Category: Blog

Categories
Miscellaneous

Illustrated Album Art Highlight

WKNC 88.1 blog

Inspired by DJ Butter and Miranda, I wanted to do an exploration into my favorite album covers. Personally, I favor album art that is illustrated/painted or otherwise looks so. Without further ado, let’s get into some of my favorite illustrated album covers.

“The Idler Wheel…” – Fiona Apple

If there was an album cover that I feel most holistically encapsulates Apple’s sound, it would be this one. The bright colors bleeding their way into the complex line art of a woman’s face represents her unique and artistic contributions to pop music.

“Melodrama” – Lorde

This album art is quite possibly my favorite of all time. The overwhelming and rich blues complemented by the bright oranges and pinks are so pleasing to the eye. It also matches the themes of the album perfectly.

“Let Yourself Go” – Haley Blais

You know when an album cover is so good it makes you appreciate the work more? I 100% experienced that phenomenon with this EP. I found myself gravitating toward playing this just to see the whimsical blobs float into each other.

“The Execution Of All Things” – Rilo Kiley

This is another example of an album cover that matches the theme of an album perfectly. To me, the more defined face on the left represents a newer, more defined self with a greater understanding of harsh realities. The less defined silhouette on the left represents the inner child and innocence you always carry with you.

“Better Daughter” – Moscow Apartment

The 2D nature of the faces paired with the bright color scheme is entrancing. It looks almost collage-like and looks somewhat childlike and I love it.

These are only a few of my favorite album covers, and I will be sure to explore more in the future.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Classic Album Review

The Timeless Magic of “The Parent Trap” (1998) Soundtrack

WKNC 88.1 blog

“The Parent Trap” (1998) is unequivocally my favorite movie of all time, and I don’t see that ever changing. With iconic casting ranging from Dennis Quaid to Lindsay Lohan, there are a lot of factors that contribute to unending my love for this movie, but one of my favorite aspects of the movie is the soundtrack. 

First, if you haven’t seen either iteration of the movie, let me catch you up on the plot. A Californian vineyard owner, Nicholas Parker (portrayed by Dennis Quaid) and a British wedding-dress designer, Elizabeth James (portrayed by Natasha Richardson) meet on a transatlantic boat trip and spontaneously elope. A picture of them is taken the night of their wedding, and when they separate, they rip the photo in half and both keep a half of the photo that contains the other. Fast forward twelve years later, two girls (portrayed by Lindsay Lohan) meet at a summer camp and eventually discover that they’re identical twins separated during infancy (with the help of that photo that was ripped in half). In their pre-teen naivety, they embark on a mission to get their parents back together, with a series of obstacles and shenanigans along the way. The core tenet of their plan involves them switching places once leaving the summer camp, going back to the other’s respective home, knowing their parents would eventually have to switch them back. (Spoiler Alert: it has a happy ending). 

A lot of the songs are older classics, appealing to the nostalgia of the Gen-X and Boomer generations, while simultaneously introducing them to the Millennial and Gen-Z generations. Would I have been familiar with “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole if it hadn’t been for watching “The Parent Trap” hundreds of times growing up? Probably not. The same goes for most of the soundtrack which includes jazz and swing tracks ranging from “In The Mood” by Glen Miller to “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” performed by Linda Ronstadt. 

It also does this with older pop and rock songs: including a cover of “Here Comes the Sun” performed by Bronx Style Bob, “Do You Believe in Magic?” by The Lovin’ Spoonful and even “Bad To The Bone” by George Thorogood & The Destroyers.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the soundtrack is the start and end of it. The very first scene where the parents are eloping on the boat is a montage of them dancing, signing paperwork, drinking wine and having a good time. This montage is backed with the ever-so-romantic “L-O-V-E”. The ending scene, where Nicholas Parker and Hallie fly to England to surprise Elizabeth James and Annie, and ultimately confess that he does want a future with her, is immediately followed by the end-credits song: “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole (who, if you didn’t know, is Nat King Cole’s daughter). The film starting with a love song by a father and ending with a love song by a daughter encapsulates the core themes of romantic and familial love in a beautiful and unforgettable way.

Some soundtrack honorable mentions that I have yet to mention: “There She Goes” by The La’s which plays during the montage of Hallie entering England for the first time, and “Soulful Strut” by Young-Holt Unlimited which plays whenever Martin (Elizabeth James’ butler who is portrayed by Simon Kunz) does his iconic handshake with Annie (or Hallie acting as Annie). 

The movie also has a wonderful score done by Alan Silvestri, which I have memorized like the back of my hand.

Overall, “The Parent Trap” (1998) has a timeless and unforgettable soundtrack that appeals to multiple generations and will simply never get tiring.

Sources for this article include: I, II, III

Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 6/22

ArtistRecordLabel
1WINTER ETERNALLand Of DarknessHell’s Headbangers
2VOIDWOMBAltars of Cosmic Devotion [EP]Iron Bonehead
3DISAVOWEDRevocation Of The FallenBrutal Mind
4NEKUSDeath Nova Upon the Barren HarvestBlood Harvest
5DISTANTAeons Of OblivionUnique Leader
6MAYHEM“Black Glass Communion” [Single]Century Media
7GOATS OF DOOMShivaPurity Through Fire
8BURNING WITCHESThe Witch Of The NorthNuclear Blast
9MONSTER MAGNETA Better DystopiaNapalm
10SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL“Baba Yaga” [Single]Sumerian
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 6/22

ArtistRecordLabel
1PINK SIIFU AND FLY ANAKINFlySiifu’sLex
2BLU AND EXILEMilesDirty Science
3FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
4DEZRON DOUGLAS AND BRANDEE YOUNGERForce MajeureInternational Anthem
5DYME-A-DUZIN AND MONEY MONTAGETRAINING. [EP]Below System
6LAVA LA RUEButter-fly [EP]Marathon
7PLANET GIZADon’t Throw Rocks At The Moon [EP]Self-Released
8STATIK SELEKTAHThe Balancing ActMass Appeal
9SERENA ISIOMASensitive [EP]AWAL
10AJ TRACEYFlu GameWest 10
Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 6/22

Japanese Breakfast

TOP CHARTS

ArtistRecordLabel
1JAPANESE BREAKFASTJubileeDead Oceans/Secretly Group
2SQUIDBright Green FieldWarp
3N0V3LNON-FICTIONFlemish Eye
4BLU AND EXILEMilesDirty Science
5FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
6LIARS“Sekwar” [Single]Mute
7SMERZBelieverXL/Beggars Group
8FAYE WEBSTER“Cheers” [Single]Secretly Canadian
9EX OLYMPICXOSelf-Released
10LAVA LA RUEButter-fly [EP]Marathon
11PINK SIIFU AND FLY ANAKINFlySiifu’sLex
12BLACK MIDICavalcadeRough Trade/Beggars
13AMERICAN AQUARIUMSlappers, Bangers & Certified Twangers, Vol. 1Thirty Tigers
14DEZRON DOUGLAS AND BRANDEE YOUNGERForce MajeureInternational Anthem
15MINAXISialia [EP]Self-Released
16MALIBU KENMalibu KenRhymesayers Entertainment
17TOBIElements Vol. 1Same Plate/RCA
18SERENA ISIOMASensitive [EP]AWAL
19STATIK SELEKTAHThe Balancing ActMass Appeal
20BLONDE OTTERBlonde OtterSelf-Released
21FIDDLEHEADBetween The RichnessRun For Cover
22GOAT GIRLOn All FoursRough Trade/Beggars
23BLUE HAWAIIUnder 1 House [EP]Arbutus
24FLYING LOTUSYasukeWarp
25FACSPresent TenseTrouble In Mind
26ICEAGESeek ShelterMexican Summer
27YOO DOO RIGHTDon’t Think You Can Escape Your PurposeMothland
28PLANET GIZADon’t Throw Rocks At The Moon [EP]Self-Released
29STRICTLY ELIZABETHContemporary ConstructionData Water
30MAN ON MANMan On ManPolyvinyl

TOP ADDS

ArtistRecordLabel
1ILLUMINATI HOTTIES“Pool Hopping” [Single]Snack Shack Tracks/Hopeless
2ALEX LITTLE AND THE SUSPICIOUS MINDSWaiting To Get PaidLight Organ
3LUNAR VACATION“Shrug” [Single]Keeled Scales
4JEWELERTiny CirclesSelf-Released
5TIM AYREModern Life [EP]Kitsune
6BATHTUB CIGbedSelf-Released
7LITVARThe Greatest Movie Of All TimeMother West
8VACATION MANORVacation ManorNettwerk
9ULNAOEABorn Yesterday
10LIVINGMORE“Sharp” [Single]Nomad Eel
Categories
Playlists

The Sounds of Shibuya-Kei

With the changing seasons and my re-emergence into the world post-COVID-19, I have found myself drawn to an entirely new genre of music, Shibuya-Kei. Shibuya-kei is a style of pop music that emerged in the Shibuya district of Tokyo in the late 90s. It was heavily influenced by 1960s pop music, American hip-hop, French Yé-yé and so much more. It is characterized by its electronic and jazzy, yet nostalgic sound.

Here are six of my all time favorite Shibuya-kei tracks:

“painty pots” by 800 cherries – Romantico (1999)
“Romantico” by 800 cherries is a Shibuya-kei essential. The album is chock-full of sweet sounding hits with my all time favorite being “painty pots.” The lyrics are simple at first glance but upon closer inspection, they are about falling in love. Even on my toughest day, this track never fails to turn my mood around.

“Afterglow” by Pine am – Pull the Rabbit Ears (2005)
While this album was released a few years after Shibyua-kei’s peak, “Pull the Rabbit Ears” fits into the genre through and through. “Afterglow” is another sweet sounding track; however unlike 800s cherries “painty pots” its lyrics are Japanese. Overall the track, is airy, light and something I would categorize as a “mood booster.”

“Star Fruits Surf Rider” by Cornelius – Fantasma (1998)
Cornelius is one of the cornerstone artists in the Shibuya-kei music scene. His tracks vary across genres and never fail to keep the listener hooked. “Star Fruits Surf Rider” is no exception. From the get-go, this track grabs the listener’s attention and takes them on an electronic journey.

“Moonchild” by Cibo Matto – Stereotype A (1999)
Cibo Matto is another group that ruled the Shibuya-kei music scene in the 90s. “Moonchild,” one of their more popular tracks, is one of my absolute favorites. It is jazzy, dreamy and simply a masterpiece.

“LUV CONNECTION” by TOWA TEI – FUTURE LISTENING! (1994)
Like “Moonchild,” “LUV CONNECTION” falls into the more jazzy sub-category of Shibuya-kei. The track is upbeat and funky; however, it is contrasted with a sultry-sounding woman’s voice. This juxtaposition creates a truly delicious-sounding number.

“come again” by m-flo – EXPO EXPO (2001)
I almost always follow “LUV CONNECTION” with “come again” by m-flo. Overall, the two tracks have a similar sound; however, “come again” has a much stronger hip-hop influence. Like “LUV CONNECTION,” it is funky and upbeat, but the track breaks ever so often for a rap cameo.

Categories
Band/Artist Profile Playlists Short Stories

Death Grips: A Phenomenon of Embarrassment

Death Grips "Bottomless Pit" Album Cover

The label “experimental hip-hop” seems to now extend to more artists in the industry than it used to, but there’s no denying Death Grips helped found the genre and still remain at its center. Though Zach Hill is often noted as the leading creative of the group, Stefan Burnett, better known as MC Ride, is the vocal star. His punk, industrial-inspired delivery feeds on noise and electronic styles and production to create an unmatched sound. With Andy Morin also on keyboard and production, the music trio has put out six studio albums, a mixtape and six other miscellaneous projects.

Death Grips formed in 2010 and I’ve been listening since 2015. Considerably late to the show, I still found myself among very few fans in my area during high school. That being said, I spent my teen years in Wake Forest, NC. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Death Grips’ internet and streaming popularity were stronger than ever and continuously growing. I was a proud, but delusional, DG fan. 

When you find a new project as inventive as Death Grips, it feels like stumbling upon gold. I thought I was nearly alone in this discovery and it took time for me to realize they were incredibly popular. As years passed and their popularity still grew, I found myself listening to Death Grips as often as I used to, but now in private. There was a certain embarrassment of Death Grips for me, and since talking to friends, I’ve learned for others, too. The embarrassment, perhaps stemming from a sudden jump of feeling special to being just a cog in the DG machine, was polarizing. Older listeners retreated to their rooms to partake while newer listeners were outwardly experiencing their newfound feeling of uniqueness.

Death Grips, despite their ever-altering audience, continue to put out music and I’ve noticed, both in myself and the people around me, the former DG embarrassment lifting. As people come to terms with liking music simply because it’s good and putting less concern into whether or not it boosts their individuality complex, I find that Death Grips is getting more public love from their long-time listeners. 

As an ode to my lifted DG embarrassment, here’s a short list of some of my favorite Death Grips songs (in order of release):

1. “Full Moon (Death Classic)” – Full Moon (Death Classic) (2011)

2. “Guillotine” – Guillotine (2011)

3. “Lil Boy” – No Love Deep Web (2012)

4. “Deep Web” – No Love Deep Web (2012)

5. “Hacker” – The Money Store (2012)

6. “Birds” – Government Plates (2013)

7. “Feels Like a Wheel” – Government Plates (2013)

8. “I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States” – The Powers That B (2015)

9. “Inanimate Sensation” – The Powers That B (2015)

10. “80808” – Bottomless Pit (2016)

11. “Bottomless Pit” – Bottomless Pit (2016)

12. “Hahaha” – Year Of The Snitch (2018)

Here’s to the fact that Robert Pattinson plays guitar on “Birds”,

Silya Bennai

Categories
Music Education

Industrial 101

Credit: Isado (Flikr) License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode

I’ve had a long term suspicion that many people are interested in noise and industrial music but intimidated by where to start. “Heavy” music has a kind of adolescent fascination to it, with everyone racing to find the most brutal and unforgiving music so they can say they like it. I’m not above this, adrenaline seeking is an excellent pastime, but I expect many people get turned off from these styles by the machismo of that culture, which is a shame because there’s some nuanced and even beautiful music underneath.

However, there isn’t a lot of easily accessible information on how to get into industrial and noise music. The best I could find when I went through my noise phase was this Pitchfork article. While it does a good job of highlighting industrial’s roots in the queer community and addressing some of the style’s faults, it does little to give you an entry point, as it puts some of the heaviest albums available next to party music, with little guidance as to where to start. There is another guide published a few months ago, but I think it’s a little rigid in its definition of noise and lacks diversity, so I’m making my own.

I’m going to give you a number of different paths into industrial music that suit a wide variety of tastes. Look for the one that meets your listening habits best and give these albums a try. Start with the first bullet point and work your way down each list, as they’re sorted by accessibility.

Continue reading “Industrial 101”
Categories
Classic Album Review

MixMag Presents Peggy Gou Review

Peggy Gou is a legendary house DJ and producer. Her music was one of my first forays into electronica. Her new single “Nabi” came out on June 7. While listening and grooving along, I remembered the mix she made in collaboration with MixMag. This hour-long set is available in album form on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Gou is a master of mixing, revamping all the songs she comes into contact with. This set showcases her DJ abilities. The mix starts out with a sample from Charles Bukowski’s “Style” layered over a mesmerizing beat. From there Gou seamlessly transitions to Henrik Bergqvist & Abdulla Rashim “Tales Of Ordinary Madness (Trouble In Paradise)”. This dark dance track blends in well with Gou’s other picks. 

Favorites from the Mix

“Shero” by Peggy Gou 

This unreleased treasure is a part of the U.N’s #heforshe campaign, this track was on a limited edition vinyl for charity. The repetitive beat and quick melodies make this song one of the most danceable on the compilation. 

“Moving” by Suzanne Kraft        

The sizzling percussion and hardhat beat of this track works perfectly with the melodic synths. This lush deep house track flows well, with faster upbeat portions and calm interludes. I would love to hear this song in the middle of a club.  

“Aqua Warrior” by Aubrey

This techno tune by British artist Allen Saei, also known as Aubrey, is another favorite of mine. The basic looping piano synths and wavy baseline land the track somewhat in the acid house genre. This song is amazing for running, dancing or even studying.

“Han Jan” by Peggy Gou

This track is one of the only mixes with vocals. Gou raps in Korean, referencing 90’s electro and club/drinking culture. “Han Jan” means one shot (of alcohol) but Jan is also the name of Gou’s friend who she dedicated the song to. This sweet jam is bubbly and a perfect dance track. 

Hope you all check out this special mix and dance along.

-DJ lil witch    

Categories
New Album Review

Tyler, The Creator Returns with “Lumberjack”

The day has finally arrived. Since “IGOR” dropped in early 2019, Tyler, the Creator fans have been itching for a new album. “IGOR” will always have a special place in my heart because it was the soundtrack to a really lovely time in my life, but I couldn’t be more excited to see what he’s been cooking up.

Sure, we haven’t been completely left in the dark. Tyler released several singles over the past two years, including “Best Interest,” “Group B” and “Tell Me How,” his playful track made for a Coca-Cola commercial. It was only a matter of time before he returned with his usual gusto, full-length album in hand. After releasing a teaser video on June 14, his new single, “Lumberjack” followed shortly after. It’s filled with his classic production style: quick beats, bright yet ominous synths, and that unmistakable baritone voice. “Lumberjack” has more of an old-school feel than “IGOR,” playing off the sounds of early hip-hop.

The music video that accompanies the track has all the delight of Tyler’s impeccable visual taste. Though it’s short at only a minute and 18 seconds long, his trademark humor, artistic originality and incredible fashion taste are all present in a way that highlights the mood of “Lumberjack” perfectly.

After the “Lumberjack’s” release, Tyler officially announced that the full album, titled “Call Me If You Get Lost,” will be released on Friday, June 25. Each of his albums sounds so different in a way that really shows how he’s grown as a rapper and producer over his 10-year-long career. For now, we can only speculate what his sixth studio album will sound like, but don’t doubt that it will be full of his usual goodness.