161 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(07/20/15 2:51am)
Just cause you've never heard of them, doesn't mean they're not good. Here's some music you should definitely check out during your time in Grant Park.
FRIDAY JULY 31
Are you excited to see Sir Paul McCartney? Well of course you are! You're gonna see in Beatle in real life, you can tell your kids that! Granted, they'll probably be able to see the fab four in holograms while attending some festival on the moon, but still, of course you're excited to see Paul! (unless you're gonna see The Weeknd instead...reevaluate your life choices)
But who are you going to see before Paul takes the stage? That's why I'm here, to give you the rundown to some lesser-known bands to spend your afternoon and evenings discovering and enjoying before the headliners take the stages.
Coasts: 12:45-1 p.m. Bud Light Stage
What's a better way to start Lolla than with some feel-good indie pop? Coasts sounds like a cross between Atlas Genius and Bastille and they will definitely get the endorphins going. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
MisterWives: 1:30-2:15 p.m. Sprint stage
Try not to dance when "Reflections" plays, seriously that is one catchy tune. Lead singer Mandy Lee has a super unique sounding voice that makes the band stand out from the like. The band too, is great and supports Lee's vocals without overpowering them. They just released their debut album Our Own House this past spring so expect to hear most of that record.
Father John Misty: 3:30-4:40 p.m. Palladia stage
I Love You, Honeybear is just another one of the many fantastic albums to come out this year and lucky for us, FJM will be playing songs from the album at Lolla. Known for putting on an unforgettable show, FJM's mellow rock will provide the ideal soundtrack to your early Friday evening
SATURDAY AUGUST 1
Congrats, you survived day 1.
Catfish and the Bottlemen: 12:45-1:30 p.m. Samsung Galaxy stage
What's the saying? A British band a day keeps the doctor away? Something like that. Either way, if you've got a thing for British guys with guitars (slowly raises hand) then you can't miss Catfish and the Bottlemen. I saw them in June and they put on a great show. Even if you head over to the stage without ever hearing one of their songs, the hooks are catchy enough that you'll find yourself singing along in no time.
RL Grime: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Perry's
Are you trying to rage your face off before the sun goes down? Head over to Perry's and get your most neon shirt ready to jump around with some bros and their flower crowned lady friends. RL Grime sounds pretty good at whatever he does though, if you're into this kind of thing.
Tame Impala: 6-7 p.m. Samsung Galaxy stage
No, I'm not insulting your ~indie cred~ by including this Australian psych-rock band, but take this more as a "you would be making a huge mistake (Gob Bluth voice) to miss this show." Sure, the past two Tame Impala albums have been great, but Currents is some next level music. Lolla is the band's first festival after releasing the album (due out July 17) and it would definitely be a mistake to miss what's one of my most anticipated acts of the weekend.
SUNDAY AUGUST 2
Better get to Grant Park early on Sunday, not only is it the last day, but at least in my opinion, Sunday boasts the best lineup.
Circa Waves: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Samsung Galaxy
Honestly the secret to starting your day out isn't a complete breakfast but some sunshine-infused indie-pop. True, Circa Waves sounds similar to a number of other bands playing the same style of music, but this music is so much fun! Save the heavier stuff for later in the day and dance to "T-Shirt Weather" cause you can't even pretend to hate this song.
Skylar Spence: 2:50-3:30 p.m. Pepsi Stage
Formerly known as Saint Pepsi (ironic as he's playing at the Pepsi stage) Skylar Spence has made a name for himself in the past year or so as an up-and-coming indie-electro artist. Unafraid to experiment with a variety of sounds but still having a knack to make catchy, upbeat music, this will be a much needed pick me up midday on day 3. He's set to release a new album mid-September so expect some new tunes.
Bully: 5:40-6:20 p.m. BMI
You know the feeling when you just want to scream song lyrics but it sounds awful because you know, you're screaming? Yeah Alicia Bognanno doesn't know that feeling. The voice and producer behind Nashville punk group Bully, Bognanno has made a name for herself, especially since the band's very excellent debut album Feels Like came out in June.
(07/07/15 4:29pm)
In less than a month, thousands of flower crowned teens and ironic tank top-clad bros will descend on Grant Park (which ironically features a statue of Abraham Lincoln) to ~experience~this year's edition of Lollapalooza. Starting in 1991, Lolla has grown into one of the premiere music festivals in the U.S., bringing in musical acts from across the world as well as always highlighting the local Chicago music scene. Recently, they've even made their food more Chicago-centric, because what goes better with the late summer heat than Chicago deep dish?
Jokes aside, the festival has worked hard in the past 24 years to differentiate itself from its oft-compared West Coast sister, Coachella, and it has been able to hold its ground as the summer has become inundated with various music festivals.
Later this month, I'll be flying out to Chicago to experience it all-the flower headbands, the deep dish and of course-the music-firsthand as I cover Lolla for WIUX. Throughout the month, I'll be taking your suggestions on how to cover the festival. What do you want to know? About the bands? About the festival goers? About the people who make Lolla happen? You tell me, I'll make it happen.
If you'll also be in Grant Park, whether for one day or all three, be sure to use the #wiuxlolla15 hashtag on your tweets and instas and at the end of the weekend, we'll have a collaborative story of how the WIUX community experienced the festival. In the meantime, I made a playlist of some of the bands that will be playing to get hyped for the weekend and also hopefully discover a new band that we'll be lucky enough to hear live in just a few weeks.
https://play.spotify.com/user/jessyarvin/playlist/30j9QRpMS49HzukUGlWjTe
(06/29/15 6:56pm)
Welcome to The O.C.: The Musical, bitch.
In a slow news week, this would have made the headlines, but understandably, after a week like we just had, the best teen drama, ever, being remade into a musical isn't exactly headline worthy. Still, that doesn't mean that it's not incredibly exciting news that some nostalgic directors are currently holding open cast calls for the core four (I guess this is before Marissa meets her fate? RIP)
I have an answer to ONE big question we've been getting -- YES. Seth Cohen will sing a Death Cab for Cutie song!
— The O.C. Musical (@OCMusical) June 27, 2015
Seth Cohen 2.0, call me.
Once again, we can collectively shake our heads as Marissa drinks alone, Seth and Summer epitomize #relationshipgoals and finally Sandy's eyebrows will be fully appreciated as we are in peak #fleek eyebrow culture.
According to Noisey, only three characters have been cast so far, mean jock gone nice guy once everyone finds out his dad is gay, Luke Ward, pre-pinot-guzzling or post-rehab Kirsten Cohen, as well as the show's creator Josh Schwartz. The musical is directed by Jordan Ross and produced by Lindsey Rosin, who also brought us the much less-anticipated Cruel Intentions: The Musical.
O.C. The Musical will run one night and one night only in LA on August 30. My birthday is August 4th, in case anyone is interested in getting me plane tickets to LAX and tickets to the musical. California here we comeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
In anticipation for the show of the year (which will hopefully be such a hit that it tours across the country), I've made a list of the songs that need to be included in the musical in order to truly make it The Best Ever.
1. California-Phantom Planet
Like duh, "California" is to the O.C. as bagels are to the Cohen family. Fun fact: the song was supposed to only be used for the pilot episode.
2. A Lack of Color-Death Cab For Cutie
I know technically they never actually played this song on the show, but Seth refers to it in his perfect Chrismukkah present (The Seth Cohen Starter Pack) to his two suitors, Summer and Anna. Also this is my favorite Death Cab song.
3. Dice- Finley Quaye
"However you spend your New Years is how the rest of your year will turn out!" Ok that's a paraphrase, but that chilling message alone sent Ryan running across Orange County and up a million flights of stairs to crazy Oliver's penthouse New Years party to sweep Marissa off her feet and the clock struck midnight. Classic scene. Well done Ryan, Marissa never deserved you.
4. No Rain- Blind Melon
"No Rain" is the first song in hands down the GREATEST episode of the O.C. ever, season 2 episode 14 "The Rainy Day Woman" This song plays as Seth tries to get Ryan to walk 25 feet in the rain from the pool house to the main house so that Seth can whine about Summer going to Italy for Zach's (ugh) sister's wedding.Even wiggling with a bowl of bagels doesn't convince Ryan. It would convince me.
5. Champagne Supernova- Matt Pond PA
This song too was featured in above stated Best Episode Ever, but at the end of the episode when Summer leaves the airport because she finally realizes that Zach is pretty lame and that she loves Seth. Summer runs through the rain to find Seth dangling from the roof from when he was trying to fix the satellite dish (soooo 2004). They kiss, I cry, every time.
6 .Speeding Cars-Imogen Heap
The graduation episode! Wow the core four graduated in one piece (and somehow all from the same school). Taylor gives a great graduation speech ("Don't let the bastards get you down!") and then the Cohen's take some adorable selfies. They better include this song in the musical.
7. Forever Young-Youth Group
Ryan and Marissa's ~couple's song~ It came on the radio and Marissa said it would be their song, because usually that's how real life works, not just teen soap opera life, right?
8. Mr. Brightside- The Killers
The O.C. obviously had a great soundtrack, but what was really cool about the show is that they got a bunch of bands to play live at the Bait Shop. Modest Mouse, the Walkmen and even the Killers played on the show. For all the dramatic deaths and binge-drinking scenes, The O.C. really tried to do something different with the music they featured on the show.
9. Fix You- Coldplay
RIP Caleb. Hello Kirsten's drinking problem. Goodbye Julie Cooper's second attempt at becoming a ~real~ Orange County housewife. See ya at the trailer park!
10. Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley
RIP Marissa, possibly the most traumatic scene of television my teen self had ever witnessed. I can see the scene play out on stage- Volchuck hits the car and Ryan is holding Marissa and behind the main stage the rest of the characters slowly rise behind them and sing this song.
(06/29/15 4:25pm)
The directors put together a playlist of all our favorite songs we've been listening to this summer. From Paul Simon to Bully to Tame Impala to Yung Thug, there will literally be a song for anyone who likes music. (And what kind of person doesn't like music?) Subscribe to the playlist on Spotify so you can easily listen to it all summer long.
https://play.spotify.com/user/jessyarvin/playlist/5mSwNMluZNUjWAU0NPByFH
(06/12/15 4:06pm)
Hi hello how are you? I'm pretty good because it's Friday and in the corporate world that means T-5 hours until the weekend!!! After sitting in a climate controlled room on the 34th floor of a building 5 days a week the only thing sweeter than the weekend is eating a Mr. Softee chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream cone during the weekend. To celebrate the much needed next 48 hours to the fullest extent, I made this playlist to listen to this weekend.* Featuring a just-released song from Foxygen offshoot-Diane Coffee (see him at the Bishop in September!), a new track from Jamie xx and my potential ~song of the summer~ by Detroit based-band Gosh Pith, this playlist will hopefully fulfill all your weekend musical needs.
https://play.spotify.com/user/jessyarvin/playlist/3IB5BmEPwbdMeUUWdTMsaf
*You can listen to this playlist any day of the week if your heart desires
(06/08/15 5:18pm)
OOOOOOH WE BACK. I'm spending my summer in the lovely garbage-smelling New York City and I've needed some good music to distract myself on my commute to work from the fact that I'm standing centimeters away from complete strangers on a crowded, hot, smelly aluminum box zooming underneath a city only to walk through Times Square and get chased by people dressed like Elmo and the Hulk on my way to work five days a week. No, I promise it's a lot better than it sounds. Anyway, so far we've gotten to FINALLY hear some new Florence, the debut album from Jamie xx, and the very highly-anticipated project by Chance the Rapper and Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment. So far summer 2015 has been very good to us.
I can go on for thousands of words raving about this album. If you know me and my taste in music or at least have been reading enough of these Music For Your Mondays, you know that there's a special place in my heart for sad and depressing songs. Therefore, it should come to no surprise that "Various Storms & Saints" is one of my favorite songs on How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. The first time I listened to this song my jaw literally dropped. I mean literally in the Webster dictionary definition. The heartbreak and sadness in this song is palpable and if you've ever just been so heartbroken that you never thought you could recover, the kind of heartbreak where you're just in this fog for weeks and your chest actually aches, you know how Florence feels. The buildup towards to end of the song starting with "you had to have him/and so you did/somethings you let go in order to live" is just delivered with such with this feeling that is easy to identify with, making the song just so special to me on so many different levels, as a music listener and as a human being capable of love. As so goes the rest of the album, Florence's voice just carries you through every aspect of her breakup and the subsequent recovery; even better, her band (the machine) sounds the better than ever.
In movies when the couple is at their peak and there's that nice montage of their love and happiness to be physically near each other the outside world is blurred and their in focus. Visually, that's how I interpret this song. When you're at that level with someone that you can just be with them, like you're physically there in the same moment, that's what this song is trying to represent. The rest is all noise because what matters and what is important is right in front of you. Besides what I'm interpreting the meaning to be, this is an incredible song. It's multi-layered and uses so many different sounds to take the listener on a journey from a classical piano to a buildup that morphs into something you would hear at a swanky club around 12:45 on a Saturday night. But from there, it takes an intergalactic turn, with distorted sounding bells and sirens. Not a recommended listen while driving for that reason.
Do you hear that sound? It's the entire female (and male) (and anyone with ears and a pulse) swooning over Leon Bridges. It's the soul music that we didn't know we wanted but now know that we deserve. My favorite part of the comments on the video is everyone saying "this is real music!" Our societal concept of "real" or "authentic" music is so interesting, just because it's pure soul music doesn't mean it's real or authentic, but it's so interesting that the genre is automatically connected to the authenticity. Maybe I'll write an article about it. Anyway, if you liked this song, you're in luck. Bridges' album is set to come out on the 23rd.
A$AP Rocky's AT.LONG.LAST. A$AP is a loooooong album. It's good though, just a shame that it's released in a year that has been full of great releases; it's going to be overlooked. "Jukebox Joints" is my favorite on the album and not just cause of the Kanye verse. Ok it's not even that good. But that's not the point. The beat and rhythm in this song is so cool and connects all the verses into one cohesive, smooth sounding song. The jazzy sax during Kanye's verse underscores him talking about how much him and Kim do it and also he rhymes with "fomo" but besides that it's a good song. But really Kanye, you're better than rapping "fomo" with "four more."
Bless BBC1 for introducing me to another great band, Catefish and the Bottlemen. This is good rock music (think if the Foo Fighters and The Strokes had a love child) and they're currently touring the in the U.S.! "Kathleen" is a great song, but also be sure to check out "Cocoon" and "Hourglass" while you're at it. To make it even better, two of the band members have great names. Van McCann plays guitar and is the lead vocalists and Billy Bibby is the lead guitarist.
The worst/best part of listening to a song is when you think "zomg these lyrics are so relatable!" Granted, Bethany Consentino is definitely not known for her lyrics, however, when I first heard this song I did have that moment of yes this girl gets me at this very moment. California Nights, the most aptly named Best Coast album ever, has it's highs and lows, but it's definitely and ideal album for hazy summer days and "Feeling Ok" is the best one on the album. Between the rocking guitars and steady drumming, this is the female-driven fuzzy alt-rock that I want to be listening to this summer.
Oh by the way Surf *finally* is out.
(05/26/15 10:35pm)
We all know that a ton of great music has come out this year, from Courtney Barnett's introspective album to the Alabama Shake's triumphant sophomore release to Kendrick's instant classic. But guess what? It's only May! The summer has ~just begun~
Here's part one of a series this summer highlighting the most highly-anticipated releases
Unknown Mortal Orchestra-Multi-Love: May 26
According to Pitchfork, Unknown Mortal Orchestra's third album "marks a thrilling departure from the bedroom psychedelia." Translated from Pitchfork-speak to English, UMO's third album is going to be different that the band's previous work, but in a good way. The majority of the music is led by singer Ruban Nielson, who explains that Multi-Love was inspired by well, multi-love. While touring in Tokyo, Nielson saw an 18-year-old woman who he was instantly attracted to and after corresponding with her for a few month, his wife began talking to her as well. They decided that the woman should come stay with Nielson, his wife and their two kids for the summer and see if their interesting relationship could sustain itself. It did, and after her visa expired, she left ("Can't Keep Checking My Phone" is inspired by their time apart) but then she came back in the fall, only for another visa to expire and then she left for good. Nielson's relationship with the woman and his wife are the center of the album, so if the innovative, catchy music doesn't appeal to you, at least you'll listen for the very different storyline.
Tame Impala-Currents: July 17
I have a simple test for deciding how good a song is. I listen to it and then decide if I want to listen to it again, right away. When Tame Impala released the nearly eight minute lead single "Let It Happen" in March, I listened to it once and then twice and then three times and the countless more times. The song has so much going on, but it makes sense, the listener isn't caught up in the blips and interlooping sounds, rather it progresses nicely. It's a classic rock song produced in 2015. Since then, the band has released three more excellent songs, "'Cause I'm A Man," "Disciples" and "Eventually." The end product, named Currents, is set to be released on July 17, providing a much appreciated mid-summer treat. It will be the Australian-based band's third album, and from what we can hear already, it goes above and beyond the critically-acclaimed Lonerism. Lead singer Kevin Parker, the ever introspective introvert, can masterfully craft music and Currents is sure to show off how much he has learned since 2012's Lonerism.
Florence + The Machine-How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful: June 2
After quickly recording Lungs and Ceremonials, Florence Welsh has been out of sight (but not out of mind) since the 2011 release of Ceremonials. Then, in February, she dropped the video for her first single "What Kind of Man" for her third album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, due out on June 2. Not only is the video shot masterfully, but the song is next level Flo. Featuring her signature soaring chorus, there's an edge to her usual sweet voice. The anger and vindictiveness is tangible not only on that song but also follow up single, "St. Jude." She released a third single "Ship To Wreck" that features a more pop-oriented sound but the lyrics are scathing, directly speaking to her destructive habits. The diversity of these three songs hopefully represent the rest of the album and I've been counting down the days until I can listen to it fully since I first heard "What Kind of Man" in February.
Dawes-All Your Favorite Bands: June 2
Nashville-based Dawes is set to release their followup album to 2013's Stories Don't End on June 2. The band, comprised partly of brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, combines the best elements of lyrical folk and guitar driven rock. This will be the band's fourth album and will feature more what Taylor describes as a more live sound, explaining that this album is sound less recorded in a studio and more like the band is on stage in front of you. After seeing Dawes play, that could only mean great things for the album.
Jamie xx-In Color: June 2
Better know as the dj/drummer of the London-based indie/techno band The xx, Jamie xx is set to release his debut solo album in early June. The first single, "Loud Places" is much more radio friendly then the other songs he has released thus far, featuring a seductive voice over a nice buildup that explodes in the chorus. other songs, like "Girl" are much more avant-garde sounding whereas "Gosh" featured distorted looping vocals over an industrial sounding-and sized-beat. The sheer variety in the sound of these songs, proves that this album will not only be fun to listen to, but will prove how genre bending something broadly defined as "techno" or "electronic" can be. Even though "Gosh" is definitely techno, it's very much influenced by hip-hop, and the outro sounds like something that Kanye West would feature on an album. "Loud Places" has a similar progression as dozens of songs that are easily categorized as EDM, however, Jamie xx takes it a step further to make it more sonically unique, but the skeleton is the same. With a number of other big names dropping albums on the same day, make an effort not to forget about this one.
(04/27/15 5:05am)
It's the last Music For Your Monday for the school year, can you believe it? It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the library procrastinating writing a paper for my history class and thus your weekly guide to music I like began. Although I don't plan on keeping this a weekly column this summer, I'll be sure to post the occasional Music For Your Monday because we'll still need music to get us through Mondays. But no worries, come fall semester Music For Your Monday will be back. Here's some of my favorite songs I've heard in the past week and thanks to all of my loyal readers to help make Music For Your Mondays into something more than just another way for me to procrastinate.
When Bon Iver released Bon Iver back in 2011, I was hooked. Those haunting vocals were exactly what I needed to get through college apps and a 20-page senior capstone research paper that no 17-year-old should ever have to write. Anyway, here we are nearly 4 years later and I'm just getting into the Stems Project where Justin Vernon of Bon Iver curated remixed versions of songs from his self-titled album. All these remixes add yet another layer and texture to the songs and they're so much fun to listen to; this is the kind of music that isn't background music--you want to focus on the sounds. The Teen Daze remixed version of "Perth" adds synths and an echo to the original song, but don't stop listening at this song because the entire album is worth at least one listen.
UMO's latest single is a groovy jam about a problem we all have. Can you stop checking your phone? Probably not. It's ok. Their album, Multi-Love is set to be released on May 26 and based on their two singles, the album will feature some great songs for summer. Plus, UMO is represented by Bloomington's very own Jagjagjuwar, so by listening to UMO you can support local business, a great band and your ears will thank you.
Summer is coming. Summer is coming. Summer is coming. We can finally listen to surf rock and enjoy it the way we're supposed to. There's something about sunshine and lazy strumming and a not-so-good voice that makes for the perfect summer day.
The Alabama Shakes released Sound and Color last week and it was the opposite of a sophomore slump. This is one of the most cohesive, solid, awesome, genre-spanning albums I've heard ever and it will likely go down as one of the highlights of the American rock scene in the past two decades. #boldstatement, I know. But with vocals like Brittany Howard's it's hard to expect anything less, she has such range and the rest of the band can easily create a garage rock song and a 70s funk song and dirty southern rock all on the same album and make it sound cohesive. "Gemini" seeks out how sonically exploratory the band can get. Howard's vocals are distorted and echo throughout the song and a jangling xylophone balances out 60's rock-inspired guitar solos. It's the end of April and just think about all the great music that we've been privileged enough to hear this year.
It's been almost a month since Kintsugi came out are you really gonna ask me if I stopped listening to it? Actually really for the most part I have, but not this song. It's just so good. It's a good way to end Music For Your Monday before it goes on summer vacation.
(04/20/15 4:33pm)
This weekend has come and gone faster than you can way "woah it's Monday?" and that means that Little 5 week has officially begun. You've had the whole year to either prepare for a bike race or prepare your liver for utter destruction and I wish you the best in whichever endeavor you chose to undertake. But first, enjoy this week's Music For Your Monday.
Death Cab covers this classic from the Smiths and despite jumbling up a few words, I really think this is good. Ben Gibbard's voice is nearly perfect for the song and he's just able to convey so much emotion.
Woooo another cover! Here's another one of my favorite bands (Bon Iver) covering another one of my favorite bands (Spoon). Justin Vernon of Bon Iver released this hauntingly beautiful cover to promote his Eaux Claires music festival, which features Spoon as one of the headliners. As per usual for Bon Iver songs, this cover features sonic distortion makes the song sound so different that Spoon's original version. I wish it was longer.
Florence and the Machine released As Far as I Could Get on a special Record Store limited edition record as the b-side to What Kind of Man." Featuring her signature soaring vocals, this song like the singles she's released so far from her upcoming album, have these tension-laden, angry lyrics that are so different than the lyrics of her previous albums.
Did you go to Coachella this weekend? Did you wear a flower headband and tell everyone you know about the ~good vibes~ in the California sun? Did you at least hear this duet with Florence and Father John Misty? If you didn't make it out to the desert, you can still enjoy this beautiful rendition, in the comfort of your own climate-controlled room, sans flower headband.
Big Sean is coming to Btown tomorrow for some little 5 festivities so I thought we could take a trip down memory lane to revisit the best Big Sean track where he's overshadowed by every single guest verse.
(04/13/15 4:11pm)
Well, Culture Shock is over. What are we supposed to do know? Listen to more music? Yeah that sounds like a good idea. But first, I want to thank everyone that helped make Culture Shock the success that it was and I hope that you had at last half as much fun as I did. But let's not dwell on the past. It's Monday and we all need a strong cup of coffee and some music.
Florence shared another song from her upcoming album and although it's not quite as gloomy sounding as the two other singles, it's just as good. The lyrics deal with some serious substance abuse problems and how difficult it is to accept it and get help, but these lyrics are juxtaposed with a pretty uplifting beat. I'm so interested to hear the rest of the album because already the three songs are so different but lyrically, deal with somewhat similar issues. It's gonna be a good one.
This track feels like sunshine on my face.
PSA: The new Alabama Shakes album is currently streaming on NPR and this is the soul/funk/southern rock/classic rock/punk/jazz music that we all deserve. Even though their first album was great enough to propel them to huge success, this album is leaps and bounds beyond Brothers and Sisters, which is saying so much. Sit down and really listen to this one, it's that good.
Years and Years is gonna be v big in a few months. I'm calling it. Now watch this video of them covering Haim's "Don't Save Me"
We're all allowed to have some guilty pleasure songs and this one by Jamie of the xx is mine at the moment. Last week I was writing a paper in the library and listened to this song on repeat for about two hours and I don't regret a second of it.
The female vocals in the new Brandon Flowers song? Danielle Haim. HAIM IS TAKING OVER. (even though is song is kind've rape-y..."you're not gonna deny my love" ok please calm down and take 10 steps back) But really, I've been talking about this for nearly a year now, 80s pop is coming back and this song just further proves that theory.
(04/06/15 3:32pm)
Culture Shock is in 5 days. Be there. But first, listen to some music.
This weekend Tame Impala announced the name of their third album, Currents, and released another single. The band set the bar high with "Let it Happen," but "'Cause I'm a Man" is so good. This simple bass line creates this calming effect that you totally don't get with the noise-heavy "Let it Happen," but both songs share this incredibly unique sound that combines elements of classic rock but with obviously digital voice alterations and synths (less so in this song). If these songs are any indication, and I'm sure they are, Currents will be an awesome album, continuing this trend of ridiculously great music in 2015.
Another awesome song from another awesome band from another awesome album that's coming out this year. "Gimme All Your Love" is simultaneously gritty and slick, creating this sultry sound that makes you want to sit in a dimly lit bar and drink bourbon. And I don't even like bourbon. at the 2:26 mark the Shakes will make you feel feelings that you probably didn't know you even had; isn't that the whole point of music anyway?
A video posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Apr 5, 2015 at 6:56pm PDT
This is the lead singer of Dashboard Confessional singing the emo classic, "Hands Down" at Taylor Swift's best friend's birthday party. Yes. You and TSwift both listened to Dashboard Confessional in 8th grade. You and TSwift still drunkenly sing Dashboard Confessional.
Kintsugi, Death Cab for Cutie's latest album is very good. This track is classic Death Cab-melancholy, moody, introspective, great lyrics ("there's a flaw in my heart's design/for I keep trying to make you mine" *crying emoji fire emoji crying emoji*). Everything about this song is sad. Lead singer Ben Gibbard's vocals sound like he's exhausted from loving this person, the subtle percussion is too sad to make more noise and the guitar sounds like that feeling when you're so heartbroken that just getting out of bed is too much. This song is so good.
Sorry for throwing another sad song at you, but this song came on shuffle and I completely forgot how good it is. There was a time in my life that I would scour Youtube for live versions and unreleased Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin songs and looking for a live version of "Hammers and Strings" brought back some great memories circa 2011. The sound quality isn't the best but I'm constantly impressed by the amount of passion that Andrew McMahon puts into his live performances.
Want to hear this song live? You can. Just come to Culture Shock on Saturday.
(03/30/15 3:46pm)
Released 3/31/2015 via Atlantic Records
5/7 stars
Good music, the kind of music that sticks with you long after the song ended, isn't about a specific time or place. Sure, you can argue that there are exceptions, but the best songs deal with themes. Themes of love, sadness, remorse, anger, bigger ideas that as humans with emotions, we can identify with and have that moment of clarity this song was literally written for me, about my life.
You know that feeling right?
Kintsugi, Death Cab for Cutie's eight album and their first without guitarist/producer Chris Walla is an album of themes. The overarching theme is the sense of drifting apart. It's a breakup album for sure, but it's not necessarily about a breakup between two lovers. It's a breakup between the band that's been making music for the better part of the past 17 years. It's not the raw, emotional breakup; rather it's that point where both sides realize there's nothing more to do or say rather than slowly drift away and move on with their lives.
The album title refers to a type of Japanese art when shattered pottery is reconstructed and melded together with pieces of gold, ultimately creating something more beautiful. It's an obvious reference to the loss of Walla in the band and lead singer Ben Gibbard's divorce. In the end, these losses are felt, the album sounds less cohesive and more like single tracks, and of course, there are the quintessential Death Cab songs that allude to Gibbard's heartbreak.
Like so many other songs and albums in Death Cab's discography, there's an overall sense on melancholy dripping from Gibbard's voice. In the album opener, "No Room in Frame," an obvious ode to Gibbard's publicized divorce from the She in She & Him, Zooey Deschanel, Gibbard sings "was I in your way when the cameras turned to face you?/no room in frame for two." Gibbard rarely writes from personal experience, but he excels in this song. It's easiest the strongest on the album; despite the rather sad subject matter, the song evokes this calm feeling. And of course, it's "No Room in Frame" that has maybe one of my favorite Death Cab lyrics of all time "and we'll both go on and get lonely with someone else," because really, is there a more Death Cab way to say you're sleeping with someone else?
"How could/something/so fair/be so cruel?" Ah, there's the brooding Gibbard that we missed on Codes and Keys. "Black Sun," the lead single from Kintsugi, with its killer guitar midway through the track and the palpable disdain dripping from Gibbard's vocals, is a prime example of Death Cab trying to win back the fans they lost. Although at first, the track sounds like it's trying to do something sonically different, there are more than just subtle hints of "Tiny Vessels" from perhaps the most celebrated album in the band's discography, Tranatlanticism.
Since I first heard "Transatlanticism" some years ago, I realized that few things can be more satisfying than Ben Gibbard's voice, a guitar, some drums, and melancholy lyrics. "You've Haunted Me My Whole Life" is not going to be everyone's favorite song on this album. It's slow, depressing and simple. In other words, the perfect Death Cab song. With lyrics like "there's a flaw in my heart's desire/I keep trying to make you mine," this song will be the soundtrack to another generation's first heartache, just like "Transatlanticism" or "The Ice Is Getting Thinner" or even "A Movie Script Ending."
That's what Death Cab is good at, they're good at capturing those feelings of first love and first heartache, being alone, feeling helpless and angry. It's when the band strays from those themes, that's when they run into trouble. It's why Codes and Keys was met with so much negative criticism and it's why certain tracks on Kintsugi glimmer like the gold in the broken pottery, whereas other songs fall flat.
"Good Help (Is So Hard To Find)" is one of those songs that sound out of place. Although Gibbard's vocals are great, the synths are too much, almost overpowering. However, it cannot be argued that Gibbard's voice does not mesh well with experimental sound because of his work with Postal Service, rather the production on the track just is not that good.
The lowest point on the album comes at its very end with "Binary Sea." It's too bad that the album starts out so strong with "No Room in Frame," just to end with such a dud. "Binary Sea" just doesn't sound like Death Cab and I simply cannot understand the thinking process behind closing out what otherwise is a very solid album with this number.
As March closes, there has already been an utterly staggering amount of great music released in 2015. However, for the most part these stellar songs and albums have come from lesser known names. The big names that have been taking over the headlines, from Modest Mouse to the Decemberists, have all put out some pretty underwhelming albums. With Kintsugi, Death Cab does their best to escape the same fate. And they do, just by a thread, thanks to Gibbard's ability to still encapsulate emotion into relatable lyrics. It's 2015 and it would just be naive to expect another Transatlanticism, these guys are married, divorced and in their thirties, however, given those factors, Kintsugi is exactly what you would expect.
Must Listens:
"No Room In Frame"
"You've Haunted Me My Whole Life"
"Black Sun"
(03/30/15 3:21am)
It's finally warm out, it's little 5 season and there's a ton of great music. What more can we ask for? Not much.
"St. Jude" is the second single from Florence and the Machine's upcoming album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Like the previous song, "What Kind of Man," "St. Jude" is a devastatingly stunning song, showing off Florence's incredibly strong vocals. However, there's no crashing chorus that she's known for, creating this sort of tension where the listener is waiting for the release after such a vocal and intrumental buildup, but the song just ends before it can come to that conclusion. Just from listening to these two songs, I expect this album to be Florence's best; easily one of the most highly anticipated albums this year.
Sometimes I Sit and Thing, and Sometimes I Just Sit is like a great birthday-you get a new present every couple of minutes. Between the lyrics and Courtney Barnett's vocals, "Depreston" is my favorite song from the album for now, but it would be a mistake not to listen to the album in its entirety.
This is a love song about the youngest of the Haim sisters, Alana. You deserve this. We all do. For real though, listen to some of Cold Front's other songs. I found them because of this fantastic song, but this young band from Philly makes some fun music.
*fans self repeatedly while googling "who is James Bay and why haven't I ever heard of him before"*
"Please give it up for the future of hip hop, Kanye West"
(03/23/15 3:51pm)
Honestly just the amount of great music that's been released this year has been overwhelming. I tried to spend part of my spring break catching up on some songs and here's a collection of my favorites. I'm already stressing out about my end of the year lists and March isn't even over yet.
Hands down, the most exciting release this year for me was Death Cab for Cutie's Kintsugi. Death Cab was one of the first bands I discovered on my own, fell in love with, and haven't stopped listening to since. Since 2011's Codes and Keys, I've been ravenous for some new music from my favorite band from Washington state and when I saw that the album was streaming on NPR, I jumped on that link. This album is great. I can't wait to review it, but mostly I'm happy because "You've Haunted Me All My Life" is perfectly depressing in a way that only Death Cab can pull off. Listen to it here
Remember when Macklemore won best rap album over Kendrick? I really don't know how to talk about this album, but that it pushes every boundary of what rap is in 2015 by going back to the genre's very roots and rewriting what it could have been. Music is art, but sometimes it's hard to hear that. It's not hard to hear that in this track, or the entire album.
Strangers to Ourselves is Modest Mouse's first album in eight years and was another highly-anticipated record. It's definitely a hit or miss, there's some songs that are just noise, other's are truly enjoyable tracks. "Of Course We Know," the album closer, it one of my favorites.
Do your ears a favor and listen to Houndmouth's latest album, Little Neon Limelight. This band makes good music, the kind of music you would want to listen to on your porch grilling burgers, enjoying the nice weather. It's almost April. Start grilling burgers and listen to this album.
Tame Impala dropped this nearly eight-minute song right before break and it was hard to listen to anything else. "Let It Happen" is the lead single off the band's still untitled album that's due out sometime this year, and if this track is any indicator, the album is going to be awesome. Pitchfork's review of the single really nails it, saying that lead singer Kevin Parker has "a classic rock voice with an electronic producer's mind;" the song progresses like a classic rock song, but instead of guitars leading the way, it's a series of blips and loopers. Sometimes long songs are long just for the sake of it, this isn't one of those songs.
(03/02/15 5:18pm)
On a snowy, Saturday night in Bloomington, WIUX announced that Foxygen, Twin Peaks and TOPS will headline Culture Shock 2015. The bands will join Mike Adams at His Honest Weight, Tsunami's, Oreo Jones and Sirius Blvck, Dietrich Jon and Vista Kid Cruiser in Dunn Meadow on Sat. April 11.
TOPS comes from Montreal and the four-piece band is known for their well-crafted indie rock music. In September 2014, they released their sophomore effort, Picture You Staring, earning praise from from many music critics, even earning a 7 from Pitchfork. TOPS appears to be friendly with Culture Shock alum, Mac Demarco, in their video for "Way To Be Loved," Demarco makes an explicit cameo.
Not to be confused with the television show with the same name, Twin Peaks is a four-man rock band hailing from Chicago. Since forming in 2009 when all the band members were in high school, the band has released two full-length albums, most recently Wild Onion in August 2014. Last summer, they played at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and this summer they are booked to play at festivals across the country, from Firefly in Delaware, to Forecastle in Louisville and even Sasquatch in Washington state.
Foxygen's 60's-influenced rock and experimental style makes the band one of the most fun acts in indie rock today. Formed in 2005 by Sam France and Jonathon Rando, Foxygen has put out three albums, including 2014's ...And Star Power. Known for their incredibly high energy performances and France's sometimes manic antics on stage, Foxygen is sure to put on an unforgettable show.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with everything Culture Shock 2015 by liking WIUX and following @WIUX.
(02/27/15 10:04pm)
Bloomington's very own Mike Adams at His Honest Weight is set to perform at Culture Shock on April 11. Mike Adams joins Vista Kid Cruiser, Dietrich Jon, Oreo Jones and Sirius Blvck and Tsunami's as the confirmed lineup for WIUX's annual spring festival. The three headliners will be announced tomorrow, Sat. 28 at an announcement show at the Blockhouse.
Although most would categorize the band as indie rock, there are elements of 80's-inspired synths and crashing cymbals that give him a distinctive sound.
Listen to Mike Adams at His Honest Weight's latest album, Best of Boiler Room Classics and be sure to catch him play on April 11 at Dunn Meadow.
(02/26/15 10:55pm)
WIUX is excited to announce Tsunami's as the final opener for Culture Shock. Tsunami's, a three-piece girl band from Bloomington, combines the best elements of bubblegum pop with the grungiest elements of punk to create an incredibly unique and addictive sound. They're set to release their first LP, Saturday Night Sweetheart on May 12.
Tsunami's join Vista Kid Cruiser, Dietrich Jon and Sirius Blvck and Oreo Jones as openers for Culture Shock. The annual spring music festival will be on April 11 at Dunn Meadow. The three headliners will be announced this Saturday at a show at the Blockhouse.
Listen to a new song from the band, off of their new album, released by Bloomington's own Magnetic South Recordings
(02/26/15 2:52am)
Released: 2/17/2015
5/7 stars
Listening to Vestiges and Claws is similar to sitting in a college philosophy course. However, instead of listening to an old, dull professor drone on about Nietzsche in a lecture hall, we're listening to Jose Gonzalez's soft, musical voice muse over life's peculiarities.
Although it's been seven years since his last solo release, the critically acclaimed, In Our Nature, Gonzalez has been busy making electro-folk music under the name Junip and he has contributed to a variety of albums, most notably the soundtrack of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Vestiges and Claws was by no means a rushed album, and the listener can hear the careful production and the effort that Gonzalez took in writing the lyrics throughout the album. Using nothing more than simple percussion, guitar, and vocals, Gonzalez creates a multi-layered album that reflects the questions he has wrestled with and the lessons he has learned in the time that it took him to create the album.
On "Every Age," the lead single off the album, Gonzalez muses, "Every age/has it's turn/every branch of the tree has to learn/learn to crawl/find it's way/make the best of it's short-lived stay." An obvious metaphor for a young person finding their way through life, Gonzalez uses the song to reflect on the a bigger truth, how to live a life to it's fullest. Underscored by minimalist percussion and a rough guitar, his voice takes the main stage during the song, making it one of the strongest on the album.
As a musician, Gonzalez shines brightest as a songwriter. However, on Vestiges and Claws, the instrumentals occasionally steal the limelight. For example, "Vissel" is completely void of any vocals, but it's no sleeper track. Conversely, "Open Book," the album closer, relies more on Gonzalez's vocals, yet is still a highlight on the album.
"What Will," which features the lyrics that give the album it's name, has a mesmerizing percussion beat that has obvious West African influences. Gonzalez explained that the album is heavily influenced by a curious mix of 70's Brazilian music, West African desert blues, and American folk-rock. The transcontinental inspiration not only explains the album's incredibly unique sound, but it also reveals the amount of thought that Gonzalez put into the album. Although a careful ear can easily discern the different sounds, the casual listener would not, proving the cohesiveness of the 10-track album.
One of my favorite songs on the album is "Afterglow." The track is instrumentally textured, with a mostly simple chord progression up until the bridge mixed with percussion that sounds eerily similar to a rattlesnake. Gonzalez repeats "All of this/is because of it" throughout the song, and although what he's referring to is ambiguous, the listener can really insert anything into the sentence and the song makes sense.
And that truly sums up the appeal of Vestiges and Claws. Listener's can get caught up in Gonzalez's complex, philosophical lyrics, which they should because they're well written and thought-provoking. However, he he gives the rest of the music the same attention as the lyrics. The instrumentals vary, yet are cohesive, and the album is arranged in a way that makes sense; it's an album in the truest sense, not just a collection of random songs he has written and recorded in the years since his last release.
(02/23/15 4:30pm)
It's another Monday in Antarctica, I mean Bloomington, and if you're like ugh Jessica it's not even that cold I don't care because maybe your blood is thicker than mine or maybe my ice cold heart just makes my body colder. I don't know. But what I do know is that this year has just been stellar for music so far, last week we got new Sufjan, Alabama Shakes, Florence + The Machine, Big Sean, Modest Mouse and more that I can't recall off the top of my head. But look at that list. That's better than like all of 2014 combined. This week's Music For Your Monday is gonna mix up some new with some old with some rap with some emo ballads and it's gonna be great.
I think that it's important to remind people every few months that this song exists. Even though literally everyone on this song has a solid verse, Kendrick steals the show. Regardless, Big Sean still has a solid verse, but if you listen to the singles he's released from his upcoming album (it's due out on Tuesday), you can already hear how he's grown; all the songs he's released are solid, different, and feature the likes of Drake and Kanye. Don't forget about Kendrick though, he's set to release an album sometime this spring too.
Este Haim from Haim and Scarlett Johansson teamed up to create the super girl pop group called the Singles. Their first single. "Candy," is very obviously influenced by 80s pop like the Bangles, further proving my ongoing theory that whether we like it or not, 80s pop is in vogue. (See Bleachers, Haim). The straight out of a John Hughes movie synths are out of control and the saccharine vocals make for a pink cotton candy song that will be so fun to blast in the car when (and if) it's warm out again.
I woke up Sunday morning with this song stuck in my head even though I haven't listened to it in months. "Konstantine," perhaps one of the more annoying songs on the spectrum, is nine and a half minutes of whining and pining. It's kind of like one of those low-frequency (or is it high-frequency) noises that only young people can hear; only people 12-17 can listen to "Konstantine" and actually enjoy it. Now it's just annoying, but if it's ever playing you better believe I'll sing every word.
Triple J is a radio station from Australia and they have a program called Like a Version where they get bands to come in for an in studio performance and play delightful covers. Needless to say, the Like a Version Youtube channel is one of my favorite corners of the Internet to waste time. Here's a weird cover of "Shake it Off" by Milky Chance.
I keep forgetting about this new song from Unknown Mortal Orchestra and then I hear it and don't understand how I keep forgetting about it. Insane chord progression, super catchy and the drumming keeps everything in place. It's a keeper.
UPDATE:
NEW DEATH CAB.
(02/16/15 7:16am)
I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day weekend and if you didn't then you're lying. How do I know you're lying? Because so much great music came out since the last Music For Your Monday that there's simply no way that you weren't happy. From a sneak peek to what Kanye's latest album is going to sound like to a surprise Drake mixtape drop to an incredible, life-altering single from Florence + The Machine's upcoming release, last week was a good week for music and I can't wait to talk about it now.
SNL's 40th anniversary got interrupted by Kanye performing a new song from his new album. Kanye first performed a particularly good performance of "Jesus Walks" and a weird version of "Only One," but what people are talking about is "Wolves." We first heard a snippet of the "Wolves" during Kanye's fashion show (lol what a sentence) on Thursday. Sunday night's performance was pretty weird, but we got to hear a much higher-quality version of the song, which features both Vic Mensa and Sia. Overall, the song sounds pretty good, nothing stood out to me as being very different or very weird, so who knows. It's Kanye, stop the speculation and just enjoy it as it comes.
Few things thrilled me more than 1) seeing a surprise Drake album come out of seemingly nowhere and 2) critics quickly calling it emo. Emo rap, what a time to be alive. That being said, this isn't emo in the same vein as Dashboard Confessional circa 2006. If You're Reading This It's Too Late is emo in the sense that there is arguably no rapper more in touch, and more comfortable with themselves talking about their feelings than Drake. "Know Yourself," a phrase that keeps popping up in his music, is probably the most self-aware track on the album and tied with "Legend" as my favorite. "Legend" is the type bombastic fire that an album like this one has to open with. "Know Yourself" is just a solid track that's about to be on repeat for a long time.
Florence + The Machine is back with a new album set to be released on June 2 and a new video and a new single, What Kind of Man. After pretty much listening to this song on repeat for four days now, I'm still not quite sure how to put this song into words. I admit, I'm not the biggest Florence fan, sure I've listened to, and enjoyed her music in the past, but by no means would consider myself a huge fan. Well, let me tell you this song is incredible. The slow intro features the classic booming vocals and ethereal sound that Florence is known for. But then these guitars and drums start and the whole mood changes. It makes a 180 into a solid rock song, but the anger that drips from the lyrics is sweetened by Flo's saccharine vocals, creating this delicate tension that makes the song absolutely explode in perfection. Does that sentence even make sense? I have no idea, this song puts me in a trance and I hope you all love it at least half as much as I do.
Music in 2015 is truly the gift that keeps on giving, now the Alabama Shakes have finally graced us with a new song. Although they've played this one live quite a few times, it's still nice to hear it recorded and get the green light that a new album is finally on it's way (April 21!!!). Few rock bands are as fun to listen to as the Alabama Shakes and I am so excited to hear the follow up to the excellent Boys and Girls.
This song makes me heart eye emoji. I literally heard this song on the radio for the first time less than 12 hours ago and I can't stop thinking about it. I guess I just have a thing for a guy with a decent voice and a guitar (as if you guys haven't figured that out yet). This Icelandic band is finally breaking through the American airwaves and I'm sure they'll make a name for themselves here because I can't be the only one in the country who has a thing for a guy with a decent voice and a guitar.
Calvin Harris was kind enough to feature Haim on a track from his otherwise mediocre Motion. Luckily, the decided that this fantastic song deserved a fantastic music video, so now we can watch Daniele, Este and Alanna embrace their inner witch/Hocus Pocus as they run on horses through the woods and stoke a fluffy white bunny. As as per usual, their middle points are on point.
That's it for this week. You can catch more of my favorite music every Monday from 5-6 p.m. on 99.1 or follow me on Twitter @jyarvin