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(03/01/16 9:25pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Basement
Album: “Promise Everything”
Hailing From: Suffolk, England
Genre: Melodic Emo Punk
Label: Run For Cover Records
Basement is back! For those who don’t know what I am talking about, “Promise Everything” is the third studio album from U.K.’s Basement, which just so happens to be the first album after the band’s mysterious hiatus. However, their separation was apparently fruitful as they created a great album from it. “Promise Everything” delivers. It is a perfect balance of fresh tunes and Basement’s true-to-form sound. The album starts off on a great note with “Brother’s Keeper,” a quick little pop punky song with some wholesome crunch for good measure. Overall, the album delivers a strong punk sound that doesn’t reach into catchy pop sounds, which are all too easy to fall victim to.
Must Hear: “Brother’s Keeper,” “Lose Your Grip,” “Aquasun” and “Oversized”
Band: Photo Ops
Album: “Vacation”
Hailing From: Nashville, Tenn.
Genre: Synthy Folk
Label: Bad Friends Records
Photo Ops is the musical moniker of Terry Price, a solo artist who is opening up on a huge note with “Vacation.” Obvious influences can be heard on this album such as Real Estate, Vampire Weekend, Surfer Blood and bands of the like. Price masterfully crafts his sound using a variety of instruments that pull together like an orchestra, even though he is a solo musician and plays all of the music himself. His lyrics and vocals sit at the forefront of Photo Ops, and for good reason. For an album with themes such as sickness, death and mental illness, Price delivers a beautifully bright and optimistic sound to which you can jam. This synthy, folky beach goth album is definitely something new on the horizon.
Must Hear: “I’d Be Dead,” “You Could Be Great,” “Memories that Glow” and “Maybe We’ll Change”
(02/09/16 8:43pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Beacon
Album: “Escapements”
Hailing From: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Genre: Electro R&B
Label: Ghostly
The second album from the Brooklyn duo Beacon is a true marriage of electronic music and R&B. The album as a whole seeks to create a light but driven atmospheric balance. It has the ebb and flow that has become a staple of indie electronica with added R&B grooves. Beacon creates super interesting melodies and pays close attention to the frequencies the duo creates with deep pulsating bass. Each song on the album situates itself in a different realm within the same picture, synching up thematically but creating something different in each song. Listeners can definitely feel an ominous and dark vibe that wraps itself around them.
Must Hear: “Backbone,” “Running Out,” “Escapements” and “L1”
Band: Gladiola
Album: “This Year’s Storm”
Hailing From: Boston, Mass.
Genre: Indie rock
Label: Self-released
Boston’s Gladiola has a very unique and interesting story. You hear so often the tale of young 19 and 20 year olds trying to work and make their bands happen. What about 40 year olds? That’s Gladiola, grown-up dudes with jobs and kids making kick-ass indie rock. You can absolutely hear their influences on this album. R.E.M., The Replacements and Mountain Goats all share parts of Gladiola’s sound. This is a throwback to garage rock that you would hear in the 1980s and 1990s — but with a modern twist. The album is punctuated with tight melodies and instrumentation.
Must Hear: “We’re Never Going Back,” “First Night in The West,” “The Uninvited Guest” and “Greatest Hits”
(02/02/16 9:18pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Golden Bloom
Album: “Searching For Sunlight”
Hailing From: New York City
Genre: Indie Folk Rock
Label: Rhyme and Reason
What began as a solo project from New York City musician Shawn Fogel, Golden Bloom has evolved into something much bigger than he could have expected. This evolution came from the mixture of sounds Fogel and his live band felt as they began to push each other in new directions. You can definitely hear the Death Cab For Cutie influence on this album. They have tight melodies and a colorful arrangement of instruments. The production is also something to point out because you can hear every instrument clearly, yet you can still get the entire vibe of them all together. Searching For Sunlight has a fun, uplifting spirit that is palpable.
Must Hear: “Looking Up To You,” “Great Unknown,” “Fall Out of Line” and “Come Back Home”
Band: The Noble Thiefs
Album: “It’s Tough To Be The Bad Guy”
Hailing From: Winnipeg, Canada
Genre: Soulful Blues Rock
Label: Pipe & Hat
In terms of soul and blues-centric retro music, 2015 and 2016 are poised to be two of the heaviest years. We’ve already seen Nathaniel Rateliffe and Elle King, and The Noble Thiefs are well on their way to being the next breakout stars in this genre. This album is chock full of blues and soul. It’s lush and full, as well as rough and angry. You can hear a little Lenny Kravitz in Myron Dean’s vocals. This is a rock album the Blues Brothers could appreciate.
Must Hear: “How Can You Think Of Love,” “Give ‘Em Hell,” “Made of Stone” and “I Want You “
(01/26/16 10:26pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into their weekly rotation.
Band: Cage The Elephant
Album: “Tell Me I’m Pretty
Hailing From: Bowling Green, Ky.
Genre: Indie Surf Rock
Label: RCA
Cage The Elephant have had a great run so far. They claimed the spotlight early and haven’t let go, all the while producing one of the most popular alternative albums of the decade with ‘Melophobia.’ When the announcement that ‘Tell Me I’m Pretty’ was getting released, many were excited while others were skeptical. This album definitely packs a punch. You can totally hear a tighter, better produced album than what they’ve put out before, thanks to producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The blues seeps through this album but keeps that psych-rock edge that Cage The Elephant has been known for. This album resides as an expansion of what they’ve been working towards their whole career.
Must Hear: “Mess Around,” Cry Baby,” “Trouble,” “Sweetie Little Jean” and “Punchin’ Bag”
Band: Grimes
Album: “Art Angels”
Hailing From: Vancouver, Canada
Genre: Artsy Synth Pop
Label: 4AD Records
Grimes is a Canadian artist who is changing the way people understand pop music. More than that, she’s an insightful songwriter who weaves meaning behind everything she does and leaves a lasting effect. This album furthers these ideas with flying, crazy fun colors. Grimes embodies the new wave of indie electronica that has been permeating music for a few years now. Songs like ‘California’ are catchy and pretty straightforward melodically while other songs like ‘Venus Fly,’ featuring the insane Janelle Monae, incorporates some industrial rave house. Then you have songs like Kill Vs. Maim where you can gear a satirical K-pop cheerleader ripping it up in the 90s.
Must Hear: “California,” “Flesh Without Blood,” “Kill V. Maim,” “Artangels” and “Venus Fly (feat. Janelle Monae)”
(12/01/15 9:03pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Beat Connection
Album: “Product 3”
Hailing From: Seattle, Wa.
Genre: Shimmering Indie Synth Pop
Label: Anti-Records
Seattle quartet Beat Connection comes through with its third release, “Product 3.” The group has been known for upbeat, glossy pop beats and synth-drenched hooks. This album has a lot of those vibes, plus a bit more. You can also hear some more guitar work on these songs. There’s some new percussion work, pounding with a tropical and exotic urgency, that has you bouncing back and forth as you listen. A lot of these songs also feature more soulful sounding vocals that truly resonate with listeners. This album mixes a lot of funk with synth-pop, which breathes a fresh life into the cluttered genre.
Must Hear: “Another Go Round,” “Illusion,” “So Good,” “Reality TV” and “Rosealene”
Band: Cold Fronts
Album: “Forever Whatever”
Hailing From: Philadelphia, Pa.
Genre: Filthy Indie Pop Rock
Label: Sire
Philadelphia’s Cold Fronts is a modern-day band for every college kid out there. Fronted by the slightly insane Craig Almquist, the band pumps out thrashy guitars mixed with dazzling and piercing synth work. Each song is like a party that refuses to slow down. Bands like this give a bright and youthful punch to the industry in the best way possible. The album’s lead song, “Buschleague,” grabs your attention immediately and doesn’t let go, starting off the album on a party-ready foot. The song “Catch” grooves that party into its place and builds a catchy melody around itself. The track “Primetime” is a pop song for today’s youth that is chock-full of glittering guitars and goofy drums that make it all the more fun.
Must Hear: “Buschleague,” “Catch,” “Primetime” and “Radio”
(11/17/15 6:10pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Wavves
Album: “V”
Hailing From: San Diego, Calif.
Genre: Indie Skuzz Pop
Label: Mom + Pop
Wavves is the DIY pop-punk project of Nathan Williams. The band has a gritty punk-infused lo-fi sound that permeates this album. The band’s notorious heavy drinking can be seen as the catalyst for this album, which sounds like a hangover in more ways than one. Many of these songs even begin like a hangover — noisy and ugly, but eventually culminating into something more hopeful. Also, he talks about having a headache in multiple songs, once again: hangovers. What you’ll really find here is something similar to the Beach Boys going to a Ramones concert and getting trashed. I know, it sounds too perfect. Overall, this is a very listenable album that is grimy and angry but filled to the brim with shiny pop vibes that focus on real life lyrics that everyone can relate.
Must Hear: “Way Too Much,” “Pony,” “My Head Hurts” and “Wait”
Band: JR JR
Album: “Jr Jr”
Hailing From: Detroit, Ill.
Genre: Indie Pop
Label: Warner Bros.
The members of JR JR, previously named Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., are growing as people and musicians — and you can hear it. Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein have been making music together since 2009. Since then, they have always danced the line with pop music but have always kept a sense of indie quirkiness. While still engaging in some of that quirk, they are moving in a different direction. It’s pop, but not really. It’s more of an ’80s new wave pop with a new, fresher orchestration. This album is weeping with intense and awesome melodies and synth work while focusing on a song writing style similar to modern pop. Their lyrics are contemplative and poetic, which adds to the aesthetic of a grown up band.
Must Hear: “Gone,” “Hypothetical,” “Break My Fall,” “James Dean” and “In The Middle”
(11/10/15 5:51pm)
This week, WTSR music staff member Nelson Kelly, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: All Them Witches
Album: “Dying Surfer Meets His Maker”
Hailing From: Nashville, Tenn.
Genre: Heavy Psych
Label: New West Records
The boys in All Them Witches are back and are truly living up to all their witchy potential. “Dying Surfer Meets His Maker” is a cohesive, focused and dynamic collection of songs that show off their doom and stoner metal influences (they’re currently touring with The Sword and Kadaver), though they also pay tribute to the greats, most obviously Led Zeppelin. The drums are humongous and booming a la John Bonham, while the acoustic guitar pieces on this album harken back to tunes like “The Rain Song” or “The Battle of Evermore.” A mixture of acoustic and thunderous electric grooves, soft vocals and ominous spoken word passages, the shifts from soft to heavy in many of these songs are what make Dying Surfer a great listen. Most songs are longer than five minutes but there are a few around the three minute mark. Overall, All Them Witches have shown what they’re capable of, and I cannot wait to hear more from them in the future.
Must Hear: “Call Me Star,” “Dirt Preachers,” “Open Passageways,” “Talisman,” “This Is Where It All Falls Apart” and “Blood and Sand / Milk and Endless Water”
Band: The Jungle Giants
Album: “Speakerzoid”
Hailing From: Brisbane, Australia
Genre: Indie Pop-Rock
Label: Amplifire
The Jungle Giants’ follow up to 2013’s “Learn to Exist” delivers in a big way. This time around, they’ve brought back their trademark indie-pop sound but with an artsy twist that adds a new and exciting feel to their music. A funky rhythm section ties in nicely with jangly and occasionally noisy guitars, although the highlight of these songs is definitely Sam Hales’ excellent vocal delivery, switching seamlessly between Alex Turner-like crooning and a falsetto that makes you want to go dig up your Gorillaz albums from your mom’s basement (you know you have ‘em). Throw on tracks like “Kooky Eyes” or “What Do You Think” for some solid indie pop-rock, but if you’re craving something more on the Gorillaz-end of the spectrum, “Not Bad” and “Every Kind of Way” are definitely the way to go. Overall this album is a killer mix of artsy and indie-pop rock goodness, so play it!
Must Hear: “Every Kind Of Way,” “Kooky Eyes,” “What Do You Think,” “Creepy Cool” and “Not Bad”
(11/03/15 9:23pm)
This week, WTSR music staff members Brigid Barber and Nelson Kelly highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Protomartyr
Album: “The Agent Intellect”
Hailing From: Detroit, Mich.
Genre: Gloomy Post-Punk
Label: Hardly Art
Named after an ancient philosophical questioning of how the mind operates in relation to the self, Detroit post-punk quartet Protomartyr’s third release, “The Agent Intellect,” is as haunting and moody as you would expect. The band formed in 2010, when vocalist and lyricist Joe Casey needed a band who wanted to be heard as much as he did. Bandmates Greg Ahee, Alex Leonard and Scott Davidson approached each album with the same urgency ever since. Packed with personal stories, Casey brings emphasis upon ugliness boiling beneath the surface of his life experiences. This more brutal approach of charred pop and churned punk, with vocals on the more raspy monotone side, gives the band a unique visceral sound like nothing I’ve ever heard before.
Must Hear: “The Devil In His Youth,” “I Forgive You,” “Pontiac 87,” “Dope Cloud” and “Clandestine Time”
Band: New Beat Fund
Album: “Sponge Fingerz”
Hailing From: Southern California
Genre: Poppy Beach Funk
Label: Red Bull Records
New Beat Fund is a new band straight out of SoCal, and they aren’t afraid to tell you. The fact that they’re signed to Red Bull (yup, the energy drink) Records should tip you off as to the attitude and content of their music. What you’ll find on “Sponge Fingerz” is a collection of pseudo-reggae (a-la The Dirty Heads), techno-driven pop-funk tunes focused on the band’s propensity towards partying, drinking, girls and all other sorts of tomfoolery. New Beat Fund expertly blends the ’90s, Blink-182 aesthetic with the beachy vibes of bands like Dirty Heads or, dare I say, Sublime. This album is very solid for what it is. The overall chill vibes of this album are offset by goofy, often corny lyrics. Despite that, “Sponge Fingerz” is an overall enjoyable album from an interesting band.
Must Hear: “Any Day,” “It’s Cool,” “Sunday Funday,” “Telescope” and “Sikka Takin the Hard Way”
(10/27/15 4:32pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, and Brigid Barber, music staff member, highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Caravan Palace
Album: “Robot Face”
Hailing From: Paris, France
Genre: Electro Swing
Label: Le Plan
Citing Django Reinhardt as their largest influence, Parisian electro-swing giants and pioneers, Caravan Palace, are on the vanguard of modern jazz infused house music. With little promotion and no big name record company, Caravan Palace earned a spot at Coachella last year based solely on word of mouth. Their sound combines old school jazz and swing with modern house and electronica. It’s mesmerizing. This album is lush with sweet electro beats that float above their biting jive and jazz. What at first sounds like some sort of joke, will catch you in a hypnotizing trance and you’ll find yourself dancing along.
Must Hear: “Midnight,” “Wonda,” “Lone Digger,” “Tattoos,” “Wonderland” and “Russian”
Band: Little Fevers
Album: “Field Trip”
Hailing From: Minneapolis, Mn.
Genre: Crunchy Sunshine Pop
Label: Self-released
The four piece band Little Fevers has released a debut album, which is strong and confident in its sound. Most likely because it was created by longtime friends and music cohorts dedicated to a delightful amalgamation of pop-rock. Many of the songs sound rather alike, besides a dip in tempo and diverse lyricism. However, this does not detract from their surfy vibe brought on by frontwoman Lucy Michelle, with the help of bandmates Ashley Boman, Geoff Freeman and Eamonn McLain. Being musically similar to Alvvays, while containing The XX-like riffs, their punchy and hefty tunes will surely not disappoint. The fact that it was recorded with Matt Boynton (Beirut, MGMT) and mastered by David Gardner (Black Lips) helps as well. Although their more upbeat songs will make you want to dance in the sand, having to cuddle up and feel nostalgia for summer is close enough!
Must Hear: “Can’t Get Enough,” “Stones,” “Gold,” “Apple Tree,” “Make It Easy” and “The End”
(10/20/15 4:47pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, and Sean Delanoy, music staff member, highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Oberhofer
Album: “Chronovision”
Hailing From: New York, N.Y.
Genre: Surf Rock
Label: Glassnote
Oberhofer, started by Tacoma native-turned-New Yorker Brad Oberhofer, is a synth pop band. This record is a great follow up to Oberhofer’s first album, “Time Capsules II.” The band returns with its heavy guitar surf rock sound, but have developed their craft by adding a synth pop and orchestral element to their music. The album opens with the title track, “Chronovision,” an instrumental piece. The album is a mix of high energy rock songs and slow emotional love songs. Brad Oberhofer’s falsetto vocal style also appears on this album, as it did on “Time Capsules II,” adding to the emotional fullness of the new release.
Must Hear: “Nevana,” “Together/ Never,” “Memory Remains,” “Someone Take Me Home” and “White Horse, Black River”
Band: Disclosure
Album: “Caracal”
Hailing From: Surrey, England
Genre: Electro Funk
Label: PMR/Island
Beginning as a true MySpace success story, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence started making catchy dubstep and dance music in 2010. As some may remember, “Settle” was a huge indie album before it broke the top 40 with “Latch” as the lead single, propelling both Disclosure and Sam Smith into the limelight. They return with “Caracal,” a Disclosure album through and through with some unique differences. You’ll find more nods to their influences like Daft Punk and other dance music pioneers. You can hear a lot of modern indie house and electronica in this album with the classic Disclosure twist.
Must Hear: “Nocturnal (feat. The Weeknd),” “Omen (feat. Sam Smith),” “Jaded” and “Superego (feat. Nao)”
(10/06/15 12:47am)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, and Nelson Kelly, music staff member, highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: The Dead Weather
Album: “Dodge and Burn”
Hailing From: Nashville, Tn.
Genre: Weird Hard Rock
Label: Third Man Records
The Dead Weather, the side project of Alison Mosshart, Jack White, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence, are a gritty and angry rock group. Some say this project merely serves as a means to unleash their pent up musical aggression. This idea is supported by their announcement to not follow this album up with a tour. With this in mind, it may pique your interest. Essentially, this album is a collection of new songs that emote raw, guttural anguish that the band members save just for the Dead Weather. It places this album in a unique and interest light. “I Feel Love (Ever Million Miles)” opens the album with a straight-up rock ‘n’ roll sound that serves as a motif throughout. This is an incredibly creative, dark and heavy album that sounds almost like a diseased travelogue.
Must Hear: “I Feel Love (Every Million Miles),” “Three Dollar Hat,” “Open Up” and “Mile Markers”
Band: The Arcs
Album: Yours, Dreamily
Hailing From: Akron, Ohio
Genre: Garage Psyche
Label: Nonesuch Records
So Dan Aubach made a new album and didn’t tell anyone? It’s pretty surprising how little this album was promoted as it’s a side project of the frontman of what is arguably the biggest rock band in the world right now (The Black Keys). “Yours Dreamily” is very interesting because it sounds just like the Black Keys with the occasional horns thrown in for good measure. Several of the songs also have a Jack White/Dead Weather – vibe to them, especially “Put A Flower In Your Pocket” and “Cold Companion,” which I’m pretty sure has the same riff as a White Stripes song. This is a pretty decent release, nothing too special here, but if you like the Black Keys you should definitely check this out. “The Arc” is probably the hidden gem of this album, so start with that or “Outta My Mind.”
Must Hear: “Outta My Mind,” “Put A Flower In Your Pocket,” “Pistol Made of Bone” and “Cold Companion”
(09/30/15 1:55am)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, and Nelson Kelly, music staff writer, highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Circa Waves
Album: “Young Chasers”
Hailing From: Liverpool, England
Genre: English Indie Surf Rock
Label: Virgin
Composed of lads from Liverpool, Circa Waves delivers on its beachy-sounding name. They have a lot of obvious influences like The Wombats, Arctic Monkey, The Strokes and The Kooks, and you can hear all of this. But they also have a lot of ’50s style sounds. It’s a good balance between gritty rock vibes and catchy surf rock beats. Overall, this album puts you in a very chill place, which is pretty refreshing in this day and age. The lyrics read like Springsteen — a lot of summer, girls, beaches and youth. All in all, this album is really catchy, you will find yourself bobbing your head and wanting a drink. It’s surf rock with some energy. Don’t be afraid to pay attention to some of their more poetic verses either.
Must Hear: “Get Away,” “Lost It” “Fossils,” “Young Chasers” and “T-Shirt Weather”
Band Name: Say Hi
Album Name: Bleeders Digest
Hailing From: Seattle, Wa.
Genre: Vampire Synth Pop
Label: Barsuk Records
First off, this has to be the best album title ever. Luckily, this album delivers beyond just a witty title. Eric Elbogen, better known as established synth-popper Say Hi, tells the story of vampires peacefully existing on the fringes of human society — until a girl eats a lot of steak and throws a giant rock at them, thus invoking their wrath as they take over society as we know it. Between the infectiously catchy hooks, surfy-guitars and zany synth lines, you can pick out a story in which vampires overrun human society (with a random love interest thrown in there) until a volcano erupts or something. What I’m saying is this is a really cool album that you should definitely listen to.
Must Hear: “The Grass is Always Greener,” “It’s a Hunger,” “Creatures of the Night,” “Lover’s Lane (Smitten with Doom)” and “Pirates of the Cities, Pirates of the Suburbs”
(09/17/15 3:28am)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: The Color Atlantic
Album: “The Color Atlantic”
Hailing From: Philadelphia, Pa.
Genre: Alternative Fusion Rock
Label: Self-released
The Color Atlantic is a new band from Philly made up of students from Drexel University who are really pushing the envelope with their sound. They make an almost orchestral arrangement with just bass, guitar, drums and keyboards. This EP crisscrosses genres on every song with their refreshing and impressive brand of rock ‘n’ roll. With an almost throwback rock sound, they play with your expectations and surprise you at every turn. “The Vines and Ivy Gates” and “Shut Me Up” boast a pumped up and exciting rock sound, dripping with blues but with a modern twist. “Summer” is a more lighthearted classic rock song that grooves. The final song on the EP “Say Nothing” is a rock ballad from space that has a lot of palpable emotions. Overall, they have a sound I have not heard before.
Must Hear: “The Vines and Ivy Gates,” “Summer,” “Shut Me Up” and “Say Nothing”
Band: Young Empires
Album: “The Gates”
Hailing From: Toronto, Canada
Genre: Electro Soul, R&B
Label: Votiv
This Toronto-based trio fronts their first LP, “The Gates,” which boasts a much more mature sound than their previous work. While their first EP had a cheery, dance pop feel, this album takes a different turn. They’ve replaced dance pop with a more electro-R&B feel and it works very well. They do a lot of cool instrumentals and even experiment a little on this album, painting a close picture to famous acts like Disclosure and Chet Faker. This album really shows off the full skill of the group and has a complete and cohesive sound. Their lyrics also experiment a little bit more. You’ll find the usual songs about love and loss but with added vocals touching on loneliness and the struggles of life that deliver an ultimately optimistic message.
Must Hear: “The Gates,” “So Cruel,” “Ghosts” and “Strangehold”
(09/09/15 10:10pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into their weekly rotation.
Band: Radkey
Album: “Dark Black Makeup”
Hailing From: Missouri
Genre: Punk
Label: Little Man
Radkey started as two brothers from Missouri who had a hankering for some damn good punk. With two EPs under their belt and plenty of touring, they’re ready to be taken seriously. This album throws some of that our way. They have all the makings of a throwback punk sound that really makes you shed an angry tear. With vocals that sound like Glenn Danzig found a new energy and throbbing guitars that rhythmically punch you in the gut, this is a superb punk album. However, these guys are not afraid to crank out a more contemporary indie rock sound reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys, and they do it well. Give it a listen if you feel at all like you miss what classic punk rock should sound like.
Must Hear: “Dark Black Makeup,” “Hunger Pain” and “Le Song”
Band: Of Monsters and Men
Album: “Beneath The Skin”
Hailing From: Keflavik, Iceland
Genre: Indie Magic Folk
Label: SKRIMSL
Coming off of the huge success of their debut album, these Icelandic five-piece folk rockers deliver with their newest album, “Beneath The Skin.” This album builds upon the sound they fronted for their previous album. Their melodic indie folk driven by guitars and drums, is carefully accentuated with the dual female-male fronted vocals. This album has the trimmings one would expect from a band given a bigger budget, but stays pretty true to form. The song “Crystals” has already been popularized, but there other songs that make the album worthwhile. “Wolves Without Teeth” keeps up their obsession with metaphoric animal-based images and has more guitar work than their debut. When listening to this album, you’ll hear more drawn out melodic songs, breaking out of the pigeonhole that is contemporary folk music. This album has the feeling of a matured and professional band. Not too many horns on this album so don’t expect a “Little Talks,” but still an enjoyable album.
Must Hear: “Sting’s Teacher Years,” “When I Die” and “White Lodge”
(09/01/15 10:35pm)
This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into their weekly rotation.
Band: Beach House
Album: “Depression Cherry”
Hailing From: Baltimore, Md.
Genre: Smooth Electronic Slow-Pop
Label: Sub Pop
Beach House is a name that has been in the electronic conversation for quite awhile now. The group, consisting of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, has seen a decent amount of praise and has been touring successfully for years. This album, however, seems more focused on creating a space for emotion to grow and transform. They spent their time focusing on weaving slow and precise melodies in and out of timid vocals. It’s a step back from heavy synths and layers of sound to tight and controlled instrumentation. Many songs on this album feature a slow and melodic ebb and flow, keeping a central idea close to heart. The two said they wanted to focus their energy on creating an atmosphere with each song on this album, giving the listener less hooks and choruses and more emotional charge.
Must Hear: “Sparks,” “Space Song,” “PPP” and “Beyond Love”
Band: AWOLnation
Album: “Run”
Hailing From: Los Angeles, Calif.
Genre: Heavy Dance Pop
Label: Red Bull Records
AWOLnation is the acclaimed and successful side-project of Aaron Bruno. With the 2011 release of “Megalithic Symphony,” he saw huge success with the single “SAIL” and other big songs. “Run,” however, could be even more megalithic and symphonic. Bruno kept true to his silent promise of keeping AWOL weird and not trying to cash in on any pop success he might try to search out. “Run” poses itself as more technical and complex than “Megalithic,” in that Bruno really opened up new ideas and stretched his musical capabilities. On this album you’ll find trippy, almost frightening dirge-like songs, like “Run,” but you can also find seemingly happier and more pleasing tracks, like “Headrest For My Soul.” What you will also find is a technical prowess, where Bruno builds upon his fusion of multiple styles — mixing acoustic rock and pop with a newly found appreciation for EDM-based breakdowns and orchestration.
Must Hear: “Run,” “Jailbreak” and “Headrest For My Soul”