Throughout the past decade Sufjan Stevens has cemented himself as one of the most talented and unique artists of our generation, with a diverse array of talents ranging from classically inspired folk pop to the aural adventures of the past few years with Age of Adz and BQE, it’s a toss up as to what direction any new music from Stevens is going to take.  When he announced his most recent release, Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, I wasn’t too sure of what to expect…especially with the lead-off single of “Christmas Unicorn”.  The track was as bizarre as it was insightful and infectious (especially the seamless transition into Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”), which can pretty accurately describe the three plus hours of Christmas inspired material on Silver & Gold.  Shortly after the album announcement came news of the “Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Season Affective Disorder Yuletide Pageant On Ice” tour, a string of shows which would feature good ol’ “Sufjy Pants” spreading Christmas cheer by way of his modern takes on Christmas classics as well as his incredible new holiday inspired originals.

While some of the Christmas inspired material is brief and zany, like “Happy Family Christmas” a jaunting yet melodic track wishing that “Just this once for Christmas I want us all to be like one great big happy family”, and while the holiday is exactly a month away, Sunday at Haw River Ballroom felt like a gigantic family Christmas gathering.  With hundreds of concertgoers decked out in festive sweaters and unicorn horns, Sunday provided one of the most unique and magical show experiences one could ever wish for.  While opener Sheila Sapputo (better known as singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas) donned a Santa suit for a quirky Portlandia-esque bit of dry comedy, the highlight of the show could be nothing other than the marvelous display put on by Sufjan and company.

The show was broken up into bits of Sufjan originals and highly enjoyable breaks for Christmas classics from the Wheel!Of!Christmas!, a Price Is Right style spin-wheel designed to randomize the carols we’ve all grown to know and love.  Upon entrance we were all given a songbook, endearingly referred to by Sufjan as our “book of hymnals”, and these carols provided for some of the most memorable concert moments in recent memory.  While Sufjan originals like “Sister Winter” and the aforementioned “Christmas Unicorn” stood out amongst the set, the true highlights came from the innovative takes on old classics.  An electronically driven version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was a show-stopping performance, featuring vocoded Sufjan vocals and spastic electronic melodies that excellently juxtapose the calm and soothing stylings of the original.  After the Wheel of Christmas selected “Joy to the World” early on in the set, Sufjan brilliantly transitioned into a refrain from “Impossible Soul”, a track from Age of Adz, inducing shouts of approval from the crowd.

Sufjan himself described the show as, “running the gamut of Christmas from the profane to the insane”, and with inflatable unicorns being thrown out at the same show as inflatable Santa’s I’d say it’s a pretty accurate description.  The end of Sufjan’s set was haltered by the second fire alarm of the evening, but the band took it all in stride and led the crowd in an a cappella rendition of “Silent Night” divided between males and females in the first two verses followed by a harmonious ending as monitors blasted back to life and the set came to a beautiful end.  A roaring ovation from one of the most dense crowds I’ve seen at Haw River resulted in a three song encore of Sufjan originals from Illinois and Michigan.  Starting off his encore with a beautiful take on “Concerning The UFO Sightings Near Highland, Illinois”, the crowds anticipation was rapidly rising and greeted with “For The Widows of Paradise” which started as a solo banjo track and blossomed into a full band performance.  Closing with fan-favorite, “Chicago”, Sufjan thanked the crowd for being so wonderful and patient, but all thanks is graciously pointed towards Sufjan, the band, and the fine folks of Haw River Ballroom for housing such a beautiful show.  It’s very rare to build a sense of community within a single show, but the “Surfjohn Stephenopolous Sing-A-Long” certainly achieved just that.

The summer is here, and that means that the men are hot, hot, hot.

 

Two years ago, we had our list of hot women, and the temperature is now ripe for the opposite sex. Here are our list of the 88 Hottest Men in Indie Rock (we love you Jack White!).

 

1. Sufjan Stevens

 

Our WKNC djs had bellowing arguments and fisticuffs to put Sufjan Stevans on top.  Ever since he invited us to “Come on feel the Illinoise!”, his soft, luring voice only complimented his angelic  good looks. If only he felt the way about us as he does about the fifty states. And it doesn’t hurt that he played a cover of The Innocence Mission’s “Lakes of Canada” with a banjo ON TOP OF A ROOF! Could you get hotter than that? We didn’t think so.

2. Andrew Bird

There’s a reason why his last name is “bird”.

Andrew Bird is well versed in violin, guitar, and the glockenspiel. But his greatest instrument is that fabulous whistle. That croon could attract many an avian creature and delighted female alike.  His classic countenance combined with his folky and eclectic sound makes him number two on our list.

 

3. Phil Moore (Bowerbirds)

Moore comprises half of Raleigh favorites, The Bowerbirds.  Even though the band is very in-touch with Mother Nature (“In our Talons”; also both Moore and Beth Tacular currently reside in a trailer in the woods of Pittsboro),  this mountain man could not bathe for weeks on end and still be hot. Recently he has been sprouting a long ponytail, and he still looks prettier than most women.

 

4. Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)

What band is Ezra Koening not in? He played saxophone for the Dirty Projectors, interned with The Walkmen, recorded with MIA and The Very Best, and provided vocals on Discovery’s LP, not to mention front.  A graduate of Columbia, Koening is intelligent enough  to woo you with talk about unnecessary punctuation and sweet enough to teach your little sister’s class room. What a pile of sugar, spice, and everything adorable.

 

5. Chris Chu (Morning Benders)

The lead singer of Morning Benders looks like me if I were a male, but that is not the sole reason he makes a top slot in our hot list. Plus he piled in massive amounts of musically inclined in the studio to record the Yours Truly Recording of the epic ”Excuses”.

 

6. Sondre Lerche

Countless Viking blood must have been shed to make this Norwegian hottie. So pale, so gorgeous. Only the warmth of his delicate voice will save you from the cold of his country.

 

7. Will Hackney (Midtown Dickens, Mount Moriah, Lost in the Trees)

I remember seeing the keyboard man in Mount Moriah and commented to myself, “Hot damn. That keyboard man is ridiculously attractive.” He was so attractive, it was ridiculous. As it turns out, the man behind the keys is actually the co-owner of Trekky Records and partakes in what seems like every single local band.

 

8. Christopher Bear (Grizzly Bear)

Despite the fierce moniker  of his last and band name, Christopher Bear has a baby face. I wish I had the right to bear his hands.

 

9. Kristian Matsson (Tallest Man on Earth)

With a voice like Bob Dylan,  the Tallest Man on Earth is actually of average height.  And he’s from Sweden! But that rough voice is only a front for his soft, story-spinning heart. I want to be the Queen of Spain.

 

10. Matt Berninger (The National)

That deep set baritone contributed the soundtrack to Obama’s campaign video and probably bedded a lot of women.

 

11. Paul Banks (Interpol)
My love for Interpol is for one of those bands that I will consistently love and support despite the fact that their recent releases have been subpar. One of the reasons for this is because of Paul Banks, his bilingual vocals, and his smashing attractiveness. I don’t think I can ever have enough of this Julian Plenti.

 

12. Damian Kulash (OK GO)

When OK GO toured Raleigh last year, Damian Kulash lauded Raleigh for the homeplace of his grandfather, the one who invented a species of beetle. His other grandfather invented the Fish Stick. Good genes apparently pour into this sex creature.

 

13. Andrew Vanwyngarden (MGMT)

This adorable cutie from MGMT looks so young and innocent, I feel almost shameful for putting him on this list.

 

14. James Blake

The cover of James Blake’s eponymous album is blue and distorted and basically obscures James Blake’s beauty. Why hide behind a blue blob, James Blake? Maybe he didn’t want his “pretty boy” countenance to be the deciding factor in his music, which is commendable, but it doesn’t hurt that he is  a’smokin’.

 

15. and 16. Flight of the Conchords (Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement)

In this New Zealand duo’s rap ballad, “Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros”, McKenzie and Clement proclaim that their “rhymes are so potent that in this small segment / [they]I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant,” which is a fairly accurate description.

 

17. Kele Okereke (Bloc Party)

Not only is he on our hot list, but last year, Kele Okereke  was named the

Sexiest Out Gay Male Artist by music website LP33. Quite an accomplishment. Kele is known for being very political in his songs, and we commend that kind of fortitude.

 

18. Johnny Flynn

He may be the Justin Bieber of Indie Rock, but Johnny Flynn is one promising hot young artist. He writes his own poetry, and cites Yeats and Shakespeare in his lyrics.  A man that well-versed deserves a spot in our hot list.

 

19. Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes)

The founder of Fleet Foxes has this shy, coy look about him, like an animal emerging from the forest about to be hit by a car. But when he opens his mouth, out bursts the love child of Crosby, Stills, Nash and / or Young. Not to mention that beard completes this fox’s face.

 

20. M. Ward

M. Ward is the Him of She and Him but don’t let Zooey Deschanel (#2 on our Hottest Women of Indie Rock list)  distract you from how hot he is. Take a gander at “Poison Cup” and his intense longing croon will win any girl over.

 

21. Carter Gaj (Max Indian)

Carter of Max Indian wore sunglasses during his performance in Double Barrel Benefit, and he is the only man who can pull off doing so at night. His cool attitude could only be the product of some magical force that drifted from Aphrodite’s sea foam waves.

 

22. Kevin Drew (AC Newman, Broken Social Scene)

A founding member of a Canadian supergroup, Kevin Drew has dated hot indie women, Feist and Emily Haines. We can tell why of course.  With talent like that, it’s hard to resist.

 

23 and 24. The Dodos (Meric Long and Logan Kroeber.)

A dodo is an endangered bird but “The Dodos” are two fetching men who rock out with the intensity of gods.

 

25. Thomas Mars (Phoenix, Air)

Mars is the baby daddy of Academy Award-winning director Sophia Coppola’s baby.  What a father. Here we have a lead of the Grammy-award winning French dance pop band Phoenix, and my, is he hot. I hope he runs into me with a lasso.

 

26. Spencer Krug (Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown, Wolf Parade)

27. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

28. Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

29. Bon Iver

30. Jens Lekman

31. Ryan gosling (Dead Man’s Bones)

32. Matt Johnson (from Matt and Kim)

33. Brian Corum (Lonnie Walker)

34. Dan Whitford (Cut Copy)

35. Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club)

36. and 37. Ratatat (Mike Stroud, Evan Mast)

38. Villagers

39. Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses)

40. Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio)

41. Chris Keating (Yeasayer)

42. John Paul Pitts (Surfer Blood)

43. Patrick Stickles (Titus Andronicus)

44. Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)

45. Beck

46. Bill Callahan

47. Dan Auerbach (Black Keys)

48. Sam Herring (Future Islands)

49. Stu Mclamb (The Love Language)

50. Noah Lennox (Animal Collective, Panda Bear)

51. Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)

52. Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips)

53. Jose Gonzales

54. Hamilton Leithauser (the Walkmen)

55. and 56. Seth and Scott Avett

57. Jack Beva (Foals)

58. Dave 1 (Chromeo)

59. Robert Schwartzman (Rooney)

60. Twin Shadow

61. Yoni wolf (Why?)

62. Owen Pallet

63. Calvin Harris

64. Chuck Chriss (Freelance Whales)

65. Alex Scally (Beach House)

66. Britt Daniel (Spoon)

67. Dougy Mandagi (Temper Trap)

68. Michael Angelakos (Passion Pit)

69. Patrick Phelan (Luego )

70. Win Butler (Arcade Fire)

71.Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend)

72. Ivan Howard (The Rosebuds)

73. J.Roddy Watson

74. Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)

75. Jack Penate

76. John Darnielle

77. Ari Picker

78. Brett Harris

79. Django Haskins (The Old Ceremony)

80. James Mercer (Shins, Broken Bells)

81. Conor Oberst

82. Ben Gibbard

83. Matt Voorhis (SNMNMNM / Rooster for the Masses)

84. Ash Bowie of Polvo

85, 86, and 87. The beards of Megafaun (Phil and Brad Cook, Joe Westerlund)

88. Jack White

 

88.1 WKNC’s Pick of the Week 10/28
By WKNC DJ Margot

Sufjan Stevens has been silent for the last five years. His last album, Illinoise, was released early in the summer of 2005 and consisted of his usual, brilliantly haunting pop that is anything but normal.

The Age of Adz, released in early October of this year, follows a different path for Stevens. Instead of the orchestral arrangements we have come to know and love from his older albums, Age of Adz is brimming with electronic sounds and synthesizers.

For many Stevens followers, such as myself, this album instilled shock and anger. Stevens already took the originality that we loved and threw it to the ground. Everything has changed.

Stevens is no longer following his quest to create an album for each of the 50 states. Shocked fans discovered that the states mission was only an advertising scheme.

Listening to the new album, there is hardly a hint of Stevens’s famous banjo. This news hurts.

But, by giving The Age of Adz a chance and a good listen, fans are able to see Stevens as the artist he represents. He is no longer a one-sound musician, but a genuine talent who has more to offer the world.

For those who have not experienced any music by Stevens, this is the time. Stevens covers a full spectrum of sound. The Age of Adz gives listeners a taste of the future for music.

Brass instruments mixed with electronic, constant beeps followed by trills and Stevens’s known harmonies alongside auto-tuned tracks — this combination of sounds, both old and new, shows the expanse and brilliance of the artist that is Sufjan Stevens.

For fans who are like me, take a deep breath, plug-in and listen to The Age of Adz with an open mind. Stevens is still there, under all of that new sound. We first fell in love with him for his originality. Now we can fall in love with him all over again.

Instead of following Stevens through the past and present of Michigan and Illinoise, let him guide you into the future with The Age of Adz.

We expected great things and he followed through with something greater than we could have imagined.

If you are still looking for the old Stevens, listen to the first track, “Futile Devices,” which falls closely in line with Stevens’s 2004 album, Seven Swans. The best example of his combination of sounds is, “I Want to Be Well,” which is featured toward the end of the album.

With Stevens, nothing can go wrong.

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

The year is winding down, and the end of another year provides an influx of best of lists. In an attempt to help all of you out there sift through the huge amount of lists, I decided to have one place to find everybody’s lists. Below I’ve added a ton of the best of lists from a variety of music publications and sites below. In an effort to keep it nice an concise I’ve only put their top five, but if you would like to see their entire lists I have a link to view it as well. Enjoy!

Rolling Stone

1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. The Black Keys- Brothers

3. Elton John and Leon Russell- The Union

4. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

5. Jamey Johnson- The Guitar Song

NME

1. These New Puritans- Hidden

2. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

3. Beach House- Teen Dream

4. LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

5. Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can

Spin

1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest

3. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

4. LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

5. Jamey Johnson- The Guitar Song

Pitchfork

1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

3. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest

4. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

5. Beach House- Teen Dream

Stereogum

1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

3. Beach House- Teen Dream

4. Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz

5. Robyn- Body Talk

Paste

1. LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

2. Janelle Monae- The ArchAndroid

3. Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More

4. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

5. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor

Spinner

1. Beach House- Teen Dream

2. The National- High Violet

3. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

4. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest

5. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

Cokemachineglow

1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

3. Beach House- Teen Dream

4. Flying Lotus- Cosmogramma

5. Frog Eyes- Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph

Another year is practically in the books, and with it comes time to recapture our favorite moments in music from the past year. I sought to get a large number of Daytime deejays to give us their favorite albums of the past year. And what a year it was! Below is the collection of great albums as decided by a great deal of Daytime deejays. See you next year!

Just John

1. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. Future Islands – In Evening Air
4. Caribou – Swim
5. Sharon Van Etten – Epic

May Day

1. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. Vampire Weekend- Contra
4. Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
5. Twin Shadow – Forget

DJ Elly May

1. Bob Dylan – The Original Mono Recordings
2. The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream
3. Dark Dark Dark – Wild Go
4. Spoon – Transference
5. Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune

LOLCait

1. Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues
2. Various Artists – Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: The Songs of John Prine
3. John Prine – In Person & On Stage
4. Megafaun – Heretofore
5. Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt

N!cole

1. Cotton Jones – Tall Hours in the Glowstream
2. Y La Bamba – Lupon
3. Breathe Owl Breathe – Magic Central
4. Casiokids – Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar
5. Harlem – Hippies

DJ Jacoblivion

1. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
2. The National – High Violet
3. Ratatat – LP4
4. Bassnectar – Timestretch
5. Jaga Jazzist – One-Armed Bandit

SarahNade

1. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
2. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
3. The Black Keys – Brothers
4. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
5. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

Anastassia

1. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
4. Warpaint – The Fool
5. Phantogram – Eyelid Movies

Professor X

1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
2. Owen Pallett – Heartland
3. The Books – The Way Out
4. Beach House – Teen Dream
5. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

Hurricane Julia

1. Peggy Sue – Fossils and Other Phantoms
2. Tallest Man on Earth – Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird
3. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang – Wonder Show of the World
5. Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas – Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas

DJ Ones

1. The National – High Violet
2. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
3. The Black Keys – Brothers
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
5. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More

Agent Orange

1. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
2. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
3. Caribou – Swim
4. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
5. Twin Shadow – Forget

DJ Mensch

1. The National – High Violet
2. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
3. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
4. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
5. Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard

DJ Ray

1. Beach House – Teen Dream
2. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
3. Sharon Van Etten – Epic
4. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
5. Julian Lynch – Mare

Hot Tamale

1. Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
2. The Black Keys – Brothers
3. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
4. The National – High Violet
5. Blair – Die Young

The DONoftime

1. Tame Impala – Inner Speaker
2. Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo
3. MGMT – Congratulations
4. Spoon – Transference
5. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

Mollypop

1. Crooked Still – Some Strange Country
2. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
3. Steeldrivers – Reckless
4. Chatham County Line – Wildwood
5. Darren Hanlon – I Will Love You At All

DJ Kligz

1. The Tender Fruit - Flotsam and Krill
2. Future Islands – In Evening Air
3. Sharon Van Etten – Epic
4. Beach House – Teen Dream
5. Sleigh Bells – Treats

Lovely Lucia

1. The Love Language – Libraries
2. Future Islands – In Evening Air
3. Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt
4. Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
5. MGMT – Congratulations

Riff Raff

1. Future Islands – In Evening Air
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
4. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
5. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

Monsieur Mêmes

1. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
2. Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo
3. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
4. Bear Hands – Burning Bush Supper Club
5. Four Tet – There Is Love in You

Tommyboy

1. Future Islands – In Evening Air
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
4. Caribou – Swim
5. Four Tet – There is Love in You

Goof

1. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
2. LCD SoundSystem – This is Happening
3. Beach House – Teen Dream
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
5. Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt

Major Tom

1. Matt and Kim - Sidewalks
2. Suckers – Wild Smile
3. Future Islands – In Evening Air
4. Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
5. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms

Synthesiser Patel

1. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
2. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
3. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
4. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Maximum Balloon – Maximum Balloon

AndyQ

1. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt
4. Vampire Weekend – Contra
5. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

Chuck

1. Salem – King Night
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
3. The National – High Violet
4. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
5. Zola Jesus – Stridulum/Valusia

Jacob

1.  Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
2.  Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
3.  Free Electric State - Caress
4.  Various Artists – Scott Pilgrim VS the World
5.  Royal Baths – After Death

What are some of your favorite albums of 2010? Leave your comments in the comment section below.

1. Bloc Party’s front man Kele Okereke has admitted that he is unsure about the band’s future as he gets ready to release his debut album The Boxer. The band is currently on a year long break and plans for the band to reunite are currently uncertain. (via NME)

2. Bryce Dessner of The National has revealed that the band will be appearing on the next album by Sufjan Stevens. Stevens is currently recording his upcoming album in Brooklyn. Dessner added, “It’s going to be incredible. It’s going to probably blow people’s minds.” (via Exclaim!)

3. Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney has revealed plans for her first solo album. The album, which has yet to be named, will be released sometime this fall, and she is planning to complete a brief tour following the release. (via Pitchfork)

4. The Strokes played their first show in four years when they took the stage in London last week. Playing 18 songs, the band did not release any new material. The Strokes plan to hit the festival circuit in the summer. (via NME)

5. Jack White recently took the stage with Conan O’Brien, playing an intimate show to 300 people at White’s Third Man Record Studios in Nashville. The two played everything including White Stripes‘ classic Seven “Nation Army,” Radiohead’s “Creep,” and many more. (via Spin)

1. Sufjan Stevens has come out saying that his plan to write an album for each state was a result of him becoming a “cliche” and in looking back on the project idea he has claimed that it is now a “joke”. This is after he released “Illinoise” in 2005 and “Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State” in 2003. He would go on to say the project seemed a bit silly. via (Paste Magazine)

2. According to the Matador Records‘ Web site they have acquired True Panther Sounds. This comes after Matador helped promote True Panther Sounds’ band Girls‘ new album. via (Matador Records)

3. In what seems to be a growing trend among band front men, Bloc Party‘s Kele Okereke has announce plans to release a solo album while the band is still on hiatus. Complete detalis on the record are yet to be released.via (NME)

4. Friendly Fires has announced the follow up to its self-titled debut album. The album, which has yet to be named, is planning on being released next May. Accoring to member Ed MacFarlane the band already has four tracks they have already completed for the album. Ed MacFarlane also said, “We’re going to hopefully have all the songs finished by the end of the year, record in January and have the album ready for May time, and do some festivals around then.” via (NME)

5. The side project of Art Brut‘s Eddie Argos and The Bloody Arm‘s Dyan Valdes called Everybody Was in the French Resistance…Now are set to release its debut album, “Fixin’ the Charts,” in January. The album was produced by David Newton, and the full track listing is available. via (NME)

As the annual and always abrupt North Carolina summer-to-winter jump occurs outdoors, I’m forced to make some adjustments to my closet, as well as to my playlists.

There are some artists I can’t help but associate with cold weather. With my scarf collection is Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago” and “Blood Bank EP,” with my winter coat comes Fleet Foxes‘ “Sun Giant.”

And as December creeps closer, I wait as for Santa’s Christmas morning arrival to break out Sufjan Stevens’ holiday compilation “Songs for Christmas,” volumes one through five. These albums go hand in hand with cold weather.

I also look forward to adding to my winter music repertoire. From what I’ve heard so far, The Swell Season’s recent release, “Strict Joy,” may be a perfect addition.

What are some of your cold weather favorites in your music collection?

Ear Farm recently created a list of the top 10 North Carolina Bands you should hear. Amazing choices that I’m sure most will agree upon, they include: The Proclivites, Bellafea, Lost in the Trees, Black Ses, Schooner, Hammer No More the Fingers, The Bronzed Chorus, Birds of Avalon, Megafaun and Lonnie Walker as their number one choice. Undoubtedly terrific choices, but we here at WKNC are lucky to get the up in coming, the raw recordings, the unheard vocals of brand new local bands. So here is my short list of 5 avid local listeners might not have heard of….yet.

5. Free Electric State: Described as “Crushing distorted guitar…and vocals stylishly almost like background sound..” by our very own DJ Caid it’s hard to not be impressed by this group. Formed in Durham, NC Free Electric State is very new with only a two song CD in the station. This band should take off quickly with its ability to grab  attention with the 80st inspired vibe and catchy lo-fi sound.

4. M1 Platoon: Local Durham Hip-Hop crew M1 Platoon caught my eye during the joint album release show with Kooley High. The group joined together in the D.C. area and now can be found in Durham, NC. The lyrics consistently hype up their hometown as well as their new homes in Durham. The lyrics are great but it is the stage presence that immediately attracted me to M1 Platoon. With 7 group members plus a live DJ the stage itself is packed. It is incredible to watch each individual put their heart and souls out onto the stage. From jumping onto the amps, masking wearing interpretive dancing, to cheeky dance moves the group never stops moving. You see that the lyrics come from the heart and that what they are doing in the moment is what they are ment to do. If you only see one show this year I recommend checking out M1 Platoon doing what they do best.

3.Veelee: This band is one that I heard while driving to work. It was one of those music moments where your heart kind of fills up because you finally heard that sound you have been craving, something that shifts your insides around.  Maybe that’s just me but to put it briefly, this stuff is good, really good.  The Chapel Hill duo creates pop music with a strange dark side. With easy to follow singalong lyrics to unique keyboard sounds Veelee embraces the idea of minimalistic pop music that makes the listener want to put it on repeat.

2. Old Bricks: Raw, sad, make you curl up the fetal position and cry type songs.  Greymatter says ” the vocal style is best described as desperate and pathetic, but it works.” He is right, it totally works. The songs run from about six to eight minutes apiece but each one just grows upon itself. With a Daniel Johnson vibe the listener feels connected and appreciative that someone else is saying it for them, that we all hurt. Old Bricks shares with us the beauty and raw power of putting real human emotions into music. Check them out August 31 at Slims Downtown.

1. You and Your Effects:  Astounding folk rock built upon banjos, violins, flutes, accordions and incredible lyrics.  DJ Chuck compares them to Bowerbirds, DeVotcka and Sufjan Stevens.  The band is made up of five kids all under the drinking age which says a lot when listening to the lyrics these guys write. Dealing with adult issues and putting a intense,almost orchertratal(?) sounds as the background makes You and Your Effects an instant favorite to new listeners. Don’t be fooled though, they also hop to upbeat, jamish twangy rock and roll turning that frown right upside down. Unfortunately the college students are out and about doing what college kids should do…traveling the world, so don’t expect to see them live anytime soon.

Keep your eyes peeled and your ears tuned in to WKNC. For now I highly suggest checking out the links to hear for yourself just how incredible the scene around us is becoming.

Jax de Leon, a student at Purchase College’s School of Art and Design, has created a series of visualizations of Sufjan Stevens‘ Illinoise album.

In an interview with Perfect Laughter, de Leon states:

How did you end up choosing Illinoise? Did you consider any other albums?

Illinois was the inevitable choice for me. I listened to it in the car on the way to my freshman year of college shortly after it was released in 2005, and it’s been my favorite album ever since. It’s such a complete album, not just a series of singles, and I’ve always thought of it as a beautiful piece of art that deserves to be listened to very carefully. I considered various other albums and artists (The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, even The Beatles, my first love) but I always knew I would end up choosing Illinois.