Though I’m an Apple Music user (my dad has a family plan, don’t just me), I still turn to Spotify for discovering new music. Not only are their curated playlists fantastic, but there’s also a strong contingency of users who make their own amazing public playlists. This is how I find music to play on WKNC! Here’s a list of my favorites:
1. Discover Weekly – Spotify
Discover Weekly is one of the best resources Spotify has to offer. Everyone’s is different based on the music they’ve been liking and listening to, so it’s a great way to find new music that sounds similar to the stuff you’ve been into. The only downside is that it’s hard to diversify your taste if you solely rely on Discover Weekly.
If you’re looking to time travel a bit I would highly recommend this curated playlist from Spotify. This is a great playlist for anyone into early psychedelia. It includes classic psychedelic tracks from some of the best, such as The Who, Cream, and The Doors.
If you’re looking for more of a surfy vibe, this playlist made by a Spotify user is the place to go. It’s heavy with songs from modern surf bands such as The Growlers, Allah-Las, and Babe Rainbow. Older groups are featured too, like Buffalo Springfield and The Yardbirds.
This is another great playlist if you’re searching for a vintage sound. At a whopping 89 hours and 19 minutes long, you will never run out of fresh music with this playlist. It has pretty much every artist you can think of from the 60s and 70s, including hits and deep cuts.
I was first drawn to this playlist by its cover, which has a picture of Khruangbin on it, but what I found inside what so much more. This playlist has tons of underground artists as well as popular ones, like Tame Impala, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and Orions Belte.
I cannot tell you how much I love this playlist. Though a lot of it is actually not instrumental, it has a very 50s pop vibe that’s irresistible. This playlist has led me to discover artists like The Ventures, The Lively Ones, and Santana.
This playlist, which is just over 10 hours long, is another fantastic dive into classic rock. It has some of my favorite tracks on it from some of the most notable rock artists, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead, and Fleetwood Mac.
New year, new show! This semester, I decided to branch off from Daytime Rock. The Tangerine Hour (which is on Fridays at 11:30am, and you should totally listen to) is my new show dedicated to deep cuts from the 60s and 70s. If you’ve read any of my blogs, you know that I’m a geek for that era, especially the music. I wanted to explore the songs and artists that didn’t quite make it out of the Age of Aquarius, but are fantastic nonetheless. It’s been SO FUN to dig into weird, obscure artists and explore songs that were relatively forgotten by the mainstream, even if they were released by popular artists. Here’s an inside look at some of the tracks I’ve played already and what you can expect to hear in the upcoming weeks!
1. Pretty Big Mouth – Count Five
Count Five was a band that peaked around 1966, as they were only able to release one album, “Psychotic Reaction,” before they broke up. Only one of their songs made it onto the charts. Despite their relative lack of notoriety, “Pretty Big Mouth” is a great song.
2. Paul – The Pyramids
The Pyramids were one of the last successful surf rock bands to emerge in the early 60s. Their one hit, “Penetration,” is heralded as a classic, but the rest of their discography was forgotten. “Paul” is a fantastic instrumental, especially if you’re into that California sunny surf vibe.
3. Eddie’s Rush – Ultimate Spinach
Ultimate Spinach is a weird band. Their psychedelic song, “Mind Flowers,” is usually what people remember them for, but in 1969 they transitioned to performing the blues and garage rock, as such was the trend. “Eddie’s Rush” is another great instrumental from their last album.
4. Psycho Daisies (Single B-Side) – The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds are one of my favorite bands, simply because their history is fascinating. Three of the greatest guitar players of all time, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page, passed through the band at some point or another. “Psycho Daisies” is off “Roger the Engineer,” the only album that featured Beck as the sole guitarist.
5. Path Through the Forest – The Factory
The Factory is another band that didn’t quite make it out of the 70s, but “Path Through the Forest” is a superb psychedelic rock ballad.
6. Ease Back – The Meters
The Meters were possibly one of the best funk bands to walk this earth. Their work served as the foundation for the birth of hip-hop in the 80s! “Ease Back” is from their self-titled album, “The Meters,” released in 1969.
7. Soul Sanction – Booker T. & the M.G.’s
Another classic funk band, Booker T. & The M.G.’s showed the world how powerful Southern soul could be. With Booker T. Washington’s cutting organ lines, “Soul Sanction” is absolutely unreal.
8. Let Me Ride – Ginger Baker’s Air Force
Ginger Baker was most known for his role as the drummer in Cream, but god, do I wish he had done more with Ginger Baker’s Air Force. Branching off of the classic rock sound, Baker aimed to combine funk, soul, blues, and African music in his new project. Unfortunately, they only ended up releasing one album, “Do What You Like.”
9. Paranoia – Yesterday’s Children
Another band lost in the explosion of music in the late 60s was Yesterday’s Children. Combining heavy metal, glam rock, and that signature garage sound, they’re a true hidden gem.
Like what you see? Make sure to tune in to the Tangerine Hour every Friday!
2021 has already been blessed with some great new music content by prominent artists, and we all have plenty to look forward to in music this year. January 2021 notably saw the release of Madlib’s “Dirtknock,” Jazmine Sullivan’s “Heaux Tales” (which you can read my review), and Lo Village’s “Lost In America” so far. We’re all looking forward to more content from our favorite artists. These are the most anticipated albums likely to be released this year.
Noname’s “Factory Baby”
Noname teased the release of this album in 2020 but ended up pushing the release date back and will instead likely be released during this year. As fans, we’re all hopeful to see her next project after “Room 25.”
Lorde, TBA
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly four years since the release of Lorde’s last project, “Melodrama.” The pop singer has been discussing the release of new music since 2019 and is likely to release her newest album this year.
slowthai, “TYRON”
slowthai’s singles from his new album have left fans excited for what’s to come. The album “TYRON” is coming February 12th. The album is sure to be interesting, with features from rappers including Skepta and A$AP Rocky.
Kendrick Lamar
It’s been three years since Lamar’s last release with the film Black Panther and his Pulitzer-winning “DAMN.” He has appeared on a few features but fans are anxious to hear the next project, hopefully coming in 2021.
Frank Ocean, TBA
Fans of Frank Ocean have been waiting for new content from the visionary, who hasn’t released an album since 2016. Initially, Frank Ocean planned to release a new 7” but scrapped the idea, so we’re hoping to see this content make its way onto a release this year.
Ani Defranco, “Revolutionary Love”
Feminist icon Ani Defranco’s newest project, “Revolutionary Love,” will be released this Friday, January 29th. Defranco says the album will vocalize the world’s deepest frustrations and tensions through an alchemy of folk and soul.
Adele, TBA
Fans of Adele have waited nearly five years for a new project from the beloved pop singer. In 2020 the singer stated she was still working on her newest album and teased its possible release for 2021.
Which albums are you most excited to see release this year? Let us know on social media! Sources: I, II
BEST TRACKS: “One More Love Song,” “Moonlight on the River” and “For the First Time”
FCC: Clean
“This Old Dog” has to be my all-time favorite Mac DeMarco album (although “Here Comes the Cowboy” comes in a close second). Out of his entire discography, “This Old Dog” stands out as epitomizing Mac’s personality the most; lovable, gentle, and goofy. Looking to turn your mood around? There exist few better albums to do the trick. It’s both calming and upbeat at the same time, staying true to Mac’s classic, easygoing spirit.
What makes Mac so incredible to me is his ability to combine synth tones and acoustic guitar. It’s a fine line to walk, but he toes it excellently without sounding over-processed or unnatural. “This Old Dog” is no exception; songs like “Dreams From Yesterday” and “Sister” are a perfect balance between soft acoustics and synth. Even “On the Level,” which is almost entirely comprised of synth music, feels organic and mellow.
The biggest difference between “This Old Dog” and Mac’s previous albums is the amount of humor he interjects. His older releases, like “Rock and Roll Night Club,” “Mac Demarco 2,” and “Salad Days,” all seem to have the same distinctive sense of ridiculousness that you just can’t help laughing at. However, “This Old Dog” reveals Mac’s more sensitive side. You could peg him as a hopeless romantic by listening to nearly any one of his albums, but “One More Love Song” and “For the First Time” really hit me right in the heartstrings.
“This Old Dog” will forever be a gem among the indie genre. Whether you haven’t heard it before or it’s been a hot minute, go give it a listen!
Who are the Burkharts? The Burkharts are a new band that sounds like an old style of 50s doo-wop beach music. With angelic background harmonies, a fast drum beat, and a light bit of guitar, this band seems to mimic almost everything the Beach Boys stood for. However, that’s not to say that the Burkharts are a carbon copy of them.
The Burkharts started in Buffalo, NY around two years ago. They have described themselves as not too sleepy, not too spicy. I honestly couldn’t put it any better than that. Their music keeps you engaged, but it’s not too overwhelming. It’s the kind of music I could do homework to or listen to while I walk around a park on a Sunday afternoon. Right now they only have two EP’s and a few singles out, but my favorite songs are “Our Rockaway,” “Pretty Words,” “Oh, Dreamer,” and “Flower City Nights.” Their second EP contains the latter two of my favorites and has more of an indie feel to it than their most recent EP, however you can still hear their trademark old-beachy-sound.
Hope you guys enjoy the tunes, -The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants
Sunshine, good vibes, and relaxation are what The Babe Rainbow delivers. The Australian neo-psychedelic group is one of my personal favorites. They’re one of those rare bands that never seems to have a “dud” song; You can listen straight through every album and enjoy each track.
Drummer/lead singer Angus Dowling and guitarist Jack Crowther originally met when they were in high school in Byron Bay, a place known for it’s organic, back-to-nature culture. Influenced by ’60s surf rock and the counter-culture movement, The Babe Rainbow creates music that feels like walking through a magic garden at sunset. In an interview with Beat Magazine, Crowther speaks to how the band uses the hippie movement to inform their discography:
“I really like the back to the earth movement, putting a really high value on the appreciation of nature, all the resources that we use. There was a real movement around where we live in the ‘70s, people were coming from Sydney and Melbourne up here to live that life. For me, it’s got a lot to do with that, and lots of other things link up with that.”
In their early years, The Babe Rainbow caught the attention of Stu Mackenzie from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, who offered to produce their debut self-titled album. Mackenzie’s influences are strong in “The Babe Rainbow,” but The Babe’s work following their original 2017 release is their own. Though it’s easy to compare them to other neo-surf bands like The Growlers and King Gizzard, The Babe Rainbow offers a unique, more relaxed version of psych-rock. Their music makes you feel centered and happy, almost like a meditation of sorts. The Babes are truly one-of-a-kind.
You know those times when all of a sudden it feels like you’ve been hit with a wave of new, really good music out of nowhere? It’s the best feeling in the world. Finally, you can get yourself out of the same five-song rotation and expand your music taste, treating your ears to the soothing sounds of something new. I just recently happened upon this feeling for the first time in a while, and I would like to share it with you all. So, here is what I’ve been listening to lately.
“My Cousin Greg” by Houndmouth You might know this band from the song “Sedona,” but if you dig deeper into their discography you can find that they actually have an array of songs that match “Sedona’s” energy. “My Cousin Greg” is like one of those songs that starts out smooth but eventually gets more and more exciting as it goes on. Perfect for any car ride with friends.
“Evil Ways” by Santana I heard this song for the first time in a while last weekend while I was in Wilmington. It was a beautiful day and I was driving to the beach with friends when this song came on. The sun was shining through the Spanish moss and illuminating the car as a wild guitar riff spun through the car. And now I think of that every time I listen to this song.
“Blue Magic” by Kelly Hogan and Bill Taft This is one of those songs that is perfect for laying in bed at 3 AM and staring up at the ceiling. It has an echoing guitar with a vocalist to match it perfectly. It sounds very similar to “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane.
“Miracle” by Jurassic Shark Jurassic Shark is a nice little surf rock band that came out with the album “Miracle” back in 2014, however I’ve only just recently been getting into them. My favorite song off of the album is “Summer.” The sound of the song definitely lives up to its name.
“Above Water” by Felly This song encapsulates the feeling of trying to make it through the first week of classes. No matter how stressful it gets to keep everything up to date, you just have to keep your head above water.
Well I hope you guys enjoy the tunes, -The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants
What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s your Master Butcher, The Saw, and today we will be talking about going back to school. I don’t know what it is, I love being on break and doing nothing, but I love preparing for a new semester and getting my school supplies and area together. It’s a time to start over and create better study habits. I will be giving you guys some of my tips and tricks that I use in order to be successful in school and start off the new semester with ease.
School Supplies
This is probably one of my favorite things about going back to school, I. LOVE getting school supplies. Usually, each student has their “core” supplies that they buy in order to organize their materials for class. Here is what I do: first, I get a planner. These help me keep track of all of my assignments, readings and papers. I don’t like taking notes on my computer, you can say that I am old-school. So, instead I buy a binder, loose leaf paper, and dividers in order to keep track of all of my class notes. This is cheaper than buying notebooks for each class, it uses less paper, and it keeps everything in one place. Highlighters, pencils, and pens are a must. Get some pretty colors to make taking notes fun!
Clean your study space
Since all of my classes are online, it is important to keep my school space clean and organized. Working in a clean space will do a lot of positive things for you; it’s as if a clean workspace makes a clean headspace. I like to have my space cozy and neat. This helps me be able to sit down for large periods of time doing work. I also have a shelf that is dedicated to all my textbooks and binders so all of my school supplies are in one place.
Syllabuses are your BFF
When you get your syllabus for all of your classes, print those out and keep them for the entire semester. These will have all of your due dates, more information and requirements for those assignments, the class schedule with the readings, and contact information for your professor. I like to give each class that I am enrolled in a different color pen and write down all of my due dates and writing/reading assignments for each class. This helps me stay on top of my work and keeps me less stressed. When I know what is going on weeks in advance and I can plan accordingly is when I do my best work.
I hope my tips can help! Do you have any tips and tricks that have helped you through school?
Ever at a loss to find new music? Fret no more sweet readers, because this week I’m going to cover some of my favorite rap and hip-hop Spotify playlists. When I first started at WKNC, I actually did an Underground show every Saturday night. It was super fun and I’m absolutely stoked that we’re extending Underground to play all day on Mondays too! These playlists are where I dug around to find new music, back then and now:
“QUARANTINA” was gifted to us in the Spring of 2020, right as COVID was starting to get really bad. The members of Flatbush Zombies, Zombie Juice, Meechy Darko and Erick the Architect, made this playlist filled with uplifting rap and r&b tunes to help out our anxious spirits. It’s a sample platter of different eras and genres of hip-hop from artists like Outkast, D’Angelo, and Mac Miller.
This playlist is one of the best Spotify has to offer. It’s filled with the perfect mixture of underground and notable artists, including Freddie Gibbs, Deem Spencer, and LUCKI. Extremely lo-fi and very lyrical, it’s a great playlist to turn to for some nice ambiance music.
A bit more on the mainstream side of things, this playlist features artists like J. Cole, Joey Bada$$, and Kendrick Lamar. Nevertheless, the songs it does include from those big names are some of my favorites.
WARNING: This playlist is only for people who can handle time traveling back to the 90s.The name says it all, but this Spotify curated playlist is a fantastic collection of some of the biggest hits in West Coast rap. If you’re into songs like “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube and “I Got 5 On It” by Luniz, you’re gonna love this one.
You might recognize Raleigh-based rapper Lesthegenius on this playlist. With more of a softer tone, “black creativity” is something really worth sitting down and enjoying. It’s a beautiful collection of thoughtful r&b, soul, and rap.
