Ben Siegel

Buffalo

Freelance Arts Critic at Buffalo News

I dunno • IG funjamin

Articles

BottleRock Day 3: Noah Kahan, Cage the Elephant, 10 other Sunday highlights

1 month ago | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

NAPA — BottleRock’s third and final day carried through much of the momentum built by the first two with youthful energy that could be felt throughout the festival grounds. The early part of the day saw attendees making their way to the silent disco or roller rink, or getting just the right shot for an Instagram post. Folk-pop singer Noah Kahan, whose career exploded due to social media attention in 2023, closed out BottleRock with an enthralling set.
Acting IRS head Melanie Krause to resign following data-sharing agreement with DHS, sources tell ABC News

2 months ago | abc7.com | Ben Siegel

Melanie Krause is the third leader of the agency to resign this year. ByBen SiegelWednesday, April 9, 2025 10:31AMMelanie Krause will become the third agency leader to leave this year amidWASHINGTON -- The acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service is planning to resign following the agency's data-sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to support the Trump administration's efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, three sources familiar with her plans told ABC News.
ALBUM REVIEW: Michelle Zauner strolls through new Japanese Breakfast LP

Mar 15, 2025 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

Japanese Breakfast, the project of vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Michelle Zauner, has been in the indie spotlight for almost a decade. Her debut, 2016’s Psychopomp, brought instant success and acclaim for her poignant style. Six years later, the band was nominated for Best New Artist at the 64th Grammys, bolstered by the popularity of third album Jubilee. For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)Japanese BreakfastDead Oceans, March 218/10Get the album on Amazon Music.
INTERVIEW: St. Lucia goes gardening on 'experimental' new record

Mar 13, 2025 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

In recent music videos and live performances, St. Lucia band members and spouses Jean-Philip Grobler and Patti Beranek wear matching bright red outfits in the middle of expansive desert landscapes. The videos, filmed on a road trip in South Africa, Grobler’s home country, are surreal and dreamy, just like the music on their new record, Fata Morgana: Dawn.
La administración Trump inicia despidos masivos en múltiples agencias federales: Fuentes

Feb 13, 2025 | abc7.com | Will Steakin |Ben Siegel |Katherine Faulders

ByWill Steakin, Ben Siegel and Katherine FauldersThursday, February 13, 2025 11:58PMPresident Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports.
Trump administration begins mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies: Sources

Feb 13, 2025 | abc7.com | Will Steakin |Ben Siegel |Katherine Faulders

ByWill Steakin, Ben Siegel and Katherine FauldersThursday, February 13, 2025 11:10PMPresident Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports. The Trump administration has begun mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies, a move that is expected to affect thousands of employees across the government, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News on Thursday.
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ solidifies The Weeknd’s power

Jan 31, 2025 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

The Weeknd has had a fascinating career trajectory, entering the alternative R&B scene in the early 2010s as a mysterious crooner and becoming one of the world’s biggest pop stars. His hits include “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Blinding Lights,” Spotify’s most-streamed song of all time. Safe to say, Abel Tesfaye had a lot of expectations to live up to on Hurry Up Tomorrow.
ALBUM REVIEW: FKA twigs' 'EUSEXUA' innovative and intoxicating

Jan 24, 2025 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

FKA twigs, a genre-bending visionary, explores the spirituality of dancing and catharsis of seeking pleasure on EUSEXUA, her first album since 2019. It’s singer-songwriter Tahliah Debrett Barnett in her truest form, an artist piecing together parts of previous projects—like CAPRISONGS’ (2022) electric dance elements and MAGDALENE’s (2019) haunting ruminations—while also innovating and refusing to follow expectations. EUSEXUAFKA twigsAtlantic, Jan.
AKBUM REVIEW: ‘GNX’ continues Kendrick Lamar’s winning streak

Nov 29, 2024 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

Kendrick Lamar became one of the world’s most acclaimed rappers for his conscious, intricate penmanship. In the last year, he’s found success in a somewhat different lane: diss tracks against Drake. The most popular from the now infamous rap battle is “Not Like Us,” a punchy banger with echoes left all over Lamar’s new album, GNX. On some GNX songs, Lamar seems to be looking to remake what made “Not Like Us” so successful.
ALBUM REVIEW: Tyler, The Creator takes his mask off on ‘CHROMAKOPIA’

Nov 3, 2024 | riffmagazine.com | Ben Siegel

Despite being one of the most prolific faces in hip-hop, Tyler, the Creator has always been intentionally opaque with his personal life, letting his artistic endeavors speak for themselves. On his new album, CHROMAKOPIA, he slowly begins to take off his mask. With his early work, Tyler left listeners on edge, and sometimes offended, with aggressive bars and a knack for shock value.