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Miscellaneous

ZE Records Made a Christmas Album

Suicide's Alan Vega and Martin Vega

ZE Records was a New York record label big in the early ’80s for its unique fusion of abrasive punk and no wave with early dance music. Music from the label’s artists was popular among hipsters, goths, and the remains of the gay disco scene. Notable entries on their roster include Lydia Lunch of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Christina, James White and the Contortions, and the ever-popular Suicide.

Imagine my shock then, when typing the record label into a google search bar only to have the phrase “ZE Records Christmas Album” appear in the autofill. I dropped everything, ran to grab my headphones, and prepared myself for what promised to be an unmitigated disaster. The album did not disappoint. It has depressed hipsters wailing the word Christmas, rock-disco songs about cruelty to pine trees, and no less than five women doing Nico impressions while singing traditional Christmas carol. It even had a minor hit with Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses charting in the UK.

The album is glorious cheese. It may not be good, strictly speaking, but there is never a dull moment and I cannot recommend it highly enough. However, if you are too busy preparing for the holidays and only have time for a single track, I implore you to give “Christmas With Satan,” by James Chance a listen, you will not regret it. Merry Christmas!

-DJ Melodrama

Categories
Non-Music News

WKNC’s Winter Clothing Drive

Winter Clothing Drive on Jan. 3 from noon to 4 p.m.

In support of its local community, WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 will hold a winter clothing drive. The event will occur on Jan. 3, from noon to 4 p.m. Donations can be dropped off at the Women’s Center, located at 400 S. West Street in Downtown Raleigh.

All items collected in this drive will be distributed between Healing Transitions and the Wake County Women’s Center. Healing Transitions is a center aimed at assisting homeless, uninsured and underserved individuals struggling with alcoholism and drug addictions on the road to recovery. The Women’s Center has helped women for over 40 years by providing resources and assistance in breaking the cycles of abuse and homelessness. More information, including suggested items to donate, can be found at their websites, at WCWC.org and Healing-Transitions.org. 

“WKNC is excited to host this donation drive and give back to those in-need within our community,” says WKNC General Manager Laura Mooney. “It is our hope that through this drive we can use our platform to reach out to our audience members and encourage them to support their peers through the winter. We value Healing Transitions and the Women’s Center’s multifaceted modes of support and ability to reach out to broad portions of at-risk populations, and we are grateful to both organizations for their willingness to provide insight while planning this drive.”

The event will follow North Carolina mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including requiring adequate social distancing measures in donation drop-off, as well as requiring masks to be worn at all times. WKNC staff will be working the event, and large bins will be placed outside in order to limit contact between individuals. 

Categories
Playlists

DJ Mango’s Top 10 Songs of 2020

Album art for Bishouné: Alma del Huila by Gabriel Garzón-Montano
Album art for Bishouné: Alma del Huila by Gabriel Garzón-Montano

It’s that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, hyperconsumerism is at a seasonal high, and Spotify has released its annual Spotify Wrapped – a look back at your streaming habits throughout the year. Here are the ten songs I listened most this year, in order. Be warned – the list is a little stacked.

10. Sugah Daddy by D’Angelo: From the catchy piano vamp to the bouncy horn sections and quirky vocal scatting, this song is sure to have your head bobbing – just as mine was all year.

9. Everybody by Mac Miller: This cover of Arthur Lee’s “Everybody’s Gotta Live,” with its group vocals and steady drums, is a perfect fit for Mac Miller. Like the rest of his posthumous album Circles, it is simultaneously melancholy and uplifting.

8. Agüita by Gabriel Garzón-Montano: GGM’s first official foray into Latinx hip-hop pays off with “Agüita,” a rapid-fire track that explores the different meanings of the word. Check out my review of Agüita here!

7. Plastic by Moses Sumney: From 2017’s Aromanticism comes the ethereal “Plastic,” a guitar-driven ballad that explores unrequited love and unrealistic expectations. The sparse instrumentation allows Moses’ fragile and angelic voice to take center stage.

6. Really Love – Live from Spotify NYC by D’Angelo: “Really Love” is possibly my favorite D’Angelo song. The Live from Spotify NYC performance is my favorite version thanks to the extended string intro and jam-session outro. Check out my thoughts on D’Angelo’s album Black Messiah right here!

5. Good News by Mac Miller: Gently plucked strings and understated drums serve as the backdrop as Mac explores how the people around him only want to hear “good news.”

4. Keep On Running by Gabriel Garzón-Montano: “Keep On Running” opens with two simple piano chords and builds with drums and bass, and before you know it the song is a full-fledged funk feature.

3. Crawl by Gabriel Garzón-Montano: “Crawl” makes codependency catchier than ever before, thanks to its bouncy bass and earworm of a chorus.

2. 6 8 by Gabriel Garzón-Montano: This song, which was sampled in “Jungle,” is a great example of the Drake Effect – that is, the tendency for artists to blow up after being featured on a Drake song. But regardless of its sample status, “6 8” remains a simple, yet beautifully crafted song.

1. Everything is Everything by Gabriel Garzón-Montano: Last but not least, my top streamed song of 2020 was Everything is Everything by Gabriel Garzón-Montano. I knew from the very first time I heard it that I would be hooked.  The syncopated vocal harmonies, unique percussion, and catchy melodies come together in a way that never fails to flood my brain with serotonin every time I hear it. I could go on for hours about how much this song means to me, but I won’t. But I could. You can read more about my thoughts on this song – and the rest of the EP – right here.

That’s the list! What were your top songs of 2020?

– DJ Mango

Categories
Playlists

Compiled by Caitlin: Year in Review

Image Reads: "Compiled by Caitlin: Year in Review"

Like many of y’all, I was excited to see what my Spotify Wrapped had to tell me about my music habits from this year, but I was especially excited for the 100 song playlist that Spotify curates every year. It’s so gratifying and entertaining to see how my music taste has evolved over time. I want to share my favorites from that playlist with you guys and some memories I have associated with each song. Without further ado, let’s get started. 

“Beautiful Faces” by Declan McKenna

This single off of McKenna’s sophomore album “Zeros” is a guitar heavy indie-rock song and in my opinion, an unforgettable bop. Like most of McKenna’s songs, this one is a thematically heavy but sonically upbeat song. It reminds me of walking around campus and studying in NC State’s library, D.H. Hill, pre-pandemic.

Favorite Lyric: “Going to the stores, pullin’ socks out of the drawers / Of the people who you don’t love anymore.”

“Bittersweet” by Greer

This was one of my favorite songs in the beginning of this year. “Bittersweet” by Greer is an indie-rock anthem about a toxic relationship, and is by far my favorite song by the group. The verses detail the good parts of a relationship while the chorus touches on the bad moments. It’s a catchy tune about love, and definitely falls under the same thematically-sad-sonically-upbeat category I mentioned with “Beautiful Faces.” 

Favorite Lyric: “The solitude is now mine / We made it ‘cross the finish line / And left the whole world behind.”

“Friends” by The Lone Bellow

This mellow folk-rock song about the beauties of a strong friendship is another song that I loved pre-pandemic. The instrumentals in this song tug on my heart; the prominent percussion and strong horns make this song feel like home. Even though I only discovered it this year, it feels like one of those songs I’ve known forever, and I love taking solace in that.

Favorite Lyric: “Might punch the clock feel the void / Calling out like it did before.”

“Ceiling Won’t Break” by Finish Ticket

Okay so, this song made it into my Spotify Wrapped last year too, but it’s just such a classic I never stop listening to it. This is yet another indie-rock song (can you tell what my favorite genre is?) that reminds me of good times and got me through bad times. There’s never a time where “Ceiling Won’t Break” doesn’t fit my mood. Finish Ticket also sings “Lying Through Our Teeth,” which didn’t make it onto my Spotify Wrapped but is still one of my favorites nonetheless.

Favorite Lyric: I close my eyes, takes me away / And I go to better times, but reality draws that line.”

“Wrecking Ball” by Mother Mother

This song might have single handedly gotten me through the entire month of July. After hearing a snippet of this song on TikTok, it got stuck in my head for weeks but I kept forgetting to look it up. Funnily enough, a dear friend of mine put this song on a playlist she made me for my birthday and the rest was history. This indie-rock song, like “Beautiful Faces” and “Bittersweet,” has a rather dark theme, but a rather cheery sound.

Favorite Lyric: “You gotta see the artistry / In tearing the place apart with me baby.”

“So Much Better” by Evan Olson

This funky rock tune is very reminiscent of Barenaked Ladies. It has a very interesting story behind it, as it was lost in time for a few decades, and was rediscovered through the investigative journalism of PJ Vogt in episode #158 of the podcast “Reply All” which you can listen to here. This song, as well as the podcast “Reply All” got me through the beginning months of quarantine this year. The icing on the cake is that Olson is based out of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Favorite Lyric: “Long before I looked into your eyes / I saw a million stars start flashin’.”

“Nickel” by Flipturn

Discovering Flipturn this year drastically changed my life for the better. Their “Citrona” EP was essentially the soundtrack to my February and March. This rock anthem reminds me of better times but similarly to “Friends” by The Lone Bellow, it feels like one of those songs I’ve known forever. 

Favorite Lyric: “But wait, what about yesterday? / I was only five / And had so much to say.”

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my top picks from the year. Be sure to check out these songs here.

<3,

Caitlin

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 12/8

The Great Dismal album cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1WISH TRAPSCatch ItDivan Rouge
2NOTHINGThe Great DismalRelapse
3MAMALARKYMamalarkyFire Talk
4PEELPeel [EP]Innovative Leisure
5BABEHEAVENHome For NowSelf-Released
6BEAU DEGAHoly CannoliSelf-Released
7JORDANA“I Guess This Is Life” [Single]Grand Jury
8CASHINOVABig DragonStophouse
9EARLY EYESSunbathing [EP]Epitaph
10HYPOLUXOHypoluxoTerrible
11PAPI SHIITAKEQuarantine Dream [EP]Trash Casual
12PAT JUNIORI Thought I KnewBe Absxlute
13QUARTER LIFE CRISISQuarter-Life CrisisSaddle Creek
14SINAI VESSELGround AswimSingle Occupancy
15BABE RAINBOW, THE“Zeitgeist” [Single]Self-Released
16BULLYSUGAREGGSub Pop
17CHESTER WATSONA Japanese Horror FilmPOW
18FRANCIS OF DELIRIUMAll Change [EP]Dalliance
19JESSY LANZAAll The TimeHyperdub
20JULIEN BAKER“Faith Healer” [Single]Matador/Beggars Group
21NZCA LINESPure LuxuryMemphis Industries
22SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
23SIR CHLOEParty Favors [EP]Terrible
24SLOW PULPMoveysWinspear
25SOFT BLUE SHIMMER“Cherry-Cola Abyss” [Single]Disposable America
26TIERRA WHACK“Dora” [Single]Interscope
27WILSON’S PROMWelcome To The Prom [EP]Self-Released
28DEATON CHRIS ANTHONYBO YSelf-Released
29MACHINEDRUMA View Of UNinja Tune
30TOBIElements Vol. 1Same Plate/RCA

TOP ADDS

ArtistRecordLabel
1SOFT BLUE SHIMMERHeaven Inches AwayDisposable America
2QUARTER LIFE CRISISQuarter-Life CrisisSaddle Creek
3LAURA GROVESA Private Road [EP]Bella Union/PIAS
4LANDLADY“Supernova” [Single]Landladyland
5CLAUD“Soft Spot” [Single]Saddest Factory / Dead Oceans
6JOAN OF ARCTim Melina Theo BobbyJoyful Noise
7ANNA MCCLELLANI Saw First LightFather/Daughter
8JULIEN BAKER“A Dreamer’s Holiday” [Single]Matador
9US GIRLS“Santa Stay Home” [Single]4AD
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 12/8

Venom Prison - Primeval Album Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1VENOM PRISONPrimevalProsthetic
2HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH“Tide” [Single]Unique Leader 
3BOUNDARIES Your Receding WarmthUnbeaten 
4VISIONS OF DISFIGUREMENTAeons of MiseryRealityfade
5ALPHA WOLFA Quiet Place To DieSharp Tone
6HATEBREEDWeight Of The False SelfNuclear Blast
7ARCHITECTS“Black Lungs” [Single]Epitaph
8WAGE WAR“Surrounded” [Single]Fearless
9UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP]Seek & Strike 
10ACACIA STRAIN, THESlow DecayRise
Categories
Playlists

Beat Switches in Hip-hop

EDM music has the bass drop, heavy metal has the breakdown, and if there is an equivalent in hip-hop music it would be the beat switch. A good beat switch can take the listener by surprise and serve as a crucial turning point in a record. A bad one can be jarring, uninspired, or otherwise uninteresting. With that said, here is a short list of some of my favorite beat switches in hip-hop!

  1. NEVER by JID: Perhaps the most underrated song on this list, this beat switch finds JID shifting into his highest gear.
  2. Under Pressure by Logic: In this two-part epic, Logic explores not only pressure from the music industry, but from his family as well. These two aspects are delineated by the beat switch halfway through the song.
  3. Furthest Thing by Drake: Generally speaking, Drake has two sides – vulnerable and boastful. The beat switch on “Furthest Thing” showcases both of these, with Drake reflecting on his shortcomings in the first part and taking a victory lap in the second.
  4. XXX. FEAT. U2. by Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick is known for his ability to change tone at a moment’s notice, and this song is one of the best examples of that. He ends a frantic verse about gun violence by saying “Alright kids, we’re gonna talk about gun control.” The irony here is accentuated by the beat switch, where police sirens are traded for simple piano chords.
  5. This is America by Childish Gambino: In 2018, Bino broke the internet with his surprise single and music video for “This Is America.” The back and forth between a cheery chorus and bass-heavy verses symbolizes the duality of the Black experience in America, making for one of the most powerful beat switches ever.
  6. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott: The three-part structure of this song, with not one but two beat switches, has led some to call it “the Bohemian Rhapsody of our generation.” Such a comparison might offend old heads, but only time will tell if it will make the same impact that Queen’s song has.
  7. Nights by Frank Ocean: Last but certainly not least is one of the most transcendent beat switches my ears have ever heard. Not only does the beat switch on “Nights” mark the exact halfway point on Blonde, but it also marks a sonic and thematic shift from child-like naivety of the first half of the album to the contemplative and mature second half. Though not exactly a hip-hop song, it still has one of the best beat switches ever.

What do you think? What are your favorite beat switches?

– DJ Mango

Categories
Playlists

Monday Favorites

Hey everone! Here is a batch of songs that I have been rocking with lately:

  1. Amber by Unusual Demont: As winter approaches and the sun fades away, “Amber” by Unusual Demont, with its laid-back instrumentation and organic vocals, will bring you back to those endless summer nights.
  2. Move On by canvisluv and S9ACECAT: canvisluv, an up-and-coming artist from Ohio, just released Patience: Summer Never Came Demos Check it out here!
  3. Help by Aaron Taylor: From 2016’s Better Days comes “Help” by Aaron Taylor, a D’Angelo-esque head-bobber complete with vocal harmonies, strings, and walking basslines.
  4. Don’t Waste My Time by SAULT: “Don’t Waste My Time” is a song whose name says it all, and it does so with an incredible drum and bass groove.
  5. Infunami by Steve Lacy: The Lo-Fis is Steve Lacy’s new album, and it is composed of SoundCloud Leaks and unreleased demos from his time in high school. “Infunami” calls back to the days of “C U Girl” and “Some” with its guitar chord progression and Garageband-like simplicity.
  6. Check Me Out by Rico Nasty: “Check Me Out” is fresh off of Rico Nasty’s new album Nightmare Vacation. Its eerie piano loop perfectly complements her dynamic voice, which alternates between screaming and whispering.
  7. Pressure In My Palms (feat. slowthai & Vince Staples) by Aminé: This track marks Aminé’s first collaboration with Vince Staples and second collaboration with slowthai.
  8. Peppers and Onions by Tierra Whack: This new track from miss Whack explores introspective themes of self-acceptance and feeling stuck, all while retaining the catchiness all of her songs possess.

– DJ Mango

Categories
Classic Album Review

Retro Review: A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack

A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack Cover with the Peanuts characters dancing around a Christmas tree

ALBUM: “A Charlie Brown Christmas TV Soundtrack” by Vince Guaraldi Trio

RELEASE YEAR: 1965

LABEL: Concord Music Group

RATING: 100000/10

BEST TRACKS: “Linus and Lucy,” “Christmas Time Is Here” and “Skating”

FCC: Clean

With the holiday season finally upon us, I thought I’d highlight the best wintertime song collection ever made. There exists no cozier Christmas album than Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack for “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Many of my own childhood Christmases were spent decorating the tree while “My Little Drum” played in the background. It makes me want to curl up on the couch with a blanket, a nice book, and a cup of hot tea.

Vince Guaraldi, a pianist from San Francisco, along with bassist Fred Marshall and drummer Jerry Granelli captured the hearts of audiences far and wide with their jazz ensemble for the beloved Peanuts movie. While many of the songs are remakes of Christmas classics, like “O Tannenbaum” and “Christmas Time is Here,” they included original tracks too; the lighthearted grooves of “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating” reveal the tender feelings that the holidays can bring. I love how he used a children’s choir in many of the songs to capture the childlike wonder of Christmastime.

What makes this album special is how accurately it reflects the mixed emotions that surround Christmastime. I thought this was fantastic considering how Charlie Brown, the unfortunate, old soul that he is, struggles with “the Christmas Spirit” throughout the whole movie. Each song holds both the joy of childhood holiday memories and the sadness that can accompany Christmas in adulthood. It reaches across age boundaries and is still enjoyed today, 55 years later.

Need a bit of holiday cheer and cozy comfort? Give it a listen!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Band/Artist Profile Miscellaneous Music Education Non-Music News

Artists Who Give Back to Their Community

Picture of Mac Demarco
Credit: Press / Coley Brown

One thing I’ve always noticed in not only the music industry, but in celebrities in general, is how easy it is to look at them as superhumans. It’s so easy to hold them to such a high standard that we ridicule them for the slightest mistakes and turn our heads when they do something good. I decided to write an article about artists who have given back to their community, but honestly it was hard to find a lot of information about it. More often than not when artists give donations and contributions to charities it’s overlooked or just not even reported on. However, I was able to find a few whose music I thoroughly enjoy and who are actively working to make the world a better place. 

A$AP Mob
The Always Strive and Prosper Foundation was created after A$AP Yams, one of the founders of the original A$AP Mob collective, died of an overdose back in 2015 The foundation is intended to provide children with the best information available about substance use and abuse without judgement or morality to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Their main philanthropic gathering is called Yams Day, which is a music festival dedicated to the foundation. 

Mac DeMarco 
Remember all those wildfires in Australia earlier this year? I know, it seems like forever ago. But ironically enough, Mac DeMarco held a barbeque event in Melbourne which raised $210,000 to go towards Wildlife Victoria and Fire Relief Fund. Cook a pig, save a koala. 

Rihanna
The queen herself is actually one of the biggest philanthropists in the music industry. While she donates to a wide variety of charities, her biggest one is focused on the education of children and women in Malawi, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Rihanna has helped to fight the huge disparity between the drive of the population to learn and the incredible lack of supplies and schools that are offered for children. 

Mrs. Lauryn Hill 
Lauryn Hill is perhaps the artist who most represents the idea that a community has the capability to love and heal as long as it has the right amount of support. While over her career she has donated to a wide array of charities, her most notable work was her 20 year anniversary tour of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” when she donated every single dollar earned from that tour to the MLH Foundation. This is a charity dedicated to supporting those who are fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. 

While these artists are already very well known, I thought the good work that they were able to do because of their success was something worth mentioning.

-DJ Chippypants