Category: Blog

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New Album Review

Album Review: Boundaries – Your Receding Warmth (2020)

Your Receding Warmth Album Cover

If you know me, you know that I love me some 2008 sounding metalcore. I have been wanting a band to incorporate that sound back into their music now because the riffs and the ambiance of the metalcore back in 2008 is so technical and precise. It makes for a beautiful and heavy sound. Well, Butcher Crew, Boundaries did just that on their most recent album, Your Receding Warmth. It was released on November 13, 2020, and I have literally been listening to it all day, every single day since it dropped. By far, one of my favorite releases of 2020. 

Boundaries has released 2 albums and one EP: Hartford County Misery in 2017 (one of my all-time favorites), My Body in Bloom (EP) in 2019, and now in 2020, they have released Your Receding Warmth. The band has progressed since their first two releases. They are known for their use of panic chords and breakdowns, and although the band does use these styles in their recent release, they evolved their sound and use more of a fast-picked thrash riff, to melodic riffs that sound as if they are from the early 2000s metalcore. These sounds can be heard throughout the entire album, and I love it. 

Although each song contains heavy breakdowns and melodic metalcore riffs, each song is different in their own way. Whether that be tempo changes, lower vocals, or heavier riffs, each song contains something different and is different from the rest of the songs. This album has a great blend of hardcore, melodic metalcore, noisy pastiche aesthetic, along with lyrical content to create an atmosphere of anger and anxiety around the music. You can practically feel the emotions that are involved within each song, and the breakdowns just make the song 10 times better. You can’t help but move around. Boundaries know when to deliver beatings but also groove. 

Boundaries released a statement about the album on Instagram and the meaning behind it. I think their statement describes the album beautifully. They stated that: 

            “The record is a vulnerable representation and understanding that things you depend on will start to disappear and whether you’re ready or not, you will have to adjust and find a way to keep going. Your Receding Warmth is a reference to life being less and less forgiving and helpful to those who need help and forgiveness. At the end of the day, it’s all ‘sink or swim.’”

-Boundaries

I think the band described the album perfectly. This album is an absolute ass whoopin’. Each song is dark and eerie in its own way. Songs like “My Strength” and “Behind the Bend” Matt (their singer) talks above the music and it has this eerie sound to it. The lyrics in this album are awesome and you can really feel the emotions that Matt is talking about. 

I watched an interview with Matt on the Scoped Exposure Podcast, and they discussed the making of Your Receding Warmth. Matt said that the band gets together and they first talk about how they want the song to sound, what emotion they want the song to have, and what styles they want to incorporate. I find that really interesting that they start with an idea before they start to jam. Matt also stated that he has journals that he keeps that contains his lyrics. These journals date back to his teens and he goes through them and grabs lyrics and ideas for songs. Matt recommends listening to the album in order because each song was written with an emotion and intent that they had while writing that song. I have done this every time that I listened to the album and it really does capture the emotion of the whole thing. The last song, “From the Departed, Dearer or Otherwise” is a monologue that gives me chills every time. It incorporates all of the titles of the songs on the album and has a very strong message. It was a great way to end the record.

Favorite Songs:

This is tough because I literally love each and every song on this album. When I listen to the record, I always think “no, this song is my favorite song.” So, it’s hard to say which ones stand out to me. Each song has a meaning and each song is good and awesome in its own way. 

But if I had to choose my favorite songs that really get me moving and jamming out, they have to be: Behind the Bend, Written and Rephrased, Fade Away, and Get Out. 

Rating: 10/10!!!! 

What did you think about Boundaries’, Your Receding Warmth? What are some of your favorite songs?

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Classic Album Review

Retro Review: Electric Mud – Muddy Waters

Electric Mud Album Cover

ALBUM: “Electric Mud” by Muddy Waters

RELEASE YEAR: 1968

LABEL: Chess Records

RATING: 9/10

BEST TRACKS: “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” “Mannish Boy” and “(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man”

FCC: Clean

“Electric Mud” is my all-time favorite album from Muddy Waters, probably because I’m such a sucker for the reverb of an electric guitar. Though it’s only eight songs long, “Electric Mud” is a fantastic example of how the blues and rock meshed in the 1960s. Most of the songs are remakes of his famous classics, such as “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Mannish Boy” and “The Same Thing,” only twinged with the sludgy feel of psychedelic rock.

The 50s and early 60s proved to be the heyday for Waters, but he saw a decline in popularity as his record label began to fail and the British blues scene took over in the late 60s (ironically, many of the hard rock artists from the UK took bits from Muddy Waters’ work to further their own.) In a last-ditch attempt to capture the hearts of younger audiences, Waters joined forces with band members of the Rotary Connection to create “Electric Mud.” Disappointed in its mixture of psychedelic rock and the blues, classic blues artists disapproved of the album. Muddy Waters himself wasn’t fond of the album because he felt he couldn’t perform it live.

Despite the somewhat negative history behind “Electric Mud,” it helped put him back on the map. After his label, Chess Records, fell, Waters was able to go on and produce some of his most influential work throughout the 70s.

This album holds a special place in my heart because it made me realize how impactful Muddy Waters was on the rock scene in the 60s and 70s. Jimi Hendrix openly covered Waters’ work in both his live and studio sessions. The track “You Need Love” was the bones of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” The Rolling Stones even got their name from Waters’ song “Rollin’ Stone.”

All in all, “Electric Mud” is a fantastic album for anyone interested in rock and blues history. Give it a listen!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Miscellaneous

Thinking About Getting a Tattoo?

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s ya girl, your Master Butcher, The Saw, and I am here to talk about one of my favorite things… tattoos. I love tattoos, I think they are a great way to show your interests and they also make people look like badasses. Tattoos make people look different and give them an edge. I love talking to people about their tattoos and the meaning behind them. Our bodies are canvases and I love to see the art that is displayed on people’s bodies.

Now, I have a sleeve, and a handful of other tattoos. My friends always come to me for tattoo advice: where they should go, what they should get, and how to take care of their tattoos. The Saw is the tattoo guru and I am here to give you some advice about researching tattoo parlors, artists, designs, and aftercare. 

Design:

First, you need a tattoo idea. I suggest looking up artwork and other tattoos that you are interested in. Look at tons of sketches to see what designs you like and don’t like. I would suggest using these sketches as a reference to what you want and also come up with your own ideas that you think would look cool. I wouldn’t copy a design or another tattoo that I found online because someone already has that tattoo; you want something original and special to you. If I find a sketch that I really like, I will show it to my tattoo artists and tell them that this is the way I want my tattoo to go, but allow the tattoo artists to make their own designs that are along the lines of what you want. This makes the tattoo enjoyable for the tattoo artists because they can put their own personal touch on the tattoo, and the tattoo will be unique to you since no one else will have the design like you. 

Searching for Tattoo Parlors and Tattoo Artists: 

This is probably the hardest part for me because I am SO PICKY. My dad calls me a tattoo snob and I will gladly take that title. Usually, I will look up tattoo parlors around me and look at their reviews. I will see what clients have to say about their artists and the customer service that the parlor has. I will also ask my friends about where they got their tattoos and ask if they recommend a particular parlor or artist. While researching tattoo parlors, I will also look at the portfolios of tattoo artists to see if I like their style of work. This helps you get a general idea if the artists will be able to create the tattoo that you want. Each artist focuses on a different discipline: realism, traditional, biker, geometric, cartoons, botanical, and fine lines. Knowing the style that an artist uses will also help you determine what type of style you want your tattoo in. Once you find a parlor and an artist, you can either contact the shop for booking or contact the artist individually in order to book an appointment. 

Getting the tattoo:

The day you are getting your tattoo, be sure to eat before, please. Also take some Advil to ease the pain. Oh, and make sure you’re sober, no alcohol or drugs. Wear comfortable clothes because you could be sitting in a chair for a few hours. 

Aftercare: 

Some tattoo parlors have wraps that they put on your tattoos that you can keep on while its healing, but some places wrap your piece in a paper towel. If that’s the case, after an hour has passed, remove the wrap and wash your tattoo with the hottest water you can stand. WARNING: washing your piece the first few times will hurt like a mf. You want to use a non-fragrance soap, soap with strong fragrances can irritate your tattoo. I suggest using Dove Sensitive Body Wash. Use a light layer on your tattoo and then wash it off. Use a clean towel or paper towel and pat it dry. Some tattoo parlors suggest buying tattoo cream (“tattoo goo”) to put on your piece after you clean it, but a thin layer of original Neosporin will do the trick. You want to wash your tattoo like this twice a day for a few weeks. 

When your tattoo starts to scab, DO NOT SCRATCH OR PICK AT THE SCAB, IT WILL RUIN THE COLOR!! Instead, lightly slap your tattoo if it begins to itch. Once your tattoo is in this phase, wash your tattoo the same way but instead of Neosporin, use a lotion that is not scented. I use the Vaseline lotion or Hemp’s body lotion. I also recommend Lush’s Elbow Grease, it keeps your tattoo shiny and hydrated. 

Enjoy your new tattoo!! 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
DJ Highlights

A Peek at DJ Butter’s Spotify Wrapped

2020 Spotify Wrapped

This is my favorite time of year. The weather is crisp, the smell of Christmas trees fills the air, and everyone exposes themselves on Instagram with their Spotify Wrapped.

You can tell a lot about a person by their Top 5 artists and songs (a lot more of my friends listen to Taylor Swift than I originally thought, no shame though). I know some are indifferent about the whole idea of it, but I could look at people’s Spotify Wrapped for hours. It’s so interesting to see what kind of music people are into! Whether it’s totally predictable or completely unexpected, I love to watch how people’s personalities match up with their music preferences.

Interested in getting a look at a WKNC DJ’s Spotify Wrapped? Well, look no further! Here’s what I’ve been listening to on repeat in 2020:

Top Genres:

Rock, Neo-Psychedelic, Chicago Blues, Psychedelic Hip Hop, Indie Garage Rock

I felt that my top genres were totally accurate, yet slightly surprising. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know that “Psychedelic Hip Hop” was even a genre in the first place. Despite this, I think that anyone who listens to my show would agree that these 5 genres are the basis of my sets every week!

Top Artists:

Led Zeppelin, Allah-Las, Jimi Hendrix, Greta Van Fleet, Muddy Waters

I can honestly not believe how predictable (and slightly embarrassing) this is. I knew that Zeppelin would, and probably forever will, be my #1. I was hoping that Greta Van Fleet wouldn’t make an appearance, but this summer I listened to “From the Fires” way too many times.

Top Songs:

Traveling Riverside Blues, Raspberry Jam, Just Like a Baby, What is and What Should Never Be, Living Loving Maid

Drum roll, please! My top songs are such an accurate reflection of my mindset all 2020: Too much Zeppelin, wishing I was at a surf concert, and crying to “Just Like a Baby.”

Thanks for indulging me, as always. Haven’t seen your Spotify Wrapped yet? Want to expose yourself on social media? Click here to see yours!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Music Education

Music and Our Brains

Brain drawing on white background

Ever listen to one of your favorite songs and get chills down your spine? Does hearing an old track ever bring you vividly back to the time when you were obsessed with it? Do you ever find yourself unconsciously tapping, moving, and shaking to music?

The ways that music affects our brains are incredible. We’ve all heard the famous saying “Mozart makes you smarter,” but what if other music could do the same and more? Apart from being a powerful emotional release, performing and listening to music has been proven to have numerous health benefits. After traveling through our eardrums, musical sound waves hit over a dozen different parts of our brains.

Something that fascinates me endlessly is the relationship between music and memory. Music passes through the cerebellum, which is responsible for storing memory and movement. According to neuroscientist Kiminobu Sugaya, an “Alzheimer patient, even if he doesn’t recognize his wife, could still play the piano if he learned it when he was young because playing has become muscle memory. Those memories in the cerebellum never fade out.”

The link between mind, body, and music is amazing. In a study mentioned by the Harvard Health Publishing, patients who listened to music before, during, and after surgery were found to have lower blood pressure and heart rate levels compared to those without music. Even patients that listened to music while unconscious during their surgeries had similar results. Pretty unreal, huh?

Music also has astounding emotional benefits. A study completed in 2006 showed that people who suffered from chronic pain were less likely to experience depression after undergoing music therapy. Due to its ability to activate dopamine production, music can also trigger shivers, pleasure, and your fight-or-flight response.

It’s incredible how much is happening in our brains when we pop on our headphones! If you’re interested in learning more about music and neuroscience, there are tons of books and online resources to look at. To get started, here’s an interactive tool from the University of Central Florida about our brains on music.

– DJ Butter

Categories
Miscellaneous

The Incredible Visions of 1960s Music Posters

I am absolutely obsessed with anything out of the 60s and 70s, especially the art. The colors, typography, and illustration styles are magnificent. In high school, I actually did a project on the origins of psychedelic art, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite facts with you today!

The signature psychedelic style of the 1960s can be attributed to the rising popularity of hallucinogens, anti-war sentiments, and Eastern philosophy. In stark contrast to the streamlined, modernist design trends of the 40s and 50s, psychedelia’s goal was completely different: Artists wanted viewers to stare at their work for long periods of time to mimic the effect of a “trip.” Some elements used to accomplish this effect were brightly contrasting colors, flowing typography, and collage. Wes Wilson, Victor Moscoso, Alton Kelley, and Stanley Mouse, also known as the “Big Five,” were some of the most influential poster designers of the time.

As new, experimental music exploded in the early 60s, psychedelic art was often paired with concert posters and album covers. San Francisco was a hot spot for the movement, seeing that many musicians lived there, including the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane.

Here are some of my absolute favorite posters that came out of the psychedelic movement:

John Myers, 1966

This poster, designed by John Myers, was printed for the Yardbirds’ concert in 1966.

Bonnie McLean, 1967

This print was designed by Bonnie McLean in 1967 for a concert starring Muddy Waters, Buffalo Springfield, and Richie Havens.

Lee Conklin, 1968

This poster for Canned Heat was designed by Lee Conklin in 1968 and intentionally printed out-of-register to create the layered, film-like look.

Bob Masse, 1966

Serving as one of the most iconic posters in rock history, this design for Pink Floyd was done by Bob Masse in 1966 for their show at the Marquee in London.

Wes Wilson & Herb Greene, 1966

Wes Wilson, one of the most well-known psychedelic artists of the time, designed this poster with Herb Greene for Jefferson Airplane in 1966.

Tune in!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Playlists

November 2020 Sample Platter

Welcome to November’s edition of Sample Platter, where I shed light on the samples in some of hip-hop’s best beats! This month we’ve got the following songs:

  1. Experience by Daedalus: Fans of Madvillain will recognize this accordion sample from MF DOOM and Madlib’s “Accordion.” Livin’ off borrowed time, the clock ticks faster…
  2. I Put a Spell On You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: Not only has this song been covered by the likes of Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Marilyn Manson, but its brass stabs also appear as a sample in Biggie’s “Kick in the Door.”
  3. Nature Boy by The Singers Unlimited: Acapella group The Singers Unlimited have proved to be a gold mine for producers such as J Dilla, Nujabes and many more. This track was sampled by Flying Lotus on his 2007 track “Massage Situation.”
  4. Ready or Not Here I Come “Can’t Hide from Love) by The Delfonics: This classic was sampled by Fugees, Missy Elliot and Three 6 Mafia. My favorite flip is Missy’s “Sock it 2 Me” in which producer Timbaland layers hard-hitting drums over the sample’s descending brass motif.
  5. Mariya by the Family Circle: The vocal harmonies in the beginning of this song can also be found in J. Cole’s “Wet Dreamz.”
  6. Liberty by Amnesty: Kanye West has appeared on every edition of the Sample Platter, and that’s because he (and his team) have a great ear for samples. Here, Amnesty’s “Liberty” was chopped up for Ye’s famous “poopity-scoop” verse on “Lift Yourself.”
  7. Silver Soul by Beach House: DJ Dahi took the intro of this song, reversed it, added drums and 808s and sent it to Kendrick Lamar. The result is the song we know as “Money Trees” – one of my favorite hip-hop instrumentals ever.
  8. Goin’ Down by Ol’ Dirty Bastard: Who would’ve thought to turn ODB’s guttural screams into a beat? None other than hip-hop anti-hero JPEGMAFIA, who did just that with his song “Real N—.”

– DJ Mango

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 12/1

Peel EP Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1PEELPeel [EP]Innovative Leisure
2NOTHINGThe Great DismalRelapse
3WISH TRAPSCatch ItDivan Rouge
4SUPERCRUSHSODO PopDon Giovanni
5SLOW PULPMoveysWinspear
6PAPI SHIITAKEQuarantine Dream [EP]Trash Casual
7SINAI VESSELGround AswimSingle Occupancy
8SOFT BLUE SHIMMER“Cherry-Cola Abyss” [Single]Disposable America
9BEAU DEGAHoly CannoliSelf-Released
10BLUE HAWAIIUnder 1 House [EP]Arbutus
11FRANCIS OF DELIRIUMAll Change [EP]Dalliance
12JESSY LANZAAll The TimeHyperdub
13JULIEN BAKER“Faith Healer” [Single]Matador/Beggars Group
14KISSISSIPPI“Around Your Room” [Single]Triple Crown
15RATS ON RAFTS“Tokyo Music Experience” [Single]Fire
16TOMBERLINProjections [EP]Saddle Creek
17BIICLANo Place [EP]Good Luck Have Fun
18CARIBOUSuddenlyMerge
19CASHINOVABig DragonStophouse
20DIRTY PROJECTORS5 EP’sDomino
21DISCLOSUREENERGYCapitol
22GEORGE CLANTON AND NICK HEXUMGeorge Clanton And Nick Hexum100% Electronica
23GRIMESMiss Anthropocene4AD/Beggars Group
24JORDANA“I Guess This Is Life” [Single]Grand Jury
25KEDR LIVANSKYAriadna2MR
26QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS“Postcard From Spain” [Single]Saddle Creek
27SASSY 009KILL SASSY 009Luft
28TOBIElements Vol. 1Same Plate/RCA
29BECCA MANCARIThe Greatest PartCaptured Tracks
30JESSIE WAREWhat’s Your Pleasure?Virgin EMI

TOP ADDS:

ArtistRecordLabel
1WILSON’S PROMWelcome To The PromSelf-Released
2BABE RAINBOW“Zeitgeist” [Single]Self-Released
3SMUTPower Fantasy [EP]Bayonet
4HYPOLUXOHypoluxoTerrible
5ROUTINEAnd Other Things [EP]Friends Of/Dead Oceans
6BOOTCHY TEMPLEIn Consummated BloomSelf-Released
7KARAOKEBlood, Piss, Religion, PainSelf-Released
8DIRTY PROJECTORS5 EP’sDomino
9NANE“Always On My Mind” [Single]Self-Released
10MINI TREESSlip Away [EP]Self-Released
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 12/1

Your Receding Warmth Album Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1BOUNDARIES Your Receding WarmthUnbeaten 
2WAGE WAR“Surrounded” [Single]Fearless
3UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP]Seek & Strike 
4SIGNS OF THE SWARM“Pernicious” [Single]Unique Leader 
5JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNEDPain Is PowerSelf-Released
6CHAMBER Cost of Sacrifice Pure Noise 
7INGESTEDWhere Only Gods May TreadUnique Leader
8NUCLEAR DESOLATION Formless Innerstrength 
9UNTIL I BLEED“Feel” [Single]Self-Released
10CHOKE CHAMBER“Burn Notice” [Single]Self-Released
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 11/24

Surrounded Single Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1WAGE WAR“Surrounded” [Single]Fearless
2BOUNDARIES Your Receding WarmthUnbeaten 
3UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP]Seek & Strike 
4SIGNS OF THE SWARM“Pernicious” [Single]Unique Leader 
5JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNEDPain Is PowerSelf-Released
6CHAMBER Cost of Sacrifice Pure Noise 
7INGESTEDWhere Only Gods May TreadUnique Leader
8NUCLEAR DESOLATION Formless Innerstrength 
9UNTIL I BLEED“Feel” [Single]Self-Released
10CHOKE CHAMBER“Burn Notice” [Single]Self-Released