Sam's Recs: Rock on the Range Preview

By: Sam Boyer, PR Director / '90s Blogger

Whoa, this is my first Exec Recs entry. I vaguely considered making a "Best of Green Day" list, but I won't subject you to my fangirlery. Instead, I'll focus on the super rad Rock on the Range lineup this year. Here are the bands that I'm dying to see, which are mostly '90s bands (shocker).

1. Soundgarden

Ah, we meet again. I skipped Arcade Fire's set at Lollapalooza 2010 to see these guys because I was convinced that I'd never get the chance to see them again. Apparently I was wrong. Now that Chris Cornell and company have a new album (which isn't too bad), a more extensive tour is in order. Hopefully I'll get to hear my favorite song this time around.

2. Smashing Pumpkins

Okay, so this isn't the ideal Smashing Pumpkins lineup. It's just Billy Corgan and some other guys. But I was still pissed about missing the recent Columbus show. So SP headlining Rock on the Range kind of feels like an apology to me. Yes, I'm implying that a band with no knowledge of my existence is playing a festival just for me. But I really hope this won't be an entire set dedicated to Oceania. I need to hear some Mellon Collie tracks, guys.

3. Alice in Chains

I'm not too keen on seeing Alice in Chains without Layne Staley. I've actually been avoiding it. But the word on the street is that the new singer is awesome and I'm a dummy for not seeing this band live. Oh, and can I just say that if I do catch Alice in Chains' set in May, I will have seen three out of the four major grunge bands live (because I will obviously never see Nirvana). This is a proud moment.

4. Korn

I'll admit that I like Korn. I've never been big on nu-metal in general, but Korn is actually pretty good. Maybe it's all that bass in every song. I do have a love affair with heavy bass bands (see my Primus obsession). Plus, Korn's live shows are supposed to be pretty intense. Let's OPEN THIS PIT UP. Well, not really. Let's headbang at a safe distance.

5. Bush

Bush opened for Nickelback not too long ago, so I'm not too heartbroken about missing that show. But now I can finally see Gavin Rossdale in all his glory without having to deal with Nickelback fans. My quest to see as many '90s bands as possible continues. (Fun fact: I had a brief conversation about Bush with one of my English professors last semester. We both agreed that the only really great Bush album is Sixteen Stone.)

Dave's Recs: Top Heartstring Pullers

By: Dave Griffiths, Programming Director

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.

2. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" by Al Green

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.

3. "Thinking Loudly" by El Ten Eleven

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.

4. "Jesus Christ" by Brand New

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.

5. "Luna" by Smashing Pumpkins

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.

6. "Blue Boy" by Texas is the Reason

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.

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


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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