Jacob's Recs: Spotify Discoveries

By: Jacob Bowman, Visual Media Director

I joined the world of Spotify recently, and I have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying it. The relationship was love-hate at first as I found myself with an abundance of free music, as well as 30-second commercials trying to convince me to get the Spotify Mobile App. Well listen here, Spotify, I’ll respect you much more once you stop rubbing it in my face that my phone, in fact, can not host applications, therefore your mobile services are of no use to me, you self-promoting bastards.

Aside from that, Spotify has taken me on a musical vacation of sorts. I found myself in a music rut at the beginning of this year, and as much as I love to listen to Arcade Fire and Beach House on repeat, the times were a-changing. 

My ears needed sustenance and Spotify began to spoon-feed them. Thus, I will spoon-feed you my past week’s starred tracks on Spotify with hopes that any rut you may be finding yourself in is eliminated in the same fashion.

In Alphabetical Order:

1. Bombay Bicycle Club – “Lights Out, Words Gone”

When looking further into this band, you’ll find most of its songs are mostly just noise. It’s depressing. It hurts to find a band that can make a song as good as this only to later find out that there is a reason you haven’t heard of them. Regardless, this song is quite wonderful. It has a pop feel that reminds you of a beach in the best way possible. This upbeat track will be sure to eliminate the woes of spring bringing in blizzards.

2. Cut Copy – “Need You Now”

The beginning of this track reminds me of an epic written by James Murphy. Cut Copy works its way into this track with a minute and a half intro that leads to a song that plays more like an anthem than anything else. Dan Whitford’s voice is comparable to that of Matt Berninger’s (The National), and the band actually sounds like The National joining the world of pop.

3. Other Lives – “For 12”

This music is just haunting and wonderful. Other Lives is host to instrumentation comparable to Arcade Fire and is nothing but relaxing to listen to. Just sit back and let the strings carry you through this track from start to finish.

4. Pepper Rabbit – “Lake House”

What can I say about this band? I’m genuinely excited that Pepper Rabbit has joined my life this week. “Lake House” has been on repeat in my noggin and when looking into the rest of this album (Red Velvet Snowball), it’s clear that the album may be on repeat for most of my week. Check these guys out!

5. Surfer Blood – “Floating Vibes”

Here is something that has been a struggle for me to come to terms with. I used to despise Surfer Blood’s debut album. Initially, it was clear they knew how to write music, but the album didn’t necessarily display that they were capable of playing music. This is the opening track from Astro Coast and it is quite literally fantastic.  Still not the biggest fan of the rest of their album, but I definitely have June 11^th marked on my calendar as I wait for their next release.

Ben's Recs: Bargain Shows

By: Ben Haager, General Manager

When I was in high school, I went to a lot of concerts. Then I came to college and became poor, and thus stopped going to as many concerts. Lately however, I have been on a roll finding budget concerts. Here are a few bands you can see for a bargain in Athens/Columbus in the coming months (you might see me there as well). 

1. Alt-J - 3/30/13 - The LC Pavilion in Columbus - $5 ($8.50 including those dumb Ticketmaster fees)

The "first dose" of CD 102.5 Day brings British band Alt-J as a headliner. The tickets sold out within two hours, but I was lucky to snatch up a couple tickets for myself. If you haven't heard this band yet, click this link and watch immediately. Anytime I attempt to describe them to someone, I completely blank, as they prescribe to no genre. My best explanation is alternative folk rock with some sort of an electronic mix. You'd be much better off just clicking that link.

2. Murder By Death - 5/2/13 - @ The Bluestone in Columbus - $13.00 (Purchase here)

I've already seen Murder by Death a couple times, and let me tell you, they put on one hell of a show. I like to describe them as whiskey-infused, dark folk. Their cellist is absolutely breathtaking live. If you'd like to buy me a whiskey sour when you see me there, I would be quite thankful.

3. Dawes & Shovels and Rope - 6/16/13 - @ The Bluestone in Columbus - $17.00 (Purchase here)

The opener is what really attracts me to this show. Shovels and Rope is the sweetest duo out there. Call it blues, call it country, call it good ole rock n' roll--they just play darn good music. I don't know too much about Dawes, but I do know their songwriter Taylor Goldsmith from the indie supergroup Middle Brother, whose debut album was one of my favorite albums two years ago. It's safe to say this show will be a rip roarin' good time.

4. Cave Singers - 4/3/13 - @ The Basement in Columbus - $12.00 (Purchase here)

A band I discovered through KEXP, the Cave Singers have quickly become one of my favorite bands. Simple and bluesy, yet utterly intriguing, their new album Naomi is absolutely phenomenal. It's uncanny how much great and diverse music comes out of Seattle. 

5. ACRN Lobsterfest - 4/25-27/13 - @ The Smiling Skull, The Union, and Central Venue in Athens - FREE

Shameless self-promotion? The headliners will be the Cloud Nothings. If that isn't enough to get you excited, the Turbo Fruits have also been announced as part of the three-day festival bill, with many more bands to come. Plus, IT'S FREE! 

I hate Ticketmaster.

Chris' Recs: Best of 2013 (So Far)

By: Chris Dobstaff, Editorial Director

I’m just going to admit it: 2012 was kind of a “meh” year for music. Don’t get me wrong, there were some damn good albums that came out last year. But it’s undeniable that there were some months where I felt as if there was a lull in interesting music.

Thus far, 2013 has been an entirely different story. Only a few months in and I have already listened to quite a few albums that are contenders for my year-end list, with many more on the way. With that in mind, let’s talk about some of my favorite songs that have come out in what could perhaps be one of the best music years in recent memory.

1. Foxygen – "Shuggie"

This band came out of nowhere for me. With the release of its sophomore album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (which was released just six months after the band's debut), Foxygen captured my ears with a sound that was familiar, yet new. "Shuggie" is a perfect demonstration of the '60s acid-inspired sound you'll get from this San Francisco group. Just wait until the funky middle eight, and you'll jump right on this bandwagon, too.

2. The Strokes – "Slow Animals"

If you want the old Strokes, turn away. While we can all agree that Angles was a poor effort on nearly all accounts, the band's fifth album, Comedown Machine, is filled with gems such as "Slow Animals," which makes no apologies for the new '80s direction of the band. Minimalism is gone. This song sparkles in all the right ways, using guitars sparingly until the chorus kicks in. But the real treat is the song's bridge, which is catchier than the chorus. What you're getting here is a completely different band, but it's still one hell of a track.

3. Vampire Weekend – "Diane Young"

Everyone's favorite Ivy Leaguers are back! Vampire Weekend's sophomore effort was hit and miss at best, causing me to think that maybe they were a one-album wonder. "Diane Young" gives us all some hope that this isn't the case. The song has that same Vampire Weekend playfulness we've all come to love, but it's much more intense. With jaw-dropping drumming and the vocal distortions of Ezra Koenig, this one's already a lock for one of my top songs of the year.

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)"

Honestly, the guitar work in this song is better than anything I've heard so far this year. Just listen to that riff. It's so mellow, and yet it still floors me every time I hear it.

5. Mount Moriah – "Younger Days"

Mount Moriah's second album kicks off with "Younger Days," a song that highlights the gorgeous, Americana vocals of singer Heather McEntire. "August is over, / So when are coming back?" she sings at the chorus. On this song, McEntire is giving Neko Case a run for her money. Watch out for this band in the next couple of years.

Dave's Recs: Songs I Have on Repeat

By: Dave Griffiths, Programming Director

I listen to the same songs and same artists on a weekly basis. So here’s this week’s list of songs that I constantly play on repeat to annoy my girlfriend.

1. “Love Comes Close” by Cold Cave

If you’ve read any of my previous entries, then you already know about my love for Cold Cave. I first started listening to them when Cherish the Light Years came out, but recently started checking out Love Comes Close. The titular track is a nice trot through gothic synth pop and the melodramatic vocal delivery and relaxed rhythm is what keeps this one in the top rotation of my iPod.

2. “Blue Boy” by Texas is the Reason

I recently started getting into the '90s emo scene, and whenever I was searching for bands and songs on YouTube, this song happened to turn up. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it ever since. The great buildup and constantly chugging pace is textbook emo, and with the recent release of their compilation Do You Know Who You Are?, I was finally able to download and play this song whenever I wanted.

3. “I Think of You” by Rodriguez

For reasons I can’t explain, I love the sound of Spanish guitars and really slow-paced songs. This song encompasses both of those aspects, so obviously I play it all the time.

4. “Stay Useless” by Cloud Nothings

This was the first song I ever heard from Cloud Nothings, and its fast and fiery delivery only got me deeper into their discography. With the recent announcement of them as Lobsterfest’s headliners, this song will be heavily played for the next couple of months.

5. “If Only You Were Lonely” by The Replacements

Every once in a while, a song comes around that really describes an aspect of your life. This song pretty much described my nine-to-five summer schedule and the desire to just mellow out and do something new. That’s why I’ll keep listening to it until my girlfriend decides to destroy my speakers.

Bonus:

Also this. Perfection.

Carolyn's Recs: Guilty Pleasures I Don't Feel Guilty About

By: Carolyn Menyes, Traffic Director

I’ve always taken issue with the phrase “guilty pleasure.” If I like something, why should I be ashamed? I shouldn’t be. However, since I tend to identify myself within the indie rock genre, there are outliers that I really enjoy and that may surprise people. So, it’s time to let my embarrassing flag fly and make a list of the stuff I love that may not be deemed “cool” by the indie kids.

1. Katy Perry

I love this chick, straight up. I find Katy Perry’s music to be genuinely fun pop, and there’s nothing better to rock out to when I want to pep up my mood. Her movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me, was the only feature film I saw last summer, and the blend of live performances, documentary footage and colors made for a fun-filled experience. And the song “Wide Awake” was a heartfelt effort that perfectly summed up the breakup experience for not only Perry, but for millions of fans worldwide. And check out the video, it’s a real piece of art.

2. 30 Seconds to Mars

I saw 30STM my sophomore year of college, half as a joke to see Jordan Catalano sing and half as an excuse to see a good friend of mine at Kent State. What started off as something to get kicks turned into a genuine love for me. 30 Seconds to Mars and their music has really helped me through some tough times in my personal life in the last few years, and everyone needs a band that can help them feel from time to time. So, while they may not be conventionally cool, I’m proud to consider myself a fan.

3. "Want U Back" by Cher Lloyd

UHH! I definitely recognize this song is bad--it’s bratty, it’s got an annoying little vocal and it’s got that weird helicopter thing at the end. However, I think this song is catchy as all get out, and I’m a sucker for a killer hook (which this song definitely has). While many may lament the immature reaction the scorned Lloyd feels in this song, I think every old girlfriend has felt this. “Want U Back” is relatable, whether or not you want to admit it. Plus, this song really annoys my significant other, and I think that’s just funny.

4. "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber

Hate on this little dude all you want, but I think the Biebz is a genuine talent. He fulfills that void in teenage girls’ hearts that Aaron Carter left all those years ago. As he’s gotten older, he’s molded himself into a more mature pop star, and has been quite successful at it. Swaggy.

5. My Little Pony songs

This one may be the most conventionally embarrassing. However, every Saturday morning in the winter, Lord knows I looked forward to watching MLP and seeing what new songs Daniel Ingram had in store. There’s nothing else to say… these songs are catchy, innocent and cute. Just listen to “Winter Wrap Up” and tell me it’s not stuck in your head. This season’s “Babs Seed” was another musical highlight. Plus, look how cute these little fillies are! Adorbz.

And there goes my indie cred, if I ever even had any to begin with.

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.)

Leo's Recs: Long Overdue

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.