Category: Miscellaneous

Random sh*t we don’t know where else to put

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Band/Artist Profile Classic Album Review Miscellaneous New Album Review

Who Are The Burkharts?

Who are the burkharts?

Who are the Burkharts? The Burkharts are a new band that sounds like an old style of 50s doo-wop beach music. With angelic background harmonies, a fast drum beat, and a light bit of guitar, this band seems to mimic almost everything the Beach Boys stood for. However, that’s not to say that the Burkharts are a carbon copy of them. 

The Burkharts started in Buffalo, NY around two years ago. They have described themselves as not too sleepy, not too spicy. I honestly couldn’t put it any better than that. Their music keeps you engaged, but it’s not too overwhelming. It’s the kind of music I could do homework to or listen to while I walk around a park on a Sunday afternoon. Right now they only have two EP’s and a few singles out, but my favorite songs are “Our Rockaway,” “Pretty Words,” “Oh, Dreamer,” and “Flower City Nights.” Their second EP contains the latter two of my favorites and has more of an indie feel to it than their most recent EP, however you can still hear their trademark old-beachy-sound. 

Hope you guys enjoy the tunes, 
-The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants

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Band/Artist Profile Classic Album Review DJ Highlights Miscellaneous Playlists

Chip’s Picks

Album Cover for Jurassic Shark

You know those times when all of a sudden it feels like you’ve been hit with a wave of new, really good music out of nowhere? It’s the best feeling in the world. Finally, you can get yourself out of the same five-song rotation and expand your music taste, treating your ears to the soothing sounds of something new. I just recently happened upon this feeling for the first time in a while, and I would like to share it with you all. So, here is what I’ve been listening to lately. 

“My Cousin Greg” by Houndmouth 
You might know this band from the song “Sedona,” but if you dig deeper into their discography you can find that they actually have an array of songs that match “Sedona’s” energy. “My Cousin Greg” is like one of those songs that starts out smooth but eventually gets more and more exciting as it goes on. Perfect for any car ride with friends. 

“Evil Ways” by Santana
I heard this song for the first time in a while last weekend while I was in Wilmington. It was a beautiful day and I was driving to the beach with friends when this song came on. The sun was shining through the Spanish moss and illuminating the car as a wild guitar riff spun through the car. And now I think of that every time I listen to this song. 

“Blue Magic” by Kelly Hogan and Bill Taft 
This is one of those songs that is perfect for laying in bed at 3 AM and staring up at the ceiling. It has an echoing guitar with a vocalist to match it perfectly. It sounds very similar to “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane.

“Miracle” by Jurassic Shark 
Jurassic Shark is a nice little surf rock band that came out with the album “Miracle” back in 2014, however I’ve only just recently been getting into them. My favorite song off of the album is “Summer.” The sound of the song definitely lives up to its name. 

“Above Water” by Felly 
This song encapsulates the feeling of trying to make it through the first week of classes. No matter how stressful it gets to keep everything up to date, you just have to keep your head above water. 

Well I hope you guys enjoy the tunes,
-The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants 

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Miscellaneous

The Saw’s Life Hacks: Back to School Edition

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s your Master Butcher, The Saw, and today we will be talking about going back to school. I don’t know what it is, I love being on break and doing nothing, but I love preparing for a new semester and getting my school supplies and area together. It’s a time to start over and create better study habits. I will be giving you guys some of my tips and tricks that I use in order to be successful in school and start off the new semester with ease. 

School Supplies

            This is probably one of my favorite things about going back to school, I. LOVE getting school supplies. Usually, each student has their “core” supplies that they buy in order to organize their materials for class. Here is what I do: first, I get a planner. These help me keep track of all of my assignments, readings and papers. I don’t like taking notes on my computer, you can say that I am old-school. So, instead I buy a binder, loose leaf paper, and dividers in order to keep track of all of my class notes. This is cheaper than buying notebooks for each class, it uses less paper, and it keeps everything in one place. Highlighters, pencils, and pens are a must. Get some pretty colors to make taking notes fun! 

Clean your study space

Since all of my classes are online, it is important to keep my school space clean and organized. Working in a clean space will do a lot of positive things for you; it’s as if a clean workspace makes a clean headspace. I like to have my space cozy and neat. This helps me be able to sit down for large periods of time doing work. I also have a shelf that is dedicated to all my textbooks and binders so all of my school supplies are in one place. 

Syllabuses are your BFF

            When you get your syllabus for all of your classes, print those out and keep them for the entire semester. These will have all of your due dates, more information and requirements for those assignments, the class schedule with the readings, and contact information for your professor. I like to give each class that I am enrolled in a different color pen and write down all of my due dates and writing/reading assignments for each class. This helps me stay on top of my work and keeps me less stressed. When I know what is going on weeks in advance and I can plan accordingly is when I do my best work. 

I hope my tips can help! Do you have any tips and tricks that have helped you through school? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

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Miscellaneous

Top Second-Hand Stores in The Triangle

Second-hand shopping is the best shopping. Not only are you (usually) saving a pretty penny by thrifting, but you’re also avoiding fast fashion! It’s so important to shop sustainably, and buying pre-loved goods is one of the easiest ways to do so. My new year’s resolution was to only buy clothes, books, and furniture used, and it’s been super rewarding! One of my favorite pastimes is to explore rows of antiques. Here are some of my favorite second-hand stores near NC State (in no particular order):

1. The Cheshire Cat

This place is a treasure trove if you love antiquing. Located in Cameron Village next to the Goodberries, the Cheshire Cat is a huge underground antique store. It’s filled with just about anything you can imagine from dozens of different vendors. There are records, books, furniture, clothes, knick-knacks, and literally the most random stuff you’ll ever see. I’m not exaggerating when I say that you could get lost in there for hours. If you’re looking for cheap vinyl, they have lots of $1 records available.

2. Nice Price Books & Records

Nice Price is an obvious favorite, especially since it’s right across from campus next to Cup a Joe. They’ve been around for over 20 years and continue to be one of Raleigh’s best record stores. Not only do they have new releases from current artists, but they also have rare used records as well. It’s a bit pricey for me, but their used book section is fantastic and you’re sure to find something special.

3. Rumors Chapel Hill

Since I moved to Chapel Hill last summer, Rumors has become my favorite spot. Though Franklin St. will never compare to Hillsborough St. (to me at least), the little side avenue where Rumors lives is the exception. They have tons of used, on-trend clothes and some really nice vintage pieces. If you’re on a budget, Rumors is probably the best curated thrift store to hit up because of their low prices. Looking to get some clothes off your hands? They also buy clothes at a really fair price!

4. Father & Son

Because they get the majority of their stock from estate sales, Father & Son is the peak of high-end vintage shopping, but get ready to drop some cash if you’re shopping there. They have the most beautiful mid-century furniture and art. Their clothing selection includes lots of ball gowns, leather jackets, and quality vintage pieces. Despite being on the more expensive side of things, Father & Son does have some cheap records!

5. Reader’s Corner

Reader’s Corner is the best place to find used books. Period. It’s one of those places that people often forget about but are amazed by when they walk through the doors. Though it’s a small place, it’ wall-to-wall with books. This is where I get all my vintage collage magazines and prints from! They are very budget-friendly and super helpful in there. Located a bit up the street from Nice Price, it’s a definite must-see!

6. Design Archives Emporium

Though it’s a bit of a haul away from Raleigh, the Design Archive Emporium is a second-hand shop in Downtown Greensboro that I absolutely love. Like the Cheshire Cat, it’s a vendor-based thrift store with (mostly) clothes for sale. I’ve found some amazing pieces there for super cheap! If you’re ever taking a trip westward you gotta make a stop there.

– DJ Butter

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Miscellaneous

Let’s Get Metal: Décor Edition

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! We are almost a month into 2021 and I know some people want to spice up their lives; whether that be going to the gym, changing their hair style, or even changing up their room. 

Today, we will be talking about how to add some ~~spice~~ to your room. I get compliments on my room and how I have it set up. My friends like the vibe and aesthetic that my room has. I have a dark hippie-metal vibe going on in the lair. So, if you want to add some dark hippie vibes to your room, here are some of the things that I did to spice up my room. 

Find a main theme and work around it.

I really love skulls, so I have a lot of items that involve skulls. If I am being honest, I have nine skulls in total. They are all designed in different ways and I have placed them around my room to set the theme. I have them on my nightstand, printer, bathtub, and my dresser. I also have posters of skulls and even skull ashtrays! Some people may say that I have an obsession, but I call it taste. 

Have an accent wall.

When I moved into the house that I am living at now, the girl who had my room before me painted a wave of eyes on one of the walls. I loved it when I saw it and I thought it would add to the aesthetic of my room. I didn’t want to cover up the eyes, so I added my bed and some small furniture around it. If you do not have a wall of eyes (if you do, please show me; that would be so cool), you can always paint an accent wall or design something on one of your walls (if you are allowed to). You could also add some tapestries to a wall to accent it! I have collected tons of tapestries from different smoke shops and also mall outlets. These tapestries can help you add some color to your room and also find other color furniture or decorations that match the tapestry. 

Make your room smell good.

Okay y’all, I love candles. They are my absolute favorite. I get candles from Target, TJ Maxx, Walmart, and literally anywhere or any business that makes/sells candles. Scents can also help set the vibe of your room. You can get some dark earthy scents, floral scents, fruity/tropical scents, or even clean fresh scents! I like my musk scents or heavy fruit scents. I think they go with both my dark hippie and metal vibe. The colors and designs of candles and candle holders can also help create your aesthetic. 

If you don’t want candles, you can always get wax burners. They have some cute burners that can help bring your room together. I have a sugar skull wax burner and also a Himalayan rock burner. They give off cool light designs on your wall and create a way to have some dim lighting in your room that is great for relaxation. 

And if you are feeling really fancy, incents will always help you get the hippie vibe. 

Accent Furniture 

I have an old school record player/ stereo that I placed by my windows in order to be the centerpiece of my room. I placed some plants, incents, and skulls on top of it in order to add my aesthetic to it. I love vinyl’s and record players because it gives me those ‘90s vibes. I love the ‘90s and my record player is from 1992 so it fits in perfectly. 

How are you guys decorating your rooms? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Classic Album Review Miscellaneous Music Education New Album Review

Whole Lotta Leaks

WLR Album Art
Album Art credit to "arbitopi"

Well, it finally happened. After years of anticipation, memes, and leaks, the long-awaited album “Whole Lotta Red” finally dropped on Christmas morning. Playboi Carti had declared himself as Santa and donned a red appearance to match the theme of the album. However, and I say this as a true Playboi Carti fan, it turned out to be a whole lotta hype for a whole lotta garbage. Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely some good songs in there. “Place” was a classic throwback to the synth-style of Carti’s music and “Go2DaMoon” sent me to Pluto. But for the most part, the album was an evolution to a new style of rap that hasn’t entirely taken hold yet. Instead of sticking to his beloved dream-like style of music found in his first album, Carti is slowly transitioning to a more grunge, pop style of rap found in songs like “Poke It Out” in Die Lit. 

One of the most asked questions from fans concerning “Whole Lotta Red” is why none of the dozens of leaked songs were found on the album. To be honest, I feel like if Carti made an album entirely out of leaks it would have blown up. However, leaks such as “Kid Cudi” and “No Lie,” for as good as they may be, hinder Carti’s ability to actually release the songs. When a song is leaked by a fan it goes against how a rapper’s label may have intended to release the song. If it doesn’t gain enough popularity fast enough or in the right way, it may never release. So while it may be possible that some leaks could have been on WLR, since they were leaked they never made it on the album. 

Although the album wasn’t for everybody, it still had some pretty good songs on there and the new direction of Carti’s music warms up to you after a few listens. Hopefully fans are still willing to stick with him in the future and hopefully we can see less leaks and more legitimate songs. 

-The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants 

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Miscellaneous

Book Review: Daisy Jones and The Six

Daisy Jones and The Six Book Cover

What better way to spend one’s winter break than reading? It’s been a relatively uneventful vacation for me, considering most of it was spent at home doing absolutely nothing, but reading helped make life a bit more interesting.

“Daisy Jones and The Six” was the first book I picked up over break, and I couldn’t put it down. Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, it tells the story of a fictional band from the 1970s called The Six. What’s fascinating is that it’s written like an interview, so the entire novel has a distinctive twinge of reality. In fact, I was actually under the impression that The Six was a real band up until halfway through the book when I googled them because I wanted to see what they looked like (needless to say I felt very silly).

Though the book is told just from the surviving band members’ personal recollections and quotes, Reid does an incredible job building the plot through the unique format. The story revolves around Daisy Jones, a troubled groupie-turned-songwriter, who begins her music career by joining forces with The Six, led by singer Billy Dunne. With a wife and kid at home, Billy struggles to balance the rock n’ roll lifestyle with fatherhood. Daisy, though talented beyond belief, can’t write a complete song and is hardly ever sober. Meanwhile, the other members of The Six have their own drama and exuberant personalities. But amidst the insanity, Daisy and Billy’s passion for songwriting, music, and each other drives the band towards fame.

At first glance, “Daisy Jones and The Six” appears to follow the classic rock band narrative: Band starts off good. Band goes on tour. Band goes crazy. Band starts fighting. Band breaks up. In fact, Daisy Jones and The Six are actually loosely based on Fleetwood Mac. However, what makes this story so interesting is the complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another. There is no perfect love story or fantasy ending. It shows the messiness of human connection on full display without any apology. It’s captivating and real.

If you’re a geek for the 1970s rock era like I am, I cannot give you a better book recommendation. Apart from having a rich plot, it’s also a gratifying read for music lovers everywhere. The details Reid includes about the sound, depth, and meaning of each song Daisy and The Six write make you feel like you can actually hear them. The full lyrics for each one are even in the back of the book!

Seeking a cure for the wintertime blues? Look no further. “Daisy Jones and The Six” will for sure be the antidote you need.

– DJ Butter

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Miscellaneous

A DJ Mango Vinyl Update

DJ Mango's Vinyl Collection
DJ Mango's Vinyl Collection

Happy holidays WKNC! With the year winding down to a close, I thought I would take this time to give y’all an updated glimpse into the DJ Mango vinyl collection. Here are 9 more of my favorites!

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan: This 1993 classic changed the landscape of hip-hop forever. Wu-Tang Clan certainly wasn’t the first rap group, as they were preceded by acts like 2 Live Crew and N.W.A, but no one had ever done it like them before.

Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote: A mind-bending odyssey of future-soul, funk and R&B complete with textured synths, odd time signatures and virtuosic performances. Check out my full blog post on Hiatus Kaiyote.

Imperial by Denzel Curry: Denzel Curry’s debut studio albums proves why he is such a force of nature: dizzying flows, cold-blooded bars and unmatched energy. Not to mention that the album’s otherworldly, futuristic production is the perfect accompaniment to Denzel’s paradigm shifting take on SoundCloud rap.

Green Onions by Booker T. & The M.G.’s: In terms of instrumental music, “Green Onions” is one of my favorite songs ever, and the rest of the album has plenty to offer in terms of catchy soul and blues.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers is often overshadowed by Abbey Road and Revolver, but I think it is their best work. In my opinion, it is the most colorful, kaleidoscopic, and fun listening experience in the Beatles canon.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis: The release of Kind of Blue was a watershed moment in jazz music. Often cited as the best jazz album of all time, its influence is evident in genres ranging from rock to hip-hop.

We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest: ATCQ’s latest release is also their final, as it acts as a send-off for the late Phife Dawg. They proved that even after a nearly 20 year hiatus, they were still capable of crafting ear-grabbing jazz rap.

Illmatic by Nas: Another classic from the golden age of hip-hop, 1994’s Illmatic is arguably what put the East Coast on the map thanks to its grimy boom-bap production and Nas’ street disciple lyricism.

Black Messiah by D’Anglelo and the Vanguard: An excellent addition to D’angelo’s already impeccable discography, Black Messiah finds him pushing his R&B and neo-soul roots to the realms of funk and psych rock. Check out my full review.

– DJ Mango

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Miscellaneous

~~Just Metal Things~~

Happy Holidays Butcher Crew! I hope you are all getting into the holiday spirit! I understand that this time of the year is not so metal, BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT METAL! I have some metal things that you can do to spice up your holiday season. 

Get a black Christmas tree

Now, I have always wanted a black Christmas tree. I think this is like the coolest idea ever. Now, hear me out: purchase or spray paint your Christmas tree black, add some white lights, and then get yourself some metal ornaments! They have some ornaments with band names on them that you can get. The craft store Michael’s has skeleton ornaments that makes it look like they are hanging on your tree. That’s so metal. And to top it all off, add a pentagram to the top! 

 Skulls, skulls, and more skulls

Now, I love me some skulls! I have 7 skulls in my room that stay up all year, but for Christmas, I like to add some Santa hats to the skulls so they are in the Christmas spirit as well. You can get skulls at Ross, Target, Marshalls, Spirit Halloween, and EarthBound! 

Metal remixes of Christmas music 

There are tons of remixes of Christmas songs that can get you into the holiday spirit! There are playlists on SoundCloud, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. 

Buy black wrapping paper and ribbons

Your presents will look so metal with all black paper and ribbons. I love the idea of all black everything, it gives everything a sleek and classis aesthetic. Love. It! 

Merry Christmas you filthy animals! 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Miscellaneous

Concert Shoes

When people talk about their favorite concert experiences, they often recall the performances, the crowd, or the people they shared it with. But for me, one of the most important parts of the live music experience is one that I think most people overlook – the shoes you wear.

Grey suede Air Force 1 Mids, signed by Tierra Whack

First up we’ve got the grey suede Air Force 1 Mids that I purchased from Plato’s closet back in high school. They frankly aren’t the most stylish shoe, but what makes them special to me is the signature from none other than Tierra Whack. I had the privilege of seeing her live in September of 2019, when she performed at Memorial Hall in UNC Chapel Hill. When she came out the concert hall turned into a mosh pit, and everyone got out of their seats to join the party. I was surprised at how interactive she was with the crowd and as a result Tierra Whack is one of the most down to earth performers I have ever seen.

Adidas signed by JPEGMAFIA

Up next we’ve got my beaters, my babies, my everyday shoes – a pair of nondescript Adidas I got from Burlington Coat Factory for 25 dollars. These are my go-to concert shoes because I know whatever I wear will get stepped on. They’ve been to family events like Anderson .Paak and the TDE Championship Tour, to mosh pits at Denzel Curry and Wage War (shoutout to The Saw for taking me to my first metal show!) and even WKNC’s own Double Barrel Benefit. They became one-of-a-kind when they were signed by JPEGMAFIA, who I saw live in New York in Mary of 2019. These shoes have truly been everywhere. They were on my feet during some of the most memorable moments of my life, and though I will have to retire them soon, I will always cherish the memories they were a part of.

That’s it! Do you have a cherished pair of concert shoes?

– DJ Mango