Category: Blog

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Playlists

Playlist of the Week!

If you’re an NC State student, or really a student anywhere, you know how stressful midterms can be. What’s been getting me through those long hours of late-night studying has (of course) been music! These are some of the songs I’ve had on repeat over the past few weeks to help cope with the mountains of homework:

1. Guts – Budgie

This song gets me PUMPED. Released by a somewhat obscure protometal band, it’s sure to make you get that astral projection feeling with those incredible riffs.

2. Easy Street – Amanaz

If you’ve never heard of Zamrock, I highly suggest you start here. Psychedelic funk reached every corner of the earth in the 1970s, including Zambia. Amanaz is a fantastic band that arose during this time, combining funk, rock, and psychedelia.

3. Stoned – Allah-Las

This song comes off a compilation called “Psych Versions of the Rolling Stones.” Allah-Las does NOT disappoint. I’m usually not a fan of covers, especially from such a prolific band, but Allah-Las does “Stoned” justice.

4. Who Do You Love, Pt. 1 – Quicksilver Messenger Service

This is my favorite track off my favorite album by Quicksilver Messenger Service. First-rate song, first-rate band!

5. Four Lead Clover Salad – Richard in Your Mind

I love the mind-bending sound of this song. I’ll be honest, I haven’t listened to much of Richard In Your Mind, but this is definitely one of my most prized songs on my repeat playlist right now.

6. Home Town – Witch

Witch is another Zamrock band that you just have to check out. They have a heavier feel than Amanaz, combining a garage and metal sound to their work.

7. Dove – Cymande

You! Can! Never! Get! Enough! Funk! The members of Cymande are the kings of soul and dressing impeccably. This track shows off their unique, hip style perfectly.

8. 1983…(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) – Jimi Hendrix

The day I don’t include at least one Jimi Hendrix song on my repeat playlist is the day I die. This song was released when Jimi was still apart of the Experience group and it’s one of the most epic tracks he’s ever released. At a whopping 13 minutes long, it has tons of weird reverb and experimental noises that perfectly compliment his signature riffs.

9. Knowing That I’m Losing You – The Yardbirds

Jimmy Page’s brief time with The Yardbirds proved to be formative years that set him up for future songwriting opportunities. Even though this track was originally released by The Yardbirds, it would later turn into Led Zeppelin’s “Tangerine.”

Stay tuned in!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Band/Artist Profile Classic Album Review Miscellaneous Music Education New Album Review

New Music Alert: 666

album cover

Warning: listening to this music may cause a significant increase in heat. Your body may feel hot and you will feel an overwhelming sensation of “fire.” The Sugar Candy Album “666” is a unique style of music that was perfected by the cross-section of the passing of early 2010’s Psychedelic Rock and the popularization of more mellow Indie Pop. All pretentiousness aside, 666 is a really good album. It is probably Sugar Candy Mountain’s best music that they’ve put out since they emerged back in 2014 with their first full album “Mystic Hits.” 

While “Mystic Hits” was undoubtedly a hit, “666” showcased the band coming into their own unique sound. Most of their songs tend to follow a similar pattern. The beginning starts out with a lackadaisical, relaxed beat that goes on throughout the entirety of the song while multiple layers slowly get added on as the song goes on. Moreover, the songs steadily flow into each other, making it easy to listen to all the way through. 

However, if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to listen to the whole album, I would suggest starting with the first three songs and ending with the eighth and ninth. “Windows” and “Change” make a good impression of the album and “666” is definitely going to be one of my most played songs of the year. With it’s echoed guitar and dreamy lyrics, the song can change around my mood on even the most stressful of days. 

Well that’s about all I have to say for this album, would definitely recommend with a score of 9/10. 
Hope you guys enjoy the music, 
-The DJ Formerly Known as Chippypants 

Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 3/9

Abominable Putridity - Parasitic Metamorphosis Manifestation Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1ABOMINABLE PUTRIDITY Parasitic Metamorphosis Manifestation Inherited Suffering 
2GULCH“Gulch/Sunami Split” [Single]Triple B
3GOD’S HATE “God’s Hate” [Single]Closed Casket Activities 
4SUFFERING HOURThe Cyclic ReckoningProfound Lore
5ASPHYXNecrocerosCentury Media
6TERRORTrapped In A WorldWar
7CYTOTOXINNuklearthUnique Leader
8WARDRUNAKvitravnAISA
9THERIONLeviathanNuclear Blast
10BOUNDARIES Your Receding WarmthUnbeaten 
Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 3/9

Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
ArtistRecordLabel
1ARLO PARKSCollapsed In SunbeamsTransgressive/PIAS
2MISS GRITImpostor [EP]Self-Released
3GOAT GIRLOn All FoursRough Trade/Beggars
4JULIEN BAKERLittle OblivionsMatador/Beggars Group
5BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROADFor The First TimeNinja Tune
6CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAHNew FragilityCYHSY/Secretly
7POM POKOCheaterBella Union/PIAS
8PINK SIIFU AND FLY ANAKINFlySiifu’sLex
9STEVE LACYThe Lo-FisL-M
10AVALANCHES, THEWe Will Always Love YouAstralwerks
11CASHINOVABig DragonStophouse
12CECILE BELIEVEPlucking A Cherry From The VoidSelf-Released
13FAT TONYExoticaCarpark
14FREDDIE GIBBS AND MADLIBPiñata (Deluxe Edition)Keep Cool/RCA
15GALCHER LUSTWERKInformation (Redacted)Ghostly International
16GRIMESMiss Anthropocene (Rave Edition)4AD
17KIWI JRCooler ReturnsSub Pop
18MAGDALENA BAYMini Mix Vol. 2 [EP]Luminelle
19MAMALARKYMamalarkyFire Talk
20NAVY BLUESong Of Sage: Post Panic! Freedom Sounds
21SHYGIRLALIAS [EP]Because
22SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVEEntertainment, Death [Advance Tracks]Saddle Creek
23XIU XIU“A Bottle Of Rum” feat. Liz Harris [Single]Polyvinyl
24BANANAGUNThe True Story Of BananagunFull Time Hobby
25YVES TUMORHeaven To A Tortured MindWarp
26BLESSEDiii [EP]Flemish Eye
27BUTCHER BROWN#KingButchConcord Jazz
28JORDANASomething To Say To YouGrand Jury
29GEORGE CLANTON AND NICK HEXUMGeorge Clanton And Nick Hexum100% Electronica
30CARIBOUSuddenlyMerge

TOP ADDS

ArtistRecordLabel
1TIGERS JAWI Won’t Care How You Remember MeHopeless
2ADULT MOMDriverEpitaph
3DJANGO DJANGOGlowing In The DarkBecause
4FRUIT BATSThe Pet ParadeMerge
5FITNESSFull WellSad Cactus
6IAN SWEETShow Me How You DisappearPolyvinyl
7HAR MAR SUPERSTARRosevilleSelf-Released
8RECORD SUMMER, THELay It BareBodan Kuma
9MARINA ALLEN“Oh, Louise” [Single]Fire
10JOHANNA SAMUELS“Nature’s Way” [Single]Mama Bird
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 3/9

Kacy Hill - Six Cover
ArtistRecordLabel
1KACY HILL“Six (umru Remix)” [Single]Self-Released
2GALCHER LUSTWERKInformation (Redacted)Ghostly International
3CECILE BELIEVEMade In HeavenSelf-Released
4GEORGE CLANTON AND NICK HEXUMGeorge Clanton And Nick Hexum100% Electronica
5AUSCULTATIONIII100% Silk
6STEMLINES Harsh Riddims Vol. 4 Self-Released
7COM TRUISEIn Decay, TooGhostly International
8ELA MINUSActs Of RebellionDomino
9JESSIE WAREWhat’s Your Pleasure?Virgin EMI
10ROCHELLE JORDAN“Got Em” b/w “All Along” [Single]Young Art
Categories
Miscellaneous Non-Music News

WKNC to Host Book Drive in March to Support Prison Books Collective

Yellow, orange and green graphic with a person peering from behind a book.

In continuing their efforts to support the Triangle community and at-risk individuals at-large, WKNC is partnering with Prison Books Collective to host a book drive. 

Prison Books Collective is a Carrboro-based nonprofit that distributes paperback books and zines to incarcerated people across North Carolina and Alabama. Prison Books Collective believes that “the prison system in the United States is fundamentally unjust and perpetuates systems of economic, racial, gender, psychological, and social oppression.” The work done by Prison Books Collective upholds the fact that “incarcerated people deserve support and resources and that the many injustices of prison must be resisted.” WKNC supports this mission and looks to contribute to their work with the following donation drive. 

Donations will be collected outside WKNC from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the weeks of March 15-19 and March 22-26. The station is located within the Witherspoon Student Center on NC State’s main campus, in suite 343. Please be aware that the building is closed to the public on weekends and outside normal business hours. If you are unable to donate in-person, Prison Books Collective also has a Flyleaf wish list of titles that have been specifically requested by inmates.

“The past year has been extremely difficult for incarcerated people, with increased restrictions and no access to the small amount of literature available in libraries only a few prisons might have,” says Prison Books Collective’s Outreach Coordinator Ivy Shelton. “COVID-19 has limited the operations but, Prison Books Collective (PBC) has been working hard the past year to fulfill book requests. PBC has continued to send 35-45 packages of books on average a week to individuals based on letters of request. The book drive WKNC 88.1 is hosting makes PBC’s continued work possible. Paperback donations from the WKNC 88.1 book drive will make a difference in someone’s life.”

More information on Prison Books Collective can be found on their website, while graphics and event specific information can be found on WKNC’s social media. On-air promos are in rotation to outline requests and necessary resources for this donation drive. WKNC and Prison Books Collective would like to thank the audience for their support.

WKNC 88.1 FM is 25,000-watt student-run non-commercial radio from North Carolina State University featuring indie rock, electronic, metal and underground hip-hop. WKNC is on social media @WKNC881.

Categories
Miscellaneous

The Saw’s Choice Cuts: Upon A Burning Body

WKNC 88.1 blog

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s your Master Butcher, The Saw here and I have a new blog segment that I like to call my Choice Cuts. Where I pick a band and I share some of my favorite songs with you. 

For my first post in this segment, I wanted to pick a band that is near and dear to my heart – Upon A Burning Body (UABB). I have been listening to this band since I was in high school and they were one of the bands that I have seen and hung out with the most. UABB is one of my favorite metalcore bands, and they have some of the catchiest choruses and riffs. Any time I hear a UABB song, I automatically start dancing and singing the songs, I just love them so much! 

Here is a list of my favorite UABB songs (in no particular order because that would be tough) 

  • Texas Blood Money 
    • This was the first song they dedicated to me when I saw them in 2018!
  • Sin City 
    • They dedicated this song to me another time!
  • All Pride No Pain 
  • From Darkness
  • Burn 
  • Desperado 
  • Scars
  • Judgement 
  • Bring The Rain 
  • Carlito’s Way 
  • Intermission 

Favorite album: The World Is My Enemy Now 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: Tash Sultana – Terra Firma (2021)

So, we all know that I love me some Tash Sultana, and when I found out that they were coming out with a new album, I absolutely geeked. Tash Sultana is just a breath of fresh air and their music always speaks to me. Their new album, “Terra Firma” is no different. 

This album is very different from their previous album, “Flow State” (which we all know is one of my favorite albums of all-time). Sultana incorporates different musical themes and instruments throughout each song; I think this is cool because it makes each song different and unique. Almost every song makes me feel like I am the main character of a movie and I absolutely love it. Let’s take a look at some of the songs that stood out to me on the album. 

The album opens with an instrumental track, “Musk,” which sets the tone, really, well for the rest of the album. It appears that Sultana is sticking to some of her musical roots but is also adding a little bit of flavor so the songs don’t sound the same. Their second song, “Crop Circles,” has to be one of my favorite songs off the album because it reminds me of their album “Flow State,” but with more of a jazzier feel. “Greed” is also another great song which talks about the music industry and how they only love you when you “make it big.” This song has the jazz, indie, lo-fi type vibe which I am in love with. Another song that I keep playing off this album is “Dream My Life Away” which is a very dreamy song. The song says a lot even when, lyrically, the song says so little. Sultana has always been good at capturing emotions not only though their lyrics but also through their instruments. 

Overall, this album is very enjoyable. It contains 14 songs and takes an hour to play front to back. The vibe of the album is jazzy with a hint of indie and upbeat tempo. I really enjoyed listening to this album and even though it is far different from “Flow State” it is definitely worth a listen. 

Rating: 7/10 

Favorite Songs: Crop Circles, Greed, Musk, Dream My Life Away 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
Classic Album Review

Classic Review: Soviet Kitsch by Regina Spektor

A smirking Regina Spektor drinks vodka amid a background of Russian nesting dolls on the album cover of Soviet Kitsch

Regina Spektor has gotten the short end of the stick in terms of early 2000’s indie. While her contemporaries like Amanda Palmer and Fiona Apple have developed a ride-or-die fanbase, Spektor is probably best known today for… writing the theme song for Orange Is the New Black? Don’t get me wrong, that theme song is one of the best things about an already good show, but there is so much more to Spektor’s music than just a killer pop song, so let’s look at one of her weirdest and most endearing albums “Soviet Kitsch.”

“Soviet Kitsch,” is, at its heart, a set of piano ballads. A simple form that makes an excellent showcase for just how freaking strange this woman is. She grunts, coos, belts, oohs, and ahs her way through almost every song on the tracklist, weaving these vocal ticks in with melodies organically to entrancing effect.

Her skills as a pianist are equally singular (indulge this classical piano-loving nerd for a moment if you will). She plays the usual notes of her songs in the most unusual of ways. The chords form familiar progressions, but she accentuates them with unexpected dynamic changes and staccato hits on off beats. The notes come not as a smooth melody, but as a flurry, unlocking the percussive potential of her instrument in ways Fiona Apple wouldn’t until last year.

However, for all its musical strengths, the true value of Soviet Kitsch is in the lyrics. Spektor takes her background as a Russian immigrant as a perspective, not subject matter. She frames familiar topics from the unique Eastern-bloc worldview that will be familiar to anyone who has had an extended conversation with an older Russian person. Social issues we think of as trite and incomprehensible- refusing treatment for cancer, nostalgia for a long-gone political order- are portrayed empathetically, though not always flatteringly, by a woman caught between two worlds. The lyrics find old ways of saying new things; classical forms used for subversive ends.

Categories
Music Education

Lester Bangs: Rock Critic

If you’ve seen “Almost Famous,” the name Lester Bangs might ring a bell. Philip Seymore Hoffman, who plays Bangs in the 2000 film, inspires William, the main character, to pursue his interest as a rock critic. I had no idea he was a real person until I found his book, “Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste,” at Reader’s Corner a couple of weeks ago!

I’ve loved reading his work. Lester Bangs was perhaps one of the most influential music journalists to walk this earth. Though he was best known for his work with Creem magazine, Bangs got his start at Rolling Stone. In 1969, The prolific magazine put an ad out for reader reviews and Bangs quickly responded. Entering a scalding review on MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams,” he was published immediately. He went on to write for Rolling Stone until 1973 when he was fired for “disrespecting musicians.” There’s no secret as to why. His reviews could be scalding, and this is often what he got the most press for.

However, when he started working for Creem magazine in 1971, his love for underground garage music grew. Before he became editor of Creem, he helped define the term “punk rock,” speaking highly of musicians like The Stooges, Lou Reed, and Blondie in pages upon pages of writing.

What makes Bangs especially interesting to me was his unapologetic lack of reverence for rock stars. Though he obviously had a deep love for music, he never hero-worshipped the musicians in interviews. His goal was to get right down to it, right to the music.

He could even be quite radical in this viewpoint at times, going as far as sitting on stage at a J. Geils Band concert with his typewriter on his lap, furiously tapping away a review right in front of the audience. His writing, as well as his humor, were irreverent and even ridiculous at times. Despite this, his words spoke such truth that you just can’t help trusting him.

– DJ Butter