Author: WKNC Admin

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New Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW: Braids – Shadow Offering

ALBUM REVIEW: Braids – Shadow Offering

BEST TRACKS: Just Let Me, Upheaval II, Young Buck

FCC violations: Snow Angel, Fear of Men

This three-piece band from Calgary, Alberta is a group of friends that met over ten years ago when they were in high school, and started rehearsing in a dingy garage. In these formative years, the band had success, winning a songwriting contest and being invited to play at Sled Island Music Festival. Following this success, the band collectively made the bold decision to postpone going to college so they could continue making music together. Since then, Braids has released 4 studio albums that are all very highly regarded by their audience. With their most recent release, Shadow Offering, Braids creates a deeply emotional, heavily ambient 45-minute journey. Braids claims that with Shadow Offering , they were able to go back to their roots and take the time to slowly rediscover their artistry, and it certainly shows. Shadow Offering has personality, originality, and passion.

On Shadow Offering, Braids fully embrace their spacious, shoegaze side, which they had been restraining in their past records in favor of a more electronic-pop palette. In lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s voice, there is an outpour of fierce confidence. Even though she sings lyrics that are often about her own shortcomings, her voice is strong, proud, and unapologetic. Resonating piano keys and humming bass invoke a sense of deep reverie. The way that the drums sometimes pick up with a rush of flourishing guitar strums keeps the album fresh and invigorating throughout.

When listening to this album, I truly felt the pain of a poisoned relationship. The candidness in which Standell-Preston discusses the way that she wastes time on frivolous dreams in ‘Upheaval II’ is almost lighthearted but you just can’t ignore the underlying sense of dread that hints that this self-destruction is less harmless than it seems.  I recommend this band if you like Ravenna Golden, Fiona Apple, or Angel Olsen.

-Safia

Categories
Miscellaneous

Let’s Get Psyched About Reading: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

 

Heartstopper is a graphic novel, written by Alice Oseman, that tells the story of two boys falling in love. The characters come from the author’s debut novel ‘Solitaire’. This previously online comic series serves as a way for the author to tell the backstory of the once minor characters. The story originated on tumblr and after the artist had a large amount of the story drawn out they were able to get it self-published right before it was picked up by a publisher. The story originated in Kent, UK but is now available in most places and on a website called Tapas.

This graphic novel is shaped largely around LGBTQ+ topics and currently consists of three book volumes, or 153 episodes (if you read it online). The author has published endless content around the story including Q and A’s, short stories, and even fan-fic like crossovers (including Harry Potter and Detroit Become Human). 

The story is centered around a boy in high school who was bullied a lot after accidentally being ‘outed’ to the school. He starts the story in a secret ‘relationship’ with a boy who is in the closet and openly dating a girl. The boy he is talking to treats him terribly so once Charlie meets Nick he decides he deserves better and cuts things off. Charlie and Nick met one day in class when they were assigned seats next to each other. Nick is a slightly older student and plays on the rugby team.They slowly become good friends and soon after they become best friends… until of course they catch feelings.

The art in this graphic novel is absolutely amazing. I find the simplistic nature beautiful and the artist’s unique ‘soft’ style really makes this story visually irresistible. The US edition comes in blue-green shades, but the artist’s work originated in gray-scale using only four tones. This story is full of variety including lots of LGBTQ+ representation and different experiences all of these characters have. There is love, support, hardships, communication and much more. We get the good sides of love and the harder sides: simpler experiences with coming out and harder ones. This story is one that a large and diverse audience is likely to find some aspect of relatable, this is why I find it the perfect story for anyone looking for a feelgood love tale.

Find the story online

Until next time,

Let’s Stay Psyched about Reading,

DJ Psyched

Categories
Podcasts

Let’s Get Psyched about Reading: Heartstopper


Join the discussion with DJ Psyched on the Goodreads Book Club. Support the Okra Project and read the story and support the author on Tapas.
Get Psyched intro music was created by PME, used by permission. Find PME on Spotify. 

Categories
New Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW: Ocean Alley – Lonely Diamond

ALBUM REVIEW: Ocean Alley – Lonely Diamond

BEST TRACKS: Way Down, Infinity, Lonely Diamond

FCC clean

Formed by a group of friends in a backyard shed, this six-piece psychedelic funk rock band got their start playing local dive bars and house shows on the Northern coast of Sydney, Australia. 10 years later, here they are, touring all across Australia and Europe, selling out shows left and right, and playing festivals such as Lost Paradise and Soundsplash, and doing it all without a record label. It’s only a matter of time before this band starts making their presence known in the United States. Ocean Alley’s first album, Lost Tropics is youthful and beachy, their second album, Chiaroscuro is bluesy and mature, but Lonely Diamond, Ocean Alley’s third studio album, is absolutely dazzling mix of them both, taking the tropical, beachy energy of Lost Tropicsbut adding the maturity and pensiveness of Chiaroscuro to make Ocean Alley’s greatest album to date.

The first thing I noticed about this album is the incredible cleanness of the sound. The percussion is tight, the guitar is crisp, and lead singer Baden Donegal’s voice is smooth and clear. The production quality is impeccable, but if you’re used to only listening to fuzzier garage style rock, this album will definitely be a change of pace. However, an album doesn’t have to be fuzzy and chaotic to have energy. Lonely Diamond has more of a deeper, cooler intensity than what you would expect from an average psychedelic rock band. The riffs are often dark on slow, and pulling you repeatedly into crawling buildups that lead to immense, cathartic climaxes.

This entire album reminds me of the time I drove 10 hours straight through the night to New York by myself. It gives me a feeling of thrill and danger, but the knowledge deep down that everything is bound to be okay in the end, no matter where I end up, because life is good.

-Safia

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: JGM by Lemaitre

Album: JGM by Lemaitre

Best Tracks: Wondering If I’ll Ever Come Down, Eyes Wide Open, Stop Me Fast

FCC Violations: Eyes Wide Open, Stop Me Fast

Lemaitre is an electronic duo comprised of Norwegian artists, Ulrik Denizou Lund and Ketil Jansen. Their newest release, JGM, reflects on life’s ups and downs and the celebration of life. The electronic group switched things up in this EP, adopting an indie-pop style and an extensive use of organic instruments. JGM is inspired by Johannes “Joe” Greve Muskat, Lemaitre’s “third” member who passed in 2019. Even though the EP is based in sadness, all four songs in the collection celebrate life in a perfect way to pay homage to Muskat.

“Wondering If I’ll Ever Come Down” is the lead single and my personal favorite track. It has a more indie Grouplove vibe to me that reminds you to love the life you’re living, which is inspiring. “Eyes Wide Open” and “Stop Me Fast” also maintain an upbeat mood while talking about overcoming loss and their struggles with grief. The use of organic instruments and electronic elements, like guitars and drums mixed with soft synths add an extra layer of emotion that indie songs normally possess, which makes this EP that much more special.

“Joe” is a special song that talks about Muskat specifically and tells the story of him as the third member of the group. I think this track ties together the whole EP and produces a sense of empathy and celebration from listeners.

I think this EP is a powerful message to listeners to enjoy the life they have and to celebrate the people in our lives, whether here or not, because they “never really go away.”

I recommend JGM for fans of Rex Orange County, Grouplove, and Tame Impala.

Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 6/23

Artist Record Label
1 EARTHGANG Mirrorland Dreamville/Interscope
2 TUAMIE Emergency Raps, Vol. 5 Mutant Academy
3 ASAP FERG Floor Seats RCA
4 SUPA BWE Just Say Thank You Freddy Got Magic/Empire
5 TOBI LOU Live On Ice Empire
6 YOUNG RJ AND MEGA RAN 2HANDSUP Ne’Astra
7 YOUNG THUG So Much Fun 300/Atlantic
8 SOLANGE When I Get Home Saint Records/Columbia
9 CASHINOVA Big Dragon Stophouse
10 KASH DOLL Stacked Republic

Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 6/23

Artist Record Label
1 CARIBOU Suddenly Merge
2 LONE Not Seeing Is A Flower [EP] Ancient Astronauts
3 YVES TUMOR Heaven To A Tortured Mind Warp
4 GRIMES Miss Anthropocene 4AD/Beggars Group
5 JAMES MASSIAH Natural Born Killers (Ride for Me) [EP] Levels
6 COWGIRL CLUE Icebreaker Vada Vada
7 JESSY LANZA “Lick In Heaven” [Single] Hyperdub
8 CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS La Vita Nuova [EP] Because/Capitol
9 INDIA JORDAN DNT STP MY LUV [EP] Local Action
10 BUSCABULLA Regresa Ribbon

Categories
Non-Music News

Black Owned Restaurants to Support

Father’s day was last weekend, so I hope you treated the father’s in your life to some good food. The best way to do this: buy from one of these black owned restaurants in the area. I’ll list a few here, along with a short description of what kind of food they serve. A longer list, containing more locations in North Carolina, is linked below.

Bestow Baked Goods located at 4208 Lassiter Rd, Holly Springs, NC 27540 – Since Bestow is known to make desserts for a special occasion be sure to place an order for that special father in your life. Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, breakfast and pies: all your desert needs can be met here.

Boss of Vegan located at 2161 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27603 – If you’re looking for a vegan burger look no further. If anyone in the family enjoys eating vegan this is a great spot to order from.

Chick-N-Que located at 420 S. Main St., Rolesville, NC 27571 – This restaurant serves 100% N.C.-raised ostrich burgers, I’ve never had one myself but I sure want to try…but if you aren’t ready for it they also have a large variety of other chicken dishes to choose from. And they have a food track that goes around town.

Dame’s Chicken and Waffles located at 1823 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, NC 27513 – A personal favorite of mine, you can never go wrong with their unique chicken and waffle dish. Dames is a one of kind experience, with their various waffle spread flavors and a menu full of various vegan and vegetarian options. Anyone in the family can find something to eat here, making it the perfect place to order from for a special occasion.

Joyce and Family Restaurant located at 129 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 – This family offers some of the best home style country cooking in the area. Everything is made fresh and daily, they put their hearts and love into every dish. They also offer catering services.

As I said these are only a few of the great black owned restaurants in the area, links to find more are located below. If you order out anytime soon, these all make fantastic choices~

More Black Owned Restaurants:

Google Sheet of black owned restaurants 

 Black owned restaurants in Raleigh NC

Until next time

Let’s stay psyched and support the Black Lives Matter Movement,

DJ Psyched

Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 6/23

Artist Record Label
1 AVERSIONS CROWN Hell Will Come For Us All Nuclear Blast
2 BENIGHTED Obscene Repressed Season of Mist
3 JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED Pain Is Power Self-Released
4 END Splinters From An Ever-Changing Face Closed Casket Activities
5 VADER Solitude In Madness Nuclear Blast
6 MINDFORCE Swingin Chords Choppin LordsTriple B
7 SEED OF PAIN Flesh, Steel, Victory… Plead Your Case
8 CURRENTS The Way It Ends SharpTone
9 BEHEMOTH A Forest [EP] Metal Blade
10 UPON A BURNING BODY “Built from War” [Single] Seek & Strike

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist Highlight: Neon Dreams

 

After hearing the artists newest single ‘Sick of Feeling Useless’, released May 7th, I decided to look into the artists a bit more. I absolutely loved the anthem styled tune and it’s message. It seemed to me that this duo is full of heart and on a mission to spread truth and shed light on what it feels like to live in the modern world. It only took a quick visit to the artists Facebook page to see that that is definitely the kind of artists they are. 

The artist’s music can be described as blending elements of pop, rock, and hip hop. The theme of the music, as stated by the artists, is ‘I’m gonna do my best to make music for people to heal to’. The duo, from Nova Scotia, had a change of heart a few years ago on the kind of music they wanted to create. This was following a life changing retreat Kadillace went on, after which he said ‘they helped me understand who I am’. The singer, Frank Kadillac, said he didn’t want to make music that just made people feel sad or worse, so he decided to change the style and use his music to try and help people instead. Kadillac said music was an outlet he always used for healing, and it makes him feel good when people reach out and let them know that their music is having the same effect on them as it had on him.

You can definitely hear this in the track I mentioned above. The headbanging chorus ‘Sick of feeling useless’ is simple, but punches right in the relatable feelings. Anyone who relates to the sentiment will likely enjoy the artists other similarly themed music.

The duo is really rising right now, as their most recent album landed them a Juno nomination for Breakout Group of the Year. The artist also had their cinematic debut with the track ‘Shape of My Mind’ which played in the opening scene of the movie Dangerous Lies. The artist has also been featured in Spin magazine and is continuing to grow in popularity. I can’t wait to see what they come out with next.

Until next time

Let’s Stay Psyched about Music,

DJ Psyched