We Started A Newsletter
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We started a semi-monthly newsletter for track reviews and more:
*cryptophasia.glitch.me*.
2 years ago
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Bright Eyes - The People's Key
As many Conor Oberst fanatics have heard, Bright Eyes are releasing their latest studio album, titled The People’s Key on the 15th (although it has been streaming online on NPR for several weeks already).
Conor Oberst is one of the celebrities of the underground music industry. His unique half-whining voice, sensitive contemporary American poetic lyrics, and wide variety of sounds and influences throughout his career have resulted in a cult-like following of eager fans as well as the rise to fame of the Saddle Creek record label. The almost four year hiatus of Bright Eyes would seem like a long time to leave faithful Oberst fans on the side of their seats, but thankfully for the Bright Eyes-deprived there was plenty Oberst to go around with his side projects, Monster’s of Folk and Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band.
Bright Eyes’ latest album reflects less of the acoustic singer-songwriter and minimal lo-fi sound familiar in more signature albums like Fevers and Mirrors and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, and more of Oberst’s latest “more mature” indie rock sounds that are common in his recent side projects.
A mysterious philosophical monologue by Randy Brewer kicks off the new record (quite fitting for an NPR streamed album), which eventually erupsts into an epic marching-band riff. The standout tracks include the post-punk influenced “Jejune Stars”, the catchy “Haile Selassie”, and more traditional Oberst track “Beginner’s Mind”. To nostalgic Oberst fans: listen to the album with an open mind and don’t expect to hear the melodramatic vocals over the lo-fi acoustic guitar twang of tracks like “Lua” and “Sunrise Sunset”
By Max Hasan
Conor Oberst is one of the celebrities of the underground music industry. His unique half-whining voice, sensitive contemporary American poetic lyrics, and wide variety of sounds and influences throughout his career have resulted in a cult-like following of eager fans as well as the rise to fame of the Saddle Creek record label. The almost four year hiatus of Bright Eyes would seem like a long time to leave faithful Oberst fans on the side of their seats, but thankfully for the Bright Eyes-deprived there was plenty Oberst to go around with his side projects, Monster’s of Folk and Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band.
Bright Eyes’ latest album reflects less of the acoustic singer-songwriter and minimal lo-fi sound familiar in more signature albums like Fevers and Mirrors and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, and more of Oberst’s latest “more mature” indie rock sounds that are common in his recent side projects.
A mysterious philosophical monologue by Randy Brewer kicks off the new record (quite fitting for an NPR streamed album), which eventually erupsts into an epic marching-band riff. The standout tracks include the post-punk influenced “Jejune Stars”, the catchy “Haile Selassie”, and more traditional Oberst track “Beginner’s Mind”. To nostalgic Oberst fans: listen to the album with an open mind and don’t expect to hear the melodramatic vocals over the lo-fi acoustic guitar twang of tracks like “Lua” and “Sunrise Sunset”
By Max Hasan
Theophilus London - Lover's Holiday
Just in time for Valentines day, Theophilus London dropped his new EP, Lover’s Holiday, this past Tuesday. The 5-track EP features the singles “Flying Overseas”, which features Solange Knowles (Beyoncé’s lesser known younger sister), and “Why Even Try”, which features Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara.
Theophilus isn’t just another rapper, so don’t group him together with your Weezy and 50 Cent albums on iTunes. He serves his raps with a mellow delivery and peppers it with unique influences, which range from electronica, soul, R&B, and indie rock. It’s tough for hip-hop artists to be unique and dynamic with their songwriting while still maintaining a distinct identity from other rappers, but Theophilus effortlessly adds his Marvin Gaye cool to his hip-hop tracks. Theophilus has drawn comparisons to fellow Brooklyner Kid Cudi and the tracks, “Wine and Chocolates” and “Strange Love” display the parallel quite clearly. For fans of Cudi who aren’t completely fixated with the marijuana-themed lyrics, Theophilus London is most definitely worth a listen.
By Max Hasan
Theophilus isn’t just another rapper, so don’t group him together with your Weezy and 50 Cent albums on iTunes. He serves his raps with a mellow delivery and peppers it with unique influences, which range from electronica, soul, R&B, and indie rock. It’s tough for hip-hop artists to be unique and dynamic with their songwriting while still maintaining a distinct identity from other rappers, but Theophilus effortlessly adds his Marvin Gaye cool to his hip-hop tracks. Theophilus has drawn comparisons to fellow Brooklyner Kid Cudi and the tracks, “Wine and Chocolates” and “Strange Love” display the parallel quite clearly. For fans of Cudi who aren’t completely fixated with the marijuana-themed lyrics, Theophilus London is most definitely worth a listen.
By Max Hasan
Sunday, February 13, 2011
WTBU @ the Record and Zine Fair
WTBU partook at the Record and Zine Fair on February 12 at the Democracy Center located in Cambridge. The fair was in support of the Papercut Zine Library and WTBU sold many of our vinyl records the station has collected over the years and raised quite a few dollars from our own baked goods and the food that was donated by various restaurants. We would like to thank Peace O' Pie Gourmet Vegan Pizza, Bravo Pizza, Boloco, and Tealuxe for their support.
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! -
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! -
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
7 Artists You Should Know:
by Will McCall (Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.)
1. Chromatic Flights- solo project of Kyle Wyss from Blind Man's Colour. Sunny poppy electronic music with tinges of hip hop
http://chromaticflights.bandcamp.com (free download)
get the albums Sunset Bell and Too Beautiful For Smiles
2. HOUNDSds- 80s, shoegaze-y, chillwave-y
http://houndsds.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
3. Thallus- spacey instrumental hip hop
http://thallus.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
4. First Dog to Visit the Center of the Earth- noisey, very experimental electronic music, think Black Dice but more melodic and structured.
http://firstdog.webs.com/ (free download of all 11(!) of his releases)
download the albums “Every Machine On,” “Black Whale,” “One EP”
5. Walsh- a combination of hip hop and chillwave, greatest album title ever
http://walshmusic.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
6. The Goat- eerie psychedelic/electronic music, lo-fi and minimal
http://thegoat.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
7. Mystery cave- hip hop influenced psychedelic music, he's got a lot of albums
http://mysterycave.bandcamp.com/
watch this music video of his too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9GU_W2YhI
If you liked this post, check out Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m.
by Will McCall (Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.)
1. Chromatic Flights- solo project of Kyle Wyss from Blind Man's Colour. Sunny poppy electronic music with tinges of hip hop
http://chromaticflights.bandcamp.com (free download)
get the albums Sunset Bell and Too Beautiful For Smiles
2. HOUNDSds- 80s, shoegaze-y, chillwave-y
http://houndsds.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
3. Thallus- spacey instrumental hip hop
http://thallus.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
4. First Dog to Visit the Center of the Earth- noisey, very experimental electronic music, think Black Dice but more melodic and structured.
http://firstdog.webs.com/ (free download of all 11(!) of his releases)
download the albums “Every Machine On,” “Black Whale,” “One EP”
5. Walsh- a combination of hip hop and chillwave, greatest album title ever
http://walshmusic.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
6. The Goat- eerie psychedelic/electronic music, lo-fi and minimal
http://thegoat.bandcamp.com/ (free download)
7. Mystery cave- hip hop influenced psychedelic music, he's got a lot of albums
http://mysterycave.bandcamp.com/
watch this music video of his too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9GU_W2YhI
If you liked this post, check out Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
New[ish] Music Tuesday
Two Door Cinema Club released their next single "What You Know" today. If you're a fan of this Club then this isn't really news for you but in honour of this release old fans, new fans, and those of you inbetweeners should give it a listen. On a somewhat related note, you know when you go to a show and the band plays a song you really love and you start singing it then all ten, hundred, or thousand of you sing along? Isn't that moment great? I feel that this video of TDCC in Rio last week sum's it up well:
Catch Two Door Cinema Club and more on The Fleshy Fresh, Mondays from 8-10pm
Catch Two Door Cinema Club and more on The Fleshy Fresh, Mondays from 8-10pm
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
WTBU'S Charts For Last Week
Top 5 Adds:
1 AYE NAKO Demo 2010 Top Shelf Records
2 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
3 MOGWAI Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
4 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
5 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc
Top 30 Chart:
1 RVIVR Black Water [EP] Rumbletown
2 WAVVES King Of The Beach Fat Possum
3 SCREAMING FEMALES Castle Talk Don Giovanni
4 DEERHOOF Deerhoof Vs. Evil Polyvinyl
5 SMALL BLACK New Chain Jagjaguwar
6 GLASSER Ring True Panther Sounds
7 DAFT PUNK TRON: Legacy Disney
8 DECEMBERISTS The King Is Dead Capitol
9 HANDS AND KNEES Wholesome Self Released
10 HOWLER This One's Different So-TM Records
11 WAY YES Walkability Self Released
12 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
13 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc
14 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
15 DELICATE STEVE Wondervisions Luaka Bop
16 BRITISH SEA POWER Valhalla Dancehall Rough Trade
17 GROUPLOVE Grouplove [EP] Canvasback
18 ZACH HILL Face Tat Sargent House
19 PRINCE RAMA Shadow Temple Paw Tracks
20 PUJOL Black Rabbit EP Third Man
21 NOBUNNY First Blood Goner
22 THERMALS Personal Life Kill Rock Stars
23 TYVEK Nothing Fits In The Red
24 BIG BIG BUCKS Crucial Schmooze Self-Released
25 BIG EYES Big Eyes [EP] Don Giovanni
26 LEMURIA Pebble Bridge Nine
27 GET UP KIDS There Are Rules Quality Hill
28 FRANK TURNER Rock And Roll Epitaph
29 TIGERS JAW Two Worlds Run For Cover
30 BLANK DOGS Land And Fixed Captured Tracks
1 AYE NAKO Demo 2010 Top Shelf Records
2 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
3 MOGWAI Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
4 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
5 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc
Top 30 Chart:
1 RVIVR Black Water [EP] Rumbletown
2 WAVVES King Of The Beach Fat Possum
3 SCREAMING FEMALES Castle Talk Don Giovanni
4 DEERHOOF Deerhoof Vs. Evil Polyvinyl
5 SMALL BLACK New Chain Jagjaguwar
6 GLASSER Ring True Panther Sounds
7 DAFT PUNK TRON: Legacy Disney
8 DECEMBERISTS The King Is Dead Capitol
9 HANDS AND KNEES Wholesome Self Released
10 HOWLER This One's Different So-TM Records
11 WAY YES Walkability Self Released
12 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
13 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc
14 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
15 DELICATE STEVE Wondervisions Luaka Bop
16 BRITISH SEA POWER Valhalla Dancehall Rough Trade
17 GROUPLOVE Grouplove [EP] Canvasback
18 ZACH HILL Face Tat Sargent House
19 PRINCE RAMA Shadow Temple Paw Tracks
20 PUJOL Black Rabbit EP Third Man
21 NOBUNNY First Blood Goner
22 THERMALS Personal Life Kill Rock Stars
23 TYVEK Nothing Fits In The Red
24 BIG BIG BUCKS Crucial Schmooze Self-Released
25 BIG EYES Big Eyes [EP] Don Giovanni
26 LEMURIA Pebble Bridge Nine
27 GET UP KIDS There Are Rules Quality Hill
28 FRANK TURNER Rock And Roll Epitaph
29 TIGERS JAW Two Worlds Run For Cover
30 BLANK DOGS Land And Fixed Captured Tracks
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