Patrick Witteman // The Observer

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Scene

It’s just some ____ you haven’t heard of

Mike Donovan, Patrick Witteman, Ryan Israel, Dessi Gomez and Charlie Kenney | Wednesday, December 11, 2019

“JESUS IS KING” — Kanye West Charlie Kenney, Associate Scene Editor Kanye West is an artist whose records, typically, receive pretty universal acclaim. Recent albums “My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy” and “YEEZUS,” although perhaps controversial in religious circles, saw near unanimous praise from music review outlets and renowned artists. Lyrics and sound didn’t always please

Scene

On ‘So Much Fun,’ Young Thug delivers accessible trap to the masses

Patrick Witteman | Monday, September 2, 2019

“So Much Fun” is billed as Young Thug’s debut album. Considering Thugger has been releasing (quality) mixtapes since the early 2010s, influencing the likes of Playboi Carti, Trippie Redd and Lil Uzi Vert, “So Much Fun” shouldn’t feel like a debut album. Young Thug has had years to develop and tweak his sound, avoiding the

Scene

Weyes Blood Makes Grandiose Statement with ‘Titanic Rising’

Patrick Witteman | Thursday, April 11, 2019

Natalie Mering, who performs under Weyes Blood, is no stranger to the music industry. “Titanic Rising,” her newest, most stunning offering, is the fourth LP that she has released since her full-length debut in 2011. What distinguishes this album from the other three is that “Titanic Rising” was released under the indie rock stalwart Sub

Scene

Little Simz is unapologetically herself on ‘GREY Area’

Patrick Witteman | Friday, March 29, 2019

British MC Little Simz is tired of being “underrated,” and the drive to progress and hone her craft as a musician and lyricist certainly shows on her new album “GREY Area.” When discussing her work with the Independent, Simz said she has grown more comfortable with her place in the rap world. “Sometimes I go on

Scene

Toro y Moi’s ‘Outer Peace’ is full of post-chill-wave grooves

Patrick Witteman | Thursday, February 14, 2019

When Chaz Bear, better known as Toro y Moi, released his first album, “Causers of This,” in 2010, he became the designated torch bearer for the burgeoning chill-wave movement. Though that sound and aesthetic has started to fade from the mainstream, the Berkeley-based musician is still releasing some of the more inspired music of his

Scene

James Blake explores romanticism on ‘Assume Form’

Patrick Witteman | Thursday, January 24, 2019

James Blake gained a reputation as a “sad boy” after the release of his previous album, “The Colour in Anything.” With a runtime exceeding an hour and fifteen minutes, his third project hinges on stripped-down, electronic tracks that are gloomy and characteristic of an artist going through personal struggle. Although Blake pushed back on the

Scene

Civil Rights Photography at the Snite for Walk the Walk Week

Patrick Witteman | Monday, January 21, 2019

For Walk the Walk week, the Snite Museum of Art has curated a small collection of Civil Rights photography that focuses on the life, death and impact of Martin Luther King Jr. The photographs include work by photojournalists Charles Moore, Dan Budnik and Ernest Withers, among others. While touring the collection, I met with David

Scene

Thom Yorke is at his most unsettling and haunting with ‘Suspiria’

Patrick Witteman | Friday, November 16, 2018

In Luca Guadagnino’s remake of the 1977 film “Suspiria,” a ballet studio falls into disarray as a result of supernatural forces lurking underneath its glassy surface. The movie itself is characterized by muted tones and sets that pay homage to modern architects like Adolf Loos. A soundtrack as wintry and haunting as Thom Yorke’s matches

Scene

Daughters adventures through abstract, nihilistic soundscapes on ‘You Won’t Get What You Want’

Patrick Witteman | Monday, November 12, 2018

Up until the release of “You Won’t Get What You Want,” the Rhode Island band Daughters had been somewhat removed from the music scene. Their last release came in 2010 with the self-titled album “Daughters,” and the album preceding that was released in 2006. More often than not, when bands take long hiatuses between two

Multimedia

Scenecast: Garthcast

Nora McGreevy, Jake Winningham, Patrick Witteman, Carlos De Loera and Sara Schlecht | Saturday, November 3, 2018

Over fall break, Garth Brooks took the University of Notre Dame stadium by storm. Scene is here to break down what happened the night of the concert and why it matters — or doesn’t — for the Notre Dame community, South Bend, Garth and us. Volume III: FALL 2018 by Scenecast, from The Observer

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