UO Blog

From Elsewhere

05/23/13 09:43AM

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The Lonely Island and Solange: "Semicolon"

Yet another supremely catchy and hilarious song from The Lonely Island. How do they do it?! —Katie

From Chicago

05/22/13 10:11AM

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Charli XCX "I Want It That Way"

Just in case you need further proof as to why Charli XCX is the best, here she is covering The Backstreet Boys. —Katie

From Elsewhere


05/22/13 09:24AM

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CVS Bangers: Volume 2

If you guys are looking for some tunes to blast during your Memorial Day barbeques, then you are in luck because CVS Bangers: Volume 2, the sickest party mix ever, was released this week by DJ Hennessy Youngman and promises to deliver every hot jam you'll ever need. Included on this mix are all the classic dance hits, including "Manic Monday," "Who's Gonna Take Me Home," "Missing You," and of course "Last Christmas." There are also plenty of airhorns, just so you remember how hard you're supposed to be rockin'. And don't forget—CVS Bangers: Volume 1 is just as good. —Katie

From Los Angeles

05/21/13 03:41PM

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Books of Love' "Space Time"

Books of Love is a cute duo that's a side project of La Sera's Katy Goodman and The Hush Sound's Greta Morgan. This hazy, perfect pop song "Space Time" is bound to be your theme song for the coming summer months. I can't wait to hear more from them! —Hazel


 

From Minneapolis

05/21/13 11:57AM

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"My Bike" by Y.N. RichKids

Y.N.RichKids recently dropped a video for their song "My Bike" and they kinda kill it. You might remember their previous single Hot Cheetos & Takis that made a lot of noise for them last summer. Well, they've stepped up their rap game for this track and it shows! —Lorin

From Elsewhere


05/20/13 10:29AM

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Album Review: Ducktails

Ducktails is Matt Mondanile's rather groovy side project (you might know him from Real Estate)—it's grown from a one man job to a full fledged band for this most recent release, The Flower Lane, on Domino Records. The Flower Lane mixes tons of different sounds that I guarantee you'll want to hear this summer when you're cruisin' to the beach in your convertible—or sitting at home with the air conditioning on. —Maddie



Packaging:
The Flower Lane comes in your standard LP sleeve, with some pretty cool checkerboard album artwork. Getting some real optical illusion-y vibes from it. Aside from the cover, there's an awesome inner sleeve that holds the actual record, and lists all of the people Matt collaborated with on the album in a faux-newspaper sorta way. On the back of the inner sleeve are all of the lyrics, because you're probably not going to be able to refrain singing along to the entire album.

Best song:
The song that most stands out to me on this album is "Assistant Director," (track 6) because it's just a nonstop jam. It really makes me want to have a disco dance party—I'm not joking. Another good one is "Planet Phrom" (track 5). This song is a little slower, and less dance-y (all while Matt sings hilarious lyrics about another planet), but you'll have to listen to find out!



What it's good for:
Basically this album is great for all those times you're just chillin' by the pool with your pals, but you still want the option to have a dance party somewhere in there. It's also good for when it's summer and 500 degrees outside and you need an album to cool you off. Matt Mondanile's sweet riffs will no doubt do that to you.

Shop Ducktails' The Flower Lane


From Elsewhere

05/17/13 11:51AM

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Diplo Reviews Daft Punk

Diplo reviewed Random Access Memories and... well, I don't know. Did he like it? Did he not like it? I DON'T KNOW HOW HE FEELS! That talking steel guitar video is a very accurate representation of the album, though. —Katie




From New York

05/17/13 11:14AM

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Avant/Garde Premiers The Cycle Revealed

The Avant/Garde Diaries’ spring season is starting off with a new series entitled “The Avant/Garde Diaries Premieres.” Samantha Casolari’s film, The Cycle Revealed, a "ruminative exploration of Robert Lepage’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle at The Metropolitan Opera," will be the first event in the series. The event will take place Thursday, May 16 from 8-11 PM at 372 Broome St., NYC. There will also be performances by Valentin Stip, and a DJ set by Dave Harrington, one half of Darkside. —Katie

From Elsewhere

05/17/13 10:21AM

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Peace: "Lovesick"

Peace are made up of four guys from Birmingham, England, that a) know how to dress better than me, and b) know how to make some pretty excellent music. Their new video for the song "Lovesick," from debut album In Love, is a whirlwind true to the feelings of actually being lovesick. Watch Harry and Sam Koisser, Doug Castle, and Dom Boyce do donuts in the parking lot while serenading us with an incredibly catchy tune. These boys are my new favorite. —Maddie

From Elsewhere


(Photo by Bekah Cope)

05/16/13 09:40AM

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Interview: Turf War

Turf War are a band made up of five dudes (John, Cecil, Brian, Brad and Ian) from Augusta, Georgia that have now made a name for themselves with their new EP, entitled The Great Escape. Their sound is heavily influenced by classic rock and roll, which I'm a massive fan of, but there is also a taste of the South, where the band grew up.  Below I talk to frontman John Robinson about the importance of that one band Nirvana, how where you live can influence your sound, and how the Strokes are still up there for him, and probably all of us. - Maddie

First off, how did you guys meet and start playing together?
We all grew up around each other with the exception of Ian. A few of us played in crappy punk and hardcore bands in Augusta when we were younger so we knew each other from that scene. We come from a smaller town so you can't be picky about who you play with. There's a small minority of people that are into the music I was into, and they all played in Turf War at some point.

Did growing up in the South have any influence on your music?
Yeah, big time. We like simple pleasures. My parents grew up in rural Alabama so they're some sweet home Alabama chanting motha fuckas. My mom listened to a lot of '90s country, some Clarence Carter and my dad got me into good country and Tom Petty, I also grew up listening to CCR a lot. I always thought they made the perfect music for what I thought of the South. Then I watched "Behind the Music" and found out they're from California. Oh well. Shit happens.


(Photo by Tim Song)

Your new EP, The Great Escape, definitely has some true rock and roll roots. Did any specific artists influence you when writing and recording the songs for it?
I take influences from the wide variety of music I listen to. For The Great Escape EP I wanted to go more roots rock than the first album. I don't think the title song is roots rock but the rest of it is more rock 'n' roll that anybody can get into. Kids, moms, dads, hipsters, druggies, homeless people... anybody.

How did you decide on the name 'Turf War' for the band?
Everyone asks that question. There really wasn't that much thought put into naming the band. I thought Turf War sounded cooler than the other names I came up with, and John Robinson and the whatevers just didn't have a good ring to it.

What is the album that had the most influence on you growing up that you still listen to today?
Nirvana, Nevermind. I can't escape the influence that Nirvana had on my life from age ten on. That was the first band that I knew who all the members were and I studied religiously and dressed like them and wanted to be them. We'll never be Nirvana but it would be nice to influence at least one kid the way they influenced me.



Since you guys are touring and will be playing Hopscotch Festival in North Carolina in September, who would your ultimate festival headliners be?
Man. That's a hard question to answer. I'm so fuckin' excited about Spiritualized headlining Hopscotch. That's a dream in its own. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers would be an amazing headliner.

Last but not least, what album could you never live without?
I would love to lie and say something cool like Exile on Main Street or a Replacements album, but honestly the first Strokes album is a time capsule for me. I can listen to that with some folks my age and for at least half of the record I feel 19 again. I don't get straight outta Compton I get straight outta high school.

Check out The Great Escape on SoundCloud, or get the limited white cassette tape here!

From Elsewhere


05/15/13 10:29AM

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Album Review: Foxygen

Foxygen is your typical talented "damn-it-they're-so-cool" band from California, and their newest (awesome) LP, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, was released earlier this year. As it turns out, the January release is perfect summer music. —Katie



Packaging:
There's no double-gatefold action going on with this album, but the cover art is pretty awesome. Plus, the lyrics for all the songs are included on the inner sleeve, just in case you hear something that really speaks to you and you're too lazy to hop on the ol' Google.

Best song:
Really into "No Destruction" (track 2) because it's kind of got some Dylan-esque vocal shenanigans going on, and I'm always down for anything that's Dylan-esque. The band has an overall "classic rock" vibe, especially on their first single from the album, "Shuggie." (Like, '60s-psych-band classic rock, not Rush-in-1984 classic rock [even though Rush is delightful in their own special way].)

What it's good for:
You know when there's a movie montage about everyone having a good time in the sunshine, and maybe there are some slow-mo shots of people laughing in the grass and like, a dripping ice cream cone? That's what this album reminds me of. It's great summertime hangouts music. And it also makes cleaning your room feel a lot less terrible. (Because as I found out when trying to take these pictures inside, my room is a dark hell-hole covered in dust, but now it's clean. Thanks, Foxygen!)

Shop Foxygen's We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic


From Los Angeles

05/15/13 10:07AM

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'Whose Line Is It Anyway? Take 2'

Remember how FUNNY Whose Line Is It Anyway? was? (Why did it go off of the air in the first place?) Well, almost a decade later, it's back! Even though improv legends Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie look a bit... older, Wayne Brady hasn't aged at all. But none of that even matters because they're all just as spot on as they were to begin with. 


I just want to throw out a special thanks to my parents for a TV and cable so I can watch this show like it never ended. I mean, how could you NOT be excited for the first props round of the season?! For a list of all of the games you forgot about, take a look here, before the start of the new show, titled Whose Line Is It Anyway? Take 2, starts on July 16. (Via Gawker)— Ally

From Los Angeles


05/14/13 11:05AM

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FYF Fest 2013

So here's the FYF Fest lineup for 2013, which I personally think is massive! They've got some huge names on there, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deerhunter, The Breeders, MGMT, Jonathan Richman, and My Bloody Valentine, which is a BIG deal! They haven't been in the states since 2009. FYF this year will take place in Los Angeles on August 24th and 25th, for its tenth year running! This year will be huge! For more info on tickets, check the fest's site. —Maddie

From Elsewhere


05/13/13 03:28PM

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Stream Random Access Memories

Look out, y'all. Daft Punk dropped another teaser for Random Access Memories in anticipation of their album release on the 21st of May. In the video we get a preview of the actual vinyl packaging, plus a snippet of the track "Give Life Back to Music." More importantly, the full album streaming is now available on iTunes! Pretty hyped for this. —Lorin

From Austin


05/13/13 12:25PM

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ACL Lineup

Austin City Limits Music Festival has announced their lineup and it is pretty incredible. It's actually much longer than that little graphic up there would lead you to believe, so make sure you check out the lineup in its entirety here. This year, the festival is taking a page from Coachella's book and running two weekends, Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13 (tickets are available here). While it sucks that you have to wait 5+ months to go, at least you can look forward to how pleasantly unsweaty you'll be at an October music fest! —Katie

From Los Angeles


05/10/13 11:13AM

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Osei-Duro x Space 15 Twenty Present: Megan Whitmarsh at the Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop

If you're in L.A. tonight, be sure to stop by the Bazaaaar pop-up at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) for a special evening with clothing line Osei Duro and artist Megan Whitmarsh! Come by from 7-10pm to take part in a live fashion meets art show, with live drawing! The audience is highly encouraged to participate! DJ Al Dente and DJ Last Looks will also be there in order for you to get your groove on. RSVP on Facebook! - Maddie

From Elsewhere

05/10/13 09:52AM

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Great Gatsby Record Set

If you have $250 lyin' around, please buy this ridiculously awesome Great Gatsby soundtrack vinyl. They are literally coated in gold and platinum! Whaaaaat? You probably can't play them, but they sure do look cool. If you are a normal human and can't spend $250 but still want to hear the tunes, you can listen to them all fo' free on Spotify. —Katie

From Elsewhere

05/09/13 12:34PM

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Interview: TORRES

Tennessee-based band TORRES is playing at our new Knoxville store's opening party. We spoke with frontwoman Mackenzie Scott about finding her voice, her favorite thing about living in Tennessee, and her love for the "Man in Black."
Interview by Ally Mullen

Introduce yourself!
My name is Mackenzie Scott. I sometimes write and sing and play the guitar, and sometimes I do these things at the same time in front of people (the singing and the playing the guitar, that is). I also drink ungodly amounts of coffee and run a Facebook account for my cat, Little Bat.

Are you a born and raised Tennessean? 
I’m actually not a born and raised Tennessean at all. I was born in Orlando, Florida and grew up in Macon, Georgia from the age of three. I’ve only been in Tennessee since 2009.


What's your favorite part about Tennessee?
I’d have to say it’s probably the whiskey.

Your voice is amazingly dreamy yet raw at the same time. Have you always been a singer? When did you realize you could sing well?
Thank you. I’ve always tried to sing, but I kept it a secret when I was young. I’d lock my door and sing Britney Spears songs into the mirror, but when I was around people I’d always make it a joke. I’d sing in cartoonish voices and play characters because I was too insecure to sing seriously and be myself. That’s why I got into musical theatre when I was in middle school and continued through high school. That’s also when I learned that I could actually carry a tune without having to be afraid of someone listening. Ironically, playing characters on the stage gave me the confidence I needed to be myself, unabashedly.

When did you first decide you wanted to make music? 
I’m not sure. I think I’ve always made music in some form, since I was six or seven. My parents gave me the opportunity to learn to play a lot of instruments at a young age. 


How old were you when you began to play guitar? 
I started playing the guitar when I was about 16.

What musicians did you look up to when you began? As a female, did you specifically look up to women at all?
Male and female alike, I had a lot of influences: Johnny Cash, Joan Jett, Ryan Adams, Brandi Carlile and Tori Amos were some of my early heroes around the time I started writing songs.



Can you tell us five things that you sing about/that have influenced your writing?
1. Heartache in the morning
2. Heartache in the afternoon
3. Heartache in the evening
4. Jesus
5. Lucifer 

How much does living in TN influence your music? 
It doesn’t really affect the music at all. 

How about your style?
It does affect my style. The Man in Black lived here; I pretty much wear whatever I think Johnny would wear. That usually means I’m wearing black, even on a scorching summer day.



What's your go-to live performance outfit?
Black pants, black boots, collared button-down shirt, black blazer, and sometimes a wide-brimmed hat.

When you're not singing your own songs, what's your #1 karaoke song to sing to?
"Crimson & Clover" by Joan Jett

From Elsewhere



05/09/13 12:34PM

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Grimes: "Venus in Fleurs"

Grimes, aka the greatest woman ever,  released a video for "Venus in Fleurs," a song surprisingly not off of Visions, an album you are probably very familiar with by now. What makes me most happy about this video is that she released it herself on her Tumblr, with a note making it clear that she doesn't really care about the press. You tell 'em, Claire! Anyway, besides the politics of the music biz, this video is very nice, and was created by Video Marsh, all using footage from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in British Columbia, that is beautiful but also super spooky at the same time. —Maddie

From Elsewhere


05/09/13 12:31PM

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10 Years of Justin

In case you didn't hear, we are all going to be blessed with a second installation of Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience. Set to be released September 30, the album's release date will also coincide with (ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?) a Justin Timberlake tour. He's also doing a tour with Jay-Z this summer (because bestiez always tour together), but the fall tour will be his first solo outing since 2007. That's six years without Justin! And I can't even believe that his first solo album came out way back in 2002 (much love, Justified). So, in honor of 10-ish years of solo Justin, and the month of May, and everything else good in the world, let's take a look back at J. Tims illustrious solo career. —Katie


"Cry Me A River" 2002
Remember when this first came out and it was like, "Oh my god, Justin is so edgy! This is about Britney! Cool dance moves! Hot bod! Did you see the way that sliding glass door shattered!?" And then it's 2013 and you watch the video again and get a little depressed because you realize Justin was actually being a total weirdo stalker and even the sexy countertop dance moves don't help us forget that? Me too. :(


"Senorita" 2003
If you ignore Justin's baggy & casual cargo khakis, then this video is pretty much timeless. Everyone in it is so hot. Justin was on his A-game with his head hair and face hair in this video. Also, the red-dress-wearing dancing girl is someone I still aspire to be if I'm ever trying to woo someone at a bar. Of course, when I attempt to be her, it looks more like this, but it's the thought that counts, right?


"SexyBack" 2006
I mean, do I even have to tell you about the cultural impact this little ditty had on the world? No. I do not.


"My Love" 2006
This is when we realized Justin had thrown all his fedoras in the garbage for good ("Goodbye, hats! I am now a serious artist!"), and was now permanently doing the "I'm a cool, sexy guy in a suit" thing. Which was sad for a minute because Justin in legit clothes isn't as fun as this. But the beauty of this song helped us move on.


"Babyback Ribs" 2002
And also, how can we ever feel sad when this video is just a short YouTube trip away? LYLAS forever, dude.