University of San Diego Radio

It has been a year since Twilight-mania began.  Books, a movie, and a decent soundtrack led to a pop-culture epidemic that has lasted the whole year.  This year the movie corresponding with the second book in the Twilight Saga, New Moon, written by Stephanie Meyer, will be released November 20.  To begin the madness, the soundtrack was released on October 16, earlier than planned due to popular demand by “Twi-hards”.

As a pop-culture rat, and a girl, I of course love both the books and the first movie.  I file this obsession under “guilty pleasure” and convince myself I have fallen victim to herd mentality to reduce my cognitive dissonance.  The soundtrack for Twilight was good, including artists like Muse, Black Ghosts, Blue Foundation, and (Edward) Rob Pattinson.  So I was expecting an equally as decent soundtrack for New Moon.

When I looked at the list of artists I was absolutely shocked.  In one year the musical style for the Twilight Saga moved from pop-punk-almost indie, to full blown indie-fabulous.  With enchanting tracks by Bon Iver and St. Vincent, Grizzly Bear, Editors, and Lykke Li, accompanied by more rockin’ tracks by Band of Skulls, Hurricane Bells, and (of course) Muse, the soundtrack provides the perfectly balanced musical support for the tumultuous storyline.

Even the Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, and Thom York (who are by no means favorite artists of mine) provided catchy tracks.  The soundtrack also includes Sea Wolf, whose song “The Violet Hour” has been on repeat on my ipod for about an hour now, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Anya Marina.

Whatever your opinion of Twilight-mania, I strongly encourage you to download this soundtrack.  If you are embarrassed of what people will think when they browse through your library and see “Twilight: New Moon”, simply remove the album title from the track info (easy solution!).  You will be pleased when you hear this soundtrack, and it may even make you want to see the movie.

The New Moon soundtrack is available now, and a bonus version is available on iTunes.

Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage

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Bon Iver and St. Vincent – Roslyn

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Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour

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Band of Skulls – Friends

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throw you’re opinions out and give it a chance friends.  don’t hate, appreciate.

Well it is the weekend, for some, and almost for others….. so here are some tunes to kick off your weekly school break…. dance and relax, listen to some cool new tracks, and have a good time. happy weekend

Rome (Neighbors remix feat. Devendra Banhart) – Phoenix
Short Fuse – Black Lips
Something in Common – Free Energy
Supreme Being – Amazing Baby
Birds of a Feather Remix (feat. GZA) – Mocky
When I Grow Up (Lissvik version) – Fever Ray
When You Call My Name – Dawes
If It’s True – Yo La Tengo
Born Again – Cory Chisel
Genesis 3:23 – The Mountain Goats
The Right Place – Monsters of Folk
Baby – Devendra Banhar
Goodbye Again – Lucero

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This playlist is dedicated to Skeet at frontporchmusings.com.

The supergroup is always cause for uneasiness among audiences, for it never really turns out as wonderful as you’d dreamed.  When I first heard that Jim James, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and M. Ward were coming together for Monsters of Folk, I thought, “Hm, that should be interesting.”  I couldn’t see how those artists could come together as one, each being so individually strong.  Then I heard two tracks released before the album’s debut.  First was “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.), to which I reacted with, “Wow, that is so not what I was expecting.  Fantastic.” Then it was “Say Please,” which is completely different than “Dear God” and is an absolute toe-tapper.

What is best about this foursome is that when you listen to the album you can really sense the comradery among them. The group’s self-titled album, “Monsters of Folk”, released on September 22, is fifteen tracks of what sounds like one big jam session among best buddies. The collaboration is effortless and not at all forced.  The only thing that would make this group even more awesome would be if Mogis’ and James’ beards sang a duet.

The chemistry among these four music icons is absolutely undeniable.  Conor, Jim, and M. Ward each sing lead vocals for five songs on the album.  Oberst’s strongest song comes with “Tenazcal”, a Spanish-influenced beauty whose classic Oberst vocals and soft guitar sounds, accompanied by the groups harmonies will entrance you and beg you to give it another listen.  My favorite Ward track is “Goodway”, which has that typical M. sound accompanied by sweet harmonies and beautiful guitar sounds.  Jim James best song, and my personal favorite from the album, is “His Master’s Voice”, which takes that typical Jim James/My Morning Jacket sound and mixes it up into a truly beautiful song that shows you the faith.  This is one of a few songs on the album with the God theme.

Every track on the album is so different from the previous and the harmony of these artists’ voices together is magical.  The songwriting as well, is out of this world, as expected, for each of these guys really know how to write a killer song.  I especially love the lyrics for “Baby Boomer,” “Dear God,” “His Master’s Voice,” and “Man Named Truth.”

If you have not yet given “Monsters of Folk” a whirl, I strongly recommend it.  No matter what your mood, this album, which goes from funky to dance to country to pretty and back to funky, will be exactly what you need.

Here are a few tracks from “Monsters of Folk”:

Baby Boomer “Baby Boomer”
His Master’s Voice “His Master’s Voice”
Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)

first real week of school done.  here’s to the weekend. turn it up, relax, and enjoy.

- cheers

“sweet disposition” – the temper trap
“dominos” – the big pink
“upside down” – banjo or freakout
“i’m broke” – black joe lewis & the honeybears
“st. nick on the fourth in a fervor” – ha ha tonka
“middle man” – the broderick
“how to get my head back on my shoulders” – the daredevil christopher wright
“i think i like you” – donora
“juicy”- emily wells
“come on now” – gringo star
“deja” – helado negro
“aluminum baseball bat” – howlies
“when the devil’s loose” – a.a. bondy

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With the 40th anniversary of Woodstock having just passed us, the film “Taking Woodstock” is being released on August 26th. The Ang Lee directed Comedy Drama stars Dmitri Martin as Elliot Tiber, who donated his family’s motel for concert organizer use for the Bethel, New York concert. The film also features Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch, and Eugene Levy. The film follows the true story of Elliot Tiber and is based upon his book “Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life.
Trailer
Taking Woodstock Trailer

To celebrate the anniversary and the film, a few USD Radio Dj’s put together a playlist of songs we’d wished we could’ve seen at the historical festival. Enjoy

Kaitlin Perry “Star Spangled Banner” by Jimi Hendrix: If I were able to attend Woodstock I would want to have seen Jimi Hendrix perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.” To hear a man like Hendrix play such a patriotic song during that time period would have been so unbelievably powerful. It would have made me feel that I, as well as my fellow hippie music lovers, were an important part of America and that we had the power to bring about change.
Star Spangled Banner live

Nick Peterson “Born on the Bayou” by CCR:  When it’s all said in done, no matter how you feel about CCR, they’re still one of the catchiest, best mood setting set of troubadours in the last 50 years.  I would’ve loved to have seen any CCR song, but this one flashes into my collective thoughts about every 6 days. I can’t get that bass intro out of my brain if I tried. Seeing it live would be as much as I could ask for
Born on the Bayou Live
“Rain Clouds” by Ravi Shankar: I remember stumbling upon Ravi when I was on my all-things-eastern binge sophomore year. Seeing him at Woodstock among the Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, soul searchin crowd would’ve been one hell of a trip, sunshine or not. Considered “the most famous Indian musician on the planet” by many, I’m sure he’d have exceeded my expectations.
Rain Clouds live

Christine Boyich: “Freedom” by Richie Havens. We all say we wish we could have been at Woodstock, and we all have different reasons why. Richie Havens’ performance of “Freedom” is probably the strongest driving force behind my desire to time travel to August 15, 1969. Havens was supposed to perform later during the first day of the festival, but the stage equipment was not set up yet and havens was acoustic so he was asked to perform first. This, I believe was fate, because nobody else could have opened up a festival like Woodstock like Havens did. I have never in my life seen an acoustic performance like that. My dad and I were watching Woodstock a few days ago and we were sitting in the dark family room with the movie on the big screen and the stereo almost at top volume. For those few minutes we watched Havens’ “Freedom”, I felt like I was there. I was in the crowds, I was feeling the unity surrounding me, I was feeling the movement, I was standing barefoot chanting “freedom!”, I was alive. I cried, as I’m sure many people did at the actual moment he was playing. And I wondered, did he know what he just started?
Riche Havens “Freedom”
“Soul Sacrifice” by Santana : When we were watching a documentary on Woodstock the other day, because this is all we have been doing lately, my dad told me that this performance by Santana was the best performance of the festival. I laughed. Then I stopped laughing. It was absolutely moving. This performance explains why I love live music. Could you imagine standing there, watching Carlos Santana freaking out on acid thinking his guitar is a snake and listening to what is mentioned as, and I agree with this statement, the greatest drum solo of all time. The kid is nineteen! This is what is beautiful about music. When it is so powerful and unique and strong and creative and smooth and moving that it gives you goosebumps and it feels like the music is trapped inside you, but you don’t want to let it go. You want to wrap yourself around it and hold onto that moment forever. I would give my right arm to be there watching Santana, dancing to the beat of the drums and the sultry sound of Santana’s guitar.
Santana “Soul Sacrifice”

1. “I’m Broke” – Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
2. “Let Me Go” – Cake
3. “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives” – Los Campesinos!
4. “Bitch, I Love You” – Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
5. “Is There a Ghost” – Band of Horses
6. “Some People Ride the Wave” – Devendra Banhart
7. “Bleeding Powers” – Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
8. “Ghost Under Rocks” – Ra Ra Riot
9. “Man Made Lake” – Calexico
10. “Hang You From the Heavens” – The Dead Weather
11. “Southern Belles in London Sing” – The Faint
12. “I Wanna Kill” – Crocodiles
13. “Nonpareil of Favor” – Of Montreal
14. “100 Days, 100 Nights” – Sharon Jones & the Dap -Kings

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Street Scene is only one day away!! Here is a little playlist to get you pumped for the big weekend.  For those of you attending Street Scene, here is my advice (a ten commandments of sorts) :

1. WHATEVER YOU DO, GO SEE BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS. shake your hips and grove. you won’t be disappointed.

2. The “cult band” (as critics have said) of our generation: Cake.  They tore it up at Outside Lands last year, and I had a blast! We all grew up listening to them, go see cake, pay your respects.  Besides, I KNOW you know EVERY WORD to “sheep go to heaven”

3. go see the Dead Weather.  My love, Jack, will cast a spell on you if you don’t pop by and check out this new project.

4. support local talent, even if he’s famous now, wavves.

5.  Ted Leo. Enough said.

6. Check out Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.  Another shake your hips and groove show.  I’ve never seen them live, but this group is number one most played on my ipod.  Its music i put on when i want to feel sassy, it’s got real attitude.

7.  Crocodiles have been on my list of favorite bands this year.  Go check them out and see why!

8. Los Campesinos! I can’t explain.  Listen to them in the playlist and you’ll understand why you should go see them play.  It’s serious cool pop.

9. Devendra is a great show, and i recommend stopping by and seeing a few songs.  He rocked it at Coachella this year and i have faith that this show will be no different.  Weird dude, great music.

10. Finally, we have Ozomatli.  Ozo is not the kind of music you will regularly find at a festival.  It’s not rock, not indie, not electro.  The best way to describe it is Latin – v – Rap.  It might not be music up your alley but speaking from experience, it is one of the funnest shows i have ever been to.  The energy is electric, you’ll dance til your legs fall off, and the latin sound will surely entrance you.  A highlight is when the band brings their trumpets and drums into the crowd.  If you want to have fun, and dance, go see Ozomatli.

Have fun, be safe!!!

- C.

Good Mornin Little School Girl – Johnny Lang
Dog Day Night – Ben Nichols
Shame, Shame, Shame – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Let Me Love You Baby – Buddy Guy
Born Under a Bad Sign – Albert King
Mean Old World – Eric Clapton & Duane Allman
Boom Boom – Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Plastic Flowers on the Highway – Drive-by Truckers
Rattlin’ Bones – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
She Gave Good Sunflower – Black Crowes

blues up your day…. apologies for always putting a DBT song in my posts….actually, no i am not sorry check it out!!

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arrested – cof cof
vampire – pink mountaintops
evil – beads
drugs in my body – thieves like us
cancel on me – bombay bicycle club
rich doors – new villager
i wanna kill – crocodiles
vacationing people – foreign born
i want to be your girlfriend – bachelorette
candy cigarette – boy in static
marie claire – floating action

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4/27/09

psychotic girl – the black keys
3 dimes down – drive-by truckers
bitch, i love you – black joe lewis & the honeybears
chillout tent – the hold steady
she’s got a hold on me – hacienda 
the sky is crying – stevie ray vaughan
why don’t we do it in the road – the beatles
hound dog – big mama thorton
last night in town – lucero

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“”Past time” The Baseball Project
“In the Hospital” Firendly Fires
“No One Does it Like You” Department of Eagles
“Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh” Say Hi
“The Hottchord is Struck” Still Flyin
“Not a Robot, But a Ghost” Andrew Bird
“The Changeling (Get Guilty) AC Newman
”Professional Suicide” Ladyhawke
“Rain On’ Woods
”Should Have Taken Acid With You” Neon Indian
“Tell It In My Ear” Fergus and Geronimo

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