recognizable from the famous line at the end of the trailer, “step into the spotlight”. The song has a great tempo, awesome beat, and one of the hottest rapping styles of the Run The Jewels duo, Killer Mike and EI-P, that’ll leave you speechless.

The video for “Legend Has It” plays with the theme of being guilty before proven innocent. If that doesn’t give you a feel on how awesome the song is I don’t know what will.

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