WIUX Interview with Tim Nordwind from OK Go
Last month I was able to interview Tim Nordwind from the band OK Go before their show at the Bluebird, check it out below! To check out other interviews and performances, click here!
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Last month I was able to interview Tim Nordwind from the band OK Go before their show at the Bluebird, check it out below! To check out other interviews and performances, click here!
Have you dreamed of more WIUX Spirit Wear? Well now your dream has come true! Designed by WIUX's Promotions Director Rose and available only during Pledge Drive 2014. All proceeds go towards WIUX's Pledge Drive Fundraiser. There is no shipping at this time. Click Here to Pre-Order your own.
In honor of College Radio Day, I would like to give a shout out to the unsung Canadian hero Reginald Fessenden. Although Nikola Tesla or Guglielmo Marconi both were incredibly instrumental in the invention of radio, pouring years of scientific studies and experiments into its creation – in fact Tesla holds the patent for radio/wireless telephony – it is Reginald Fessenden who I hold in the jukebox of my heart. According to countless Canadian websites, Fessenden was the first to broadcast music over radio waves. Audio that people would love to be able to tune in and listen to, instead of the Morse Code beeps had been the prevalent use of radio waves up to that point. Fessenden took the technology that was used to transfer information and transformed to it transfer culture. One of the first songs he broadcast, “Oh Holy Night,” reached ships of the coast on that Christmas Eve bringing a piece of home to the ocean waves. Sure, this might be romanticizing a gentleman from a century ago but if not Reginald Fessenden then who should I make my #mcm? So while you tune into your favorite college radio station on College Radio Day – and every other day of your life – remember Reginald Fessenden.
We give holidays to our favorite Presidents, who helped shape America – but there seems to be a growing national tendency to celebrate the people who have shaped America’s musical landscape. With Richmond, VA declaring the recently passed Sept. 17 “Foo Fighters Day” and Mayor Rahm Emanuel dedicating Sept. 23 as “David Bowie Day” in Chicago, it seems like the whole country wants to mark down on their calendars just how much they love their favorite musicians. What better way to remind the public to love an artist than to dedicate a day on the calendar to your favorite band? Although we aren’t going to get a day off of school for any of them anytime soon, any reason to crank the jukebox up and listen to some solid jams, is reason enough to celebrate for me. So if you’re looking to road trip, here are some other holidays dedicated to bands/music and the city it is located in (added bonus you’ll already know what the car’s soundtrack should be). April 1st – Three 6 Mafia – Memphis, Tennessee April 10th – Nirvana Day – Seattle, Washington April 18th – Record Store Day – Your (least) favorite record store May 4th – MCA Day – Brooklyn, New York June 10th – Drake Day – Houston, Texas June 25th – Global Beatles Day – Global mean you are required to travel the globe or look at a globe to celebrate. August 3rd – Blues Music Day – International (I don’t know which country doesn’t participate) August 4th – Rick Ross Day – Miami, Florida September 17th – Foo Fighters Day – Richmond, Virginia September 21st - Earth Wind and Fire - No one remembers where September 23rd – David Bowie Day – Chicago, Illinois October 13th – Puff Daddy Day – Chicago, Illinois December 12th – Bluegrass Music Appreciation Day – Worldwide (you don’t even need to leave your bed) December 12th – Wiz Khalifa Day – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Check out this tutorial video, created by WIUX's Chief Engineer Collin, of how to work the turntable equipment in the 99.1 FM studio!
Ever want to take that pretty girl or dreamy boy from your finite class on a nice night on the town but your pocket money is running a bit low? Don’t worry that your budding love life will fade away, WIUX has you covered. Here are some great places to take dates when on a budget that are sure to impress. IU Cinema Is your special someone interested in art films or music documentaries? Show them your indie side by taking them to this theatre. It has super comfy seats that might even be memory foam and a stealer speaker system. Tickets are often free or incredibly discounted for IU students and can be got from the IU auditorium box office. IU Union Board Films Every week Union Board brings new films to the Whittenberger Auditorium that can be seen for free with a student ID or $2 without one. They bring all sorts of movies – The Lego Movie, Django Unchained – for your viewing pleasure. Any IU Improv or Sketch Comedy Group’s Show Indiana University has a wide range of Improv and sketch comedy groups with free weekly shows on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Although the rooms they are producing giggles from sometimes change you can typically be updated as to where the funny will be at from the group’s Facebook pages. Plus everyone knows that laughter is the way to someone’s heart. Some classic groups include The University Twits, Awkward Silence, and Boy in the Bubble. The Slam Poetry team If the one you fancy loves clever word play and well-presented stories a poetry slam might be the place to go. Typically on Friday nights, slams are held anywhere from the Bishop to Racheal’s Café. They aren’t every week so you’ll have to keep your ear to the ground to hear when the next one happens. A warning though, your sweetheart might fall for a member of the slam team and their witty tongue. A Picnic in the Arboretum There are actually more than one place to picnic here on IU’s campus besides the Arboretum but it is simply a classic. Bring a blanket and some sandwiches, or even order food to be delivered. As long as your potential lover isn’t allergic to nature this is will a great date that could stretch out into the evening. Try not to be too concerned if it starts to rain, just bring an umbrella and remember how The Notebook taught us that it is romantic to kiss in the rain. Homemade Dinner They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach so cooking a homemade meal is sure to catch their attention. Can you only make pancakes? Breakfast for dinner is always a winner. Can you only make grilled cheese? Add spinach or tomatoes inside the grilled cheese and a can of soup to dip the sandwich in and it’ll become a solid meal. Do you burn water? This might not be the date for you! Jacobs School of Music Performance With multiple graduate and undergraduate recitals every week showcasing anything from boson to violins to percussion, this is a great for a last minute activity. Mostly located in the Simon building, you can check the Jacobs website for event details (http://music.indiana.edu/events/). No tickets needed and free, you can just show up to enjoy some quality tunes that prove sophistication to your soon to be sweet heart. IU Art Museum Prove yourself to be suave and debonair by going to the Art Museum. It is free with great pieces of art including a Jackson Pollock. Do a quick wiki search of some of the artists beforehand and you are sure to impress. Tour the Kinsey Institute This is a museum of controversial sex research that is right on campus, it might send a message but not necessarily one they want to receive. Always remember though, consent is sexy. Kirkwood Observatory Open to the public and no reservations required to gaze up at the beautiful, and might I add romantic, starry night sky. It can, and will, be closed to the public on short notice if bad weather crops up. If you follow the observatory on twitter it can let you know when it is open. Hike in Brown County National Forest Nothing gets your heart pumping more than a brisk walk in the woods except for the one you are walking with. Truly beautiful scenery, exciting plants or animals, and just about a 30 min drive outside Bloomington makes it well worth the trip. Before you go, make sure you know how to identify poison ivy to save yourself and your special someone from the itchy rash it can cause. Rose Well House Located south of the union, this is the place to place a special kiss on your loved one at midnight. As the story goes, if you kiss them there at midnight they will be your love forever. Listen to WIUX! What could be more romantic than listening to your favorite radio station? Well… one or two things – but listening while on your way to one of the above activities could quite possibly get you a second date! WIUX, helping build the soundtrack to your love stories.
The second annual Pop vs Jock charity basketball game is set for this Sept. 22 at 2:20 pm in Montreal, Canada. Indie rock slam dunks on the Pop team will include returning players Win Butler of Arcade Fire and Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes, as well as newcomer Justin Vernon from Bon Iver. We already know these stars to have hustle on stage, but now we will get a chance to see if they can bring the hustle to the court. Other notable Pop team mates include Martin Starr of Freaks and Geeks and pro basketball player Luke Bonner. This charity basketball game is for DJ Sports Club, a non-profit charity organization that offers programs for Montreal youths in sports and education. The Jock team is comprised of members from McGill University Redmen and the Concordia University Stingers. Pop vs Jock is hosted by POP Montreal music festival whose lineup includes Grizzly Bear, Tim Hecker, Patrick Wolf and Sonic Titan, among others.
The Foo Fighters have their 8th studio album, Sonic Highway, out to be released Nov. 10 on Roswell Records. For this new album the Foo Fighters are "doing things that we've never done before," front man Dave Grohl told THR "You'll recognize Foo Fighters in this record but you'll also be surprised by us." While the album is only to have eight songs, it is supposed to be one of the longer Foo Fighters albums. Sonic Highways is also the Foo Fighters’ upcoming HBO television series which will air Friday, Oct. 17 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, with seven other episodes debuting the following weeks. Directed by front man Dave Grohl, Sonic Highways will document the Foo Fighter’s recording their new album, Sonic Highway in famous recording studios in eight different cities – Austin, Chicago, Los Angles, Seattle, Nashville, New Orleans, New York and Washington D.C. In this eight part series, they will be spending a week in each city doing interviews, exploring the musical history, and playing music before recording their session. The newest trailer teases at interviews with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, the Eagles' Joe Walsh, Kiss' Paul Stanley, Pharrell Williams, Slash and President Barak Obama, all discussing America’s rich music history. With Dave Grohl’s experience creating dynamic music documentaries in the film Sound City, there is high expectations for this upcoming series.
The end of summer is a sad and exciting time. Poolside freedom, internships, summer classes or jobs, adventures far out of your comfort zone and romances close to your heart might all be all be winding down as the school bells begin to ring. It seems as if summer had only just started before it blew by in a beautiful instant. Getting back into the rhythm and rhyme of an educational schedule can be incredibly stressful and uncomfortable to manage. Whether you are returning to your university or about to attend a brand new school it is nice to get some help up into the driver’s seat. So, if you’re missing the summer sun and want to make it through your first week of class without any tears follow some of these tips. We are trying to avoid #summertimesadness. Keep Track of the Syllabi You will be so happy come late September that you still have the original assignment calendar for the semester. Many professors give points for just having them printed off, so it is a great way to start off the semester. Jessica's tip: highlight dates when there are quizzes, tests, exams, papers due, WEBWORK (forgetting about webwork is probably one of the top 5 worst feelings) Print/Write out Class Schedule Don’t be stuck 2 minutes before class trying to dig through your slowly loading email to find the room number of whichever class you are taking 8 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. It’s much too early for that. Jessica's tip: don't take class at 8 a.m. Walk or Map the Academic Buildings before the Big Day Especially for newbies on campus, this can be a stress saver. Even after a few semesters, it is still good to have a quick refresher of where the buildings are and how long it might take to get from one to the other. Jessica's tip: Although it is possible to get from Woodburn to Union Street in 15 minutes, I do not recommend it #freshmanmistake Plenty of Writing Utensils Black Pens or Blue Pens? The ultimate debate that has torn friendships apart for much longer than the ‘Edward Vs Jacob’ debate. Mostly kidding - the color of pens haven’t been that hot of a topic since the glitter scented pens of middle school – but make sure you have a solid supply for thorough note taking. A few #2 pencils are highly suggested since many teachers grade via scantron and can even take attendance with scantrons too. Jessica's tip: don't lose your pens. Somehow, always, come mid-October all my pens are gone Keep your Eyes Peeled for Student Involvement Fairs College has a little of something for everyone, so check out the involvement fair and join something you’re interested in. From student media (hollah WIUX) to Greek life to philanthropy to intramural sports and everything in-between you are bound to meet cool people who share your interests. Involvement fairs typically happen the first week or two of classes so plan to stop by during your busy syllabus week study schedule. Jessica's tip: Join WIUX A Day Planner Use it to keep track of exams, assignments, social engagements and extracurricular meetings from the get go so it doesn’t become a jumbled mess three weeks in. Jessica's tip: thanks Sarah for this tip Attend Campus Spirit Events This is one of the best ways to feel at home. Get pumped and rowdy with your friends – remind yourself how truly awesome the university you go to is and why you picked it to begin with. Be proud of the school you go to, and make it proud to have you. Jessica's tip: go to tailgates, there's nothing better Stop Playing on Your Phone Yes, 2048 is addicting and technically teaches you math and sure Angry Birds could be biology or maybe physics but you need to but your phone down. Not only will you miss out on what the professors are saying, but you will miss out on interacting with real people in real life. You will avoid a strong case of FOMO (fear of missing out) if you check social media less frequently. Real life is vivid and beautiful (even without instagram’s ‘Nashville’ filter) and will only show more of its intricacies when you pay attention to it. Jessica's tip: learning is fun and phones distract you in class and out of class and in college you learn outside of the classroom too Go to Sleep Early the Night Before Staying up until 3:30 a.m. the night before your first day of school is bad news bears. Unless of course your first class doesn’t start until the afternoon at which point even being vaguely nocturnal you could still get a good 8 hours of sleep. Jessica's tip: sleeping is important because you don't want dark circles and puffy eyes if there's a ~total hottie~ in your classes Eat Breakfast Are you a pancake person? Cereal Consumer? Morning time Bloody Mary advocate? Whatever your breakfast of choice might be, build time in to your schedule for the quick bite. It’ll not only keep you from falling asleep in class but insure that you are awake and alert with plenty of time to get to your first class on time. Jessica's tip: last year my roommate bought a 10-pound bag of pancake mix for our apartment. If you are a pancake person, or a person with taste buds, I suggest you do the same Bring a Non-Perishable Snack Bring a non-perishable snack so that if the cool new friends you made in class invite you to grab a bite in the food court you won’t feel bad about the banana slowly smushing itself on the bottom of your backpack. Granola bars are great, since they will keep in good condition for days. Jessica's tip: goldfish Stay Hydrated Many problems can be made a lot better by a drinking a tall glass of water. It’ll sooth a sore throat, calm a raging headache, and improve concentration in class. While it won’t prevent you from missing things that are far away at least you can think “Wow! I am so hydrated! What a great role model I am!” Jessica's tip: get a camelback bottle cause they're great and last forever and decorate it with WIUX stickers
American psychedelic rock band The Flaming Lips have announced the plans for their upcoming tribute to the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band via a track list photo on the lead singer’s, Wayne Conye, Instagram account. The tribute album entitled With a Little Help from My Fwends is being made with the help of quite a few of The Flaming Lip’s friends including Miley Cyrus, Tegan & Sara, Foxygen, and Dr. Dog – according to Conye. This track by track cover album is set to be released on October 28, 2014 and will be the second album put forth by The Flaming Lips with the word “Fwends” in the title. The Flaming Lips are not new to the tribute album game, having also curated artists for the Stone Rose's self titles album The Stone Roses's tribute as well as a tribute to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. You can check out the cover art and who is singing which iconic tracks below. With a Little Help From My Fwends 1) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (My Morning Jacket, Fever the Ghost, and J Mascis) 2) With a Little Help from My Friends (The Flaming Lips, Black Pus, and The Autumn Defense) 3) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (The Flaming Lips, Miley Cyrus, and Moby) 4) Getting Better (Dr. Dog and Chuck Inglish) 5) Fixing a Hole (Electric Wurms) 6) She’s Leaving Home (Phantogram and Juliana Barwick) 7) Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (The Flaming Lips, Maynard James Keenan, and Sunbears) 8) Within You Without You (Birdflower and Morgan Delt) 9) When I’m Sixty-Four (The Flaming Lips and others yet to be announced) 10) Lovely Rita (Tegan & Sara and Stardeath and White Dwarves) 11) Good Morning Good Morning (Zorch, Grace Potter, and more) 12) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Foxygen and MGMT) 13) A Day in the Life (The Flaming Lips and Miley Cyrus)
Released: 7/15/2014 6/7 With Fink’s Hard Believer, Jason Mraz’s Yes, Bleachers’ Strange Desire, and Morrissey’s World Peace is None of Your Business all released this week, some might be curious why I was so excited about Raffi’s Love Bug. It’s been 12 years since Raffi’s last original children’s album – Lets Play (2002) – which was big when I was 8 but even after all this time I still know the words of this Egyptian-born Canadian singer-songwriter’s classic songs like “Banana Phone,” “Baby Beluga” and “C-A-N-A-D-A.” Due to the extreme success of his album Baby Beluga (1980), Raffi refers to any kid who grew up listening to his music Beluga Graduates – and this Beluga Grad was curious about his new album. Children’s music has an innocent enthusiasm that draws out the imagination of the kids listening while encouraging them to behave well and with over 20 albums under his belt Raffi exemplifies a mastery of this genre. Love Bug is charming and encouraging of good behavior. Even though some of the tracks like “Seeing The Heart” have larger vocabulary and might be more aimed to the parents of the children listening, they seem like they would be great and keep the attention of little kids too. Raffi’s soothing and kind voice shinning over his self-played folk guitar accompaniment have brought a smile to my face while listening this week (with earphones in so any hypothetical street cred I have remains intact). The lighthearted global troubadour has devoted much of his life to bettering the situations of children. In the founding of Centre for Child Honouring, which works to promote a child’s right to a life free of commercial exploitation, he has earned the Order of Canada – Canada’s second highest national award. He sticks by that principal of integrity and not only turns down many opportunities of commercial endorsement but he refuses to advertise his albums directly to children. During the down time between his last album and Love Bug, Raffi has also written a book called Lightweb Darkweb that advocates ways to reform social media with a focus on social media and our children. Love Bug Doggone Woods Mama Loves It Free to Play In the Real World Water in the Well On Hockey Days Seeing the Heart Cool Down Reggae Magic Wand Wind Chimes To the Park Pete's Banjo This Land is Your Land Blue White Planet Turn This World Around The first song on the album is a Randy Newman-esque title track “Love Bug” whose twinkling background piano will make you recall scenes from campy westerns. In the beginning of the official music video for “Love Bug” Raffi asks a handful of children what they think the love bug it. Need not worry though, as soon as the chorus comes in we are informed that “Love bugs, are where the hugs come from.” The highlight from Love Bug is the cheerful “Doggone Woods,” which has goofy puns that teach children about different types of trees as Raffi plays his acoustic guitar accompaniment. There may not be any “Baby Baluga” sized classics in Love Bug but the original music is fun and Raffi’s cover of the patriotic “This Land is Your Land” is very well done. Love Bug may not be Sgt. Pepper's or Pet Sounds, but it isn’t trying to be. What it is, is another round of fun children’s music that elementary school kids love and their parents as well as a handful of babysitting “Beluga Grads” will enjoy when it is popped into the car stereo.
The Who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this month and Pete Townshend told the press that The Who are going to go on one final mega-tour. This is over three decades after their first “farewell tour” in 1982, but it seems like this might actually be the last because even though the love of performing is still there, the strain of touring may have become too much to handle in recent years. Some of the tour dates for this last goodbye tour have been announced. The Who are playing several arena shows this November and December in England before hitting the States in early 2015. “For the 50th anniversary we’ll tour the world, it’ll be the last big one for us. There are still plenty of places we’ve not played” Pete Townshend said about the tour “It would be good to go to Eastern Europe and places that haven’t heard us play all the hits.” Roger Daltrey also explained in an interview with Rolling Stone that although this will be the final large scale tour for The Who, they will probably continue to play shows until they die. The band is looking to record new material in the next year, and although these songs won’t be performed on this tour, Daltrey thinks that they might do separate shows, and see if people are interested in buying tickets to hear them. Townshend describes this new music as “more prog rock than pub rock.” For this tour though, they are planning to play the old catalog of classic hits, so fans looking to hear rarities and b-sides are likely to be disappointed. Even if they are focusing the hits, it’ll still be a variety that reaches from recent hits, to Tommy to their beginnings as The High Numbers. The Who 2014 Tour Dates: November 26 – Dublin, IE @ The O2 November 28 – Belfast, IE @ Odyssey Arena November 30 – Glasgow, UK @ SSE Hydro December 02 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena December 05 – Nottingham UK @ Captial FM Arena December 07 – Birmingham, UK @ NIA December 09 – Newcastle, UK @ Metro Radio Arena December 11 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena December 13 – Manchester, UK @ Phones 4U Arena December 15 – Cardiff, UK @ Motorpoint Arena December 17 – London, UK @ The O2
In anticipation of the 4th of July, America's celebration of a stand against taxation without representation - here are 10 British bands that call into question if the British Invasion really ever stopped blasting out of our speakers. Arctic Monkeys – Worth digging deep into their discography and B-Sides, you will find lyrics that stick with you and tracks you’ll leave on repeat on the boom box by your bedside. On their mantel, the Arctic Monkeys have 2 Grammy nominations and 7 Brit Award wins. Lead by Alex Turner, this British rock band that formed in around Sheffield, England, will also be coming stateside in August when they perform at Lollapalooza. Track to hear: “I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor” – What Ever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not The Big Pink - This electro-pop Londoner duo may not have released anything in the last few years, but they are a bright poppy sound that is sure to please. Track to hear: “Rubber Necking” – Future Necking Bombay Bicycle Club – If you haven’t listened to the album So Long, See You Tomorrow yet – stop reading this and go listen to it now. It will be in my top 3 albums of 2014, if not number 1. Bombay Bicycle Club is a four piece indie rock group that hails from Crouch End, London. With 4 albums and 3 EPs under their belt along with an afternoon slot at Chicago’s Lollapalooza Festival, this addicting British band is only growing momentum steal our Midwestern American hearts. Track to hear: “Home By Now” – So Long, See You Tomorrow Coldplay – On the threat of being called mainstream, I love Coldplay. For their newest album Ghost Stories, Coldplay hid sheets of lyrics to their songs in ghost story books in libraries in 9 different countries. People who found the hand written sheets could win other prizes. Whether this a clever ruse to get their fans to read or not is beside the point: Coldplay is a creative alternative rock English band who has invaded more than one heart stateside. Track to hear: “Lovers in Japan” – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends Fink – 6 albums, a live LP album and another album, Hard Believer due out later this year, Fink is a British indie folk band that holds it’s own. Often with a singer/song writer feel, Fink is perfect to listen to on a relaxing evening in. Track to hear: “This is The Thing” – Distance and Time Jessie J – This Londoner has often brushed with royalty, she sang at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 as well as with the band Queen at the 2012 Olympic games. She used to write songs for artists like Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown, but now has self-preformed hits of her own. Track to Hear: “Price Tag” – Who You Are The Kooks - With a new album entitled Listen due out in September 2014 so The Kooks will soon be invading radio stations on your drive home. These guys met at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, the first song they ever played was a cover of the Strokes’ “Reptillia”. Track to Hear: “Naïve” – Inside In, Inside Out The Staves – The tightest harmonies from this delightful sister trio might be your newest favorite tracks for cool autumn evenings. This acoustic sister trio are from Watford, England; often using a ukulele and are definitely worth a listen. Track to hear: “Mexico” – Dead & Born & Grown Toploader – With experience being the opening band for acts like Coldplay, Muse and Bon Jovi – Toploader has experience warming up a crowd. Although their debut indie pop album Onka’s Big Moka had huge success in the UK, they are mostly remembered for their cover of King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight”. Track to hear: “Dancing in the Moonlight” – Onka’s Big Moka The Wombats – Bouncing out of your speakers all the way from Liverpool, the Wombats are an indie rock band that cranked out 10 EPs and 2 full length albums in the period of about 7 years. This includes the fantastically named The Hangover Sessions. With the last EP or LP released in 2011 and a new single released late 2013, fans are waiting eagerly to see if they are planning to come out with something new. Track to hear: “School Uniforms” – A Guild to Love, Loss, and Desperation
Even with summertime jobs, internships or summer school – summer brings the perpetually craved downtime that can make you feel like your brain is turning to mush. Looking for a way to brush off the cobwebs growing in your summer time mind? My go-to brain Swiffer are quirky or interesting documentaries. They are all the fun of learning in the conveniences of your own couch or bed, and you can get these documentaries from your local public library, movie store or stream them from Netflix. No matter where you grab them from, here are some documentaries – great and iffy – that have given my brain a swift scrub with an added entertainment factor. A Band Called Death With a focus on the deep family bonds of the three brothers who make up the Detroit-based punk rock band Death this documentary has guest commentary from the likes of Kid Rock and Questlove. Although their demo failed over 30 years ago, they have found their fan base and now have been given a platform to share their music and some of the history behind it. Blackfish Looking to cry while also feeling guilty about ever going to Sea World? Blackfish is the hauntingly beautiful documentary for you. This grim documentary is incredible well done, and examines the life of Tilikum the performing killer whale who caused the death of several individuals while in captivity. Being Elmo This is an adorable and compassionate documentary for any lover of Sesame Street. It looks at the life of the puppeteer, creation of the puppet’s character, and how the puppets are made. Might not be great to show the kids you’re babysitting – you don’t want to be responsible for the young ones finding out that Elmo’s delightful personality doesn’t come from his own fuzzy red heart but from the hand that hangs out inside his belly. Freakonomics This book made movie on economics is 6 different stories all wrapped up on one. It looks at different scenarios– from fixing sumo wrestling to choosing baby names – from the viewpoint of an economist. Entertaining and educational! The gold mine of documentaries. Girl Model Russian preteens are recruited into trying to become models in Japan but only end up in huge debt. Over all pretty depressing, but shows a whole new world. It gives a new perspective on modeling in the United States and has negative connotations on the modeling/beauty pageant system that is in place. Guns, Germs and Steel I watched this back in world history class my freshman year of high school, but it was really educational, so buckle up for some good learning. It is an in depth look at the inequality that the world faces and argues that it can all be traced down to the exchange and use of guns, germs and/or steel. Inside Chipotle WARNING: this movie will make you crave Chipotle. The documentary highlights some of the financial and organizational structure for this 1,400 store chain. Plus the founders of this delicious comfort food seem like genuinely nice guys. This is great if you already eating a burrito, and it is only 21 mins. Jesus Camp More than a little spooky, this intense documentary follows three young children at a controversial Christian summer camp. These kids are encouraged to speak in tongues and become political activists. It is an interesting look at the younger segment of this potentially unsettling belief system. Worst part? Maybe that the leader of this camp cries that Harry Potter is evil (because he is a wizard) or the mother of one of the children actively convincing her son that global warming is a myth. Pearl Jam Twenty With a treasure trove of B-Roll footage, this documentary shows the history of Pearl Jam. If you’re a fan of Pearl Jam, this is definitely one to check out. Reincarnated This is an in-depth look at the making of Snoop Dogg’s (or Snoop Lion) reggae album Reincarnated. Most of this movie is all of the different ways that Snoop Dogg can smoke marijuana. SPOILER ALERT: there are a lot of ways. Shut Up and Play The Hit Chronicling the last ever show of the band LCD Soundsystem, this is a great movie for any musical aficionado. Instead of being sad it is over, they celebrate the prior six years with the best funeral they could imagine. Best listened to loud, and if you can manage, in surround sound.
There is no doubt that this single is catchy and will be a major song of this summer, but what interests me the most is the official music video that accompanies the song. Iggy Azalea pays a major homage the 1995 blockbuster American comedy Clueless. Clueless, which is based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, is set in a Beverly Hills high school and follows a good natured yet superficial girl named Cher who acts as a matchmaker and tries to boost a new student’s popularity. Iggy Azalea picked classic scenes to recreate in her music video, from the classroom debate to accidentally driving onto the highway. The 23-year-old Australian rapper also wore the iconic yellow outfit that Cher wore in the fillm. Iggy tried to get Alicia Silverstone, who play Cher in Clueless, to do a cameo but was unable to make it work in the timetable. Check out the similarities for yourself below.
Released: 4/7/2014 5/7 Stars Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks is easily the musical love child of Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors. No one can argue, as the side project of Animal Collective’s Avey Tare, former Dirty Projectors’ Angel Deradoorian and former Ponytail drummer Jeremy Hyman, the resemblance is understandable. This being said Enter the Slasher House is its own entity. The imagery is more blood soaked and yet is presented upbeat like a worn out twisted carnival that is not nearly as foreboding as the title suggests. It is peculiar electronic psychedelic rock tribute to old 60’s style rock n’ roll and campy horror films. The first track of this album is “A Sender” whose lyrics that are hidden and echoed into the synth. They warn that “you sit so still, as we peak over your window sill, need to get up and hide.” As you start this album Avey Tare is trying to get you to Entering the Slasher House. The dense textures and bouncing synths create a wall of carefully controlled chaos in “Blind Babe.” The synths pulse between tracks as if they are just echoing and building into each other before they disappear. It's as is the synths are supposed to been spooky ghosts of the songs earlier on the album. The lead single “Little Fang” is the most musically straight forward song off of this album. With an intro that winds up like an old VHS recording “Catchy (Was Contagious)” is Afro Pop ecstasy with lyrics akin to describing communicable diseases. It ends much like the beginning, winding down as if the tape it was recorded on overheated and melted. 1) A Sender 2) Duplex Trip 3) Blind Babe 4) Little Fang 5) Catchy (Was Contagious) 6) That It Won’t Grow 7) The Outlaw 8) Roses On The Window 9) Modern Days E 10) Stranger Colors “That It Won’t Grow” is a surprise favorite off of Enter the Slasher House. Starting off with the chorus and an intoxicatingly strong beat emphasized by the synth this mid album track catches and keeps attention. Soon it drops down to a softer melting ballad but with the ever present anxiety in Avey Tare’s vocals. Recorded live, this album feels more alive, like you are participating in a mini séance rather than simply watching one. But just as watching a slasher flick isn’t for everyone and once you see one it fills your quota for a while, Avey Tare Slasher Flicks will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Even saying that - Enter the Slasher House is worth a listen, although it may be a while before you ever listen to it again.
Transport yourself to a relaxing beachside hammock, soaking in the warmth of Triptide’s Colors EP. Triptides is a trio with many beach rock EP’s and albums under their belt; like much of their previous album art, the Colors EP album cover features a reflected symmetrical image. Triptides is not only a throwback to the huge days of beach rock, but how they present their music is a shout out from the past. Eclectic forms of portable recordings – from cassettes and vinyl to digital – truly set Triptides up strong in their niche. This kaleidoscope of psychedelic sunshine hails from Bloomington, IN where they recorded this EP – and many others – at Sun Pavillion. Bursting right of the bat with a sonic beam of beach-y energy is “Colors,” the title track from this EP. The lyrics sing “what is going on when you’re around me girl, something so strange, maybe not of this world.” A catchy bass line that surges through the fuzzy guitar riffs creating a tropical cocoon for the listener’s ears in this lo-fi love song. Colors EP takes a calm step backwards with the slow and more translucent “Destiny.” Quiet “Ahs” float down, in and amongst the soft baseline until the vocals kick in with lyrics. The guitar matches and accents the vocals creating a sweet lullabye sensation that is revisited at the end of the EP. 1) Colors 2) Destiny 3) Throne of Stars 4) Moonbeams 5) I Didn’t Know 6) Lullabye “Throne of Stars” was the single release from this EP that entices with the echoing vibrations of the vocals. The drums in this track are much more up front than those on the rest of the EP– without drowning out any of the other instruments. Fuzzy guitars sent out in waves that keep lapping up on shore, “Throne of Stars” features an almost Egyptian sounding guitar solo that wades on top of the psychedelic pool of sound. With a countdown intro into their final track “Lullabye” Triptides winds down Colors EP like a sunset after a long day, the last glimpses of tropical energy trickling down. This is an honest lullabye, a great end to the EP and perfect for a summer evening. As always, Triptides has, me looking forward to what they will leave washed up on shore next.
With comments by Jessica Yarvin As the school year here at Indiana University comes to an end, seniors get ready to graduate later in May and those with meal plans are either eeking out their last few meal points or are buying up entire C-Store before their points expire. It’s a time of final exams and making summer plans. And for some it is a time of reflection of their past four years here at IU. As people reminisce the food courts that were your freshman stomping ground definitely come up. For those who live, or lived in the central neighborhood, here are five reasons the Wright food court isn’t as bad as you remember it to be. It is so convenient Located right across the street from Wells library it is easy to stop in for lunch between classes. Although Woodlands has newer facilities, it is a hike from the main classroom areas. Plus Wright is open all day so if you’re on Spanish time and want a 3 hour long midafternoon siesta, it is the RPS dining hall for you. Jessica says: Minimum walking=maximum fun You’re allowed to take food out Unlike Collins, the Wright food court lets you take left overs back to your room or bring with you as a snack for later. Want an ice-cream bar on your way to class? That’s cool. Snack on some Charlie Biggs as you Netflix in your bed? You do you, college kid. Jessica says: Take advantage of your time in college because it's the only time in your life where it's acceptable to eat an entire meal in your bed while watching One Tree Hill (or Arrested Development or Scandal or Gossip Girl or The Office...) There is spinach in the salad bar Spinach is great for you, full of important vitamins and minerals. Even if you have a problem with the taste ranch dressing covers up just about anything. And as long as your spinach to French fries ratio is in the green (literally) your mom will quit asking if you have been eating enough vegetables. Plus since you pay for the weight you want, you can pick how many vegetable you’re going to have! Jessica says: The darker green the leaf, the healthier it is #funfact The orange guava mango juice That is what love tastes like. Jessica says: I've never had it but Sarah is a trustworthy person so take I'd her word for it The Entertainment factor From the large TV in the corner that you can see the Hawks play while you munch on your lunch to the grand piano that hosts maestros playing anything from chopsticks to acoustic piano renditions of Beyonce’s “Drunk in Love” the Wright food court is full of entertainment. Not to mention the occasional pledges to the Greek fraternity system who may pass through and serenade. Jessica says: A grand piano??? Eating dinner??? Wright is like a 5 star restaurant minus the good food!
With added commentary by Jessica Yarvin As finals week approaches and Little 5 comes to an end, students rush to cram everything they were supposed to learn since spring break and revisit the information that was long forgotten from the beginning of the semester. Like an advanced game of Tetris, everything has to fit back inside your head. This can mean long hours at the library. If you’re new to the library game or a just looking for a new study spot, here is a finals week guide to the libraries of Indiana University. Business/SPEA Information Commons This has always been one of my favorites, even if they did stop selling applesauce in the C-Store directly outside of it. This library is usually filled with Kelley and SPEA kids doing group projects (ICORE, Target/Macy’s Presentations, ect.) and it is perfect for that. With a dozen back rooms which you can sign up for hour slots within, this library is made for practicing for presentations. Jessica says: Lots of good-looking and smart boys, good too see if your future husband is studying for his finals Education Library This library in in the Wright Education building over by Read residence center. With circle couches and ceiling to floor windows across most of the library, the Education Library has a hip feel but I’ve never been able to get a lot of work done there. It is mostly equipped to help gather materials for education majors but not for extensive studying or long hours of group projects because it closes at 10 p.m. The C-Store outside this library sells popcorn, which is pretty nice. Jessica says: Never studied here but popcorn is never a bad idea Fine Art Library Unless you have wandered around the arts building before the Fine Arts Library will be a tricky one to find. Even if you have been in the Fine Arts building it is still a tricky library to locate. If you do find it you will be in the most artsy library that Indiana University has to offer. With a window that overlooks the library of the art museum and a quick detour to the fine arts books store that sells BBC bagels and schmear, this is a good place to study if you want your inner hipster to shine. Jessica says: Bagels are the most important food group and are the secret to success Herman B Wells – West Tower (Fourth Floor) Wells is a classic studying staple here at Indiana University, with a C-Store on the first floor that is open till midnight with paninis that you’re allowed to munch on anywhere in Wells and the west tower often times being open 24 hours a day during the school year it is hard to go wrong. The down side to all this convenience is that Wells is always completely packed leading up to finals. The fourth floor is an entire floor of desks already pushed together for study groups, which can sometimes make it a bit noisy. You’ll also see policemen make hourly rounds up to the fourth floor to make sure no one is raging too hard (turn down for what?). Jessica says: Ain't no party like a West Wells Fourth Floor party (but really). Great for people watching, not so great for studying Herman B Wells – West Tower (Quiet Floors) With all of the benefits of Wells but with less distractions, the quiet floors are a great place to bunker down in dead week. One of the best parts of the 2nd and 3rd floor of the west tower is that almost anywhere you sit there is a convenient electrical outlet within a yard. The 2nd floor has windows, which might not seem like much but after hours of the library life the outside is a commodity that is missed, especially in the spring semester. Jessica says: Super comfy chairs on the 2nd floor and the tables with the built in outlets are super clutch. Definitely my favorite place to hardcore study or write a paper Herman B Wells – East Tower Commonly referred to as The Stacks, the east tower of Wells has endless rows of books and references for grad students or undergrads who want to mix it up and use information not taken from the internet. These floors are eerie quiet, but you can eat a panini up there so not much to complain about. The desks and tables that are tucked in and amongst the books have graffiti etchings proclaiming that “Hank <3’s Jessica” and that “AEPI Rules”. The Stacks close at midnight. Jessica says: This is the worst place in the world. It smells like smelly old books, has no windows and is populated with people that are literally insane because only an insane person would choose to study in the stacks Lilly Library This is a trick library. It is actually a museum and they don’t want you to be studying in it. Jessica says: Then Wells should probably be renamed "Herman B. Wells Museum" Music Library Located on the second floor of the Simon building this library is equipped with little cubbies for solitary studying. Although there is a mini C-Store outside the entrance this is a no food zone so eat before you go if it is your destination. This is not a library for chit chat, but in and amongst the sheet music and manuscripts a lot of work can get done. Jessica says: I didn't even know this existed until a week ago The Union This might not be a library but it still belongs on this list. Great for midday naps or long hours in the comfy chairs and couches, the Union is a final week study paradise equipped with a Starbucks. Can't find a spot in the two big rooms filled with couches? If you wander around the twisting and turning corridor on different floors you are sure to fit a table or comfy chair to claim for yourself. Only downside is that the X bus stops running around 10 pm so if you're heading back up to the stadium it is a bit of a hike. Jessica says: Pro tip: If you get either regular hot or iced coffee, Starbucks will refill your drink for free if you have the same cup.
It seems like there are always people on the edge of the ever morphing music scene, trying to create new unique sounds to call their own, which explain why there is an exponentially growing number of goofy genres and sub genres. When I say goofy, I don’t mean bad. I love some of the music that has been projected out of these narrow classifications. The genres are goofy because of their specific and ridiculous requirements needed to be included within. We are no longer able to just call it “Rock” and “Pop;” so here are 7 off the goofiest music genres I know. 1) Crabcore - It is an offshoot of screamo, but the instrumentation, lyrical content, and tone quality are the exact same. In fact, much of this genre involves crab walking as its defining characteristics. They also do other crustacean inspired dance moves. Personally, I wouldn't classify a music genre based off of coordinated dance moves but the internet yells that it is real, and I don’t want to anger the internet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDzt6yI3Dw8 2) Algebra-Rock - Algebra-Rock is a branch off of Math-Rock – which is an sub-genre of experimental rock –that contains similar musical qualities of rhythmically complex guitar based melodies held within odd and changing time signatures. The big difference is that algebra rock’s lyrical content is about math subjects. This genre has been building in popularity, mostly song by song by MathRock bands who think that it is ironic and funny. It is ironic and funny. (Could not find a good quality example, so break out your mathematic-imagination on some regular Math-Rock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUeye0l9JhY 3) Spacesynth - Also called Space-Disco, this genre had its peak in the middle of the 1980s and is created with the cheesiest moments of synth overlapping each other in an upbeat cacophony that is supposed to resemble outer space. Whether it does or not can really only be decided by an astronaut, but since I’m not an astronaut I will just take their word for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNeZhlIo7Cc 4) Electroswing - Gaining a lot popularity after the Gatsby movie was released electroswing fuses swing styles with EDM and house music. Sometimes taking samples from swing records, but also composing songs with swing elements to pull from, you should except electroswing to be popping its head in more EMD festivals soon. It is fun, cute and makes it is easy to boogie down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtVLauHXumE 5) Nitendocore - It’s all the fun of 8-bit clips of sound from old Nintendo games wrapped up in elements of heavy metal and punk. It’s a subgenre of Chiptune that focuses on games like Mario to pull files from, played over or with features of typical rock instrumentation. Often played live using an actual game boy device, this genre exemplifies 90s nostalgia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO-feDGdcF0 6) Epic Doom-Metal - While being able to distinguish Epic Doom-Metal from regular Doom-Metal is not something I am at all capable of doing, the main difference is in the main singer. The vocals are supposed to be more operatic and clean rather than raspy vocals of your everyday Doom-Metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3uvf0cn0jo 7) Lowercase - This genre is silence. Just silence. Sometimes it is interrupted by a noise that is barely audible, but that could just be your imagination running away with you. It is ambient minimalism to the extreme, simply silence broken into designated chunks of time. If you’d like to create your own Lowercase, set a timer for however long you would like and plug your ears to hear your blood pumping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMtXaRUMFjg