WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student Radio
Artist Record Label
1 SO THIS IS SUFFERING “Moonlight Serenade” [Single] Self-Released
2 NECROT Mortal Tankcrimes
3 OBSCURE OF ACACIA Eclipse. Self-Released
4 ODIOUS MORTEM Synesthesia WillowTip
5I NVENT, ANIMATE Greyview Tragic Hero
6 FIT FOR A KINGAnnihilation [EP] Solid State
7 POLARIS The Death Of Me SharpTone
8 ENTERPRISE EARTH Foundation of Bones [EP] Entertainment One
9 UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP] Seek & Strike
10 PIG DESTROYER The Octagonal Stairway [EP] Relapse
Artist Record Label
1 BULLY SUGAREGG Sub Pop
2 BARTEES STRANGE Live Forever [Advance Tracks] Memory
3 LOMELDA Hannah Double Double Whammy
4 FONTAINES DC A Hero’s Death Partisan
5 LIME CORDIALE 14 Steps To A Better You Chugg/London Cowboys
6 GIRL FRIDAY Androgynous Mary Hardly Art
7 ILLUMINATI HOTTIES FREE I.H.: This Is Not The One You’ve Been Waiting For Self-Released
8 BETHS, THE Jump Rope Gazers Carpark
9 NYALLAH Reflections [EP] Self-Released
10 SONNIKU, LIZ, SOPHIE “Sweat (Sophie Remix)” [Single] Bella Union
11 HOLY MOTORS Horse [Advance Tracks] Wharf Cat
12 DOUBLE GRAVE Goodbye Nowhere! Forged Artifacts
13 DEATON CHRIS ANTHONY BO Y Self-Released
14 CHILDISH MAJOR “Feelings Hurt” [Single] RCA
15 JERRY WEST “Who Is U” [Single] Self-Released
16 FKA TWIGS Magdalene Young Turks/Beggars
17 TORO Y MOI Soul Trash Carpark
18 CLOUDY NUEVE “Hostage” [Single] Self-Released
19 DAPHNI Sizzling [EP] Phonica
20J AYDA G Both Of Us/Are You Down [EP] Ninja Tune
21 DIVINE INTERFACE Seeking Arrangements 2MR
22 TY BRI “Too Bad” [Single] Def Jam
23 LOX CHATTERBOX How To Live Forever Illuminati Killers
24 CUTTAMAN 100GRAN “45” [Single] Polished Gods
25 SHYGIRL “BB” [Single] NUXXE
26 FRANK OCEAN “In My Room” [Single] Blonded
27 CHESTER WATSON “Chessmaster” [Single] Warner Classics
28 FOGGIERAW “I Gotta Ball” [Single] Diff Sound
29 PAT JUNIOR I Thought I Knew Be Absxlute
30 KENNEDY ONE Metropolis [EP] Self-Released
TOP ADDS
1 THIBAULT Or Not Thibault [Advance Tracks] Chapter
2 LAWN Johnny Muscle Beach
3 SONG SUNG This Ascension Is Ours Night Time Stories
4 COREY FLOOD Hanging Garden Fire Talk
5 FATHER JOHN MISTY “To S” b/w “To R” [Single] Sub Pop
6 LOMELDA Hannah Double Double Whammy
7 ARLO PARKS “Hurt” [Single] Transgressive
8 ADRIANNE LENKER “anything” [Single] 4AD/Beggars Group
9 FRANCIS OF DELIRIUM “Equality Song” [Single] Dalliance
10 GINGER ROOT “Le Chateau” [Single] Acrophase
In the face of the continued push toward police reform based on further violence against the Black community by law enforcement officers, it is important we are all continuing to educate ourselves about the issues and how we can advocate for others. In July I published a blog post with a list of podcasts that are great educational resources, and I wanted to create a continuation including more great podcasts I’ve discovered since. I hope you check these out and enjoy them.
Radical Imagination
This show, hosted by Angela Glover Blackwell, consists of “stories and solutions that are fueling change.” The podcast covers a wide variety of interesting and important topics but especially relating to the movement is episodes like “Police Abolition” and “Reparations” which focus on police misconduct and the possibility of reparations for Black Americans.
Code Switch by NPR
A podcast all about race and racism and how these impact society. It’s also hosted by journalists of color. I recommend “Why Now, White People?” and “Anger: The Black Woman’s ‘Superpower’”, both episodes are really well-done. All in all this is a great podcast to dive into racial issues, politics, and culture.
What’s Left
This podcast focuses on political theory, philosophy, and current events from a typically left perspective, but is well-rounded in terms of its partisanship. I recommend the episodes “Abolish the Police” and “Police Brutality & State Violence.”
Stay In Your Lane: The Podcast
This podcast focuses on a different perspective, giving conversational-style entertainment about news and pop culture from the perspective of Black British women.
These podcasts are available on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Happy listening!
– Miranda
The first time I heard of City and Colour was on an episode of One Tree Hill where he played. It was the episode where Clay took Quinn out on a date and surprised her with a private show by City and Colour. How romantic!! I would love to have a private show by Dying Fetus, that would give me butterflies. Now, One Tree Hill is one of my favorite TV shows and I really enjoyed the sound of City and Colour because it was very soothing and I love music that is created with an acoustic guitar. It gives the music an authentic and pure sound to me. His songs are very emotional, passionate, and calming. I feel relaxed when I listen to his music. Simply put, City and Colour is a breath of fresh air.
City and Colour is the Canadian musician Dallas Michael John Albert Green. He is also known as a singer and rhythm guitarist for post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. In 2005, he dubuted his first full-length album, Sometimes, which became platinum in 2006. The name City and Colour comes from Green’s own name: Dallas (a city) and Green (a color). Green first got started with City and Colour by releasing songs on the internet for listeners to download and then compiled some songs in order to make his first album. Green has stated that the best type of music for him is sad music, he believes that this is the type of music he can escape to and the idea of sad music that people can identify with. A lot of the songs that Green writes about are from his own experiences and writing music is how he copes with it.
Discography:
Sometimes (2005)
Bring Me Your Love (2008)
Little Hell (2011)
The Hurry and the Harm (2013)
If I Should Go Before You (2015)
A Pill for Loneliness (2019)
Favorite Songs:
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, Northern Wind, Sensible Heart, Sleeping Sickness and Hello, Im Delaware.
What are some of your favorite City and Colour songs?
Stay Metal,
THE SAW
My favorites: Nothin’ But Net, Blue Jeans and Dinner Clothes, Bilbo’s Oboe
Listen if you like: of Montreal, Aphex Twin, Miniature Tigers
There are so many hidden gems in music out there, undiscovered until people just like you check them out! This week I’m reviewing on of my all-time favorite albums by the incredibly elusive band/project, Spooky. This album was a two-month project released in 2011 by band members of Miniature Tigers, Alvin Band, and Algernon (bands I also really recommend checking out for their indescribable styles). “Bitchcraft” is a short 6-song album tagged under the “hip-hop/rap” genre but to me fits better under the “experimental indie” label. The production of the album is quite detailed and features a variety of soundbites merged into intricate melodies. To top it off, the collaboration adds spectacular vocals, in some cases altered to add to the esoteric, psychedelic experience that the album provides.
I first discovered the album, “Bitchcraft”, while I was a teenager based on a friend’s recommendation and have been absolutely in love with it ever since. I remember lying on my bed listening to it for the first time and immediately being taken through an emotional journey. Every few months I remember how much I like the album and play through the whole thing, and I feel this way about very few albums; “Bitchcraft” is definitely a special one. I have yet to find someone else who has heard of the album or listened to it so I wanted to make sure to share it with the WKNC blog so more people can enjoy it.
The project members released four mini-movie teasers and two promos that go along with the album on Youtube. The videos are strange, esoteric, and plain weird but definitely fit within the world the musicians created in the album. Unfortunately, the project never garnered enough interest for them to continue making related content, but regardless what they did produce is absolutely worth a listen.
You can listen to the album on Bandcamp and check out their video teasers on YouTube.
– Miranda
It is no coincidence that another of my favorite records, and one of THE best Death Metal albums in history, features Chris Barnes! Tomb of the Mutilated was released through Metal Blade Records in 1992. This is their third studio album, and where Cannibal Corpse really hit their stride. Of course, Chris Barnes handles vocals (and all lyrical content and arrangements), Bob Rusey is on guitar (solos in songs 2, 3, 4 and 7), Jack Owen is also on guitar (solos in 3 and 7), Alex Webster is the mastermind on bass, and Paul Mazurkiewicz is the mad drummer.
The record was first banned in Germany because of the album cover and the “extremely disturbed" lyrics. The album cover soon had to be replaced by a tamer version (until some years later). And the band, itself, was banned by multiple countries altogether for several years. As an aside, this is interesting to me because, unless you have a trained ear, you can’t understand a word of Barnes’ gutterals!
I’d like to list the song titles for you, but cannot; for those are also too controversial. I can tell you that one song, “Hammer Smashed Face" was featured in the movie Ace Ventura Pet Detective, where Cannibal Corpse made a cameo appearance (the band was Jim Carey’s favorite), and is featured as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series. The song is known as a Death Metal Classic. “I Cum Blood" is also featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned. Those two songs, as well as “The Cryptic Stench" and “Split Wide Open,“ are fan favorites and played at most shows. The remaining songs I cannot list, here.
Tomb of the Mutilated has been described as a “high-concept album concerned with extreme necrophilia and sadism” by reviewers Jack Murray and Connur Joyce; especially concerning the last four songs, where the protagonist’s “mental state increasingly deteriorates.” Chris Barnes claims the lyrics are based on a true story, and one of the earlier songs on the record he says is based on his own experience (?!)!
Overall, reviewers rave about this album (as does your Master Butcher). As a rule, all say that it would be hard to pick out a favorite song (though I will) because they’re all awesome! The music is extremely complex and elaborated, especially when compared to their two previous records – unforgettable riffs, crushing bass progression, incredible drumming, and (of course) the unmistakable vocal gutterals.
In 2005, Tomb of the Mutilated was ranked number 278 in Rock Hard Magazine’s book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
Favorite song: Hammer Smashed Face
Rating: 10/10!! You must have this record in your playlist! It is TRUE Death Metal (IMO)!
What are some of your favorite songs off of Tomb of the Mutilated?
Stay Metal,
THE SAW
Hiking is really the only type of exercise I actually enjoy doing. Middle school gym class conditioned me to dislike (fear) any sport that involves a ball, lots of running, or really anything remotely competitive. So, here we are left with long nature walks.
In Raleigh, my favorite place to hike is on the Sal’s Branch trail at Umstead Park. It’s a beautiful wooded loop that I find really relaxing to walk on. Sometimes I prefer to hike without music just to hear nature, but I find that if I’m feeling especially overwhelmed, music and walking is the perfect combo to get me out of my head.
Here is a sneak peek into my hiking playlist. At first glance, it may look like a completely random and weird mixture of artists, which it absolutely is. However, if you take a listen, all these songs combine gentleness and beauty that allow for reflection, along with a steady or upbeat tempo that keeps you walking at a consistent pace. Don’t be fooled by the Jimi and Zeppelin appearance.
Go outside. Start walking. Take a listen. I hope it’s as meditative for you as it is for me.
1. Cherokee Mist – Jimi Hendrix
2. Orange Peel – Sopwith Camel
3. Heart to Heart – Mac Demarco
4. Benzo – Blood Orange
5. Nikes – Frank Ocean
6. Give It to Me – HOMESHAKE
7. Purity – A$AP Rocky (feat. Frank Ocean)
8. The Rain Song (Live) – Led Zeppelin
9. Stormy – The Meters
10. Lost My Mind – Will Van Horn
11. Mango (Freestyle/Process) – Orion Sun & Mulch
12. You Don’t Have to Change – Kool & The Gang
13. Hit Me Like That Snare – alt-J (feat. Rejjie Snow)
14. T.M. – Jack Kilmer
15. Too Late to Turn Back Now – Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
– DJ butter
As autumn approaches and the summer comes to an end, I am reflecting on a great summer despite all the strangeness because of COVID. One of my favorite go-to genres to listen to during hot summer months is surf punk especially because it reminds me of my high school years. I’m sharing some of my favorite songs of this genre, hope you enjoy and find some unique new songs.
Suburban Home – Descendents
The Descendents are an LA punk group that make some really great music, and this song is one of my favorites by them.
Nine Is God – Wavves
Although I didn’t love seeing this band live, I still really enjoy the band and think this is one of their best, especially because it’s featured in GTA V.
Awkward – FIDLAR
My top choice from this genre is FIDLAR, and this single keeps me reminded of why I loved this genre so much as a teenager. A really great punk-ish song that I can’t get enough of.
Sick Shit – together PANGEA
Catchy with a cool melody, this track is one of the best of together PANGEA.
Babes – Hockey Dad
Simple, nostalgic, punk. What more could you ask for? This one is perfect for a beach day or taking a drive on a summer day.
As always, you can check out these songs and more on my WKNC Friday Favorites playlist here. Let me know what you think!
– Miranda
Earl Sweatshirt is one of the standout artists from the former Odd Future collective and one of my favorite rappers. Along with his peers Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean, Earl is an artist that I grew up with, who matured as I matured. His debut mixtape Earl was released in 2010 when he was 16 years old and characterized him as a crude teenager who, in spite of his often cringey subject matter, undoubtedly had tons of potential.
Like the rest of us, Earl has grown a lot in the last ten years. I have curated a playlist that displays his growth, starting from 2013’s Doris to 2018’s Some Rap Songs. One of the highlights is “Chum”, the lead single off of Doris and Earl’s most popular song. From his relationship with his estranged father to his stay in a Samoan boarding school for at-risk youth, this track dives into his headspace prior to the release of Doris. Another highlight from Doris is Hive featuring Vince Staples and Casey Veggies. Earl’s stone cold delivery, combined with a grimey bass line and a killer Vince Staples verse make it one of my favorite rap songs ever.
2015 saw Earl at perhaps his most reclusive with his album I Don’t Like S***, I Don’t Go Outside, an album rife with themes of anxiety and avoidance. The cloud rap-inspired single “Grief” exemplifies the paranoia he experienced during the recording of this album. The song “AM // Radio” featuring Wiki, with its laid back sample loop, takes a less abrasive approach to similar themes.
In 2018, Earl Sweatshirt released Some Rap Songs, which I consider to be his best work. It is the result of almost ten years of artistic growth, and when compared to his early work it really shows. Everything from his production sensibilities to lyrical content have gotten better with age.
One of my favorite things about Earl is his willingness to be honest with his fans. He explores corners of his psyche that can be downright painful to face, but does it all the same – all while sharing his findings with the world.
– DJ Mango
Artist Record Label
1 CHELSEA GRIN “Bleeding Sun” [Single] Self-Released
2 FIT FOR A KING Annihilation [EP] Solid State
3 KATALEPSY Terra Mortuus Est Unique Leader
4 GUTTURAL SECRETE Nourishing The Spoil Rising Nemesis
5 DISENTOMB The Decaying Light Unique Leader
6 NECROT Mortal Tankcrimes
7 PIG DESTROYER The Octagonal Stairway [EP] Relapse
8 KATAKLYSM “Underneath the Scars” [Single] Nuclear Blast
9 WITHIN DESTRUCTION Yōkai Ultra Heavy
10 ACACIA STRAIN, THES low Decay Rise