Friday Favorites is a biweekly playlist series created by Miranda featuring her favorite songs from the past two weeks with a focus on new releases and lesser-known music. You can check out this week’s new tracks as well as all songs from previous weeks on WKNC’s Spotify here. This week’s Favorites include some of the best indie breakup songs.
Nardwuar is a YouTube personality known for his podcasts, radio show, and interviews of celebrities and musicians. He interviews a huge variety of people including many genres of artists and the interviews are always entertaining to watch. In this article I’ve highlighted my very favorite Nardwuar interviews with a little description of why I enjoy them.
I discussed my love for Japanese girl-band CHAI in my article on Japanese musicians, so I was excited to see this interview. The girls of CHAI showed up in cute matching outfits and dished on Peach Kelli Pop, their favorite foods to eat on tour, and their favorite musicians including the Beastie Boys and N.E.R.D. The band has a high energy sure to serve as a pick me up when you watch.
Not technically an interview of a musician, but this list wouldn’t be complete without it. Both Eric Andre and Nardwuar have bizarre personas and are experienced in leading interviews (if you’ve ever seen Eric Andre’s show, you’ll know what I mean). The two duke it out in a contest of weirdness that’s entertaining, if not edging on uncomfortable, to watch.
This interview is now almost a decade old and shows young Kendrick Lamar being shocked at all the research Nardwuar has done about him. Kendrick’s reactions are insanely funny, but the interview also gives fans glimpses of his childhood and early career.
I love this interview because not only is Brian Imanuel/Rich Brian my favorite Indonesian artist, he’s one of the best and most talented members of the label 88rising. This interview is great because fans get a deeper understanding of the artist’s upbringing and life in Indonesia. Watching this interview made me love Rich Brian even more.
A wholesome interview featuring the best girl, Sophie from Soccer Mommy. This interview is one of the cutest of Nardwuar’s recent ones and I love learning more about Soccer Mommy and front-woman Sophie Allison.
Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe on the cover of "Just Kids"
This book came to me at a very special time in my life, and I will never forget the impact it had on me. When I was 15, I stumbled upon a small bookstore in Asheville. I told the owner about the books I had previously been interested in, (“The Outsiders” and “Palo Alto”) looking for a good reading recommendation and he put “Just Kids” in my hands. Little did I know this book would get me through some of the hardest times of my teen years, provide endless inspiration, and make me fall in love with 70s rock.
“Just Kids” is a memoir written by one of the most notable female rockstars of all time, Patti Smith. It is an exquisite testimony to her talent as a poet, songwriter, and artist. The main focus of the memoir is her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, the renowned photographer known for his risque black & whites that explored sexuality in never foreseen ways. As another goodie, photographs from their time together are sprinkled throughout the book that give a lovely glimpse into their life.
Having to give up her baby after an unplanned pregnancy at 18, Smith moves to New York looking to immerse herself in the arts and get a new start. There she meets Mapplethorpe, a bohemian wanderer in search of the same thing. They enter a life together, exploring what it means to be young, poor, and in love. The novel continually references the icons she meets along the way, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the members of Blue Öyster Cult.
It is a poetic novel that tells of the joy and pain of being a starving artist, growing apart, and exploring one’s true identity. Mapplethorpe’s struggle with accepting his sexuality and Patti’s desire to see the world drives them apart and brings them back together over the course of decades. Though their relationship ebbs and flows, their connection is one that transcends distance.
I’m usually not an autobiography kind of person, but I HIGHLY recommend reading “Just Kids.” It is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I promise you won’t regret it.
Album art is a non-musical component of musical expression that can significantly add to the experience of the listener and allow the artist themself to further express themselves. Not only does this visual add to the overall mood of the album, the art often corresponds to the wider meaning and emotion of the album itself and showcase another side of the musician. Certain album covers
This Is All Yours by alt-J
An abstract art piece as wild and unpredictable as the different twists and turns the album goes through. A perfect visual reflection of the most soft, indie-folk influenced album by the band.
Mala by Devendra Banhart
It’s a simple piece of art, but definitely has visual interest. I love the different shades of pink that give depth to the image, with simple strokes of black, red, and blue ink that add a uniqueness complementary to the overall album.
Days of Abandon by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
This album’s artwork is beautifully minimalistic. It looks straight out of the portfolio of a young art student, which is perfect for the overall message of the album. This band’s albums vary greatly in style, all are very interesting but this one is my favorite.
6 Feet Beneath The Moon by King Krule
Another beautiful abstract cover, which reminds me of a work by Dali with more geometric elements and darker colors. Absolutely love both the sonic and visual components of this album.
We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic by Foxygen
Simple, clean design that is unique enough to be instantly recognized without being busy. A design I’ve seen imitated by other musicians since, but Foxygen did it best.
Melophobia by Cage The Elephant
Weird and visually alluring, this work of art encapsulates the mood of the album and the creativity of its creation. The linework and alternating colors of the album’s text make the letters pop out to ensure the listener never forgets.
Shrines by Purity Ring
I love the dark background of the cover of this album contrasted with the lighter pastel-stroke imagery. Certainly unique and adds a depth to the album, showcasing the naturalistic and ethereal elements present throughout the tracks.
Within the realm of popular music, few songs have the staying power remain in our collective consciousness for more than a moment. There are protest songs like “A Change is Gonna Come” and arena anthems like “We Will Rock You”, but no song that has captured the cultural zeitgeist has a story behind it quite like “Hallelujah”.
Hallelujah was originally written by Leonard Cohen in 1984 and has since been covered more than a hundred times over. As a singer, songwriter and novelist, Cohen was best known for his sublime poetry and baritone vocal range. The song was written during the early 80s, a period in his career that was creatively stagnant. As a meticulous writer who was always revising material, he wrote more than 50 verses for the song over the span of 5 years – at one point, Cohen found himself banging his head on the floor of a hotel room because he just couldn’t finish the song.
So, given how long Cohen slaved over the song, Hallelujah was sure to be an instant hit – right?
Well, not quite. Leonard Cohen recorded his Hallelujah for the 1984 album Various Positions, but when he brought his project to his record label they rejected it. But he didn’t give up there – instead, he took the record to an independent label that agreed to release it.
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen – the original version of the song
So, was this when Hallelujah hit the charts?
Well, again, no – Various Positions was a commercial failure, but it was at this point that the song took on a life of its own. Among the first to pick up the song was the Velvet Underground’s own John Cale, who was inspired to record his own version after attending a live performance of it. Cale’s Hallelujah landed on a Leonard Cohen tribute album called I’m Your Fan, released in 1991.
Hallelujah by John Cale – the first cover of the song
So, was this where the song gained traction, capturing the hearts of millions?
Not yet. Like Various Positions, I’m Your Fan was largely ignored by the public and, seven years after its initial release, Hallelujah remained in obscurity. This is where the story gets really remarkable: one of the few people to purchase I’m Your Fan was a woman named Janine. Janine, who lived in New York, happened to be friends with a certain up-and-coming musician named Jeff Buckley, who decided to add Hallelujah to his live setlist. This landed him a deal with Columbia, and his version of the song landed on his 1994 debut Grace.
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley – the most popular version of the song
So, after 10 years on the sidelines, was this when Hallelujah finally entered the spotlight?
Once, again, no – despite the critical praise Grace received, it was a commercial flop like the previous iterations of Hallelujah. It wasn’t until 1997 when Jeff Buckley accidently drowned in the Wolf River that his only studio album saw commercial success, bringing his music – and Hallelujah – to a mainstream audience. More than 15 years after it was conceived, this tragedy is what thrusted Cohen’s 5-year labor of love into the spotlight.
Once Hallelujah hit the mainstream, it spread like wildfire. The song was introduced to a younger audience with its inclusion in 2001’s Shrek, and has appeared in numerous TV shows such as the OC, the X Factor, and the West Wing. At this point, it’s safe to say that Hallelujah has been cemented into our collective consciousness.
There you have it: the unlikely success story of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Let’s take a second to reflect on the contingencies that made such an event possible. If Cohen hadn’t been rejected by his record label, John Cale may have never heard the song, and it may have never ended up on a tribute album. If Jeff Buckley never heard that album, the song never would have ended up on Grace. And if Buckley had not tragically drowned, his work may have never reached the masses – and Hallelujah as we know it may have never happened.
Bobby Hall, more commonly known as the rapper Logic, isn’t just in the hip-hop game. Get this: he’s also a fiction writer.
Over the summer, I was perusing in Barnes and Noble when my eye was caught by a bright red book with the words “Supermarket” on the front. They were having a buy one, get one 50% off sale (and I was already buying a copy of “Practical Magic”), so I took a chance and bought it. It wasn’t until after I got home that I realized Logic was the author, which made me super excited to read it. I’m not an avid listener of his music, but I appreciate when musicians branch out into other forms of media. It’s a great way to get to know them as a person and as an artist.
Let me just say that “Supermarket” was one of the trippiest books I’ve ever read. I’m going to try to avoid spoilers the best I can, but just know that the novel is hard to describe fully without giving the entire plot twist away. The book takes place in a small Oregon town and centers around our main character, Flynn, a young tortured writer. After finally getting a publishing deal following months of post-breakup depression, he decides to take up a job at a supermarket in search of inspiration for the plot of his new book. There, he meets characters that inspire and disturb him; most specifically his coworker, Fred, a ridiculous and dark anarchist. While balancing anxiety, manic creativity, and love, Flynn’s mind is revealed to be more complicated than he originally thought.
The novel tackles topics like mental health and creative blocks, which made me wonder if the narrative of “Supermarket” reflects some of Logic’s own creative struggles. Overall, it’s a great balance between witty and dark. You can’t help but fall in love with Flynn and his earnestness. The way the book sequences events and ties up at the end is CRAZY. Think of a “Black Mirror” episode translated into 267 pages, and then you can kind of get the feeling. If I said anymore I would give too much away, but it’s definitely worth reading. The only thing I didn’t love about “Supermarket” was how it seemed a bit corny at times, especially during Flynn’s dialogue with his love interest, Mia. Other than that, I recommend it highly to anyone looking for a quick, interesting read.
It’s officially spooky season! Here in Raleigh, the leaves are changing colors, the 12-foot-tall Home Depot skeletons are making an appearance, and the air is crisp with the scent of fall. Amid the stress of a global pandemic and the impending doom of election season, a little bit of Halloween is what we all need right now (safely, of course). What better way to do celebrate than with the best spooky movies you can imagine?
To get you in the perfect spooky mood, here are 31 of my favorite Halloween films:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, its spooky season!!! Now, here in The Saw’s Butcher Shop, it’s always spooky season, but since October is the month where being spooky is culturally acceptable, let’s talk about some TV shows and movies that will get you into the spirit of Halloween! I watch scary tv shows and movies any time of the year but it’s especially great to watch when it is spooky season. They always get me into the Halloween spirit. I will be listing some of my favorite things to watch that are sure to have you singing “This is Halloween!”
Movies:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride
Halloweentown
Butterfly Kisses
Any of the Saw movies
Halloween
Nightmare on Elm Street
Scream
House of 1000 Corpse
The Conjuring
The Grudge
The Ring
Hocus Pocus
Beetlejuice
The Addams Family
The Shining
Hereditary
Midsommar
The Haunted Mansion
The Exorcist
Carrie
Us
The Lodge
The Nun
IT
Holidays
Drag Me To Hell
Evil Dead
Insidious
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
TV Shows:
American Horror Story
The Exorcist
The Walking Dead
The Twilight Zone
Goosebumps
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Supernatural
Ratched
The Haunting of Hill House
Two Sentence Horror Stories
What are some of your favorite things to watch during Halloween?
This fall, celebrations of the season will look much different due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, which in North Carolina means continuance of Phase 2.5 which requires individuals to wear masks or other face coverings when social distancing is not possible. Despite restrictions, there are many ways for all of us to enjoy the season, engage in physical activity, and get out of the house while remaining safe.
Apple Picking
This year, COVID has caused a cancellation of the N.C. Apple Festival, but many apple orchards across the state are still open. Be sure to check online if you need to book an appointment, as many orchards are by appointment-only to manage crowds and ensure social distancing.
Scavenger Hunts
Organizing and completing a scavenger hunt for family or whoever you’re quarantining with can be a fun change of pace, especially if you’re living with younger children. The CDC posted a guide on how to host your own at-home scavenger hunt.
Pumpkin Patches
An online search can lead you to a pumpkin patch near you! Pumpkin patches are usually housed in large outdoor spaces where social distancing is made easy. Some also have corn mazes available, but be sure to book an appointment before you head out. Remember to take precautions including using hand sanitizer and wearing masks while you’re out and about.
Leaf Watching
Across North Carolina, trees are beginning to shed their leaves and turn from green into beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. Viewing the leaves is pandemic-friendly as you can easily appreciate the view from your car or bike. Enjoy watching all the colors change, bonus if you bring your family or roommates with you.
Hiking
Soaking in the fresh autumn air and viewing the scenery is a perfect way to enjoy the season. Hiking means getting out of the house and getting active with an added bonus of wildlife and leaf viewing. Consider taking a short day trip to a hiking destination of your choice. There are plenty of hiking trails in N.C. that feature beautiful waterfalls, mountains, and other amazing scenery. I recommend bringing a Buff, bandana, or other face covering that you can easily cover yourself with if you come across other hikers.
Biking
Information about many different biking trails around Raleigh can be found on the AllTrails app or website. The Walnut Creek trail is one of my favorite biking trails near Raleigh, for a short or lengthy bike ride depending on your preference. Additionally, the park at the North Carolina Museum of Art is a short ride which features outdoor art exhibits for your viewing pleasure.
Baking
Fall is the perfect time to break out the flour and eggs and work on your baking skills. Quarantine means more time at home, so you’ll likely have plenty of time to do quick baking prep and watch over your dessert creations. Lately, I’ve personally been trying my hand at making pies and pizzas with homemade crusts. It’s easier than it looks and so rewarding. Many grocery stores are offering curbside delivery or no-contact pickup, check in with your store to see if they are offering these services.
Enjoy the season and be sure to take precautions and stay safe. Remember to carry PPE with you and wear a mask at all times when you are interacting with others.
– Miranda
Sources: nc.gov, Tina Ruff (Chief of Staff at Durham Tech)
Welcome to the grand finale of the Album Art Gems series! If you haven’t been keeping up, here are links to the first, second, third, and fourth installations. This has been such a fun blog series for me and I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!
1. Negro Swan – Blood Orange
I literally can never get tired of looking at this cover. It is just absolutely exquisite. The way the winged model is posing out of the car is so elegant, and I love the minimal, organic color palette.
2. Currents – Tame Impala
I know this is very basic of me, but I couldn’t NOT include “Currents.” It’s an excellent allusion to the psychedelic covers so often found on 60s and 70s album art, which Tame Impala tends to channel in their music.
3. Wolf – Tyler, the Creator
In Part 4, I mentioned “IGOR,” but how could I only highlight just one Tyler album? The “Wolf” cover perfectly encapsulates his ridiculous and dark style of production. I love how it reminds me of a cheesy high school portrait from the 80s. The inhaler in his hand really tops it all off.
4. Melodies – Jan Hammer Group
This album is a recent discovery of mine, but I was blown away by the colors and composition of the cover. The ways in which the photos zoom in and are made up of multicolored line patterns are a type of unique that is rarely found in modern album art.
5. Getz/Gilberto – João Gilberto & Stan Getz
Last but not least, one of my favorite albums of all time, we have “Getz/Gilberto.” Seeing this cover is so nostalgic for me and brings back such fond memories of my childhood. The colors remind me of the warmth of a Brazilian jazz club in the 60s, which is always where I imagine myself while listening to it.
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