Category: Blog

Categories
Blog

dj mozzie’s Movie Soundtrack Recommendations

Howdy y’all! After writing about the music of Swiss Army Man a blog or two ago, I was feeling inspired to share more of my favorite movie and television show soundtrack albums. Included are recommendations of songs from each.

Any Wes Anderson Movie Soundtrack

Film director Wes Anderson is quirky, and the music that accompanies his movies matches the whimsy of his characters. Anything Wes Anderson has directed is bound to have eccentric music, including but not limited to The Life Aquatic, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Favorite songs: From The Life Aquatic, I recommend Life on Mars by David Bowie and Search and Destroy by Iggy Pop and The Stooges

Perfect for: car trips, dinners with friends, belting in the shower, or strolling around downtown in your favorite pair of fun pants.

La La Land Soundtrack

Featuring Ryan Gosling as jazz musician Sebastian and Emma Stone as aspiring actress Mia, La La Land follows the two hopefuls as they go through hardships with their relationship and respective careers. The movie celebrates classic Hollywood nostalgia so beautifully.

Favorite songs: Mia and Sebastian’s Theme by Justin Hurwitz, Another Day of Sun by the La La Land Cast, and Someone in the Crowd by Emma Stone, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, and Jessica Rothe

Perfect for: date nights with your partner and times when you bring out the fancy silverware.

Loki Soundtrack

Loki was one of my top watches of the year. Although it wasn’t a movie, the movie-like quality was incredible. The music of Loki utilized an instrument called the theremin, which has an alien-esque sound to it. Coupled with the ‘70s design of the set of characters like Miss Minutes, the theremin is a smart and spooky addition to this retro-futuristic show. 

Favorite songs: Very Full by Tom Hiddleston, Loki Green Theme by Natalie Holt, and TVA by Natalie Holt.

Perfect for: Redecorating your mid-century modern A-frame house on a cozy fall day.

Twilight Soundtrack

I stand by the Twilight saga soundtrack being what encapsulates early 2000s like nothing else. Muse. Paramore. Linkin Park. Iron and Wine. Bon Iver and St. Vincent. Lykke Li. Florence and the Machine. Passion Pit. What more could you dream of for an angsty vampire love story?

Favorite songs: It is hard to pick just one, especially if we’re looking at the entire saga, but my favorites would have to be Roslyn by Bon Iver and St. Vincent, Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine, Turning Page by Sleeping at Last, or A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. 

Perfect for: those times when you are contemplating why you had to fall for both a vampire and a werewolf.

Euphoria Soundtrack

I loved HBO’s Euphoria. It is definitely in my top 5 favorite shows of all times. Zendaya stars in this heart wrenching story of personal hardship and friendship. The intense plot is coupled with beautifully intense music. Singer-songwriter Labrinth did the original score for the show.

Favorite songs: All For Us by Labrinth and Zendaya and Still Don’t Know My Name by Labrinth

Perfect for: listening to after fights with your loved ones.

I hope you enjoy my movie/show soundtrack recommendations! Attached is a playlist with every song mentioned.

<3 dj mozzie

Categories
DJ Highlights

Thanksgiving Dinner Set w/ carbon copy

WKNC 88.1 blog

A few months ago, my family came to visit me, and it was then the idea was born that me and my father should do a radio set together. I figured the Tuesday before Thanksgiving would be a good time for that (for travel reasons), and I gave my dad free reign on what to put on the set. He decided to make a set themed around Thanksgiving dinner and the progression of the night and foods you might eat. I love how creative he was with it and was very impressed with how all of the songs mesh together perfectly.

Without further ado, here is DJ GCarr’s Thanksgiving playlist:

  • “I Thank You – LP/Single Version” — Sam & Dave
  • “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf)” — Sly & The Family Stone
  • “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” — William DeVaughn
  • “Save The Bones for Henry Jones” — Nat King Cole
  • “(Do The) Mashed Potatoes” — James Brown
  • “Mashed Potato Time” — Dee Dee Sharp
  • “My Sweet Potato” — Booker T. & the M.G.’s 
  • “Sweet Pea” — Tommy Roe
  • “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” — Ohio Express
  • “Cold Turkey” — Lenny Kravitz
  • “Mother Freedom” — Bread
  • “Long Tall Glasses” — Leo Sayer
  • “Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” — Jay & The Techniques
  • “Pecan Pie” — Golden Smog
  • “One More Cup Of Coffee” — Bob Dylan
  • “Goodbye” — Mary Hopkin
  • “Leaving on a Jet Plane” — Peter, Paul and Mary
  • “Take Me Home Country Roads” — Ray Charles

It was very fun to switch up what I normally play on my sets, and it really renewed my creative interest in what is possible for future sets of mine. The set is on Spinitron and Spotify.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Blog Playlists

On Melancholia

Crywank Album Cover for "Tomorrow Is Nearly Yesterday and Everyday Is Stupid"

Melancholic music knows no genre bounds but rather manifests in the minds of people with similar thoughts and feelings. I’ve put together a playlist that includes some of my favorite “sad” music that makes use of insightful, personal, or simply raw lyricism. There’s quite a bit of genre mixing as the first line of this post implies, so I hope there’s a track or two (or fifteen) for everyone. 

  1. “Drive All Over Town” by Elliott Smith
  2. “Giving Up” by Corbin
  3. “And I Love Her” by Kurt Cobain
  4. “Milk and Honey – 2001 Remaster” by Jackson C. Frank
  5. “Mis” by Alex G
  6. “Agony” by Yung Lean
  7. “Novocaine” by Fog Lake
  8. “Half Right” by Heatmiser
  9. “I Love How You Love Me – Live” by Jeff Mangum
  10. “Some Things Last A Long Time” by Daniel Johnston
  11. “The Moon (Acoustic)” by The Microphones
  12. “Hands” by Joy Again
  13. “Notches” by Crywank
  14. “In Love” by Alex G
  15. “I’ve Seen It” by ARTHUR

Click here to listen on Spotify.

I hope you all aren’t feeling melancholic, but as winter approaches rapidly and with a cold bite, maybe this playlist will keep you warm when you’re not feeling so right.

Here’s to plugging Elliott Smith into WKNC content as often as possible,

Silya Bennai

Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 11/23

Ross from friends album cover
#ArtistAlbumLabel
1ROSS FROM FRIENDSTreadBrainfeeder
2FJAAKSYS03 [EP]Self-Released
3LITTLE DRAGON“The Other Lover” [Single]Ninja Tune
4LOGIC1000“You’ve Got the Whole Night to Go” [Single]Therapy
5AVALANCHES, THEWe Will Always Love YouAstralwerks
6WESTCOAST GODDESSU Up? [EP]Infinite Pleasure
7BICEPIsles (Deluxe)Ninja Tune
8CFCFMemorylandSelf-Released
9WAVESHAPERMainframeSelf-Released
10DREAMWEAVERMade in HeavenMagicCrafters
Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 11/23

Lil Simz Album Cover
#ArtistAlbumLabel
1LITTLE SIMZSometimes I Might Be IntrovertAGE 101
2BLACK MARBLEFast IdolSacred Bones
3NATION OF LANGUAGEA Way ForwardPlay It Again Sam
4PRETTY EMBERSUnderSelf-Released
5LIILYTV Or Not TVFlush
6MCKINLEY DIXONFor My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like HerSpacebomb
7BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROAD“Chaos Space Marine” [Single]Ninja Tune
8GENESIS OWUSUSmiling With No TeethHouse Anxiety/Ourness
9IDLESCrawlerPartisan
10INJURY RESERVEBy The Time I Get To PhoenixSelf-Released
11JPEGMAFIAEP2! [EP]Self-Released
12JIMMY EDGARCheetah BendInnovative Leisure
13LALA LALAI Want The Door To OpenHardly Art
14NYLON SMILEWaiting For OblivionCitrus City
15PARQUET COURTSSympathy For LifeRough Trade
163AMSOUNDIt Gets Dark SometimesSelf-Released
17EVIDENCEUnlearning Vol. 1Rhymesayers
18FILM SCHOOLWe Weren’t HereSonic Ritual
19HYPOLUXOHypoluxoTerrible
20SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE“The Door Is Open” b/w “The Door Is Closed” [Single]Saddle Creek
21SPIRITUALIZED“Always Together With You” [Single]Fat Possum
22ILLISMFamily Over EverythingThe CRWN
23AUDIOBOOKSAstro ToughHeavenly/PIAS
24CECILE BELIEVEPlucking A Cherry From The VoidSelf-Released
25CHURCH GIRLSStill BloomsAnchor Eighty Four
26GUSTAFAudio Drag For Ego SnobsRoyal Mountain
27ILLUMINATI HOTTIESLet Me Do One MoreSnack Shack Tracks/Hopeless
28LOWHEY WHATSub Pop
29JEWELERTiny CirclesSelf-Released
30ROSS FROM FRIENDSTreadBrainfeeder

Daytime Adds

#ArtistAllbumLabel
1MAKTHAVERSKANFor AlltingRun For Cover
2BEACH HOUSEChapter 1: Once Twice Melody [EP]Sub Pop
3KILLS BIRDSMarriedKRO
4PENELOPE ISLESWhich Way To HappyBella Union/PIAS
5OBERHOFERSmotheredTelefono
6ISLANDYesterday ParkFrenchkiss
7TYPICAL SISTERSLove BeamJoyful Noise
8HUNDRED PLUS CLUB“Extraterrestrial Dread” [Single]Admirable Traits
9PHANTOM LIMBPastoralEarth Libraries
10DROPPER“Don’t Worry” [Single]Dirt Bomb
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 11/23

Lava La Rue Album Cover
Butter-fly Album Cover
#ArtistAlbumLabel
1LAVA LA RUEButter-fly [EP]Marathon
2LITTLE SIMZSometimes I Might Be IntrovertAGE 101
3TYLER THE CREATORCALL ME IF YOU GET LOSTColumbia
4JPEGMAFIAEP2! [EP]Self-Released
5MCKINLEY DIXONFor My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like HerSpacebomb
6MARKEE STEELEVet & A Rook [EP]Thee Marquee
7ZEBRA KATZLess Is MoorZFK
8ILLISMFamily Over EverythingThe CRWN
9INJURY RESERVEBy The Time I Get To PhoenixSelf-Released
10GENESIS OWUSUSmiling With No TeethHouse Anxiety/Ourness
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 11/23

Drune Album Cover
#ArtistAlbumLabel
1DRUNEDruneSelf-Released
2RIVERS OF NIHILThe WorkMetal Blade
3EYEMASTERCharcoaled Remains / Festering Slime [EP]Caligari
4HOODED MENACEThe Tritonus BellSeason Of Mist
5PREDICTOR…thus spoke death [EP]Iron Bonehead
6ZETARDevouring DarknessSpirit Coffin
7AZZRIELL“Cycle of Shadows” [Single]Self-Released
8VENUS SYNDROMECannibal SarRockshots
9ANDREW WKGod Is PartyingNapalm
10CHARREDPrayers Of MaledictionEntertainment One
Categories
Concert Preview

8 December Concerts in the Triangle to Look Forward to

Black and white photo of a concert. The bottom has an outline of the Raleigh skyline colored in purple. Up top, text reads "shows you don't want to miss"

December can be an uncharacteristically busy month for a lot of folks. But, if you’re looking to get away from family, or spend time with them making memories, I’ve compiled a list of 8 shows the WKNC crowd may be interested in seeing throughout the month.

  1. Medium Heat — Wednesday, December 1, 2021 @ 8 p.m.— The Pour House Music Hall
  • Openers: Roar the Engines & The BQs
  1. Jeff Rosenstock — Thursday, December 2, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — Cat’s Cradle
  • Openers: Slaughter Beach, Dog & Oceanator
  1. Old Crow Medicine Show — Thursday, December 2, 2021 & Friday, December 3, 2021 @ 8 p.m.—  Carolina Theater (Fletcher Hall)
  1. Milky Chance — Saturday, December 4, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — The Ritz Raleigh
  1. Slow Pulp — Sunday, December 5, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — Cat’s Cradle Back Room
  • Opener: Strange Ranger 
  1. Lawrence — Tuesday, December 7, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — Lincoln Theatre
  • Openers: Proxima Parada & Reliably Bad
  1. Wednesday — Thursday, December 16, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — Cat’s Cradle Back Room
  • Openers: Truth Club & Bangzz
  1. The Mountain Goats — Thursday, December 16, 2021, & Friday, December 17, 2021 & Saturday December 18, 2021 @ 8 p.m. — Cat’s Cradle
  • Openers: Mac McCaughan (Night 1), Flock of Dimes (Night 2) & Bowerbirds (Night 3)

Maybe concert-going isn’t quite as festive as going ice-skating or seeing an old Christmas movie in theaters, but don’t count it out in the month of December. The Triangle is an awesome place with some amazing venues, try to check them out.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Classic Album Review

Revisiting “Zeros” by Declan McKenna

For several years, “What Do You Think About the Car?” by Declan McKenna was my favorite album of all time. So, in September of 2020, when he released his sophomore album, “Zeros” I was nervous to listen, and put it off an entire month. I wrote a song-by-song review in my notes app as I listened, but I’ll spare you that and share my overall takeaways:

“Okay so overall, a good album. Definitely more experimental with instruments and stuff, but the songs mostly follow the same layout where it starts off kinda normal and then by the end it’s either really instrument heavy/ or he’s screaming or both; which is fine but it kind of makes it sorta predictable. I'm also not a huge fan of releasing SO many singles before the album’s out but that’s just me. He definitely chose a PERFECT opener and closer. The songs definitely are all good on their own and I know I said they’re kind of repetitive but it doesn’t feel as cohesive as his first album was. Honestly, I think it’s a case of sophomore album syndrome (where the second album an artist puts out just doesn’t compare to the first). Also, none of the themes of the songs stuck out to me that much, but that could just be because I'm listening to it in a car with headphones turned all the way up as my dad blasts music on the radio so I couldn't hear the lyrics that well. this all sounds super negative but overall it’s a good album and definitely worth the listen.” — October 11, 2020

The following are my thoughts on this album one year later. I definitely appreciate this album a lot more for what it is now; I was expecting a part two to his first album and this wasn’t that, but it’s still a good album. However, some of what I said stands true. This album is ten songs long, but four of the songs were singles, that is entirely too many. Releasing 40% of the album months before the rest of it comes out is just not my preference as a listener.

My favorites on my first listen were “You Better Believe!!!” and “Emily,” but nowadays I’m more partial toward “Twice Your Size” and “Sagittarius A*.”

Overall, it’s solid indie-pop, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Rating: 8/10

Categories
New Album Review

“Hyd” EP Review

"Hyd" EP cover

Pop is a genre that’s very hard to pin down because of just how broad that classification is. The term “pop” changes drastically across time periods and even geographic locations, and music classified as pop can often fall into other genres as well. Over the past few years record label PC Music has become known for pushing the boundaries of what pop can be, and they’ve found another winner here.

“Hyd” is the self-titled debut EP by Hayden Dunham under the Hyd moniker, but it’s not their first rodeo with PC Music. In 2015 they came through with the instantly iconic “Hey QT” under the name QT, a song that is very much in PC Music’s wheelhouse of hyperpop, the experimental and maximalist take on electropop that have defined so many of my DJ sets this semester. The song is bright and polished to a sheen, with extremely autotuned vocals dancing over bassy kicks, it’s a really fun song. I bring it up here because while it shares some similarities with the tracks on “Hyd”, their fundamental approach to constructing a song has changed a lot over the past six years.

Let me explain. The actual instruments and effects that appear on the EP are classic hyperpop, lots of off-kilter synths and rapid-fire hi-hats, but they are used in a much different way. For a project with these tricks up its sleeve, the most prominent element here is actually the quiet. From the sudden stops at the height of the chorus on “Skin 2 Skin” to adding a thoughtful, pensive tone to “No Shadow”, restraint plays a massive role in this pop record, two concepts that don’t often go together. Songs are structured around this too, taking their time in building themselves up and slowly widening the soundscape before kicking into overdrive in the final minute. There are verses and choruses, but the instrumental is doing its own thing, treating the entire song as one long exhale.

The long sections where the instrumentals step back mean that the vocals become the star of the show, and they certainly perform under the spotlight. Dunham is working with a lot of conflicting vocal styles that are often used simultaneously, yet don’t clash at all. “The light defines us” is delivered with a robotic cadence while also sounding emotional and filled with wonder, and they often switch between husky and whispering to soaring and passionate on a dime. Lyrically there’s actually quite a lot of repetition, with a drawn out bridge of the line “Away from the light” repeated seven times on “No Shadow” or the multiple choruses in a row in the back end of “The Look on Your Face”. But unlike songs where repetition feels like it prevents the song from advancing, here it’s used to create mantras that drive

On first listen, this might be a bit of a surprise from a PC Music release labeled as pop by streaming services. It’s a pretty slow paced and restrained project that, when presented with the opportunity to go big and overblown, takes the reflective route instead. But if your opinions of what a pop record has to be aren’t totally set in stone, this EP will fit the bill, packaging its complicated themes and unorthodox structures into an easily enjoyable and rewindable experience. And if that isn’t pop then I don’t know what is.

-Erie