1. Gwen Stefani- “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.”
by Jesus Gonzalez, Assistant Diversions Editor
This album by the timeless Gwen Stefani is perfect for when you are cramming for finals.
The first song of the album is called “What You Waiting For?” — how is that for setting the mood when it’s 2 a.m. and you haven’t started any of the four essays due Tuesday.
The song itself has catchy hooks where Stefani sings, “tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock” to remind you that you are seriously running out of time to study no matter what you do.
If it’s that late and you really are doing homework the album is definitely going to keep you awake. It’s a pop album so you are going to be grooving as you transcribe notes, but it’s also an album that came out in 2004. Think about that for a second. If that doesn’t keep you up at night I don’t know what will.
The notion that the song “Hollaback Girl” is 10 years old is startling. Let it be a reminder that not only are you running out of time for every paper due or final this week, but also that you are getting older.
Existential crisis aside, these songs were made to pump people up, so proceed with caution. Try to restrain yourself from singing along to classics like “Cool” and “Luxurious” as it will take away from being productive. I’m not saying you won’t need coffee but I strongly discourage the mixture of both.
Maybe I overstated “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” as a wise choice for the finals crunch. However, if you have an exam you know you can totally study for the hour before class, or a paper that doesn’t require your full attention, why not have some nostalgic fun in the process?
2. Cut Chemist- “Sound of the Police”
by Jesus Ambrioso, Assistant Diversions Editor
The best way to describe the album is like being on an airplane with Cut Chemist. This musical plane lands in locations all over the world, including South America and Africa.
Most of the album is comprised of what could be considered hip-hop instrumentals. There are very few words spoken throughout and the words that are heard are usually in other languages. If you have trouble studying because of lyrics, this might be the album for you.
The “chemist” experiments with different sounds of the world to make this hip-hop album flow. The album is heavily influenced by jazz elements, and fuses sounds of Ethiopian, Colombian, Brazilian and Portuguese music.
As a DJ, his mixing skills showcase music that is calming and flows seamlessly. This album is divided into two nameless tracks, each one approximately 20 minutes long. The extended, nameless tunes in this album make it the perfect mixtape of world music.
What is incredible is that the mix was created and recorded live using only one turntable, a mixer, a loop pedal and all original vinyl pressings.
At times you could even forget that at heart, this is a hip-hop album. It’s not as much of an album as it is a voyage of culture, if you will — a journey through pages of papers and math problems.
3. Tinariwen- “Emmaar”
by Danielle Carson, Diversions Editor
While this album is their most recent, Tinariwen’s albums dating back to their first album “The Radio Tisdas Sessions” in 2002, are all great albums for studying. Depending on your personal preference, it may suit you well to listen to music in an unfamiliar language while you get on the grind so you don’t find yourself trying to pick at the meaning of each song, or singing along to songs you already know.
While the music is very relaxing, it also has just enough percussion to keep you tapping your toes as you zone in on your math, or even type papers.
The Taureg group plays Malian music that originates from the southern Sahara, and sings their exotically warming lyrics in Tamashek, their native language.
Their music, the music of rebellion and political opposition in their country, is influenced by their roots, elements in nature and the spirit of improvisation.
Although Tinariwen translates to “open space,” the use of electric guitar and heavy percussion and layers of vocals creates a curtain of mirage created by rich musicality and the skillful use of numerous instruments.
Tinariwen’s music is creeping further west, as the band recently played a show with The Growlers last month at the Belasco Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.
Tinariwen’s music, deep as rolling sand dunes and fluid like a snake charmer, will keep you deep rooted and will put you in a trance that will keep you calm while you knock out your work.
Whether you’re studying or not, this unique, emerging group is worth a listen.
4. Lindsey Stirling- “Shatter Me”
by Seth Rockenmacher, Staff Writer
When studying for finals, classical music is usually one preferred genre of music. But can you imagine the energy and elegance of classical symphonies being merged with a smooth electronic beat?
Look no further, Lindsey Stirling’s album “Shatter Me” does an excellent job of fighting the fatigue during late nights in the library. Stirling, a talented violinist and composer from Gilbert, Ariz., combines dubstep-like beats with her expertise on the violin to create a unique modern twist on normal classical music.
When I first heard about Stirling’s music, the idea of it sounded like the two types of music coming together would not be able to mesh.
But to my surprise, her melodic tunes kept me focused on my studies while still keeping me energetic and awake. I felt that the peaceful sound of the violin and the upbeat tempos created a perfect balance of sound to keep me attentive to my notes.
The album as a whole is full of great songs. However, there are a few with words, which personally distracts me from what I am trying to learn and retain. I’d recommend this album for someone who will be reading through a textbook and outlining notes as review.
The album keeps you moving through each chapter at a steady pace — you may even catch yourself typing to the beat of the song.