Category: Blog

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC’s top 30 albums from the past week

Check out the top 30 albums played during the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre:

1. Temper Trap – Conditions
2. Headlights – Wildlife
3. Via Tania – Moon Sweet Moon
4. Big Pink – A Brief History Of Love
5. James Husband – A Parallex
6. Noah and the Whale – The First Days Of Spring
7.  Happy Hollows – Spells
8. Royal Bangs – Let It Beep
9. No Age – Losing Feeling [EP]
10. Depreciation Guild – In Her Gentle Jaws
11. Fool’s Gold – Fool’s Gold
12. Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong
13. Brazos – Phosphorescent Blues
14. Flaming Lips – Embryonic
15. Port O’Brien – Threadbare
16. Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
17. Lake – Let’s Build A Roof
18. Bear in Heaven –  Beast Rest Forth Mouth
19. Le Loup – Family
20. Kitty Daisy and Lewis – Kitty Daisy And Lewis
21. Sea Wolf – White Water, White Bloom
22. Sissy Wish – Beauties Never Die
23. The XX – The Xx
24. Gospel Gossip – Dreamland
25. Rubik – Dada Bandits
26. Why? – Eskimo Snow
27. Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
28. Very Best – Warm Heart Of Africa
29. Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown
30. Soundtrack – Where The Wild Things Are

Categories
Weekly Charts

Top 10 Chainsaw albums from the past week

1. Baroness – Blue Record
2. Megadeth – Endgame
3. Immortal – All Shall Fall
4. The Red Chord – Fed Through the Teeth Machine
5. Saviours – Accelerated Living
6. Belphegor – Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwhan
7. Converge – Axe to Fall
8. Epica – Design Your Universe
9. Ahab – The Divinity of Oceans
10. Rammstein – Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da

Categories
Weekly Charts

Top 10 Afterhours albums from the past week

1. Boys Noize – Power
2. Felix Da Housecat – He Was King
3. U.S.E. – Love World
4. Amanda Blank – I Love You
5. David Guetta – One Love
6. Lusine – A Certain Distance
7. Wallpaper – Doodoo Face
8. Capsula – Sense of a Drop
9. Vinyl Life – Innovation
10. Yppah – They Know What Ghost Knows

Categories
Playlists

TOP 10: Red Collar

This Top 10 comes from Durham’s Red Collar.

Red Collar has had a fascinating year so far.  Its members decided to grasp their dreams by quitting  their great 9 to 5 jobs, cashing in retirement plans, holding yard sales and almost putting a home on the market in order to follow their dreams of touring. They document their journey on their blog.

Below are the lists of what each member is currently listening to. Red Collar said, “These lists of music reflect not only what we’re listening to now but bands we’ve played with over the past year.  There are local – now national – bands whose lead we admired and followed.  There are local – and soon to be national – bands who we love and trade war stories with.”

Beth: Bass/Vocals

1. Tom Waits – “Going Out West”
2. The Gaslight Anthem “The High and Lonesome Sound”
3. The Love Language – “Stars”
4. Des Ark – "Lord of the Rings and his Fascist Time Keepers”
5. Yo La Tengo – “I feel like going home”
6. Jawbox – “Savory”
7. K’Naan – “Dusty Foot Philosopher”
8. David Dondero – “the Real Tina Turner”
9. CCR – “Long as I Can See the Light”
10. Carole King “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

Mike: Guitar/Vocals

1.  Megafaun – “Gather, Form and Fly”
2. Spoon – “Everything Hits at Once”
3. Joe Tex “Papa was Too”
4. Sonic Youth – “Teenage Riot”
5. Bon Iver – “Skinny Love”
6. American Aquarium – “Katherine Belle”
7. TV on the Radio – “Shout Me Out”
8. Spider Bags – “Teenage Eyes”
9. Hammer No More the Fingers – “Shutterbug”
10. Modest Mouse – “Broke”

Jason: Lead Vocals/Guitar

1. The Love Language – “Providence”
2. Hammer No More the Fingers – “Some Bad Ass New Song”
3. The Sandwiches –  “And Out Come the (Timber) Wolves”
4. American Aquarium – “Katherine Belle”
5. Dave Dondero – “The Real Tina Turner”
6. I Was Totally Destroying It – “Come Out, Come Out”
7. Look Mexico – “You’re Not Afraid of the Dark, Are You?”
8. Worn in Red – “When People Have Something to Say”
9. Tooth/Claw Split 10"
10. The Mountain Goats – “This Year”

Jon:Drums

1. The Pogues – “Bottle of Smoke”
2. Ben Nichols – “Last Pale Light in the West”
3. Guided By Voices – “A Good Flying Bird”
4. Modest Mouse – “Dashboard”
5. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – “Jack the Ripper”
6. Glenn Kotche – “Mobile, Pts. 1 & 2”
7. The Clash “Straight to Hell”
8. Townes Van Zandt – “Lungs”
9. Bela Fleck – “Matitu”
10. Wilco -“One Wing”

And also this video…

Tools, live at the Cats Cradle and the Duke Coffeehouse

Red Collar | MySpace Video[/myspace]

Make sure to check these guys out Saturday November 7 at the Troika Music Festival and November 22 at the Berkeley Cafe.
Categories
New Album Review

88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week 9/8

Whitney “The Voice” Houston delivers with new album

Released 8/31/09
4.5/5 stars

When Whitney Houston first burst onto the scene in the mid 80s, she was the pinnacle of musical perfection. Modelesque looks, catchy songs, style, poise, undeniable stage presence and most importantly, a voice with limitless potential. Success surely followed, as Houston eventually sold more than 170 million albums, broke #1 records set by the Beatles and Elvis, earned more than $500 million worldwide at the Box Office, influenced a generation of singers and became the most awarded female artist of all time.

In the seven years since Houston’s last album Just Whitney, the musical landscape has changed a great deal. Record sales are at an all time low, the digital era has become even more dominant and vocal talent is no longer required to have a hit record, auto-tune and nakedness are. Just as the record industry has changed, Houston’s personal life has not gone without its share of transformations as there was the end of a tumultuous marriage to bad-boy Bobby Brown and stints in rehab.

With the release of Houston’s long-awaited “comeback” album, I Look To You, critics and fans alike have asked the question, “is there room for Whitney Houston in this new age?“ The answer is quite simply, yes.

I Look To You begins with the catchy first single “Million Dollar Bill,” produced and written by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats.  "Million Dollar Bill" is an up-tempo, bass driven track, with a retro-disco vibe and is one of the albums best.

Next is the Danja produced, up-tempo, synth-driven “Nothing But Love.“  Houston shares how she has nothing but love for those who have hurt her in the past, while accepting responsibility for her own actions. Other up-tempos include the club worthy Euro-pop “For the Lovers” and the Leon Russell penned classic, made famous by Donny Hathaway, “A Song For You” which starts out as a piano-driven ballad, but soon turns into an electronic techno-smash.

With I Look To You, Houston sings some of the best mid-tempos of her career including the R.Kelly written, Tricky Stewart produced, “Salute,” “Worth It” and the Johnta Austin penned Stargate produced “Call You Tonight.“ "Salute” is the ultimate brush-off anthem done with class, while “Worth It” is the perfect love song reminiscent of Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You”. The Stargate produced, contemporary “Call You Tonight” has Houston singing to a potential love interest that she doesn’t have to time connect with.  Any of the aforementioned would be viable singles.

Houston, known for her ability to interpret songs, rather than writing, pens two of the albums island-influenced mid-tempo’s, along with R&B singer Akon. The duet “Like I Never Left”, sounds as though it could be directed to the a past lover or the to public in a plea to love her like she never went away. With “I Got You”, Houston talks of love and loyalty and how neither distance nor time can separate loved ones.

Houston is a self-described “balladeer’, so naturally an album from the legendary Icon wouldn’t be complete without a couple of power ballads. With both “I Look To You” and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,“ Whitney comes from a spiritual place, sharing that when she was lost, it was her faith that brought her through.

Houston covers all bases with an album that will make you want to dance, cry, make love, feel inspired and everything in between. Vocally, the highs may not be as high and the lows are lower, but Houston still delivers and is able to convey each song with the feeling,  power and emotion as only she can. If you are expecting “The Bodyguard” era vocals, you will be disappointed. Whitney’s voice has undergone its share of changes, but is still better than the majority of who you’ll hear on the radio.

Houston and "industry father” executive producer, Clive Davis have managed to blend experience with relevance, in keeping with tradition of the classic Whitney we know and love, while remaining fresh and current. Overall, I Look To You is the perfect blend of ballads, mid-tempos and up-tempos from arguably the greatest female vocalist of all time. Welcome back, Whitney.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

“Saturday Night Soul and R&B” with host Mir.I.am airs weekly from 9 to 11 p.m.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Ticket giveaways for last week of October!

Check out these awesome shows going on this week that WKNC is giving away tickets to:

Tuesday, October 27:

Pinback w/ Bellini @ Cat’s Cradle

Thursday, October 29:
Calico Haunts w/ Mt. Moriah and Filthybird @ Nightlight

Junior Boys w/ Woodhands @ Cat’s Cradle

Friday, October 30:

Polynya w/ Veelee and Actual Persons Living or Dead @ Nightlight

Why? w/ Au and Serengeti & Polyphonic @ Cat’s Cradle

Saturday, October 31:

Toubab Krewe w/ Floating Action @ Cat’s Cradle

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band w/Funkuponya and Eymarel @ Lincoln Theatre

Be sure to tune into 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets! Also, check out the Rock Report for a complete listing of local shows near you!

Categories
Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones Five Music Facts from the past week

1. The super-group Them Crooked Vultures have announced their self-titled, debut album will be released next month. The group which features David Grohl (The Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), and John Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) are scheduled to tour the UK in December after their album releases.  (via NME)

2. Just six months after the release of its last album, Eels has announced that its follow up to “Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire” entitled “End Times” will be released January 19 of next year.  (via Pitchfork)

3. The London based ensemble The Rakes has split up and canceled their upcoming tour or the UK and the United States. In a statement released by the band, it explained, “If we can’t give it everything then we won’t do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one. After much deliberation we have come to the shared conclusion that we can’t give it 100 per cent any more and regret to announce that The Rakes are calling it a day.” In the same statement it concluded, “We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to write music together and perform around the world. Genuinely, thanks for the good times… that was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep.” Fans who have purchased tickets will be fully refunded. (via NME)

4. After the bassist and drummer of Jay Reatard’s band quit earlier this month, it has been announced that Jay Reatard has already lined up drummer Jacob Elving and bassist Anders Thode (both of which are from the punk band Cola Freaks. Reatard is planning to follow up with a European tour and a North American tour. They will be playing in Chapel Hill at the Local 506 on December 1. (via Matador Records)

5. Singer/songwriter Andrew Bird has announced he will be playing five acoustic shows set in various churches this December. The artist, who is currently touring in support of his most recent album “Noble Beast”. When asked about the church based shows Bird responded,“What I hope to do with these shows is adapt my music completely to the atmosphere of the space and the season.” (via NME)

Categories
Music News and Interviews

MARS VOLTA SHOW at the DISCO RODEO- CANCELED

Listeners, if you were pumped for the Mars Volta show at the Disco Rodeo tonight, well unfortunately the show has been canceled. There is no official word on why the show has been canceled yet.  If you’re still looking for other awesome shows tonight to attend, be sure to check out our Rock Report.

Refunds will be available at point of purchase starting Monday, October 26.  Tickets purchased online or by phone will be refunded automatically. For more information go to www.livenation.com.

Categories
DJ Highlights

WKNC’s new kids on the block

Listeners: meet the fresh faces of 88.1 FM – our newest DJs!

DJ Element of the 6 Star
Name inspired by: its’ badass quality.
Format: Daytime Rock.
Top five musical artists: Bob Marley, Outkast, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

DJ King Richard
Name inspired by: King Richard the Lionheart. The long version is King Richard the Vinylheart.
Format: Daytime Rock Fri 5-7 a.m.
Best concert ever attended: Wilco at Ohio University.
Top five musical artists:  Streetlight Manifest/Catch 22, Gnarls Barkley, Goo Goo Dolls, Islands and Radiohead.

DJ Training Monkey Jeff (temporary name)
Name inspired by: his DJ trainers.
Format: Afterhours.
Best concert ever attended: Tool, 2007.
Top five musical artists: The Mars Volta, Tool, Weezer, Deftones and Led Zeppelin.

DJ Nebula
Name inspired by: outer space.
Format: Daytime Rock/Specialty?
Best concert ever attended: Fleet Foxes.
Top five musical artists:  Pavement, Velvet Underground, The Intelligence, Black Dice and Guided By Voices.

DJ Elly Mae
Format: Daytime Rock Fri 9-11 a.m. with K-Line
Best show ever attended: Roman Candle and The Deep Vibration at the Cat’s Cradle.
Top five musical artists: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Credence Clearwater Revival, Heart and Pink Floyd.

DJ ones
Name inspired by: the combination of the ‘J’ in ‘DJ’ and ‘ones’ forms his last name.
Format: Daytime Rock/Local Lunch Tue 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Best concert ever attended: The Who in Washington D.C.
Top five musical artists: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, Fleet Foxes, The White Stripes.

DJ Raging Amy
Name inspired by: a slip-up by her DJ trainer who called her “Amy” on the air instead of her actual name. Her suite mate contributed the “raging” part of the name.
Format: Daytime Rock.
Best concert ever attended: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Top five musical artists: Aerosmith, Electric Six, MSI, AC/DC and Cake.

DJ Pilot
Name inspired by: his last name.
Format: Specialty
Best concert ever attended: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
Top five musical artists: Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Caveman and Steely Dan.

DJ Savid
Name inspired by: rearranging the letters of his last name.
Format: Daytime Rock Fri 9-11 a.m. with LOLCait
Best concert ever attended: Sister Hazel at Lincoln Theater.
Top five musical artists: Daft Punk, Rodrigo y Gabriella , Queen, Calvin Harris and M. Ward.

DJ Nicole
Format: Daytime Rock.
Best concert ever attended: Ratatat.
Top five musical artists: Ratatat, Islands, Passion Pit, Ben Folds and Regina Spektor.

DJ Lancelot Link
Name inspired by: a TV show from the 1970s.
Format: Daytime Rock Sun 7-9 a.m.
Best concert ever attended: The Melvins at Cat’s Cradle.
Top five musical artists: Owls, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Ahleucatistas, Nation of Ulysses and Bardo Pond.

DJ Alex (name to come)
Format: Daytime Rock.
Best concert ever attended: The Decemberists.
Top five musical artists: Metric, She & Him, Band of Horses, Ryan Adams and MGMT.

DJ Hot Tomale
Name inspired by: a high school volleyball team nickname.
Format: Daytime Rock Wed 1-3 p.m. with Riff Raff
Best concert ever attended: Ben Kweller at The Cat’s Cradle.
Top five musical artists: The Who, Bloc Party, Kings of Leon, Ben Kweller, and Coldplay.

DJ K-Line
Name inspired by: a variation of letters in her first name.
Format: Daytime Rock Fri 9-11 a.m. with DJ Elly May
Best concert ever attended: Rasputina.
Top five musical artists: Jimmy Eat World, Blue October, Cursive, Rasputina and The Cardigans.

DJ Ghengis Kwon
Name inspired by: his last name.
Format: Afterhours.
Best concert ever attended: Muse in Atlanta.
Top five musical artists: Basshunter, Aphex Twin, Ratatat, M83 and Apparat.

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT09 State Fair 10/19/09

This week’s Eye on the Triangle decided to give listeners a sneak peek at this year’s Pack Howl Act, but as always, our EOT team gave you the regular segments you are used to as well.

NEWS:
Evan Garris gave listeners an update on the balloon boy hoax, the interim executive director of the Alumni Association after Lennie Barton’s firing, the H1N1 vaccine running out in Wake County and more.

SPORTS:
Derek Medlin, John Cooper Elias and Tyler Everett analyzed the Pack’s performance against Boston College.

VIP:
In this week’s VIP, in honor of the North Carolina State Fair being in town, DJ Chris Cioffi took listeners on his journey to enjoy his State Fair experience, spending as little money as possible. He quickly found out that going for free was not a viable option. This year’s State Fair included a lot of representation from N.C. State, including an appearance from the infamous Hillsborough Street Barrel Monster, ice cream from N.C. State’s Food Science Department, a look at how to milk a cow from N.C. State’s Animal Science Club and more.

HOMECOMING:
As promised, Homecoming Chair Adam Compton came on as a guest to Eye on the Triangle to officially announce the Homecoming Pack Howl Act. We talked to him about Homecoming 2009 events and how they compare to previous years’ events, and then let him explain the Pack Howl act, which is NOT going to be a band this year. If you haven’t read Special K’s blog post or listened to the show, we won’t ruin the surprise for you.

COMMUNITY CANVAS:
Mike Alston interviewed Megan Gulledge for this week’s Community Canvas on her artwork, after reading about Gulledge in Goodnight Raleigh.  Gulledge has an opening at First Friday at the Busy Bee. Here is an excerpt of Gulledge’s bio from her Web site: Certain experiences in life change the way you see the world.  When I was in college I traveled to Ireland with eleven other art students and two professors.  We were required to keep journals to document our experiences through writing and drawing.  One of the more interesting techniques that I learned from keeping a journal is to almost remove yourself a level, step back from what you are so immersed in for the sake of capturing it in a more effective way.  A result of that trip was a new perspective on life, an obsession for moments.
Check out some of Megan’s artwork below.

HEAR THIS:
Music clips in hear This and throughout Monday’s show were from local musicians that are part of the weeklong Cherry Bounce line up. To tell us more about the festival line up and it’s progression, Rachel Sloane sat down with event organizers Billy Warden and Greg Behr. You can read more about the festival on wknc.org/blog.

WOLFPACKER OF THE WEEK:
This week’s Wolfpacker of the Week was Zach Schnell, a junior in environmental technology and member of the Wolfpack Environmental Association. He sat down with Jacob Downey to talk about sustainability on campus.

SOUNDBYTES:
Student Media Photographer Matt Moore went around campus and talked to students about what they think of the proposed government soda tax. The tax is intended to help pay for health care reform and combat obesity.

Listen to episode nine.