Tag: underrepresented

New Artist Spotlight: The Polychromatics

  By , , ,

This week, the WDCV music directors added a few featured artists, and we’ve decided to shine a light on one of the newest bands.

The Polychromatics are an indie rock band based in Philadelphia, and their EP is a perfect depiction of the versatility of their talents. They’re refreshingly open to experimenting with their sound. John McKenna, the guitarist of the band and featured vocalist on two songs off the EP, describes each song on the EP as an island, but I disagree. While the songs sound sonically different – in four songs they manage to play everything from folk, to garage jam band, to psychedelic – the lyrics convey a claustrophobia and existential anxiety that feels genuine and relatable to anyone in transition.  

According to the guitarist, the band’s influences go hand in hand with their favorite music, such as Pink Floyd, Ty Segall, King Crimson, Gandalf, and The Doors (some of my favorites as well). McKenna specifically said that the song that is most prominent from his youth is The End by the Doors, which led him to pursue music. He says, “When I first heard Robby Krieger’s skill on that song, I made the decision to become a guitarist.” (He also recommends we listen to the psychedelic band Wand.)

If you’re interested in listening to them, they’ll be circulating through our automation, and they’re also on Soundcloud. When I asked how they felt about how the internet affects the music business, a controversial issue, they said, “It’s giving our band the ability to reach an audience quickly [which] we might not have had the chance to do if we took the old school method…I can’t help but see the benefits of instantaneous communication on a free platform for unknown bands like ourselves.” 

If you have any questions for the band about their work, or event opportunities, you can contact them at their email, the.polychromatics@gmail.com, on twitter or on facebook.

If you have questions for the author of this article, please email logiurab@dickinson.edu or post on her facebook page. 

ADDs of the Week for 10/22-10/23

  By

I know I haven’t been exactly on top of my ADDs game for a while. A lot of senior thesis work and staring out the window has been occupying my time. Not to mention my attempts to break this caffeine addiction. It’s a little disturbing. Anyway, we have a lot of really great ADDs this week which you will be hearing over the air for a while, especially the ones I’m about to tell you allllll about. Because they are awesome. Didn’t I already say that? Anyway, here are this weeks top ADDs:

Titus Andronicus — Local Business: The long anticipated and accidentally recently leaked new album from punk rock Americana superband Titus Andronicus is here! This album differs from their other two albums because it doesn’t follow a set concept or narrative, but it is just as violent and rawly awesome as their other work. The subjects covered in the album’s themes range from an eating disorder to quitting smoking to lots of other things so nihilistic I can’t even begin to describe them all. Listen and punch a wall simultaneously to get the full effect.

Recommended Tracks: Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape With The Flood Of Detritus, My Eating Disorder, In A Big City, (I Am The) Electric Man

RIYD: Andrew Jackson Jihad, Bomb the Music Industry!, Japandroids

Paul Banks — Banks: This is the front man of Interpol’s solo album, and let’s just say he works even better alone. A more simplified sound, Banks’s voice still adds a lot of the allure that has fans drawn to his band Interpol as well. There’s something a little 1970s about this album as well.

Recommended Tracks: The Base, Over My Shoulder, Young Again

RIYD: Turtle Giants, Interpol, Blonds

Chelsea Wolfe — Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs: Okay, this girl is like Lykke Li and Cat Power had a baby after listening to a lot of Grimes. Though the album is primarily acoustic, her voice and layering of harmonies make this album a lot richer. There is a lot of raw emotion juxtaposed with clean cut structure. This album is perfect for studying or pretending to be studying but actually just stressing out while staring up at the ceiling. Highly recommended.

Recommended Tracks: Sunstorm, Flatlands, Boyfriend

RIYD: Cat Power, Lykke Li, Tegan and Sara, EMA

New Single from TEGAN AND SARA

  By

I don’t know about you, radioland, but I have been waiting for a new Tegan and Sara single since I was in, like, high school. Like. They’ve probably had new music before then but I haven’t had any new Tegan and Sara in my personal universe in a long time.

Anyway, you should definitely check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dSGbOmW4AjI

And you can check out their first single “Closer” right here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7MNGPmrlWo

Their new album Heartthrob is set to be released in January 2013.

New Titus Andronicus Single!

  By

Titus Andronicus, the nihilistic and awe-inspiring rock machine has released the first single from their new album Local Business. The track is called “In a Big City.”

The album is set to be released October 23rd and the band had this to say about the album:

“While abandoning the linear narrative of their last album The Monitor, the songs on Local Business aim to make explicit the implications of the first two LPs, that the inherent meaninglessness of life in an absurd universe gives the individual power to create their own values and their own morality. Along the way, we witness a devastating automobile wreck, a food fight (that is to say, a battle with an eating disorder), an electrocution, a descent into insanity, and ultimately, a forgiveness of the self for its many faults. Titus Andronicus even finds time to broaden its emotional palette to include moments of pure positivity, brief respites from the usual doom and gloom.”

Titus Andronicus — In A Big City

The track listing for the album is this

1. Ecce Homo
2. Still Life With Hot Deuce And Silver Platter
3. Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape With The Flood Of Detritus
4. Food Fight!
5. My Eating Disorder
6. Titus Andronicus VS. The Absurd Universe (3rd Round KO)
7. In A Big City
8. In A Small Body
9. (I Am The) Electric Man
10. Tried To Quit Smoking

THIS WEEKS ADDS (9/11/12-9/12/12): Cat Power, Animal Collective and The XX

  By

We have a lot of new adds this week for WDCV, and a lot from last week as well. While we sort through the piles of CDs currently overflowing from the rickety bookshelves in the exec office, here is a little sample of the bigger names we’ve racked in for adds this week.

All of the music we have gotten is of course, awesomeee, but these three deserve a post all their own.

The xx — Coexist: This album is everything you’d expect from The xx, sensual slow beats and the pleasant harmonies of sultry male and female voices winding in and around each other. Their second studio produced album, Coexist is the product of the band’s endless touring for the past two years and the loss of their fourth member Baria Qureshi. The themes common to the xx’s previous album remain the same with Coexist, loneliness, love and lust dominant the lyrics of the album. Though their music is inspired by pop and dance music, their sound is simple enough to stand on its own whether the band is playing live or you just have Romy Madley Croft’s voice sighing in your ear through inexpensive headphones.

Recommended Tracks: Angels, Chained, Fiction, Sunset, Swept Away

RIYD: Purity Ring, Lykke Li

Animal Collective — Centipede Hz: The tenth studio album from Animal Collective, Centipede Hz is the first in a while to actually include collaborative efforts of all four original members Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist and Deakin. More experimental and less clean cut than Merriweather Post Pavillion, one is reminded of the raw quality of albums like Sung Tongs and Strawberry Jam. Fans of the old Animal Collective will warm to this album, with its trance elements and unique collaged quality.

Recommended Tracks: Moonjock, Today’s Supernatural, Applesauce, New Town Burnout, Amanita

RIYD: Gang Gang Dance, Deerhunter

Cat Power — Sun: Layered musically as well as lyrically, SUN is Cat Power aka Chan Marshall’s first album of solely personal and self written material in six years. Marshall wrote all of the material herself, and the music reflects her independence as an artist as well as her ability to mold and manipulate multiple musical styles. The haunting guitar and throaty vocals classic to Cat Power’s previous style remain as well as the influence of a more upbeat electronic sound that makes her work more competitive with current synth pop.

Recommended Tracks: Cherokee, Sun, 3 6 9, Manhattan

RIYD: Bat For Lashes, Sharon Van Etten, Neko Case, Grimes

 

That’s all for this week, keep checking in for more featured artist updates!

Meow.

The xx released a preview of their new album!

  By

The xx is FINALLY releasing a new album! The album is titled Coexist and can be preordered here: http://bit.ly/CoexistPreorder

The album will be officially released by Young Turks on September 10/11th

They’re so cute! Anyway, I myself cannot stop listening to this track and am SO EXCITED for Coexist.

Check it out for yourself–

Listen to it on Youtube by clicking the link below!

The xx – Angels

 

Hope you’re all having a great summer and be sure to keep checking the blog for more new music updates!

Grimes is Awesome

  By

Has anyone gotten into Grimes yet? Have you heard of her at all? Because she is great.

She comes out of the illegal DIY culture in Canada, and she’s been making music for a couple of years, though I’ve only heard of her recently because of  her latest album Visions. Anyway, the video for Oblivion just came out and you must all watch it. Ergo, I’m posting it here.

Grimes — Oblivion

Also, here’ s a picture of her. Yay.



She also has a twitter account @grimeszs

Meep,

Tori

 

Heavy Rotation Update: ADDs for the week of 4/23-4/24

  By

Hello hello hello, is there anybody listening out there? I wasn’t sure.

Anyway, the weather here in Carlisle has taken yet another drastic turn for the cold and depressing, with some apocalyptic rain for good measure. For those of you suddenly depressed by copious amounts of last minute papers to write plus the lack of sunshine, here’s a breaded cat to cheer you up:

Anyway, here are some of the adds for this week:

Anathema — Weather Systems: This band is pretty doom and gloom, but not so much so that you need to curl up in to a ball afterward. A little more 90s alternative than I usually go for, at least in public, they definitely work as a pleasant mind meld when you’re tired of pretending that OFWGKTA is the only thing you ever listen to outside of working out at the gym. RIYD: 30 Seconds to Mars (lol), Porcupine Tree, Muse

Joel Plaskett Emergency — Scrappy Happiness: Who doesn’t like a guy with a dreamy voice singing about nostalgia and stuff? I would describe this album’s genre as being a creature of “wistful rock music.” Let’s get weepy. RIYD: Paul Baribeau, Ted Leo, Elvis Costello

The Guiltracket — Thuds and Grunts: Still not sure if that’s all supposed to be one word or two words. Oh well. This band is probably my favorite add for the week, just saying. They’re a lot punkier than we usually have in our binder, and they balance it out by having plenty of folk edge to them as well. RIYD: This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Ghost Mice

Anyway, keep your nose wet and your tail dry. Er…

Love,

Tori

 

Heavy Rotation Update: ADDs for the Week of 4/16-4/17

  By

Hello hello, radio followers and fleers…and sheep…ers,

Apparently Carlisle weather decided to switch from almost freezing to SWELTERING summer weather overnight. I’m as shocked as the rest of you. Truly.

A little heat can’t stop ME from giving YOU the latest updates to the station’s heavy rotation binder this week though. In fact, I like the excuse to hide from the sun. No vampire jokes allowed.

Delish.

Anyway, here are the ADDs for this week:

Sarah Donner — Fossil of Girl: This album is truly lovely. Sarah Donner’s sound reminds me of a young Alannis Morisette, though slightly less angry and probably best friends with Tegan and Sara. RIYD: Bjork?

Live Animals — Live Animals: This band is a rag tag group from SoCal and they fair from a skate punk surf snob scene indeed. RIYD: Sublime, 311, people in animal masks.

Toro Y Moi — June 2009: A revival of some of Toro Y Moi’s older and unreleased tracks, reminding us all why we luv him so much in the first place. RIYD: Best Coast, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Flaming Lips

Part Time — What Would You Say?: Synthetic pop is making a come back…who knew it ever left? RIYD: M83, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Horse Feathers — Cynic’s New Year: Weird album title, great album. Horse Feathers is back with an even more folky Americana album. RIYD: Iron & Wine, Damien Rice

the breakups — running jumping falling shouting: This band isn’t nearly as obnoxious as their band name and album title. RIYD: The Shins, Elliot Smith

Alabama Shakes — Boys & Girls: This band has some serious Southern soul power. RIYD: The Black Keys, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

CHYEAHHHH BOIIIIII

Anyway, anyone else remember Sailor Moon? So magical.

Have a great rest of the week, try not to break anything, and eat lots of pizza.

Love,

Tori


Heavy Rotation Update: ADDs for the Week of 4/10-4/11 (Late, Oops)

  By

Sorry about the lateness, I’ve been distracted by derpy cats for most of the week. As well as school assignments and a nasty cold. Excuses, excuses.

Anyway, my ADDs for the week are as such:

Vivian Darkbloom — Know Your Exit: Folk rock is always great, especially with a dark edge. This band kind of sounds like if The Decemberists got lost in the woods on a really bad day, with Straylight Run writing the lyrics. RIYD: The Kooks

Mark Alexander — Closer: Apparently “Midwest Rock” is a genre now. And this band is the epitome of that, cowboys and blue jeans and angst for the win. RIYD: Ray La Montagne

Ontario — Ontario: Described as an “indie rock powerhouse” this band is comprised of a multi-talented multi-instrumental set-up. They’re not actually from Canada, but they’re still pretty dreamy. RIYD: Fleet Foxes, C0zy Galaxies

Jonny October — The Wheelhouse: Would you look at that, I reviewed a hip-hop artist. This guy is unassuming to look at, but he has some great lyrics and a general knack of hip-hop. RIYD: Kid Cudi, Flobots

Well, that’s all I got for this week. Tune in next week for more weird pictures and/or memes. Yeehaw!

Happy Thursday,

Tori