WDCV Interviews… Dustin Edge

WDCV recently had the opportunity to send some questions to musician Dustin Edge, whose latest EP “Calm” has been spinning in Heavy Rotation for a while. Here’s what he had to say about grass and trees:

WDCV: What is your sign?

D: Sagittarius

WDCV: Who is your favorite Beatle?

D: John Lennon

WDCV: What’s the last thing you listened to in the car?

D: Panorama by Birds & Batteries

WDCV: How did you first get into playing music?

D: When I was in middle school in Louisville, KY I started going to lots of local underground punk rock shows, which is where I first felt the desire to create my own songs and perform them. So many amazing bands came out of that scene in the early 90s that I count myself very fortunate to have seen: Slint, Endpoint, Crain, Sunspring, the list goes on and on and on. It was a special time in Louisville music history to be sure…

WDCV: What is the songwriting process like for you? What are you most inspired to write about?

D: I usually find a chord structure and then choose words that seem appropriate. As far as what inspires me, it obviously depends on what has recently transpired in my life, how I’m feeling at that particular point in time, and what I feel called to expound upon – lately it’s been the search for truth and asking questions about the meaning of life.

WDCV: Who are your greatest musical influences?

D: There have been so many over the years, but a very short list would include Talking Heads, Neutral Milk Hotel, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Fugazi, The Magnetic Fields, Cole Porter, Uncle Tupelo, John Lennon, Brian Eno, King Crimson, Richard Buckner, Slint, Nina Simone, Modest Mouse, Steve Earle, Little Richard, Oingo Boingo, Vic Chesnutt, Freddie King, Sunspring, The Gourds, Dan Bern, Minor Threat, Sam Cooke, The Cure, Howlin’ Wolf, and George Gershwin.

WDCV: Here at WDCV we are famous for our bluegrass show (no, really), and we heard a rumor you have some bluegrass in your past. Is that rumor true? Is that something that still influences your music?

D: Oh absolutely – I love bluegrass music. In my opinion it has a lot of rhythmic similarities to punk rock, so perhaps the bands from my early Louisville days paved the way. I’d love to make a bluegrass album someday actually.

WDCV: Where is your favorite place to play live?

D: Anywhere people come to see me…

WDCV: Calm seems like it has a very different sound from your previous releases. Is there a story behind this change? How do you think your sound will evolve in the future?

D: The songs on my previous EP, By The Numbers, were primarily written on a computer – they were very rigidly structured and laden with effects. The opposite was true on Calm, which was written mostly late at night in the tiny confines of my basement apartment in New York – I guess it was a way of bringing myself into balance with the multitudinous activity of the city that surrounded me.

WDCV: Along those lines, you also have a release called “By the Numbers” with songs called “The Golden Ratio” and “Easy as Pi.” Are you, sir, a not-so-secret math nerd?

D: Well it’s true that the study of mathematics is something I’ve always been fascinated with since I was very young – I believe most musicians possess some basic connection to numeric qualities, although it must vary from person to person. Aside from the meaning we attach to emotion, I believe that there is definitely truth in numbers too…
WDCV: Do you have any big future plans for the world of music?

D: I’m going to rob all the major labels and distribute their assets evenly to every independent musician in the world.

WDCV: State your life philosophy in seven words or less.

D: Be nice. Keep learning. Don’t panic.

WDCV: Okay, Bonus Question: If you had to choose between being a deciduous tree and a coniferous tree, which would you choose and why?

D: That’s an amazing question. It would depend on many factors, but if I absolutely had to choose, I’d be deciduous. I’d be ugly in the winter, but who’s beautiful all the time, right?

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Listen to “Calm” by Dustin Edge, or visit www.dustinedge.com for more!

ROAR, Viva Viva, and Fierce Creatures!

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Here at WDCV, you, the listener, are our year-long valentine. In that spirit, I have for you a box of jams sweeter than any chocolates.

Lately I’ve been digging a lot of pop music. It’s been keeping my mind off the cold, you know? One band that I’ve been freaking out about lately is ROAR, an art pop band from Phoenix AZ. Generally, I use “art pop” to refer to pop music that’s actually interesting, like Shugo Tokumaru. BUT this is serious art pop. As in, I’m pretty sure this EP is a work of art. Both a loving homage to and an intense critique of the idea of the “wall of sound,” the songs will lure you in and then stab you right in the heart! I could give you a more professional artistic critique, but you should just go listen to them here! Start with “I Can’t Handle Change” and “Christmas Kids”.

For those nostalgic for less of the pop, more of the rock, I recommend Bostonians Viva Viva. They’re pretty solid! They remind me of the Howlies, but a version of the Howlies which takes themselves seriously for some reason. I’m not a huge fan of this genre of music, but even I find myself listening to them and rocking out while writing this very sentence. Most importantly though, they have a song called Valentine! So, play that for your significant other. See how it goes?

Finally, in  honor of Arcade Fire’s Grammy takeover, here’s one for fans of the chamber sound. From California, the band Fierce Creatures plays loud, echoey music that I like to listen to in the morning in order to wake up and feel awesome. They’re like coffee, is what I’m trying to say. Also, they are super catchy! I think they would make great dance party music too. So, listen to them while drinking coffee and having an early morning dance party. That’s what I’m trying to say. Listen to their song “Satan is a Vampire” here, and then listen to all their other songs too.

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Yuck, The Band That Is The Opposite Of Yucky

Welcome to the blog post about my new obsession, the band Yuck.

Sent to WDCV by the always lovely Terrorbird Media.

This band is rough and edgy as well as whiny and head-bobbingly catchy. They even make weird music videos with naked girls being eaten by werewolf-like monsters:

http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/music-videos/766-yuck/2272-holing-out/

With an album that is self-produced yet roughly polished to perfection, you can expect and anticipate this band’s upcoming performance in March at the SXSW music festival. They’re officially touring already, focused mainly in the South at first from Georgia then all the way to the West Coast where the tour will eventually end out in San Francisco.

Every song has a little bit of a different feel, but the crooning and crowing remains constant throughout. Nothing is holding this band back and a devoted fan base is already forming speedily and devotedly behind them.

If you like your noise rock with a surf pop/teenage dream-edge, then you will enjoy Yuck.

Feast on, Party on.

WDCV’s Top Fives of Twenty-Ten

DJ Top Five Lists

Our DJs’ favorite new discoveries! Albums that were released before 2010 are marked with an asterisk. It goes without saying–if you find one of these lists particularly awesome, check out the schedule and listen to their show!

  1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
  2. All Day – Girl Talk
  3. B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
  4. Dropkick Murphys – Do or Die*
  5. The Roots – How I Got Over

–Brandon O’Brien

  1. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
  2. Sleigh Bells – Treats
  3. New Pornographers – Together
  4. Discovery – LP*
  5. Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This*

–Sam Pollan

  1. Bill Callahan – Rough Travel for a Rare Thing
  2. Silver Jews – Starlite Walker*
  3. Silver Jews – The Natural Bridge*
  4. Simon Joyner – The Cowardly Traveler Pays His Toll*
  5. Royal Trux – Twin Infinitives*

–Andrew Jones

  1. John Hartford String Band – Memories of John
  2. Andy Hall – Sound of the Slide Guitar*
  3. Nora Jane Sruthers – Nora Jane Struthers

–Davis Tracy

  1. Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame
  2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion*
  3. The Strokes – Room on Fire*
  4. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend*
  5. Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea*

–Jimmy Wilkinson

  1. J Dilla – Donuts*
  2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
  3. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
  4. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
  5. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

–Dan Plekhov

  1. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks
  2. House Boat – Processing Complaints
  3. The Please and Thank Yous – Mind Yr P’s and Q’s
  4. Shugo Tokumaru – Port Entropy
  5. Beach House – Teen Dream

–Melissa Kelly

  1. Dovekins – Assemble the Aviary
  2. Laura Veirs – July Flame
  3. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
  4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
  5. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

–Lacey Smith (WDCV Alum)

  1. Weezer- Pinkerton (Deluxe edition)
  2. Daft Punk- Tron Legacy Soundtrack
  3. Coheed & Cambria- Year of the Black Rainbow
  4. Drink Up Buttercup- Born and Thrown on a Hook
  5. Broken Bells- Broken Bells

–Chris Bratton (WDCV Alum)

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Ton-Taun’s Exporter

Ton-Taun, a four piece band from Lancaster, PA has released their sophomore album Exporter independently. A local band that most recently appeared and opened for Isis of Thunderheist last Friday for WDCV’s fall concert; The Perfect Storm, they succeeded to impress those select few who turned out for the free event. A band that released their first album barely over a year ago, a purely alternative rock sound is apparent along with modern influences like Modest Mouse and Wilco. However, the band itself is comprised of avid music lovers and listeners, and their other more subtle influences allude to the works of the infamous Miles Davis.

The premier track of the album, “Headdresses,” is pleasingly haunting yet repetitive. Soothing yet contradictory in its angst, it opens with steady guitar riffs and lyrics alluding to child-like images of finger-painting and feathers. With a pleasant harmony reminiscent of mindless whispering, Ton-Taun’s members sing of an assumed woman with a heart as hard as a diamond that one day the singer will tear out. The track ends with lead vocal Jordan Capizzi singing the repeated line “I was happy to see how scared you are of me, right now,” along with a reference back to the title of the song. The band actually played this song live at the concert, and the emotion and energy of the song shone through.

The sixth track of the album, “The Coca-Cola Factory,” could be considered a sort of sing-along drinking song for misfits and those of us who are more often than not down on our luck. Upbeat despite its melancholy lyrics, this track is catchy and easily relatable to any struggling, nostalgic college student. The song has a simple message, we were all meant for more than what we have or do, but something just went wrong along the way. It’s all a bitter twist of fate.

Young in terms of their years as a complete band but also experienced with two complete, original albums already under their belts, Ton-Taun has the potential to speak to a generation obsessed with consumerism, debauchery and the longing for a place in the world.

Heavy Rotation Review — Age of Adz

Highly anticipated with the release of his bulky EP All Delighted People, Sufjan Stevens’ tenth studio-released album The Age of Adz was finally leaked a few weeks before its planned release in October. October 12th was the target release date, but with heavy streaming of the album in its entirety on NPR and our instant gratification-orientated society, the album is readily available now to anyone who has access to the lovely internet. The Age of Adz is Stevens’ first song-based full length album in five years. As opposed to the state-themed albums that made him a household name, The Age of Adz seems to be more about the end of the world and collapsing romantic relationships than any of the fifty-one states. This theme of the end of the world is first introduced with the album’s actual title, which in itself is a reference to the apocalyptic artwork of schizophrenic artist Royal Robertson.

Stevens appears to be embracing a more electronic based sound in this album, as opposed to the heavily acoustic and instrumentally-dominant sound of his earlier albums. However the dramatic element of his sound that made it unique in the first place is still retained. This is apparent even in the first track of the album, “Futile Devices.” The track has a hazy and dreamlike quality as Stevens introduces the listener to one of the album’s overarching themes; love. The second track of the album, “Too Much,” meanwhile, introduces an industrial element to the album’s sound. It reminds one of the Flaming Lips’ popular track, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1.” The song almost has the feel of a videogame soundtrack like Mario Kart or Donkey Kong. Sufjan Stevens’ ever present choir singing along also succeeds in reminding one of his earlier popular songs “Chicago” with its melancholy, haunting quality. “Too Much” also reintroduces Stevens’ infamous trumpet domination.

The title track of the album keeps up with the dramatic yet upbeat sound of the album, while also having almost gospel undertones. There are many illusions to death within the song as well as apocalyptic imagery. Stevens has always made spiritual and religious illusions in his music. While this song appears to be a little more subtle, the album’s theme itself is very heavily influenced by the theme of the apocalypse. Another song on the album that greatly supports this theme of Armageddon is the song “Vesuvius.” The title itself is a reference to Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that erupted at Pompeii, wiping out an entire ancient civilization yet preserving their bodies eerily well with its ash during the eruption. However, the song is also strange lyrically in the way that within it, Stevens addresses himself directly and appears to almost be giving himself a sort of pep talk as well as reminding himself of his own self-destructive qualities. In this way, it makes the song an even more intimate look into the artist himself and the album more representative of the relationship that Sufjan Stevens has with his listeners.

The longest and possibly most complex track on the album is the closing song, “Impossible Love.” A whopping twenty-five minutes long, it switches gears and tones numerous times and has enough substance to be at least three separate tracks. The first fifteen minutes of the song start slow with the use of a piano as opposed to the more upbeat electronic sound of the rest of the album. Addressing a woman who has broken his heart, Sufjan’s voice fades in and out, giving the song a psychedelic dream-like quality. The raspy guitar also adds to the haziness of the song. The song then fades into a more electronic sound which it carries all the way into the ten minute mark. All of the sudden, Stevens utilizes auto-tune, made famous by our good friends T-Pain and Weezy. This gives the song an almost neo-hip hop sound as Stevens preaches about ignorance. Then the song takes a more upbeat tone around the fifteen minute mark, tipping a cap to Daft Punk and Justice. The theme then relates more to appreciating life for what it is and appreciating it. This is apparent with the lyrics “It’s a long life, better pinch yourself.” The song also relates back to the album’s overall theme of the apocalypse with this song, as by urging listeners to take life for what it is, he reminds one that with the end of the world so close at hand, we better take what we can get. Then, finally, with three minutes left in the song, Stevens reverts back to his acoustic roots. It seems that Stevens is apologizing for the confusion that either this album has caused the listener or that life itself causes to all of humankind. The message that we can accomplish more together than alone from the beginning of the song is repeated and Stevens urges that his only goal is to find pleasure and to accomplish something greater.

The All Delighted People EP might have been the precursor to The Age of Adz, but nothing could have prepared one for all that is awesome and confusing about Sufjan Stevens’ latest album. Themes of the apocalypse and hearts broken run rampant throughout the album and a more upbeat electronic influence is also apparent. However, there is still much of the old Sufjan sound in the album as well. While disconcerting in its newness and daring in its weirdness, The Age of Adz does anything but disappoint.

Heavy Rotation Update: New Music for Fall Days

Ah, fall. It’s a great time of year when everything gets clear and crisp and golden–the trees are pretty, you can wear your favorite jacket again, there are pumpkin-flavored things all over the place. How is pumpkin bread so good? The only thing missing is new music, music that is just as good as pumpkin bread.

Don’t worry, friend. WDCV is here to solve that problem. Here are a few favorites from what we’ve been spinning lately:

Fake Problems – Real Ghosts Caught on Tape

When Fake Problems’ album “How Far Our Bodies Go” was in our heavy rotation, I was really impressed with their unique and creative take on folk-punk. Like many other folk-punk groups, Fake Problems have gotten dancier and dancier with each subsequent release. This is especially true for “Real Ghosts Caught on Tape,” where their energy shines through tighter instrumentation and hooks. Recommended for dance parties.

Fake Problems on Myspace – check out “Soulless”

Moondoggies – Tidelands

Invariably as soon as it starts getting colder, I start getting cravings for pretty folky harmonies. Moondoggies delivers. Their myspace says that they sound like “a samurai seeking vengeance.” I’m not sure that’s true. To me they sound like a wandering troupe of bearded minstrels, seeking pumpkin soup. I guess that’s a little specific, but anyways, this album is really awesome and I’m definitely going to be spinning it a lot this season.

Moondoggies on Myspace – check out “It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity”

Jupe Jupe – Invaders

If you prefer your fall soundtrack to be primarily synthesizers instead, Jupe Jupe is for you. Space Invaders is my number two favorite video game (second only to Katamari!) so I may be a little bit slanted in my opinion of this album. Then again, isn’t that valid in itself? “Invaders” strikes a great balance between electronic elements and structured pop writing that’s surprisingly addicting. Much like Space Invaders.

Jupe Jupe on Myspace – check out “Something About Love”

You’ll hear these artists and more new independent releases if you listen to WDCV, the radio station that’s better than pumpkin pie. Check out our schedule for a full list of live shows, and our Top 30 chart to see the rest of our favorites!

Tangerine Turntable

a mix of music, rants, and inner musings from tessa. 6-8 pm on tuesdays. there will be no capital letters, it will be 100% pure electric sex. (which is safe sex)

Heavy Rotation Update- May 3rd

Hey Lovelies,

Final exams are approaching fast and that means you all need something to fill you ears while you fill your brains with knowledge. Why not give what we’re playing at WDCV a chance? Here’s what we’ve got for you this week.

Sugar and Gold Electro/synth pop from SF. Very 80s and very danceable. For fans of Chromeos.

Flying Lotus- Cosmogramma You had me at space opera!

Marco Benevento- Between Needles and Nightfall Piano/Instrumental reminds me a little of shugo but without the toy instruments.

Free Energy- Struck on Nothing Favorite Track? #2 This rock band from Philly and sounds like they’re an older (more classic rock) band.

Cuff The Duke- Way Down Here A great kind of low-key alternative album.

Trampled By Turtles- Palomino Bluegrass and punk rock? Their name?! How can you not play this album?

Great energy, makes me want to dance but also variety of sounds and themes.

Kings Go Forth- The Outsiders Are Back They are from Milwaukee, like me!! If that’s not enough, they also put together a fabulous album.

So give some of our Heavy Rotation a chance!

Until next week,

WDCV Music Directors

Heavy Rotation Update-4/23

I’ve got TWO WEEKS worth of awesome music for you guys! I know, I know I dropped the ball and didn’t do an update last week. Never again will I put my academics ahead of music directoring. But we’ve got some really stunning albums here at WDCV and we want to share that awesomeness with you:

River City Extension– And The Untouchable Man Like the Avett Brothers? Heard of Hoots and Hellmouth? Perhaps you like a little Spanish flavor in your folk rock. This happy album is the one for you! I especially like track #5.

Slow Club- Yeah So It’s really cute! If you are a traditional pop fan (Lenoard Cohen etc.)/folk songwriter fan you will love it! P.S. There is a cd of bonus tracks in new music!

Serena-Maneesh: S-M2: Abyss in B Minor Simply amazing, well thought out album. It has a tendency of getting weird (track 1 and 7) very amazing regardless.

Evelyn Evelyn Super weird story line of these pseudo conjoined Siamese twins (Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls and Jason Webley) as they go on adventures!

Foxy Shazam- s/t Sounds like a mix between Mika and The Mars Volta (I think this is right- but the handwriting is kind of hard to read…).

Jonsi- Go Lead singer for Sigur Ros has done a solo album. Not as crazy as their normal stuff though.

Electric President- The Violent Blue A super chill album that is still really fun. Nightmare No.5 or 6 is my personal favorite.

Young Livers- Of Misery and Toil Finally something NOT lofi 60s throwback etc… No idea says, “The culminating effort radiates and underlying majesty and grace that belies the more overt aggression.” When are they ever that eloquent? This album is good.

Inlets- Inter Arbiter Dude has a great Beruit vibe- not coincidentally, since they work together sometimes.

The Henry Clay People- Somewhere on the Golden Coast Band has a strong Modest Mouse Vibe. Do you guys like Modest Mouse? If so maybe you’ll disagree but anyway, it’s pretty fun.

Horse Feathers- Thistled Spring All I can say about this: SO PRETTY!

The Radio Department- Clinging to a Scheme Gorgeous indie pop/shoe gaze from Sweden. A bit hard to say what they sound like but I like the Bloc Party Vibes that randomly pop up through out the album. A good listen.

The Do- A Mouthful French people like them! I think they are ok.

Balkan Beat Box- Blue Eyed Black Boy I’m late on this sorry! Anyway this is a much more listenable album than the last but still pretty cool!

The Pack AD- We Kill Computers I’m freakin’ in rock love with this album. It’s got this great grungy sound, but it isn’t noise or obnoxious. It’s very reminiscent of The White Stripes, if Amanda Palmer from Dresden Dolls did the vocals.

The Living Sisters- Love to Live It’s a really good album, it features the lead signer of The Birds & The Bees also in heavy rotation.

Mathaniel Rateliff- In Memory of Loss Solid album. You can’t go wrong with any track. It’s really chill and mellow but not boring.

The Mynabirds- What We Lost In The Fire We Gained In The Flood Good album. You can’t go wrong here. Definitely hints of Rilo Kiley in there.

The Slacker-The Great Rocksteady Swindle Oh, The Slackers! Keepin’ ska faith for all of us.

Dr. Dog- Shame, Shame Drink Up Buttercup’s drummer recommend this to me. It sounds like if Of Montreal played bars like in “Piano Man” ok that’s an exaggeration kinda.

The You Know Whos- Five Songs (They were just here at DICKINSON!) Did you go to Rock-Hop on Friday? Then you already LOVE them. Did you not go? Now you can see what you missed!!

Caribou- Swim Guys the album art for this is awesome. Oh the music is good too I guess.

Laura Stevenson & The Cans-  A Record I love this woman. Prettiest music ever!

Whew! That’s a lot of music folks. Does it seem like we’re missing anything? Give us a shout in the comments and we will see what we can do!

Hugs and Kisses,

WDCV Music Directors