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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Before there was Apple Music or Spotify, there was the Sony Walkman. Now reduced to only the latter word, a Walkman was just a portable cassette player, but in the ‘90s, they were a vital accessory. The Sony Walkman was the first piece of music media to allow people to travel with their music.

30 years later: The albums of 1994

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer April 11, 2024

The music industry was forever altered in 1994 by a series of groundbreaking albums that emerged from various genres. It was a year marked by artistic innovation and genre-defining releases. From the gritty...

Putting stickers on guitars and equipment has been a popular style in the rock scene for decades. For female guitarists Nancy Wilson and Joan Jett, decorating their gear with stickers  helped promote their political and personal values.

Women who rock

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer March 12, 2024

For decades, women did not attempt to enter the rock scene because it was nearly impossible for their talent to be recognized. Nobody took women seriously or gave them credit, and they were often sexualized...

No matter the form of music —  vinyls, cassettes, CDs and playlists — anti-love songs have been apparent for decades. Whatever the genre or the context of the source material, when artists choose to be open about the realities of their relationships, it leads to vulnerability in their writing, ultimately, making timeless tracks.

Love bites

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer February 14, 2024

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, classic love songs — and way too many Taylor Swift songs — are plastered everywhere. For people in a relationship, the hallmark holiday is a sentimental...

A raised fist has been a staple piece for protests amongst the United States for decades. The forceful salute is intertwined with some of the most tumultuous events involving racism. A powerful medium that artists have used is music, which has been used to push back against the constant oppression that happens in society.

Honoring Black artists

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer February 1, 2024

From jazz, blues, R&B and hip-hop, Black artists’ creativity and talent have heavily influenced the music industry. By bringing soul, rhythm and powerful storytelling to music, they broke racial...

2023 was defined by female vocalists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Paramore’s Hayley Williams as their diversity and talent amongst their respective genres topped the musical charts. Williams took to Instagram to show her gratitude for having owned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “We know enough by now to know success doesn’t equal value. That being said, to experience the [No. 1] on this album, as this version of Paramore, is such a sweet and surreal moment to celebrate together,” Williams wrote.

A musical recap of 2023

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer December 19, 2023

While living in a time where creativity can be dull or hard to find in music, 2023 managed to highlight some of the biggest moments in several artists’ careers. Though there were monumental accomplishments...

Pearl Jam “Vs.” grunge

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer November 17, 2023

Following the success of their debut album “Ten” in 1991, Pearl Jam released their sophomore album, “Vs.” two years later, on Oct. 19, 1993. Now, the band is releasing a re-issue of the album for...

After waiting years for a new album, pop-punk band blink-182 gave their fans what they desperately wanted. However, the band didn’t just make the record for their fanbase; the album also served as a timely and personal record for the pop-punk legends. The band’s new album “One More Time” sees lifelong friends rekindle their friendships through tragedy and humor.

blink-182 reunite “One More Time” for their 10th album

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer November 15, 2023

In 2022, famous pop-punk band blink-182 announced their reunion with the classic lineup of singer and guitarist Tom Delonge, singer and bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker. Fans were shocked...

Nobody likes you when you’re 23

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer October 23, 2023

Pop-punk band blink-182 famously said “Nobody likes you when you’re 23” on their hit “What’s My Age Again?” off their breakout pop punk album “Enema of the State” in 1999. Some of the biggest...

Part of the reason why vinyl records are still popular today is because original pressings of classic punk albums, like the Ramones’ “Rocket to Russia” or the Sex Pistols “Nevermind The Bollocks,” are considered collectable items. Besides being classic, essential punk albums in their own right, the pressings helped jumpstart the popularity of vinyl records in the ‘70s since it was the only form of media available to listen to these impactful records. Decades later, the iconic punk albums still stand as two of the most vital records for a vinyl collector.

Punk: Dead or alive?

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer September 28, 2023

The infamous and unapologetic genre of punk rock music became popular in the late ‘70s amongst teens; people either loved it or saw it as music for delinquents. Today, the boisterous movement has been...

Popular ‘90s band, Nirvana, celebrates the 30-year anniversary of their final album, “In Utero” on Sept. 21. The album was met with a lot of anticipation as it followed the record-breaking success of their sophomore album, “Nevermind.” Many fans praise “In Utero” as being the perfect conclusion to the band due to Kurt Cobian’s unexpected death, but I find it rather disappointing and misdirected.

“In Utero”: Nirvana’s upsetting finale

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer September 21, 2023

Content warning: The following article mentions explicit content and rape in the context of the album.  On Sept. 21, 1993, grunge icon Nirvana released their final album, “In Utero.” The album...

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