Charlotte Gainsbourg courtesy of Autumn de Wilde

1. Japandroids are set to re-release two five-song EPs that were recorded before the band’s breakout album “Post Nothing.” The songs from both the “All Lies” and “Lullaby Death Jams” EPs are going to be compiled to form “No Singles.” The album is set to release May 11th, courtesy of Polyvinyl. (via Pitchfork)

2. Last fall, after playing a set of shows for the first time since 1994, Sunny Day Real Estate is set to release new material for the first time in 15 years. Although no recording time-line has been scheduled just yet, the band is hard at work at creating new songs. (via Billboard)

3. After the release of her acclaimed “IRM”, Charlotte Gainsbourg is scheduled to complete a two week North American tour. Although (sadly) there are no shows planned for North Carolina, she does plan on playing Coachella (for all you summer festival junkies). (via Pitchfork)

4. In a recent article in The Chicago Tribune, The Strokes have announce that they will be headlining Lollapalooza this year. Alongside that information, frontman Julian Casablancas has contemplated that “I think it’ll (the new album)be out in September.”(via Chicago Tribute)

5. Radiohead has confirmed that an email that had been circulated by a large number of fans, was a hoax. The email in question detailed that the next release from Radiohead would be called “Tehrangles.” A spokesman for Radiohead said to NME, “Most of it is made up and there is no album or album title.” (via NME)

Here are the top 30 albums played in WKNC’S Daytime format over the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director John Hubbard:

Shearwater

Quasi

Mumford and Sons

1. Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago
2. Quasi – American Gong
3. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
4. Toro y Moi – Causers of This
5. Gigi - Maintenant
6. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
7. Efterklang - Magic Chairs
8. Javelin – No Mas
9. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
10. Golden Triangle - Double Jointer
11. Via Audio – Animalore
12. Angelo Spencer – Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets
13. Gospel Gossip – Drift
14. Laarks - An Exaltation of Laarks
15. Donora – Donora
16. Dinosaur Feathers - Fantasy Memorial
17. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
18. Shout Out Louds – Work
19. Beach House - Teen Dream
20. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
21. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor
22. Strange Boys – Be Brave
23. Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise
24. Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday
25. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Genuine Negro Jig
26. These New Puritans- Hidden
27. Electric President – The Violent Blue
28. Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt – I Love You! I Love You! I Love You And I’m In Love With You! Have An Awesome Day! Have The Best Day Of Your Life!
29. Solid Gold - Synchronize
30. Yeasayer -Odd Blood

Indie rock/pop band Miniature Tigers will swing by the WKNC studios this Friday for an interview with Dr. J and DJ Audity. The group joins Acrylics as support for The Morning Benders that evening at Local 506 in Chapel Hill before they head down to Austin to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at the South by Southwest music conference and festival.

Miniature Tigers released their first full-length album Tell it to the Volcano in 2008. MusicRemedy reports the band will release its second full-length album, FORTRESS, June 1 on Modern Art Records.

The National Courtesy of Andy Willsher

1. The National’s new album entitled “High Violet” will be released in May. The National are planning to play a series of music festivals over the summer, with individual tour dates starting in late March in support to the follow up of 07’s “Boxer.” (via NME)

2. Pin Me Down, the side-project of Bloc Party guitarists Russell Lissack, is set to release it’s debut album April 19th in the UK. Lissack is joined alongside of singer-songwriter Milena Mepri. (via NME)

3. Belle and Sebastian are back after a short hiatus. In an email sent to the member of their mailing list, the band stated that they were currently writing new material in Glasgow, Scotland, and they plan on coming to Los Angeles to record the new material in the near future. The band currently has three shows scheduled in mid-July and early August. (via Pitchfork)

4. Adrian Utley  (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) are collaborating to create a new score to the 1928 silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” (via Pitchfork)

5. Animal Collective have unveiled a new art exhibit for the New York’s Guggenheim Museum. The exhibit included psychedelic sounds and abstract models. The exhibit is called “Transverse Temporal Gyrus” and was created alongside Danny Perez. The exhibit featured all new music from the band. (via Spin)

Here are the top 30 albums played in WKNC’S Daytime format over the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director John Hubbard:

Mumford & Sons

Toro y Moi

Javelin

1. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
2. Toro y Moi- Causers of This
3. Javelin -No Mas
4. Local Natives- Gorilla Manor
5. Gigi- Maintenant
6. Surfer Blood-Astro Coast
7. Via Audio-Animalore
8. Oh No Ono- Eggs
9. Angelo Spencer- Angelo Spencer et Les Hauts Sommets
10. Golden Triangle- Double Jointer
11.Laarks- An Exaltation of Laarks
12.Beach House -Teen Dream
13. Gospel Gossip- Drift
14. Spoon-Transference
15. Joanna Newsom-Have One On Me
16. Efterklang- Magic Chairs
17. Hot Chip- One Life Stand
18. Soft Tags- Mathematical Monsters
19. Yeasayer- Odd Blood
20. Shout Out Louds-Work
21. Butterfly Bones- Pretty Feelings
22. Xiu Xiu- Dear God, I Hate Myself
23. Four Tet- There is Love in You
24. Field Music- Field Music (Measure)
25. Los Campesinos! -Romance is Boring
26. Vampire Weekend- Contra
27. Ernest Gonzales- Been Meaning to Tell You
28. Midlake-The Courage of Others
29.Ruby Suns -Fight Softly
30.Titus Andronicus- The Monitor

WKNC is always working hard to bring you more ticket giveaways to great shows, and this week is no different! Tune into 88.1 FM for your chances to win tickets to these awesome shows:

Wednesday, March 3

Ex-Monkeys w/ Geometric Operetta, Cheezface, Wretched Martyr & MC Bingo Blower @ The Pour House

Ex-Monkeys

Friday, March 5

A Rooster For The Masses w/ Decoration Ghost & Free Electric State @ The Pour House

A Rooster For The Masses photo by Shane Richardson

Saturday, March 6

Rogue Wave w/ Avi Buffalo @ Cat’s Cradle

Rogue Wave

Sunday, March 7

Dropkick Murphys w/Larry and His Flask & Strung Out @ Fillmore Charlotte

Dropkick Murphys

Also, get excited about up coming giveaways for other sweet shows happening later this month including Phoenix @ Koka Booth and Black Lips @ Cat’s Cradle.

Don’t forget! You can always be sure to get a full schedule of local shows happening in your area by checking out WKNC’s Rock Report.

Whether your first experience with Phoenix has been hearing their 1901 track on the Cadillac Crossover commercial or if you’ve stuck with the band since their debut album United, it is undeniable that the French band has set their mark with their eclectic and synthesized sound. Formed in 1999, the group got their start touring in French bars doing Hank Williams and Prince covers and has since released four albums. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released in 2009 and received recognition on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in January 2010 and won Best Alternative Album at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Phoenix

This week WKNC will be giving away tickets to their show on June 11th at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary before they go on sale! When the deejay announces it, be the correct caller to win a pair of tickets to the show. Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

And don’t fret if you don’t win this week, because daytime deejays will also be giving away pairs of tickets next week too!

88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week 2/3
Astro Coast by Surfer Blood
Seth White

Surfer Blood might have crashed ashore a decade and a half too late. Their uncomplicated yet greatly appreciated guitar riffs scream mid 90’s rock with every energizing breath. The Florida foursome’s debut, Astro Coast, draws heavily on the fuzz of Built to Spill and the catchy choruses of Weezer, all while pushing forward with the Beach Boys’ vision of surf-rock.

The albums most accessible tracks involve the strong hooks of both sing-a-long vocals, and catchy guitar licks that you’ll hear on songs like “Swim” (the albums first single), “Twin Peaks” and “Floating Vibes”. “Swim’s” chorus is probably the catchiest of the lot, or at least repeated enough to make it seem so. Aloud or in your head you will be chanting along to “Swim to reach the end” by the end of your first listen. The guitar work adds to the vocals by not trying to be overly fast or inventive, the riffs or slow and study enough to keep these songs afloat.

The band changes the tempo with “Take it Easy”. It is much more up beat and happier than most of the other tracks, almost as if they were trying to pull off a Vampire Weekend cover. Here the guitars trimmed back slightly to display the mix various drumming styles and reverb-filled melodies.

Two of the latter tracks, “Slow Jabroni” and “Anchorage”, break the power-pop mold of a three-minute time limit and are allowed to build to their full potential. “Slow Jobroni”, like the title suggest is much slower than any other song on the album. It crawls through its first three minutes before the epic guitars truly begin to kick.

“Anchorage” on the other hand jump-starts with heavy drums but then feels relatively drawn out. However, good things come to those who wait. The songs last minute gives it its full flavor, drowned out “oooh”s give way to a wonderfully fitting closing solo.

The album finishes with probably their strongest song. “Catholic Pagans”. This relatively short gem is comprised of great lyrics, a feedback ending, and pretty much everything that makes this band great.

For the most part Astro Coast does not fall in line with the much of what is considered “indie rock” today. It’s not an album that you need to clear your mind and your surroundings to grasp a hold of, and it doesn’t take multiple listens to finally “get it”. It is much too simple for that. This album will grab with the first note and kick you to your feet with the second. Needless to say it is a promising start from and up and coming band, and not bad for an album they recorded in their dorm room.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

Here We Go Magic via Pitchfork

1. Here We Go Magic have announced that they will be kicking off their next tour alongside powerhouse act, The New Pornographers and White Rabbits. Upcoming dates include playing SXSW, Coachella, and Bonnaroo. In an effort to expand, the one time music project, turn full-time quintet, has recently signed with Secretly Canadian records. Their sophomore album is set to release sometime this Spring. (via Pitchfork)

2. LCD Soundsystem’s frontman, James Murphy, has unveiled that the follow-up to their critically acclaimed “Sound of Silver.” While on track at hitting the projected March release date, Murphy has also been hard at work on the score of the movie Greenburg. (via Pitchfork)

3. Thom Yorke has officially announced a name for the band that he started playing with as. Now referred to as Atoms of Peace (actually named after an Eisenhower policy during the 50s to promote peace in a nuclear age), the band plans on playing shows in New York, Oakland, Chicago, and at the Coachello music festival. (via Pitchfork)

4. Doves have given details on their upcoming best of album entitled, “The Places Between: The Best of Doves.” A three disc set, the first disc compiles some of their best songs, the second focuses on rare b-sides, and the third (which is a DVD) has a handful of music videos they have released. (via NME)

5. Fleet Foxes singer, Robin Pecknold has revealed that he will be joining Joanna Newsom on her upcoming tour dates in March and April. While Fleet Foxes is currently working on their sophomore album, Joanna Newsom is touring in support of her new (absoultely amazing) triple album, “Have One on Me.” (via NME)

Here are the top 30 albums played in WKNC’S Daytime format over the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director John Hubbard:

Mumford & Sons

Gigi

Surfer Blood

1. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
2. Gigi – Maintenant
3. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
4. Via Audio – Animalore
5. Olof Arnalds – Vig o Vig
6. Oh No Ono – Eggs
7. Angelo Spencer – Angelo Spencer et Les Hauts Sommets
8. Toro y Moi – Causers of This
9. Soft Tags – Mathematical Monsters
10. Beach House – Teen Dream
11. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
12. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
13. Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring
14. Shout Out Louds – Work
15. Butterfly Bones – Pretty Feelings
16. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
17. Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself
18. Vampire Weekend – Contra
19. Four Tet - There is Love in You
20. Ernest Gonzales – Been Meaning to Tell You
21. Midlake  – The Courage of Others
22. Laarks – An Exultation of Laarks
23. Donora - Donora
24. Spoon – Transference
25. Final Fantasy – Heartland
26. Field Music – Field Music (Measure)
27. Golden Triangle – Golden Triangle
28. The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack
29. Fan Death – A Coin for Well
30. Ruby Suns – Fight Softly

Image courtesy of http://www.myspace.com/schoolkidsrecords

The next time you’re in Schoolkids Records on Hillsborough Street, be on the lookout for the current top Daytime albums played on WKNC!  Interspersed among the CD racks of Schoolkids are homemade WKNC placecards that feature thoughtfully-written reviews by staff of our top-played records.

Part of the magic of browsing the local record store is the thrill of the search: thumbing through the record collection and discovering a true gem.  We hope that by offering our picks at Schoolkids we can have a more intimate dialogue with our listeners and with other fellow music lovers and that our relationship with Schoolkids can help us to further spread our passion for the many fantastic albums we sing along and dance to.

As the weeks go by, we expect to include among our recommendations the many genres of music we play on our station including picks from our fantastic local music scene, hip hop, afterhours, chainsaw, and music from our station’s many specialty shows.  Check this blog each week for a post from our music directors about the current chart topper,  and let us know what you think!

Check out the top 30 albums played during the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director John Hubbard:

1. Soft Tags – Mathematical Monsters
2. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
3. Olof Arnalds – Vig o Vig
4. Oh No Ono – Eggs
5. Beach House  - Teen Dream
6. Spoon – Transference
7. Toro y Moi – Causers of This
8. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
9. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
10. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
11. Gigi – Maintenant
12. Vampire Weekend – Contra
13. Four Tet – There is Love in You
14. Animal Collective -Fall Be Kind
15. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close
16. The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack
17. Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring
18. Final Fantasy - Heartland
19. Postdata – Postdata
20. Midlake - The Courage of Others
21. Asobi Seksu – Rewolf
22. Fan Death – A Coin for Well
23. Magnetic Fields – Realism
24. Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM
25. Savages – Graveyard Cities
26. Allison Weiss – Was Right All Along
27. Smile Smile – Truth on Tape
28. Via Audio – Animalore
29. Jeff the Brotherhood – Heavy Days
30. Album Leaf – A Chorus of Storytellers

Realism by The Magnetic Fields
88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week 2/10

Realism
Charlie Burnett

Stephin Merritt, leader of the band The Magnetic Fields, has long been one of music’s more underappreciated lyricists, as well as one its best. Whether he’s writing 69 love songs or applying walls of guitar distortion to his songs, the one thing that always stands out the most in his songs are his lyrics. Sung in a deep baritone that can be an acquired taste for those unaccustomed to it, Merritt delivers charming, clever lines full of self-deprecating humor and wit.

For The Magnetic Fields’ ninth record, Realism, Merritt and pianist/vocalist Claudia Gonson, cellist Sam Devol, and guitarist/banjo player John Woo strip away the guitar squalls found on previous record Distortion for a more stripped down, acoustic sound reminiscent of Distortion predecessor i and their excellent live sets. Acoustic guitar, piano, mandolin, cello, and the contrasting voices of Merritt and Gonson fill the songs with a natural, organic sound.

The Magnetic Fields, while always having a noticeably different sound than other bands, craft their songs around pop melodies that can only be described as indelible and lovely, as evidenced in first track “You Must Be Out of Your Mind”. Wrapped in an exceedingly beautiful musical arrangement, Merritt begins the self-deprecation and crucifying of ex-lovers with such classic lines as “You can’t go ‘round just saying stuff because it’s pretty/ And I no longer drink enough to think you’re witty”.

Riding on a buoyant, upbeat melody, “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree” offers a detour, if not all together relief, from Merritt’s notorious lyrical cynicism. A self-help anthem of sorts, Merritt asks the song’s subject “Why sit in your dark and lonely room?”, going on to recommend to the unnamed subject that if people don’t like them “screw them/Don’t leave your fortune to them”.

On “Always Already Gone”, Gonson takes over the role of lead vocalist to offer a lament of an ex-lover who, while together, seemed to be “always already gone”. A heartbreaking song most could probably relate to, it is made that much more delicate and lovely by a lilting arrangement of banjo, cello, piano, and acoustic guitar.

Completing a self-proclaimed “no-synth trilogy,” Realism offers longtime fans the same wit and playfulness The Fields have always been known for, but is also accessible enough to appeal to not just the common indie pop/rock listener, but the top-40 radio or NPR listener, as well. As a collection of oddball pop songs, Realism offers a great starting point for newcomers of the group, as well as another great entry into their already exellent discography.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

I think the Magnetic Fields said it best: music comes from love.  On Monday, February 15 from 5 to 7 p.m., DJs Vice, Justin and I will be hanging out in the studio to bring you a show about music’s greatest muse!  Of the millions and billions of songs inspired by love we have handpicked some of our favorites–songs of tender care and understanding and of bitterness and longing.  We’ll explore such topics as the Indie Pop Infatuation, the Acoustic Heartache and the Malevolent Power-pop Lament.

And yes, we’re going all Delilah on you all (minus the relationship advice) and asking for your requests.  Please comment to this post between now and Monday or give us a call at our studio request lines (860-0881 or 515-2400)!  If you have any shout outs to loved ones we’d love to hear them!

The line-up for this summer’s Bonnaroo, an annual music festival which takes place in Manchester, Tennessee, has been announced. The festival will take place June 10-13, and tickets are on sale now.

The following artists have confirmed they will play during the three-day festival, including a couple North Carolina based artists. Here’s the list:

Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs perform “Dark Side of the Moon,” The Dead Weather, Damian Marley & Nas, Phoenix, Norah Jones, Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Fogerty, Regina Spektor, Jimmy Cliff, LCD Soundsystem, The Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Rise Against, Tori Amos, The National, Zac Brown Band, Les Claypool, John Prine, The Black Keys, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Beck, Dropkick Murphys, She & Him, Against Me!, The Disco Biscuits, Daryl Hall & Chromeo, Jamey Johnson, Clutch, Bassnectar, Kid Cudi, Baaba Maal, Kris Kristofferson, Medeski Martin & Wood, The xx, GWAR, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Tinariwen, Wale, Deadmau5, The Melvins, Gaslight Anthem, Miike Snow, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dr. Dog, They Might Be Giants, Punch Brothers, Isis, Blitzen Trapper, Blues Traveler, Miranda, Lambert, Calexico, OK Go, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Martin Sexton, Lotus, Baroness, Dave Rawlings Machine, Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Japandroids, Jay Electronica, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ingrid Michaelson, The Dodos, Manchester Orchestra, The Temper Trap, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Tokyo Police Club, The Entrance Band, Local Natives, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Rebelution, Diane Birch, Monte Montgomery, Julia Nunes, The Postelles, Lucero, Here We Go Magic, Hot Rize, Neon Indian, B.O.B, Needtobreathe.

According to Bonnaroo’s Web site, there may be additional acts added to the line-up later.