KZUU’s Cure For Your Boredom

If you’re anything like us or what seems like 90% of campus right now, then you’re probably sick. Which means you’re also probably lying in bed bingeing on Netflix. No shame in that. But if you’ve already run through every season of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead then check out these awesome music videos by some of our favorite bands right now (and then maybe take a shower ya slob).

Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love

If you’ve listened to KZUU at all in the past couple of weeks then you’ve probably heard the title track off of Ra Ra Riot’s Beta Love at some point. But have you seen this video? I mean, nothing puts a smile on my face faster than watching white people in bright outfits from the ‘70s awkwardly dance. Let’s all just laugh at them for a moment. Done? Good. Because in 20 years our children will be laughing at the videos of us dancing. Or crying…I’ve seen you at Stubbies you dirty dirty kids.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good At Being In Trouble

What do you get when you cross Unknown Mortal Orchestra, a hippie commune (possibly cult), and an older, crazed McLovin bashing a baseball bat around with pantyhose on his head. The video for UMO’s track So Good At Being In Trouble off of their sophomore album, aptly titled II, of course! Along with McLovin, (or Chris Mintz-Plasse if you prefer to refer to his birth name. I do not.) the video also stars director Ruban Nielson, who has worked with Animal Collective and Black Dice.

Aan – Mystery Life

If you missed Aan at the Belltower on February 8^th for the Built to Spill show then I don’t know what to tell you. Basically you need to reevaluate your life choices because it was an amazing night of music. These guys are super cool and apparently know how to put together a super cool music video as well because this one is fantastic. It’s a story of life, friendship, betrayal and, ultimately, death. Plus it’s just f$%#ing funny.

MØ – Glass

Danish electro-pop artist MØ (known by her mother as Karen Marie Ørsted) is one bad ass chick. Or at least that’s what I gather from this video for her amazing track Glass. She twirls a hula hoop in slow motion, smokes cigarettes at a casino, hangs out at aquariums, uses a vacuum to suck up her hair, whips her hair back n forth, and has a very sad goth friend who appears to enjoy grocery stores and rubik’s cubes. If that isn’t the epitome of a badass then I don’t know what is. But in all seriousness, the only thing that matters in this video is THAT VEST. Holy mother of god is that not the best thing you’ve ever seen? I see a new project in my future…

Also, FYI: MØ’s debut LP Waiting For Something To Happen will be released sometime this year.

Foxygen – San Francisco

This is another track that’s been getting a lot of airplay here at KZUU and for good reason! I double dog dare you to try to be sad while listening to this song. It’s not physically possible. It’s all happy, sunshine, sparkles, and freaking rainbows coming out of the speakers through this song. This correlates squarely with the ‘70s in my mind. Ahhh the days of love, peace, music, and drugs. Foxygen’s latest release, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic is very clearly ‘70s influenced and there’s no reason the video should be otherwise. Just sit back, relax, maybe smoke a bowl (hey it’s legal now! I can say that!) and let Foxygen take you on a beautiful ride to happiness.

Portland Cello Project – Please Leave a Light On When You Go (featuring Patti King), from Beck Hansen’s Song Reader

Call me a nerd, but the cello may be one of my most favorite instruments in the entire world. Portland Cello Project has been together for six years and covered the gamut of artists such as Radiohead, Kanye West, and Justin Timberlake. But the sextet has stepped its game up and has taken on all of Beck Hansen’s Song Reader. If you’re unfamiliar with what that is, basically Beck decided to release his latest album as sheet music only, for artists to take a stab at playing and putting their own spin on. Portland Cello Project and Patti King of Radiation City took on Please Leave a Light on When You Go and it is fantastic. Seriously. Check out their entire album on iTunes.

Oh, and you’re welcome.

- Jasmine

Young Local Talent: Maggie Quinlan

There must be something in the water in the Palouse because young amazing musicians just seem to be popping up left and right. Recently it was 17 year-old Cooper Trail with his project Misé, who put out a great EP Little Mountain which we wrote about in October. Now there’s a new kid on the block and when I say kid I literally mean basically a CHILD. Lincoln Middle School’s Maggie Quinlan is 13 years old and just put out an album. Um yeah. What were YOU doing when you were 13 because I sure as hell wasn’t putting out albums. Not only that but it’s fantastic. Kid’s seriously got talent and a voice that sounds years beyond 13. In My Head is seven tracks of piano-heavy rock with jazz and folk influences. There’s a clear Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor sound with complicated vocal techniques and interesting piano arrangements.

I was curious about what a 13 year-old’s songwriting process is, considering the limited life experience and maturity level so I went straight to the source.

KZUU: When did you start singing/playing piano/writing your own songs?

Quinlan: I started writing my own songs on guitar when I was nine and started really getting into piano when I was ten. The first song I wrote down was a little thing for my second-grade, air-guitar band that was basically the chorus of a Taylor Swift song and the verse of a Dixie Chicks song with different, suckier lyrics.

KZUU: What is your song writing process? Is it difficult or does it come to you easily?

Quinlan: My process varies a lot. Most of the songs start with a little chord progression and a melody that’s driving it. I’ll get a little idea on the bus, or feeding my chickens (one of which has betrayed me) or wherever, but nothing really starts until I get to the piano. Usually the chords and melody come simultaneously and the lyrics are kind of rudimentary phrases like “I don’t know why” or “you say…” whatever. Then I play it over and over until the lyrics and melody are how they need each other to be. Every once in a while, the vocal line will roll off my tongue and I can feel that it’s right. It’s like crying but with a lot more satisfaction.  Sometimes nothing will fit. That’s frustrating, but I think when I cry it’s usually because of my raging teen hormones. It depends on the day.

KZUU: Who are the artists that you look up to?

Quinlan: I especially look up to Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jack White, Feist (but the newest album wasn’t my favorite of hers), Peggy Lee, and Chris Thile.

Right now I’m really into that one Shins album Chutes Too Narrow, all the Laurel Canyon greats but especially Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Carole King’s Tapestry. Also, I’m into Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill later than everybody else because I wasn’t born when it came out, Jack White’s new album Blunderbuss, the Pixies’ Doolittle, the Cave Singers No Witch, and a bunch of other more local stuff. Those albums provide enough variety for the bus ride home, anyway.

Here’s the first single, In My Head:

In case you thought I might be lying about how young she is, here’s a live performance:

Feel sufficiently depressed about your lack of accomplishments now? Yep, me too.

- Jasmine

Music To Make You Cry: Hammock’s Departure Songs

I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve always been what I like to call a “sensitive soul”. I’ve done my best over the years to build up a thicker skin to avoid crying in inappropriate and often embarrassing situations but this past Thursday when I was sitting in the KZUU office reviewing albums it took all I had to not let the tears roll while listening to “Departure Songs“. I hadn’t been extremely familiar with Hammock‘s past work but after listening to this album of nearly two hours of ambient bliss, you can bet your sweet ass I went and got familiar! The elegant soundscapes of majestic swells and crescendos take your mind completely away from the world you currently inhabit to another place, hence why the title is so fitting. Their use of singing on occasional tracks makes this album stand out from the past ones and, in my opinion, makes it their best. I don’t know what else to say about it except that it is absolutely divine, possibly life-changing, and a complete masterpiece. Let the tears flow, my friends.

Download: Ten Thousand Years Won’t Save Your Life

- Jasmine

New Death Grips “No Love Deep Web”

Death Grips have released their second major studio album No Love Deep Web a few weeks ahead of schedule. According to Twitter Death Grips’ label Epic/Columbia did not confirm a 2012 release date (things were also complicated by a very NSFW album cover), so the hardcore Sacramento outfit decided to put it out early, and hey it’s also free! Things will now likely get complicated for Death Grips, but regardless the music is here, and it’s loud.

Death Grips seem to be building upon the aesthetic presented in the “@DEATHGRIPZ” single released a couple weeks back. These songs are actually pretty danceable in a terrifying sort of way. MC Ride is still angry and the production is still manic and dense. Check out the first three tracks for a nice way to get the blood flowing. It might take a few listens, but this material is really unique even when considering the previous work of Death Grips.

– Daniel

Concert review – The Lighthouse & The Whaler

 

This weekend I made the daunting five hour journey home to Seattle, as apparently many of you did as well based on the number of cars on WA-26 coming back Sunday night. But unlike them, I didn’t traverse to the Westside to attend the football game. I did, however, attend a show at a new underground club in Seattle called Barboza. It’s located underneath Neumos and looks a lot like what I’d imagine a 1940′s cruise ship looks like. Which is awesome because I freaking love cruises. I’m a lazy traveler so they really work for me. ANYWAY, let’s talk about the music shall we?

The openers were Seattle band James Germain & The Grey Gray Days. I’ve seen them a few times here and there in Seattle and they put on a good show but who I really wanna talk about is The Lighthouse & The Whaler. I wasn’t very familiar with the band before the show but my friend loved them and insisted I go. From the second the first note played they were bursting with energy! Every single person (which sadly was only about 15-20 people) had their complete attention on the band, which is made up of an attractive group (we can act like that doesn’t matter, but let’s get real) who can really play and play with their whole hearts. Their jangly upbeat melodies remind me a ton of Freelance Whales. Since this is my first concert review I’ve ever done, it’s difficult for me to know how to describe the feeling I got when I saw them but I’d liken it to when I saw The Head and The Heart at the Crocodile years ago before they blew up. Like I had just witnessed something special. Something I simultaneously wanted to share with the world and also keep my secret. But that’s selfish to keep it to myself so this is my contribution to helping the world discover this amazing band. You’re welcome.

(This song’s FREE! Download it if you know what’s good for you)

- Jasmine

Indie/Rock MP3s – Jenny O, Northern Youth, Lord Huron

Jenny O‘s new album Automechanic won’t be out till February 2013 but luckily she’s offering up the title track for free! Automechanic was produced by Jonathan Wilson, who lent his guitar skills to a cast that included Jake Blanton (The Killers, Sia) and drummer James Gadson (Bill Withers). And if you’re lookin’ to make the 5 hour drive to Seattle, Jenny O is playing with Father John Misty at Neumos this Friday, the 21st.

You’re not an indie-rock band unless you reference California in at least one song. Or at least that’s how it seems to me. Northern Youth has wasted no time doing so with his track Los Angeles, which he’s offering up on Bandcamp. According to his Facebook page, after the demise of his LA-based band Mississippi Man in late 2010, Southern California native Luke Messimer packed his things and travelled North for Seattle. After a short stint as a keyboardist for a promising local singer/songwriter and a falling out between bandmates, he headed for a family cabin the woods of Northern Arizona where he began to write and record his own music for the first time in over a year. Knowing that he wanted to stay solo, Luke decided to not use other musicians on the record and play everything himself in order to keep it as honest and true as possible. When searching for a name, the phrase “Northern Youth” constantly flashed in his mind when he was living in Seattle. It was a feeling of creativity and childlike freedom. It only seemed right to name his new project after that feeling. Now, back in LA, Northern Youth has a backing band of 6 incredible musicians, a debut album out Fall 2012, promising local shows, and an extensive West Coast tour planned for January, 2013.

Finally, let’s talk about a band whose debut album I am really (like really, really) looking forward to, Lord Huron. Lonesome Dreams won’t be out till October 9th but the band has been offering up a number of free MP3s, as well as a kick ass video (see below). If you’re not familiar, this L.A. indie-rock band began as the solo venture of Michigan native Ben Schneider but has come to include Mark Barry (percussion, vocals), Miguel Briseno (bass, percussion), Brett Farkas (guitar, vocals) and Tom Renaud (guitar, vocals). But beware: listening to these expansive, cinematic Americana tracks might really make you want to watch an old John Wayne spaghetti Western. Or just eat spaghetti. Either/or.

• “Brother” available at Rolling Stone
• Stream “Ends of The Earth” on KCRW

- Jasmine

The Malleability of Microgenres & YYU’s TIMETIMETIME&TIME

Part of the frustration (and fun) of keeping up with the incredibly fast-moving world of underground music is keeping track of the ridiculous number of subgenres and microgenres that bloom essentially everyday. It’s a topic that’s been touched on before, but to briefly summarize: the internet allows the invention of new music so quickly that a handful of likeminded musicians can coin a term and apply it to their music and form a scene in a staggeringly short amount of time. There are the well-known ones like Chillwave and Post-Dubstep that have birthed extremely popular musicians and bands like Neon Indian and Washed Out in the case of the former, and James Blake and Mount Kimbie for the latter. Witch House outdated itself very quickly with acts like Salem, but even with such a short time in the limelight, produced some quality records; Balam Acab’s Wander/Wonder was our 2nd favorite album of 2011, and Holy Other’s With U EP and recently released debut Held are both records that could stand the test of time outside of the associated stereotypes of its genre. Post-dirty south is a hip-hop subgenre that popped up recently to categorize artists like Lil Ugly Mane, Amber London, and Spaceghostpurrp. It’s probably a joke, but it still provides an example of just how easy it is to create a label and watch it turn into something legitimate overnight.

The new buzzworthy microgenre of 2012 is something called Vaporwave. The name is most likely meaningless, but the artists that carry the tag all share a very realized and similar aesthetic: Obsession with late 80s-early 90s VHS tapes, fascination with the early days of 3D computer graphics, and the usage of cryptic, nonsensical computer jargon or Japanese Katakana characters. Tiny Mix Tapes, a well-known music blog and website, has taken a particular liking to the warped sounds of vaporwave, which philosophically shares much in common with the Pop Art movement of the 1960s; tongue-in-cheek criticism of capitalist consumerism by re-imagining “not art” into “art.” One of the more notable vaporwave releases of 2012 is  情報デスクVIRTUAL’s 幌コンテンポラリー . Like Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, 幌コンテンポラリー repurposes content that was never intended to be viewed critically — elevator muzak, shopping mall music, corporate telephone hold music — and contorting it with elements of southern hip-hop and ambient noise to develop an unsettling new sound.

It’s almost Dadaist in it’s approach, if Duchamp could turn a urinal upside down and call it art in 1917, can someone in 2012 slow down and add reverb to smooth jazz and call it profound? Maybe by just placing this music in a new context, it becomes something else? 幌コンテンポラリー probably won’t stand to be the timeless work I’m making it sound like, but it’s an important point in the development of a microgenre that could possibly spawn something classic.

If Wander/Wonder was the culmination of the witch house bubble in 2011, 2012′s vaporwave equivalent might be YYU’s TIMETIMETIME&TIME. YYU is the moniker of an experimental musician named Ben Straus from Petaluma, CA. His latest release on Beer on the Rug Records, which has become the forerunner for 2012′s best new label, condenses some of the vaporwave themes into just under 30 minutes of experimentation with styles of some of the more innovative records of the last few years from artists like Oneohtrix Point Never, Mount Kimbie, and DJ Rashad. TIMETIMETIME&TIME bounces between chopped & screwed vocals (supposedly sung by the artist himself), freak folk acoustic guitar interludes glitched to oblivion, and juke and deep house bangers. Album opener “your hands/ moo .3″ establishes the titular common theme by repeating the word “time” over and over in a rhythmic chant. That same word reappears throughout the album in many different vocal forms, and that repetition is what ties the whole record together so beautifully.

By the time the one minute long guitar interlude “um (don’t be)” (which sounds uncannily like something ex-Pullman local David Plell would make) ends, it seems like eons have passed in the best way possible. Album highlight “yyyy” contains the closest thing to a beat drop here, but the execution and placement of said drop never feels calculated or forced. In fact, what makes TIMETIMETIME&TIME so fantastic is how natural YYU makes all of these unnatural pieces sound as a cohesive entity. The album begins dancing back and forth between electronic and acoustic, and as you progress through it, the blurred line between analog and digital becomes less pronounced. When the titular phrase repeats yet again on “&time” accompanied by more choppy guitar, it doesn’t as seem out of place as it would on any other record.

I’ve been fascinated this year with albums that explore the relationship between humans and technology: Laurel Halo’s Quarantine, Hundred Waters’ self-titled record, and to some extent Animal Collective’s Centipede Hz. Vaporwave tries to touch on some of these themes in a lofty, heavy-handed sort of way, but the approach that YYU takes on TIMETIMETIME&TIME feels effortlessly gorgeous. It’s one of the year’s most unexpectedly endearing underground records.

- Adam

NW Hip-Hop is coming to Pullman

Geo & Sabzi of the Blue Scholars

Coming off their most recent LP Cimemetropolis, the Blue Scholars have set off from Seattle on country wide tour. 4 years since their last album Bayani, Cinemetropolis was released his past June completely independently. Sabzi expands on his production style from the OOF! EP, providing heavily synth based instrumentation, while Geo’s rhymes combine to keep the traditional Scholars sound. The duo is returning to Pullman next weekend; the last time the 206 group made a visit to Wazzu was last August for CougFest, where they rocked infront of 4,000 students on Terrell Mall.

Traveling along with Geo & Sabzi are fellow northwest artist and CougFest performer Grynch, and Los Angeles legend Bambu. Fortunately this time around this heavy hitter tour is stopping by the east of the state and making tour stops here in Pullman & Spokane on back to back nights.

The Pullman show is at the BellTower Concert Hall in downtown Pullman on Saturday October 29th, and they’ll be rocking Spokane the night before. The Seattle hip-hop scene has been making a name of itself for good-while now, and there is no end is sight as the quality, true hip-hop continues to be created. So go get your tickets and come out to what will be a great night of music, and support local, independent Hip-Hop! Check below for ticket info:

You can check out & listen to Cinemetropolis here: 

http://bluescholars.bandcamp.com/album/cinemetropolis

Pullman

FB group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114223395346522

Buy tickets: http://belltowerpullman.com/bluescholars.html

or locally at Atom Heart Music, Prune Orchard, Palouse Falls Brewing, or Deadbeat Records.

Spokane: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111470178951700

Buy Tickets: http://holdmyticket.com/event/27934

Music video for ‘Fou Lee’ from Cinemetropolis

-Bryce P.

kzuu 90.7

Welcome to KZUU 2011-2012!

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year at KZUU! We are stoked for our returning DJs to get back to their shows and for our new DJs to learn the ropes and begin their journey here. This is an exciting year for KZUU since we have so many new DJs (over 30!) and we have a lot of fun things planned over the course of the year.

To get things started on the blog this year, we asked everyone on management to write about their favorite song of the summer. Consider this your introduction to this year’s management team!

Andi (General Manager):

Gardens & Villa – “Black Hills”. I really connected with these guys when I went on tour this summer to the East Coast with my boyfriend’s band. They were stunning live, with the bamboo flutes and all. Gardens & Villas’ new self-titled album became the soundtrack to my crazy summer; always picking me up. If you haven’t heard this album it is currently located in the preview rack and I would HIGHLY suggest giving it a spin.

Josh (Program Director):

Yuck – “Milkshake”. I mean come on is this really a surprise that it would be my favorite song? Yuck already struck a chord last year for me with their post-modern revival sound on their debut, and this song featured on their new 7” adds the perfect summer flavor. Somewhere between the bent strings in that opening riff and the first uttering of “you’re making a milkshake of my mind,” I felt compelled to find my old high school hoodie, hop on a bike and ride around town at sunset.

Adam (Music Director):

The Bilinda Butchers – “Tulips”. Super hazy dream pop by a couple of teenagers who took their name from the famous My Bloody Valentine singer/guitarist. There’s something inherently “summer” about the repeating guitar sample and the washy, subdued synth chords and programmed drums.

Brennan (Assistant Music Director):

Sun Airway – “Wild Palms”. This is the only track that catered to my summer work depression. With glitchy orchestra pop and blissful vocals, it’s a track that made Pullman not so far away after all.

Kelsie (Assistant Music Director):

Balam Acab – “Oh, Why”. Beautiful sample-based music from this 20-year-old producer. Sounds of water and footsteps underneath pitch-shifted vocals set the tone for Balam Acab’s debut LP.

Bryce (Hip Hop Director):

‎Sam Lachow – “Brand New Bike”. The next big thing from Seattle, amazingly talented and definitely the front runner for best hip-hop albums of 2K11. Officially my anthem for the summer. All original live instument production, no samples were used. Turn this up and roll the windows down; it’s summertime.

Kyle (Assistant Hip Hop Director)

Monika (Loud Rock Director):

Nick 13 – “Carry My Body Down”. This is Nick 13′s self-titled album from Sugar Hill Records. It reminds me of one of my favorite Tiger Army songs “In The Orchard”. If you didn’t already know this, Nick 13 is the front man for Tiger Army. Tiger Army is one of the bands that made me love psychobilly. Listen to this track… it’s for everyone… it’s got a little bit of everything.

Thomas (Jazz Director)

Have an amazing Fall 2011 semester!

Kelsie & everyone on management

KZUU 2011 In-studios

KZUU has had the privilege of hosting several bands in-studio for interviews and performances. Here’s the audio for each interview so far in 2011 in case you missed them on air! You can also stream each interview on Soundcloud.

Colleen Green – March 10, 2011

MP3: Colleen Green – Cujo (live acoustic on KZUU)
MP3: Colleen Green – Worship You (live acoustic on KZUU)

Bella Ruse – July 10, 2011

MP3: Bella Ruse – Complicated Rhythm (live acoustic on KZUU)
MP3: Bella Ruse – The Kazoo Song (live acoustic on KZUU)
MP3: Bella Ruse – Sea Love (live acoustic on KZUU)

Sera Cahoone – July 28, 2011 (interview only)

Candy Claws – August 6, 2011

MP3: Candy Claws – Catamaran (live acoustic on KZUU)
MP3: Candy Claws – Snowflake Eel Wish (live acoustic on KZUU)
MP3: Candy Claws – Lantern Fish (live acoustic on KZUU)