DIRT, brought to you by WOZQ 91.9 FM Northampton

My Dearest WOZQ

2009-11-30T00:34:00.006-05:00

Its been a few months now since I have left my life at Smith College for ladies, and oh how hard it has been. Since graduating in May its been rare for more than a few days to pass without thinking back to the place I called home for four years. But wouldn't you know it- guess what I miss most. Well of course my one and only lovely WOZQ 91.9 fm. I currently find myself living up in the majestic rockies and trying to find my way around the mountain town of boulder CO. And for all the modern amenities this town boasts one thing is most definitely and clearly missing: a music scene that empowers women and female bodied citizens and queers and lovers through the wonders of community and radio and music. So keep on fighting that good fight my friends because there is still so much to be done.

HERE'S TO WOZQ!
xo
c.danger

LONG DISTANCE RADIO LOVE

2009-09-08T18:57:00.003-04:00

Welcome all old & new WOZQerz to a brand new year at Smith! I'm sad to be missing out on this years dirt/radio festivities, but I promise to keep in touch while I'm away. I'll do my best to keep you all posted on the music scene across the pond!!

Kill it on air.

x
phoebe

Don't Fake the Funk

2009-05-08T18:30:00.004-04:00

So coming out a very full finals period I'd like to share some wisdom on music. My dear and lovely across the hall neighbor utilized the genius feature on iTunes (I don't use it; too lazy to figure it out, figuring it out will be one of my summer goals) and last night as I sat down to write my seminar paper I was surrounded by the wonderful sounds of 90s pop music (Backstreet, NSYNC, Christina, Spice Girls, etc) and it was glorious.

These sweet jams are too often considered "guilty pleasures". To that I say don't fake the funk. If you like it, enjoy it and own it. Yeah people will judge but people judge everything. You need haters to survive, what type of diva would you be without them. Don't let them shame your music taste though.

Go turn on all those Now! CDs you got when people used to actually by CDs. Now! 1-1000? Sure. Sometimes you just need it.

LOLLAPALOOZA LINEUP

2009-04-21T10:28:00.004-04:00

For you music festival fans: it's finally here! The Lollapalooza lineup for 2009!
Check out the Lollapalooza site for more information on who's playing, how to buy tickets, and all that fun stuff.

Here's part of the Lollapalooza Lineup 2009 - for the rest, visit the site

And spinning at PERRY'S

Watch Me Shake My Fanny in My Iced Out Panties

2009-04-15T22:43:00.007-04:00

Here's is a small list of my favorite diva jams to get ready to, do dance to, to live by, etc. Enjoy.

Beyonce-Freakum Dress + Get Me Bodied (Extended Remix)

(here's to you, Michelle + that one time on BET)

So whether you love her or hate her, tired of being sent youtube interpretations of Single Ladies, and still blown away by this ridiculous alter ego, the one + only Sasha Fierce--you have to give it up to B and her album B'day (deluxe edition) offering the world two perfect diva tracks, Freakum Dress + Get Me Bodied (Extended Remix).

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Freakum Dress, any time I'm getting ready to go out this song needs to be playing.

Get Me Bodied on the other hand is perfect to dance to with your favorite fellow diva, sup feather, and Naomi Campbell walk all over the place, pushing bitches out of the way and being major.

Lady Gaga-Love Game (Kelvin Nicolas Remix)

Gaga, GooGoo, BlahBlah, whatever you want to call her she's another one you either love or hate, but I have to give it up to the Kelvin Nicolas Remix to Gaga's Love Game. Hands down, it's awesome. It lacks those long and drawn out intro/outros the remixes do or annoying loops.

Whatever your orientation, when the song comes on everyone wants to ride a disco stick.

En Vogue-Free Your Mind + My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)

CLASSIC.

Feather + I both want to pole dance to Free Your Mind. It's the perfect song to get a message across while dancing as sexy as you want to be.

I wear tight clothing and high heel shoes it doesnt make me a prostitute...I might date another race or color/Doesnt mean I dont like my strong/Black brothers

...words to live by.

As for My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It), another jam with a message. I love the breakdown.

Donna Summer-Last Dance

I really love this song. Story: The first time I heard this song was watching Family Matters, (remember that one) and Donna Summer was a special guest playing someone's geeky cousin and she gets a makeover + performs karaoke to this song and everyone drops jaw because they didn't know she could sing. Oh girl, that's when I knew.

Cassie-Me + You

Oh high school, I loved this song + even put it on a mix for an ex. So good. Thoughts on the new hair though?

Madonna-Material Girl

Personal favorite of DJ Boyfriend. It's lovely.

Kylie Minogue-Slow (MONSTR Remix)

This remix is sexxxy and I listen to it whenever I want to put on the "you want me" face before going out (so I listen to it everyday)

Eartha Kitt-I Want to Be Evil

The song that inspired this post. I don't remember when I came across this song but the minute I did I was hooked. It's the perfect song to drink and be bad to. Nothing's better.

R.I.P.

take it easy divas.

Raphael Saadiq

2009-04-15T22:34:00.003-04:00

So it's been a minute since I've last had something to say. I always have lots to say but today will be focused on the beautiful Raphael Saadiq ( sexy can I?). He just performed on the Bravo's award ceremony (I have lots of time on my hands, clearly reading various blogs and watching tv but anyway).

If you haven't heard him, check him out. His latest album, The Way I See It, is amazing and takes it back to the old-school soul/jazz-y sounds.

My favorite song off the album is Just One Kiss.

E-603 INTERVIEW

2009-04-09T00:10:00.009-04:00

A few weeks ago Grace and I interviewed E-603! Here's a photomontage that's bound to give you the giggles. Not surprisingly, Grace forgot to turn on the volume during the recording, so we had to be creative and use my backup lo-fi tape recorder and pick a few choice stills.

Hope you enjoy. There are a few surprises dispersed throughout the lengthy but enriching 19 minutes, so keep your eyes peeled!

Check out his sweet tunes @ http://www.myspace.com/e603

RADIO LOVE,
Phoebe and Grace

'93 TIL INFINITY with RADIO ROSE

2009-04-07T07:15:00.002-04:00

Make sure to catch WOZQ Party DJ's upcoming event '93 TIL INFINITY on Saturday, April 11 from 10 pm to 1 am in the Campus Center Carroll room! It will be a 90s hip-hop themed dance party, with special guest dj RADIO ROSE.

Radio Rose is a freelance stylist, as well as fashion editor for Missbehave Magazine. In between styling music videos and fashion shoots, Radio Rose runs the blog AroundTheWayGirls and DJs at the hottest clubs all over NYC. You can check out her MySpace here and an interview with here here. This is one party you definitely don't want to miss! Best of all, it's FREE for all Smith students and only $3 for non-students, so tell all your friends and get ready for a hot tribute to the music you grew up with!

An evening with Bishop Allen

2009-04-04T16:07:00.031-04:00

On Thursday April 2nd, Bishop Allen brought their unique and upbeat pop rock to the fine people of Northampton. With warmer weather on the way, it seemed the perfect timing for this group of fun-loving twenty somethings to leave us feeling warm and fuzzy after caressing our eardrums with the perfect dose of energetic and accessibly catchy tunes. Before the show, I got a chance to chat with founders and front-men Christian Rudder and Justin Rice who shared their enthusiasm for crafting the perfect pop song, thoughts on embracing the label of DIY, and spoke about their past and present film projects.

How would you describe your sound?

Justin Rice: I don’t know. I think that we tend to really focus on songs and in my heart I believe that songs tend to be succinct. I think that a lot of our songs try to move quickly, cover a lot of ground and complete their task in a short amount of time and to contain as much energy and enthusiasm as they can possibly can. I mean, that being said, I think we're a pop band. The things that I think we [sound like are what we] listen to most—like 60's pop records. You know, like The Kinks or The Rolling Stones and things like that. But I mean it doesn’t sound dated, I hope. [We sound] sort of like new interpretations or like the attempt to craft a perfect set of pop songs.

Do you guys consider yourself a part of DIY culture?

Christian Rudder: Um yeah. I mean in a lot of ways we are. Definitely Justin and I grew up that way, for sure. I think we're a lot more DIY than lots of bands that are our size—not that we're very big. Yeah we are, but at the same time there’s things that when I was 18 I would have thought are just hopelessly not DIY, like having songs in commercials and stuff like that. But by and large, I'd have to say that we are pretty DIY. We're about as DIY as a band can get these days and still do it as your job— it's too much to do all on your own at a certain point.

I really like the artwork for your new album, Grrr.... Who did it?
CR: Darby [Nowatka, the newest addition to the band] does all of the artwork.

What have you been listening to lately?

JR: We just went on tour with a band that I really like called The Miniature Tigers, they're really good. These guys too—Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band [the evening's opening act]. I've been enjoying listening to their songs every single night and I've started to really get it which always takes me a little bit of time to understand songs. We've just listened to the new Grizzly Bear record a bunch and it's really good.

I haven’t heard it yet.

JR: I mean- It's something else. It's like really well crafted and is evidence of great ability, and I don’t always like that but I do like it on that record. A lot of the bands that we end up listening to are the bands that we go on tour with and can see every night and sort of understand what they're going for and get their energy—and get to see them live a lot.

CR: We've also been listening to the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's album a lot.

If you could collaborate with any musician dead or alive who would it be?

JR: I don't know. Like there are people that I wish I had written songs like. Probably Ray Davies from The Kinks. But I don't know if he'd actually be good to collaborate with. I’ve never seen him collaborate with anyone. I get the feeling he'd be a steamroller, not in a bad way. So, David Byrne. He seems like he can collaborate.

What are you favorite and least favorite aspects of being on tour?

JR: Playing music is definitely the best. There's actually a really small fraction of time in a given day when you're actually playing and you have to love that. And I do. That’s the most exciting moment- when you actually get up there and its time to play. The worst part is just like all the down time, you know. We've gotten way better at using it and being able to not just turn dead from down time. Most of the time you're carrying stuff or parking or waiting around or driving and that stuff can be really rough until you figure out how to not let it just deaden you.

What do when you're not making music?

CR: I mean this really pretty much takes up almost all my time but, I kind of work at a website sometimes that I started with some friends from school a long time ago—it’s like a dating website, its called OkCupid.

JR: I read a shit ton.

Oh what do you read?

JR: Well, I just finished this newly translated book by Roberto Bolano called 2666. He's this Chilean writer—he wrote The Savage Detectives. He's kind of the hot shit right now but this new book is really, really good. Then I got this science fiction book that I don’t really like called Consider Phlebas.

Phlebas?

Yeah. [pauses & laughs] I don’t know. But I continue to read it. It's like I’m compulsively reading it even though I don’t really like it. And then I just got this book, The 39 Steps, that I'm reading now. Right before I left I finished this book called Son of the Morning Star which is a history of Little Big Horn but really, really compelling. So it's kind of like whatever I can get my hands on. I feel like there are so many books that are really good that I haven’t gotten around to that I keep meaning to. When i'm home I read like five books a week. When I'm not doing anything else, I like sit down in the morning and read all day. [pauses] Like a college student.

So I'm a fan of both of your movies—Funny Haha and Mutual Appreciation. Do you have any plans to do any more film work or acting?

CR: Oh cool, thank you. I don’t. I just did Funny Haha just because, you know, Andrew [Bujalski, the director] was one of the people we lived with on Bishop Allen Drive. He wrote this movie while we were living there and was like, "hey I want to shoot it, why don’t you guys be in it?" And so we were all like "ok fine," you know. So, yeah, a lot of that was shot at my apartment and it was kind of just a coincidence of being around. But Andrew lives in Austin now and is working with other people and it's just nothing i've ever pursued. Justin has been in a few commercials and has like two movies coming out in New York next week. He shot like five movies last year that are all just kind of coming out now. So I know he does that kind of stuff all the time. That’s kind of what he does [when he’s not playing in the band]. But me—no.

JR: Awesome, thanks. There are several that I shot last year that are just starting to come out. the first is called Alexander the Last which just premiered at SXSW and is now available on demand. [It] iis also having a limited theatrical release at the same time—like they’re trying something new where they can press all of the windows into one moment so its like: on demand, festivals, and theatres at the same time. It just premired in New York, Chicago and at SXSW. And then there's another one called Harmony & Me, which also our bass player's in, which is how I met him, [and it's] showing at the MoMA tomorrow and later this week and it's starting to play at festivals. So Harmony & Me and Alexander the Last—those are the two that I did last year that are starting to come out.

Did you just act in them?

I mean they were both pretty collaborative and they involved a lot of like working out scenes and lines on the fly. And so while I did not direct them, it wasn’t like a strict act-out-this-scene-that-already-exists type of movie. It wasn’t quite normal acting, it was more improvised.

What advice do you have for college students who also want to make music?

JR: Do it. I mean for us it really is that simple. If you want to make music, just make music and don’t stop. Just keep recording and writing songs. And that’s the most important thing, you know. Anything else you hear or anything else you can figure out, that’s okay. The most important thing is to just keep making new songs.

CR: Um, I don’t know. It's pretty tough. I never really thought I would end up being a musician. It was not really ever a goal so its hard for me to say what you need to do get there, but I really wouldn’t take it very seriously—and don’t take college very seriously either because college as it turns out is really just pretty bunk. I guess just try to learn as much about life as you can.

Bishop Allen's newest album Grrr... is out now. You can purchase the album or download select songs for free from their website: www.bishopallen.com

Also, check out the trailers for Justin's new films below:

-lauren

2009-03-30T11:42:00.001-04:00

2009-03-30T09:51:00.003-04:00

if you hate the song, i don't blame you. my mom used to play it on repeat in the station wagon when i was young sprout. thanks, tal. just plug your ears and watch the magic unfold.

SXSW Clips

2009-03-22T09:01:00.006-04:00

Visit the following YouTube channels to see some great interviews and performances by some of the SXSW Music participants. ENJOY.

SXSW

NMETV

BillboardMagazine

TooManyMCs

BreakThruRadio

fridaysssssssss

2009-03-13T08:59:00.002-04:00

Spring break has come for those of us at the 5-colleges in the Pioneer Valley.
Here are a few things to help you keep going without your usual WOZQ tune-in.

Stream Metric
Stereogum has just posted a wonderful little web stream of Metric's new album Fantasies. Go to Metric's website to look at more information on pre-ordering the new upcoming release.

Metric - Fantasies

SXSW!!!
Keep yourself updated with the latest in film, media, and upcoming acts in music by checking up on SXSW's site. There will be plenty of sources loading up videos via youtube, and maybe even some streaming. For more updates, keep coming back here to the DIRT blog throughout the weekend and all next week. Like most years, we will be seeing a bunch of great acts thanks to this wonderful festival. Here's a list some of the music acts that'll be at SXSW:

Ra Ra Riot (Syracuse, NY)
Gabriella Cilmi (AUSTRALIA)
Ximena Sariñara (Mexico City, MEXICO)
Primal Scream (Glasgow SCOTLAND/UK)
Friendly Fires (St Albans, ENGLAND/UK)
B.o.B (Atlanta, GA)
Sage Francis (Providence, RI)
Buraka Som Sistema (Lisbon, PORTUGAL)
Arc Angels (Austin, TX)
Courteeners (Manchester, England/UK)
Raul Malo (Nashville, TN)
8Ball & MJG (Memphis, TN)
Reflection Eternal (New York, NY/Cincinnati, OH)
Wale (Washington, DC)
Ben Harper and Relentless7 (Los Angeles, CA)

click here for the entire SXSW music schedule.

Friday mix
Download a little 8-bit medley, courtesy of First Up!.

8-bit HipHop medley

--------------------------------------------------------

WOOOOHHH IT'S SPRING!!! Kind of....

light up your life

2009-03-11T10:18:00.003-04:00

feast your eyes

nite jewel + eric hnatow + triangle forest
tonight! 7pm! davis ballroom! 5 bones, that's it!

stream wozq all day to catch triangle forest & nite jewel on-air this afternoon before the show; if you missed eric hnatow on-air yesterday you can see him live (even better!). you know when.

be there. we mean it.

Local talent

2009-03-10T21:03:00.002-04:00

If you're into Girl Talk, Super Mash Bros., and The Hood Internet, this listen's for you. E-603 has been jammin' out way before coming to the lovely Pioneer Valley, but put out his self-released album Something for Everyone in 2008. He's a chill guy, and knows how to jam out with those thick black rimmed spex of his. Check out on his myspace, web site or on last.fm. You can download Something for Everyone off his website. Updates on his works in progess will be coming soon. ENJOY.

E-603 - Something For Everyone

teaser

2009-03-10T12:26:00.001-04:00

shhh, don't say a thing

just move your body

nite jewel + eric hnatow + triangle forest
THIS WEDNESDAY, march 11th
davis ballroom (smith college-behind cutter-ziskind house)
doors at 7pm, $3 advance/$5 door

click back at dirtwozq.blogspot.com for more videos in the next hours as the prettiest, most dancey night of your 2009 lives approaches

xxo

For a mundane monday

2009-03-09T11:33:00.004-04:00

Haven't posted a download on here a in while, so here's a lovely little tune for that melodic side of your music tastes. This one's by Ezra Furman & the Harpoons off of their album Inside the Human Body. The album's a good listen if you're into a laid back-leaning-towards-alt.-folk-ish kind of band. Thanks to last.fm, you may DOWNLOAD + ENJOY.

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - We Should Fight

This is helpful.

2009-03-02T00:16:00.002-05:00

THE SHIFT video podcast with DJ Raw and DJ Rev. We got haircuts.

a message from the Flywheel...

2009-02-26T16:16:00.005-05:00

Yes Flywheel is still here and gearing up to reopen this spring! But we need your green to do it!

Construction is set to begin on our new 1500sqft space. But that shit is expensive yo! So how about have some fun and support Flywheel at the same time!

*************
Come to the APE Gallery on Main St in Northampton this coming Tuesday March 3rd at 7:30 and hang out with Thurston Moore and Byron Coley as they sign books and ruminate on their photo documentary of the No Wave music scene of the late 1970s in NYC.
*************

Music by DJ12XU and video footage will also be served.

Admission is free, but we will be taking donations for our ongoing renovations. Bring your checkbooks or your penny jar and help us get this party started!

Peace!

---

the flywheel arts collective is volunteer-run, non-profit artspace in easthampton complete with a zine library (<3333), a café, a sizable board game collection and, of course, a space for live music!! in the past couple of years, it has been in a weird sort of limbo between its original location on holyoke street to the old historic town hall! the flywheel is a wonderful, wonderful space for the pioneer valley--please attend this event and support its re-opening!!

The Flywheel Arts Collective

yet another...

2009-02-23T19:18:00.002-05:00

RAC mix to download. If you were into Robyn's self-titled album, you might appreciate this. The RAC gang will be posting up more mixes soon. Some mixes you can keep an eye out for will be of artists like Mates of State, So Many Dynamos, Kaiser Chiefs, and others. Enjoy this one for now.

Robyn - Cobrastyle (RAC mix)

remix for your weekend

2009-02-20T11:29:00.004-05:00

Andre Anjos from Remix Artist Collective (RAC) posted a new playlist online yesterday. It might help you out if you're stumped for a chill minimix for this weekend. The mix can be accessed through the link below. User discretion advised. ENJOY.

RAC Agency - MINIMIX 3: FAIRTILIZER EXCLUSIVE

Los Angeles is (finally) big enough for the both of us

2009-02-19T18:37:00.000-05:00

For those of you not in the know, your very own Beelzebub von Wünderbang/DJ Dr. Benway/WOZQ Webslave is in Los Angeles this semester for some R&R.

But, since I run this xit, I still get to blog. (THE POWER!)

As awesome as Northampton is in terms of providing opportunities for live music, few places can beat the total badassitude of Los Angeles. On Valentine's Day, I saw the inimitable Mael brothers perform their latest album Exotic Creatures of the Deep and their 1974 classic Kimono My House at UCLA's Royce Hall.

I love Sparks. Russell and Ron Mael provide the perfect combination of cheese, humor, weirdness, electronica, rock and roll, and performative awesomeness. For those of you unfamiliar with these Los Angeles natives, the Maels have been putting out music since the 70's. The 21 albums were written almost entirely by the stern, mustached, elder brother, Ron, who rarely speaks or smiles from behind his Roland synthesizer. Russell, the charismatic singer, proved last night that he can still leap about and sing falsetto like a pre-pubescent boy (in spite of being in his mid 50's).

They started the show with Exotic Creatures of the Deep, a really weird and very funny album. Highly stagey, including a few numbers performed by (I'm assuming) female members of the UCLA dance department, they kept us entertained. The album pales in comparison to Kimono, but there were some great songs. "The Director Never Yelled Cut" was really weird, really long, and really rather creepy. "Let the Monkey Drive" had a similar quality, though it was funnier. The title "Lighten Up Morrissey" promises more than it delivers, sadly, but I was quite tickled by Steven's silhouette in the background. "Photoshop" was also brilliant. Ron Mael pretended to play a projected animated piano that was constantly being stretched and rotated in Photoshop, much to the audience's amusement while his brother sang "Photoshop me out of your life." I had a great time, but the best was yet to come.

After a brief intermission (during which I scored a free carton of cigarettes and a Sparks pin), we went back inside for the main event: Kimono My House, their glam/electric/proto-new wave/powerpop masterpiece. It's funny, it's beautiful and it makes you want to get up and dance. Russell didn't miss a single word or note. He explained how happy he was to play the songs to an audience in LA who finally liked it, recalling how "weird" people thought it was when they would play Kimono material in the 1980's. The set ended, as the album does, with "Equator," which was "ending" for at least a few minutes. They did a remarkable job. For their hefty encore, they invited all of us to get out of our seats and move to the front of the theater. They played a nice block of hits (the highlight of which was indubitably "Dick Around") and said goodbye.

But honestly, the fact that the music was so good, that the brothers Mael are so fucking funny, that the band of young long-hairs they got to accompany them were having such a great time, that the performative gimmicks were so cheesy and yet so entertaining-- these were not the aspects of the show that really struck me. What I thought was so fascinating, and also so moving, was the incredible turnout. Royce Hall, with its capacity of about 1800, was completely full.

I took the bus from Hollywood and found myself not only among the usual commuters and sleeping homeless people smelling of piss, but also a group of New Yorkers who, I kid you not, flew out just for the show. They were the types you might expect to see at a They Might Be Giants concert. Also on my bus was a gorgeous couple who live downtown. She was quite rockabilly with her bleach blonde lady-pomp, false eyelashes and tight clothes, while he was just pretty, with long matching platinum locks and a velvet blazer. In Los Angeles, one of the unfriendliest cities in the world (particularly when it comes to music people-- if you don't believe me, I can point you in the direction of some of the hipper live music venues [disclaimer: two of which I have frequented and have often found nice people]), it is quite a trip to go to a show and meet so many buddies for one evening. I met another very fashionable couple who had driven down all the way from Seattle.

All of Los Angeles (and portions of the rest of the country as well) was represented, from aging fans of the Angst in My Pants days (and their young, gorgeous girlfriends) to 20-something hipsters in tight jeans to chubby nerds with acne to the avant-garde elite to little kids with their parents. And everyone was friendly. Something about the silliness of it all, the fact that the crowd was so diverse, that we could all be united by a common sensibility knocked down our pretensions for one night.

For those of you who missed out, don't worry. Their 21-part London concert series during which they played their entire ouvre is online somewhere.

Wowza

2009-02-16T21:22:00.009-05:00

I'm typically months or even years behind the latest trends in music so I don't know if this video is already old hat, but HOLY GOD this makes me happy.

If I could be someone else for a day, I would be that guy in the front. And the only thing I would do for that entire day would be to do that dance to this song. Also, Yelle, will you be my girlfriend?

just another monday

2009-02-16T19:23:00.006-05:00

Thought you all could use a few nice downloads to start off your week.

Some Canadian stuff for ya, eh?
Thanks to the lovely DJ REV aka A.Raife, I downloaded the latest Metric leak, the acoustic version of their song Help I'm Alive. Their new album FANTASIES hits stores in the U.S. April 14th, 2009. The last we heard from Metric was back in 2007 when they re-released their album Grow Up and Blow Away, so it's nice to see the band back on the map. For more information on the band, visit their site and their myspace.

Metric - Help I'm Alive (Acoustic)
Metric - Help I'm Alive

L.A. Status
Bodies of Water is a great little band based out of Los Angeles. They've got a haunting sound at times, but with a chamber-music twist. Strange combo, I know. Apparently they're great live, so if you're ever down for a random show, check 'em out. Here's a couple songs off of their latest album A Certain Feeling released under Secretly Canadian. Enjoy.

Bodies of Water - Water Here
Bodies of Water - Gold, Tan, Peach and Grey

Le Disco
I'm a big fan of the "nu-disco"music blog by the record label VALERIE. They've always got something good posted. My latest favorite is this track by College, remixed by Keenhouse. Dance to it.

College - I Think About It (Keenhouse Remix)

________

Keep checking out this blog for more downloads this semester, and of course keep listening to WOZQ. Peace.

THE SHIFT video podcast

2009-02-16T15:41:00.004-05:00

This is really just a YouTube video that we made using the built-in camera on my computer, but we're calling it a podcast. Technology rulez.

Listen to us in real time on Fridays from 6-8 am. And if you think that's whack, just wait for more podcasts.

hunx and his hamburger heaven

2009-02-15T13:35:00.003-05:00

seth bogart AKA Hunx has done a lot of good for the world, dropping beats without fail for everyone and anyone to sweat up to. hailing from oakland, california, seth has fed our hamburger hungry hearts with a wide variety of fabulous, queer musical ventures, ranging from the infamous Gravy Train!!! and the Knock-Ups to the lesser known but nevertheless radical Panty Raid, Baby Jail and a Michael Jackson cover band called Dangerous. Seth Bogard is probably the sweetest dude ever; in high skool, my friends and I often brought him slices of pizza after his shows—every piece a token of our utmost appreciation. through his beats, he gave us all a place to dance; no matter who you were, what you looked like or who you liked, if you wanted to work it, you totally could at his shows—it was like he built us our own club house, full of snacks (cheetos), spliffz and swinging hips.
and now Seth Bogart has done it again. When he isn’t dishing out fashion advice or snipping bangs at oakland’s wonderful thrift boutique Down at Lulu’s, you can catch him playin’ with his new band, HUNX AND HIS PUNX.

“gimmie gimmie back your love”

i personally like the bubble letters, the oversized lipstick and lyrics like “let’s go buy some snacks, let’s go drinking by the tracks.”
oh Seth Bogart, i totally would. and i’d buy you some extra fries too.

“crusing”

AND part 4 of Queer Youth Tv’s Queercore (co-directed by Alex Hinton and Bret Berg)—featuring Seth Bogart!!!! (don't miss the other 3 episodes, ps.!!!!):

Hunx and His Punx myspace

I got ninety six tears in my ninety six eyes.

2009-02-05T20:29:00.003-05:00

Lux Interior (aka Erick Purkhiser) died on February 4th 2009 from a pre-existing heart condition

He is remembered by his wife Poison Ivy (Kristy Wallace).

Their band The Cramps defined the genre of pyschobilly and their iconic image of campy, horrific, sci-fi, fetishistic, witchy, dirty American rock will never be forgotten.

R.I.P Lux Interior

RIP Lux

2009-02-05T18:42:00.003-05:00

RIP Lux Interior (1946-2009)

Man, we've lost a lot of greats recently. Levi Stubbs in October, Ron Asheton in January, and as of yesterday at 4 AM Pacific, Lux Interior, the lead singer of the Cramps.

The Cramps were a great fucking band. Punk rock you can twist and grind to. The music was funny, it was sexy, it was campy and it was great. A decrepit drive-in movie decked out in leopard print and red lipstick, hopped up on speed and ready to fuck shit up...but also totally aware of its absurdity.

When I think of the Cramps, I think of two things. The first one is riding in my friend's old Mercedez my senior year of high school. On beautiful California afternoons, stoned out of our minds, we'd drive to our favorite burger stand after school, blasting the Cramps the whole way there. With a Marlboro red hanging out of my mouth, my head moving to the beat of "Goo Goo Muck," I felt cooler than I'd ever felt before. The other thing I think of, oddly enough, is WOZQ. I think of subbing late-night shows with DJ Löwenbräu, turning out the lights, pumping up the studio speakers, and dancing like crazy to "Rock on the Moon" until we had to stop for fear of a heart attack.

So whatever your beliefs are, say a prayer, light a candle, pour some champagne onto the floor, or just do what I did, put on Songs the Lord Taught Us as loud as your speakers can go, turn off all the lights, put your inhibitions in a jar, and cut a fucking rug. Invite your friends. Go crazy.

RIP Lux, you are already sorely missed, but wherever you are, I hope you know that your music will be making sweaty boys and girls gasp desperately for breath, clutching their chests, in college radio stations, bedrooms, backyards, etc. until the end of time.

Allow us to introduce ourselves:

2009-01-29T16:00:00.007-05:00

"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.

rather

2009-01-10T19:23:00.003-05:00

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??

Radio v. MTV

2009-01-08T13:25:00.010-05:00

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.

my 2008 in music

2009-01-06T19:46:00.014-05:00

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

Favorite Tracks of 2008: #10-1

2008-12-31T12:30:00.003-05:00

It's New Year's Eve! 2008 was a great year for music... so even if you had the suckiest year yet, you can celebrate all the great songs that graced blogs and airwaves this year. So tonight, go out to a club, get a ride to yr rich friend's mountain home, stand out in the cold in new york city, or pack yrself into a small, crowded apartment with all of yr drunk best friends and pop champagne for the great year we've had. And in case you've forgotten, DJ Earworm did a mashup of Billboard's top 25 songs of 2008 just to remind us that even pop music was dope this year.

And now for my top ten songs of 2008:

10. T.I. - Whatever You Like (DiscoTech Remix)

So my only rule when I composed this list was no remixes, but as you will see, there are two remixes in my top ten. That's because these remixes are perfect - they don't completely change the track to the point that it is unrecognizable, but they change a few elements so dramatically that the new version is substantially different music than the original.

Everybody loves this song! The original is one of the most downloaded songs of the year and a #1 hit for T.I. The lyrics are fun, simple, and egotistical, making it a perfect pop anthem, and the beat is fairly smooth and slow. DiscoTech makes the song a little more abrasive, replacing the bass and light synth with heavy and rough synth that seems more fitting than the original production. I think it makes it a little more danceable too.

09. Van She - Changes (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix)

Van She has been on the scene for a while, remixing the likes of Feist and Ladyhawke, but they released their debut album V this year. This song in its original format is just okay. The 80s beat is pretty insistent and fast, despite the slow and laidback rhythm of the lyrics. And the instrumentation on the original is sort of mismatched, with thick sort of annoying snythesizer with spacey effects. It's a fine track, but G.L.O.V.E.S. remix just sounds more right. The synth on the remix is slow and glossy with an Air feel. The spacey effects are countered with sounds of car traffic. And the beat while fast and still appropriately 80s-esque is less in yr face... the kind that makes you start dancing without even being aware of it. Also this is an awesome break-up song.

08. Delta Spirit - People C'mon

Most of my top ten is electro. It's been a great year for synth and disco beats, but /i don't want to forget the amazing works of other genres. Delta Spirit is not an electro band. As the name suggests, they have harnessed the spirit of Mississippi Delta blues into indie rock, with clear undertones of anti-folk. This song is complete with ragged and soulful vocals, hand claps, a moment of singing in chorus, and revivalesque piano, atop pretty impressive drumming and noisy guitar. Everything is right in time, and no element overpowers the others. And the content of the song adds to its quality - it's basically a call to arms to everyone who doesn't know what they're doing with their life. I can almost picture a group of wanderers marching along together in celebration of being totally lost. (Sidenote: this was originally released in 2007, but was rereleased this year)

07. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes

Of the next 7 songs, I heard 4 and a half in one visit to Urban Outfitters. I'm not sure if I'm excited about this. At the time, I was, as the music (and cute girls that urban is always full of) turned the store into an oasis in a South Charlotte mall the day after Christmas. But, overall, I am undecided on how I feel about the popularity of artists like Santogold. It'd be one thing if these bands were actually gaining name recognition and such. Instead, they have this unnamed sort of popularity, where they're featured on Gossip Girl and commercials and played in stores but no one really knows who they are. I got my cousin Santogold's self-titled debut for Christmas and she said "Oh I don't know who this is," and my other cousin said, "Yes you do - you just don't know it." The kind of "Oh I loooove this song - who is it?" attitude... or the kind of popularity that eventually leads to an extremely high number of high schoolers and college students downloading a single on iTunes, but pretty low overall album sales. I think it's frustrating. This whole album deserves popularity and celebration.

Okay, that little rant aside - woo, I love this song! It doesn't get old! It's simple indie rock with a little bit of electronic support. It showcases the impressive vocals of frontwoman Santi White and is just catchy enough to stick with you, but not so catchy that you're singing it constantly and want to shoot yrself to get it out of yr head. AND it's a slam at the "poseurs" of the lower east side. Awesome.

06. Hot Chip - Ready For the Floor

Two years ago, I was waiting for a Mirah and The Blow concert at Wellesley and it sort of turned into an anticipatory dance party, thanks to some students that were playing Hot Chip's The Warning over the main speakers. My friend and I decided at that point that Hot Chip could do no wrong. They're nerdy and look like they should be awkward, but they make unique and interesting electronic pop and dance music that is as seductive as that genre can get. This song is a good example of that. They kind of dork out on certain electro elements. The synth rhythm in the background is bouncy and would be laughable if it wasn't so well done. A lot of the melody is comprised of elements that are suspiciously similar to video game sound effects. BUT IT'S SO GOOD. Everything falls in place and the vocals are beautiful and clear, with the backup vocals serving as another element in the mix. The beat of this song is probably the most accessible of all the tracks on the album, and helps make it one of the best dance songs of the year.

05. The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful

This song has a cheery rhythm, and I don't mean cheery like Christmas cheer. I mean I can picture some tough, mean, punk cheerleaders performing this track. The rhythm is comprised of coughing, slamming doors, hand claps, and marching-band drum rolls, in addition to the more typical indie rock drum riffs. The guitar is low, noisy and minimalistic, leaving room for the vocals to take center stage. And per usual, The Kills frontwoman VV gives us attitude and spunk, as she sings "I want you to be crazy cause you're boring baby when you're straight // I want you to be crazy cause you're stupid baby when you're safe."

04. Cut Copy - Lights and Music

The final Cut Copy song on my list, this tops them all. If you're looking for a dance anthem of 2008, you can find it in Lights and Music. I don't want to do the song injustice by trying to list all of the different things that make it so great, so just listen to it.

03. Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance

Marry me, Lykke Li! She's one of 2008's indie sweet hearts and all the dorky blogger boys are totally in love with her. But I suppose I am, too. Her voice is cute, but not in some empty, shallow way. This song showcases how her vocals can be simple and adorable but deep. The instrumentation on this track is very minimal, and totally really take a major role in the song until almost three minutes in. The song is about how she can't express her feelings (assumedly toward some love interest) in words, but only through dancing. But the song manages to make that sound surprisingly uncheesey. She's magic.

02. Immuzikation - All My Children

2008 gave us great pop music, nice bridges between electro and mainstream, crap-hop that wasn't too crappy, a wonderful return to disco, loads of great dance music, and much more, but one of my favorite gifts of this year was Immuzikation. He is Alfredo Lapuz, Jr. of Athens, Georgia, and does mashups similar to those of Girl Talk and Diplo, but in a less loaded way. That is, his tracks don't include 14 different samples. Sometimes they have as many as 7, but my favorite of his is this mash up of All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem and MGMT's Kids. It's just two tracks layered together in a way that makes you say "why didn't I think of that?" The two different songs sound like they were written for each other, and the result is beautiful. Two of my favorite artists from the past few years, LCD Soundsystem and MGMT have similar enough sounds that the production work probably wasn't too much of a stretch for Immuzikation, but it's done with such perfection that I imagine not just anyone could do it this well. And it's pure fucking genius, so that's my number two.

01. Frightened Rabbit - Keep Yourself Warm

If you want to hear a really depressing view of sex and relationships, look no further than Scottish band Frightened Rabbit's Keep Yourself Warm. Off of their wonderful album Midnight Organ Fight, which the band says is a euphemism for sex (what a lovely perspective), this song combines the melancholic melodies of the Constantines or Smashing Pumpkins with the equally melancholic drag and depth of Okkervil River with the ballad and anthem-like rock of the Foo Fighters. Musically, a blogger at Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, described the music as "swirling guitars and sorrowful singing" that "stems from the steady beats," creating "a sound that is emotional and catchy at once." A pretty accurate description... this song is definitely pushed forward by the drums, leading it through a series of build ups, break downs, and anthemic explosions of music. Beautiful. Also, despite the occasional corny or dumb lines, this song's lyrics echo the powerful melancholy of the instrumentation, as frontman Scott Hutchinson gives a strong yet depressing "fuck you" to an ex that nearly drove him to suicide.

Runners up...

MGMT - Time to Pretend

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love & Better In Time (both tracks are endorsed by Frightened Rabbit)

Let me know if you think I forgot something

And as a congratulations for making it through my ramblings, here are some great tracks for your New Years Eve celebrations...

Ron Brown - Pop Champagne ft. Jim Jones and Juelz Santana (Electrik Cokaine Club Mix)

Justice ft. Uffie - The Party (LA Riots Remix)

Lady Gaga - Just Dance (LunyP Dance Dance Dance Bmore Mix)

Usher - Love in This Club (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix)

Tittsworth - New Years (EWF)

Black is Beautiful

2008-12-19T14:15:00.018-05:00

Despite the snow I'm in a surprisingly good mood so I've decided to share some beautiful Black eye candy that I enjoy looking at on a regular. Plus I just wrote a paper on race and representation so it's still in my system.

Toccarra Jones, my dream woman.

This is one of my favorite images and I plan to reproduce it (with myself of course) before 2010.

Black looks and Black lungs, so beautiful.

Snoop Doggy Diva.

My godmother.

Boy you so crazy! Prince, pre Jehovah Witness status.

Outkast, so beautiful.

"Naomi Campell walk.."

Jamaican Bobsled Team. Yes, Cool Runnings was the first movie I ever watched in theaters.

Biggie, too beautiful.

Keep yo man, I want yo hair.

(Urban takeover)

One last treat
(hint, this is my diva identity)

MAJOR EDIT:
How could I forget America's new favorite Black eye candy? The adorable Barack and the Obamas. Three images for my mistake.

SO BEAUTIFUL. Countdown to January 20th? Yes.

pink and yellow and read all over

2008-12-16T01:44:00.003-05:00

WOZQ DIRT IS BORN! Get your copy now--you'll find stacks in hillyer, nielson, the cc and the station. It's free...and college students love free shit, right? They come in two colors, pink and yellow...WHAT'S YOUR FLAVOR?

2008-12-14T15:31:00.001-05:00

Interview with Jessica Larrabee from She Keeps Bees
By Danger and Sarah Barr
Nov. 2008

Why don’t you tell us about the name, She Keeps Bees
I love telling this story about when I was younger. The most traumatic thing when I was little chubette I got stung by bees a whole bunch. It was because my mom gave me all this money and it was the first time I was alone and I was like “I’m gonna get a bag a chips that’s like HUGE and I got a six pack of root beer.” And my little chubette self with just like a swim suit on and shoes, came around and was like “cool guys, I’m here with my six pack of root beer.” And the root beer attracted bees. I was like, oh man.

So did She Keeps Bees start with Andy?
No it was just me. Even in high school I played drums and at the end of high school I started playing guitar cause I always wanted to sing and I didn’t want to play drums and sign cause I didn’t know you could do that for some reason. So I was always playing, and it was a lot more folky. I listen to a lot of ani and that’s really dangerous when you’re younger, cause then you’re just like “I went to the store and had a sandwich” cause she is so narrative. That when you are young its like “oh I wrote all these songs already! Just talking about my day, you know!” but they are like the worst songs ever. I had a long journey you know. In college I played in a bunch of rock bands. And that was always interesting because there would be like two bands going on tour and it would be like nine boys, and me. And they would be looking at me like “oh well you know, the merch table is over here…” and I was like…uh…. Thanks. It was such boy’s club weirdness. And I broke up that band. It was called the English System.
Anyway, I really missed the drums and when I met Andy he was engineering stuff and recording. So that worked really well, and we have been together two years as a band.

What are your songs about? What inspires your lyrics?
Sometimes I feel like they are photographs of sort of emotional times you know. It’s sort of an interchangeable person. There was a lot of throwing my heart at everyone, for years and years searching, you know? Like, “oh yeah, are we in love yet??? Do we love each other??? Im moving in! where do I put my shoes?” I hope it can resemble something for everybody. I mean most of it is about being in a dark place and trying to understand what the correct move is, or like how you love somebody that is so awful and it is always a fight. But hopefully a good fight.

What did you listen to growing up?
When I was really young it was always really old school R&B and soul and Stevie Wonder. But then you know when I was in high school it was all, Alice in chains. But I feel like I have come in full circle. I love discovering old stuff now.

Ok now for some favorites questions:
Favorite dance move? With a demonstration please.
Probably my mom’s shimmy, which she stole from Michael Jackson.

Your favorite dish at thanksgiving?
Oh the cheese cake that my friend Adriana made. It was like white chocolate raspberry. It was unreal. I made chili corn cheese pie. That’s my famous dish that I bring everywhere.

Anything you are dying to tell us?
That I just appreciate what you guys did. It was really seriously a magical night. Just as a girl it was like so awesome to see everyone just let all that bullshit go that we are trained to attach ourselves with. None of that looking over your shoulder kind of thing. It was like such a warm incredibly freeing feeling, to just do whatever and it just gave me strength- it was beautiful to see.

Favorite Tracks of 2008: #20-11

2008-12-14T13:28:00.004-05:00

Another day, another part of my list. And this one has a clip from Gossip Girl! Ooh!

21. Lykke Li - Little Bit
Youth Novels was another one of my favorite albums of the year. Lykke Li is Swedish and 22. And amazing. Her debut album is full of gems, but Little Bit is one of its best. Definitely the best 22-year-old love song I've ever heard. I guess I lied earlier when I said that Cloud Cult had written my favorite lyrics of the year. I'd say for relatability and accuracy, Lykke Li takes the prize on that. Czech this out and tell me you haven't felt this way exactly:

hands down
i'm too proud for love
but with eyes shut
it's you i'm thinking of
...
and for you i keep my legs apart
and forget about my tainted heart
and i will never ever be the first
to say it
but still I,
yes you know I..I..I..
i would do it,
push a button
pull a trigger,
climb a mountain
jump off a cliff,
'cause you know baby
i love you love you a little bit
...
i think i'm a little bit, a little bit
a little bit in love with you
but only if you're a little bit, a little bit
a little bit in love with me

Oh also, the music is amazing and fresh. Really, I have nothing to compare it to. It's so great.

19. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead

I can't begin to explain how amazing this song is. I've never heard anything like it, though Pitchfork draws comparisons to the dreamy work of A Sunny Day In Glasgow and Air France. This is what electronic indie rock is supposed to sound like. So much of that genre (read Metro Station) sounds like unoriginal crap you could make yourself, but after listening to the first 30 seconds of Sleepyhead, you'll know it's something special.

...there's really not much sleepy about "Sleepyhead", a genre-crossing jolt of euphoric energy set to appear as a bonus track on Boston five-piece Passion Pit's debut Chunk of Change EP. "Everything is going to the beat," a man mutters at the outset (the sped-up voice is Jack Kerouac's, from one of his spoken word albums), and a steady, wooden thump soon falls in beneath synthetic handclaps, gliding bass, and strobing, keyboard-like sounds. -Pitchfork [who else?]

18. Santogold - Shove It (ft. Spank Rock)

Santogold is Santi White, the former frontwoman of ska punk band Stiffed, and fellow Stiffed member John Hill. Their musical roots shine through on the group's self-titled debut, as they find a happy intersection of reggae, dub, M.I.A.-style tribal music, hip-hop, indie rock, and electro. While Creator already made the list, I put Shove It in the top 20, because it's got this grimy hip-hop sound complimented by some nice dub elementz. Plus, I fucking love Spank Rock, and the chorus - "We think you're a joke // Shove yr hope where it don't shut" - is hella catchy and spunky. PS - this is the track that Kanye samples in Jay-Z's Brooklyn We Go Hard. Sounds better in its original state, I think.

17. MGMT - Electric Feel

Overplayed? Yes, maybe even to the point of annoying. When a song starts making frequent appearances on The CW, I start to lose interest. When I hear it in class on a regular basis, because it has become the most popular ring tone among Smith College's JAPS (look it up - it's not a racial slur), I really start to lose interest. And when 17 year olds approach me at parties and go on and on about how much they love Electric Feel by "MGMT" (who I at that time still called "The Management" in a sort of bitter musical elitism), I am done with the track. But, there's a reason this song got so popular - it's really great. I think I heard it first in March, when MGMT started to hit the bogs, and I probably played it on every radio show I had after that. So when I started to roll my eyes about the song I had to say "fuck you" to myself and get over it, because god damnit, it's a good song, and it deserves top 20. I can't actually verbalize why I like this track more than Kids or Time To Pretend... except that its groove is unbeatable and the lyrics are fun. Ooh girl.

16. Kanye West vs. Yelle - A Cause De Kanye

This mashup of Love Lockdown and A Cause De Garcons is the work of Nashville Nights' Jeff Olson. It's a great example of why the often looked-down-upon genre of "bloghouse" is actually great. It's a blogger who wanted to spice up Love Lockdown and did so beautifully, then posted it on his blog and let the world discover it. It's one of the best mashups of the year, and it's definitely the best party mashup. I actually heard it for the first time on WOZQ (props to Kayden), so that's pretty cool for 91.9. So good.

15. Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

Okay, you want to hear the best roommate story ever? Daniel Rossen (you know him from Grizzly Bear) went to NYU and was randomly assigned to roommate Fred Nicolaus. They self-recorded some demos for kicks while they were in school. They went their separate musical ways, coming together in 5 years later to make a couple of EPs... and in 2008 they reunite and release their full-length debut, which will be on most bloggers' top 10 albums of the year. So, the moral of the story is... start making music with yr roommate. The other moral of the story is In Ear Park is a damn good record. All Music Guide explains:

In Ear Park was inspired by [Rossen's] childhood, dedicated to his late father, and named after what he called one of his favorite places to go as a boy. The band frames these very personal observations in experimental, symphonic/acoustic/ electronic pop, using its grandiosity to convey the power of memories. Its rippling guitars conjure up a far-off, sun-dappled yesterday, and the way its backing vocals and waltz rhythms swell capture the way a memory can completely immerse someone.

No One Does It Like You is my favorite off the album, a less experimental and wandering track that All Music describes as a "bounce, wistful homage to '60s pop." It's still haunting in its own right, and per usual, Rossen's vocals compliment the song perfectly.

14. Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy

Oh, what do I say? It's a great song. My favorite R&B/hip-hop track of 2008. Estelle's voice is powerful but soothing and goes well with Kanye's laidback sound. It's arranged and produced brilliantly. Do I need to go on?

13. Bloc Party - Signs

So, I have taken quite a liking to Gossip Girl. It may mostly be that everyone on that show (Well most everyone) is gorgeous, or it may just be that I am very susceptible to slightly predictable melodrama amongst wealthy elite. But, whatever the reason, I watch it every week and one thing I've noticed that the show does amazingly is pairing the perfect music with each scene. Signs was already on my list when I watched the most recent episode of Gossip Girl, but hearing it over the progression of scenes that started with Blair's mom's wedding and ended with Chuck in Blair's arms may have inspired me to move it higher on the list. I admit it. It provided some sort of emotional context for the persistent synth pulse, glossy bells and chimes, and melodic vocals of frontman Kele Okereke.

12. Cut Copy - Out There On The Ice

Remember how I said you should just pretend I put the whole Cut Copy album on here? Well, I basically did. Here's the third song from the group gracing my top 50 countdown. Like the two that came before it, it's more of an electro dancefloor jam than the band-led more rocky anthems Pitchfork mentioned. If you just heard the incredibly housey backbeat, you probably wouldn't expect much from the song. But that's what I love about it. Cut Copy has taken a synth riff and club rhythm that you could probably find automated on a cheap keyboard, and layered it actual drums, airy synth orchestrations, bouncy melodies, jock jam-esque samples, and solid vocals, turning an otherwise generic house song into one of the best electro tracks of the year.

11. Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat (ft. Robyn)

Let me divulge a little personal information here... I got dumped this summer. Ouch, I know. One of the good things that came out of this was my ability to actually understand all of these heartbreak songs I'd heard so many times. Cheesey, maybe, but I now had a legit connection to them, which transformed already beautiful songs like this into "the best song I've ever heard." Some tracks, like Eamon's Fuck It, perhaps were not deserving of such praise, but Kleerup's #11 song on my list without a doubt deserves all the praise I'm about to lay out. Like Robyn's song that hit earlier in the list, this song has been around since 2006. And being a Robyn fan, I've loved it since it dropped as a single two years ago. But this year, it was released under Kleerup's name on his self-titled debut of synth love and production genius. And it came out just in time for my heartache, with all sort of new meaning and layers. Musically, its production is seamless, from the echoing synth-strings opener to the steady synthesized beat, to the crispness of Robyn's knockout vocals... to the pre-chorus synth-heavy build up... to the minimalistic climax under Robyn's "so I don't look back," which fades into a lovely strings instrumental section, which in turn fades into a spacey sounding subtle backdrop to Robyn's repeated "and it hurts with every heartbeat" that eventually gives way to its opening dancefloor beat.

Favorite Tracks of 2008: #30-21

2008-12-14T02:30:00.007-05:00

Despite my best intentions, I spent my day playing video games, shopping, drinking hot chocolate and baileys, listening to live music, and watching dexter. Why not conclude my not-productive-in-the-way-it-should-have-been day with part three of my list?

30. a) Girl Talk - Play Your Part (Pt. 1) (mp3)

b) Girl Talk - Don't Stop (savefile)

Girl Talk at Smith Spring 2008

How could I choose just one? These are my two favorite tracks off of Girl Talk's smashing Feed the Animals, which I'd say topped his seemingly untoppable debut. You guys know Gregg Gillis' style so I won't bore you with basic definitions. Let me just tell you my favorite moments of each song... I love the way Girl Talk does buildups, and there's a minor example in Don't Stop, though it never really climaxes, when he uses the instrumentals from Born Slippy as a base and adds a new sample on top of the others every couple of seconds, until it sort of fades into Usher's Love In This Club. Opening track Play Your Part (Pt. 1), offers another prime example of Gillis' genius as he mashes T.I.'s What You Know with Gettin' Some by Shawnna and Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor, feeding right into a sample from Big Pimpin'. Beautiful work, Gregg.

29. Blitzen Trapper - Furr (mp3)

The first 10 seconds of this track offer testament as to why it's my pick for 29. As soon as the Dylan-inspired, doubled vocals come in over the simple acoustic guitar, I'm sold on this track. A minute later, a harmonica, drums, and a tambourine kick in to signal a chorus whose lyrics I still don't understand. The song, overall, tells the most interestingly illustrated story of growing up (and out of adolescence) that I've ever heard, and compliment the music perfectly.

28. a) Cut Copy - Far Away (mp3)

b) Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (mp3)

Okay, seriously... just pretend I put the whole album In Ghost Colours here, because good fucking lord, I love it so much... and I've listened to it so many times that it's hard to rank the songs individually. Here's what Pitchfork had to say about the album:

Sure, as you might expect, there are still blushes of French house and electro scattered liberally all over the show, but they're always deployed in ways that serve-- rather than overshadow-- the song. And while Cut Copy's principle and founding member Dan Whitford may come from a DJ background, the band-led songs come across every bit as muscular and as noteworthy as the dancefloor crossovers. To that end, this is one of the best bridges between electro and rock in a long time; the joins are so seamless that you don't even think of the songs on those terms.

These songs are definitely on the more electro end of the record, with Hearts on Fire actually actually being pretty housey, but even within these songs, you can see what Pitchfork is talking about. It's not generic electro in any sense and every single element of each song seems perfectly appropriate and in place. Ah, musical perfection. And you can dance to it!

27. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (mp3)

First of all, youtube Thao right now. She's soooo cute. She's a women's studies major and is signed to Kill Rock Stars. Loving it. That said, she could be an anti-woman, Palin-loving loonie, and this song would still be GREAT. One of the catchiest tunes on my list, this song will literally make you bob from side to side as you sing along. As a lyricist, Thao is honest and raw. As a musician, she successfully makes indie folk fun and cute again, without being annoying. This song could charm its way into the heart of anyone and will probably dance its way onto many a best-of list this year. Oh, and to make it easy for you, I went ahead and youtubed her:

26. Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell (mp3)

Ra Ra Riot is a stupid name. There, I said it. I thought they'd sound like Arctic Monkeys or that band that did the cool music video on treadmills. I was pleasantly surprised to have my ears/brain graced with well-written (and not overly simplified) indie pop melodies and appropriately simple lyrics we can all relate to. In fact, if I had an aim profile, I'd probably put them in my profile as soon as I had an unrequited love:

When I look into your eyes
I tend to lose my thoughts
Don't forget your stare
Oh what was that you said
Would you let me know
'Cause I can't read your mind
Oh can you tell
I can't even explain

Oh baby I can't even explain
What am I supposed to do
It's hard to stay cool
When you smile at me
And I get nervous every time you speak

My bed's too big for just me

Yeah, pretty fucking cute. Their 80s-ish sound will sound familiar if you've heard Vampire Weekend, but the music itself is way more interesting than those Harvard boys.

25. Laura Marling - Cross Your Fingers (last.fm)

She's younger than me... 18 or 19, and this is her second time she's appearing on my list (which obviously means she's made it!). She was a guest on Young Love by The Mystery Jets. This song is even better, probably because she wrote it. She's got a knack for songwriting, adding just enough poplove to turn a basic folk song into something splendid without watering it down. And the production on this track is outstanding.

24. Cloud Cult - The Ghost Inside Our House (mp3)

I really like Cloud Cult, but I can see how they aren't for everyone. Some of their tracks get the "weird" response from a non-adventurous audience, and that's understandable. It's too bad, though, because it's really beautiful music and their lyrics are actually interesting. I really like this song, because it is pretty palatable to any music-lover. While many of their songs tend to throw electronic elements into the mix, this track is purely acoustic guitar and simple (but powerful) orchestration under frontman Craig Minowa's boyish voice. There's no backbeat to distract from the music and words (which by the way are probably my favorite lyrics on the list).

23. The Dodos - Winter (mp3)

Off of one the best albums of the year, Winter is the most accurately/appropriately-titled song on my list. The music is wintery, opening with rumbling subtle drums, a lulling melody, and some treble-y guitar strumming that legit sounds like snowflakes. This gives way to a bigger sound, as some horns come in over a bigger (though still not overpowering) beat. And the story of the song is about the "winter" phase of a relationship, as the afterflow wears off and the love slowly fades, but the couple stays together. It even gets bitter at the end, just like the cold winter wind. I'm serious, The Dodos, hit the nail on the head (pardon the cliche) with this one.

22. Lil' Wayne - Lollipop (mp3)

Okay, I feel pretty dumb putting this song this far up, after writing such glowing reviews of the musical perfection and lyrical complexity of my other picks. But, fuck it - I love this. It would be an understatement to say it was produced well, and it'd be a lie to say the beat wasn't dope as shit. Also, I love the lyrics, despite their profound lack of, well.. profoundness. If I felt comfortable saying certain words in public, I'd sing this part all the time and make it my anthem:

Shawty said the nigga that she with ain't shit
Shawty said the nigga that she with ain't this
Shawty said the nigga that she with cant hit
Well shawty imma hit it(hit it) like I cant miss

Thank you, Mr. Carter, for putting my feelings in such poetic and perfect words. PS -- think we look alike?

21. Bon Iver - Skinny Love (mp3)

So my radiowife (aka co-disc-jockey, DJ Hype) doesn't like this song. I've listened to it over and over trying to figure out what she could possibly dislike... and I've got nothing. Unless she just really can't stand falsettos and acoustic guitars or strong-but-slightly-whiny choruses... cause this song has a lot of that. But don't let that discourage you - it sounds great. It's this high up on the list because it's anything-but-complex, and yet doesn't sacrifice any quality to maintain that simplicity. Just pure musical goodness.

2008-12-10T17:10:00.002-05:00

On the 5th of November, Matt and Kim played a dance-tronic show in the company of musical gems Best Fwends and Eric Hnatow. It was a magical night and there might as well have been confetti falling from the sky. Alyssa Pluss and Laura Galu had the chance to interview Matt and Kim beforehand, here is what they got:

We’ve both seen Matt and Kim perform a few times, and we totally agree with what people say about them – that their music is party music, and their show is a PARTY!!! What we found out is that even interviewing them is a party – during the interview, we chatted about crazy responses to Obama being elected, the bad-tasting burritos that they were both eating during the interview, stink bombs, and they even let us give them some listening advice (re: Fleetwood Mac). We also found out the secret behind Kim’s smile – Matt’s goofy face (aw, isn’t that cute?). Later that night, they put on a great show. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that rowdy of a crowd at the Iron Horse. What more could we ask for both of our first interviews? Pretty much nothing.

DIRT: [We’re] interviewing Matt and Kim, the day after Obama got elected.

KIM: I’m gonna say, this could have been a really bad tour. Not to think selfishly, but in life, it would have been really bad.

MATT: Well, tonight, for me, it’s a celebration party. It could have been really depressing.

KIM: Yeah, it’ll be a good night. Last night, we took the night off, of course. We were in Brattleborough, it’s close to where Matt grew up, in VT. It was amazing just to go out in the streets afterwards, and everyone was just so excited, it was amazing. Matt got up on the table, did a little dance.

DIRT: People at Smith were going crazy too. People were screaming, getting naked-

KIM: Really?

DIRT: A lot of running. People at Smith always want to get naked. Any opportunity. One of the questions we wanted to ask you is, how do you deal with it when the crowd isn’t giving you good vibes?

MATT: Well, first step is to try to get people into it. There’s a couple of techniques I try. One is to turn out all the lights in the venue, and see if you can do it in the dark. For some reason, it makes people less self-conscious, and that’s one area of defense. Another one is just to make fun of yourself, you know, if you make fun of yourself, you all get on the same ground. But sometimes nothing works, and sometimes people don’t get into it and it sucks.

KIM: Well, it’s tough, the way we work – we work off the crowd.

MATT: There’s nothing that’s like we’re the band, you’re the crowd, it’s not that kind of thing. With some bands, it doesn’t matter, they’re just doing the same thing.

KIM: So yeah, if the crowd’s going crazy, we get more excited and more energized, and that I feel like that goes back to the crowd. It’s just kind us playing off of each other.

MATT: And then sometimes, in a worst-case scenario, in a bad turn-out, and people aren’t that into - whatever – with Kim there, that’s where I do have to start blocking out the crowd.

KIM: And then we just play to each other.

MATT: And then it’s just us, and if I just make a stupid face, and then that makes you smile, and that just makes me more psyched.

KIM: So that happens a lot, cause Matt makes a lot of stupid faces.

DIRT: That’s why you’re always smiling.

KIM: Yeah, I’m just up there laughing at Matt.

DIRT: Do you guys have a routine you go through to get ready to perform? Do you distinguish between performing onstage and not performing off-stage?

KIM: No, you basically get us the same way either way.

MATT: Well, it does make a difference-

KIM: If it’s hip-hop-

MATT: We put on music we like before we play. If we can do that, and when we set up gear, we just dance when we do it, I get so much more psyched up. But sometimes you have no control and the sound guy is into something that I would consider really awful, or it’s something super-mellow, and I just start out not psyched.

KIM: I think it’s that, and if we have time to chill. Sometimes tour gets pretty stressful, and you’re just kind of running around a lot, and then they’re like, you gotta go on.

MATT: And also the bands you play with. Our show – how the whole show is to someone going – it’s an accumulation of the night. If the bouncers are shitty, that makes you have a worse night, which makes us have a worse set. If the club just is a place you wouldn’t want to be- remember that time, [with] Against Me – all the stink bombs? You just didn’t want to be there.

KIM: Even though, I really love the smell of stink bombs. It’s kind of like that egg smell that you sometimes get when you’re driving. I like hard-boiled eggs a lot, and it’s kind of like that, so I’m like, yeah, I’m getting hungry.

MATT: Also, the bands you play with. Like this band we have with us right now, Best Fwends, is just a total riot, and they make me get psyched and laugh, and just put me in a good mood.

DIRT: How did you get hooked up with them?

KIM: We were friends with them for a while.

MATT: They’ve been playing longer than we’ve been playing. I remember going and seeing them before we had ever started.

KIM: They just kind of toured – basically, a lot of the bands we tour with are friends. Because now we’ve gotten to the point where we can take friends with us, which is really nice, just to kind of have your posse roll into town, instead of just the two of us. So, we, through mutual friends, kind of were introduced to them and have been friends with them for the past 6, 7 years. So now we’re able to take them on the road with us, which is good. They’re very entertaining.

DIRT: So one good thing about being more well known is being able to take people on the road. Is there anything else that comes along with that?

KIM: Venue people are nicer to you.

MATT: Sometimes.

KIM: Sometimes (laughs).

MATT: You have to be moving in some direction. I have bands that have – there’s a certain DIY circuit that you can do in this country, and are just committed to that, that’s what they do. Things have to change. I could change and do a support tour for a bigger band and do these bigger venues where everything’s really boring, and then I could go back and do some of those shows, but I have to switch around. I guess if you have more popularity, you have more options. Not that you have to do one or the other. Some bands look like they can’t go back to gallery shows or warehouse shows, or things that they used to do. But I think having more options keeps things more exciting because if you want to do a better place – but then there’s also more expectations. That’s kind of been killing us on this tour.

KIM: It’s kind of like this: if you have a party at your house, and it’s early, and you’re kind of nervous that no one’s going to show up, you get that every night.

MATT: Does anyone like me? You start worrying about these things, and it’s totally the same, you take it to heart, as if it’s not about your band, it’s about you. So we’re in Boston, where we had played at a little art gallery to like 70 kids before, and it was awesome, and now we play the Middle East to over a couple hundred. And they’re all going crazy, and it should be fun, but because the venue’s that much bigger, it’s like, well it should be more full than this. Even though it was an awesome show and there were hundreds of people there, and they were going wild, it still had this undertone of depressing because there was this other expectation.

DIRT: What were you setting up with the projector?

MATT: Well, we had this idea – we were going to venues that people had been to a bunch of times, and we just wanted to make it somehow more specifically a MATT & KIM show. You’ve been here a million times, seen a million shows – what can we do to make it feel like it’s its own thing? We could make big art on sheets and stuff but that would be really hard, so we thought just to use a couple projectors on the walls and try to make them big. We have Shaun of the Dead in there, which is one of my favorite movies, right now. I made this animation, but we didn’t get it on DVD in time. But to start it – I can’t get through the menu, but it has previews for such awful movies as The Real Cancun, which I think was the only attempt at a reality movie that ever existed. I’m projecting this ten feet high.

DIRT: Is there anything you want to tell us about the new album?

KIM: It’s awesome! No, we’re really excited – actually, we recorded in MATT’s parent’s house. Actually, we recorded in the room that MATT grew up in, that still looks like a 16-year-old lives there. So we had full control, and we got to do exactly what we wanted. We took about nine months doing it. We were on tour at the time, so we’d kind of go on tour and come back. It’s exactly what we wanted to make, and we’re really excited about it. But now it’s done, but with the whole record label thing, they need three months to get it ready.

MATT: Whatever, we just want it – that’s so long, we started last December.

KIM: We put out two free tracks online to kind of be like, here you go.

MATT: It’s different than anything we’ve done, but only in a way that would have been exactly what I would have wanted to do from square one if we had the means. Our last recording we did in seven days, as opposed to this, we did in like nine months. It was like, good enough? OK, keep going. Do you want to try something? No, no time to try something. Sometimes you want to try something that could be shitty, but it could be that special thing that you didn’t know was going to work. But then again, having too much freedom is brutal, and that’s why it took so god damn long, and I would never do it myself ever, ever again.

KIM: But now we know how to tell someone exactly what we want.

DIRT: So how do you see yourselves fitting into “DIY,” or do you?

KIM: I mean, it’s kind of what our band grew on. And I really don’t feel like we’ve changed at all. So I feel like we could play a venue one day and play a DIY space – like in Providence, we played a DIY space, and then we played the Middle East in Boston. I just feel like we haven’t really changed. New songs, but –

MATT: Like I said, there are certain things that if you are only part of the DIY scene, it will just drive you nuts. Doing long drives to New Orleans Louisiana just to have your show get shut down one song in, while other people drove hours to get there, and stuff like that. Or the person who’s throwing the show not showing up when you get there. If you’re doing this as a hobby, or you go out and do a tour once every year – but if you’re doing this all the time, you just can’t do that all the time, it just wears you out. But, on the other hand, the organization of venues, and everything being worked out beforehand, can be really great but then it can get really boring.

DIRT: Do you guys ever listen to Fleetwood Mac?

MATT: What would be a Fleetwood Mac song?

DIRT: What? “Gypsy,” “Rhiannon,” “Never Going Back Again,” “Dreams,” “The Chain.”

KIM: You know who would know that?

MATT: Who?

KIM: Best Fwends.

DIRT: You guys should just take a listen – no, take a look, on youtube.

KIM: Give us one song.

DIRT: “Dreams” – no, “The Chain,” from 1982. The reason we wanted to ask you about it is because they a really intense energy on stage that could maybe be compared to you guys.

MATT: My brother blamed all of soft rock on Fleetwood Mac.

DIRT: Fleetwood Mac is not soft rock.

MATT: So then I didn’t choose for myself. Because soft rock is one of the worst genres of music.

DIRT: They’re intense.

KIM: “The Chain”?

DIRT: Yeah, 1982, that’s the best one.

MATT: That was a good year.

KIM: That’s the year you were born.

MATT: All right, I’ll give it a chance. My brother, I have to tell you, he doesn’t always know what he’s talking about.

KIM: What are you talking about, your brother has no idea what he’s talking about.

DIRT: Well, we both love your music and we both love Fleetwood Mac.

MATT: OK, all right.

KIM: I’ll take that.

DIRT: Well, thanks so much for the interview.

Many, many thanks to Matt and Kim for agreeing to sit down with DIRT. You're dreamboats and I want you at all my birthday parties from now on.
Here is the video from their new single, "Daylight," off of their new album (of the same name).

Favorite Tracks of 2008: #40-31

2008-12-09T15:27:00.004-05:00

Let's see - I have an exam tomorrow, a presentation I know nothing about, a lab report to write, a paper that's already late, and I'm stuck at work for hours. Seems like the perfect time for part two of my list.

40. Mystery Jets - Young Love (mp3)

This song is produced by DJ Erol Alkan and features the young, folksie Laura Marling (she's also on my list for a solo track and can be found on Noah and the Whale's 5 Years Time, which almost made the list) on vocals. It's indie pop at it's best - an intelligent cute story, a boy/girl duet, a slightly-80s inspired rhythm, an "instantly catchy" melody, complex arrangement, and one of my favorite music videos of the year. Check out the song and watch the video below:

39. She & Him - Sweet Darlin' (mp3)

She is super cute indie film queen Zooey Deschanel (think Elf and All The Real Girls). He is brilliant alt-country god M. Ward. Together they were this year's best musical duo. Zooey's voice reminds me of the great female country singers of the 50s and 60s, and this song combines that sound with the harmonies and rhythm of old girl-groups. M. Ward's instrumentals make the simple track deeper and even more enjoyable.

38. Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (mp3)

You know that song, I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You? Well, it was great and all, but this one's better. Same artist and similar style, but more interesting. Black Kids have managed to combine a whole lot of genres, which I think is what made them such a blog sensation. This song's slow, off-beat tempo and simple melody are sort of Miami Vice disco-y, the vocals are strict indie-pop goodness, the lush instrumentation combines electro with a more old-fashioned sound, and the lyrics are pure pop heaven. The Twelves' remix of this track was my summer anthem, but the original stands on its own.

37. Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (mp3)

The UK band is back on the list already with the even better track, Two Doors Down. Bloggers went crazy for this shit at the beginning of the summer, swearing that you could close yr eyes and think you were back in the mid 80s. As that era predates little 21 year old me, I'm just going to have to take their word for it. I can say, however, that this is the best track off their wonderful album (21) and honestly pure pop perfection.

36. Dr. Dog - The Rabbit, The Bat, And The Reindeer (mp3)

I'll be honest - I hadn't even heard this song until two days ago. In preparing for my best of list, I checked out some of my favorite blogs' recaps of 2008 and Dr. Dog kept coming up. I actually wrote them off earlier in the year because their name sounded dumb. How wrong I was! This song is really great and actually the rest of their songs are great, too. This song is dripping with 60s pop and features "ragged-but-right" [according to all music guide] vocals with clever lyrics you won't feel silly singing along to.

35. She Keeps Bees - Release (mp3)

she keeps bees (live at davis ballroom)

What can I say about She Keeps Bees? I could write a whole post about them... and actually Camila already has. They're a bluesy indie-rock duo, with Jess Larabee on guitars and vocals and Andy LaPlant on drums. The music is simple in theory, but has an unexpectedly deep sound that separates it from other drum/guitar duos like The White Stripes. It might remind you of early Cat Power and my mom thinks Jess's voice sounds like Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick. While these comparisons definitely ring true, She Keeps Bees has a unique sound that makes me feel really super good inside. I expect big things from them in 2009.

34. Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why (mp3)

Fleet Foxes is going to be on everyone's best of list. The band's 2008 self-titled album offered a fresh spin on indie pop. The vocals are just right, the lyrics are intriguing, the music goes beyond the simple riffs of most pop songs, the arrangement is perfect with appropriate build ups and break downs, and talk about lush instrumentals. This song stands out to me as being especially fresh. I could listen to it over and over.

33. Santogold - Creator (mp3)

Santogold's self-titled debut is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2008. She apparently used to sing for a ska punk band, but I'd say the electro hip-hop dub genre suits her way better. Creator is mostly just her vocals over pretty bare electronic beats. And yet the song never gets boring or repetitive. And I fucking love the intro. Czech it out.

32. Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (mp3)

Just so you know, I'm currently working on perfecting my Single Ladies dance - be on the lookout for a youtube video. But in all seriousness, one of the best R&B/pop songs of the year. Sasha Fierce (aka Beyonce) hits this one out of the park. A great beat, a beyond-catchy chorus, a dope dance, great sound production, and all the diva attitude you could ever want.

31. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name (mp3)

Sure, Shut Up and Let Me Go is fun and Calvin Harris did a great job remixing Great DJ, but The Ting Tings best song this year was definitely That's Not My Name. Just as catchy and danceable as Shut Up and Let Me Go, this one offers a little more variety, music-wise. It has multiple layers, an instrumental breakdown, and a really great buildup at the end culminating in electro euphoria. Hell, the track is so good Dizzee Rascal covered it (see below).

Favorite Tracks of 2008: #50-41

2008-12-09T00:34:00.012-05:00

YES. It's that time again. When I distract myself from important exams and papers by spending hours compiling a list of my favorite songs of the year. So today I locked my sick self in my friends' apartment armed with BOSE headphones, iTunes, and my trusted external harddrive (named "99 problems but a bitch ain't one"), and picked from hundreds of wonderful songs. Here are 50-41. Look out over the next couple of days for the rest of my list.

50. Chairlift - Bruises (mp3)

You'll probably recognize this track from the iPod nano commercial. It's so cute and catchy, with lyrics like "I tried to do handstands for you, but every time I fell for you."

49. Mountain Goats - Thank You Mario But Our Princess is in Another Castle (mp3)

I'll let Pitchfork take this one...

... this song gives [Mountain Goat's John] Darnielle some of the warmest, most revealing production in his career, with his bare piano chords, [Kaki] King's gently jazzy drumming, and the Mountain Goats man's exposed, confident vocals. When King's wispy voice comes in to join Darielle's at the climax, the two sing, "When you came in, I could breathe again," backed only by King's chiming glockenspiel. "The Song is sung for the point of view of a Toad," Darnielle explains. Any princess who could resist such charms has probably eaten too many mushrooms.

48. Baby Diamonds - Teenagers (mp3)

The first electro track on my list, this charmer features rough electronic stylings reminiscent of Justice and MSTRKRFT, with the lovely lyrics, "boy i'm not a slut just cause i always give a fuck. girl i'm not a dick just cause i never give a shit." Possibly an interesting commentary on gender relations amongst adolescents, possibly a borderline offensive display of stereotypical sex roles... definitely a great track for shakin yo booty.

47. Rihanna - Disturbia

You know this song. You know it's great. I love it. Here is Rihanna performing it at the VMAs, hot faux hawk and all.

46. Crystal Castles - Crimewave (last.fm)

I don't know that I've heard anything like Crystal Castles. Their songs seem complex, but their melodies are simple and their synth riffs are basic and clear. This song is perfect for bobbing yr head and definitely worthy of a spot in my top 50.

45. The Killers - Human (mp3)

Oh my god, I love this song. The rest of the album kind of sucked, but Human is so dope! It'd be higher if the lyrics weren't so stupid, haha. "Are we human or are we dancer?" Anyway, the Killers get a little new-agey and embrace the synthesizer on this track. There are good build ups, a great beat, and a catchy-as-fuck melody. They even sort of break it down at one point. What else could I ask for in a song?

44. Okkervil River - Calling and Not Calling My Ex (mp3)

Okkervil River is one of my favorite bands. Their 2007 album, Stage Names, was in my top ten, and I caught them at Pearl Street for one of my favorite live shows in Northampton. In the band's typical narrative form, this song is the first person account of a man watching his ex-girlfriend on television. The music itself is great, as to be expected. It's upbeat and has a very Christmasy feel, with bells and all, but maintains the borderline-whiny, dragging pull that Okkervil is notorious for.

43. Nas - Black President (mp3)

Produced by DJ Green Lantern, Black President was Nas' pre-election pro-Obama track. DJ Green Lantern samples Tupac and Barack himself, while Nas offers solid lyrics and a healthy dose of hope. I'm not going to lie... I got choked up when I played this the day of the election. At the end of the track, a voice says "It is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce to you the next president of the United States, Barack Obama." Listen to that and tell me you don't get chillz.

42. Robyn - Cobrastyle (mp3)

Cobrastyle has actually been around for a while. Robyn dropped her self-titled album featuring this track in Sweden back in 2005. I've been in love with her ever since. You'd recognize her old pop anthem, Show Me Love, but this shit is wayyy better. The song won critical acclaim three years ago in Sweden, but only recently gained a following in the US when she rereleased it internationally on an EP. It counts as a 2008 release, because the US edition of Robyn came out here in April. About fuckin time America. Robyn is fierce and I can't get enough.

41. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Me + Yr Daughter (mp3)

VICE Magazine loves this band. And they hate like everyone, so I think that says something. Also, I love this band. They don't take themselves too seriously, they make great electro dance pop, they spell "yr" the way i do, and put a big smile on my face. This song has just enough disco to send you into a fit of dancing euphoria, and a banger beat to keep you grounded. I went through a two-week period earlier in the semester when this track was legit constantly on repeat. It became an anthem, as I thought of all the parents I could sing this to.

Me and yr daughter
Never been hotter
Rocking this party

Me and yr daughter
Touching my body
She is so lovely

THE REST OF THE LIST:

#40-31

#30-21

#20-11

#10-01 (coming soon)

Barack vs. Hillary, the musical edition

2008-12-03T20:32:00.015-05:00

Beyonce-I am...Sasha Fierce. November 2008.

Britney Spears-Circus. December 2008.

JUST KIDDING. More like Beyonce vs. Britney. Recently Beyonce/Sasha Fierce released her latest work, I am..Sasha Fierce and today Britney released "the highly anticipated" Circus. I've heard leaks of some of the tracks off of both albums. "Single Ladies" is glorious but what (??!) is with "Diva", oh no boo boo. "Single Ladies" and "Diva" come from Beyonce's cooler side, Sasha Fierce. I have yet to hear stuff from Beyonce's part of the album (I am) but don't worry, I will tonight so a more complete review/judgment will come. Off of Circus I am in LOVE with "If You Seek Amy", the title track "Circus", "Kill the Lights", "Trouble", AND after a while "Womanizer" has grown on me. Brit Brit's winning, sorry Beyonce, and Sasha Fierce too. I know, I know, Beyonce is Black and now that we have a Black president-elect all Black people should be winning things, racism is over and Al Sharpton is worth listening to but c'mon let's give the white ladies something. Britney's album is what Hillary's campaign should have been: good.

Yeah, it's true, I can say what I want because "I'ma a diva, hey, I'ma a diva, hey...diva is a female version of a hustla...".

Why should you listen to both albums? Let these photos explain

1. Because Britney loves and supports the Black/Asian drag community. (I wish I knew what the rest of that outfit was.)

2. Because Beyonce loves the animals and wants to remind you to save the Everglades.

3. Because Britney loves this blessed country.

4/5/6. Because Beyonce likes to dress gay Black men up as angels (or extras in her Single Ladies video, SO GOOD) and because Beyonce loves everyone's main man, G-O-D AND she pretends to cry, yes FAKE CRIES, during the performance of this song.

A final treat:

A Voice From the South

2008-11-29T18:00:00.004-05:00

The Real Housewives of Atlanta. From left to right we have Lisa the businesswoman, DeShawn the Christian with a locked jaw, Kim the questionable, Nene the beautiful and glorious, Sheree the confident "fashion designer with no fashions"

One theme in hip hop is reppin' where your from or at least the region. Fat Joe said,

Now why everybody's so made at the South for?/Change your style up...

The north will most likely always be my home but I've become quite intrigued with the South within the past two years, especially with the Real Housewives of Atlanta having me hooked to Bravo. So I decided to go through my recently played iTunes playlist and checked out all the artists that were from the South (alphabetical order):

1. Beyonce/Sasha Fierce (Houston)
2. Ciara (Atlanta)
3. Lil Wayne (New Orleans)
4. Ludacris (Atlanta)
5. Rupaul (Atlanta/San Diego)
6. T.I. (Atlanta)
7. Three 6 Mafia (Memphis)
8. Yo! Majesty (Florida)

I love them all.

A little treat

how nov. 21st changed my life

2008-11-28T11:30:00.010-05:00

She Keeps Bees, with the opener, The Love Story, was nothing short of a dream come true for me.

when i first heard She Keeps Bees i was sitting alone in my room in friedman b4, looking for something new, something i could sink my teeth into. i had just gotten my hands on the Shhhh EP and by the time "Pile Up" faded out, i was fully committed. this summer while in new york, they played twice, and both times i was stuck waiting tables at Bogota (woot woot) running into the bathroom, checking my cell phone, hoping that i would be done before their set was over. but alas, having been left unfulfilled i figured, well shit, why dont i see if they will play at smith? as soon as jessica larabee emailed me back saying she was interested, i put her in contact with sarah (who makes magic) and the rest is history.

which brings me to my first point. the reason the show was such a success (a dream come true) for me is because somehow we managed to create something that kind of, dare i say it, resembles a music scene at smith. could it be? trying to get smith college students to attend anything is like pulling teeth. you can bribe us with cupcakes, promises of dates, puppies, and intellectual stimulation. maybe even free music or a free performance of some sort. but it doesnt matter how many cookies you bake or how many fliers to hang, the smithies just wont come.

this year WOZQ got literally zero dollars for special events (im not kidding- our budget read $0 for special events) so all our events have been running with the hopes of making back some of our money through ticket sales. and so the fact that we had to charge entrance to a generally skeptical public makes it incredible that we had such great turn out. that, coupled with the fact that R.A.W. was kicked off by another performance only ten days earlier, that wasnt free and already had great turn out (rock n' roll camp) makes the night just downright unbelievable. but i have to believe it, because it gives me hope for the future of music and a music community on smith campus. one which has less to do with a cappella and hand bells, and more to do with the self-expression, and subsequent self-confidence, that comes from creating and performing one's own music. (lets not forget what we learned at rock n' roll camp!)

which brings me to the role women play in music and radio, and how our presence is more often than not overshadowed by our male counterparts. which, in turn, makes what happened on november the 21st that much more important. here we had two bands headed by female musicians, brought over by WOZQ, a primarily female run radio station (!), playing for an audience made up of mostly women.

and basically, i could not have been happier with the event. thank you to all those of you who helped run the event, you did a fabulous job, and special thanks to sarahbarr, jordan, and all those on the special events team! thanks also to katie d and hannah for set-up. and of course, thank you so much to all those who came out to the show!

here are some pictures of the night:

the love story

she keeps bees

davis ballroom

the after party!

waffle breakfast

family portrait outside of savers

a sound is not a sound

2008-11-28T01:04:00.008-05:00

i tie sounds to places, but beach house's is universal in its beauty. i tie it to every dreamy memory i've had since first hearing them about a year ago. partly because i play them any time anything remotely nice is happening so i can connect the moment to a good sound. but also because beach house transcends the geographical boundaries i arbitrarily and subconsciously order bands into.

their first 7" release is of a single, "Used to Be", recorded this past summer. the b-side is a demo of "Apple Orchard" recorded three years prior to the release of their self-titled.

"Used to Be" plays like a dream; victoria legrand's voice against a soft, steady tambourine melting into lush reverbs. it's like if your love were a ghost and it expelled breaths and the breathing had a melody. and then the melody were a fog and the fog was spun sugar in the cave of your heart and the echo was a croon saying, don't forget the nights, when it all felt right...

beach house is a band i love with all my being so i can't review them on any important or critical level. there was a period of a couple months when i would leave parties early or skip class so i could chain-smoke and day-dream to beach house. i thought that part of my life was over but this single has brought it all back.

currently on tour with jana hunter (oh, man) and will be in northampton december 11th with tickley feather at the iron horse. it may change your life.

Ain't nothing better than showing me love

2008-11-27T04:10:00.007-05:00

And free things. This is a little late but I'm still up (super pumped for thanksgiving I suppose..) and I need to give a serious shout out to the Alchemystics. They're a local hip hop/reggae/dub group in Western, Mass and they make beautiful music. Force of the Alchemystics stopped by WOZQ recently and showed us some love, dropped off a bunch of wonderful things and posed for a photo. I'm currently in love with the song Shine Eye Girl and I like to think that this song would have been inspired by me if they knew me before it was produced (yeah that was conceited but as Rihanna says, "Bitch, I'm special!")

Anyway, listen to them, love them, let people know about them because they're great.

we looked good. Sequin on the left, Force on the right. Yeah, I was really happy, he was cute.

No Homo

2008-11-27T01:13:00.010-05:00

A few things have inspired me and all relate:

1. The November 11th episode of the Colbert Report (the first part with Dan Savage)
2. The Boondocks episode, The Story of Gangstalicious Pt. 2 [amazing show, get on it if you don't already watch it]
3. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip Hop feminist breaks it down by Joan Morgan

I love hip hop. I love homos. I'm a homo that love hip hop but hip hop doesn't seem to love me. The homophobia in hip hop stems from the homophobia in the Black community. Why? Read about it (Joan Morgan's book touches on it a little bit, Pick Up the Mic, Black Sexual Politics by Patricia Hill Collins, Gender Talk by Cole and Guy-Sheftall, etc), but I don't really want to get into too much academic detail right now.

What I want to talk about are the gay artists in the hip hop scene making a name for themselves, well just one. Current obsession: Yo! Majesty. They're hot lesbian rappers from Florida and have been called "2 Live Crew's step sister" or something to that effect. PLEASE. 2 Live Crew had their time, no need to compare Yo! to anyone. They're currently on tour (check out their myspace for dates) and will be in Boston at the end of January;best believe I'm planning on going and winning JWL B.'s heart, at least for a night. JWL B. and Shunda K. are doing their own thing, making sweet tracks with sweet beats and winning my heart along the way. I mean what more could a girl want? If only other fly female rappers would come out of the closet. Don't trip, just because a woman is in rap doesn't make her a lesbian but there are a few that I feel just need to admit it. I mean it's Thanksgiving, aren't holidays the time to come out? I won't name names though.

Listen:
Booty Clap

happy thanksgiving. I'm thankful for family, friends, wozq, and all the divas that have paved the way.

Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls!

2008-11-25T12:38:00.011-05:00

WAIT. how awesome was rock n' roll camp for girls? nicole georges was wonderful, sts taught us how to drum, and katy davidson played both songs i requested! the night was filled with magic; there were cupcakes, dance moves, and the disco ball was a twirling. here are some photographic highlights. the first is of our enthusiastic radio board selling treats, followed by davis ballroom in all its glory:

n. georges started things off and told us a delightful story about a first kiss, "guess who," and vegan peanut butter cups.

here sts is getting ready to show us how to play the drums!

and katy davidson finished off the night with some lullabies:

here we are, watching with delight in our eyes:

a dance party followed!

Hip Hop Royalty

2008-11-19T14:06:00.013-05:00

Just in case you didn't already know. Here we have the King, Queen, and Jack (Prince) of mainstream hip hop music.

KING
=

WEEZY F. BABY. With his latest album and all his wonderful collaborations, Lil Wayne is king. There's no denying it. Two questions: 1) Is that WOZQ on your fingers? 2) Marry me?QUEEN
=
KANYE WEST. Kanye, lots of respect for what you're doing but was there ever a bigger diva? (well me of course but for once, this isn't about me) Not even Sasha Fierce (aka Beyonce gone crazy) could compete. I like most of what I've been hearing from 808s & Heartbreak but here is essentially Celine Dion doing hip hop. An entire album bitching and moaning about an ex? Really?? I'll still be listening though so all hail Queen Kanye.
JACK/PRINCE
=
Tiny? You look different.

T.I., I love you boo, that's all. If it wasn't for Lil Wayne and everything he does, you'd be king. Two images because I love you so much.

Josh Ritter covers The Boss

2008-11-18T14:49:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite Springsteen tracks. Couldn't help but share.

Radio Awareness 'Week'

2008-11-13T13:30:00.004-05:00

R.A.W. (that's Radio Awareness 'Week' but in a cool looking acronym) is going on now! Woo!

R.A.W. is WOZQ's semiannual celebration of all things radio. For the next week or so (really ten days), we'll be a little more visible on campus. We'll have radio DJs in the red room and the TV lounge during lunch breaks, we'll be tabling in the lower level of the CC, and we'll top it all off with a date auction and kickass concert on the 21st! This is a chance for DJs and listeners to get more involved in radio. So visit the table, eat lunch at the DJ showcase, enter raffles for free tickets and other good shit, buy yourself a hot DJ date, and come see She Keeps Bees and The Love Story. Check out the facebook event or the events section at www.smith.edu/wozq for more detailz.

ROCK N ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS

2008-11-11T15:42:00.002-05:00

if you are not excited by our amazing lineup of nicole georges, katy davidson, sts, and smith's own chipp then you should maybe get excited about all the cupcakes and dancing, maybe cupcake dancing

you will never know if you don't show

ROCK N ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS
TONIGHT! 11/11 7pm
Davis Ballroom (behind Cutter-Z)
Only 3 bux (what!)

American Dreams/American Nightmares

2008-11-05T20:10:00.003-05:00

It seems to me that this election was all about ideals. What are the ideals of the American people? What is the American dream?

I couldn't really figure it out, so I made a mix instead.

American Dreams/American Nightmares (mediafire)

Dreams:
1. The Revo-Lution- Rachel and the Revolvers
2. California Gold- Retarded Muppit Farm
3. Railroadin'- Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant
4. Roadrunner- The Modern Lovers
5. You Can Make It If You Try- Sly & the Family Stone
6. Halloween Parade- Lou Reed
7. He's in the Ring (Doin' the Same Old Thing)- Memphis Minnie
8. Surfin' USA- The Beach Boys
9. If You Want to Sing Out- Cat Stevens

Nightmares:
10. Pledge- The Holy Modal Rounders
11. Political Science- Randy Newman
12. TV Party- Black Flag
13. I Believe- Knights of the New Crusade
14. Kill the Poor- Dead Kennedys
15. The Red Telephone- Love
16. Little Child Runnin' Wild- Curtis Mayfield
17. Credit- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
18. By the People- Van Dyke Parks

DJs for Obama

2008-11-05T11:53:00.004-05:00

Around 11:00 last night, Smith College erupted in cheers and [happy] tears... and partial nudity from some. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of excitement on campus, and I'm sure it's the same at colleges and in towns and cities across the country (even world?). To celebrate, I have two mixes that a couple of DJs released last week.

The first is a full hour and is really beautiful. It's by Z-trip who has done political mixes before, including For Those About to Vote (for the 2004 election). He also has a sick remix of I Want You Back by The Jackson 5. But all that aside, this is a nice not-so-little ditty that will make you very very happy to be in America right now.

Get it here: www.djztrip.com/obama.

The second is a shorter mix and is a more traditional hip-hop mixtape. I think I like it even more. It's a bit more fun, I suppose. And it ends with Black President by Nas, which I fucking love.

Right[ctrl]-click, download--> DJ YNOT - Politics As Usual (mp3)

change!

2008-11-05T06:55:00.003-05:00

click here

70 years ago today....

2008-10-30T14:32:00.003-04:00

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air did one of the coolest things in the history of radio.

A dramatic reading of H.G. Welles' War of the Worlds done in such a way that it sounded like real radio coverage of alien invasion.

All episodes of the Mercury Theatre on the Air, including War of the Worlds, are available for free download here.

Orson Welles was a badass.

meow mix

2008-10-27T22:51:00.005-04:00

siouxsie kitty?

heartsrevolution yes yes yes

2008-10-20T19:29:00.005-04:00

another boy/girl electro duo, this one off iheartcomix. album drops tomorrow! it's nice to see musicians who don't take themselves too seriously (they'll sell you bubble guns and pink eyeshadow) because i'm less embarrassed to have post-crystal castles hipster beat makers on repeat, yah know what i mean?

the first time i heard them i thought they were pretty bad, but the more i heard the better they sounded. a hundred plays later i love them. and crystal castles too. and eats tapes (still my number one). and all the boy/girl duos forming at this minute, i love them too.

the best part about these groups is their remixing-potential, here's la riots' version of "switchblade"

http://www.myspace.com/heartsrevolution

i can talk all the snot i want but they're mad cute, no question. at CMJ this weekend, europe later.

xxo

PARTY presents: LADIES FIRST

2008-10-19T11:59:00.003-04:00

On January 14th, the world smiles.

2008-10-15T09:35:00.007-04:00

When reindeer and crème brulée join forces, The Dø is born. The French/Finnish musical duo--Dan Levy and Olivia Bouyssou Merilahti--released their album 'A Mouthful' on January 14, 2008. Now, let me remind you, January 14th is a historical day for pure miracles, and only the worlds finest amenities are brought to life on this special day. LL Cool J, Slick Rick, and Obie Trice all share January 14th birthdays. Not to mention January 14th is also a big day in American History--The Revolutionary war came to an end in 1784 and Henry ford introduced assembly-line production in 1914. More importantly, In 1998, the 100th episode of "Ellen" aired on January 14th. Europe experienced the graces of January 14th too! In 1690 the clarinet was invented in Germany, and in 1989, a set of healthy sextuplets were born in Paris, France. As you might guess, the point I've been working toward is that The Dø more than deserved to release their addictive tunes to the world on the most magical day of the year. So, listen, enjoy, and remember January 14th.

I wish they all could be California...

2008-10-14T15:05:00.006-04:00

Coming from LA, it saddens me that the only "underground" California bands people have heard of in Northampton are people like Mickey Avalon and Mika Miko. Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to my favorite Californians you probably haven't heard of.

Knights of the New Crusade (Myspace)

I've been playing these guys on my shows ever since I got here. They're a surf garage-punk band from Emeryville, CA and they are amazing. Their shtick-- Christian punk satire. The music is guaranteed to get you on your feet and twisting the night away, just make sure to listen to the lyrics.

Album pick: My God Is Alive! Sorry About Yours! (2005)

Retarded Muppit Farm (Myspace)

More Northern California here with RMF. These boys from Sacramento, California spend their time at the crossroads of weird, weirder, absurdly funny and oddly beautiful.

Other than that, words can't really describe what this music sounds like.

Album Pick: ManSound (2008)

The Amazements (Myspace)

Yes! Some LA people! I love the Amazements. Garagey, noisy and LOUD. And they're legitimately fabulous musicians. With their rollicking Three 6 Mafia covers and simultaneously rocking and experimental original material, these guys are going places. If you ever have a chance, see them live.

Album Pick: Well, I think they only have one album out, called The Amazements, probably released in 2007 or so. I have no idea how to get it. Visit their Myspace and contact them.

nap hour

2008-10-10T17:05:00.003-04:00

as far as i can tell, listening to LAKE is a little bit like jump-roping in heaven, or doing skip-it in the sky. it's like taking the best nap ever and rollerblading at the same time. basically it's wonderful, and lately i can't stop doing it.

LAKE is made up of a bunch of pals from Olympia, WA, including eli Moore, lindsay schief and ashley eriksson. their 2nd album, "Oh, The Places We'll Go!," is being released on K Records on october 21st. give them a listen and follow your dreams.

LAKE's daytrotter sessions .

LAKE's myspace .

ALL KINDS OF YES

2008-10-10T01:03:00.003-04:00

In Celebration of Sweaters & Changing Leaves

2008-10-10T01:01:00.001-04:00

I love fall! I love seeing Smithies donning their autumn sweaters. I love the smell of wood burning in fireplaces. I love carving pumpkins and drinking apple cider. I love how gorgeous New England becomes the second week of October as all the leaves turn. And for me, Fall has a very distinct sound. Its music has a slowly pushing tempo, a string section, sweet harmonies, passive vocals, and is usually attached to some sort of nostalgia.

So, as I know many of you will be hitting the road tomorrow or this weekend, I have gathered some of my favorite autumn-y songs and made you a mix CD for driving through New England in mid-october. hoorah! Here's the tracklist (with some mp3s):

01. Easier by Grizzly Bear

02. How It Ends by DeVotchKa (mediafire)

03. Thank You Mario but Our Princess is in Another Castle by The Mountain Goats (mediafire)

04. Boys of Melody by The Hidden Cameras

05. Through the Backyards by Au Revoir Simone

06. I Still Remember by Bloc Party

07. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo (mediafire)

08. Chicago by Sufjan Stevens (mediafire)

09. Back to Boston by The Rosebuds (mediafire)

10. These Days by Nico

11. Will We Ever by Your Heart Breaks

12. Maple Leaves [EP Version] by Jens Lekman

13. Twilight in Boston by Jonathan Richman

14. Ghosts by Laura Marling

15. Imitosis by Andrew Bird

16. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

17. New York I Love You by LCD Soundsystem

18. Westfall by Okkervil River

19. The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon & Garfunkel

The full CD (in one nicely mixxxed file) is here

Phil Spector=God

2008-10-09T16:39:00.004-04:00

Yeah, so maybe he's completely batshit. Maybe he kept his wife locked up in the basement because he was so paranoid. Maybe he held the Ramones at gunpoint while they were recording End of the Century. Maybe he killed some people. Maybe he sent his mind gangsters after Brian Wilson to drive him even crazier than he already was.

I don't care.

Phil Spector is the greatest music producer to ever live.

Listen to "Be My Baby" and tell me otherwise. I dare you.

If you want to be a real person, you should buy Back to Mono (1958-1969), a 4-disc compilation of the golden age of Spector.

And here's a little something to tide you over for now:

99 comments?

2008-10-09T01:35:00.003-04:00

i was recently informed by bessie that she had a dream in which i posted on the blog and subsequently received 99 comments. could this be a possibility? not sure. but for now i would like to talk about this:

it is a recent pet portrait done by the lovely nicole j. georges, who will be coming to smith on nov.11th as part of Rock N' Roll camp for girls, as brought to you by WOZQ. i must say, looks a lot like the stray cat i considered chalking "WOZQ" on earlier in the year.

out

2008-10-08T22:26:00.003-04:00

hi babies, hi buddies, hi hi
let's all get excited about the new deerhoof album which came out yesterday! "offend maggie" is one of their more (/most?) accessible yet. it's like "deerhoof for people who hate deerhoof" (remember those "opera for people who hate opera" cds your mom bought you?) but who cares when there are lovely songs like this:

charming you into a dancing frenzy soon soon, their tour stops at pearl street october 24th yes yes yes

we are the goon squad and we're coming to town

2008-10-07T18:40:00.005-04:00

fashion week (month) has ravaged the streets of new york, london, paris and milan. as wozq's resident glamour enthusiast i decided to take a minute to share the top 5 MOST ROCK-N-ROLL looks of spring/summer 09. (maybe they're not the absolute most rock and roll but they're absolutely unbelievable, okay?)

chanel

let's picture a rock wife wearing this to her deceased lover's funeral. headpiece included.

ann demeulemeester

imagine how hot groupies would actually be if they wore ann d.?

gareth pugh

prince's costume designer needs to get in contact with gareth.

alexander wang

is that a body stocking?! do you think rihanna would wear this?

balmain

epic rock wedding dress.

all images courtesy of style.com

dinosauruxia

2008-10-04T18:16:00.004-04:00

two cute ladies from norway who sound like cocorosie meets bellyboat. i am telling you about them so you can sign them to your label, or so you can listen to them on a cool fall day like today's, day-dreaming about your crush, drinking chaider, and smoking cigarettes with radio buddies as you scribble up the wozq programming schedule. they are mad cute and i think you'll like them. by "them" i mean dinosauruxia and my radio buddies, too.

keeep it locked, xxo

"Dear Science," you've done it.

2008-10-03T00:37:00.003-04:00

yesterday, alex b. hit on something important: even though there's a lot of foolishness abound in the news, we can't lose sight of what's important. and for me, that's the fact that tv on the radio dropped their third album last week. i know, i know; why write about this band whose single "staring at the sun" mtv so mercilessly sank their mainstream teeth into? i have been literally unable to listen to anything but this album since yesterday when i got it, particularly a track called "Stork & Owl". while this album lacks the cohesive sound of 2004's "desperate youth, bloodthirsty babes," each track is beautiful in its own way (save for "dancing choose" and "red dress" which i found quite irritating and are coincidentally the more political tracks). the mixed format works and really, aren't we sick of albums that start strong but get slow at the end? i mean, i am. other favorites on the album include "family tree" and the more upbeat "dlz".

The spookiest month...

2008-10-02T19:29:00.003-04:00

YES! It's October! That means Halloween.

Even though it only gets to be Halloween for one day at the very, very end of the month, we get 30 days of Halloween pre-gaming. A trip to CVS is made spookier by motion-detected novelty items in the seasonal section. Mini candies now come in orange and black wrappers. Theme parks become HAAUUUUNNNTEEDDD.

October rules.

One thing I wish, though, is that people got more into the musical spirit of Halloween all October long, kind of like they do for Xmas. There is so much cool music you could play for Halloween, from Monster Mash rip-offs to horror soundtracks.

Here are my humble suggestions for making your month more sonically spooky:

V/A- Monster Bop
This is a great compilation of horror novelty songs from the 60's. Unleash your inner go-go ghoul!

Goblin- Suspiria OST

Goblin are one of the coolest bands I've come across recently. These Italian prog-rockers scored such horror classics as Dario Argento's Suspiria and Deep Red, and George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead. Everything I've heard of theirs so far has been great, but the soundtrack to Suspiria has to be my personal favorite. Creepy, synthy, experimental and just plain awesome.

The Cramps- Songs the Lord Taught Us
Now, as it may be obvious to some of you, no month is complete without the Cramps. Their brand of post-punk proto-psychobilly (do I sound pretentious yet?) is delicious, dance-inducing, and yeah, I'll say it, sexy. But with songs like "Zombie Dance" and "I Was A Teenage Werewolf," how could you forget the Cramps on Halloween?

Bernard Herrmann- The Day the Earth Stood Still OST
Nothing gets you more in the spirit for Halloween than the score for a sci-fi movie from the 50's. It's got theremin up the wazoo. It's spooky, it's beautiful, and sure, it's dated, but it's done well enough that it doesn't matter.

THIS is what it's all about

2008-10-02T02:38:00.004-04:00

maybe we've reached an all time low, what with all the stock market crises, the unfortunate passing of every mom's hero (and the brain behind the genius combination of ginger cookies and frosting) and all that mountain-day angst that we encounter every morning. yea, maybe we have, but at least we have this to keep us going:

boney m feat. baby's gang--the happy song
still unclear about who these people are, but i think their message is an important one

eats tapes and fyoelk

2008-09-30T23:29:00.005-04:00

i've been trying to listen to less minimal techno because none of my friends like it. but glitchy, nintendo-beat electro of the minimal persuasion is where it's at. both eats tapes and fyoelk have played sets at the golden poodle club in hamburg--it's in an old run-down shack overlooking the harbor--it's legendary. parties until the sun comes up, every night of the week.

the beautiful sound of midi nintendo, synthesizers and drum machines characterize the sound of eats tapes, a cute boy-girl duo (like crystal castles, but better!) who are now in berlin.

http://www.myspace.com/eatstapes

fyoelk is from amsterdam; minimal techno with a sense of humor. and sense of cute. and sense of sweaters.

i also hear a lot of talk about electro belonging in clubs and at parties only. but that's not true. it can be a part of your life. it will make it better.

R. Stevie Moore

2008-09-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

Lately, I haven't been able to get enough of this guy. R. Stevie Moore lives in New Jersey, recording in his home and embodying the DIY dream. And he's been doing it since the 70's, boys and girls. More importantly, his brand of weirdo lo-fi pop is simultaneously haunting, clever, and fun, but always interesting.

More good news, his discography is enormous-- over 400 albums, according to his website.

http://www.rsteviemoore.com/