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(04/05/17 8:38pm)
In preparation for Culture Shock 2017 on April 15 in Dunn Meadow, the WIUX music committee has put together a Spotify playlist to get you familiar with this year's artists. Blast this for the next week and half and get hyped for what is going to be an amazing set of performances.
You can listen to High Fiber here.
(04/04/17 3:02am)
Ahead of her Culture Shock 2017 performance, Amy Oelsner talks about her role as the Zine Making and Writing program director at Rhino's Youth Center, as well as her experience making music and exploring other forms of creative expression. You can listen to that conversation below, and you can check out some of the pages of the zines Oelsner has helped create.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-439404626/getting-to-know-amy-o[/embed]
[gallery ids="11867,11868,11870,11869,11872,11871,11873,11874,11875"]
You can check out more of Amy O's work on her website.
(04/01/17 3:26am)
“So Sorry”—Feist
If you started the argument with your trash possum who lives in your hair, you might want to crank this classic tune and think about what you’ve done. Are you, like Feist, trying to start fights with those you love? Do you say things that you know will offend the trash possum? Quit!
“Walking on Broken Glass”—Annie Lennox
Did things between you and your trash possum used to be different? Did they used to be good? Was it a relationship built on mutual respect and care? When did things change? When did the nest atop your head become so cumbersome? When the weight of your trash possum becomes too heavy, shake it off with this song.
“Let’s Kiss and Make Up”—Ella Fitzgerald
Sometimes it’s better to admit fault—even if you are certain that your trash possum’s aggressive nature is to blame for your falling out. Let the sweet sounds of Ella Fitzgerald bring you back together. Try a tender approach with your trash possum and it will return the favor by not biting down on your scalp and infecting you with rabies!
“You Don’t Own Me”—Lesley Gore
I’ve advocated taking the high road with your trash possum, but sometimes it really isn’t you. When you two have a spat because your trash possum is being overbearing, it’s time to break out this track. Your trash possum shouldn’t dictate who you speak to or what you wear, and it definitely shouldn’t try to control your movements by pulling on your hair a la Ratatouille. You don’t have to put up with that!
“Wagon Wheel”—Old Crow Medicine Show
This is your trash possum who lives in your hair’s favorite song. Within three loops of “ROCK ME MAMA,” the little critter will be peeking its snout of its hair nest. Your trash possum will appreciate you remembering its most cherished tune. Bonus points if you can get your trash possum to wear a little red bandana while listening to this song. It will feel beautiful and safe.
“When I Get Home”—Post Animal
When all else fails, put on this spaced-out groove. I know living with a trash possum in your hair can be challenging. You haven’t been able to bathe in months. Your mother won’t speak to you anymore. Your trash possum is opinionated, brash, and it has long nails! But you know what you two can always agree on? Culture Shock 2017 artist, Post Animal from Chicago.
(03/08/17 1:32am)
Ahead of her show at the Bluebird this Thursday, country queen Nikki Lane took time out of her hectic touring schedule to have a conversation about the current state of country music, the importance of style, and her new record, Highway Queen. Doors for the show open at 7, and you can purchase tickets here.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/wiux-radio-dramas/talking-with-nikki-lane[/embed]
(02/20/17 6:48am)
It's that time of year again, and by that I mean, THE GREATEST TIME OF THE YEAR: Culture Shock season is upon us! While some of us might still be recovering from last year's lineup (Neon Indian! Whitney! Hoops!), it's time once again to get pumped for WIUX's homage to springtime vibes and groovy tunes, held this year on April 15. This year's festival is chock full of a diverse range of genres and artists--there's definitely going to be something for everyone (plus hopefully food trucks).
Let's meet the artists!
High Fiber
High Fiber is one of our local bands. They are self-described as "Psych pop lo-fi disembodied head sexplosion"--sounds enticing! Their debut EP, Corner In, Corner Out came out last year. These local dudes will be serving up fuzzy pop with an overall feel-good, fever-dreamy vibe. While the lyrics at times betray darker themes running through their songs, High Fiber will bring some freaky and festive vibes to the meadow.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/highfiber/skips-song[/embed]
House Olympics
Another local act, House Olympics, is going to add a needed element of emo to Culture Shock 2017. Punk's not dead! And House Olympics is living proof! If you've lived in Bloomington for any amount of time, you've likely heard these guys rocking out in someone's basement. Their latest release, a three-song EP entitled Nothing Feels Better Than Feeling Better, came out in early 2016, but the band's got a full length album cooking as I type!
Nothing Feels Better Than Feeling Better by House Olympics
Amy O
Bloomington-based Amy O started as the solo project of Amy Oelsner back in 2004, but she's since picked up a full band to help bolster her sometimes whimsical, always subtlely profound lo-fi songs. Amy O will definitely please fans of simpatico bands like Brenda's Friend and Nice Try, but it's not hard for newcomers to find something to love about Amy O's sweet melodies and anecdotal lyrics. The band's latest release, Arrow was released in 2016.
Arrow by Amy O
Drayco McCoy , F L A C O, and Mathaius Young
Next up we have a hip-hop set from Indianapolis artists, Drayco McCoy, F L A C O, and Mathaius Young. Drayco McCoy released his 13th mixtape, Ratchet Ass House Party Vol. 1, last year. He's been a prolific songwriter, and his 2015 release 317 Flexin pays tribute to his hometown. F L A C O is an experimental hiphop artist whose latest release sleepinginjeans was released in 2016. Mathaius Young is a 20 year old rapper from Indy busy releasing new music and making a name for himself in Indy and beyond. These three are definitely going to put on a spectacular set that's going to get the crowd fired up.
Kevin Krauter
Just this week, up and coming Bloomington maestros Hoops announced their debut album, Routines that will be on prominent indie label Fat Possum in May & Culture Shock is extremely lucky to get an intimate solo set from the band's very own Kevin Krauter. Krauter released a solo album titled Changes last December, and if his set is anything like the album expect some pretty, lush, and stripped-down guitar sonatas to perfectly curate a relaxing atmosphere in an exciting and excellent day. If you're into introspective songwriting and lovely guitar melodies, look forward to local favorite Kevin Krauter's set when Culture Shock, WIUX's Super Bowl, rolls around for a day of college radio celebration in April.
Changes by Kevin Krauter
Post Animal
Hailing from Chicago, we are pumped to bring psychedelic pop-rock band Post Animal to Bloomington as a headliner for Culture Shock 2017. Released in 2015, their stellar album Perform the Most Curious Water Activities, echoes vibes similar to Tame Impala, and all things that feel good. Post Animal received a lot of attention in the past year when fans of the Netflix show, Stranger Things discovered cast member Joe Keery is the guitarist of this groovy rock ensemble. Beautifully arranged, nostalgic, and refreshing, Post Animal are the perfect guides to bring us into the summer at Culture Shock 2017.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj2zDvBPXyI[/embed]
Flasher
Coming to Dunn Meadow all the way from Washington D.C., Flasher is going to get the crowds moving to bops like "Destroy." Be sure to bring your dancing shoes for this post-punk group. Their debut release S/T EP, is currently sold out on Bandcamp after getting some much-deserved buzz from Pitchfork. Luckily, you'll get to see them tear up the Culture Shock stage for free!
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEdIkOZ9_Nw[/embed]
Sales
All the way from the Sunshine State, Sales will deliver some chilled-out guitar-centric tunes to Culture Shock this year. They've had a string of releases leading up to their self-titled LP last year. The upbeat and down-to-earth sound of Sales suites them perfectly to the ethos of Culture Shock. I can already envision how sweet Sales will sound playing their indie melodies as the sun sets.
SALES EP by SALES
Noname
Noname (previously known as Noname Gypsy) established herself as more than just a great feature listing on Chance the Rapper tracks last year with her debut mixtape Telefone. Telefone puts Noname's conscientious, poetic, and understandable lyrics to soothing, soulful instrumentation and guest vocals, creating a thoroughly enjoyable project that provokes repeated listens by its infectious nature. Her presence on Telefone is so charismatic that playing "Sunny Duet" is assured to warm the hearts of even the coldest hip hop grinches. Culture Shock is sure to signify the beginning of bright sunny days ahead with Noname and her jubilant approach to rap headlining this year.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyivMEz6n70[/embed]
(02/05/17 4:58am)
First, listen to this:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzLjl7fabuU[/embed]
I am 21 years old and I have never been angry. Or rather, I have seldom called my anger by its proper name. My anger is always dressed down. I get frustrated—oh, how I have been frustrated! Disappointed, hurt, perhaps occasionally mad. But angry? Never. I attribute this absence to growing up as a girl in a very volatile household. There was simply no room for me to get angry; we already had a surplus.
I-I resent the invention
Listen, listen, pay attention
I know the science of the fiction
Of conviction of the henchmen
The anger I was exposed to as a kid was a masculine, destructive anger. It was all-encompassing, sharp, often alcohol-induced, and undiscriminating. In the face of this, my response was to swear off the stuff. I refused to burn things. It’s actually a fairly simple process. I would bypass my anger by using logic. He always had a reason if I thought about it from his perspective. There was always a sensible explanation—for local pains and for larger issues. I could trick myself out of anger. This trick is not uncommon. But I think it’s the most rotten one I’ve ever pulled on myself.
I am here for the masterminds
Because recently, I’ve been angry on a scale I have never experienced. The anger is spread evenly through my body and it radiates off of my skin. It is egregious that the recent election and subsequent effects have been the inciting moment for me—when so many people have not had the luxury of relative complacency; when they have had to fight every day for their lives. But here I am: ashamed, apologetic, and fucking angry. And I have very little idea about what to do with this emotion.
You had a dalliance with alliance
Of violence to bow against
My anger is political, but it is retroactive too. I am a hornet’s nest. I am out for blood in the name of 13 year old Mary who began to slowly and methodically hate herself, and 16 year old Mary who prayed to be erased, and all of my former selves who could not access this rage. I want justice for them. And I want justice for every woman and womyn and woman of color and trans woman and marginalized person who has never been recognized by our government, much less protected by it.
I grow my hair so long to wrap around you
You've been starving for air ever since I found you
I read, and have since bookmarked, a piece called “Becoming Ugly,” by Madeleine Davies. In it, she discusses anger and her desire to become as offensive to men as possible—to stop being so pleasant in a system which, niceties or not, seeks to diminish her. To stop being nice is counterintuitive to me (although some people might argue that I am already good at that). It’s an especially uncomfortable suggestion because so much of self-care advice aimed at women is about being soft! And vulnerable! Be tender and light! BE LIGHT, DAMMIT. And I guess it’s just not really doing it for me anymore.
We ate like birds, seeds and things
Hunting only for seasoning
So where do I turn for a new model of self-care? Of resistance to this masculinist force that has no interest in my well-being, or the well-being of anyone who does not look or think like it does?
The answer, as it usually is for me, is music. And more specifically, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.
Thao Nguyen is my guiding light. Her 2016 album, A Man Alive, primarily addresses her relationship, or lack of one, with her father. It radically changed the way I was able to envision my relationship to family. It made me realize in twelve powerful tracks that I could be both angry and mournful. That I could be joyful and loud and mad and I could take names and hold people accountable. That I could treat pain and anger with grace. That I could love my family and still tell the truth.
Aside from creating this deliberate and breathtaking record, she also works personal philosophy into her performance. In an interview for She Shreds, Thao says, “There’s this assertion and aggression I have on stage that I really value, and it’s because you want young girls to know you can lose your shit.” She continues, “You can do that in front of people and you can scream and you can be out of your mind and you don’t have to maintain this demure whatever-it-is that people would feel more comfortable with.” I want to get to a point where I don’t need permission to lose my shit and make people (read cis straight men) uncomfortable, but having Thao’s feels like a good place to start.
Oh my, oh my, oh my god
You didn't know I'd get ferocious
So, I begin with myself. I listen to Thao over and over and I allow myself, maybe for the first time ever, to get angry—really properly angry—about my past. But this anger, I have noticed, is not like the one I experienced growing up. It is not destructive. I let it wash me and I feel clean. I feel compelled to create. My anger is feminine. Meaning simply that it can exist without burning everything and everyone around it. Instead, it focuses me. It inspires me to pull the ones I love closer to me. It allows me to shake off the ones who would douse me.
My anger necessitates that I, like Davies, fully comprehend Jenny Holzer’s statement, “men don’t protect you anymore.” I make a list of the men who haven’t protected me. I say their names out loud, localizing them in my body, and exhaling them out. And I make a promise to forgive them someday. And I promise to forgive myself for ever expecting that from them. Next I make a longer list of the men in power who will not protect me, or anyone I love. I do not need to say their names because they have been said too many times already. And I promise myself to never forgive them. And I promise myself to never forget them, not for a single, white-flamed moment.
Mostly what I want to do is listen. To those who know more than I do, to those who need to be louder than me right now. And I listen to music, and it stirs me and it sustains me as always.
Thao sings, and I scream—at my past, and at the president:
I find the scene of the crime, I take my body back
We take our bodies back.
(02/01/17 4:46pm)
If you're in need of some Thursday night plans, or even if you have plans already, get yourself to The Bishop tomorrow to see Margaret Glaspy with Bad Bad Hats. This show will be packed with enough groovy vibes and powerhouse vocals to banish the midwinter blues--for a couple of hours at least.
Opener Bad Bad Hats hails from Minneapolis and their 2015 album, Psychic Reader is chock full of earnest, poetical lyrics coated in indie rock instrumentation. Listen to "Midway" and "It Hurts" beforehand to get hyped for what is sure to be a great set.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOUC6m82xEc[/embed]
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKh-v4-zRZQ[/embed]
Margaret Glaspy had a very good 2016. The singles from her debut album, Emotions and Math, generated some much-deserved buzz. On a personal note, "Somebody to Anybody" sustained me this past year. Her album delivered on the promise of those singles and it is a beautiful introduction to an incredibly talented and insightful artist. After devouring her music for more than a year, I can't wait to see her live. In the meantime, let's have a little cry to this awe-inspiring cover:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzq8KMsVG5E[/embed]
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here. The show kicks off at 9:30. This event is 18+.
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(01/27/17 5:31am)
This past Wednesday, WIUX opened its doors (really they're always open--come say hey) for a night of raucous joke-telling and merriment. After the success of the first comedy night last semester, and with the continued deterioration of our nation, we figured some jokes were in order! All of the comedians who performed delivered some A+ material, and despite it being an 'open mic,' no one brought an acoustic guitar--it was an all-around success. We managed to record local Virgo, Sarah Cougill's performance for posterity, or in case they decide to send another time capsule into space. Aside from being a bona fide Funny Lady, Sarah is also WIUX Sales Director. Listen to her set below and keep your eyes peeled for WIUX's next event.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/wiux-radio-dramas/sarah-cougill-standup-at-wiuxcomedy-night[/embed]
(11/27/16 5:54am)
Released 10/28/2016
3/7
Country and Christmas are probably two of the most hated kinds of music. And I’m not here to try to convince you that both aren’t guilty of repetitive, formulaic songs; that both aren’t narrow and occasionally stale. I’m only here to acknowledge that my faves are problematic and I love these genres. Don’t @ me.
Of course 2016 (RIP) seems like a fraught time to release a peppy Christmas album, but perhaps Kacey Musgraves, in all her divine rhinestone glory, intuited where we would be at this point and thought she’d try to give us something fun and light-hearted for the holiday season. Can’t deal with Uncle Craig’s conspiracy theories? Crank A Very Kacey Christmas and pour some more rum in your eggnog!
The thing is, I really wanted to love this record. I tend to be a humbug around the holidays and I thought that maybe Kacey could lift my spirits. Plus, each year I’m always on the lookout for something that might come close to topping Mariah Carey’s magnum opus, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Sidenote: if you can’t acknowledge that this is the greatest pop song ever created, then I triple-dog-dare you to stick your tongue to the flagpole at recess.
Christmas songs can be bops! They can be catchy and fun! Unfortunately, this album didn’t produce any hot new holiday hits—despite having some ace featured artists. Musgraves’ selection of covers veered more toward the kitschy side of the Christmas oeuvre, which is not exactly surprising, just kind of a letdown.
The album kicks off with a rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Musgraves takes an upbeat approach to this Meet Me in St. Louis classic. To me, this isn’t supposed to be a happy song. This song should break your holly jolly heart. I don’t like to consider myself a purist, but I have to acknowledge that Judy Garland DELIVERED this song. When she sings it, these layers of meaning start to unfold. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward Christmas song, but when Garland takes hold of it, it becomes about hoping against hope that things will turn out right. For me, it’s about singing straight through to the end knowing full well that pain and heartache and complications do not take a break during the holidays. It’s not that Musgraves sounds bad—she sings this song competently, but the richness isn’t there.
Next up comes “Let It Snow.” It’s a fun cover with a Country Western angle, and it features badass fiddling trio, The Quebe Sisters. Musgraves brings them in again on “Mele Kalikimaka.” Both are successful covers thanks to Musgraves’ easy vocals and The Quebe Sisters’ rock-solid harmonies. While we’re in the neighborhood of covers that worked, “Feliz Navidad” was every bit as jaunty and fun as it should be.
That being said, this album’s downfall is the overindulgence of the quirkier Christmas songs out there. The holidays are all about indulgence, but perhaps some restraint would have been wise in the production of this record. For example, instead of doing covers of “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas,” and “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer,” Musgraves might have chosen just one. These songs are fun and weird and classic in the sense that we all know them, but I really do believe there are some Grade A hits in the world of holiday tunes, and these tracks are decidedly not them.
A Very Kacey Christmas isn’t just about playing the hits (or anti-hits), Musgraves also contributes a fair amount of new material to the genre. “Christmas Makes Me Cry” is a more melancholy tune, which is a nice reprieve from the hyper-upbeat majority of this record. Leon Bridges lends a vocal line on “Present Without A Bow.” This song is definitely more pop than either artist usually goes. It’s sufficiently catchy and both Musgraves and Bridges have the voices of angels.
“A Willie Nice Christmas” features Willie Nelson and a reggae-inspired beat and is about exactly what you think it’s going to be about. I was anticipating a song like this on this record because Musgraves sings about weed a lot. Like. A lot. And “High Time” is a glorious song! “A Willie Nice Christmas” is funny, but it’s also really heavy-handed. “May we all get higher than the angel at the top of the tree.” God bless.
The album wraps up with “Ribbons And Bows” (pun most definitely intended) and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” The former is a poppy original that I can definitely see myself hair-brush singing into my mirror in a few weeks. The latter is a lovely cover of the New Year’s classic.
All-in-all, this album didn’t Change The Game—the country//Christmas crossover game, that is. The tricky thing about tackling a holiday album is that everyone already knows all the words. We all have a favorite version of a song. And even if an artist creates The Greatest Christmas Song of All Time, it’s only relevant for one month out of the year. Sorry, Mariah. Despite the over-abundance of more annoying, ear-worm Christmas tunes, there are definitely some fun moments on this record. In any case, it might be amusing to blast “A Willie Nice Christmas” when Uncle Craig starts in on his thoughts about PC culture.
(11/08/16 8:26pm)
Today is the day! The Day. A lot is hanging in the balance with this election, and I think it's safe to say that it's going to be a long night. Luckily, the WIUX news team is broadcasting live from the Media School on 99.1 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Stop by Franklin Hall, listen on the radio, or online! The evening will be filled with commentary, panel discussions, and analysis of the results as they come in.
(10/31/16 1:17pm)
As the spookiest student organization on campus, we feel it is our duty to provide you with the perfect playlist to soundtrack this All Hallows' Eve. The blog squad has compiled an eclectic mix of haunting classics, campy choruses, and downright terrifying tunes. With this blasting while you cast your spells, it's bound to be a good night.
(10/13/16 5:24pm)
This weekend marks the 4th annual Caffeine Crawl taking place in Indianapolis. The crawl is a driving/biking tour of different local coffee, tea, and chocolate shops in the area. WIUX was lucky enough to grab a few passes for the second year in a row, so keep your eyes peeled for some delicious recap content over the weekend. Until then, we talked with Jason Burton, one of the Crawl's organizers, about coffee culture, Indianapolis, and what coffee enthusiasts can expect from this year's event!
The LAB is the company behind Caffeine Crawl, so can you explain what the impetus behind starting this event?
I was traveling around the country for work with two different food and beverage companies from 2004 through 2009. My position was marketing, or brand, director, but a lot of time was spent studying food and drink trends around the country, and observing the drinking experience for consumers at some of the best drinking spots. I noticed specialty coffee shops were at a disadvantage with service, and a connection to the customer due to background noise and expected speed of service. Beer, cocktail, and wine bars had an easier system. That was a big part of the origin for the Caffeine Crawl concept.
How did Indianapolis get involved in the Caffeine Crawl?
Indianapolis was underrated, and after being approached I went to check it out. I feel like that was 2012. Obviously, I had been there before, but not to just focus on the coffee, tea, and chocolate scene. I had read and heard about some of the movement, but seeing what was developing firsthand was crucial. Bee Coffee, Julian Coffee, and Hubbard and Cravens were three of the original roasters that helped make it all come together.
I rarely go into a café and order an ambiguous cup of joe anymore. Why do you think coffee culture has sort of taken on a life of its own in recent years?
Great question. A lot like craft beer, especially in Indiana, where there are some excellent breweries, specialty coffee interest has grown. The local companies have done a good job of educating their audience with a balance of curious consumers. Indy has a good blend of that, and it’s spreading to other metro areas of the state. Really, I credit the abundance of good colleges drawing students in from all over to help fuel this appreciation for coffee culture.
What’s new at this year’s Caffeine Crawl?
Several really cool things. A few new shops and roasters involved - Rabble Coffee, Liberation Coffee, and Uel Zing teaming up with Tinker. From what has been shared several of the drinks sampled will not only be new to that shop, but a few might be a first in this region. The event will wrap up with an After Party from co-hosts Brew The Way and Bites. More drinks, of all sorts, live music, and a lot of local good times. That event is free to Caffeine Crawl ticket holders.
This event is such a great way to highlight local businesses in Indy and other participating cities. Is there a selection process for the coffee shops and roasters that participate for the crawl?
There is a little formula we use. I could write a chapter explaining it, but basically here are some of the variables (not in order) - willingness to participate, quality of coffee, tea, or chocolate program, distance from other stops, attitude, and not a chain.
Just to get a sense of where you’re coming from, what is your go-to coffee order?
Everything I drink changes with the season. Right now I’ve been into 8 oz. lattes with an espresso that might be available for a limited time versus a year around blend. That’s partly due to the cooler temps, and the fact I have a lot of coffee at home to make my own pourovers. I like a good, single-origin Chemex brew if I’m low on beans at home, and I don’t have to taste 4 different coffees in a day. One downside of what we do is there are times we have to visit over 4 shops in a day, and you really don’t want to waste a drink. This is how I drink coffee, but I’m never trying to correct my friends if they think this is way too geeky. To each their own.
As an organizer, what do you think is the best part of the Caffeine Crawl?
The drinks will always be fantastic as a whole, but what has evolved into my favorite part is exploring the neighborhoods, and meeting so many people. I love listening to stories from locals about sports, schools, what’s changing, and other things that are important to that area code.
Tickets are still available for some routes and you can grab yours here.
(10/03/16 5:35am)
Released 9/30/2016
6/7
I don’t want to deal in universals, but I think it might be safe to say that a lot of us have had very important moments in our lives soundtracked by Bon Iver albums. I remember listening to For Emma, Forever Ago while staring out a bus window the day after Christmas, somewhere in Pennsylvania in the middle of the night.
I remember, “Someway, baby, it's part of me, apart from me,” in the choir room after school. And “Blood Bank” every first snow and “Someday my pain, someday my pain will mark you.” And looking back, it seems a bit out of place that such heavy songs outlined a time in my life that’s stereotypically defined by its lightheartedness. Somehow it still fit.
Listening to 22, A Million, I’m struck by the gorgeousness of the album, but maybe more than that, I wonder what this album will mark for all of us—where Vernon & Co. find us now.
For Bon Iver, the record marks a departure from the acoustic-driven, darkly brooding songs of old. “22 (OVER S∞∞N)” begins the album on a hopeful note. The song immediately demonstrates the mastery of production evident in every track on 22, A Million. Although complex and richly layered, what is delivered is a deceptively simple and pared down song about moving through. The repetition of “It might be over soon” doesn’t just denote an ending, but the inevitability of what comes next.
“10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄” follows with a heavy bass and a rhythm that grinds the track along. “715 - CR∑∑KS” feels like “Woods” grew up—more nuanced, just as stunning. Like a lot of this album, this song exists in this tension between past and present, between holding on and letting go. “33 ‘GOD’” begins as a piano ballad that gradually twists into something that can’t fit easily into any categorization. We get a hint of Bon Iver’s origins with an unassuming banjo line.
“29 #Strafford APTS” should satisfy any die-hard acoustic Bon Iver fans, but even this song is cradled in sax and piano and careful layers of production. It’s a standout track because it is sonically intriguing while also managing to follow a melody that’s endlessly pleasing. “29 #Strafford APTS” walks that line between ingenuity and comfort—stringing us along while occasionally giving us just the progressions we wanted.
“____45_____” begins to wind down the album with the repetition of the line, “I’ve been caught in fire.” But the lines blend together and it’s hard to tell whether he’s been caught in, carved in, or perhaps coughing fire; the ambiguity feels intentional. The track bleeds into “00000 Million,” which, like “29 #Strafford APTS,” follows some gratifying melodies. This piano-lead song is unambiguously about uncertainty and slowly moving forward. “I worry about one path / I wander often just to come back home.” It’s a beautiful testament to the second guess.
And maybe that’s what this album is to me. It deals with these themes of uncertainty while knowing exactly how it wants to address them. The songs do not waver even if their author does. That’s the contradiction, and that’s the beauty too.
So where does 22, A Million find us now? Maybe we’ve moved past “Skinny Love” and pining silently (or maybe not). Maybe it isn’t so much the majesty of “Michicant” as it’s the tinkling pulse of “666 ʇ.” And it’s not that all the years of brooding and hoping and crying and mulling it over to “Blindsided” weren’t wildly important. It’s just that now, perhaps Bon Iver finds us ready to make such blithely hopeful assertions as, “I’d be happy as hell if you stayed for tea.”
I hope so.
(10/03/16 2:48am)
Claudia Brooks and I felt like we needed to weigh in on this campaign season. Sure, there have been debates, intense political analyses, and copious amounts of fact-checking, but we felt strongly that this was not enough! We needed to give the American people the information they deserved. We needed to sit down with an Aver's pizza between us and hash this out. Without further ado, I give you two people talking very seriously about the signs as they relate to presidential hopeful, Donald J. Trump.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-153797804/we-analyzed-donald-trumps-astrological-birth-chart[/embed]
(09/29/16 12:26am)
It's midterms. The old meme frog is now a hate symbol. And 20 minutes ago, my dad told me that he's voting third party. Suffice it to say, we're all in need of some good news. We're in need of some small semblance of salvation. We're in need of some PWR BTTM. Thankfully, one of my favorite bands heard the world's cry and has delivered unto us a fresh new video for the Ugly Cherries track, "I Wanna Boi." Watch below as Liv Bruce serves us Look after Look while they romance/romanticize an inflatable doll.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwwkETs4TU[/embed]
(09/20/16 8:58pm)
This past weekend was the 23rd annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. This festival has previously drawn over 12,000 people to our fair city and brings in musicians and artists from around the globe. Since its inception in 1994, Lotus has become a Bloomington institution. Here’s what we’re excited for at this year’s Lotus fest.
Emily Abshire and I went to check out the action on Friday night of the festival.
We began the night with a crucial stop at the food truck village. After being fueled up by some A+ grub from The Gravy Train, we headed over to the Pictura Gallery tent to catch some of Rocky Dawuni's set. The energy of the crowd was high and the night was young. Next we took a stroll through the “One Million Stars to End Violence” display on 6th street, and checked out the “Around the Body, Around the World” exhibit at the Waldron Arts Center.
After taking in some beautiful textiles, we headed for Altan, a traditional Irish folk band playing at the Buskirk-Chumley. The band, which has been together for close to three decades, delighted the audience with lively jigs and anecdotes about the conception of their songs.
In need of some refreshment, Emily and I took a pit-stop at the frozen hot chocolate truck (we were really feeling the food truck village).
We ended the night by taking in Patagonian Fémina’s second set of the night. Despite it not being their first performance that day, the ladies delivered an energetic and moving performance. They seemed genuinely happy to be there, and judging by the filled audience, we were happy to see them.
Our final thoughts on Lotus are that it offers a little something for everyone. The variance of musical acts ensures that people who want a more energetic show will get one, and people looking for an acoustic set will not be disappointed either. The food truck village was a hot spot, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take advantage of it during the rest of the weekend. Lotus Fest is definitely not your average teen-overrun festival, and in that sense it offers itself as a perfect weekend for families and Bloomington locals.
We can’t wait to see what Lotus World Music and Arts Festival 2017 has to offer!
(08/30/16 3:29am)
It's about that time! If you're new to WIUX or a seasoned vet, come out to our fall semester call out meeting to get information on how you can get involved in the best* student organization at IU. The meeting will be this Thursday from 8-10 p.m. in the Psychology building, room 100. Information about each committee as well as the application process for becoming a DJ will be provided. Hope to see you there, but in the meantime, enjoy this musical representation of how excited we are to get this semester rolling!
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc[/embed]
*slight bias may be present
(07/20/16 7:06pm)
Looking for something fun yet enriching to do this Thursday evening? Lucky for you, Bloomington-founded rockers and Culture Shock alums, Dietrich Jon are playing a show with Detroit's Five Pound Snap and Bowling Green's Buffalo Rodeo at The Bishop.
Dietrich Jon's debut record, Higher is a warm and upbeat collection of songs sure to get your toes tappin'. Plus, according to their facebook, we might be in for a Thin Lizzy cover (fingers crossed for "The Boys Are Back In Town" with an intense violin solo).
Five Pound Snap's latest single, "Twelve Seventy-Three" is a groovy psych jam. Combined with the simpatico psychedelic stylings of Kentucky's own Buffalo Rodeo--this is sure to be a night chock full of good tunes and good vibes.
This show is 18+ and the tunes should kick off at 9:30. Tickets are $5 at the door.
(07/18/16 3:01pm)
Ahead of their show with Five Pound Snap and Dietrich Jon at the Bishop on Thursday, Nathaniel Davis of Buffalo Rodeo was kind enough to answer some questions regarding the band's origin, the scene in Bowling Green, and essential tour snacks.
You guys have been making music for a while now. How’d y’all meet//decide to start a band?
Buffalo rodeo started when Zach, Ryan and I were in high school. We played with different people for a couple years as we found our—albeit ever changing—identity. About three years ago, we were joined by Jordan and Patrick and began to work in a more professional direction; seeking out opportunities to turn our love for music into a career.
Your songs have really interesting and complex lyrics, but with all the instrumentation and distortion going on, they don’t always show up front-and-center when listening. In that way, it comes off as a pretty judicious split between the two components. With that in mind, which comes first: music or lyrics?
There is never a real set formula for a song or piece of music in our group. Many of our pieces start out with thought-out musical movements, and that music inspires someone in the band to write the lyrics or melodies that accompany it. Other times, a song may come from a simple acoustic guitar with lyrics and a melody and get transformed into an unrecognizable cousin of the original piece. You can't really tell yourself what kind of song you want to write in my mind. You have to be the conduit for the creative juice, and let it flow. And with all of us channeling differently—sometimes in harmony and sometimes clashingly, there are infinite possibilities to create as well as infinite interpretations. Our music isn't meant for you to figure out exactly what it's about, but rather express an emotion or feeling on many different levels so that the listener can interpret it to fit the moment they are in. A misheard lyric is just as powerful as the real one.
Can you describe the music scene in Bowling Green?
The scene in Bowling Green is based almost completely on community rather than genres or bands specifically. It's a small town with a lot of diversity. You can go to a house show with a shoegaze band, a surf band, and a synth pop band all on the same bill and no one thinks twice. A lot of music appreciation goes beyond the sounds from an amp or someone's mouth, and extends to a group’s personality and how they carry themselves in the scene. There's no room for "not wanting to play with that kind of band" or "that band doesn’t really fit the bill" because there aren't many places to play, and most likely, the singer of that shoegaze/doom band is playing keys in another synth pop band or what have you. As soon as you break down those barriers, you enrich everyone in the scene much more, and focus on the important aspects of it all and appreciate everyone for putting themselves out there. Somehow, BG had seemed to do that more than most places.
Who are you listening to right now?
HARD QUESTION. We listen to everything from Thundercat and Kendrick Lamar to Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Mahavishnu Orchestra. The essence of psychedelic music (to me) is embracing all of your influences and letting them come out however they may.
You label your music as ‘psychedelic’ (among other things!) and it definitely has that intonation. What do you find compelling about making psychedelic music? Does it allow you a certain freedom that perhaps another genre or style doesn’t?
A lot of people think of psych as Syd-Era Pink Floyd—and they'd be right! However, trying to call one thing psych and another not is just injustice to the original meaning. It's all meant to be about open interpretation and open-mindedness. Those guys were just molding all of their influences together like hot wax back then. And that's what we're doing now—rather than just recreating someone else's specific concoction of "psych" at the time.
Y’all are currently on tour. What are essential tour snacks you like to keep on hand?
We try very hard to keep healthy and bring stuff with us so we can save money (rice cakes, water, 5 gallons of peanut butter, etc.), but in reality we all use the tour life as an excuse to eat everything under the sun. Especially if we can't get it at home! It's a fine balance between being healthy/money conscious, and taking advantage of the amazing food around us. We do bring a lot of nonperishables to cook at people's houses or at venues if we have the time to devote to it.
You released 123 Water last year and you’ve got this tour going on right now. What’s up next for Buffalo Rodeo?
We've been recording and writing new music non-stop, as well as consistently reworking old material to add some new flare. Touring gives us the opportunity to try out lots of ideas and work through a lot of stuff in an environment that gives us real feedback versus just "wondering" what everyone will think. Soon enough we’ll have new music to show to everyone via the appropriate online and hard copy platforms—so stay tuned!
(07/08/16 6:41pm)
WIUX will be headed to Forecastle next week! To prepare for what is most definitely going to be a stellar weekend, we've curated a playlist chock full of artists from the Forecastle 2016 line-up. Be sure to check back in for coverage from Louisvile. And if after listening to this playlist, you decide you just gotta be there, you can grab tickets here.
[embed]http://https://play.spotify.com/user/wiux/playlist/0HbV4ZttE5u7EG0WvZ4GRy[/embed]