Yesterday, the new album Bring on the Comets from Kentucky rockers VHS or Beta officially dropped. Maybe you first heard about them from their album Night on Fire that was released three years ago to successful reviews. Or maybe you heard about them when they toured with Duran Duran, or when they got a song on the OC the following year. And maybe you've never heard of them at all. Well, your new school year resolution is to listen to as much of this band as possible. I've been listening to this album consistently in the car since we received it at the radio station a couple weeks ago, and I'm completely addicted now. In the same vein of that new rave sound that bands like NYPC and The Rapture have contributed to creating, VHS or Beta uses their influences in all the right ways to find a very comfortable spot between old-school New Order and new-school electripster dance party. VHS or Beta remind us that there were good parts of the 80's (insert thesis comparison between heady electronic music and privatization of federal responsibilities here) and introduce everything good (I'm assuming) about Kentucky to the rest of the states. Get this album now and then get your Middlebury representatives to bring them to campus immediately.
so its been some time since the last W.W. Wednesday but we're back with some fresh selections for your listening enjoyment. lo-fi, folk, math rock, post-punk, house, hip hop, lions, tigers, and bears....oh my!
Rilo Kiley (Under the Blacklight) - i want to have jenny lewis's babies. Breakin' Up
Qwel & Meaty Ogre (Freezer Burner) - nerdcore for pale white kids that major in computer science. not that that's a bad thing. Saved
i do love them, really. i love the dirty/sexy chick vocals, i love their synth driven dance rock, i love the vapid/pop-happy lyrics, and i even love that shady hipster dude in the white skinny jeans. most of all, though, i love ice cream and ice cream remixes from Van She Tech, DJ Mehdi, The Hooks, and Metal on Metal;)
and for those of you in the nyc this week, be sure to head over to the Hiro Ballroom to catch NYPC's album release party, with special guests DatA, The Passions, and Wide Shut.
so lets face it, german minimal techno isn't for everyone. i too have found myself listening to Kompakt complilations, wondering why the hell the songs aren't faster and have no discernable vocal hooks. but whether you like it or not, all that happy house music you're dancing to right now wouldn't exist if it weren't for Michael Mayer and Kompakt Records. now, the emperor of germany returns with his latest project, SUPERMAYER, a collaboration with labelmate Superpitcher (who woulda thought?). believe it or not, this just may be the closest Kompakt has come to pop, ever;)
This is one of those weeks where we got so much good new music that I can barely keep my pants on. I had to go through the post and take out half of the "incredible"s because the first draft read like the digg homepage. So yeah, all of these songs are the bomb and a half--so shake it. Also, super shout out to Thompson Bennett Davis IV for his recent appearance on the front page of the Styles Section of the Miami Herald in regards to his blog 2 Live Looks. New Young Pony Club (Fantastic Playroom) - This is how hipsters dance. Fan (mp3) VHS or Beta (Bring on the Comets) - For serious, this may be one of the best albums I have heard this year. If I was getting paid to predict the future, I'd say these guys will be big very soon. But I don't. Take It or Leave It (mp3)
M.I.A feat. Timbaland (Kala) - M.I.A is so hot right now. Come Around (mp3)
Junior Senior (Hey Hey My My Yo Yo) - This song will be stuck in your head for at least 48 hours straight after you hear it. Can I Get Get Get (mp3)
Shape of Broad Minds (Craft of the Lost Art) - Sounds like: MF Doom rapping over Prefuse 73 and Madlib beats. Supachill. Changes (mp3)
Utah Carol (Rodeo Queen) - "This album is beautiful. Listen to it and make love to someone special." (Bobby Teenager, 2007) Sam's Ranch (mp3) Blaqk Audio (Cex Cells) - L.A. New Wave filtered through glam-metal. Stiff Kittens (mp3) The Cult (Dirty Little Rockstar EP) - This is the new single from the upcoming album entitled Born Into This. Dirty Little Rockstar (mp3)
Foreign Born (On the Wing Now) - Crescendo rock influenced by fine tapestries, coffee, percussion, aromatic countrysides, virtual reality and lush vegetation. In the Shape (mp3)
Yesterday we got the new Scion CD Sampler v.18 Ninja Tune mix, all remixed by Darko from Spankrock. This shit's the dankitty dankest. With samples from all the Ninja Tune heavy-hitters like Kid Koala, Blockhead, Hexstatic, Bonobo and even Spankrock themselves (as well as some couler de TTC), this 44 minute long mix is undeniable. A lot of the tracks have recognizable bits from Zentertainment samplers from over the last couple years, but Darko manages to make it sound even fresher the second time around. These two tracks are some of the highlights, but I would recommend the entire sampler to anyone who follows arguably one of the best independent electronica record labels ever.
Just in case you missed the real news--with all this hype about some Karl Rove guy resigning clogging up your news--Amy Winehouse decided she doesn't need rehab and is going to be fine. Personally, I think this is a good decision. Last week's experience that landed her in a hospital overnight was just bad luck. If people went to rehab everytime they took a cocktail of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine, our rehabilitation centers would be overflowing and we'd be bored out of our minds at work with no celebrity stories to read. And the way they use 'cocktail' as if it's a bad thing; I mean, isn't it better to mix a little bit of everything than to do a whole lot of one thing? And who knew ketamine was that bad? It's only a horse tranquilizer.
Said Winehouse about the hospital ordeal: "When I get self-destructive I just need to spend time with Dad. Rehab is a cop-out." Luckily, her father Mitch is a former cab driver and from what I remember from Trainspotting, London cabdrivers are great at getting overdosing people to hospitals right away. Cheers Ms. Winehouse, I hope you clean up well. And if not, come party in Middlebury sometime. I can get some killer ketamine from Morgan's Horse Farm right down the road.
WRMC has tickets to Osheaga 2007 in Montreal. And we're giving some away! Be sure to stay tuned, as shortly we will be posting information on how you could win free tickets to one of the dopest music festivals of the summer featuring many WRMC artists.
Visit www.osheaga.com for more info about the festival. Keep us bookmarked to find out how YOU could be WRMC's ambassador to French Canada.
Don't get me wrong: Daft Punk is great and all, but I think it's safe to say this blog could use a bit of a DP breather. Dakota and B Teenager have hit the road for the you-know-what extravaganza at the you-know-where, and here in lonely Vermont I have wrested control of the blog if only for this measly post. Hmmmm.
So, I'm getting ready to sell my car (btw, if anyone is looking for a hunky, manly, beastly Jeep, I know the perfect one for you. You know what they say: Suckin' gas and haulin' ass! Right..?) Anyway, as was peeling back layer after layer of worthless junk and coffee cups that have accumulated over the summer to get the car ready to sell, I also managed to make a pile of every stray CD hidden underneath the seats and tangled in bungee cords. That pile is now in my room. The only CD that therefore remains in the car arrived last week in WRMC's mailbox. Despite it's cracked jewel case (it was hidden beneath the A&W menu, and we all know the danger of B Teenager's reckless appendages), I threw it in for a spin as the sun was going down and me descending into the fog blanketing Middlebury Gap, and it's not going anywhere else anytime soon.
Orenda Fink of Azure Ray's ART IN MANILA. Debut album that is painfully sweet. I think I would liken it to that feeling you get after you have been swimming in cold water for about ten minutes and you begin to get numb/used to it, after which point you can swim forever because you don't really feel anything anymore even though you see goosebumps all over your skin and your face is turning blue. Oh god that sounded like a shitty promotional blurb - someone get me out of here! Art in Manila - Our Addictions Art in Manila - The Abomination Art in Manila - I Thought I Was Free Art in Manila - Golden Dawn
so my inability count has finally caught up with me. and you know what that means? more daft punk!
disco delicious is a super tight blog written by andy from australia (alliteration is sweet). andy loves dance music....and posting (almost) every live/radio set by daft punk available in mp3 form. check out his "daft bonanza" post here.
so sure, now everyone in the world just lovesDaft Punk right now. 2 years ago, however, with the release of 2005's Human After All, everyone was a hater. just look at what pitchfork had to say in their record review:
"Turns out Daft Punk are (mostly) human after all, because from a compositional standpoint, this sounds like it was made in about 19 days. Even the good stuff sounds painfully extemporaneous, like early sketches of tracks that deserve to be much better. Take the title cut-- a slick, vocoder-driven track that, despite being one of the better offerings on the record, has such a clinical build that it registers as patterned and completely starved of joy. It's Daft Punk going through the motions and, for the first time in their career, sounding like cynics."
very harsh. but then again, pitchfork is really nothing more than a bunch of aging hipsters who are on the brink of not really knowing whats cool anymore, and are desperately trying to hang on to their indie stardom. (oh snap)
According to the Teenager Theory (a dynamic model for analyzing the development of Daft Punk) Human After All was a sort of planned third stage in Daft Punk's career. Stage 1 begins with 1997's Homework, a tremendous album, considered to be one of the greatest electronica albums ever made. Homework is more or less a study in the elements of house music. Most of the tracks are straight up re-edits of late-70s/early-80s disco hits, plus reverb and a 4/4 beat. the track "Teachers," which features a robot listing the godfathers of House music (DJ Pierre, DJ Sneak, etc.) over a 4/4 beat and reverb drenched disco vocal is a testament to this hypothesis. Daft Punk did their homework and made the best house album ever.
4 years go by, Daft Punk become robots, and 2001's Discovery is released. now when Discovery was released, few remember but people (pitchfork) actually hated pretty hard on that album. Says pitchfork's Ryan Schreiber:
"It's practically brainwashing, isn't it? Daft Punk seem to be operating under the premise that if you hear something enough times, you'll start to believe it. But after more than 15 listens to Discovery's first single and opening track, "One More Time," vocodered vocalist Romanthony doesn't have me "feeling the need," much less not waiting, celebrating, and dancing so free. This could just be me, of course. Maybe I just haven't taken enough ecstasy and horse tranquilizers to appreciate the tinny, sampled brass ensemble, the too-sincere "chill out" midsection, or the fat drum machine beats that throb in time with my headache."
or you were too much of a nerd in high school/college to notice the revolution in music that was occurring a couple hours away from you (Chicago) in the 80s, or you didn't have any friends to invite you to take those drugs and go dancing, or you really didn't (and don't) know anything about music, but rather are just another washed up college radio GM who is painfully cynical, wears unflattering earth-tones, and sits around pretending to enjoy (Smog) albums. but anyway, Discovery was just that, a discovery (of epic proportions). it was basically the same house format used in Homework, infused with mind-numbing pop-happiness that combined elements of late 70s disco, euro-synth pop, and Japanese animation; elements which defined pop-culture in France during Guy and Thomas's childhood.
now 2005's Human After All, was a massive departure from the "French Touch" we were dancing to on Discovery. the songs were more bare, there were fewer layers, and more importantly alot of the pop, artificial synth effects that defined songs like "One More Time" and "Digital Love" were missing. instead you got songs like "Human After All" and "Robot Rock" with more stripped down, natural sounding guitar and drum samples. in short, the album was less disco, and more metal filtered through disco. and sure, those tracks weren't nearly as catchy as "Around the World" and "Digital Love," but they weren't supposed be. these songs were merely templates for what Daft Punk was planning to do in the future (as demonstrated by their mind blowing live sets). and isn't the format of Human After All the exact same thing the Ed Banger Crew are doing right now? and isn't Busy P the head of Ed Banger Records and the manager of Daft Punk? go ahead and think about that one until tomorrow. in the meantime, enjoy these remixes from Hot Einstein, Diplo, Roccanova, Digitalism, Basement Jaxx, and Para One.
5 days. I mean I can't really believe it. Daft Punk is this week. Holy shit. But anyway, back on December 30, 1997, Daft Punk performed on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix. The result was a 2 hour epic French house mixtape that covered the entire spectrum of Guy and Thomas's musical influences. I know 2 hours seems like a long time to listen to something, but you really just have to sit and listen to the whole thing. Trust me, I've done it 10 or 12 times already;)
Track List:
Daft Punk - "Wdpk Essential Intro" (Daft Trax) Paul Johnson - "Summer Heat" (Peacefrog) Armand Van Helden - "Funk Phenomena (Dope Mix)" (Henry Street) CZR - "Chicago Southside" (IHR) Unknown - "Git Down Saturday" (Dance 6) Remix Delux #1 - "Dee's Knots" (Remix Delux) Parris Mitchell - "Ghetto Shout Out" (Dance Mania) Daft Punk - "Teachers" (Daft Trax/Virgin) Martin Luther King - "I Have A Dream" (20th Century) The Godson EP - "Drum Patterns & Memories" (K.D.J) Jammin Gerald - "Get The Ho'94" (Dance Mania) DJ Attack - "Da Way U Work" (U.C) Thomas Bangalter - "Spinal Beats" (Roule) Thomas Bangalter - "Spinal Scratch" (Roule) Tha West Siders - "Waxscratch Trax" (Dance Mania) Fantom - "Faithfull (Prassay Mix)" (Source) Fantom - "Faithfull (Original)" (Source) Fantom - "Faithfull (Da Cracy Mix)" (Source) I:Cube - "Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Mix)" (Versatile) Daft Punk - "Rock 'n' Roll" (Daft Trax/Virgin) DJ Hyperactive - "Chicago" (Contact) Daft Punk - "Oh Yeah" (daft Trax/Virgin) Cajmere - "Only 4 U" (Cajual) Trankilou - "Champagne" (Kif S.A) Unknown - "And da Beat Goes On" (Dance 6) DJ Funk & Gerald - "Hold Up" (Universal Funk) Ween - "Freedom Of '76" (Flying Nun) Zdar + Boombass - "Foxy Lady" (Cassins) Gusto - "Disco's Revenge" (Bumble Beats) DJ Deeon - "Deeon Doez Disco" (Dance Mania) Sweet - "Somebody's Watching" (White Label) Da Mongoloids - "Spark Da Meth" (Strictly Rythm) Roller Rink 2000 - "Shining" (Kumba) Roy Davis Jr - "Gabrielle" (Large) Robert J. Hairston - "Preacher Man" (White Label) Daft Punk - "Around The World (Motorbass Mix)" (Daft Trax/Virgin) Kenny Dixon Jr - "U Can Dance If You Want 2" (K.O.J)
So Justice has gotten all the credit for being the coolest thing to come out of France in awhile, but they are hardly all France, and Ed Banger Records, has to offer. SebastiAn and Kavinsky have each been tearing it up at Ed Banger parties across the globe for the past two years. Even better, these guys (plus The Rapture) have been opening for Daft Punk all tour and will be in NYC on the 9th! This shit is gonna be dope.
So in between destroying the world with 2001's Discoveryand the 2005 release of Human After All, Thomas and Guy kept themselves pretty busy. In the past 6 years or so, they've collaborated with other DJs on a number of different side projects, as well as releasing some solo work. Now of course Thomas has been markedly more busy than Guy, which have led some naysayers to believe that Thomas is the brains behind Daft Punk. Now I don't know anything about that, but I do know that we never landed on the moon, LBJ shot JFK from the grassy knoll, and the Jews most definitely orchestrated 9/11. Enjoy;)
8 days. Yeah my timing is a little off but who cares. "Da Funk," from 1997's Homework, was also released as a single with the track "Musique" as a B-side. Later, Spike Jonze directed a music video for song featuring a man dressed as McGruff (take a bite out of crime).
So, 9 days till Daft Punk in Brooklyn. It is important to note that the number '9' is particularly significant to Guy and Thomas. For it was on September 9, 1999 (9/9/99), 9:09am that the sampler in Daft Punk's Paris studio exploded. They would awake some time later, discovering that they had somehow become robots. Now of course you all may not believe this. Despite my pious faith, I too have been skeptical at times. Also, part of me kind of wants to believe that Busy P showed up at their apartment in 1999 with these robot suits and told them to never take them off.
That's right, the Daft Punk After Party for the Brooklyn show has finally been announced. Busy P (aka Pedro Winter, aka manager/producer of Daft Punk, aka founder of Ed Banger Records), SebastiAn, Kavinsky, the Throne of Blood Crew (The Rapture DJs), Gildas of Kitsune, and 'Special Guests' (please for the love of god let it be Daft Punk and Justice). And of course, it will be held in the coolest club in all of NYC, Studio B in Brooklyn. For those who still aren't convinced, follow the link below to The Rawking Refuses To Stop!, and download this live set Busy P and Justice did for Good for Nothing Worldwide Radio. 2:55:36 of French House. Epic.
This might be my favorite Ward Wolff Wednesdays ever; last night around 2:15 I picked half of the music over a mixed drink(s). This morning I sat down and tried to explain why. I think you'll be more than mildly suprised at the results. Ben Davis & the Jetts (Battle of the Beards) - I like this song. It's too hot out to write anything more. Clash It (mp3) YMCK (Records of the Damned) - May be the best thing I've heard since the third grade. Magical 8-Bit Tour (mp3)
That Handsome Devil (That Handsome Devil) - I don't know what to say about this one. I like it a lot. It makes me laugh. Dating Tipss (mp3) Georgie James (Need Your Needs) - Indie rock/pop doesn't get any purer than this. (more pure?) Cake Parade (mp3) The Bird & the Bee (The Bird & the Bee) - I remember hearing this off of Music for Robots a couple months ago, but it's still good the second time around. Again & Again (mp3)
Architecture In Helsinki (Places Like This) - "People have hated on this but they shouldn't; this album is just what Architecture in Helsinki were doing before, but even better. I's kind of like the Transformers movie--you either get it or you don't." (Bobby Teenager, 2007) Lazy (Lazy) (mp3)
Coyote Bones (Gentleman on the Rocks) - This album was recorded all over the place over 3 years of playing with musical friends across the country. Fated to Fail (mp3) Earlimart (Mentor Tormentor) - Low register pop rock songs from California. It grows on you quickly. Answers & Questions (mp3)
Ladybirds (Regional Community) - "If you're not in the right mood this could give you a killer toothache. But a toothache oh so sweet. I think this pretty much hits the "guilty pleasure" nail on the head. Or in the tooth." (Ward Wolff, 2007) Regional Community Theater (mp3)
Meg Baird (Dear Companion) - Country/gospel straight arrow offerings from Drag City. Get it. Do What You Gotta Do (mp3)
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WRMC 91.1 is...
2011-2012 Executive Board Dylan Redford (General Manager) Alan Sanders (Programming Director) Della Cummings (Business Director) Jack Tipper (Technical Director) Stephanie Roush (Music Director) Carly Shumaker (Music Director) Moss Turpan (Creative Director) Diane Martin (Concerts) Halley Lamberson (Concerts) Anjali Merchant (Emeritus)
All songs posted on this blog are meant for evaluation purposes only. We, the contributors and the WRMC general board, love and support well-made music and make every effort to support the artists we love by purchasing their work. We encourage everyone to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you own a copyright to any of the images or songs featured on this blog and would like them removed please contact us at wrmc911@gmail.com.
Also, feel free to contact us if you are an artist, band, label or distributor and think we'd be interested in your music. Same goes if you're playing a gig in either NYC, Boston, Montreal or Vermont and want us to come;)
