Thursday, January 29, 2009

Allow us to introduce ourselves:


"It's bigger than hip hop" -Dead Prez

Call it inspiration from America's new changes in power but the former urban department of WOZQ is now REVOLUTIONS. Echoing Dead Prez, it's bigger than hip hop. Revolutions encompasses what links all the various genres within the department, the music is revolutionary. Before (and still for some other stations) urban was the safe term for essentially what was not white indie music or world music. Music is more than that. Yes, music like R&B, hip hop, reggae, jazz, etc. has come out of Black culture but has greatly evolved to include all types of artists, listeners, and DJs from all over, not just urban centers. From Billie to Lauryn, all those in between, all those in the game today, and the others to come, Revolutions will work to give it all to ya.

Keep it locked to wozq 91.9 or webstream to hear what revolution sounds like.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

rather

i don't pretend to know a lot about music, because i don't. but most of the time i know what i like, and music as my entire life means that what i like is determined by
1. sound
2. style and
3. level of obscurity

basically, i still listen like i'm twelve years old. but it's great; i dont' want that to change!

so in my j-term haze i've scribbled a list of "if you like______, you'd probably like ____" or a rather juvenile "_____ is really big, but _______ is way better." just my opinions, don't get too upset.

HANDSOMENESS
in terms of boy-girl duo attractiveness and fierce indie whatever i would rather hear
Prinzhorn Dance School over The Kills any day of the week. No recording could convey the incredible energy they have when they are on stage; they tear it up, and they've got mad style. I would argue, too, that they take themselves less seriously (plus!) Here's a video because I dig 'em so much. You "be the judge" if you'd like


WEIRDNESS/'innovative'-ness
Dirty Projectors over Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion" was great the first few times through but to be honest I think it pales in comparison to all their previous albums. But I'm constantly re-impressed by Dirty Projector projects--on aesthetic levels too. I'll let you google for yourselves.

AMBIENTNESS
Takagi Masakatsu over Four Tet. The running theme is preferring acts who have a strong visual and aesthetic identity, too. Masakatsu makes great videos. Four Tet is good yeah, but haven't we all had enough Four Tet?!!!

ELECTRONIC SUPERACT-NESS
Digitalism over Justice (neither less obscure than the other, I would argue) but my JYA bias and decades of musical evidence compel me to say, that no one can outdo the Germans when it comes to electronic music.

GIMMICK/MACHINE/THING-YNESS
The Buddha Machine (first one! more novel than the second!) ambient loops played out of a cheap plastic box manufactured in China and sold for 1000x its value because of its hipster-appeal. I love it! It's worth it despite child labor and the toxic effects of manufacturing things out of shit plastic. Isn't this the concept of all entrepreneurial endeavors aimed at the weak-charactered among us?? (American Apparel--I'm looking at you and your reluctance to allow your workers to unionize.) Whatever, I love it!
Google it. Buy it.

yet preferred overrrr

iPods, and iPod phones for that matter. I know everyone has friends whose physical and emotional attachment to these sleek things make them less human.


Thoughts??

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Radio v. MTV


Last night after watching the first episode of the Real World Brooklyn I never felt so old. Though I was caught up in the "straight" Mormon boy from SLC in his cardigan with no shirt on and the other story lines I couldn't help thinking back to the 90s when I was but a wee diva and would watch MTV for the music. Yeah there would be shows not really focused on music but you'd still have your TRL (THANK GOD that's over though) and various blocks of music.

What does the M in MTV stand for again? Music? Moronic? Who knows. Looking at their online schedule for today nothing is related to music, a little Bromance (eww), Parental Control and a True Life marathon (True Life I'm a Jersey Shore Girl is glorious though). Where do we find our music now? Those little clips of music during commerical breaks or scene appropriate songs during shows? Music blogs? Radio? I'll go with radio. Maybe it's a bias but someone has been and needs to continue to pick up MTV's slack if they no longer want to provide the masses with actual music.

As always, Beyonce has the right idea: a little treat.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

my 2008 in music

For me 2008 was all about old favorites mixed in with some great new albums. I kicked 2008 off obsessed with Neko Case, Blockhead and Songs: Ohia. Carribou’s Andorra and Beirut dominated as we got further away from winter and as spring came into full bloom it was She Keeps Bees all day every day. Summer meant Hope Sandoval, Crystal Castles, Dear Nora, and on my drive down to NC lots and lots of Wu-Tang. And so now I am pleased to present to you my top five loves of fall 2008, which also all happened to have been released at some point during the glorious year that was 2008. Here here!

5. She Keeps Bees - Nests: Oh how I love Jessica Larabee and Andy Leplant. If you didn’t catch them here at Smith you seriously missed out. But fear not! You can experience a bit of the magic by taking a daily dose of Nests. Gritty, emotional, and powerful from start to finish, Nests is truly great. And lets not forget Larabee’s intoxicating voice, thank you very much.
www.myspace.com/shekeepsbees




4. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park: Truly a beautiful album, In Ear Park is what Daniel Rossen (from Grizzly Bear) does best. A collaborative effort with his college roommate and two other Grizzly Bear members, In Ear Park mixes dreamy lazy vocals with upbeat and infectious melodies. It’s sound art meets a full piece band complete with horns, banjos, and guitars. My favorite track would have to be “Teenagers.”
www.myspace.com/deptofeagles




3. Juana Molina - Un Dia: Un Dia sounds like you found yourself in the woods at night surround by trumpeters, a drum circle, and a chorus of little girls. And there may or may not be someone banging on pots and pans. Juana Molina started her career as a Soap Opera star in Argentina. And now she writes and mixes songs that play like pieced together sound collages with a sinister undertone. This sinister element might have something to do with that chorus of what sounds like little girls. Not to mention the rather creepy album cover. But hey, that’s what she does. And she does it really really well.
www.myspace.com/juanamolina


2. Beach House - Devotion: Seriously though, could anybody argue with me on this one? I don’t think so.

www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic







1. Tobacco - Fucked up Friends: I can’t really remember my life before this album. Ok ok so perhaps that’s an exaggeration, and while I will be the first to admit the album has its flaws, a few key tracks are all I need to feel this intense love. “Side 8” is a heart-breaking masterpiece, “Backwoods altar” is perfection, and “Grease Wizard” ends the album on an electrifying note. Fucked Up Friends is a mixture of dark electronic sound (think key board, synth, tape machines), it’s rough around the edges, its got Aesop Rock on one of the tracks, and it kind of makes you want to dance and cry simultaneously (what could be better?) Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself (no, really): www.myspace.com/tobacco

and so into a new year of music we go. and just in case you are curious, so far 2009 has been all about vashit bunyan, madlib, and bibio.

so there you have it.
enjoy
c.danger