Category: Blog

Categories
Playlists

My Favorite Songs Under One Minute

WKNC 88.1 blog

Whether it be a reprise, interlude, or just a short track, I feel that songs under one minute are underrated. If you look at streaming numbers, they are often the least streamed part of an album. However, I adore a bite-sized track that serves its purpose.

The following are my favorite songs that clock in under (or just at) one minute long. And what better way to celebrate short songs than with a one-sentence descriptor?

“Variations On A Theme (Science Vs. Romance)” by Rilo Kiley

LENGTH: 0:36 

The eight track on “Takeoffs and Landings,” this short, sweet and enchanting instrumental track is a callback to the hit “Science Vs. Romance.” 

“(Can We Be Friends?)” by Conan Gray

LENGTH: 0:58

This dreamy and lullaby-esque track speaks on a ride-or-die friendship with an air of vulnerability and innocence.

“Smoke Signals (Reprise)” by Phoebe Bridgers

LENGTH: 0:34

The finale of Bridgers’ debut album “Stranger in the Alps,” she hums the melody of the first track, ending where she started.

“Fertilizer” by Frank Ocean

LENGTH: 0:40

Beginning with the sound of someone flipping the channels on a TV (in reference to the album title, “Channel Orange,”) the quippy lyrics make up a jingle for fertilizer, cutting off with a laugh track.

“Pet Cemetery” by Tierra Whack

LENGTH: 1:00

Whack sings about a rather sad subject (the death of a dog), contrasting it with an upbeat ambience creating a track that is bound to stay stuck in your head after listening to it even once.

“Sometimes…” by Tyler the Creator

LENGTH: 0:36

The third track on “Flower Boy,” “Survivor” contestant Shane Powers narrates this track, asking Tyler which song he wants to hear next, serving as the intro for “See You Again.”

“The Lovely Linda” by Paul McCartney

LENGTH: 0:42

Dedicated to his then-wife Linda McCartney, this is a sweet-as-honey love song that serves as the intro to his debut solo album, “McCartney.”

If you want to listen to these tracks, you can check out the playlist I made especially for you.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
New Album Review

Home Video- Lucy Dacus Album Review

Home Video album cover
Album Cover for Home Video, Copyright: Matador Records

Patron saint of moody ex-fundies everywhere Lucy Dacus has returned with her third full length album “Home Video.” After big deal releases from her boygenius bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, expectations were high for Dacus, and she has delivered on “Home Video,” a tour de force in nostalgia and coming of age documentary.

Prior to this album, Dacus was something of an enigmatic figure. Her music was autobiographical, but opaque. Her most personal, (and by far best) song, “Night Shift,” was unique for blending intensely individual details with a kind of universal songwriting style that made it relatable to nearly everyone. But beyond this, you really didn’t get a good feel for Dacus’ internal world or emotional landscape only her musical world.

On “Home Video” Dacus gives a far more grounded account of her life without sacrificing the universal and biting songwriting choices that made her stand out. It’s set not in the abstract fantasy world of song, but in the very specific realm of an evangelical community in Virginia in the 2000s. Every song is set somewhere during high school or the first year or two of college, but the order is scrambled. It’s a mess of early memories, filtered through a sheen of warm, yet critical nostalgia. Dacus isn’t here to defend contemporary evangelical Christianity, but she is here to put herself in that context without shame. A queer woman of questionable faith who actually has some warm memories of her hometown and congregation. It feels a lot more honest than any number of leftist punk rebellions or Katy Perry-style party phases.

Putting aside the core concept, this album is just immaculate. Dacus flexes every musical and lyrical muscle she has, and I can remember some melodic or poetic detail from literally every song on here. Dacus is a master of her craft, and “Home Video,” will likely impress anyone with an appreciation for folk, indie rock, or music in general.

Categories
Playlists

A Weird Hour in June

Cover of "E.Coli" by The Alchemist (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)

It’s been a weird month. I feel weird, my friends feel weird, and you probably feel weird, too. There must be something in the air (to take the place of COVID, I suppose). As a result, I have found myself listening to an odd combination of music to pass the time and get through the weirdness by simply adding to it.

Today, I share with you a near-hour playlist of songs I’ve been listening to this June that don’t necessarily go together. I’ve included some personal notes for each song. There’s something for everyone with this one.

1. “Cyan Hardcore” – Machine Girl
Fast and fun. Will make you think of Mario Kart.

2. “Turpentine” – Hole
She’s mad and so are you.

3. “Deeply” – bôa
Will get stuck in your head and make you think you can yodel.

4. “Runway H (2)” – Death Grips
Should be used in a movie montage scene of the cool variety.

5. “DR. BIRD’S” – Griselda
The ad-libs are excellent and overwhelmingly present.

6. “arsenic” – glaive
He’s sixteen.

7. “Orange Appled” – Cocteau Twins
IYKYK.

8. “Weird Little Birthday Girl” – Happyness
My friend put this one on a mix CD for me a while ago and I love it. Thanks again, Molly.

9. “Guess My Crush” – OTTO
If you like ARTHUR, here’s OTTO.

10. “Min Dag” – Död Mark
Yes, it’s Yung Lean.

11. “Yea Aight” – Nickelus F
Underrated.

12. “24” – IDK
“She say she not a thot, she a nympho” is the stand-out line.

13. “E. Coli” – The Alchemist (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)
Seamless and soothing.

14. “Bloodhail” – Have A Nice Life
Makes me feel like someone I’m not.

15. “Apple” – Fox Academy
This song has been in my rotation since it came out.

Click here to listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Here’s to weird music mixes for weird months,

Silya Bennai

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 6/29

Japanese Breakfast

Here at WKNC, we heart Japanese Breakfast.

Top Played

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1JAPANESE BREAKFASTJubileeDead Oceans/Secretly Group
2SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
3N0V3LNON-FICTIONFlemish Eye
4MINAXISialia [EP]Self-Released
5TORO Y MOI“Ordinary Guy” feat. Mattson 2 [Single]Company
6BLACK MIDICavalcadeRough Trade/Beggars
7BUTCHER BROWN#KingButchConcord Jazz
8RATBOYSHappy Birthday, RatboyTopshelf
9FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
10JOESEFDoes It Make You Feel Good [EP]AWAL
11FIDDLEHEADBetween The RichnessRun For Cover
12SQUIDBright Green FieldWarp
13STRICTLY ELIZABETHContemporary ConstructionData Water
14FLYING LOTUSYasukeWarp
15ZEBRA KATZLess Is MoorZFK
16ST VINCENTDaddy’s HomeLoma Vista/Concord
17GOAT GIRLOn All FoursRough Trade/Beggars
18MAN ON MANMan On ManPolyvinyl
19OKEY DOKEYOnce Upon One TimePark The Van
20JEWELERTiny CirclesSelf-Released
21PLANET GIZADon’t Throw Rocks At The Moon [EP]Self-Released
22AMERICAN AQUARIUMSlappers, Bangers & Certified Twangers, Vol. 1Thirty Tigers
23EX OLYMPICXOSelf-Released
24LIARS“Sekwar” [Single]Mute
25AVALANCHES, THEWe Will Always Love YouAstralwerks
26TOM MISCH AND YUSSEF DAYESWhat Kinda MusicBlue Note
27ORIELLES, THELa Vita OlisticaHeavenly/PIAS
28YOUNG RJ AND MEGA RAN2 Hands UpNa’Astra
29BACHELORDoomin’ SunPolyvinyl
30ICEAGESeek ShelterMexican Summer

Top Adds

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1SUPERBLOOMPollenSelf-Released
2LOUNGE SOCIETY, THESilk For The Starving [EP]Speedy Wunderground/PIAS
3KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARDButterfly 3000KGLW
4SILVER FIRSLake Hypoxia [EP]Oh, Sister
5LIARS“Big Appetite” [Single]Mute
6VEPSOpen The DoorKanine
7RED RIBBONPlanet XDanger Collective
8MAY RIOEasy BammerDPI
9LIGHTNING BUG“The Right Thing Is Hard To Do” [Single]Fat Possum
10COUNTRY WESTERNSCountry Westerns [EP]Fat Possum
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 6/29

"The Monster In Me" album cover by Carthagods

Our top-played album this week is “The Monster In Me” by Carthagods.

Top Played

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1CARTHAGODSThe Monster In MeFDR
2MAYHEM“Black Glass Communion” [Single]Century Media
3VOIDWOMBAltars of Cosmic Devotion [EP]Iron Bonehead
4ALUSTRIUMA Monument To SilenceUnique Leader
5HELLOWEENHelloweenNuclear Blast
6BURNING WITCHESThe Witch Of The NorthNuclear Blast
7SCHISMOPATHICThe Human LegacySelfMadeGod
8ILLUSORYCrimson WreathRockshots
9MONSTER MAGNETA Better DystopiaNapalm
10SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL“Baba Yaga” [Single]Sumerian

Top Adds

#ArtistAlbumLabel
1AT THE GATESA Nightmare Of BeingCentury Media
2REBEL PRIESTLost in Tokyo [EP]Batcave
3JAMIE FONTAINE AND THE LEVEL“I Ain’t Breathin” [Single]Stryker
4HOSTAGE“Curtain Fall” [Single]Self-Released
5NANOWAR OF STEELItalian Folk MetalNapalm
6HOSTAGE“Don’t Let Me Down” [Single]Self-Released
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 6/29

#KingButch album cover by Butcher Brown

Butcher Brown’s “#KingButch” on Concord Jazz jumps to number one this week on our hip-hop charts.

#ArtistRecordLabel
1BUTCHER BROWN#KingButchConcord Jazz
2FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
3LAVA LA RUEButter-fly [EP]Marathon
4MARKEE STEELEVet & A Rook [EP]Thee Marquee
5MASEGOStudying Abroad [EP]Capitol
6PINK SIIFU AND FLY ANAKINFlySiifu’sLex
7SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
8RICO NASTYNightmare VacationSugar Trap
9TOM MISCH AND YUSSEF DAYESWhat Kinda MusicBlue Note
10AJ TRACEYFlu GameWest 10
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 6/29

"Plucking A Cherry From The Void" album cover by Cecile Believe

Cecile Believe’s “Plucking A Cherry From The Void” is our new top album this week.

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CECILE BELIEVEPlucking A Cherry From The VoidSelf-Released
2BICEPIsles (Deluxe)Ninja Tune
3BLUE HAWAIIUnder 1 House [EP]Arbutus
4KELLY LEE OWENSInner SongSmalltown Supersound
5ROCHELLE JORDANPlay With The ChangesYoung Art
6THE AVALANCHESWe Will Always Love YouAstralwerks
7BELLA BOOOnce Upon A Passion RemixesStudio Barnhus
8CARIBOUSuddenly RemixesMerge
9DOSS4 New Hit Songs [EP]LuckyMe
10DREAMWEAVERCloud9MagicCrafters
Categories
DJ Highlights

Review of My First DJ Set

WKNC 88.1 blog

This post is inspired by DJ Psyched’s post “DJ Psyched’s First Set Review.”

As I’ve written about before, along with being a blog content creator, I am also a DJ for WKNC. I DJ during the “Daytime” genre, which is essentially indie and/or rock. The Indie Inbox (my show) is supposed to be “an eclectic mix of the best of indie pop, indie rock, math rock and more.” Since I started making my sets, I’ve definitely nailed down the process and familiarized myself with the genre enough so that I can create unique sets that flow together well.

With all of that being said, let’s dive into the pros and cons of my very first edition of The Indie Inbox, circa March 23, 2021. The set can be found on my Spotify and Spinitron.

PROS

– The songs are all bangers. Of course, in every set, I try to put in songs that I enjoy, and that I think the audience will enjoy, but this first set really takes the cake for how many of my favorite songs are in it. My personal favorites that made the list include “Steamboat” by Adrianne Lenker, “The Execution of All Things” by Rilo Kiley and “Let’s Get Out” by Life Without Buildings.

– I follow all of the rules. There are rules as to what is and isn’t acceptable on the radio in general and at WKNC. Again, I do this in every set, but it’s good to see that I had a handle on that from the get-go.

– Everything more or less fits within the parameters of my show. This is important, and I try to always do this (are you sensing a theme?) but sometimes I do venture outside the lines. While that is okay to do on occasion, I like to keep things consistent for any recurrent listeners I might have. I did a great job of picking great songs by relatively small artists and touching on indie pop, indie rock, and math rock. 

CONS

– It’s a little all over the place. Although everything fits into the genre and the set has an alright flow, it still feels like I’m going in a lot of different directions. 

– I used too many good songs in my first set. Okay, I know I said that the songs all being bangers was a pro, but I used so many of my favorite songs in the first set. I know looking back that this is because I was still exploring the genre and didn’t have a great hold on what I wanted to do for my sets yet. I really try to keep my artists as diverse as possible and have only once ever repeated a song, so seeing that I used a lot of prime picks in just my first time around saddens me just a tad.

– It’s just a bit too long. The set totals in at 59 minutes and 13 seconds, which would be great for an hour-long show if I didn’t have to do air-breaks. Every DJ is different with when and how they like to do theirs, but nowadays I like to reserve at least 2 minutes for my air breaks throughout the set. 

Overall, my first set is something I cringe at just a little, but am ultimately very proud of. I love learning and growing as a DJ.

Categories
New Album Review

Bathtub Cig – bed Review

Bathtub Cig, a project from singer-songwriter Hilary James, deals with quarantine feels and grief in their new EP “bed.” The Minneapolis project is strongly influenced by Frankie Cosmos. Bathtub Cig is the best kind of bedroom pop, soft and sweet with lyrics that hit you hard. This EP is mostly the frontwoman James with accompaniment from Adelyn Rose on wind instruments and bass. Still, the songs are simple with James shining with her vocals and electric guitar.    

My Favorite Tracks:

Sepia

The almost bluesy “Sepia” is a great start to the EP. James sings about the end of days and how everything is colored in sepia tones. The track is only a minute and a half long but is a sweet opener to the rest of the EP. The poetic lyrics “I’m floating forward as the flames unfurl” are my favorite.

Quarantine Dream

While this track is about the 2020 quarantine, there is something that resonates in 2021. The lonely lyrics complement the airy woodwinds and strumming guitar. The light synth enhances the depression-pop ambiance. “Quarantine Dream” is cozy and sleepy, a great track to drift off to bed with.      

My Friend – We are the Willows 

This song is dedicated to James’s bandmate Leah Ottman, who passed away suddenly in December 2020. Peter Miller, Leah’s friend and bandmate, harmonizes with James, crooning their love of their friend. The sentimental track focuses on channeling grief and letting go. I love the harmonies and gentle guitar.    

Each of the songs of this EP flows seamlessly together and tells an expansive story. I’m so excited for the full-length album coming out this fall.  

-DJ lil witch

Categories
Concert Preview

Concerts We’re Looking Forward To

Dead and Company at Folsom Field in 2017 (Julio Enriquez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

I could not be more excited (though albeit a little anxious) to get back into concert season. Even though I think it’s going to take a hot minute for me personally to feel comfortable enough to be squeezed up against hundreds of sweaty strangers, it’s nice to know that live music is slowly creeping its way back. Here are some of the concerts I’m looking forward to most, all within the Triangle area:

1. Japanese Breakfast

Date: July 26

Venue: Cat’s Cradle

The Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill really has an incredible lineup of concerts for this summer and fall. If you’ve been paying attention to our weekly charts, Japanese Breakfast has been at number one for the past two weeks, and for good reason. Her new album, “Jubilee,” is a work of experimental, indie-pop magic. The intimacy of the Cradle will only enhance the beauty of her discography.

2. Dead and Company

Date: August 13

Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Even though Jerry Garcia isn’t around to bless us with his sweet turtle face and otherwordly guitar skills, it’s pretty incredible that the Grateful Dead (and guests) are still touring. You’ll find all kinds at a Dead & Co show: ageing hippies, dad rockers, new age yogis and pretty much everything in between. I consider myself to have a little bit of all those personalities, so you can bet I’ll be there.

3. Jack Harlow

Date: September 14

Venue: The Ritz

The Ritz is one of my favorite venues in Raleigh. Any place that’s just one giant pit is absolute gold to me. There’s no doubt that seeing Jack Harlow in a place like that will result in some moshing injuries, but it’ll definetely be worth it.

4. Crumb

Date: October 16

Venue: Cat’s Cradle

Another gem at the Cradle. Crumb, best known for their hit single “Locket,” is one of the mellowest, most psychotropic bands on the indie scene today. If you’re interested in hearing more about them, DJ Psyched just did an interview with them last month on their newest album, “Ice Melt.”

5. Khruangbin

Date: October 23

Venue: Red Hat Amphitheater

This has to be the show that I’m most excited about. Khruangbin has been one of my favorite bands for the past couple of years, and seeing the trio at Red Hat will be even better. That’s where I experienced my first concert (Cage the Elephant in 2013), and I still feel that good energy every time I go there. The combination of their lo-fi psychedelia and the spacious lawn at Red Hat will make for a perfect concert experience.

I know it’ll be a little scary at first to get back into seeing live music, and I truly encourage everyone to stick to their comfort level. Some have already jumped back in, but I think it’s important to engage in big group activities like that at your own pace. Even though North Carolina is starting to open up again, there’s no shame in waiting for some of those later concerts to roll around.

Happy listening,

DJ Butter