L8RZ 2010
2010 saw the beginning of the second decade of the millennium, and while people are still trying to think what defined the first decade of the millennium, music continued to move forward and progress. North Carolina once again flexed its good music muscles by not only being home to some big releases by the likes of The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Love Language, and Lost in the Trees, but it also played host to two of the best inaugural festivals of the year in both Hopscotch and Moogfest. It’s tough to wrap it all up, but here are my picks, based on what you would’ve heard on WUAG this past year. I’ve broken it down into three categories: top cd’s that got played on wuag, top cd’s that didn’t get played enough, and biggest disappointments of 2010.
JACK’S LIST
Top CD’s that were actually played frequently on WUAG in 2010:
(in order of when they were released from January - December)
Retribution Gospel Choir “2”
Phantogram “Eyelid Movies”
Javelin “No Mas”
Joanna Newsom “Have One on Me”
Harlem “Hippies”
Nice Nice “Extra Wow”
Future Islands “In Evening Air”
Caribou “Swim”
Male Bonding “Nothing Hurts”
Flying Lotus “Cosmogramma”
Black Keys “Brothers”
LCD Soundsystem “This is Happening”
Maps & Atlases “Perch Patchwork”
Ty Seagall “Melted”
Baths “Cerelean”
Menomena “Mines”
Books “The Way Out”
Arcade Fire “The Suburbs”
Crocodiles “Sleep Forever”
Top CD’s that weren’t played enough on WUAG in 2010:
(in order of when they were released from January - December)
Black Dynamite Soundtrack by Adrian Younge
Bonobo “Black Sands”
Madlib “Beat Konducta in Africa”
Holy Fuck “Latin”
Dosh “Tommy”
Various Artists “Afro Rock”
Numero Group Presents “Eccentric Breaks & Beats”
Various Artists “Afrobeat Airways”
Tandoori Knights “Curry Up!”
Babylon Central Soundtrack
David Karsten Daniels & Fight the Big Bull “I Mean to Live Here Still”
Palenque Palenque “Afro-Cuban Roots in Columbia”
Budos Band “III”
Konono No. 1 “S/T”
Octopus Project “Hexadecagon”
Dustin Wong “Infinite Love”
Three Mile Pilot “The Inevitable Past is the Future”
Gold Panda “Past Time”
Bharat Karki & Party “International Music”
Biggest Disappointments of 2010
(albums I was really looking forward to, but turned out to be blase’)
Gil Scott Heron “I’m New Here”
Murs & 9th Wonder “Fornever”
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse “Dark Night of the Soul”
Trans Am “Thing”
Most overplayed and overrated album of 2010:
Wavves “King of the Beach” , with the title track being the most overplayed track on WUAG
Biggest losses of 2010:
Jay Reatard
Guru
Manute Bol
MATT’S LIST:
I probably forgot a lot of stuff. This was just what stuck out in my mind.
Best Jams at WUAG:
Dustin Wong “Infinite Love”
Jefre Cantu Ledesma “Love Is A Stream”
Glenn Branca “The Ascenscion: The Sequel”
Zach Hill “Face Tat”
Future Islands “In Evening Air”
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti “Before Today”
Kurt Vile “Square Shells EP”
Labels That Need To Start Sending Us Stuff:
Editions Mego
Best Shows:
Lightning Bolt @ Local 506
Ariel Pink @ Local 506
Maps + Atlases, Tera Melos, and Bronzed Chorus @ Studio B
Record Store Day @ My Favorite Things
Dustin Wong @ The Green Bean
All of Hopscotch, with the exception of Flava Flav’s speech.
Any show that Future Islands played.
Biggest Losses:
Jay Reatard
My Favorite Things
Jared Watson
Zack and Taryn
My 2001 Subaru Legacy
Windy City Hot Dogs and Thrive
Best Stuff in Greensboro:
GREENSBORO FEST
Legitimate Business
Secret Message Machine “Orphanville”
Casual Curious “Fluorescence”
Spare Room
1:46 pm • 11 January 2011
Talking about new jamz is cool, but so is talking about old jamz. WUAG is home to a lot of interesting music, and it’s interesting to dig through the stacks and check out what we have. This new section is devoted to highlighting some of the older albums that we have in the music library at WUAG.
This weeks pick is coming from WUAG General Manager Jack Bonney.
L’Altra “In the Afternoon”
So a good friend of mine just moved to Chicago and in sending the few suggestions of record shops, radio stations, and record labels to check out I remembered how much amazing music has come from that city. The city still does produce some amazing bands, but the stuff I really love came from the late 90’s and early aughts. Two of my favorite bands from Chicago during this time were Joan of Arc and Del Rey, so when I heard of a band that featured member from both I was all in. L’Altra took the sounds from both those bands and added the beautiful female vocalist Lindsay Anderson. The result was a band that sounded more like Low then a Chicago post rock band from the time. The album was very smooth and a bit haunting at times as instruments like the cello, flute, and trumpet set the beautifully minimal tone. This band is another one that didn’t last long after this release as members wanted to focus on other projects, but it is definitely a treasure from the Chicago salad days.
Songs:
Soft Connection
Ways Out
Bring on Happiness (not actually on the album, but still awesome)
9:34 am • 4 November 2010
“How was your Halloween, bro?”
“It was aiiiiiiiiight, you know?”
“Yeah, me too man. I played a bunch of beer pong…saw a Weezer cover band.”
“Oh, hell yeah! Did they play Hash Pipe?”
“Nah man, they skipped it! I was so bummed! They played a little bit of Beverly Hills though, I was stoooooooooked!”
“Dude, that’s so dope. Did you dress up?”
“Yeah man, I put a bow on my head, and I was like, god’s gift to women. Chicks dug it.”
“That’s sick. I dressed up as all of the new CDs being put into rotation at WUAG.”
“Seriously? That’s like the lamest costume ever.”
“Nah man…chicks…uh…chicks dug it.”
“Yeah right, you never get action.”
“Nah, seriously, chicks dug it.”
“Dude, you suck at Halloween.”
Zach Hill - “Face Tat”
There’s really no describing how awesome this album is. For his 30th (or maybe it’s his 50th) release of 2010, Zach Hill pulled out all of the stops, getting guest appearances from No Age, Devendra Banhart, Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Tera Melos, Guillermo Scott Heron (Prefuse 74), and more. Insane album from one of the most prolific dudes around.
Avey Tare - “Down There”
While “Down There” is an album that highlights Avey Tare’s contributions to Animal Collective’s music, it’s also something of a return to form. Dave Portner was always the weirdest part of AC, and he really gets into that on this album.
War on Drugs - “Future Weather”
Eight Song EP from Kurt Vile’s other band (I don’t know if he’s actually on this recording). Sounds like a stoned Bruce Springsteen.
Antony And The Johnsons - “Swanlights”
Over the top album from a group that has gotten a reputation for their over the top lead singer. Highlights include multiple moaning outbursts and a collaboration with Bjork.
Madlib - “Medicine Show #10 ‘Black Soul’”
Madlib has really been on top of these Medicine Show releases, this one being his 10th of 2010 (that seems significant, right?). Disco is the theme of this month’s Medicine Show, and for “Black Soul” he samples anything from Peaches n Herb to Trouble Funk. Also, that’s actually the album art for Medicine Show #8.
Cheap Time - “Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations)”
#1 of 2 new albums we got from In The Red Records. This one is pretty straight forward garage rock.
The Demon’s Claws - “The Defrosting Of”
#2 of 2 new albums we got from In The Red Records. This one is slightly brattier garage rock.
Charlie Parr - “When The Devil Goes Blind”
It’s been a while since we’ve had any Americana in rotation, so it’s cool that we got this album. Parr’s finger picking is the highlight of this album.
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Shoeblader One - “d’Demonstrator”
Either Squarepusher has lost his mind, or he’s just trying to mess with all of us. Shoeblader One is his new band, and it’s all Auto Tuned and stuff.
KRS One - “Meta Historical”
This is seriously KRS One’s 15th album. ”Meta-Historical” isn’t anything really great, but it’s pretty cool that KRS One is still putting stuff out. Maybe we’ll get a new Big Daddy Kane album this year too.
Shad - “Tsol”
Hip Hop from Canada. Imagine if Paul Schaffer put out a rap album, and you’ll basically understand.
Maximum Balloon - “Maximum Balloon”
Solo release from TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek with a lot of guest appearances. Maximum Balloon is probably the best thing he’s worked on since RAAAAAAAANDY Mixtape.
Salem - “King Night”’
Loud, gnarly hip hop coming from one of the most buzzed bands of 2010. Check out THIS video from their performance at SXSW (apparently they got their act together).
Belle And Sebastian - “Write About Love”
“Write About Love” isn’t the best album that Belle and Sebastian has ever put out, but they still have a place in a lot of peoples’ hearts. Maybe some of the tracks on this album will make it onto the “Juno 2” soundtrack.
Eskmo - “Eskmo”
Electronic music with a Flying Lotus stamp of approval. This album is much better than the artwork would lead you to believe. Also, check out this promo pic:
Sick soul patch!
Ami Saraiya - “Archaeologist”
I don’t know…sounds like She and Him?
Cheer up, dude!
Wooden Wand - “Death Seat”
James Jackson Toth is a serious dude who makes some serious music. This is his first release on Young God Records, and it’s one of the most depressing records I’ve listened to in a long time. Bored to tears has never seemed so literal. (THIS THNG HE WROTE IS SORT OF COOL!)
Small Black - “New Chain”
Super chill stuff, bros. Chill synths, chill drums, chill vibes. I wonder how pissed Steve Albini is about this band…
Victoire - “Cathedral City”
Ensemble project of NYC-based composer Missy Mazzoli (who has performed at UNCG before). Mazzoli is a classical composer using contemporary rock band ideas to recontextualize her music.
Clinic - “Bubblegum”
The sixth album from British rock group Clinic (I don’t really know that much about this).
2:42 pm • 3 November 2010
I’m going to try to sum all of these albums up as succinctly as possible.
Marnie Stern - “S/T”
Hot chick shredding + Zach Hill.
Diamond Rings - “Special Affections”
Rainbow eye-liner
Envy - “Recitation”
Heavy/Japanese.
Sisters - “Ghost Fits”
Difficult to Google. Not THIS band.
Parlour - “Simulacrenfield”
Parlour (or parlor), from the French word parloir, from parler (“to speak”), denotes an “audience chamber”.
Warm Widow - “Widower”
Hard rock cafe, Times Square, NY.
Three Mile Pilot - “The Inevitable Past Is The Future Forgotten”
Members of Pinback. Not the same guy from Goblin Cock.
Breathe Owl Breathe - “Magic Central”
Dreamy jams
Sufjan Stevens - “The Age of ADZ”
Little Mr. Sunshine
Thievery Corporation - “It Takes A Thief”
Sweet suits.
5:54 pm • 18 October 2010
WUAG Music seems to be getting a little stale, doesn’t it? Feels like we need a new feature…
Talking about new jamz is cool, but so is talking about old jamz. WUAG is home to a lot of interesting music, and it’s interesting to dig through the stacks and check out what we have. This new section is devoted to highlighting some of the older albums that we have in the music library at WUAG.
Music of Idris Ackamoor - “1971-2004”
Compilation of different projects featuring saxophonist Idris Ackamoor. Mainly free jazz with a lot of African influence. Features music from Ackammor’s projects The Collective, The Pyramids, and the Idris Ackamoor Quartet
“I came of musical age 35 years ago in the small village of Yellow Springs, Ohio. It was there that I began my musical metamorphosis as an undergraduate student at Antioch College in the fall of 1970.”
-Ackamoor
The Sheperd’s Tune - The Collective
Aomawa - The Pyramids
He did some goofier stuff later on.
Like this.
And this.
2:58 pm • 14 October 2010
Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhh, so these albums actually went into rotation last week, but it was like Fall Break and stuff so I didn’t update the blog. A lot of good stuff though; 16 new CDs went in last week! How about that? The new jams cleared out a lot of the old jams too, so we’re finally going to stop hearing that new Arcade Fire album!
Also, don’t forget about the WUAG Presents show coming up tomorrow night (THURSDAYTHURSDAYTHURSDAY) with Lost in the Trees and Midtown Dickens. It’s starting at 8pm at Legitimate Business (1317 Grove Street), and it’s gonna be so chill. We’re going to be making s’mores and stuff (THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING), so you can come and vibe out on treats and music. Drug rugs are encouraged.
Praise Jah, dude!
Anyway, here’s the rundown of all the new music at WUAG:
Deerhunter - “Halcyon Digest”
<3 Bradford Cox. I think that everyone knew this was going to be really great.
Dustin Wong - “Infinite Love”
Solo release from Dustin Wong of Ponytail and Ecstatic Sunshine. “Infinite Love” is an album of loop-based electric guitar music, and features some really incredible arrangements. It’s wild to see what Dustin can do with an electric guitar and a few stomp-boxes. Released as a double album, the two LPs open as the same piece, but follow different paths to the final codas.
Weird Weeds - “Help Me Name Melody”
I’d hate to describe this album as weird….so I’m going to call it experimental pop music. ”Help Me Name Melody” is a collection of songs that feature disjointed vocal melodies and can go into expansive, experimental territory. Definitely weird, but it’s also pretty pleasant. These guys were cool enough to send us a CD independently, so we’re really glad to support them.
Superchunk - “Majesty Shredding”
After a long break, Superchunk has decided to put out a new album. While they may have taken time off, don’t worry; The Chunk still sounds the same! ”Majesty Shredding” is filled with the same guitar solos and rock out riffs that have come to characterize Superchunk’s sound.
Gonjasufi - “The Caliphs Tea Party”
Remix album featuring tracks from Gonjasufi’s album “A Sufi and a Killer” which came out earlier this year.
Women - “Public Strain”
I was stoked on this album. Reminded me a lot of Washing Machine-era Sonic Youth. I’d almost forgotten that lo-fi music can not suck.
Orgone - “Killion Vaults”
Orgone has been on a roll this year. This is the second album the funk/soul group has released in 2010.
Mice Parade - “What It Means To Be Left-Handed”
NPR friendly jams.
The Black Angels - “Phosphene Dream”
British psychedelic rock. The packaging of this album was really wild. Is that design moving, or am I just losing myself in the psychedelia?
Ebo Taylor - “Love and Death”
I’d never heard of Ebo Taylor, but apparently he’s a pretty big deal in Ghana. This excerpt from his website describes his reason for releasing an album now. “Now 74 years-old, Ebo Taylor’s music has become increasingly in-demand in recent years with a series of Ghanaian compilations on Soundway Records and Analog Africa and an unexpected sample as Usher lifted a riff from ‘Heaven’ for his hit with Ludacris, ‘She Don’t Know’.”
DOP - “Greatest Hits”
Sweet nipples, bro!
The Bad Plus - “Never Stop”
Pop-Jazz for the masses.
Aloe Blacc- “Good Things”
More good stuff from Stones Throw records.
Esperanza Spalding - “Chamber Music Society”
I’m sure somebody is stoked on this.
5:49 pm • 13 October 2010
Moogfest 2010
WUAG is a proud media sponsor for Moogfest 2010. We’re also doing a ticket giveaway for this. Tune in from 7-8 pm October 5th-7th to hear the daily trivia question. Call in with the correct answer and be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets to the entire festival.
1:38 pm • 3 October 2010
THIS IS A BIG WEEK FOR WUAG! I’m talking huge, bro. I’m talking two story beer bong huge. I’m talking two new Subways in the EUC huge.
On Wednesday we had Tobacco come play at Artistika. That event was super packed, and it was really awesome seeing so many people come out. It was even more awesome seeing Tobacco’s reinterpretation of E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, though.
Tomorrow, (Saturday, bro) we’re having our biannual record fair. We have a bunch of record vendors coming into town including Harvest out of Asheville, and 641 RPM out of Boone, so there’s gonna be a lot of good stuff.
We also have a couple of in-studio performances this weekend. On Saturday, The Black Heart Procession will be doing a live performance on WUAG (we don’t really know what time they’re coming in yet, so just wake up around 9 am and listen until midnight). Then, on Sunday Midlake is going to be doing the same thing.
So, WUAG’s got a lot of stuff going on. We also have some new music going into rotation. So..like, keep it locked and stuff, you know?
Flying Lotus - “Pattern + Grid World”
Any new music from Flying Lotus is good music. Short new EP from the LA hip hop master guy. Also, check out THIS VIDEO if you want to have your mind blown.
The Octopus Project - “Hexadecagon”
This album was such a nice surprise. The Octopus Project has been a WUAG favorite for a while now, and their output is always solid.
Abe Vigoda - “Crush”
Former tropical punks trade in there leis and tiki torches for synthesizers. Music critics scramble for a stupid new sub-genre title.
Owen Pallet - “A Swedish Love Story EP”
Owen Pallet is still making pretty music. Four songs from a true Canadian dreamboat.
Phillip Selway - “Familial”
Yeah, the creepy looking drummer from Radiohead put out a solo album. Seriously, check this guy out:
Sort of looks like this guy:
Or maybe even this guy:
So, yeah…I guess Phil Selway’s doing some acoustic singer/songwriter stuff now.
Coolies - “Master”
Abrasive Australian female noise-punk duo. Sloppy tunes, gnarly chicks.
Holy Sons - “Survivalist Tales!”
Solo project of Om and Grails drummer Emil Amos.
Giardini Di Miro - “Il Fuoco”
Italian post-rock. This is supposed to be the soundtrack for a silent film named Il Fuoco.
Coming SOOOOOOOOON: New albums from Deerhunter, Superchunk, Dustin Wong, Marnie Stern, and a bunch of other stuff.
6:50 pm • 1 October 2010
