Categories
New Album Review

The attack of “Aealo”

Aealo is a Greek word meaning thrashing, catastrophe, or destruction. That is exactly what Rotting Christ’s latest album does – it destroys.  However, it does so in a beautiful way. It may crush you and pummel you, but it will find a way to lift you up with its guitar melodies.

I have always been a fan of Rotting Christ, and I enjoy all of their albums. Though the band may be as old as I am, this hasn’t stopped them from progressing and defining itself with each new album. “Aealo” is no exception to that rule.

Every song on the album is an entity of its own, bringing in so many elements from past albums as well as adding new elements at the same time.  It’s hard to pick just one song on this album because each one is that good, able to stand on its own. You could randomly pick any song on the album and you would still leave it on repeat.  What makes this album really standout is that it incorporates Mediterranean influences into the songs, such as Greek chants, and Greek melodies played on guitars. I want to pick out songs for someone interested to listen to, but I cannot, because they are all equally as impressive.  If I had to rate this album, I couldn’t because it is that well done. Sakis has written some of his best riffs to date, and Themis performs some of his best drumming on this album.

To use a quote I saw from Sakis in an interview with blistering.com, “This album is Hellenic, it is Greek.” And maybe that is what makes this album so amazing.  There is no question – I believe I have already found my album of the year, maybe even of the decade.  I cannot tell you how much I recommend this album to anybody who enjoys metal, or who wishes to expand their music library and tastes.  From the opening chants to the closing riffs,  you will be blown away by this album. The members of Rotting Christ are true defenders of metal, and keep the banner of not only the left hand path raised high, but also the banner of metal, and this album shows that.

Categories
DJ Highlights

Sessions@KNC: Aminal

No, not Animal: Aminal. You may have heard the Fight EPs (A Will to Fight EP and A Face to Fight EP), and they rock.  Since then, Aminal has come up with some extremely energetic new material, and it is time to share.

Photo by Eric Scholz

Aminal has two nearby shows coming up: March 13 at Jack Sprat and March 16 at the Pour House! This session was probably one of the more hilarious, yet packed with great tunes.

Photo by Eric Scholz

Categories
Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past week

1. The National’s new album entitled “High Violet” will be released in May. The National are planning to play a series of music festivals over the summer, with individual tour dates starting in late March in support to the follow up of 07’s “Boxer.” (via NME)

2. Pin Me Down, the side-project of Bloc Party guitarists Russell Lissack, is set to release it’s debut album April 19th in the UK. Lissack is joined alongside of singer-songwriter Milena Mepri. (via NME)

3. Belle and Sebastian are back after a short hiatus. In an email sent to the member of their mailing list, the band stated that they were currently writing new material in Glasgow, Scotland, and they plan on coming to Los Angeles to record the new material in the near future. The band currently has three shows scheduled in mid-July and early August. (via Pitchfork)

4. Adrian Utley  (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) are collaborating to create a new score to the 1928 silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” (via Pitchfork)

5. Animal Collective have unveiled a new art exhibit for the New York’s Guggenheim Museum. The exhibit included psychedelic sounds and abstract models. The exhibit is called “Transverse Temporal Gyrus” and was created alongside Danny Perez. The exhibit featured all new music from the band. (via Spin)

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT22 History Reform 3/01/10

This week’s EOT covered many topics popping up in the news lately from history education reform to the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti to Ignite Raleigh, and more. Be sure to check out the links for more info.

NEWS

On this week’s newscast, guest newscaster William Lampe and Correspondent Evan Garris gave us the top headlines for the week:
Earthquake/Tsunami
Bosnian wars
Guantanamo detainee case
Apple’s use of child labor
Canada beats U.S.
I-40 wreckage
ABC system in N.C.

SPORTS
This week in sports, Correspondents Tommy Anderson and Tyler Everett gave listeners the weekly update.

VIEWPOINT
This week, Evan spoke on his views about tolerance toward homosexuality. Here is an excerpt: This stigma we’ve created is what’s unacceptable – and oh, did we create it. No god would be so bold as to say one man is worth more than another because of who he happens to love. Homosexuality is about as much of a choice as heterosexuality, but for some reason, we can’t see the writing on the wall; for some reason, two men cannot share a loving relationship equal to that of a man and a woman. I guess it’s just become easier to fear what we don’t know and hate what we refuse to understand.“

VIP
Members of North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction drafted of a plan that calls for teaching history before 1877 to not be taught in North Carolina high schools in the traditional way but instead for it to be taught in elementary and middle schools. Since this first draft was published, the amount of debate over it has been intense. Some believe students won’t be able to get the history education necessary to excel in college, while others argue that students are given a more specialized look into particular areas of U.S. history. Michael Jones, a history major and EOT correspondent, thought he would set the record straight. He sat down N.C. State Professor Holly Brewer and Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction June Atkinson, to get a more comprehensive understanding of what’s in the first draft and what the implications of the first draft have on history education reform in North Carolina. And EOT host Saja Hindi did a live phone interview with social studies teacher from Broughton High School Lee Quinn to talk about the plan and teachers’ sentiments. The initial plan was rejected after feedback and a new plan is set to be posted in April.

COMMUNITY CANVAS

This week on Community Canvas, Jacob Downey talked with Ryan Boyles an event coordinator for Ignite Raleigh. The second Ignite Raleigh event will take place March 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre. Fifteen participants will be sharing their ideas about topics ranging from 20 Little-Known Facts about Sex & Pleasure to Mayberry Modernism or Why the Triangle is America’s Hotspot for Way Cool Houses. Boyles tells us how the presenters were chosen, the constraints of the five minute presentations and how audience members can give back to their community at through Donors Choose. We also talked one of the founders of the Ignite series Brady Forrest about the events origin.

WOLFPACKER OF THE WEEK
For this week’s online-exclusive Wolfpacker of the Week, I sat down with Jennifer Halweil, a senior in electrical engineering, to talk about her project with a team of two other students to participate in a world-wide competition hosted by Société Générale, an international bank headquartered in Paris. "We are the only U.S. team that has advanced to the second round of the competition,” Halweil said. To make it to the final round of the competition and potentially win 12,000 euros and the opportunity to implement their idea, the group had 12 days (since the interview) to promote a wikiblog about the project and garner as much feedback and support through the site.  Her team’s idea is “to create a banking network to support women entrepreneurs, with the goal of increasing women’s access to financial capital, as well as creating opportunities for women in poor and rural areas.”

SOUNDBYTES
This week on Soundbytes, Correspondent Chris Cioffi talked to students about how they were helping or hope the University will help to benefit those who suffered from the earthquakes in Haiti and Chili.

Comments, questions, suggestions? E-mail us at publicffairs@wknc.org.

Listen to episode 22.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/
Categories
Music News and Interviews

WKNC poll on Technician’s Web site

The Technician has added a poll to its main page asking if YOU would like to hear WKNC played on various on-campus locations such as campus C-Stores and dining halls. The poll can be found on the bottom right hand side of the home page.

Help us make this dream a reality and vote today!

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC’s top 30 Daytime albums from the past week

Here are the top 30 albums played in WKNC’S Daytime format over the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director John Hubbard:

1. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
2. Toro y Moi- Causers of This
3. Javelin -No Mas
4. Local Natives- Gorilla Manor
5. Gigi- Maintenant
6. Surfer Blood-Astro Coast
7. Via Audio-Animalore
8. Oh No Ono- Eggs
9. Angelo Spencer- Angelo Spencer et Les Hauts Sommets
10. Golden Triangle- Double Jointer
11.Laarks- An Exaltation of Laarks
12.Beach House –Teen Dream
13. Gospel Gossip- Drift
14. Spoon-Transference
15. Joanna Newsom-Have One On Me
16. Efterklang- Magic Chairs
17. Hot Chip- One Life Stand
18. Soft Tags- Mathematical Monsters
19. Yeasayer- Odd Blood
20. Shout Out Louds-Work
21. Butterfly Bones- Pretty Feelings
22. Xiu Xiu- Dear God, I Hate Myself
23. Four Tet- There is Love in You
24. Field Music- Field Music (Measure)
25. Los Campesinos! –Romance is Boring
26. Vampire Weekend- Contra
27. Ernest Gonzales- Been Meaning to Tell You
28.Midlake-The Courage of Others
29.Ruby Suns –Fight Softly
30.Titus Andronicus– The Monitor

Categories
Non-Music News

WKNC a contender in Independent’s Best of the Triangle

It’s that time again! The Independent Weekly’s 2010 Best of the Triangle poll is live. This is your opportunity to vote for the best restaurants, bars, music venues, and, of course, radio station in the triangle area. The polls close April 15.

WKNC is in the running for Best Radio Station in the Triangle. Also, the staff has nominated DJ Ones for best DJ.

Don’t forget to vote!

Categories
DJ Highlights

Local Beat recap 2/26/10

Because of WKNC broadcasting NC State Baseball once more this Spring, last Friday was the last live airing of the Local Beat for an entire month.  Nevertheless, it was a good one with three hours of some solid local music interviews.

Traffic on I-40 was terrible as Chapel Hill group Feeding the Fire got caught up and came in 25 minutes late.  However, when they finally did arrive we had a lot to talk about since they are releasing their first full length album since becoming a band back in 2003, titled DisInfoNation.  We talked about the writing and recording of the album, as well as the operation of their own record label, Own Life Records, and the album artwork of DisInfoNation.  The album release party is this Thursday evening at the Local 506 with fellow locals Big Fat Gap and the Rocket Surgeons.  Check out the interview below:
Feeding the Fire Live on the Local Beat 2/26/10

stand alone player

Quantcast

At 6 p.m. Wendy Spitzer came in to promote her debut full length album from Felix Obelix, A Tick of the Clock, A Beat in the Chest, which was released at the Nightlight in Chapel Hill Saturday night.  The concert featured The Strugglers and a really interesting writing activity in which you write a letter to yourself eight months from now.  That led to interesting conversation about her past projects that include a Time Capsule as well as a “Biggest Regret/ Best Decision” project from last year.  Wendy and I also mused on her unique singing style as well as the very different musical instruments in her band.  Take a listen:
Felix Obelix on the Local Beat 2/26/10

The Kickin Grass Band joined me for the last hour of the show to promote some of their upcoming shows and play some live tunes.  Our conversation ranged anywhere from organic farming, to Lynda’s songwriting, and back to eating cats.  It was definitely an interesting hour.  All songs they played live are available for free download on the Local Beat ReverbNation page and you can listen to them in the music player to the right.  Below is the entire interview and some videos from the KGB in studio:
Kickin Grass Band Live on the Local Beat 2/26/10

Local Beat w/ Adam Kincaid: Kickin Grass Band “Lay Him in the Ground (Live)” from Wolf TV on Vimeo.
As I mentioned, this is possibly the last live Local Beat for the next month.  However, be on the lookout for more Local Beat Mini Exclusives!

Categories
DJ Highlights

Limited Local Beat in March

Due to broadcast with NC State Baseball on WKNC, The Local Beat will have a limited run in the month of March.  The Local Beat is on Friday evenings at 5pm until 8pm and will overlap with baseball several times in the spring.  The baseball schedule for Fridays in March is as follows:

Friday March 5:  NC State vs Quinnipiac (broadcast at 2:30 p.m., game at 3:00 p.m.)
Friday March 12: NC State @ Clemson (broadcast at 3:30 p.m., game at 4:00 p.m.)
Friday March 19: NC State @ Wake Forest (broadcast at 5:30 p.m., game at 6:00 p.m.)
Friday March 26: NC State vs Miami (broadcast at 6:00 p.m., game at 6:30 p.m.)

*All games and times are subject to change due to weather and field conditions.

This is good news for me, since I love N.C. State baseball.  If rain gets in the way then fear not, I will try to be in the studio bringing you some solid local music.  It really is a win-win! (Keep in mind that if you listen online you will not hear the baseball game or the Local Beat. )

Click here for the complete baseball schedule.

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT22 History Reform

We kick things off with news, sports, and viewpoint. This week’s VIP covers history reform in NC, Community Canvas covers Ignite Raleigh, and Cioffi covers Soundbytes.