By: Leo Sideras, Production Director 1. "Hyperparadise" - Flume Remix Flume is an emerging electronic artist from Australia. This is my favorite song by him. I don't know exactly how to characterize his music besides indie/electronica. He has crafted his own unique sound by merging soulful vocals with heavy hip-hop-esque electronic music.
2. "Last Night" (feat. Rodway) - Robotic Pirate Monkey Ski videos always seem to have some of the best underground music in them. Robotic Pirate Monkey and Rodway bring us "Last Night," a down-tempo electronic song with some heavy bass and great guitar and vocal samples. Check it out for something fresh.
3. "Tapes & Money" - Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs TEED, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, is a solo electronic artist from the UK. He has a pretty cool style and is definitely a mix between classic house, disco and chillwave. If you're looking for some fun electronic music that you can listen to whenever and wherever, this is for you. 4. Halo 4 "Green & Blue" - KOAN Sound Remix Now, I am not a big gamer by any means, but this is a really sick remix of a Halo soundtrack song. KOAN Sound is a British electronic duo that has gained some recognition for its unique funk style. "Green & Blue," however, is far from the duo's typical production. It is super relaxed and far less intense than what I would have expected. To sum it up, this is a beautiful sounding electronic track with some amazing percussion work. Take a listen for yourself. 5. "So Many Details" - Toro y Moi I am a huge fan of Toro y Moi and I love what he has done with the chillwave music scene. He released this track titled "So Many Details." This track has everything from a funky synth line to an awesome drum groove. As is characteristic with Toro y Moi, "So Many Details" is smooth sounding production.
By: Chris Dobstaff, Editorial Director Well, Thanksgiving is over, and I know that I've had my fair share of leftover sandwiches over the past few days. But musically, I'm at a crossroads. Do I immediately switch over to Christmas music? That's a big commitment. It's like saying, "Yeah, I'm going to be merry for an ENTIRE month." No. I can't do that right now. Because hey, it's not even December yet. So let's explore some of the best non-holiday music worth checking out during this confusing time of the year.
1. Amanda Palmer - "The Killing Type"
This song from the sometimes controversial, always entertaining ex-Dresden Doll is, without a doubt, one of her best in a long time. Sure, last year's "Map of Tasmania" was a fun look at Palmer's view on female pubic hair, but "The Killing Type" is one of those powerful songs that sticks with you and begs to be played again. The explosive two-part chorus reveals Palmer's true feelings about an ex-lover, and while she insists that she's "not the killing type," she immediately follows by singing, "But I would kill to make you feel." It's a chill-inducing song for anyone who has ever felt wronged at the end of a relationship.
2. The Cute Lepers - "Terminal Boredom"
I was lucky enough to see The Cute Lepers in front of about 10 people at the Agora Theater in Cleveland back when I was in high school. Apart from having a kickass name, this West Coast punk group's album Can't Stand Modern Music is packed with 11 short tracks powered by three-chord bursts of energy and a couple of seductive female backup singers. Oh, and the group's lead singer goes by the name Steve E. Nix. Yep.
3. Sharon Van Etten - "Serpents"
I cannot deny my love for this woman. After seeing Sharon Van Etten on a scorchingly hot day at Lollapalooza last summer, I walked away entranced. Although her music would fit better in a small, dark club, her performance that day was phenomenal. Van Etten's songwriting is superb, and "Serpents" is one of the best examples of it. One of the heavier songs off her 2012 album Tramp, "Serpents" features one of my favorite lyrics of the year. "You enjoy sucking on dreams / So I will fall asleep with someone other than you," she spits with venom.
4. Titus Andronicus - "In a Big City"
When I first heard Titus Andronicus' Local Business, a more bare, straight-up punk record than the band's 2010 epic The Monitor, I was conflicted. While I enjoyed the songs, they felt empty. However, as I continued to give the album additional listens, it all began to make sense. Titus Andronicus made the smart move by not trying to make a bigger record than The Monitor, because it would have failed. Instead, the group scaled it back, and you get songs like "In a Big City." The video shoot took over 24 hours to complete, and with the continual closeups of lead singer Patrick Stickles' face, you'll begin to get more meaning behind seemingly positive lyrics like, "And some of my dreams are coming true."
5. Led Zeppelin - "Since I've Been Loving You"
Off Led Zeppelin's best album (fight me), "Since I've Been Loving You" features some of my favorite guitar plucking from Mr. Jimmy Page. It's a bluesy track and Robert Plant absolutely kills it on vocals, but Page takes the cake. Listen and enjoy.
6. Skyfall
No, it's not a song. And it doesn't have anything to do with music (except for Adele's superb theme song), but if you have somehow managed to avoid the new Bond flick, you're missing out. Daniel Craig is at his best, and while Skyfall is no Casino Royale, it still kicks the ass of every single Pierce Brosnan adventure. James Bond is a hero to enjoy during the holidays, and typically one that your parents will want to check out as well. So there ya go: nearly three hours of quality time with your family and you don't have to say a word to them. You're welcome.
For me, Halloween is a lot more than dressing up and marveling at the drunken spectacle that is the OU Halloween block party (in fact, I didn’t do either of those this year). Instead, Halloween is the time of the year when I can make myself a playlist full of punk and metal songs and watch a lot of horror flicks. So, for this edition of Exec Recs, I’ve decided to celebrate Halloween with a few of my favorite horror punk songs, black metal songs and an assortment of scenes from both classic and modern horror films. Many of these may not be new or obscure, but they are certainly good for Halloween, so Happy Halloween!
1. The Misfits – "Skulls"
Horror punk, or punk music influenced by horror and science fiction, owes an awful lot to The Misfits. They are no doubt the most well-known and most influential band in horror punk, and certainly one of the biggest players in punk in general.
“Skulls” is the perfect Halloween song, with lyrics like “Corpses all hang headless and limp / Bodies with no surprises / And the blood drains down like devil's rain / We'll bathe tonight / I want your skull / I need your skull” and “Collect the heads of little girls and put ‘em on my wall / Hack the heads off little girls and put ‘em on my wall.” I’d highly recommend playing through the entire Walk Among Us album on Halloween – there’s nothing more fitting for the occasion.
2. Halloween (1978)
While it’s a rather obvious choice to watch on Halloween based on its title alone, it’s also a great horror film in general. Halloween features the classic slasher film storyline – a masked killer wreaks havoc on a group of teenage friends, leaving one survivor by the end of the movie. Halloween was one of the slasher films, along with Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, to popularize the genre in the late '70s and into the '80s.
3. False – “The Key of Passing Suffering”
False puts out some of the best black metal I’ve heard in a long time. This album only consists of two tracks, each a little over 12 minutes, and “The Key of Passing Suffering” is just great. It starts off with a lot of intensity without any intro at all, and continues all the way to the end, only pausing a little before the eight-minute mark to throw in a well placed organ piece in the middle. A lot of times the haunting organ piece can be a bit overdone in metal music, but this one is an example of when its use doesn’t take away from the rest of the song.
4. Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
This movie probably won’t scare you (unless you’ve got a fear of clowns), but it will definitely make you laugh. In the film, alien clowns come from outer space, terrorize a town and turn the townspeople into a ball of cotton candy. The only way these clowns can be killed is by destroying their noses, and to save the town the clowns must be stopped. Tell me that’s not hilarious.
5. AFI – “Halloween”
Once again, a very fitting song title, and another track that is great to listen to on Halloween. This song is actually a cover of a Misfits song, but I think it’s better than the original. The lyrics celebrate everything that makes Halloween what it is – fall imagery and horror-inspired verses like “Bonfires burning bright / Pumpkin faces in the night / I remember Halloween” and “Candy apples and razor blades / Little dead are soon in graves / I remember Halloween.” Definitely listen through the entire album. It’s one of AFI’s greatest, and certainly better than whatever pop-influenced stuff it is they’re putting out these days.
6. The Ring (2002)
Everyone has something that really creeps them out. For me, it’s creepy children, and The Ring definitely has plenty of that. The little girl in the film, Samara, is just plain creepy with her long black hair draped over her face, and it gets creepier in this scene with her crawling out of the well and out of the TV. It’s a great horror film, especially if creepy children get you as freaked out as me.
All you have to do to know this band fits Halloween is look at the song titles. Songs like “Werewolf Queen,” “Mark of the Devil” and “We Are Vampires” all fit perfectly with the theme of Halloween, and clearly show the Misfits-like influence the band has. Definitely check them out.
8. Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead is a classic low-budget horror film, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. The storyline is fairly simple, with a group of friends going to a remote cabin, being killed or turned into zombies. As with many horror films, only one of them is left after the rest are possessed, and it’s his job to survive. Evil Dead, in my opinion, is the best zombie movie ever, and it’s definitely perfect for Halloween.
9. The Misfits – “Vampira”
To finish off this edition of Exec Recs, I thought I’d throw in another Misfits song, since they’re the undisputed heavyweight champs of horror punk. Many Misfits songs are inspired by horror films, and this one is inspired by Vampira, a famous horror film actress, and the lady you see in this video. The lyrics clearly show someone had an attraction to Vampira, with lyrics like “Two inch nails / Micro waist / With a pale white feline face / Inclination eyebrows to there / Mistress to the horror kid / Cemetery of the white love ghoul, well / Take off your shabby dress / Come and lay beside me.”
10. Jerry Only Wrestling
Just for fun, here’s a video of the Misfits’ Jerry Only wrestling in a cage match. Somehow a guy ends up covered in barbecue sauce and Jerry Only ends up winning. Nothing more needs to be said.
In case anyone doesn’t know, I am obsessed with American Horror Story. I enjoy things that freak me out and blow my mind. American Horror Story is the definition of mind-blowing.
This season’s episodes revolve around an insane asylum in 1964. The patients’ minds are as corrupt as their caretakers’ methods of rehabilitation. Well, at least most of the patients are insane. A few slip through the cracks and end up in an earthly hell.
As a part of creators Brad Falchuck and Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology, American Horror Story has some returning characters from Season One. Their personalities and characters have changed completely. It’s an interesting experiment and it will be an imaginative way to continue the show.
One of Season One’s favorite characters, nosy neighbor Constance Langdon, is back to cause more trouble. In this season, actress Jessica Lange plays the head nun at the Briarcliff Manor (a.k.a. the insane asylum), Sister Jude. Let’s just say her character doesn’t take shit. This is one nun who does not hesitate to manipulate, use whips to punish and lock up innocent lesbians.
It’s been hinted in the first two episodes that Sister Jude has not had one of the most holy pasts. So far, it looks like her troubled past will come back into play and the complexities of her character will only expand during this season of American Horror Story.
The hottie-heartthrob of American Horror Story’s first season, Tate, is back. He returned full force as Kit Walker, a man who was abducted by aliens, violated and left on earth to take the blame as a crazy, women-murdering psychopath. Poor guy.
It’s OK though. He’s making plans to escape and forming alliances with certain cast members. We’ll see if teamwork gets him out alive or ends up being his downfall.
Chad Warwick, Season One’s unhappy and untrusting gay fellow is back as Dr. Oliver Thredson. So far, Thredson is a tad more logical than the Briarcliff Manor staff. He focuses on behavioral psychology rather than the medieval tactics of Sister Jude. Because of this, he and Sister Jude are already butting heads.
Remember that creepy medium lady from Episode One that helped Constance in Season One? Well, she’s back as a lesbian journalist named Lana Winters with a thirst for knowledge.
After snooping around Briarcliff to research for a feature story on the place, Sister Jude captures her and enrolls her as a psychiatric patient. We’ll see if her story ever gets written or if she’ll become insane like the rest of the patients.
Nora Montgomery, the annoying ghost that always whined about getting her baby back, is a part of the second season's cast. She now has the roll of Sister Mary Eunice (what a name). The nun is Sister Jude’s right hand. She’s a sweet, innocent and naïve young woman. Her naivety has already landed her in a slew of trouble.
We’ll see what happens as the season continues. Blood, sex and indescribable horrors await the show's devoted audience.
Lately I have been using YouTube to discover bands more than any other source (other than the ACRN CD stacks). There is a lot of nonsense on YouTube, but there are also a lot of channels that produce some gems. Here are my favorite musical channels:
1. KEXP Radio – A Seattle radio station with some killer in-studios. An incredible selection that varies from punk to hip hop to soul to folk. I’ve found mostly Seattle-based bands here, which makes me want to go to Seattle really badly, but even Athens’ own Southeast Engine has appeared. Here are The Cave Singers, one of those Seattle bands.
2. The Mahogany Sessions - A series of busk-esque performances by phenomenal musicians in London. These videos are extremely pure when it comes to music, as most are stripped down, leaving the vocalist vulnerable. Here is Marques Toliver, a violinist singer/songwriter who has performed with the likes of Grizzly Bear and TV On the Radio.
3. 97X – A Tampa Bay radio station that used to be a lot more active on making in-studio performances. Yes, they do post a lot more mainstream rock and punk, but I am not ashamed to like mainstream music. I give you Blue October, and I defy you to present me with more genuine emotion in a track.
4.95WIILROCK – This is the station I listened to growing up so I can’t help but follow it. There is a lot of DJ nonsense on this station, but if you stick to the Studio East recordings, you can find some nice acoustic versions of hard rock songs.
5. Cover Artists – YouTube has always been a place where people like to show off their skills, whether they have them or not. These are three people that don’t suck (usually).
- Alex Pelzer (lots of covers of intolerable chart-toppers, but a really good voice) - "Ain't No Sunshine"
- Dustin Prinz (goofy dude and great guitarist who arranges songs well for solo acoustic) - "Feel Good Inc."
- Lucas Silveira of The Cliks (Transgender vocalist of The Cliks who posts covers of songs occasionally) - "I'm Your Man"
Music truly is a robust art form.From happiness to sadness, music covers the entire spectrum of human emotion and all it needs is a good combination of notes and arrangements.Now, I mainly listen to a lot of fast-paced music, but every now and then I have to slow things down for those moments when you just feel like staring at the ceiling and reminiscing about life.These are those top heartstring pullers, so go grab a box of tissues because we’re about to get real sentimental.
1. "Ahead On Our Way" by Nobuo Uematsu
If you have every played the Final Fantasy series of video games, then you’ve already heard of this guy.This song appears in Final Fantasy VII, arguably one of the best of the series.The entire soundtrack perfectly fits the setting, characters and storyline and helps create a truly memorable gaming experience.However, I chose this song because of its simple, calming melody with a subtle backing track that really knows where to hit you in the heart. The song reminds me of growing out of childhood innocence, yet never forgetting those times.Maybe you’ll feel the same way.
I would list almost every Al Green song in this category if I could, but sadly, I can only choose one.The reason I chose this song was just because of how relatable and raw it really is.Listen to the lyrics layered over a low-tempo classic soul arrangement and you’ll hear and feel one of the most realistic accounts of heartbreak ever recorded.It’s a perfect song to put on when staring out of the window as rain slowly slides down the pane.
I already discussed in an earlier entry why El Ten Eleven is a band you should definitely listen to.When I first heard this song, I was struck by the slowly growing, moderate tempo opening that just perfectly explodes into this slow, emotionally driven barrage of guitar chords and cymbal crashes.In that moment, I’m hearing emotion and it’s hard not to link an emotional instrumental tune to a tough moment in your life.
I started listening to Brand New when I was in high school, so naturally, there were a lot of moments in my life that Brand New helped me get through.Out of all of their songs, I’ve always felt that "Jesus Christ" was one of their deepest and most personal.The subject matter in itself is deep enough, but the fact that these personal lyrics are being sung over this melancholy progression of simple guitars and rhythms only deepens that emotional response.It’s a beautiful song to listen to, but keep the Kleenex on hand just in case.
This is probably the only song on this list that isn’t necessarily sad.The lyrics are about just being in love, and I guarantee the dreamy guitar sound and slow tempo will help to churn up some old memories of that first time you ever experienced that feeling.
I couldn’t do a list of emotional songs without touching on one of the big bands in the '90s emo movement.I chose this song because of its simple melodic intro and moderate tempo compared to some of their other songs.It’s definitely not a tear jerker, but it will still help you to look back on some of your memories of the past.
You
can’t trust me with a lot of things. I already forget what you just told me,
and the cookies? They’re burnt. Sorry. BUT you can trust me with these Exec Recs. Sure, I may be making some shameless plugs for my friends, but they
deserve it. And yeah, we’ve all heard of Sigur Rós, but have you ever seen
Shia Labeouf’s bare crotch region? Probably not, and you probably kinda want
to. So here it goes, in no particular order. Each of these holds a part of my
heart in one way or another.
Why?
is a band of many strange colloquialisms. You’ve probably heard of them,
but I’m going to talk about them anyway because I’ve only recently starting
listening to them (even though they’re from my hometown and their name is
mumbled everywhere by everyone). Anyway, the Cincinnati natives are some kind
of modern Cake with an indescribable edge. Half hip-hop, half indie and half
weird (there’s three halves in a whole, you know), Why? creates the kind of
sound one doesn’t often hear. The result is about a decade of bizarre music
that hipsters across the land have grown to love.
Speaking
of Cincinnati, at the end of September is the city’s own 11th annual Midpoint Music
Festival. Since 11 is such an awkward age, the creators wanted to make up for
the braces and training bra with a solid lineup: Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear,
Best Coast, Dinosaur Jr., Dirty Projectors, Sleigh Bells…need I say more? Fine.
Stepdad, The Antlers, Pomegranates, Shovels and Rope, The Ridges, Unknown
Mortal Orchestra. I’m out of breath. The festival is happening at various
venues across Cincinnati, but most are all within walking distance. I’ve gone
the past couple of years, and besides it being age discriminatory at most
places (how wonderful it is to be of age now), it was a damn good time.
Cincinnati’s up to something big, you guys.
Speaking
of Cincinnati one last time. There’s this band. They may or may not be
friends of mine, but really, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that they
are earnest musicians, simultaneously young and old at heart. Getting
their footing in the Cincinnati music scene is proving to be easier said than
done, but by golly, you better believe they’re one of the greater bands coming
out of that town. Misunderstood suburban hoodrats (they’re not really all that
hoodrat-y, it's just to say it) playing indie rock that’s special to where they’re
from and who’s been in their lives.
4.
Sigur Rós music videos
When
one thinks of Sigur Rós, one thinks of soundscapes. When one watches
Sigur Ros’ music videos, one sees those soundscapes perfectly
materialized. Before your very eyes, unknown horizons and obscure
characterizations are brought to life. The possibilities become endless.
The
band’s latest endeavor is “Fjögur Píanó,” where Disney Channel's own early
2000s teenage babe, Shia LaBeouf, appears nude. But that’s not even the
weirdest part. It’s the story the video tells (mostly incomprehensible) as the
characters show raw and desperate emotions. It’s eight minutes of confusion,
but also some kind of aesthetic bliss.
But
Sigur Ros also wanted to put the creativity into the hands of its dearest fans,
so it’s currently running a music video competition. (Shameless plug number
two.) Hundreds, if not thousands, of videos from all over the world have been
submitted, and students from our very own Ohio University are in the running.
The video, shot at Strouds, is as peaceful as they come, showing the story of
two “forest spirits” guiding a “wanderer” to where he needs to be. In and out
of the top 50, these guys need your vote to keep their well-deserved spot at
the top. You can place your vote here.
Dan
Deacon, a Baltimore native, is many things--a storyteller, a weirdo, a
mastermind of electronics—but never, ever dull. That enthusiasm glimmers in his
lengthy discography, but beams like the goddamn sun in his live shows. He is
unlike any other musical performer. You don’t need to be an avid listener of
Deacon’s electronic music to appreciate what he does, either. Heck, I wasn’t
when I saw him for the first (and I pray not the last) time. You’ve just got to
have an open mind--and I mean really open. Gaping. Free of all other thoughts
irrelevant to the very moment you’re in. Unburdened, like a newborn baby. His
audience participation is out of this world as he demands from the crowd dance-offs and appreciation for strangers. One can only oblige. Never has anyone possessed
such a power over people and used it in all the right ways.
Exec Recs is a blog to which all 13 members of the ACRN Executive Board collaboratively contribute.
Here, you can find each of the ACRN Execs’ music-related recommendations at the moment.
Sometimes it’s silly, sometimes serious, sometimes throwback, sometimes brand spankin’ new. Exec Recs is all about musical musings and miscellany we currently dig – and think you should check out, too!
