1. Scott Walker (no, not THAT Scott Walker)
Scott Walker was born to German parents in Hamilton, Ohio, and before he was much older than 20, he was singing number one hits to British crowds and headlining shows with the Walker Brothers that Jimi Hendrix would open. But he didn't want to be a star, and he quit the group to pursue tortured artistry. He put out 4 exemplary but increasingly alienating records in the later '60s, then spent much of the next two decades playing covers of T.V. show theme tunes before really getting weird.
He's probably another example of someone who found their audience much later in life, mostly thanks to the internet. His voice is simultaneously beautiful and haunting, a mixture of lounge charm and a seedy sense of dread. I'm pretty sure he gave Radiohead the idea to use dissonant strings for atmosphere, and Pulp probably owes him more than just a producer's credit.
Above is a needle drop of "Jackie" from Scott 2. It was one of many songs he took from the Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel. Scott took these simpering Flemish ballads and sang them like a Greek god. An additional shout out is in order to his producer, who is a woman who had to use a man's name, even as she outclassed almost everyone else in the game.
2. The new Radiohead record, "The King of Limbs"
I mean, anyone who knows me knows I couldn't pass up this opportunity. The band returns for their eighth studio record, and I like it. Shocking.
I think it might alienate a few more fans who've jumped on board since In Rainbows. It's weirder. There aren't easy verse-chorus structures. The bass plays a more prominent role than anything else, save for, perhaps, percussion, and the whole thing is covered in reverb. That shouldn't really surprise anyone who's heard "These Are My Twisted Words" or Thom Yorke's reworking of an earlier track last year--the band seems to be on a kick of turning their stadium rock songs into electro-acoustic enigmas.
I think my favorite thing about the new record, though, is what I haven't yet seen: the deluxe package. Stanley Donwood, who has been doing the art since at least OK Computer, described the packaging as something "designed to decay." He contrasted the packaging with that of In Rainbows, which was very sturdy and together, like that album itself. This one has at least 625 pieces of small artwork included, and the package is all played a bit looser. Finally, a band whose album packaging looks a lot like the album sounds.
Above is the last track, "Separator," which has one of my favorite guitar lines Jonny Greenwood's ever done.
3. Prince's "Welcome 2 America" tour
This is the first time the Purple One has crossed the amber waves of grain since 2004, and he's brought along Janelle Monae, Mint Condition, Esperanza Spalding (I guess he's heard of her), and Cassandra Wilson. Janelle Monae probably recorded last year's best album, but it wouldn't really matter who he brought with him. It's Prince. Even in his latter excess, he's larger than life.
Expect a show that's out-of-control, yet refined, which is sort of a mirror of the man himself. That isn't a joke. It's just so easy to like him if you let go of inhibition and purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
You can pretend the video above is what it's like when he plays "Purple Rain" nowadays, but it's actually from a legendary Super Bowl performance.
4. Cloud Nothings
I don't know much about him at all. I know he's from Cleveland, I know he's just a kid, I know I'd like to book him for Lobster Fest, and I know that I didn't care when I heard "Understand It All" and realized he ripped the vocal harmonies from "You Still Believe in Me" by the Beach Boys. I'm not usually that forgiving of someone who probably didn't go through what Brian Wilson did to record a record, but I can't help but feel better when I listen to Cloud Nothings' debut, out now on Carpark Records.
It's a little bit of the late great Jay Reatard, it's a little bit of Totally Michael, and it's produced without any artifice at all. It's just effortless pop, and I defy you not to get some song of his caught in your head.
5. "The Mission, Part IV (The Pulse of Events)" by John Williams
It's also known as the theme to NBC's "Meet the Press" since 1985. You've got to be pretty self-assured to admit this one on a blog where, in perpetuity, people will be able to point out how you once told everyone you loved an NBC theme.
I love politics almost as much as I love music. Enough that I want to commit the rest of my life to it, probably. I'm not sure if I'll have a better time than I had working for "Meet the Press with David Gregory" as a Research Intern. Well, no, a better time would be if they hired me. This is also probably the best, most epic news theme I can think of, and when you spend a lot of time consuming news and hoping to one day be on the providing end in addition to the receiving end (oh, look what I did there), that counts for a lot. It just amps me up, and there were a few times when the other interns and myself caught ourselves whistling it in the hallways on Sunday morning.
Plus, I can't dissociate it from Tim Russert, who's the man. That's more of a fact than an opinion. Even John McCain thought so.
So, in closing, I accept any and all barbs at my expense, but forget all of you. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
--Jake Derr, Music Director
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Aaron's Recs: "Crummy Music That No One Likes"
1. Black Metal For Leftist Nancies Like Me
Even though I describe my politics as leftist, some of my musical tastes often resonate as dissonant with my own beliefs to people who know me personally. I can't count the number of bands that I listen to who contradict my own beliefs, and by far, some of the most hairy instances arise from the occult right wing of the black metal scene.
However, those who enjoy less cognitive dissonance than I will be thrilled with the latest movement of American black metal. Riding the critically-acclaimed wave of support for extreme metal and crust with leftist / eco-anarcho beliefs generated by Agalloch, Fall Of Efrafa and Wolves In The Throne Room, other underground acts such as Peregrine, El-Ahrairah, Lockstep, Skagos, Falls Of Rauros, Seidr, Panopticon, Vestiges, Ash Borer, Fell Voices and even Ohio's own post-doom band Vit are generating a great deal of buzz in extreme metal blog rings.
This new sub-subgenre is often referred to as "Cascadian" Black Metal, and often combines post-rock, atmospherics, acoustic passages and more traditional elements of black metal, crust punk, doom metal and other styles. Not coincidentally, most of these bands are from the U.S. and Canadian areas of the Pacific Northwest (near the Cascade Mountain range) or in areas of the Midwest that lie along the Canadian border (except the few from rural areas of Kentucky and New England). Many of these acts claim allegiance to Black And Green Anarchist or Anarcho-Primitivist philosophy and espouse natural and Native American themes in their music. For a good idea of what to search for, check out the above-mentioned acts or read the blog Red And Anarchist Black Metal.
2. U.S. Industrial Tape Labels
While the boom of tape labels from 2005 / 2006 (the "Wolf Eyes On Sub-Pop" years) brought labels like Fag Tapes, Gods Of Tundra, American Tapes and Hanson into the limelight of the U.S. experimental music scene, a smaller niche is being carved out now by people getting involved in the rebirth of the heavier, bleaker and more "miserable" U.S. industrial scene. As of late, U.S. power electronics, death industrial, dark ambient and harsh noise artists have enjoyed the attention and promotion of several small boutique labels such as Phage Tapes, New Forces, Danvers State Recordings and others such as Fusty Cunt, Waves of Decay, Atavistic Transformations and the newly-revived Live Bait Recording Foundation.
Those labels are apparently being watched over by their bigger cousins such as Malignant Records, Crucial Blast and Hospital Productions, who are finding many new artists to contact based on the buzz generated by the limited D.I.Y. tapes of these bedroom operations.
3. KVLT Nights In Columbus
Highlighting the "dark side of electronic music," KVLT is a showcase at Skully's Music Diner in Columbus on the last Friday of every month that brings in acts ranging from EBM, witchouse, dubstep, darkwave, power electronics, neofolk and dark ambient. The next one is on Friday night (Feb 25th at 10 P.M.) featuring sick, dark, electronic music from Textbeak, Stereolea and Mahssa Taghinia. KVLT will also be bringing through Brooklyn neofolk act Cult Of Youth for their March date and industrial / dubstep act Deathface for May. The best part: it's free for 21+ before 11 P.M. (only $3 after) and only $5 for all ages. Check it out!
4. Things To Watch On Hulu Because My Netflix Is In Use By Two Or More People
A lot of people pay me to use my Netflix streaming service, which is awesome because I break even on it usually, but it can have some drawbacks. Namely, when the two viewer maximum is being used, and I'm not one of the viewers. Because I don't have cable and only a few DVDs (one of them being Primus' live DVD...), I often have to resort to the ghetto of unwatched basic cable shows that is Hulu.
People, the selection is grim. Most of the videos on there are unfunny SNL clips, bookended by last year's "too hot for TV" Red Bull ads. However, there are a few gems. For instance, Hulu has 2-3 episodes of FX's under-appreciated comedy, The League and every episode so far of Fox's strange animated sitcom Bob's Burgers. However, that's where most of the selection ends. Disappointingly, they only have clips of Fred Armisen's scathing hipster parody Portlandia and only the first two minutes and opening credits of every episode of Parks And Recreation for non-paying users. Fuck you, Hulu.
5. Dark Circles Records
Hey, congrats to Chris of the Whale Zombie / Valleyboys crew for getting his fledgling D.I.Y. label off the ground. Dark Circles Records has been steadily releasing digital, CD-R, cassette and (coming soon) vinyl copies of bands from Athens and the surrounding area. Fans of shit-fi shoegaze, atmospheric pop, acid rock and other forms of subversive indie rock should take note: releases from bands such as Whale Zombie, The Valleyboys, Sportfishin' USA, Homemade Drugs, Mutual Benefit and others are available for free from the blog (hosted through Bandcamp).
Columbus-ites should take note, on Saturday (February 26), DCR is taking over Cafe Bourbon St. for a show with Whale Zombie, Spooktober, Jay Harmon and others. Support this label. People often talk a big game about starting labels and then move on when that shit turns out to be too hard. Chris and his crew are doing a ton of hard work and really making an effort. Kudos, dudes.
--Aaron Vilk, Promo Director
Even though I describe my politics as leftist, some of my musical tastes often resonate as dissonant with my own beliefs to people who know me personally. I can't count the number of bands that I listen to who contradict my own beliefs, and by far, some of the most hairy instances arise from the occult right wing of the black metal scene.
However, those who enjoy less cognitive dissonance than I will be thrilled with the latest movement of American black metal. Riding the critically-acclaimed wave of support for extreme metal and crust with leftist / eco-anarcho beliefs generated by Agalloch, Fall Of Efrafa and Wolves In The Throne Room, other underground acts such as Peregrine, El-Ahrairah, Lockstep, Skagos, Falls Of Rauros, Seidr, Panopticon, Vestiges, Ash Borer, Fell Voices and even Ohio's own post-doom band Vit are generating a great deal of buzz in extreme metal blog rings.
This new sub-subgenre is often referred to as "Cascadian" Black Metal, and often combines post-rock, atmospherics, acoustic passages and more traditional elements of black metal, crust punk, doom metal and other styles. Not coincidentally, most of these bands are from the U.S. and Canadian areas of the Pacific Northwest (near the Cascade Mountain range) or in areas of the Midwest that lie along the Canadian border (except the few from rural areas of Kentucky and New England). Many of these acts claim allegiance to Black And Green Anarchist or Anarcho-Primitivist philosophy and espouse natural and Native American themes in their music. For a good idea of what to search for, check out the above-mentioned acts or read the blog Red And Anarchist Black Metal.
2. U.S. Industrial Tape LabelsWhile the boom of tape labels from 2005 / 2006 (the "Wolf Eyes On Sub-Pop" years) brought labels like Fag Tapes, Gods Of Tundra, American Tapes and Hanson into the limelight of the U.S. experimental music scene, a smaller niche is being carved out now by people getting involved in the rebirth of the heavier, bleaker and more "miserable" U.S. industrial scene. As of late, U.S. power electronics, death industrial, dark ambient and harsh noise artists have enjoyed the attention and promotion of several small boutique labels such as Phage Tapes, New Forces, Danvers State Recordings and others such as Fusty Cunt, Waves of Decay, Atavistic Transformations and the newly-revived Live Bait Recording Foundation.
Those labels are apparently being watched over by their bigger cousins such as Malignant Records, Crucial Blast and Hospital Productions, who are finding many new artists to contact based on the buzz generated by the limited D.I.Y. tapes of these bedroom operations.
3. KVLT Nights In Columbus
Highlighting the "dark side of electronic music," KVLT is a showcase at Skully's Music Diner in Columbus on the last Friday of every month that brings in acts ranging from EBM, witchouse, dubstep, darkwave, power electronics, neofolk and dark ambient. The next one is on Friday night (Feb 25th at 10 P.M.) featuring sick, dark, electronic music from Textbeak, Stereolea and Mahssa Taghinia. KVLT will also be bringing through Brooklyn neofolk act Cult Of Youth for their March date and industrial / dubstep act Deathface for May. The best part: it's free for 21+ before 11 P.M. (only $3 after) and only $5 for all ages. Check it out!
4. Things To Watch On Hulu Because My Netflix Is In Use By Two Or More People
A lot of people pay me to use my Netflix streaming service, which is awesome because I break even on it usually, but it can have some drawbacks. Namely, when the two viewer maximum is being used, and I'm not one of the viewers. Because I don't have cable and only a few DVDs (one of them being Primus' live DVD...), I often have to resort to the ghetto of unwatched basic cable shows that is Hulu.
People, the selection is grim. Most of the videos on there are unfunny SNL clips, bookended by last year's "too hot for TV" Red Bull ads. However, there are a few gems. For instance, Hulu has 2-3 episodes of FX's under-appreciated comedy, The League and every episode so far of Fox's strange animated sitcom Bob's Burgers. However, that's where most of the selection ends. Disappointingly, they only have clips of Fred Armisen's scathing hipster parody Portlandia and only the first two minutes and opening credits of every episode of Parks And Recreation for non-paying users. Fuck you, Hulu.
5. Dark Circles Records
Hey, congrats to Chris of the Whale Zombie / Valleyboys crew for getting his fledgling D.I.Y. label off the ground. Dark Circles Records has been steadily releasing digital, CD-R, cassette and (coming soon) vinyl copies of bands from Athens and the surrounding area. Fans of shit-fi shoegaze, atmospheric pop, acid rock and other forms of subversive indie rock should take note: releases from bands such as Whale Zombie, The Valleyboys, Sportfishin' USA, Homemade Drugs, Mutual Benefit and others are available for free from the blog (hosted through Bandcamp).
Columbus-ites should take note, on Saturday (February 26), DCR is taking over Cafe Bourbon St. for a show with Whale Zombie, Spooktober, Jay Harmon and others. Support this label. People often talk a big game about starting labels and then move on when that shit turns out to be too hard. Chris and his crew are doing a ton of hard work and really making an effort. Kudos, dudes.
--Aaron Vilk, Promo Director
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Rika's Recs: A Gang of Wolves to Dance Freebies to A Fest I wish I Could Afford Right Now
1. Odd Future’s television debut on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
For almost a year, my brother has indirectly suggested hip-hop acts I should check out by infiltrating my iTunes with mixtapes and singles. (He uses it to sync stuff onto his iPod). Among his collection were mixtapes by the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All collective – OFWGKTA, for short.
Not only am I drawn to the overall talent this Los Angeles-based group possesses, but I’m also in jitters over their encouragement of stage dives, mosh pits and sing-alongs at their live shows (which sell out fast), the occult-based aesthetics, heavy incorporation of skate culture, and their internet-driven climb to fame and success. Their recently-signed Tyler, The Creator has also expressed his love for Justin Bieber and R. Kelly. Basically, they’re up my alley and the Fallon performance of “Sandwitches” made me love them even more.
2. RCRDLBL.COM
I stumbled upon this website last summer, when for some reason I was under this spell of listening to nothing but dance music. RCRDLBL.com acts as a quick fix whenever I feel that my need for beats have run low, as well as a solution to discovering something new! Here I discovered gems like Dave Nada’s remix to Wacka Flocka’s “No Hands,” Deathface’s “Gift of Fury” single, and a very beautiful, ‘60s girl group-inspired “I Heard You Say” single by Vivian Girls. So on that note, the free music downloading site expands outside of dance. They just know what’s sweet.
3. Chaos in Tejas line-up announcement assault
Part of me wants to survive on Nature Valley granola bars and spend mad money on this 4-day fest I’d like to call heaven, but part of me knows I currently don’t have the funds to support a trip to Texas – let alone a predicted expensive ticket price. Lovers of hardcore, like myself, peed themselves five ways when Youth of Today were among the announced headliners. Japanophiles rejoiced when a smorgasboard of Japanese bands were added to the bill, which includes Kriegshög, who are playing their last show in Texas. This is just scratching the surface of the fest’s monstrosity.
4. Music tracks in skate videos
Seven years ago, I rolled my ankle skating and quit the following day. Three days ago, when it got really warm, I picked up my brother’s skateboard to turn in my retirement card and traversed the Athens bike path. I also went on Youtube to revisit all of the old skate videos I used to obsessively watch. Skate videos are great sources for broadening your music taste, especially if you like your music to be morose, fast, or just plain punk. I’ve gotten into bands like The Locust, The Cure, and The Buzzcocks thanks to videos like “Kids in Emerica” and Girl’s “Yeah Right!” They also make me want to shred and create art.
5. Screamo’s Face #1 Pg. 99 reunites for a summer show!
Robotic Empire records announced that Pg.99 has reunited to play one show at Virginia’s Best Friend's Day fest, and when that news permeated I swear I could hear the tears shed and some hairs parting asymmetrically. The band disbanded in 2003 and have chosen the Richmond, Va., fest – where the band is from – to play Pg. 99’s “Document #8” album in its entirety because, according to their guitarist, they feel it “would be fun to play those songs again.” Uh, of course, especially to an audience that will be insanely jubilant.
--Rika Nurrahmah, General Manager
For almost a year, my brother has indirectly suggested hip-hop acts I should check out by infiltrating my iTunes with mixtapes and singles. (He uses it to sync stuff onto his iPod). Among his collection were mixtapes by the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All collective – OFWGKTA, for short.
Not only am I drawn to the overall talent this Los Angeles-based group possesses, but I’m also in jitters over their encouragement of stage dives, mosh pits and sing-alongs at their live shows (which sell out fast), the occult-based aesthetics, heavy incorporation of skate culture, and their internet-driven climb to fame and success. Their recently-signed Tyler, The Creator has also expressed his love for Justin Bieber and R. Kelly. Basically, they’re up my alley and the Fallon performance of “Sandwitches” made me love them even more.
2. RCRDLBL.COM
I stumbled upon this website last summer, when for some reason I was under this spell of listening to nothing but dance music. RCRDLBL.com acts as a quick fix whenever I feel that my need for beats have run low, as well as a solution to discovering something new! Here I discovered gems like Dave Nada’s remix to Wacka Flocka’s “No Hands,” Deathface’s “Gift of Fury” single, and a very beautiful, ‘60s girl group-inspired “I Heard You Say” single by Vivian Girls. So on that note, the free music downloading site expands outside of dance. They just know what’s sweet.
3. Chaos in Tejas line-up announcement assaultPart of me wants to survive on Nature Valley granola bars and spend mad money on this 4-day fest I’d like to call heaven, but part of me knows I currently don’t have the funds to support a trip to Texas – let alone a predicted expensive ticket price. Lovers of hardcore, like myself, peed themselves five ways when Youth of Today were among the announced headliners. Japanophiles rejoiced when a smorgasboard of Japanese bands were added to the bill, which includes Kriegshög, who are playing their last show in Texas. This is just scratching the surface of the fest’s monstrosity.
4. Music tracks in skate videos
Seven years ago, I rolled my ankle skating and quit the following day. Three days ago, when it got really warm, I picked up my brother’s skateboard to turn in my retirement card and traversed the Athens bike path. I also went on Youtube to revisit all of the old skate videos I used to obsessively watch. Skate videos are great sources for broadening your music taste, especially if you like your music to be morose, fast, or just plain punk. I’ve gotten into bands like The Locust, The Cure, and The Buzzcocks thanks to videos like “Kids in Emerica” and Girl’s “Yeah Right!” They also make me want to shred and create art.
5. Screamo’s Face #1 Pg. 99 reunites for a summer show!
Robotic Empire records announced that Pg.99 has reunited to play one show at Virginia’s Best Friend's Day fest, and when that news permeated I swear I could hear the tears shed and some hairs parting asymmetrically. The band disbanded in 2003 and have chosen the Richmond, Va., fest – where the band is from – to play Pg. 99’s “Document #8” album in its entirety because, according to their guitarist, they feel it “would be fun to play those songs again.” Uh, of course, especially to an audience that will be insanely jubilant.
--Rika Nurrahmah, General Manager
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Melissa’s Recs: Folk-y Goodness to R.K. Fries
1. Laura Stevenson & the Cans, “Master of Art”
Laura Stevenson & the Cans recently signed with Don Giovanni Records and are releasing a new full-length, Sit Resist due out on 4/26. “Master of Art” is the first single and I. CANNOT. STOP. LISTENING. Seriously, can Laura Stevenson do wrong? I don’t think so. In “Master of Art” LS dons an electric guitar over her usual acoustic, but still opts for clever lyrics such as, “Cut your hair short so I can see your ears/ So I know that you hear my name.” I challenge you not to get chills during latter half of the song. It’s free for download here!
2. Andy Cook and the Wanderloons, “Mulberry Moon”
I saw first saw Andy Cook & the Wanderloons a few weeks back at Baldwin Wallace’s student center when they opened for American War. The show was sparsely attended and many of the kids just seemed to want a place to grind upon each other (Seriously, I didn’t think it was possible to get low to American War, but that’s whole ‘nother issue). Despite the unlikely crowd participation, Andy Cook and Co. had me hooked. This is my favorite from his most recent release Sing, Dionysus. The video is from their show at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland.
3. Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s—Happy Hour at Sprigg’s
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s started out the New Year right with Happy Hour at Sprigg’s released on January 11th. The EP features acoustic versions of songs from their 2010 full-length Buzzard and a few previously unreleased tracks. In my favorite, “There’s a Freakshow Downtown,” Richard Edwards sings “He better not be there/ When I get home/ Or I’ll break his nose and shatter his rib bones.” Edwards’s sensuous voice makes violence sound so sweet.
4. Whale Road and Emily & The Complexes in Cincinnati
This weekend I’m traveling to Cincinnati with best friend and guinea pig in tow to eat some delicious Mexican food and also to see friends in Columbus’s Whale Road and Cincinnati’s Emily & the Complexes at Rohs Street Café on Saturday. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m pretty stoked about the show. Whale Road headlines with feel-good indie-pop and one-man-band Emily & the Complexes open. Check out Emily & the Complexes above in a homemade video from last summer. The show starts at 8 p.m. and Cincinnati-based Kayak also plays.
5. The Grammy Awards
Since early Sunday evening, my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been flooded with talk of the Grammy Awards. I didn’t even watch the Grammys, but I feel like I caught it all.
From Lady Gaga’s egg “vessel” to Bob Dylan’s croak (his voice, not his death), everyone is STILL talking about music’s most coveted award show. The Internet runs wild with Grammy fever! There’s the outcry and general confusion about the night’s biggest winner Arcade Flyer; R.K. Fire; Arcade Fries; Arcade Fire, as shown by the “Who is Arcade Fire?” Tumblr. As well as Justin Bieber fanatics’ assault on Esperanza Spalding’s Wikipedia page. These things were all pretty amusing… the first time I heard about them, but I’m over it. My recommendation? Move on! Everyone’s already heard anyway.
--Melissa Burant, Public Relations Director
Laura Stevenson & the Cans recently signed with Don Giovanni Records and are releasing a new full-length, Sit Resist due out on 4/26. “Master of Art” is the first single and I. CANNOT. STOP. LISTENING. Seriously, can Laura Stevenson do wrong? I don’t think so. In “Master of Art” LS dons an electric guitar over her usual acoustic, but still opts for clever lyrics such as, “Cut your hair short so I can see your ears/ So I know that you hear my name.” I challenge you not to get chills during latter half of the song. It’s free for download here!
2. Andy Cook and the Wanderloons, “Mulberry Moon”
I saw first saw Andy Cook & the Wanderloons a few weeks back at Baldwin Wallace’s student center when they opened for American War. The show was sparsely attended and many of the kids just seemed to want a place to grind upon each other (Seriously, I didn’t think it was possible to get low to American War, but that’s whole ‘nother issue). Despite the unlikely crowd participation, Andy Cook and Co. had me hooked. This is my favorite from his most recent release Sing, Dionysus. The video is from their show at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland.
3. Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s—Happy Hour at Sprigg’s
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s started out the New Year right with Happy Hour at Sprigg’s released on January 11th. The EP features acoustic versions of songs from their 2010 full-length Buzzard and a few previously unreleased tracks. In my favorite, “There’s a Freakshow Downtown,” Richard Edwards sings “He better not be there/ When I get home/ Or I’ll break his nose and shatter his rib bones.” Edwards’s sensuous voice makes violence sound so sweet.
4. Whale Road and Emily & The Complexes in Cincinnati
"Emily, You Were Right" from Joshua Cantey on Vimeo.
This weekend I’m traveling to Cincinnati with best friend and guinea pig in tow to eat some delicious Mexican food and also to see friends in Columbus’s Whale Road and Cincinnati’s Emily & the Complexes at Rohs Street Café on Saturday. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m pretty stoked about the show. Whale Road headlines with feel-good indie-pop and one-man-band Emily & the Complexes open. Check out Emily & the Complexes above in a homemade video from last summer. The show starts at 8 p.m. and Cincinnati-based Kayak also plays.
5. The Grammy Awards
Since early Sunday evening, my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been flooded with talk of the Grammy Awards. I didn’t even watch the Grammys, but I feel like I caught it all.
From Lady Gaga’s egg “vessel” to Bob Dylan’s croak (his voice, not his death), everyone is STILL talking about music’s most coveted award show. The Internet runs wild with Grammy fever! There’s the outcry and general confusion about the night’s biggest winner Arcade Flyer; R.K. Fire; Arcade Fries; Arcade Fire, as shown by the “Who is Arcade Fire?” Tumblr. As well as Justin Bieber fanatics’ assault on Esperanza Spalding’s Wikipedia page. These things were all pretty amusing… the first time I heard about them, but I’m over it. My recommendation? Move on! Everyone’s already heard anyway.
--Melissa Burant, Public Relations Director
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Courtney's Recs: From fests to vinyl to Fergie's leaving the music biz forever (hey, one can dream)
In no particular order:
1. Nelsonville Music Festival’s recently announced 2011 lineup
Coach-who-lla? After pouting for a good few weeks over my pennilessness and therefore lack of resources to travel to Indio come April, good old Nelsonville Music Festival came in for the save. The Flaming Lips? Neko Case? George Jones? Yes, yes and yes.
2. Sons of Anarchy theme song: “This Life” by Curtis Stigers & the Forest Rangers
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the song. Maybe it’s because I spent the majority of my winter break watching the entire series and wishing I was in an outlaw motorcycle club, or maybe it’s because the song is appropriately smoky, ride-or-die and rock-n-roller all at the same time. Either way, it wins.
3. “Under Cover of Darkness” by The Strokes
What a sensational tease for upcoming Angles. I needed to own that entire album, like, yesterday. This single is exactly what I’d expect from The Strokes after a five-year hiatus.
4. Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream on vinyl
I have to thank my brother for this gem of a Christmas gift. For me, there is truly nothing like listening to “Today” with the scratchy, slow-drip drone of a turntable in the background while indulging in some hot chocolate and peppermint mocha creamer. Double yum.
5. Scala & Kolacny Brothers
This Belgian girls’ choir is nothing short of supernatural. Whoever thought “Smells Like Teen Spirit” could sound eerily ethereal? And yet, Scala & Kolacny Brothers nails it. Every cover they perform, from Radiohead’s “Creep” to Rammstein’s “Mutter,” gives me the best kind of goosebumps.
6. Soundtrack to Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone (which should, in my opinion, win all four Oscars for which it has been nominated – including Best Picture) released while I was living in Brooklyn over the summer. Whenever I felt an ache of nostalgia for Athens, I would go see the movie to get my fix, as much of its soundtrack is reminiscent of original Appalachian music and its setting looks strangely similar to rural Athens.
7. The Parlor Mob’s upcoming album
I don’t even have a Tumblr (or really understand how they function), but I am totally about to Tumblr-stalk these dudes until I get more concrete information about their record-in-progress. I fell in love with their debut, And You Were a Crow, in the spring of 2008 when it initially released and have since been waiting with bated breath for a follow-up.
8. Dharohar Project, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons collaboration
It’s epic and delicate and absolutely riveting. They released an EP and performed together, the videos of which are all over the Internet. The tactful interweaving of British folk rock and traditional Rajasthani sounds produces an otherworldly sonic experience. My recommendation: “To Darkness/Kripa.”
9. Anything and everything by the Vitamin String Quartet
And trust me, there’s a lot of it. Midterm week brings out a favorable need for tranquility in me, and where better to turn than to the soft covers of my favorite hard songs by the Vitamin String Quartet? When I say there’s a lot of it, I mean it – the group has produced more albums than I have hairs on my head. Okay, maybe not that many, but I certainly wouldn’t be upset if they had.
10. Super Bowl XLV’s Halftime Show
211262914
Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. - See video of the biggest web video personalities.
EW. LOL WUT. This would be something I don’t recommend. Actually, I do, but only for the sake of comedy. Wait, like, did this actually happen? I refuse to believe it. Black Eyed Peas is the most irritating band in existence, and I, for one, am ready for their stint to end. Fergie is the absolute death of decent music, as evidenced by her annihilation (the bad kind) of sexy Slash’s beautiful riffage. It was probably taking everything in him not to reach over and smack her and those disgusting glittery football shoulder pads off the stage with his Les Paul. Rollingstone.com said it best: “For better or worse, it was the kind of pop spectacle you would expect to see in a dystopian future.”
--Courtney Baldasare, Editorial Director
1. Nelsonville Music Festival’s recently announced 2011 lineup
Coach-who-lla? After pouting for a good few weeks over my pennilessness and therefore lack of resources to travel to Indio come April, good old Nelsonville Music Festival came in for the save. The Flaming Lips? Neko Case? George Jones? Yes, yes and yes.
2. Sons of Anarchy theme song: “This Life” by Curtis Stigers & the Forest Rangers
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the song. Maybe it’s because I spent the majority of my winter break watching the entire series and wishing I was in an outlaw motorcycle club, or maybe it’s because the song is appropriately smoky, ride-or-die and rock-n-roller all at the same time. Either way, it wins.
3. “Under Cover of Darkness” by The Strokes
What a sensational tease for upcoming Angles. I needed to own that entire album, like, yesterday. This single is exactly what I’d expect from The Strokes after a five-year hiatus.
4. Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream on vinyl
I have to thank my brother for this gem of a Christmas gift. For me, there is truly nothing like listening to “Today” with the scratchy, slow-drip drone of a turntable in the background while indulging in some hot chocolate and peppermint mocha creamer. Double yum.
5. Scala & Kolacny Brothers
This Belgian girls’ choir is nothing short of supernatural. Whoever thought “Smells Like Teen Spirit” could sound eerily ethereal? And yet, Scala & Kolacny Brothers nails it. Every cover they perform, from Radiohead’s “Creep” to Rammstein’s “Mutter,” gives me the best kind of goosebumps.
6. Soundtrack to Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone (which should, in my opinion, win all four Oscars for which it has been nominated – including Best Picture) released while I was living in Brooklyn over the summer. Whenever I felt an ache of nostalgia for Athens, I would go see the movie to get my fix, as much of its soundtrack is reminiscent of original Appalachian music and its setting looks strangely similar to rural Athens.
7. The Parlor Mob’s upcoming album
I don’t even have a Tumblr (or really understand how they function), but I am totally about to Tumblr-stalk these dudes until I get more concrete information about their record-in-progress. I fell in love with their debut, And You Were a Crow, in the spring of 2008 when it initially released and have since been waiting with bated breath for a follow-up.
8. Dharohar Project, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons collaboration
It’s epic and delicate and absolutely riveting. They released an EP and performed together, the videos of which are all over the Internet. The tactful interweaving of British folk rock and traditional Rajasthani sounds produces an otherworldly sonic experience. My recommendation: “To Darkness/Kripa.”
9. Anything and everything by the Vitamin String Quartet
And trust me, there’s a lot of it. Midterm week brings out a favorable need for tranquility in me, and where better to turn than to the soft covers of my favorite hard songs by the Vitamin String Quartet? When I say there’s a lot of it, I mean it – the group has produced more albums than I have hairs on my head. Okay, maybe not that many, but I certainly wouldn’t be upset if they had.
10. Super Bowl XLV’s Halftime Show
211262914
Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. - See video of the biggest web video personalities.
EW. LOL WUT. This would be something I don’t recommend. Actually, I do, but only for the sake of comedy. Wait, like, did this actually happen? I refuse to believe it. Black Eyed Peas is the most irritating band in existence, and I, for one, am ready for their stint to end. Fergie is the absolute death of decent music, as evidenced by her annihilation (the bad kind) of sexy Slash’s beautiful riffage. It was probably taking everything in him not to reach over and smack her and those disgusting glittery football shoulder pads off the stage with his Les Paul. Rollingstone.com said it best: “For better or worse, it was the kind of pop spectacle you would expect to see in a dystopian future.”
--Courtney Baldasare, Editorial Director
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