By: Joe Amlung, Programming Director
It’s a Friday night, your roommate is forcing you to listen to that same mix consisting of Tyler the Creator and Dubsteb (something about the beats' being good.) You just happen to be on your third Vanilla Coke, so you have some sugar-induced confidence going, and you’ve heard enough from “some band you’ve probably never heard of."
So, it’s time to take action: It’s time to take over the playlist, and--as an added bonus--annoy the hell out of your roommate.
Here are 5 classic songs that are sure to drive them crazy.
1. "Purple Rain" - Prince
By itself, this song seems harmless. I mean, come on, everyone loves Prince’s sexy reverb-drenched voice. The key here is to play it every time the word “purple,” is said in conversation. Trust me, it comes up more than you’d think. They’ll be in tears by the time they hear that epic guitar solo for the third time.
2. "More than a Feeling" - Boston
No explanation needed here. Just make sure you play air guitar.
3. "Feliz Navidad" – Jose Feliciano
Bonus point’s if it isn’t the holiday season.
4. "When I Come Around" - Green Day
The kicker here is they’ll have to pretend they hate it. No self-respecting music “aficionado” will ever admit they enjoy a song by Green Day. It’ll drive them crazy trying to hide the smile from their face.
5. "Hotel California" – The Eagles
The dude said it best, “I hate the ******* Eagles, man!” Also, you’ll need to pretend you’re The Jesus (also from the Big Lebowski). The Jesus is introduced earlier in the movie with a cover of Hotel California in the background. Granted, that cover is better than the original, but your roommate won’t be happy that you’re not respecting “The Dude."
Showing posts with label dubstep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dubstep. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tate's Recs: "CHILL OUTTTT"
As the quarter's end draws near and so does finals week, the stress level of everyone inevitably goes up. So, I have put together a quick little list of some tunes to CHILL OUTTTT to when your head is nearing combustion from intense study. Some are old, some are new. Some wiggle, and some don't. But if you need a chill pill, pop on one of these tracks and you are sure to mellow out.
1. "Summer Dreams" - Skream
This is one of Skream's more mellow tracks and is sure to make you feel like summer is in full swing.
2. "Archangel" - Burial
Absolute CLASSIC. A little on the darker side, but still pretty chill.
3. "Plastic World ft. Fats & TC" - Pendulum
More upbeat and faster tempo, sure to speed you up, yet calm you down.
4. "Snoopy's Search" - Billy Cobham
Get funky and fresh with this slowwww dowwwwnn tune from Billy Cobham.
5. "Kaleid-Bass" - Boxcutter
This one's been on repeat in my head for a while now. Very cool tune, wide open.
--Tate Galbraith, Production Director
1. "Summer Dreams" - Skream
This is one of Skream's more mellow tracks and is sure to make you feel like summer is in full swing.
2. "Archangel" - Burial
Absolute CLASSIC. A little on the darker side, but still pretty chill.
3. "Plastic World ft. Fats & TC" - Pendulum
More upbeat and faster tempo, sure to speed you up, yet calm you down.
4. "Snoopy's Search" - Billy Cobham
Get funky and fresh with this slowwww dowwwwnn tune from Billy Cobham.
5. "Kaleid-Bass" - Boxcutter
This one's been on repeat in my head for a while now. Very cool tune, wide open.
--Tate Galbraith, Production Director
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tate's Recs: Silly, Giggle, Wiggle Recs...
I was thinking the other day about discovering music and some of the best ways of doing so on a regular basis. Something I often turn to, other than charts or blogs, is YouTube channels. One of the channels I turn to frequently is UKF Dubstep or UKF Drum & Bass. These two pages update on an almost daily basis with the freshest of fresh tracks. Sometimes they upload unreleased tracks as well, so keep on the lookout. Checking up on these types of channels for new releases of your favorite music every day can really expand the tunes you listen to. Below are a few of my recommendations from UKF and some from some albums that have been stuck on repeat in my skull.
1. "Guilt VIP" - Nero
This is another one of Nero's absolute slammers of a track. Soaring vocal lines and killer basslines are all you need.
2. "Keep Holding On" - Dream
This one came out of left field for me. I had never heard of Dream before and at first listen, the song sounds cheesy, boring and uneventful. As soon as you hit the halfway point, however, all that changes and this becomes a monster. A very unique bassline with a clubby throwback melody.
3. "Tonight (Feat. Netsky)" - Danny Byrd
Words cannot even begin to describe how incredible this tune is. Danny Byrd has been putting out absolute club destroyers for years and years, but this is by far one of the best. That classic vocal slicing effect is apparent throughout and the combination of Netsky's extremely melodic sound makes this unstoppable. From start to end this is a winner. I recommend everything Danny has ever done.
4. "Iron Heart" - Netsky
A fine example of Netsky's work. Though this one is a little bit darker than most of what he does, it has all the definitive elements of his style. A song built around extremely meaningful melody and style.
5. "Dazed & Confused (SKisM's Baroque Out Remix)"- RacknRuin
Sounds like an outer-space vacuum cleaner. Incredible bass tone is a trademark of SKisM and this tune represents that 100 percent. Check out everything SKisM has done.
6. "M.A.D." - Hadouken!
A really fun tune. Chart topper in the UK and overall quality crossover between grime and straightforward breaks. Love it.
--Tate Galbraith, Director of Production
1. "Guilt VIP" - Nero
This is another one of Nero's absolute slammers of a track. Soaring vocal lines and killer basslines are all you need.
2. "Keep Holding On" - Dream
This one came out of left field for me. I had never heard of Dream before and at first listen, the song sounds cheesy, boring and uneventful. As soon as you hit the halfway point, however, all that changes and this becomes a monster. A very unique bassline with a clubby throwback melody.
3. "Tonight (Feat. Netsky)" - Danny Byrd
Words cannot even begin to describe how incredible this tune is. Danny Byrd has been putting out absolute club destroyers for years and years, but this is by far one of the best. That classic vocal slicing effect is apparent throughout and the combination of Netsky's extremely melodic sound makes this unstoppable. From start to end this is a winner. I recommend everything Danny has ever done.
4. "Iron Heart" - Netsky
A fine example of Netsky's work. Though this one is a little bit darker than most of what he does, it has all the definitive elements of his style. A song built around extremely meaningful melody and style.
5. "Dazed & Confused (SKisM's Baroque Out Remix)"- RacknRuin
Sounds like an outer-space vacuum cleaner. Incredible bass tone is a trademark of SKisM and this tune represents that 100 percent. Check out everything SKisM has done.
6. "M.A.D." - Hadouken!
A really fun tune. Chart topper in the UK and overall quality crossover between grime and straightforward breaks. Love it.
--Tate Galbraith, Director of Production
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Billy's Rec's: The Billy Bracken Experience, Are You Experienced?
1. The Books - "Smells Like Content"
The Books never cease to surprise me with their unique blend of folk, experimental, and spoken word. It's hard to pick a single song to represent them because their songs are incredibly diverse. While they often incorporate the guitar, banjo, and cello in their music, they also make use of various samplings ranging from famous quotations to music found discarded at thrift stores.
They experiment with many non-traditional musical instruments as well, like toys and filing cabinets, which are looped as background sounds.
Their lyrics are extremely abstract and can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. My favorite line in this song is "Expectation. Often leads to disappointment/ If you don't expect something big and exciting... usually...", at which point the song ends, driving home the point that it is important to live life in the present, and not constantly worried about future gains.
2. The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
I have always been a huge fan of Mike Skinner, known by his stage name The Streets. After his latest album was released this February, I've gotten really into him again.
"Blinded By The Lights" is one of his older songs, and one of the first songs that attracted me to The Streets. It's a really relaxed song, documenting the frustration Mike experiences losing his friends at a club, then ultimately discovering his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. The song documents his initial spiral downward, but ultimately culminating in complete bliss and overcoming his emotions.
3. Borgore - "Guided Relaxation Dub"
With the dubstep genre becoming increasingly popular, I feel that many artists have simply become interchangeable with one another. It's just a difference of where each artist decides to throw in the mandatory "whoomp... whooomp." Borgore puts an entirely new spin on the dubstep genre, creating a much grimier and almost metal sound.
While his music might not be everyone's cup of tea, I find it refreshing to see an artist reinventing a genre becoming overwhelmed with generic sounds. The drop after the initial guided relaxation sampling makes you realize this isn't your generic, American Apparel hipster dubstep.
4. Immortal Technique - "Leaving The Past"
Current hip-hop artists tend to focus on glorification of a criminal lifestyle, drugs and violence. Immortal Technique is unique with his music in that he focuses on political activism in his lyrics. He expresses commentary on poverty, racism, religion, governmental oppression and conspiracy and historical facts. It's impressive how he manages to merge impressive rhymes and beats with controversial topics.
In "Leaving The Past," he discusses the dangers of our capitalist society and the oppression we freely impose on other countries with our military strength. He also explores the topic of racial inequality that still exists in modern society even though we tend to overlook it. One of the most powerful lines in this song I think is, "I hate it when they tell us how far we came to be/ as if our peoples' history started with slavery."
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela - "Tamacun"
I've been obsessed with this band ever since I saw them last year. The band is comprised of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero. Their music is a fusion of Latin rock, folk rock, and metal. Both musicians share a passion for metal music, and incorporate fast rhythmic guitar-playing and extended solos in their music. It's hard to find a song by them that I don't like, but I think "Tamacun" is a good example of the unique style they have created.
6. Yello - "Oh Yeah"
I just had to include this song in my blog as an homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which I just re-watched a couple days ago. Every time that I ace an exam or do well on a presentation, this song inevitably starts playing in my head. It's the perfect soundtrack to success.
--Billy Bracken, Sales Director
The Books never cease to surprise me with their unique blend of folk, experimental, and spoken word. It's hard to pick a single song to represent them because their songs are incredibly diverse. While they often incorporate the guitar, banjo, and cello in their music, they also make use of various samplings ranging from famous quotations to music found discarded at thrift stores.
They experiment with many non-traditional musical instruments as well, like toys and filing cabinets, which are looped as background sounds.
Their lyrics are extremely abstract and can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. My favorite line in this song is "Expectation. Often leads to disappointment/ If you don't expect something big and exciting... usually...", at which point the song ends, driving home the point that it is important to live life in the present, and not constantly worried about future gains.
2. The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
I have always been a huge fan of Mike Skinner, known by his stage name The Streets. After his latest album was released this February, I've gotten really into him again.
"Blinded By The Lights" is one of his older songs, and one of the first songs that attracted me to The Streets. It's a really relaxed song, documenting the frustration Mike experiences losing his friends at a club, then ultimately discovering his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. The song documents his initial spiral downward, but ultimately culminating in complete bliss and overcoming his emotions.
3. Borgore - "Guided Relaxation Dub"
With the dubstep genre becoming increasingly popular, I feel that many artists have simply become interchangeable with one another. It's just a difference of where each artist decides to throw in the mandatory "whoomp... whooomp." Borgore puts an entirely new spin on the dubstep genre, creating a much grimier and almost metal sound.
While his music might not be everyone's cup of tea, I find it refreshing to see an artist reinventing a genre becoming overwhelmed with generic sounds. The drop after the initial guided relaxation sampling makes you realize this isn't your generic, American Apparel hipster dubstep.
4. Immortal Technique - "Leaving The Past"
Current hip-hop artists tend to focus on glorification of a criminal lifestyle, drugs and violence. Immortal Technique is unique with his music in that he focuses on political activism in his lyrics. He expresses commentary on poverty, racism, religion, governmental oppression and conspiracy and historical facts. It's impressive how he manages to merge impressive rhymes and beats with controversial topics.
In "Leaving The Past," he discusses the dangers of our capitalist society and the oppression we freely impose on other countries with our military strength. He also explores the topic of racial inequality that still exists in modern society even though we tend to overlook it. One of the most powerful lines in this song I think is, "I hate it when they tell us how far we came to be/ as if our peoples' history started with slavery."
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela - "Tamacun"
I've been obsessed with this band ever since I saw them last year. The band is comprised of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero. Their music is a fusion of Latin rock, folk rock, and metal. Both musicians share a passion for metal music, and incorporate fast rhythmic guitar-playing and extended solos in their music. It's hard to find a song by them that I don't like, but I think "Tamacun" is a good example of the unique style they have created.
6. Yello - "Oh Yeah"
I just had to include this song in my blog as an homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which I just re-watched a couple days ago. Every time that I ace an exam or do well on a presentation, this song inevitably starts playing in my head. It's the perfect soundtrack to success.
--Billy Bracken, Sales Director
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
