Month: April 2013

Playlist, WSUM, 2013-04-30

Cut Copy, Bright Like Neon Love vs The Hussy, Pagan Hiss
Cut Copy, Bright Like Neon Love vs The Hussy, Pagan Hiss

Early Listener Bonus Tracks:

  1. Blame by The Hussy from Pagan Hiss [Southpaw Records]
  2. Bright Neon Payphone by Cut Copy from Bright Like Neon Love [Modular]

First Hour:

  1. Possibly Maybe by Bjork from Post [Elektra]
  2. Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead from Kid A [EMI]
  3. Downward Spiral by The Helio Sequence from Negotiations [Sub Pop]
  4. Higgs Boson Blues by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds from Push The Sky Away [Bad Seed Ltd]
  5. Bailey’s Walk by Pixies from Complete B Sides [4AD]
  6. Brother by Lord Huron from Lonesome Dreams [Iamsound]
  7. So Alive by Love And Rockets from Love And Rockets [Beggars Banquet]
  8. Matilda by Alt-J from An Awesome Wave [Atlantic]
  9. Cholla by The Joy Formidable from Wolf’s Law [Atlantic]
  10. Music To Walk Home By by Tame Impala from Lonerism [Modular]
  11. Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy from Wild Birds [Beggars Banquet]
  12. Machines by The Soft Moon from Zeros [Captured Tracks]

Second Hour:

  1. Wonder 2 by My Bloody Valentine from m b v [mbv records]
  2. Pink Turns To Blue by Husker Du from Zen Arcade [SST Records]
  3. The Ghost Of You Lingers by Spoon from Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga [Merge]
  4. The Beard by The Beards from Having A Beard Is The New Not Havin [Self-Released]
  5. You Are A Lion, I Am A Lamb by Ex Cops from True Hallucinations [Other Music]
  6. Bounce by Wiping Out Thousands from Reaction Machine [Self-Released / Bandcamp]
  7. It Starts And Ends With You by Suede from Bloodsports [Fontana]
  8. Kiss On My List by Hall & Oates from Rock ‘N’ Soul, Part One [RCA]
  9. Voodoo Lady by Ween from Paintin’ The Town Brown [Elektra]
  10. Organ Donor by DJ Shadow from In Tune And On Time Live! [Geffen]
  11. Watch That Man by Lee Fields from Let’s Get A Groove On [Super Soul Sound]
  12. Washington DC by The Magnetic Fields from 69 Love Songs, Vol. 2 [Merge]
  13. Sail To The Sun by Wavves from Afraid Of Heights [Mom + Pop / Warner]

Upcoming Shows (in Madison, unless otherwise noted):

Playlist, WSUM, 2013-04-23

The Horrors, Primary Colors, XL Records
The Horrors, Primary Colors, XL Records

Podcast (

First Hour:

  1. Let The Day Begin by Black Rebel from Specter At The Feast [Vagrant]
  2. Love Me Forever by The Black Angels from Indigo Meadow [Blue Meadow]
  3. The Beard Accessory Store by The Beards from Having A Beard Is The New Not Havin [Self-Released]
  4. Creation by Wiping Out Thousands from This Came First [Self-Released / Bandcamp]
  5. Do You Remember by The Horrors from Primary Colors [XL]
  6. People Are Poison by Cold Cave from Oceans With No End [Deathwish]
  7. Angelina by Evan Murdock And The Imperfect Stra from Feel Bad No More [Evan Murdock Music]
  8. I’m A Believer by Neil Diamond from The Bang Years [Columbia]
  9. Symphony by Telekinesis! from Dormarion [Merge]
  10. Mine Tonight by Dum Dum Girls from End Of Daze [Sub Pop]
  11. Mind Mischief by Tame Impala from Lonerism [Modular]
  12. Vamos by Pixies from Come On Pilgrim [4AD]
  13. Destroy by Shout Out Louds from Optica [Merge]

Second Hour:

  1. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) by Arcade Fire from Funeral [Merge]
  2. Want by The Soft Moon from Zeros [Captured Tracks]
  3. Ready To Go by Guards from In Guards We Trust [Black Bell]
  4. Without A Face by The Men from New Moon [Sacred Bones]
  5. 6’1″ by Liz Phair from Exile In Guyville [Matador]
  6. You’re Nothing by Iceage from You’re Nothing [Matador]
  7. If You Can See Me by David Bowie from The Next Day [Columbia]
  8. Stoked & Broke by Fidlar from Fidlar (Radio Edits) [Mom + Pop]
  9. My Number by Foals from Holy Fire [Transgressive]
  10. Ministry Of Love by IO Echo from Ministry Of Love [Iamsound]
  11. Run Into Flowers by M83 from Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts [Mute]
  12. Bad Lady Goes To Jail by The Liminanas from Crystal Anis [Hozac]
  13. I’m Not Sayin’ by The Replacements from Songs For Slim [New West]
  14. Dethrone by Wax Idols from Discipline & Desire [Slumberland]
  15. Percolator by Stereolab from Emperor Tomato Ketchup [Elektra]
  16. 14 Seconds by Literature from Arab Spring [Square Of Opposition/Town Hall Reco]

Upcoming Shows (in Madison, unless otherwise noted):

CD Review – Various Artists, The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver, ATO, 2013

John_Denver_cover_lowres

Library Classification: V for Various
File Under: Country / Indie-Folk

Artist: Various (John Denver, if you must)
Title: The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver
Label: ATO Records

Date(s) Recorded: 2013
Date Released: 04/02/2013
Date Received: 04/08/2013

Clean: All
Indecent: None
Play: 3-All Of My Memories (holy crap), 1-Leaving On A Jet Plane (also holy crap), 4-Prisoners (\m/), 12-Take Me Home Country Road, 13-The Eagle And The Hawk, 16-Wooden Indian (weirdness from Edward Sharpe, etc.)

RIYL: John Denver (duh), Indie Folk / Alt-Country, Soundtracks to your childhood and/or trips you never took to Colorado.
In a nutshell: Modern takes on a country legend. If you’re too young to remember, here’s your gateway. Listen up, young folks.

Comments: I really feel for kids these days. They didn’t get to grow up with the Clinton years, though some would argue the Obama years are better in some ways. But if you remember Reagan or Carter, then you might have a soft spot for John Denver. My folks were fans, so it reminds me of my childhood.

As with all tributes / soundtracks / collections, some tracks are stronger than others. The album is definitely front loaded. John Denver’s starry-eyed optimism can shine even through simplest of instrumentation and starkest of vocals. Case in point, the album’s opener, Jim James/MMJ singing “Leaving On A Jet Plane” or Kathleen Edwards with “All Of My Memories” (3). Holy crap, them’s some pipes.

On the other hand, you have radical re-interpretations like J.Masics & Sharon Van Etton handling “Prisoners” (4). I don’t think J.D. ever shredded quite like J. Or, even weirder, is the album’s closing track, “Wooden Indian” (16). Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes take a song that was once country, drag it though a futuristic wasteland, and make it into something very much their own. This is the other thing that cover albums do, give artists a chance to re-interpret their influences, transforming classic songs into something either very current, or very timeless.

-DJWB

CD Review – Kurt Vile, Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, Matador, 2013

Wakinonaprettydaze

Library Classification: Rock
File Under: V for Vile

Artist: Kurt Vile
Title: Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze
Label: Matador

Date(s) Recorded:
Date Released: 04/09/2013
Date Received: 04/08/2013

Clean: All
Indecent: None
Play: 5-Never Run Away (3:25), 2-KV Crimes (3:57), 3-Was All Talk (7:42), 1-Wakin On A Pretty Day

RIYL: Pavement, Dinosaur Jr, Chunky Guitar Solos
In a nutshell: Lazy, hazy rock from Kurt Vile who continues to build his own rock legend.

Comments: Kurt Vile is so fucking cool. In “Was All Talk” (3), Vile says, “Making music is easy: watch me.” And he delivers. Eleven tracks of hazy guitar rock, none of which is hurried. Kurt is the opposite of punk here, content to noodle around on his guitar for a while, circle back to some Lebowski-esque lyrics, and then back to guitar. It’s a hypnotic record, and it just feels like the dog days of summer. Several of the tracks clock in at 7-10 minutes, so DJs can cue one up, go out for a sandwich or hit the head. Whatever. Kurt won’t mind.

-DJWB

Playlist, WSUM, 2013-04-16

Chelsea Light Moving vs. Icky Blossoms
Chelsea Light Moving vs. Icky Blossoms

Podcast (115mb): 2013-04-19.mp3

First Hour:

  1. There’s Just Nothing Better Than A Beard by The Beards from Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard [Self-Released]
  2. Kiss The Devil by The Eagles Of Death Metal from Peace Love Death Metal [AntAcidAudio]
  3. Dark Energy by JEFF The Brotherhood from Hypnotic Nights [Warner]
  4. Oceans With No End by Cold Cave from Oceans With No End [Deathwish]
  5. Husbands by Savages from Husbands [Pop Noire]
  6. Diane Young by Vampire Weekend from Modern Vampires Of The City [XL]
  7. Who Are You by Ty Segall from Twins [Drag City]
  8. Holland by The Black Angels from Indigo Meadow [Blue Meadow]
  9. Lassez-faire by Telekinesis! from Dormarion [Merge]
  10. Temporary Freakout by Icky Blossoms from Icky Blossoms [Saddle Creek]
  11. Below Tripping by Wiping Out Thousands from This Came First [Self-Released / Bandcamp]
  12. Dancing On My Own by Robyn from Body Talk [Konichiwa/Interscope]
  13. The Next Day by David Bowie from The Next Day [Columbia]
  14. Annie by Elastica from Elastica [Deceptive/Geffen]
  15. Retrograde by James Blake from Overgrown [Republic/Polydor]

Second Hour:

  1. Half Angel Half Light by The Men from New Moon [Sacred Bones]
  2. Max Can’t Surf by Fidlar from Fidlar [Mom + Pop]
  3. Sleeping Where I Fall by Chelsea Light Moving from Chelsea Light Moving [Matador]
  4. Salvation by The Liminanas from Crystal Anis [Hozac]
  5. Inhaler by Foals from Holy Fire [Transgressive]
  6. St. Louise Is Listening by Soul Coughing from El Oso [Slash/Warner]
  7. Levitate Me by Pixies from Come On Pilgrim [4AD]
  8. Early To Bed by Morphine from Like Swimming [Dreamworks]
  9. Polly by Amanda Palmer from Newermind: A Nirvana Tribute [Spin]
  10. Dumb by Nirvana from In Utero [DGC]
  11. Demon To Lean On by Wavves from Afraid Of Heights [Mom + Pop / Warner]
  12. Real Life by Send Me An Angel from Heartland [Wheatley / MCA]
  13. Push Up Bra by Literature from Arab Spring [Square Of Opposition]

Upcoming Shows (in Madison, unless otherwise noted):

Playlist, WSUM, 2013-04-09

Me in a nutshell. Stoner rock from Oz and Electroclash from Omaha/Saddle Creek.
Tame Impala, Lonerism vs. Icky Blossoms, Icky Blossoms.

https://djwikiben.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/2013-04-09.mp3

Podcast (116.9mb): 2013-04-09.mp3

First Hour:

  1. Jubilee Street by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds from Push The Sky Away [Bad Seed Ltd]
  2. Nothing Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control by Tame Impala from Lonerism [Modula]
  3. Strange Lights by Deerhunter from Cryptograms [Kranky]
  4. Man On The Moon by Cloud Cult from They Live On The Sun [Earthology]
  5. Man On The Moon by Sugar from Copper Blue [Ryko]
  6. Man On The Moon by R.E.M. from Automatic For The People [Warner]
  7. Babes by Icky Blossoms from Icky Blossoms [Saddle Creek]
  8. Hips by Wiping Out Thousands from This Came First [Self-Released / Bandcamp]
  9. Something Good by Alt-J from An Awesome Wave [Atlantic]
  10. The Dark Age by Widowspeak from Almanac [Captured Tracks]
  11. The Night by School Of Seven Bells from Ghostory [Ghostly]
  12. Shanghai Girls by IO Echo from Ministry Of Love [Iamsound]

Second Hour:

  1. Crush by The Soft Moon from Zeroes [Captured Tracks]
  2. Love Fuzz by Ty Segall from Twins [Drag City]
  3. Love Buzz by Nirvana from Bleach [Sub Pop]
  4. You Should Consider Having Sex With A Bearded Man by The Beards from Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard [Self-Released]
  5. Indigo Meadow by The Black Angels from Indigo Meadow [Blue Meadow]
  6. Giving Out by Guards from In Guards We Trust [Black Bell]
  7. Power Lines by Telekinesis! from Dormarion [Merge]
  8. Rope Light by Superchunk from Majesty Shredding [Merge]
  9. Round The City Square by Bob Mould from Silver Age [Merge]
  10. Mysterons by Portishead from Dummy [Go! Discs]
  11. Lies by CHVRCHES from Lies [Self-Released / Bandcamp]
  12. A Tooth For An Eye by The Knife from A Tooth For An Eye [Rabid]
  13. White Riot by The Clash from The Clash [Epic/Sony]
  14. Margaret On The Guillotine by Morrissey from Viva Hate [HMV]
  15. Whine & Grind/Stand Down Margaret by The English Beat from I Just Can’t Stop It [I.R.S.]

Upcoming Shows (in Madison, unless otherwise noted):

Playlist, WSUM, 2013-04-02

Stereolab, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Elektra
Stereolab, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Elektra

Podcast (114.1 mb): 2013-04-02.mp3

First Hour:

  1. Cybele’s Reverie by Stereolab from Emperor Tomato Ketchup [Elektra]
  2. Assistant Director by Ducktails from The Flower Lane [Domino]
  3. Fax Shadow by Toro Y Moi from Causers Of This [Carpark]
  4. I Am by Icky Blossoms from Icky Blossoms [Saddle Creek]
  5. I’m A by Wiping Out Thousands from Reaction Machine [Self-Released]
  6. I’m In The Mood… For Beards by The Beards from Having A Beard Is The New Not Havin [Self-Released]
  7. Beard Lust by Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head from Glistening Pleasure [Team Swan]
  8. Evolution by PVT from Homosapien [Terrorbird]
  9. Sazed by STRFKR from Miracle Mile [Polyvinyl]
  10. I Met Up With The King by First Aid Kit from The Big Black And Blue [Wichita]
  11. Miracle Temple Holiness by Mount Moriah from Miracle Temple [Merge]
  12. Argonauts by Hospitality from Hospitality [Merge]
  13. Illusions by Shout Out Louds from Optica [Merge]
  14. Don’t Play With Guns by The Black Angels from Indigo Meadow [Blue Meadow]

Second Hour:

  1. Electric by The Men from New Moon [Sacred Bones]
  2. Borrowed Time by Parquet Courts from Light Up Gold [What’s Your Rupture / Dull Tools]
  3. Take Your Time by Golden Grrrls from Golden Grrrls [Slumberland]
  4. Hypnotic Regression by Girls Names from The New Life [Slumberland]
  5. Carnt Sleep by Saint Etienne from Foxbase Alpha [Heavenly]
  6. We The Common (For Valerie Bolden) by Thao & The Get Down Stay Down from We The Common [Ribbon]
  7. Separator by Ex Cops from True Hallucinations [Other Music]
  8. Baby Get Worse by Divine Fits from A Thing Called Divine Fits [Merge]
  9. Fragmented World by Split Single from Fragmented World [Self-Released]
  10. Blood For Poppies by Garbage from Not Your Kind Of People [Stun Volume]
  11. When The Lilies Die by Io Echo from Ministry Of Love [Iamsound]
  12. Wires by Telekenesis! from Domarion [Merge]
  13. Elephant Stone by The Stone Roses from The Stone Roses [Silvertone/Legacy]
  14. Wooly Mammoth by Local Natives from Hummingbird [Frenchkiss]
  15. Elephant by Tame Impala from Lonerism [Modular]

Upcoming Shows (in Madison, unless otherwise noted):