Show 104

So, I had a meeting on campus yesterday at noon. I forgot my laptop charger, so I went home to get it and returned with adequate time to plan my show. Unfortunately, I ate a sandwich while I was home, meaning that I had to put down my charger, meaning that I accidentally left it. AGAIN. I was forced to do my show from my iPod, so I wasn't able to type up my playlists. I meant to copy and paste from our digital playlist, but forgot. So, long story short, I don't have a playlist to post for you all today. :( Sorry for being a total space cadet today. heart y'all

CD Review 20: Kingslyn

Artist: Kingslyn (like Brooklyn but with Kings)
Album: Drunken Country Curse
Label: self-released
Yays: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 5, 2
Nays:

Genre: LOCAL – Indie/Americana
RIYL: Erich Skelton, Marry a Thief, American Aquarium

With the help of Philip Strickland, Scooter Fowler, and Matt Bundrick, Erich Skelton has been reborn from the ashes of Marry a Thief in Kingslyn. What makes this band different? As Skelton puts it, Kingslyn is like a glass of pop-rock sweet tea with a country lemon in it. I would also say that this CD/musical project is a little more consistent. The tracks mesh together a lot better since you don’t have the electronic highs and lo-fi lows of Marry a Thief.

After Marry a Thief broke up, Skelton needed some new material. So, he “took a month and just went off and tried to write, or if not write then get out and create some stories to write about. What came out was a reflection on things that have happened over the last two years: a lot of drinking and running around with ridiculous women, doing everything a Southern boy would do.”

CD Review 19: Those Lavender Whales

Artist: Those Lavender Whales
Album: Let’s Be Friends! I’m Sorry I’m So Sleepy
Label: Fork and Spoon Recordings
Yays: 1, 2, 4, 5
Nays: CLEAN

Genre: Rock – Bedroom Indie Pop
RIYL: Neutral Milk Hotel, Sebadoh

Those Lavender Whales have played during several WUSC events, including a showcase and an event on Greene Street. Aaron Graves gets by with a little help from his friends, recruiting various peoples to play live shows with him. Graves’ lyrics are fun, quirky and whimsical and so is the instrumentation that accompanies them. Musical instruments include, but are not limited to: guitar, bass, drums, banjo, accordion, slide whistle, glockenspiel, and various other percussion. Each track has something different to offer, so give ‘em a whirl.

Show 103

Here's what I played today on the show:

Rebirth Brass Band; Where Y'at?; “When the Saints Go Marching In”
American Hi-Fi; Hearts On Parade; “The Everlasting Fall”
The Duhks; Fast Paced World; “This Fall”
Die Mannequin; “Autumn Cannibalist”
Scaries; Souvenir; “Autumn”
*No Age; Everything in Between; Sub Pop; track 2 “Glitter”
*Superchunk; Majesty Shredding; Merge Records; track 4 “Crossed Wires”
*Cloud Cult; Light Chasers; Earthology; “Forces of the Unseen”
Gramercy Arms; Gramercy Arms; “Looking At The Sun”
Art Museums; “Sculpture Gardens”
The Parlotones; “Push Me to the Floor”
Joanna Newsom; Walnut Whales; “Flying a Kite”
*Azure Ray; Drawing Down The Moon; Saddle Creek; “Make Your Heart”
*Magic Kids; Memphis; True Panther Sounds; “Hey Boy”
*Miniature Tigers; F O R T R E S S; Modern Art; “Mansion Of Misery”
Dawes; North Hills; “When My Time Comes”
Love Star; Happiness – EP; “Felicidad”
Luisa Maita; Lero-Lero; “Lero-Lero”
*Snake! Snake! Snakes!; Snake! Snake! Snakes!; Common Wall; “The Mountain Fire"
*Candy Claws; Hidden Lands; twosyllable records; track 3 “Warm Forest Floor”
*Miss TK & the Revenge; The Ocean Likes to Party Too; Ernest Jenning Recording Co; track 3 “Kids”
*Various Artists; Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows; Oh Boy Records; track 11 Deer Tick featuring Liz Isenberg “Unwed Father”
*The Acorn; No Ghost; Bella Union; track 2 “Restoration”
*The Goodnight Loving; The Goodnight Loving Supper Club; Dirtnap; track 1 “Ain’t it Weird?”
Frankmusik; “3 Little Words (A1 Bassline remix)”
Ana Tijoux; “1977”
Freddie Gibbs; Str8 Killa; “Oil Money”

CD Review 18: The Hush Now

Artist: The Hush Now
Album: Shiver me Starships
Label: self-released
Y’args: 1, 3, 5,
N’args: CLEAN

Genre: Rock – Pop
RIYL: My Bloody Valentine (circa Tremolo EP and Isn’t Anything)

The Hush Now played at SXSW this year as part of their tour to promote their previous release, Constellations (2010). Shortly after, the band headed back to the studio to record Shiver Me Starships, which they gave away for free online (yes! it’s still available at http://www.sixstarpromotion.com/hush-now-free-album-download/ and if you go to their website http://thehushnow.com/ you can download almost everything else they’ve every done) This album is upbeat, and at times sounds like a typical pop band. The band plans to do another tour to support this album before going back to the studio again to record another full-length album.

CD Review 17: Interpol

Artist: Interpol
Album: Interpol
Label: Matador
Yays: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Nays: 8

Genre: Rock – Alt/Rock
RIYL: The Cinematics, The Walkmen (circa You & Me)

Interpol is slightly less pop-rock than, say, Turn on the Bright Lights. However, some of the tracks remind you of it, especially #5 “Barricade.” Even the name reminds me of “Obstacle 1” (or 2).

This album has a strong emphasis on the rhythm section, which is appropriate given that bassist Carlos Dengler left the band shortly after the making of Interpol. The band is currently being aided live by Dave Pajo (Sting, Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Track 8 “Try is On” has a dirty word in it, but if you give this album a private listen I recommend it.

Show 102

Today I got one of my favorite requests ever: french pop. I took French for 5 years in grade school and love, love, love French music. Whether it be Jacques Brel, Lorie, or Yelle. So, as you can imagine, I played not one but 3 French songs. Hope everyone, especially the requestee, enjoyed it! Keep the requests coming you all, I love 'em!

Outasight; "Catch Me If You Can"
Caribou; Swim; "Lalibela"
Love Is All; Two Thousand and Ten Injuries; "Kungen"
David Vandervelde; "Learn How to Hang"
The Avalanches; Since I Left You; "Little Journey"
*Azure Ray; Drawing Down the Moon; Saddle Creek; "Don't Leave My Mind"
#Make the Girl Dance; "Baby Baby Baby"
#Yelle; Pop-Up; "Je Veux Te Voir"
#Lorie; "Weekend"
*Crocodiles; Sleep Forever; Fat Possum Records; track 5 "Sleep Forever"
*Frankie Rose and the Outs; s/t; Slumberland; track 2 "Candy"
*!!!; Strange Weather, Isn't It?; Warp Records; track 8 "Even Judas Gave Jesus a Kiss"
The Matches; A Band In Hope; "Wake the Sun"
Man/Miracle; "Hot Sprawl"
#Murder by Death; Red of Tooth and Claw; track 1 “I’m Comin’ Home”
The Big Big Bucks; "Summer Bummer"
Suckers; Suckers; "Beach Queen"
*Kyle Andrews; Kangaroo EP; Elephant Lady Records; track 3 "Sushi"
*Cloud Cult; Light Chasers; Earthology Records; "You Were Born"
*Gold Motel; Summer House; Good as Gold Records; track 4 "Stealing the Moonlight"
*Bear in the Heaven; Best Rest Forth Mouth: Remixed; Home Tapes; track 5 "Fake Out (Brahms Remix)
Goldfrapp; Rocket - EP; "Rocket (Penguin Prison Remix)"
What's In It For Avi Buffalo What's In It For / Jessica - Single
Here Are The Problems Good Old War
*Fake Problems; Real Ghosts Caught on Tape; Side One Dummy; track 7 "Done with Fun"
*Margot and the Nuclear So and So's; Buzzard; Mariel; track 7 "Your Lower Back"
*The Posies; Blood/Candy; Rykodisc; track 3 "Licenses to Hide"
*Gabriel Mintz; Volume One; track 5 "Firefly"

CD Review 16: of Montreal

Artist: of Montreal
Album: False Priest
Label: Polyvinyl Record Co
Yays: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10
Nays: ALL CLEAN

Genre: Rock – Alt/Indie/Rock/Pop
RIYL: Takka Takka, Wolf Parade, updated 70’s funk

of Montreal was formed in Athens, GA in 1997. These guys are strangers to neither indie rock nor outrageous shows. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see a little peen (compliments of lead singer Kevin Barnes, circa Pitchfork February 2010) or find glitter on your body/in your sheets/on your clothes for days/weeks/months.

This album is really upbeat (except track 11). It’s hooky, occasionally dancing the line between pop-rock and indie-pop, and a little funky (see: track 7, 9). The whole thing ends up making me want to dance even though at first I don’t want to. There’s just something about the tracks that doesn’t appeal to me at first but then I find myself swaying and toe tapping to the beat. It’s sort of like a member of the opposite sex that you end up liking because of their “personality,” as opposed to their looks.

CD Review 15: James

Artist: James
Album: The Morning After The Night Before
Label: Mercury Records
Yays: Disc 1 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Disc 2 - 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Nays: Disc 2 - track 3

Genre: Rock – Alt/Brit/Pop/Rock
RIYL: The Smiths, Morrissey

This 2 disc album started as 2 mini-albums; The Night Before was released in the UK in April while The Morning After is set for release this month. This light shines through in that the two discs have rather different feels.

The Morning After (green disc) was recorded in 5 days in a big room with no overdubs, in an effort to “capture something spontaneous.” Some of the tracks start off slow, but they pick up. This album is more subdued than the other.

The Night Before (pink disc) was recorded virtually – the band members uploaded, downloaded and updated each other’s songs and then producer Lee “Muddy” Baker put the album together. This album is more upbeat and less “campfire-y” than the other album.

Show 101 + Genre Director

Y'ello everyone. This semester my class load is pretty darn light (2 classes and 1 lab, to be exact) and so is my work load (1 job and working on the SEVT conference) which means that I've taken on more responsibility at the station (big surprise, it's not like I was on the executive staff for 3 years). This responsibility is coming to me in the form of being a genre director. At the station we have 2 Music Directors but also have Genre Directors. Each Genre Director is, you guessed it, in charge of a genre: rap, indie-rock, electronica, metal, etc. I'm going to be the mainstream Genre Director. "Mainstream" covers music that is underground but popular. Just on the border of alternative and mainstream. This goes pretty well with my show and it's name, maltstream. So, be looking forward to reading my CD reviews, which I'll post here. I'm currently working on of Montreal, James, and 1 more that I can't remember right now.

And now, here's what I played today:

Robert Francis; Before Nightfall; “Junebug”
Jenny Owen Youngs ; “Hot In Herre (Nelly Cover)”
Animal Collective; Merriweather Post Pavilion; “Summertime Clothes”
Sparkydog; One Bird A Day; “Animal Park”
*Venice is Sinking; Sand & Lines; One Percent Press; track 6 “Falls City”
*Les Savy Fay; Root for Ruin; French Kiss; track 6 “Poltergeist”
*Magic Kids; Memphis; True Panther Sounds; track 1 “Phone”
*The Dollyrots; A Little Messed Up; Blackheart; track 3 “California Beach Boy”
Ghosts of the Great Highway; A Spell & a Fire; “A Spell & a Fire”
Vivian Girls; John, I'm Only Dancing; “John, I'm Only Dancing”
Holy Ghost!; Static On the Wire - EP; “I Will Come Back”
Beach House ; Teen Dream; “Take Care”
*Adam Klein; Wounded Electric Youth; Cowboy Angel Music; track 11 “12th & Porter”
*Wolf Parade; Expo 86; Sub Pop; “Cloud Shadow on the Mountain”
*Gitar; Stuffed; Seeland Records; track 27 “Dead U R”
Old Canes; Feral Harmonic; “Little Bird Courage”
The Format; Dog Problems; “Oceans”
YACHT; See Mystery Lights; “Summer Song”
*Tender Trap; Dansette Dansette; Slumberland; track 6 “Danger Overboard”
*Here We Go Magic; Pigeons; Secretly Canadian; “Surprise”
*Cloud Cult; Light Chasers; Earthology Records; “Running with the Wolves”
Dr. Dog; Shadow People – Single; “Shadow People”
Chiddy Bang ; “Opposite of Adults”
Valley Maker; Valley Maker; “Babel”
The Radio Dept.; Heaven's on fire; “Heaven's on fire”
*Cowboy Junkies; Renmin Park; Latent Recordings; track 5 “A Few Bags of Grain”
*Azure Ray; Drawing Down the Moon; Saddle Creek; “Shouldn’t Have Loved”
*Miniature Tigers; Fortress; Modern Art; “Rock n’ Roll Mountain Troll”
*Born Ruffians; Say It; Warp; “Blood, the Sun & Water”

Show 100 + Fall

Hello Columbia (and the internet)! This was my first show of the Fall semester, at my regularly scheduled Wed 2-4 time. :)

Usually on the show I try to play 1 set of stuff that I brought then 1 set of rotation, alternating sets. However, I forgot my laptop charger at home so I had to cram all of my stuff in earlier in the show. So, here's what I played:

Austin Crane; I Know My Hands; "Blame It On The Weather"
The Bravery; The Bravery; "Swollen Summer"
Mae; The Everglow; "The Ocean"
Open Ocean; "Sink Or Swim"
*Les Savy Fav; Root For Ruin; French Kiss; track 5 "Lips n' Stuff"
*Mountain Man; Made the Harbor; Bella Union Rec.; track 12 "Babylon"
*The Books; The Way Out; Temporary Residence; track 3 "I Didn't Know That"
*Punch Brothers; Antifogmatic; Nonesuch; "Welcome Home"
Test Your Reflex; "Pieces of the Sun"
Old Canes; Feral Harmonic; "I Will Be The Sun"
Nous Non Plus; Ménagerie; "Sunlight Yellow Noise"
Koushik; Out My Window; "Lying In The Sun"
Villagers; Live in Austin 2010; "On A Sunlit Stage"
Local Natives; Sun Hands; "Sun Hands"
Laura Veirs; "July Flame"
Loney, Dear; Dear John; "Summers"
Parkbench Summer; The Bird, the Moon, and the Plane; "Bestfriend"
Sarah Jaffe; Suburban Nature; "Summer Begs"
New Years Day; "Sunrise Sunset"
*Wolf Parade; Expo 86; Sub Pop; "Yulia"
*Here We Go Magic; Pigeons; Secretly Canadian; "Hibernation"
*Menomena; Mines; Barsuk Records; track 2 "Taos"
*Angus & Julia Stone; Down the Way; Nettwerk; track 6 "Yellow Brick Road"
*Griffin House; The Learner; Nettwerk; track 2 "River City Lights"
*The Walkmen; Lisbon; Fat Possum Records; track 5 "Stranded"
*Murdocks; Distortionist; ASCAP; track 5 "Tongues"
*Snake! Snake! Snakes!; "Snake! Snake! Snakes!; track 2 "We Come Out at Night"