If you listened to redveil’s intricate production and confident delivery you might not guess that he isn’t old enough to vote. As it turns out, the 16-year old rapper is already an industry vet who began releasing mixtapes at the age of 12. His latest release, Niagara, is a display of the talents he has already cultivated, as well as the potential he has as an artist at the beginning of his career.
The album opens with “Campbell”, a brief, two verse affair that showcases redveil’s ability to flow over a soulful sample loop. It serves as an appetizer for what’s to come on the rest of the project. It is followed by “Weight” which features a woozy vocal sample squashed underneath trap drums. Lines like “I remember when I was 11 and watching my blood on the TV get spilled out/Now I got a lil older, no love for the system and I’m reaching back for the grip now/And it’s really f— twelve I done grown in myself to the point I can see that they hate us” paint redveil as a jaded kid forced to grow up too quickly. Another highlight is “Fastlane” which finds veil reflecting on the trials and tribulations of his childhood over a jazzy piano loop.
Written, produced, and recorded (almost) exclusively by redveil in his bedroom, Niagara is a testament to the power of the DIY artist. It has established him as a budding artist who is wise beyond his years and has quite a lot to say. One thing is for sure: I’ll be listening.
One of my greatest loves, that I really could talk about forever, is album cover designs. Get ready. This is going to be a weekly series of my favorite album covers of all time, simply because there’s too many to fit into only one blog post.
I am a graphic design major and designer for WKNC, so you can imagine that aesthetics is very important to me. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I think this foolish. Who wants to read a book that’s title is in Comic Sans? Not I.
Album covers help to communicate a lot about an artist and the message behind their music. There is something so beautiful to me about having one type of art inform another, and album art does just that. One of my favorite things to do is peruse Nice Price Records on Hillsborough St. and find a record with the coolest cover I can find. Even if it’s in completely random genre section that I would normally never listen to, this has been a great way to find design inspiration and new music.
Both a mixture of classics and newbies, here’s my top five for this week’s installment of Album Art Gems:
1. Freetown Sound – Blood Orange
If you’ve read any of my blogs, you know that I am a big Dev Hynes fan. His album covers are always so beautiful, but “Freetown Sound” is the most standout to me. The colors are divine, and it pairs wonderfully with his album’s message to highlight Black relationships and love.
2. Axis: Bold as Love – Jimi Hendrix
I LOVE JIMI HENDRIX. He was a musical god and his genius on the guitar and as a poet is timeless. I had the “Axis” cover as a poster in my freshman dorm for an entire year. With Eastern philosophy and psychedelics gaining popularity in America right around the time “Axis” was released, the Jimi Hendrix Experience reflected this cultural revolution in this insane album art.
3. DHL (Single) – Frank Ocean
Frank is known for his simplicity and anonymity. To be entirely honest, I have no idea what’s going on in this cover, but I like it a lot. The type design for DHL is really fun and interesting, along with the colors overall.
4. Vacation in Hell – Flatbush Zombies
This album cover is mm *chef’s kiss*. FBZ are the dark, expressive rap group we all need right now, yet this cover really contrasts their normal undead vibes. During an interview, they said that this shoot was scheduled on a day when it was completely overcast and rainy. Just when they were about to call it quits as the day was ending, the sun burst through the clouds and they were able to take the perfect shot.
5. Let it Bleed – The Rolling Stones
Finally, we have a great classic from the Rolling Stones. Like the “DHL” single, I really have no idea what’s happening, but whatever it is, it’s working. If you look closely, the bottom layers of the “cake” seem to be made up of a bike tire, a pancake, a clock, and a film reel canister. The colors and strange simplicity of this cover will always make it one of my favorites.
You, walking down the street: “Wow what a perfect day. I’m seeing all my friends and doing all my favorite things. You know what would make this day even better? Some music playing in the background that fit every action I was doing as if I were in a movie.”
Well now, thanks to the power of Playlists, I bring you 10 songs that make you feel like you’re in a movie.
1. Peace Blossom Boogy by the Babe Rainbow Turn on the lights, pan the cameras, and play this song. Here we find you, the main character, driving your convertible with the top down along an unadulterated stretch of beach road. Dressed in bright colors, the sun reflects off of your yellow sunglasses as the wind rolls through your hair. A great introduction scene like none other.
2. Chapstick (Demo) by Hippo Campus You know those summer days when you’re with a few close friends, you’ve got no worries, and you feel like things could stay that way forever? Well boy have I got a song for you.
3. Dedicated To the One I Love By The Mamas and The Papas This one is for Quarantined Lovers, separated by a pandemic that has forced them to be apart from one another. The screen would split between the two, each in their different rooms, trying to distract themselves from thinking about each other.
4. Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan This song is perfect for a day when you’re just running around with a million things on your mind, you have a million things to do, and there’s more caffeine running through your body than blood. It’s one of those songs that says get out of my way, I don’t have time for chit chat, there are things to be done.
5. European Vegas by Mac Demarco To set the scene: you’re sitting at a bar, late at night, drink in hand. You’re nicely dressed but in a bit of a distressed state. This would be the part of a movie where the main character has had enough. Maybe they risked something and lost it all, or maybe they just had their heart broken. But whatever the case, they’ve somehow found themselves in this dimly lit, antiquated bar, thinking about all the mistakes they’ve made.
6. Weak Hearts by Felly Perfect for a time in your life when you, the main character, are going through some major changes and you’ve finally come far enough to look back on how you’ve changed and the decisions you’ve made. You can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
7. Heroes by David Bowie This song would totally be in the climax of the movie, where the main character realizes their true potential and finally faces whatever was troubling them.
8. Ooh La La by Faces This would be a great ending scene song. Similar to driving through a pretty place and looking back on a long week, the main character looks back on everything that has happened throughout the movie and realizes how they have grown.
Well there you have it, eight great songs perfect for their respective situations, that really make you feel like the main character in a movie.
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!
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?
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.
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?
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
