Category: Playlists

Great tunes to add to your own playlists

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Playlists

The Saw’s Choice Cuts: Amon Amarth

Welcome to the Saw’s Butcher Shop, Butcher Crew! It is me, The Saw, and I’m back today to feature my Band of the Week: Amon Amarth. 

Ah, yes… Melodic Death Metal at its finest. These guys have been doing this for over three decades, and they have it down to a science. Amon Amarth began with more of a Black Metal sound, which evolved into some of the best Melodic Death Metal in history. Amon Amarth’s music is very harmonious, anthemic, and heavy. Johan has one of the best voices in Metal, and the band as a whole is tight and on point at all times. They are known as one of the hardest working bands around and, in fact, have just joined with (The titans) Iron Maiden on a partnership in the video game industry. That’s right, Eddie and the Berserker sharing a screen of bloodshed! 

Like I said, Amon Amarth have gone through changes in their sound, so picking my favorite songs necessarily spans their long career. BTW, their newest live record, Pursuit of Vikings, spans their career and covers many of my favorites. You should check it out! One thing is definite, no matter the era, Amon Amarth is bad ass! Enjoy my picks!! 

Fafner’s Gold

Blood Eagle

Fate of Norns

The Pursuit of Vikings

Raise Your Horns

Destroyer of the Universe

Aerials (SOAD cover)

Guardians of Asgaard

Vs. the World

A Thousand Years of Oppression

Runes to My Memory

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Playlists

Friday Favorites

Written by Miranda

Gravity (ft. Tyler, The Creator, DJ Dahi) – Brent Faiyaz

An anthem about the difficulties of love – who can’t relate to this song? This pairs a beat that sounds straight out of an Odd Future album with a catchy hook and adlibs and verse from Tyler, The Creator that will keep you coming back.

AIN’T GONNA STOP ME (ft. Monte Booker, Kenny Beats) – reggie

We can all use some positivity in these difficult times, and this is the perfect track to get you uplifted and remind you that you’re unstoppable.

UGUDBRU (ft. Sam Truth) – AG Club

Breaking down genre stereotypes and transforming their sound with every new release, AG Club has made another amazing track. Give it a listen and be sure to stick around for the beat change in the second half.

Karma & Friends – Cautious Clay

Cautious Clay’s new EP teases the great things to come from his upcoming debut album “Deadpan Love,” out June 25th. The new song features a great music video, too.

Listen to this week’s Friday Favorites, as well as my favorites from past weeks, on WKNC’s Spotify.

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Playlists

DJ Butter’s Playlist of the Week Part 5

This week, I’ll be pressing rewind and going back to some of my older favorites! I recently used my DJ skills at a photo shoot and had to dive into my archives to find music that fit the “vibe” of the set. It was super fun! It’s actually crazy how much my music taste has changed over the past year, especially since my current show focuses mostly on retro tunes. I ended up rediscovering some of my favorite songs from freshman year, high school and even some from middle school. Here are some of my choice picks that I’ve been listening to this week:

1. OKAGA, CA – Tyler, the Creator (feat. Alice Smith, Leon Ware and Clem Creevy)

This has to be one of the best Tyler songs ever released. His talent as a producer really shines on this relaxing, serene track. It’s somehow romantic, haunting and tranquil at the same time.

2. ttktv – Injury Reserve

This song off of Injury Reserve’s first album, “Live from the Dentist Office,” is slow yet electric. I absolutely love the texture it has and the drum sounds that underline the track.

3. Infatuation – Takeoff

I’m not much of a Takeoff fan, but this song has an almost Pharell-like quality to it that you can’t help but fall in love with. It’s a tender track that’s lyrically pretty different from the rest of his solo work.

4. Tribe Quest – Sirius Blvck (feat. Oreo Jones & DMA)

The flow on this song is absolutely insane. Oreo Jones, DMA and Sirius Blvck really pull out all the stops. This was one of my favorite rap songs in high school and it still is!

5. Soap – Deem Spencer

This song was one of Deem Spencer’s first releases. If you’re into sad emo rap, you’ll love it. It’s a melancholy tune with lyrics somber enough to make you cry.

6. Grown Up – Danny Brown

I know it’s mainstream, but this is my favorite Danny Brown song. It really reminds me of old-school rap songs from the ’90s.

7. Didn’t Cha Know – Erykah Badu

Can’t leave out Miss Badu! Her music is always so relaxing and lovely. The use of the bongos in this song is AMAZING and her voice flows over it all like pure honey.

8. Where U From – HUNCHO JACK (Quavo & Travis Scott)

I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures (just like what you like! no shame!) but if I had to name mine, it would be this album. It’s SO underrated. “Where U From,” my favorite song off “Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho,” has an catchy, almost Asain-inspired beat to it.

– DJ Butter

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Playlists

The Saw’s Choice Cuts: Hard Rock

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s your Master Butcher, The Saw and I am back with some more choice cuts! Instead of a band, I have a genre that I have been listening to a lot here recently, and that is hard rock. Not just any type of hard rock but late 90s/early 2000s hard rock. I have always been a fan of this era of music because this was the era that I grew up in. 

Also, this beautiful weather puts me in a hard rock mood. Nothing gives me as much serotonin as driving down the road with all my windows down on a warm sunny day, singing along to some hard rock. It gives me big summer festival vibes as well which is also something that I enjoy. 

Here are some of my favorite hard rock songs that I have been listening to recently:

  • The Red – Chevelle 
  • I Stand Alone – Godsmack 
  • Whatever – Godsmack 
  • Speak – Godsmack 
  • Killing In The Name – Rage Against The Machine 
  • Bodies – Drowning Pool 
  • Youth of the Nation – P.O.D. 
  • Paralyzer – Finger Eleven 
  • Chop Suey!  – System of a Down 
  • Toxicity – System of a Down 
  • Got the Life – KoRn 
  • Break – Three Days Grace
  • Painkiller – Three Days Grace 
  • Control – Puddle Of Mudd 
  • Through Glass – Stone Sour 
  • Fine Again – Seether 
  • A Careless Whisper – Seether
  • Drive – Incubus 
  • Sober – Tool 

What are some of your favorite hard rock songs? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

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Playlists

Friday Favorites

Written by Miranda

Kiss Me More (ft. SZA) – Doja Cat

I definitely couldn’t let this legendary new single fly under the radar. If it’s been on your “to listen” list, go check it out now. It’s just as good as you’re imagining a collaboration with the two best pop artists of 2021 would be.

Nobody But You (ft. Jorja Smith) – Sonder

A single-track collaboration between Sonder, a project between producers Atu and Dpat with vocals by Brent Faiyaz, and vocalist Jorja Smith. Beautiful and simplistic.

Balloon – Crumb

Soothing vocals with an ethereal synth and drum beat makes for something great on Crumb’s newest single release, along with the track “BNR.”

EYEZNOLIEZ (ft. Burial & Nosaj Thing) – Gooodnight

An endlessly upbeat instrumental collaboration between Gooodnight, Burial, and Nosaj Thing with some truly terrifying album art is exactly what I need to get my workout flowing.

Awake (ft. Mahalia) – Chiiild

A flirty track marking the third release of Chiiild’s single tracks so far this year.

Listen to this week’s Friday Favorites, as well as my favorites from past weeks, on WKNC’s Spotify.

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Miscellaneous Playlists

Australia Favorites

Australia is home to an amazing indie rock and indie pop scene, one I had not discovered until a few years ago. Despite a few Australian artists breaking into the American mainstream over the years such as Vance Joy, Troye Sivan, and Natalie Imbruglia, I had not explored the depths of the Australian music scene. Without further ado, let me highlight some of my favorite songs by some of my favorite Australian artists.

Courtney Barnett – Indie Rock 

  • “Walkin’ On Eggshells”
  • “Elevator Operator”

Mallrat – Pop

  • “Charlie”
  • “Uninvited”

Alex Lahey – Indie Rock

  • “Every Day’s the Weekend”
  • “I Want U”

Last Dinosaurs – Indie Rock

  • “Zoom”
  • “Andy”

Julia Jacklin – Indie Pop

  • “Pressure To Party”
  • “Someday – triple j Like A Version”

Hockey Dad – Indie Rock

  • “Sweet Release”

Tame Impala – Psychedelic Rock

  • “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”

The Jungle Giants – Indie Rock

  • “Creepy Cool”

Skegss – Indie Rock

  • “Spring Has Sprung”

You can listen to this selection of songs on a playlist I made just for you.

Until next time,

Caitlin

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Playlists

The Saw’s Choice Cuts: Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains Logo

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s your Master Butcher, The Saw, and I have another band up on the slab for The Saw’s Choice Cuts! Now, it is no secret that I love Alice In Chains. I am a big grunge fan and Alice In Chains is the band that got me into grunge. My mom and dad played them frequently when I was a child and I remember listening to them driving down a back road with my mom. Alice In Chains is the perfect combination of harmony, groove, and emotion. The riffs that are in their songs are influenced by metal and hard rock, and that’s why I will argue that grunge is a different sub-genre of metal. The lyrics are packed with emotion, especially the songs that have Layne Staley (RIP) on vocals. You can hear how much he is hurting within their songs and I think that’s why I love Layne and the band so much. I like music that captures true, raw emotion, and that is exactly what Alice In Chains does. You can feel the emotion in each song with every breath that Layne takes. His voice was so beautiful and he sang like a wounded angel. 

In no particular order, here are my favorite Alice In Chains songs: 

  • Would? 
  • Man in the Box 
  • Rooster 
  • Nutshell
  • Them Bones
  • Dam That River 
  • Check My Brain 
  • Bleed The Freak
  • Junkhead 
  • Again 
  • Love, Hate, Love
  • Angry Chair 
  • A Looking In View 
  • Get Born Again 

What are some of your favorite Alice In Chains songs? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

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Playlists

5 French indie songs for Spring 2021

French Artists Claire Laffut, Poupie and the duet BARON.E are displayed with white outlines on a blurry blue and purple flowery background, with the title "Frencg indie songs for Spring 2021" in white.

As I was looking for indie French bops to bump on those hot, sunny Spring days ahead of us, I realized there are so many indie French artists who are not getting enough international recognition. So there you go: here’s a list of French artists you should be listening to this Spring and keeping an eye out for in the coming months! You can find them all in this Spotify playlist I’ve made recently.

“Bleu ou vert” by BARON.E

The French duet “BARON.E” released their EP “Jeunesse Dorée” (“Golden Youth”) in 2020 and it’s one of the best musical discoveries I’ve made in the last few months. “Bleu ou vert” literally fits so well the happy mood that sunny days get me in, so I couldn’t resist sharing this song with you. It’s just too good.

“Été 90” by Thérapie Taxi

Bad news: Thérapie Taxi broke up a few months ago. Good news: the duet just released an EP to say goodbye to their fans before they continue their careers separately, and they have a tour planned post-COVID to say goodbye to their fans. “Été 90” (“Summer 90”) is going to be my official Spring and Summer 2021 anthem, in their memory. Long live Adélaïde and Raphaël.

“Feux ” by Poupie Feat. Jul

I am addicted to the chorus of this song and I’m listening to it so much it’s becoming alarming. That’s it. That’s the review. In all seriousness, the song was first released by Poupie singing alone, and Jul collaborated on a new version with her when it was time to work on her EP. I never thought I’d like Jul’s voice that much — he heavily relies on autotune and I usually HATE it — but I guess I do now.

“Étrange Mélange” by Claire Laffut

Claire Laffut’s voice is really sensual in this one. This song is perfect for relaxing sunny days. The lyrics are somewhat dark and mysterious but the overall mood really screams “sunny summer vibes” and I love it. 10/10 recommend to listen to while you’re soaking up the sun.

“Le temps est bon” by Bon Entendeur

This song has become so famous and mainstream in France that I feel weird recommending it to anyone, but I don’t think it’s well-known in the US, so I thought I’d include it just to make sure no one’s missing out on this absolute hit. It’s a remix of Isabelle Pierre’s song “Le temps est bon” from 1972. Bold move, but the result honors the original version perfectly.

— Lise Nox

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Playlists

Underground Discoveries: 4 Songs to Add to Your Rotation Pt. 2

Graphic featuring four album covers pieced together in a collage.
Artwork for all songs listed below. (Top left is first song, bottom right is last song).

Zoom – Leikeli47 (2020)

If you need a pump-up song that is also catchy, this is the track for you. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Leikeli demonstrates her ability to create bounce and deliver hard-hitting bars on “Zoom.” Great for an energy boost throughout the day.

PITFALL – Bino Rideaux (2020)

A smooth track for another windows-down car ride on a sunny day. The outro track to LA rapper, Bino Rideaux’s, album “Outside” provides a mood booster for the day and is one of my personal favorites this year.

Nothin 2 Me  – Jazz Cartier ft. Cousin Stizz (2021)

Canadian rapper Jazz Cartier and Boston rapper Cousin Stizz team up to provide us a gritty and bounce-filled song. The flow that both artists carry on this track is especially note-worthy and worth listening to.

Lineman – 10kdunkin, Atl Smook (2020)

10kdunkin is part of a set of artists pioneering a powerful sound out of Atlanta, GA. The track “Lineman” is a song a great song for new listeners to hear his style and ease into his discography.

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Playlists

DJ Butter’s Playlist of the Week

It’s that time again! I have tons of new music to share with you guys this week. Most of it is going to be on my setlists, but I thought I’d feature some choice picks from my recent discoveries. If you’re into ’80s jams, heavy rock and funk, look no further. You’ve found your new favorite playlist!

1. Driving South – The Stone Roses

This song is an absolute experience. The Stone Roses are masters of combining two very unlikely music styles: classic rock and dance music. “Driving South” uses an amazing riff combined with that signature ’80s drum sound to create a truly magical song.

2. A Tear for Eddie – Ween

Ween is the weirdest, most amazing band ever. This song is a more lowkey instrumental, but it’s fantastic. With relaxing and atmospheric synth-like strumming, it’s sure to be one of your favorites.

3. I Wanna Be Your Dog – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan Jett’s cover of the famous Stooges song is totally underrated. Included in her fifth album, “Up Your Alley,” it has to be my top choice from the 1988 release. Her take on “I Wanna Be Your Dog” is less fuzzy than the original, but amazing nonetheless.

4. Ice Pick – Albert Collins

“Ice Pickin'”, the album “Ice Pick” came from, is one of the best blues albums ever released. This particular track blends blues and funk exquisitely.

5. Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love Inn) – The Chocolate Watchband

The Chocolate Watchband is one of those groups that (unfortunately) slipped through the cracks during the 1960s. This song, a great garage rock ballad, is one of my favorites from them.

6. Groove Grease – Jimmy McGriff

The title of this song really says it all. When “Groove Grease” was released, Jimmy McGriff was just starting to experiment with electric instruments and synth. He does an amazing job transitioning his classic soulful sound into a groovy number with this song.

7. Lay With Me – The Flying Eyes

The Flying Eyes are an awesome psychedelic rock band from Baltimore. “Lay With Me” is interesting in that it’s acoustic, but still manages to have a sludgy, heavy feel to it. First-rate band, first-rate song!

8. Just For Kicks – Salem’s Pot

I randomly stumbled upon Salem’s Pot on my Spotify Discover Weekly and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since. “Just For Kicks” is probably their most popular song, but their entire discography is honestly amazing.

9. Just A Little Heat – The Black Keys

If you couldn’t tell from one of my recent blogs, I’ve been on a Black Keys kick for the past couple of weeks. This song from my favorite album, “Magic Potion,” a hard, bluesy-rock masterpiece.

Tune in!

– DJ Butter