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Classic Album Review

Classic Album Review: Zentropy

Written by Miranda

Frankie Cosmos, also known as Greta Kline; a well-loved indie artist, has been making incredible music since “Zentropy”, her first studio album. Not only is this album well-done for a 19-year-old independent artist (at the time), it remains one of my favorite works. “Zentropy” helped set the stage for future success for Kline in subsequent years and helped establish her within the indie pop scene. 

The album begins with an ode to the dreariness of school and ends with the sadness of a dog’s passing away. It’s strange, girlish, experimental, but simple. The beauty of this album is highlighted in its simplicity. A mixture of mediocre electric guitar and drum beats are all that makes up the melodies on the album, but sweet-sounding vocals entice the listener. Frankie Cosmos gives a solid look at the life of a nineteen-year-old girl. Issues of love flings, loss of pets, and disinterest in school make up most of the album. Her ability to use simple lyricism to convey these ideas gives an easy glimpse into her life and what is most important to her. The emotional depth of this album and its catchyness as an indie pop-adjacent style of album makes it one that is so easy to return to again and again. Even seven years after its release, I find the lyrics stuck inside my head while I go about my daily life – thinking of lyrics like “I’m the type of girl/Buses splash with rain” or “This is when I say my I love you.” Surprisingly (or not), “Zentropy” ended up gaining 

Frankie Cosmos has come a long way since this first studio album, since creating three more albums and dozens of music videos. Her latest album was released in 2019, and she has teased fans throughout quarantine with Instagram performances of her music and hopefully a new album coming soon.

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 3/2

Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
ArtistRecordLabel
1ARLO PARKSCollapsed In SunbeamsTransgressive/PIAS
2SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
3CASHINOVABig DragonStophouse
4JORDANASomething To Say To YouGrand Jury
5POM POKOCheaterBella Union/PIAS
6STEVE LACYThe Lo-FisL-M
7GOAT GIRLOn All FoursRough Trade/Beggars
8KIWI JRCooler ReturnsSub Pop
9MISS GRITImpostor [EP]Self-Released
10BILLY DEAN THOMASFor Better Or WorseSelf-Released
11BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROADFor The First TimeNinja Tune
12BLU AND EXILEMilesDirty Science
13DEZRON DOUGLAS AND BRANDEE YOUNGERForce MajeureInternational Anthem
14DON TOLIVERAfter PartyWMG Atlantic
15FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
16GEORGE CLANTON AND NICK HEXUMGeorge Clanton And Nick Hexum100% Electronica
17NANCYThe Seven Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good BluesB3SCI
18NAVY BLUESong Of Sage: Post Panic! Freedom Sounds
19PARK HYE JINHow Can I [EP]Ninja Tune
20PINK SIIFU AND FLY ANAKINFlySiifu’sLex
21PRINCESS NOKIAEverything Is Beautiful/Everything SucksSelf-Released
22SHAMEDrunk Tank PinkDead Oceans
23TOBIElements Vol. 1Same Plate/RCA
24SERENA ISIOMASensitive [EP]AWAL
25TY BRISweet LickSelf-Released
26BUTCHER BROWN#KingButchConcord Jazz
27CAKES DA KILLA, PROPER VILLAINSMuvaland [EP]Classic Company
28CHERRY GLAZERR“Rabbit Hole” [Single]Secretly Canadian
29GRIMESMiss Anthropocene (Rave Edition)4AD
30DREAMWEAVERCloud9MagicCrafters

TOP ADDS

ArtistRecordLabel
1JULIEN BAKERLittle OblivionsMatador/Beggars Group
2GLITTERERLife Is Not A LessonAnti-
3CLOUD NOTHINGSThe Shadow I RememberCarpark
4BACHELOR“Anything At All” [Single]Polyvinyl
5MIA JOY“See Us” [Single]Fire Talk
6JUICE WEBSTER“Wanna Be Held” [Single]Self-Released
7ALICE PHOEBE LOU“dirty mouth” [Single]Self-Released
8FIELD MUSIC“No Pressure” [Single]Memphis
9DENNIS ELLSWORTH“Becuz Of You” [Single]Pyramid Scheme
10DAMEERFor We Are Distant [EP]Majestic Casual
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 3/2

brand of sacrifice altered eyes
ArtistRecordLabel
1BRAND OF SACRIFICE “Altered Eyes” [Single]Blood Blast Distribution 
2ARCHITECTSFor Those That Wish To ExistEpitaph
3ASPHYXNecrocerosCentury Media
4CANNIBAL CORPSE“Inhumane Harvest” [Single]Metal Blade
5BODYSNARCHER “Take Me To Hell” [Single]Entertainment One
6GATECREEPERAn Unexpected RealityClosed Casket Activities
7OF MICE AND MENTimeless [EP] [Advance Tracks]Sharptone
8WAGE WAR“Surrounded” [Single]Fearless
9UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP]Seek & Strike 
10BOUNDARIES Your Receding WarmthUnbeaten 
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 3/2

jenevieve - baby powder
ArtistRecordLabel
1JENEVIEVE“Baby Powder” [Single]JOYFACE
2REEL PEOPLEDancing On The Moon [EP]Self-Released
3ZACARIRun Wild Run FreeTop Dawg
4OHAJIJEast Manhattan ProjectMore Valid Decisions/Hustleward
5D SAVAGETrust No OneUMG
6CHIKA“U Should” [Single]CHIKA/Warner
7CLOUDY NUEVESoberHella Clout
8AESOP ROCK“Pizza Alley” [Single]Rhymesayers
9MARMAR OSOLove Don’t Cost A ThingFree The Lost/EMPIRE
10TOBI NWIGWETHE PANDEMIC PROJECTTOBE NWIGWE
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 3/2

Prince Innocence - Angelyne
ArtistRecordLabel
1PRINCE INNOCENCE“Angelyne” [Single]Self-Released
2JAYDA GBoth Of Us/Are You Down [EP]Ninja Tune
3DREAMWEAVERCloud9MagicCrafters
4JESSIE WAREWhat’s Your Pleasure?Virgin EMI
5TSHAFlowers [EP]Ninja Tune
6BLUE HAWAIIUnder 1 House [EP]Arbutus
7ELKKAI.Miss.Raving/ Bleep+ [EP]Local Action
8SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
9LOGIC1000You’ve Got The Whole Night To Go [EP]Therapy/Because
10OKLOUGaloreTrue Panther / TaP
Categories
Classic Album Review

The Saw’s Choice Cuts: Three Albums for Your Consumption

How’s it going, Butcher Crew?! Today I have collected for you three albums that are heavy on my rotation lately. All three records were released during 2020, and all three were released by Unique Leader Records. Watch these three bands. And enjoy the madness of these three albums that made The Saw’s Choice Cuts. They will surely pound you into dust! 

Where Only Gods May Tread (2020, Unique Leader Records) is the 5th studio album from the British Brutal Death Metal band, Ingested. Now, I’m here to tell you, this band delivers the beat-downs in quick order! Jason Evans utilizes many different forms and types of vocal techniques – most notably, screams and gutterals in a more DeathCore fashion. In fact, IMO, Sam Yates and Sean Hines (guitars), Lyn Jeffs (drums), and Brad Fuller (bass) masterfully deliver the beatings in a sort of Brutal DeathCore/Technical Death Metal assault that will leave you gasping for air. Formed in 2006, Ingested have some miles on their carcasses! As an example of their crushing abilities, they’ve toured with the likes of Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, 3 Inches of Blood, Aborted, Disentomb, Enterprise Earth, I Declare War, Kublai Khan, Despised Icon, and Cryptopsy to name a few. 

Favorite Songs: Follow the Deceiver; The Burden of Our Failures; Leap of the Faithless

Rating: 9/10! This one will beat your brains in, for a long time! 

Revive The Throne (2020, Unique Leader Records) is the 7th full length album from the German GrindCore/Brutal Death Metal band, Stillbirth. This band is as old as me, forming in 1999! Now, here is what I like about these butchers, they strongly incorporate the CORE (as in HardCore) aspect into their efforts. With multiple tempo changes, mid-riff (the GrindCore aspect), and crushing, gurgling gutterals, this record will give you whiplash. Lukas Swiaczney is the vicious vocal master, Dominik Konig also gutterals, and plays bass, Martin Grupe is banging, smoothly and quickly on drums, Jens Strack and Simon Sturmlinger slay the blistering dual guitars, and Lukas Kaminski is like a steam roller on the 2nd bass. Double gutterals and double bass players?! You know the beatings are life threatening! 

Favorite Songs: Degraded to Mutilation; Panem et Circenses; Dethrone the King

Rating: 8/10! Skull splitting frenzy!! 

Nuklearth is the newest album (2020, Unique Leader Records) by the German band, Cytotoxin. Right from the start, I’ve got to say that this band is like the WhiteChapel of Technical/Brutal Death Metal (and you already know that I love some WhiteChapel!). But this record… what an incredible piece of work we have, here! The arrangement, style, and structure of the powerful music by Fonzo and Jason (guitars), Stocki (drums) and Vitalis (bass) is nothing but pure, “Chernobyl Death Metal” (as Cytotoxin, themselves, refer it), and Grimo’s vocal delivery is nearly perfect – brutal gutterals and growls (reminding me of Phil!). Cytotoxin formed in 2010 and Nuklearth is their fourth full length album. 

Favorite Songs: Soul Harvester; Coast of Lies; Nuklearth

Rating: 10/10!! This record will bang for MANY years to come!!

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Playlists

Springtime Songs

The weather is finally getting warmer here in NC, and all I want to do is sit on my porch with a nice book, a cup of tea, and some springy tunes. It’s hard to believe that daylight saving time is right around the corner! In honor of the longer, warmer days ahead, I’ve decided to put together a playlist filled with my favorite springtime songs. These tracks give me sitting-in-a-garden-feeling-the-sun-on-my-skin type vibes and I hope they do the same for you!

1. Peach Fuzz – Tyler, the Creator

One of my favorite singles from Tyler, this song just oozes sunny, spring vibes. Even just the title makes me want to go fruit picking!

2. Not Fade Away/Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad – The Grateful Dead

The Dead are the masters of all things jammy goodness, and this track is no exception. I love the beachy, lovestruck sound to this song.

3. Run to the Sun – N.E.R.D

The title “Run to the Sun” says it all. Pharrell’s signature funky style sticks out especially on this track from the N.E.R.D trio.

4. Tangerine – Led Zeppelin

“Tangerine” is actually the song I named my show after! I love the gentleness of it, and it’s one of my all-time favorite Zeppelin songs.

5. The Girl From Ipanema – Stan Getz & João Gilberto

The idea of starting off Spring without some Bossa Nova playing in the background is despicable. This Brazilian classic will for sure remind you of sunny days.

6. One Rainy Wish – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

One of Jimi Hendrix’s softer songs, this psychedelic ballad is filled with lyrics that seem to worship mother nature herself.

7. Hit Me Like That Snare – alt-J & Rejjie Snow

This is one of those songs that I just wish were longer. The bridge at 0:53 is absolutely fantastic.

8. Raspberry Jam – Allah-Las

Allah-Las are arguably the kings of modern surf rock. This song, off the soundtrack of “Self Discovery For Social Survival” is a great testament to that.

9. Sparks – The Who

Even though this track is just an instrumental, the upbeat, soft strumming reminds me of sunshiny afternoons.

10. Dancing Barefoot – Patti Smith Group

Patti Smith is an absolute icon. Period. “Dancing Barefoot” is one of her more pop-leaning songs, but it reminds me of spinning around in the middle of a bright, grassy field!

11. An Idea – IAMNOBODI

What a great little random track! Featuring Emmavie, Zacari, and Josh J., this song is the pinnacle of R&B perfection.

12. Ivy – Frank Ocean

It would be injustice not to include at least one Frank song on this playlist. Though it’s a bit melancholy, for some reason this track reminds me of the shift from Winter to Spring.

Happy Listening!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band Profile: Flatbush Zombies

Written by Miranda

Flatbush Zombies Artist Zombies

Flatbush Zombies, stylized Flatbush ZOMBiES, are a hip hop group active since 2010. They first became noticed within the East Coast rap scene in the 2010s with the release of multiple mixtapes; since then they have produced three albums. Their most recent work is their 2020 EP, “now, more than ever,” and new single “Afterlife,” which has quickly become a fan favorite. Members Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick Arc Elliott met in grade school and have been great friends and co-performers since.

Flatbush Zombies have also produced interesting media. Their NPR Tiny Desk Concert and YouTube music videos are very entertaining. The group continues to create music together and build upon their previous discography with new and exciting styles.

I recommend checking out their most recent EP, “now, more than ever,” which they created in response to the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020. Their song “Big Shrimp” from their first album is another favorite of mine. Give Flatbush Zombies a listen and let us know what you think.

Categories
Classic Album Review

Album of the Week: All That Remains – This Darkened Heart (2004)

The second studio album from All That Remains, This Darkened Heart, was released on March 23, 2004 (Prosthetic / Razor & Tie). The band’s debut record, Behind Silence and Solitude, as well as its third release, The Fall of Ideals, are very good records in their own rights; but it is their sophomore release that stands in a category all its own. 

So, All That Remains was first listed as a “Heavy Metal” band, with This Darkened Heart listed in the genre of “Melodic Death Metal.” Later, the band would come to be known as one of the first bands of an evolving sub-genre known as Metal Core, while the vocal style of This Darkened Heart is a perfect example of very early “Death Core;” though, the music (and its composition) is very much Heavy Metal, leaning toward Death Metal. Today, this combination of styles would be considered a band’s way of breaking out of the various “Core” genres. But in 2004, this is the expression of a band forging an entirely new brand of Metal. 

Philip Labonte (Shadows Fall) is the founder and lead vocalist of All That Remains. He is one of the visionaries of the, then, forming new genre of Metal. His first band (in the mid-90s) was a Death Metal band called Perpetual Doom, where he also played guitar. He left the band to join Shadows Fall as the lead vocalist, recording the band’s debut album, Somber Eyes to the Sky, in ’97. He left Shadows Fall the following year due to “musical differences,” and formed All That Remains. In 2010 Labonte filled in as the touring vocalist for Killswitch Engage. And in 2016 he filled in as lead vocalist for Five Finger Death Punch. Labonte had a great band with him for This Darkened Heart with Mike Martin and Oli Herbert on guitars, Matt Deis on bass, and Michael Bartlett on drums. 

I understand This Darkened Heart to be a bridge between Metal genres. While All That Remains went on to be more Metal Core, this record, with its combination of styles, really helped the logic of the evolution of sub-genres. My dad (The OG), as an Old School Death Metal head, remembers when this record dropped. “Oh, I loved the riffs of the songs, and Philip’s vocals were incredible. But I also recognized that there was something different being developed, here. The structures of the songs were departing from the style of pure Death Metal, while the riffs were very Old School. And the vocals, while delivered with “gravel,” were more melodic, but not like Melodic Death Metal. We knew that something new was happening.” 

There are exactly 0 wasted songs on This Darkened Heart. This is truly a great record that still, today, speaks to the struggles and suffering of life lived in community; the darkness of loneliness and the light of friends and loved ones. This record, itself, is a light in that darkness. 

Favorite Songs: Focus Shall Not Fail; Tattered on My Sleeve; This Darkened Heart 

Rating: 10/10!! A perfect record at the perfect time 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Band/Artist Profile Classic Album Review DJ Highlights Miscellaneous New Album Review

New Music Alert: Loving

I can already tell that I am going to be loving this band. Loving is a slow-wave indie bedroom rock band from Canada. Their music gives off the impression of a lazy sunday, which pockets of sun poking in through the windows as the rain taps against the glass. The band consists of a group of three from Canada, who play sparse, intimate songs. 

The band started back in 2015 when David Parry and Jesse and Lucas Henderson, who are brothers, started recording music together. It was initially a long-distance project, since some members of the trio were in Victoria while others were in Toronto. However, their initial success inspired the trio to become a full-time band and set up shop in Victoria. 

The music of Loving is like psychedelic folk. It’s calming, relaxing, and uplifting all at once. Loving’s first album is their self-titled debut, which came out back in 2016. My favorite song is “The Not Real Lake,” closely followed by “Bowlly Goes Dancing Drunk Into the Future” and “A Long Slow Little Wave / Citizen, An Activity.” Their second album, “If I Am Only My Thoughts,” came out in 2020. It is a bit more fast-paced and features more acoustic sounds than their debut album. From this I would choose “A Mirror for Two Voices” and “Only She Knows” as my favorites. 

You can love, you can leave it, and say you’re nothing without it, but don’t sleep on Loving. 
Hope you guys enjoy the tunes, 
-The DJ Formerly Known As Chippypants