It’s almost that time of the year… exam season!! I know exams can be stressful, but metal makes everything better. It is hard for me to study without music (because I am a sleepy girl), and it’s hard to study with music sometimes because I just wanna dance and headbang.
I have a handful of metal songs that I listen to while I study. Even though I have to fight the urge to headbang and do my weird dances in the library, these songs are very helpful when trying to get work done. The majority of these songs are instrumental, which is very helpful for me while studying. Having songs without vocals seems to help me concentrate better. I hope these songs bring you good luck on whatever you are studying for. You got this, Butcher Crew!!!
Study Vibes Playlist
· Obituary – Redneck Stomp
· Death – Voice of the Soul
· Wretched – The Stellar Sunset of Evolution Pt. 2 (The Rise)
You know that feeling when you hear a song you relate to and you’re just like YES. Well, I’ve had a lot of those moments with songs that remind me of college. I’ve talked about my playlists that I make every semester, but my favorite thing about them is that I now have a few anthems that really define my college experience. You can judge them for yourself from the playlist linked below, but this is my college experience explained through music…
Rap music is littered with lyrics about death, violence and bloodshed. A lot of people think this is one of the worst things about rap music. I think those people lack perspective. Whether you’re rapping about carrying the weight of death in your own community or if you’re rapping about perpetuating violence yourself; rap music’s subject matter is sometimes scary, especially because it is often sourced from real life experiences. Here are some creepy sounding songs that talk about some terrifying aspects of the black experience.
Okay, so Halloween is every day for me, but I get hella extra when October hits. October is the only time of the year where almost everyone is getting their spooky vibes on and it makes my heart happy. Horror movies 24/7, going to haunted houses with the homies, and eating candy are only some of the activities that go on during this time. What’s not to love???
You want to know what else is spooky? Metal. Why do you think I love it so much? Below is a playlist that I created for all of your spooky season endeavors! So, sit back, relax, and blast this playlist throughout your haunted house or in your car!! You already know your Master Butcher has your back (literally, your spine) for all things scary (: welcome to The Saw’s Butcher Shop y’all!
The Saw’s Spooky Season Playlist (link to Spotify below, sorry my Apple Music Butcher Crew).
· Halloween Theme Song
· Heads on the Wall – King Diamond
· Halloween – King Diamond
· This is Halloween – Marilyn Manson
· Rotting in Vain – KoRn
· Twist – KoRn
· No Place to Hide – KoRn
· Black No.1 -Type O Negative
· My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend – Type O Negative
· Summer Breeze – Type O Negative
· Dragula – Rob Zombie
· Living Dead Girl – Rob Zombie
· Superbeast – Rob Zombie
· Demonoid Phenomenom – Rob Zombie
· Meet the Creeper – Rob Zombie
· Feed My Frankenstein – Alice Cooper
· All Hallows Eve – Type O Negative
· Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden
· The Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden
· Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne
· Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
· Dead Skin Mask – Slayer
· Raining Blood – Slayer
· Seasons in the Abyss – Slayer
· South of Heaven – Slayer
· A Touch of Evil – Judas Priest
· Creeping Death – Metallica
· Enter Sandman – Metallica
· Shout at the Devil – Motley Crue
· Psychosocial – Slipknot
· Duality – Slipknot
· The Devil in I – Slipknot
· Wait and Bleed – Slipknot
· Kill or Be Killed – Spite
· Kill or Become – Cannibal Corpse
· Bloodstained Cement – Cannibal Corpse
· Evisceration Plague – Cannibal Corpse
· Hammer Smashed Face – Cannibal Corpse
· Code of Slashers – Cannibal Corpse
· Chopped in Half – Obituary
· Slowly We Rot – Obituary
· Ten Thousand Ways to Die – Obituary
· Straight to Hell – Obituary
· Turned Inside Out – Obituary
· Inked in Blood – Obituary
· Back from the Dead – Obituary
· Lycanthropy – Six Feet Under
· My Hatred – Six Feet Under
· Murdered In The Basement – Six Feet Under
· Insect – Six Feet Under
· The Poison Hand – Six Feet Under
· Where the Slime Live – Morbid Angel
· Let The Knife Do The Talking – Hypocrisy
· Symbolic – Death
· Low Life – Death
You can find the Spotify playlist that includes all these songs here!
What are some of your favorite spooky traditions? What songs are in your spooky playlist?
2k Indie is all about spotlighting new indie music from smaller bands, and last month was full of good new tunes. So as part of a new monthly series, I want to highlight some of these new releases. These tracks all come from late August through September, and a full playlist can be found at the end.
Messing With My Head by Smoothiboi Ezra // This artist has definitely caught my attention in the last few weeks. Her voice is so smooth and her lyrics are interesting to me because she kind of just says what’s on her mind but makes it sound so much smoother than just talking. This song’s theme is definitely something a lot of people can relate to, feeling as if someone’s messing with your head. The guitars in the track are also simple enough to let the lyrics stand out but accompany nice because the tone isn’t quite angry or sad, but somewhere right between.
Gettin’ Older by Balue // Now this track stood out to me at first lesson because the artist has a very unique tang to his voice and he sings as if he’s speaking to someone. But the lyrics get me the most because I think everyone in college can relate to feeling like they’re getting older. The chorus is pretty catchy and the music is interesting throughout, the texture of the piece is pretty full and thick feeling. There is a smooth guitar solo around the end that pushes past all the backing instruments and it really keeps this track flowing. ‘Gettin’ older, still feeling pretty cool’ ヽ(⌐■_■)ノ♪♬
Pheromones by Your Neighbors // The music got me on this one right away, its very funky in a way. The vocals have a nice drag to them and the music isn’t the traditional vibe I get from a lot of indie music (whatever that is). The track is catchy enough to groove along to but it also has a few layers and it’s pretty interesting to listen back and really try and hear everything. The guitars are also light and super catchy, and the electronic elements throw in really keep this piece interesting.
Last fall as a small freshman, I spent many mornings sitting alone in Clark dining hall cultivating playlists. Many of the songs on these playlists had much jazz and soul influence (but not all of them), and I have found myself going back to these songs as the season approaches. These tunes will have you feeling like you’re in “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” or longing to wear your best turtleneck. The hottest fall soundtrack will accompany you on your walks to class. If you’re into any of these things, hopefully this post finds you well. 🙂 **These songs are not strictly autumn themed, but their sound will hit you right in all of your autumn-loving places**
1. Tis Autumn – Red Garland Trio
2. Para Machuchar Meu Coração – Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
3. Baseball Theme – Vince Guaraldi Trio ( or any song from this soundtrack)
When I first started playing guitar I struggled badly with barre chords until one day I had the brilliant idea of practicing them on a ukulele. It did help but I quickly ran out of songs to learn and that’s when I started looking out for more ukulele based songs and these are my current top 5. So if you’re looking for some good ukulele tunes make sure to check these out.
– U Could Find by Smoothiboi Ezra: This stripped back track is one of my absolute favorite heartbreak songs. The lyrics are just adorable and Ezra’s voice is so smooth it feels as if it was meant to be accompanied by a ukulele. I can’t help but feel happy when I listen to this song, anyone who’s ever been heartbroken will connect with her and the fact that it’s not too sad or bitter, just expressive, is perfect.
– Kalmia Kid by chloe moriondo: Again one of my favorite things about a lot of ukulele based tracks is how adorable and and uplifting this song is. The lyrics are reflective of nature but said in a very childlike way. It makes me feel like a young kid just enjoying life and all its aspects, and i’m swept away by Chloe’s voice. Her live version on YouTube is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy it.
– Stolen Heart by Tyto Grey: This song is much less happy than the last two. Once again we have another heart break track but with the slow chord progression, light double strums and static over the vocals this song feel more like someone still in that sad phase of a post break-up. The chorus gets me singing along every time (the pic above is from my short cover of this) and it’s perfect for anyone starting to sing, the vocals are easy to follow but the emotion makes this track one I come back to often.
– Spooky Ghosts by SNCKPCk: Now we have more of that classic ukulele vibe in this track. This song is a bit silly and cute, like a lot of SNCKPCK’s songs. It also has a childlike theme to it that makes it the perfect song for someone who makes you feel pure joy. The way he says ‘I’ll love you forever, forever, forever’ really makes this tracks.
– You’re my world by Atlas: This track definitely stands out and I absolutely love it. The ukulele progression is so catchy and the artist starts out with rapping. There is also sung hook in the song that really pulls it together. However, the rapping is just perfect, his lyrics are very earthy and poetic and it’s so easy to vibe to this track and sing along.
If you’ve ever heard any of A Tribe Called Quest, Anderson .Paak, Digable Planets, Quasimoto or Noname then you’ve heard of Jazz Rap. Jazz Rap emerged in the 80s and 90s, right along with the rap genre’s own beginnings. Jazz had been used to sample and reconstruct new soundscapes for lyricists to rap over. It was mellow, it was jazzy and it was paying homage to black music. While the music itself was historically aware, the artists who participated seemed to be as well by adopting lyrics about the intricacies of black people in America and throughout. Gang Starr was among the very first to popularize the genre with songs like “Talkin’ All That Jazz” which sampled famous jazz musician, Lonnie Liston Smith.
In 1993, Digable Planets released a hit jazz rap record called “Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)” which sampled many a jazz artist including Herbie Hancock. After a time, jazz rap’s popularity began to dwindle in the mainstream sphere, but jazz still holds strong roots in the back beats of any rap song then and today. Jazz rap gave room for other experimental and unconventional forms of rap and hip hop as can be seen with MF Doom and Noname.
Jazz Rap: a playlist
Award Tour: A Tribe Called Quest
Where I’m From: Digable Planets
Self: Noname
Blah Loops: Like ft. Kali Uchis
Running Shoes: Ivan Ave
Bluffin: Quasimoto
Me of the Papes: Jeru The Damaja
Dancing in the Rain: Blu and Exile
Mass Appeal: Gang Starr
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y): Pete Rock & CL Smooth
93 ‘Til Infinity: Souls of Mischief
Poe Man’s Dreams (His Vice): Kendrick Lamar ft. GLC
As of September 1, 2019 my radio show, 2k Indie, will be a 1 year old show. To commemorate the special occasion I thought I’d look back at what has been played on the show and share some of my favorite tracks, some of the ones that really stood out most to me. My music library has grown immensely since I started DJing at WKNC so without dragging this out too much here is The Best of 2k Indie (So Far)…
Natural Supersoul by Superfood
This song has been one of my absolute favorites since I first heard it. The chorus ‘You’re a natural supersoul, find yourself and lose control’ is so uplifting and followed by ‘Someday you’ll see there’s nothing to be but you’, this song really leaves the listener feeling confident, uplifted and in good spirits. The music is so smooth it makes you just want to lay out in the grass as you focus on the lyrics. As often as I go back to this track it still hasn’t lost its spark. Especially at the end when the lady’s voice chimes in, adding in that extra something that makes the song flow even more smoothly.
Art School Wannabe by Sorority Noise
This song has a lot more ‘classic indie’ vibe and really takes me back in time, since it was my anthem freshman year. The chorus really makes me feel like my young more grunge and emo self again, but the music is more indie rock themed. The guitars really hold this track together, especially with the guitar solo that comes in perfectly near the end. It makes it just upbeat enough to put a little bop in your head as you’re walking to class.
My Good Grades by Cecil Frena
This track holds a very special meaning to me since Cecil Frena’s album ‘The Gridlock’ was the first album I ever reviewed for WKNC. The album quickly became a favorite of mine, but this track in particular has always stood out to me. There’s a story here that is told so well it has always stuck with me. The music is also insanely catchy and the guitars here really stand out. I absolutely love how the music in the intro mimics the lyrics and makes you start to sing along before the vocals even come in. The chorus starts with ‘so watch me now, I’m not ashamed, look what I did with my good grades…’ and when he starts to repeat ‘you will know who I am’ you really start to get a sense of how badly the artist wants to get his message across. We’re all told going to school, doing your work and being a good student will take us far but the artist disagrees. He mocks this ‘ideal scenario’ that people claim to be the reason some people don’t end up the same way in life economically, and he does it in such an elegant way.
The rest of the songs I picked for my ‘best of’ set are in the playlist below. But before I end this I want to give some special shouts (although every song on that playlist is definitely worth a listen, in my opinion, and I do love everything I play on air). These songs have just really stuck with me through time. it rains in nyc by dalynn // Echo Parade by Modern Diet // Disappear Daily by Ollie MN // Get to You by The Honeysticks // Not the Noise by J.P. Plains
When walking around campus, I wonder what people are listening to on their walks to/from class. Do people know that I am blasting metal through my ear drums? Are they blasting metal? The world may never know.
I like to try and see if I can guess people’s musical tastes by trying to guess what they are listening to (I am usually wrong but… ‘A’ for effort).
Now, when I walk around campus, I am almost always listening to metal. And you can tell because I will play air drums and fist pump the air because the breakdowns and riffs are just THAT GOOD! I gotta be careful sometimes… if I get too into it, I will start two-stepping; the next thing you know, I’m crowdkilling trees. A beatdown just goes really hard and you just can’t control it.
The majority of the time when I’m walking to and from my classes, I am finding songs to play for my set (which you should totally listen to). Speaking of my show, I have new set times!!! The Bone Cruncher (your only place to hear some of my Local Butchers) will be on Friday’s starting at 5pm! Stuck in a traffic jam? Have no fear, The Saw will keep you entertained. Immediately following The Bone Cruncher is The House of Horrors (the heaviest metal on the planet) from 6-8pm.
Yep, you got that right: THREE HOURS in a row – pounded into dust! Oh, the beatings! You’re welcome.
Here is a list of some songs to make your trip to class suck a little less:
· Literally any song off of A Different Shade of Blue by Knocked Loose. I personally like Forget Your Name and Guided by the Moon.
· Literally any song off of Hartford County Misery by Boundaries. I really like Dog Teeth and No Other Way.
· Thanks for Nothing by Bent Life
· Capital Punishment by Detain
· Pressure by Bloodbather
· 3 Knives by Code Orange
· The Hammer by Kublai Khan
· No Love/ No One by Gideon
· The Hands of Man by Heavens Die
· You Will Be Done by Next Time Mr. Fox
· Dreaming In Dog Years by The Red Chord
Here are some other songs that I like to listen to when I want to listen to something other than metal (shocker!).
