Artist: Ben Folds
Album: Lonely Avenue
Label: Nonesuch
Yays: 4, 5, 9, 11, 7
Nays: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
Genre: ROCK – Piano Driven Alt Pop
RIYL: Elvis Costello, Ben Kweller, Joni Mitchell
Words by: Nick Hornby, Music by: Ben Folds
In order to accurately accompany Nick Hornby’s lyrics each one of Ben Folds’ songs has its own personality. Some are upbeat and quirky (5), some have a smooth jazz/R&B flavor (8), some are like ballads (11), and some are slow and dreamy (6). Don’t be afraid to stray from the picks! (Just don’t wander too far into the no-plays.)
To find out more about the inspiration behind each song read Hornby’s blurbs in the liner notes. They’re short and interesting.
Also, if you give this a private listen, try track 3 about Levi Johnson. You know, the guy that knocked up Bristol, Sarah Palin’s daughter. LAWL
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
CD Review 21: Klaxons
Artist: Klaxons
Album: Surfing the Void
Label: Polydor
Yays: 1, 7, 4, 2, 8
Nays:
Genre: ROCK – Brit/Alt/Pop/Rock
RIYL: Does it Offend You, Yeah?; Arctic Monkeys; Panic! At the Disco
Klaxons are a rock band, influenced by 80’s and 90’s rave music. In fact, their bass player calls it “nu-rave.” Whatever you call it, this album sounds like alt/pop/rock to me.
It’s a little aggressive and experimental for pop-rock, but pop-rock none the less. Perhaps this is just what the future of pop-rock will sound like? Spin Magazine said that “even Klaxons’ most ominously rambunctious tracks grind out plenty of bug-eyed dream pop chants.” I’d say that that’s about right.
Album: Surfing the Void
Label: Polydor
Yays: 1, 7, 4, 2, 8
Nays:
Genre: ROCK – Brit/Alt/Pop/Rock
RIYL: Does it Offend You, Yeah?; Arctic Monkeys; Panic! At the Disco
Klaxons are a rock band, influenced by 80’s and 90’s rave music. In fact, their bass player calls it “nu-rave.” Whatever you call it, this album sounds like alt/pop/rock to me.
It’s a little aggressive and experimental for pop-rock, but pop-rock none the less. Perhaps this is just what the future of pop-rock will sound like? Spin Magazine said that “even Klaxons’ most ominously rambunctious tracks grind out plenty of bug-eyed dream pop chants.” I’d say that that’s about right.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
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.”
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.”
Thursday, September 23, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
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”
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”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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.
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.
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