Categories
Weekly Charts

Top Charts 3/15

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1NILUFER YANYAPAINLESSATO
2SOFTCULTYear Of The Snake [EP]Easy Life
3JPEGMAFIALP!EQT
4LITTLE SIMZSometimes I Might Be IntrovertAGE 101
5WAVEFORMLast RoomRun For Cover
6LAVA LA RUE“For You” [Single]Marathon Artists
7MARKEE STEELEVet & A Rook [EP]Thee Marquee
8NATIVESON91Come Back Down [EP]Spear Head
9DARKSOFTCryoLook Up
10FLYING LOTUSYasukeWarp
11GULLY BOYSFavorite Son [EP]Get Better
12HIATUS KAIYOTEMood ValiantBrainfeeder/Ninja Tune
13ILLISMFamily Over EverythingThe CRWN
14JOESEFDoes It Make You Feel Good? [EP]Bold Cut
15PLANET GIZA“When The Moving Stops” [Single]Self-Released
16SAMM HENSHAWUntidy SoulDorm Seven/AWAL
17SKIIFALLWOIIYOIE TAPES Vol. 1 [EP]Self-Released
18WESLEY JOSEPHUltramarineEEVILTWINN/Transgressive
19AJ TRACEYFlu GameRevenge
20AUDREY NUNAA Liquid BreakfastArista
21CAKES DA KILLA, PROPER VILLAINSMuvaland Vol. 2 [EP]Warner
22CAROLINE LOVEGLOWStrawberry100% Electronica
23EVIDENCEUnlearning Vol. 1Rhymesayers
24FLY ANAKINPixoteMutant Academy
25FREDDIE GIBBS AND MADLIBBandanaKeep Cool/RCA
26GREENTEA PENGMan MadeEMI
27HAVIAH MIGHTYStock ExchangeSelf-Released
28MACHINEDRUMPsyconia [EP]Ninja Tune
29MAITAI Just Want To Be Wild For YouKill Rock Stars
30MAMALARKY“Meadow” [Single]Fire Talk

Top Adds

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1NILUFER YANYAPAINLESSATO
2CAROLINE LOVEGLOWStrawberry100% Electronica
3BASEMENT REVOLVEREmbodySonic Unyon
4BLUE JA Sign Of Good LuckNettwerk
5DANA GAVANSKI“Under The Sky” [Single]Flemish Eye
6JUST MUSTARD“I Am You” [Single]Partisan
7NUHA RUBY RA“My Voice” [Single]Brace Yourself
8WHITE LIESAs I Try Not To Fall ApartPIAS
9LAMACCHIA“Bled Out” [Single]Aqualamb
10MDOU MOCTARAfrique Victime (Deluxe)Matador/Beggars Group
Categories
Blog

What’s the Deal with Spotify Blends?

Despite Spotify not being a good platform for artists to make money, Spotify does have a lot of cool features for its users. This includes being able to make your pets personalized curated playlists, Spotify Wrapped, Discover Weekly, and more. A feature I recently discovered a few months ago is Spotify Blends.

Blends, according to Spotify, are “shared playlist[s] that combine the music you and a friend listen to.” This playlist updates daily. At first, I thought it was cool and made Blends with both of my roommates, my sister and some other friends. But yesterday, when I was looking at my playlists I saw all of these blends and thought: “When have I ever listened to these?”

I thought of a few ways Blends could be useful, outside of the initial excitement of making one to see what you and your loved ones have in common, but I can’t tell if they’re actually worth it or not. 

Blends can be useful if: your friends listen to a lot of different music than you and you’re wanting to branch out, you are going on some sort of road trip with a friend and want a good mix of your music to listen to, you literally have no other option but to listen to this playlist.

Music is a deeply personal thing and everyone has their individual tastes and preferences, I don’t really see the point in adding other people (algorithmically) into the equation.

Maybe there’s something I’m missing and Blends are a lot cooler and have more utility than I think they do. But until that’s proven to me, I will not be listening to Spotify Blends unless I’m desperate.

– Caitlin

Categories
Playlists

Songs to Frolic to: A Playlist

At this point in the semester, I fantasize a lot about what my life could be like in some alternate universe where I wasn’t in college. My escapist fantasies often involve me running through a meadow and befriending all of the creatures outside. To indulge myself in those fantasies, I decided to make a playlist to be the soundtrack to this feeling. As all of my favorite playlists do, this one has folky undertones and is perfect for sitting outside on a warm spring day, going on a walk with an old friend or, like the playlist title notates, frolicking.

Without further ado, here are 15 songs to frolic to:

  • “Serpientes” – Los Valentina
  • “Time Escaping” – Big Thief
  • “Blue Coupe” – Twin Peaks
  • “Amoeba” – The Doozers
  • “Bryter Layter” – Nick Drake
  • “Pára-Raio” – Djavan
  • “Conditions” – Rozi Plain
  • “Sometimes I Forget” – Tex Crick
  • “Cheers” – The Slaps
  • “书夕一” – Keiichi Sokabe
  • “Crazy” – Spiritualized
  • “I’m the Sky” – Norma Tanega
  • “Greycedes” – Jessica Pratt
  • “I’m Down, Whatever” – JW Francis
  • “If I Am Only My Thoughts” – Loving

As always, you can stream this playlist on Spotify.

Here’s to frolicking,

Caitlin

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Spotify Armageddon

Over the past few years, streaming music has become as necessary as breathing to a lot of people. The constant consumption of melodious audio has led streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify to skyrocket in popularity.

Unfortunately, on the dreaded day of Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 1:08 p.m. the ‘Spotify Armageddon’ struck. The streaming service, Spotify, crashed and users were locked out of their accounts getting errors such as “The firewall is preventing you from gaining access” or “Invalid Username or Password”. 

Accounts that people had from the young age of twelve and the playlists created over the years for various occasions such as post-test anger or a road trip were all out of reach, and people rushed to Twitter to cope. Users joked, “now I have to listen to the sound of my engine on the car ride home” and “me joining my family for dinner for the first time in 8 years because Spotify is down”

Avid users of the platform were left in shock and heartbreak after being locked out of their accounts, but for our beloved radio station, WKNC 88.1, this was a serendipitous occasion. NC State students and Raleigh locals immediately sought out ways to continue their music streaming and WKNC 88.1 was the safe haven in this ‘Spotify Armageddon’. Regular listeners of WKNC 88.1 HD-1 and HD-2 got their moment of glory.

Those who tuned in to HD-1 were able to indulge in some Daytime Rock with DJ AV and listen to a few classics such as “We Go Back” by Animal Collective and “I Wanna Feel Love” by Julia Bardo. Meanwhile, those who tuned in to HD-2 were gifted with the Underground playlist hosted by DJ AV, featuring some hidden gems like “First Breath” by Daylyt.

Though this brief Spotify Armageddon influenced melophiles, music lovers, from all walks of life, those who happened to pop onto WKNC 88.1 didn’t have a reason to fret.

Categories
Miscellaneous

Spring Album Recommendations

It’s nearly spring again, and I’ve been writing many blogs to celebrate the end of winter. Despite already making my “Ringing In Spring” series, I felt it would be nice to give some album recommendations for the spring for those who prefer the album listening experience as opposed to the playlist. These are all albums I’ve either been obsessed with in past springs, I feel evoke the energy of new beginnings quite well or just sound “springy” to me. 

It’s been beautiful to go outside without layers on (although, considerably harder for me to brainstorm outfits) and see the flowers blooming on the trees. I can never decide which season is my favorite (they all have major pros and cons), but I think if I had to choose it would be spring.

Without further ado, here are some albums I think you should check out or revisit this spring.

Have a lovely spring,

Caitlin

Categories
Non-Music News

“Verity” by Colleen Hoover Book Review

Summary

What do you get when you cross a somewhat-newly-single struggling writer with the husband of a famous thriller novelist? Colleen Hoover’s Verity. I struggled for a while with finding a book that captured my attention, dealing with the relatable struggle of being in an I-want-to-read-but-just-can’t-sit-down-and-do-it sort of rut. Verity book reviews had appeared on my TikTok, so I decided to get it on a whim because I had heard good things about the book and Colleen Hoover. I read it in a day, neglecting all other obligations because I could not manage to put it down. 

Main character Lowen Ashleigh is in her early thirties and is living in New York City. After witnessing a man getting hit by a car in close proximity, she happens to run into Jeremy Crawford. Unbeknownst to her, Jeremy is the husband of Verity Crawford, a renowned novelist. Lowen and Jeremy share a moment in which he takes care of her in a nearby coffee shop, tending to her after such a shocking experience. The two connect emotionally, but then go their separate ways. After her encounter with Jeremy, Lowen has to catch a meeting with her agent (and ex-boyfriend) Corey. Lowen was toeing the line of financial ruin due to caring for her sick mother when she was offered the deal of a lifetime. Who walks in to offer her this deal? Jeremy Crawford. 

Mysteriously injured, Verity Crawford’s status of health is unknown to the public. She needs someone to finish her book series as per her contract. Verity’s publishers ask Lowen to take on this task, which involves her going to the Crawford’s house in Vermont to look through Verity’s files. Lowen, initially resistant, has a moment alone with Jeremy, who convinces her to take this deal. What Lowen finds at the house would change the course of the lives of everyone involved forever.  If you are into quite steamy romantic thrillers, Verity is definitely for you. 

About the Author

Colleen Hoover is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty two novels. She mainly writes New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance, along with psychological thrillers. Colleen’s foundation, The Bookworm Box, has donated over $1,000,000 to help those in need. This program provides readers with signed novels each month and profits are then donated to various charities. 

Rumors say that a movie adaptation of Verity is in the works, and I am excited to see this story come to life. Colleen Hoover’s other books have definitely made it on my to-read list, including It Ends With Us and Ugly Love. I hope you give this book a try if you’re finding yourself unmotivated to read.

Till next time, 

dj mozzie

Categories
Weekly Charts

Top Charts 3/8

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1REPTALIENSMultiverseCaptured Tracks
2SOFTCULTYear Of The Snake [EP]Easy Life
3BIG THIEFDragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You4AD/Beggars Group
4JPEGMAFIALP!EQT
5LAVA LA RUE“For You” [Single]Marathon Artists
6MARKEE STEELEVet & A Rook [EP]Thee Marquee
7WAVEFORMLast RoomRun For Cover
8CATE LE BONPompeiiMexican Summer
9DARKSOFTCryoLook Up
10EVIDENCEUnlearning Vol. 1Rhymesayers
11FLYING LOTUSYasukeWarp
12GULLY BOYSFavorite Son [EP]Get Better
13LITTLE SIMZSometimes I Might Be IntrovertAGE 101
14MOONCHILDStarfruitTru Thoughts
15SAMM HENSHAWUntidy SoulDorm Seven/AWAL
16TYLER THE CREATORCALL ME IF YOU GET LOSTColumbia
17WESLEY JOSEPHUltramarineEEVILTWINN/Transgressive
18ARCAKicK iiiXL
19AUDREY NUNAA Liquid BreakfastArista
20BLUE HAWAIIMy Bestfriend’s House [EP]Arbutus
21CAKES DA KILLA, PROPER VILLAINSMuvaland Vol. 2 [EP]Warner
22DAWN RICHARDSecond LineMerge
23FLY ANAKINPixoteMutant Academy
24FREDDIE GIBBS AND MADLIBBandanaKeep Cool/RCA
25GREENTEA PENGMan MadeEMI
26HAVIAH MIGHTYStock ExchangeSelf-Released
27HIATUS KAIYOTEMood ValiantBrainfeeder/Ninja Tune
28ILLISMFamily Over EverythingThe CRWN
29INJURY RESERVEBy The Time I Get To PhoenixSelf-Released
30JOESEFDoes It Make You Feel Good? [EP]Bold Cut

Daytime Adds

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1PHANTOM HANDSHAKESNo More Summer SongsSelf-Released
2BEACH HOUSEOnce Twice MelodySub Pop
3LEANNA FIRESTONEForward/Slashfrtyfve
4OSKAMy World, My Love, ParisNettwerk
5SHOUT OUT LOUDSHouseBud Fox/Integral
6ADULTBecoming UndoneDais
7DAISY GLAZEDaisy GlazeThe Sound Of Sinners
8FRANK TURNERFTHC (Deluxe)Xtra Mile
9GOONPaint By Numbers Vol. 1 [EP]Self-Released
10GRIM STREAKERMind [EP]Mothland
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 3/8

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1ROSS FROM FRIENDSTreadBrainfeeder
2MAGDALENA BAYMercurial WorldLuminelle
3CFCFMemorylandSelf-Released
4COFFINTEXTS8700 [EP]Club Qu
5DAWN RICHARDSecond LineMerge
6ERIKA DE CASIERSensational4AD/Beggars Group
7PIXEL GRIPArenaFeeltrip
8SMERZBelieverXL Recordings
9KEDR LIVANSKIYLiminal Soul2MR
10ARCAKiCK iiiiiXL
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 3/8

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1JPEGMAFIALP!EQT
2MARKEE STEELEVet & A Rook [EP]Thee Marquee
3EVIDENCEUnlearning Vol. 1Rhymesayers
4LAVA LA RUE“For You” [Single]Marathon Artists
5TOM MISCH AND YUSSEF DAYESWhat Kinda MusicBlue Note
6TYLER THE CREATORCALL ME IF YOU GET LOSTColumbia
7WESLEY JOSEPHUltramarineEEVILTWINN/Transgressive
8AUDREY NUNAA Liquid BreakfastArista
9CAKES DA KILLA, PROPER VILLAINSMuvaland Vol. 2 [EP]Warner
10FLYING LOTUSYasukeWarp
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 3/8

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1STANGARIGELNa Severe SrdcaSelf-Released
2JOHN CANDY, THE28 Samples LaterRad Dudes
3TRIP TO THE NETHERLANDSVARIOUS ARTISTSWeedian
4ANATOMY OF HABITEven If It Takes A LifetimeSelf-Released
5DRUNEDruneSelf-Released
6RUNDGARDStronghold Of Majestic RuinsSignal Rex
7SPIRIT BOXEternal BluePale Chord
8VISIONS FROM BEYONDRe-Animator [EP]Dry Cough
9ZETARDevouring DarknessSpirit Coffin
10EYEMASTERCharcoaled Remains / Festering Slime [EP]Caligari