Categories
Weekly Charts

Top Charts 3/26/24

Top Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1MANNEQUIN PUSSYI Got HeavenEpitaph
2MEAN JEANSBlastedFat Wreck Chords
3YUNGATITAShoelace & A KnotSelf-Released
4CHERRY GLAZERRI Don’t Want You AnymoreSecretly Canadian/Secretly Group
5GLITTERERRationaleAnti-
6OMNISouvenirSub Pop
7CITIZENCalling The DogsRun For Cover
8LOVINGAny LightLast Gang/MNRK
9SLEEPING BAGPets 4: Obedience School DropoutEarth Libraries
10SWEET PILLStarchild [EP]Hopeless
11VTSS“Make You Scream” [Single]Ninja Tune
12ALEPHSepulchreVision
13AQUASINEMsgboxSelf-Released
14BRISTLERCascades At Play [EP]Mint 400
15CLULICluecore!Lost Frog
16DEAD POET SOCIETYFISSIONSpinefarm
17DJ SABRINA THE TEENAGE DJDestinySelf-Released
18DJ SLORGLDORFI Wanna Be Ur Girlfriend!!lua!!
19JPMachine CityCyan Sun
20MAN ON MANProvincetownPolyvinyl
21PARAMORE“Burning Down The House” [Single]A24
22ROXY RADCLYFFEThe Median’s ArkNext Year’s Snow
23RUADOISProibido Estacionar Vol 2 – Live Set [EP]Self-Released
24SAY LOU LOU“Wong Kar-wai” [Single]Cosmos
25SHYGIRLClub Shy [EP]Because
26STALEFISHStalefish Does AmericaHappen Twice
27GLASS BEACHPlastic DeathRun For Cover
28GOTTS STREET PARKOn The InsideBlue Flowers/PIAS
29OFFICE DOGSpielNew West/Flying Nun
30PSYMON SPINEHead Body ConnectorNorthern Spy

Top Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ROSIE TUCKERUtopia Now!Sentimental
2WAXAHATCHEETigers BloodAnti-
3CARPOOLMy Life In SubtitlesSideOneDummy
4TOTALLY SLOWThe Darkness InterceptsRefresh
5ELBOWAudio VertigoPolydor/UMG
6JULIA WOLF“In My Room” [Single]Self-Released
7ONE STEP CLOSER“Leap Years” [Single]Run for Cover
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 3/26/24

Underground Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ERICK THE ARCHITECTI’ve Never Been Here BeforeIDOL
2TOUSSAINT MORRISONThe Very Best Of Ricky & JaneUrban Home Companion
3CHUCK STRANGERSA Forsaken Lover’s PleaLex
4EVERLIVEN SOUND AND SLIMELINE MUTHAEcho ChamberSelf-Released
5WHO SHOT SCOTTBRAIN (SIDE A) [EP]Tenfold
6CZARFACECzartificial IntelligenceSilver Age/Virgin
7CAKES DA KILLABlack SheepYoung Art
8STOVE GOD COOKS X STOUPE“Carbone” [Single]Mankind/Babygrande
9H31RHeadSpaceBig Dada
10STALLONE AND WEATHERSThe Cost Of Doing BusinessSelf-Released

Underground Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CAKES DA KILLABlack SheepYoung Art
2CLAN SPRMThe Great American EclipseHumblux
3AN ALIEN CALLED HARMONYAn Alien Called Harmony [EP]New Soil
4HALIMA“Awaken” [Single]drink sum wtr
5SLY5THAVELiberationTru Thoughts
6STOVE GOD COOKS X STOUPE“Carbone” [Single]Mankind/Babygrande
Categories
Weekly Charts

Jazz Charts 3/26/24

Jazz Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE AND EDGAR MEYERBut Who’s Gonna Play The Melody?Mack Avenue
2JULIAN LAGESpeak To MeBlue Note
3JUN IIDAEvergreenOA2
4OBED CALVAIRE150 Million Gold FrancsSFJAZZ Collective
5YUSEF LATEEFEastern SoundsCraft
6GARY DIAL AND RICH DEROSAKeep Swingin’Outside In
7TONY JONES AND JESSICA JONESHear Into The FutureReva
8KEYON HARROLDForeverlandConcord Jazz/Concord
9BEN LUMSDAINEMurmuration Without EndInternational Anthem
10CLARK SOMMERSFeast EphemeraIrrabagast
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 3/26/24

Chainsaw Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1PLAGUEMACEReptilian WarlordsNapalm
2AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINEQuad BrutalNapalm
3BOUNDARIES“Easily Erased” [Single]3DOT
4AMIENSUS“Vermillion Fog Of War” [Single]M-Theory
5BRATSocial GraceProsthetic
6MORTA SKULDCreation UndonePeaceville
7ESHTADUR“Fire Above Mountain Below” [Single]Self-Released
8TOMBSTONE WHISKEYDevil All The Time [EP]Self-Released
9TORN IN HALFPrayers Returned With Pain [EP]Isolated Incidents
10DOMINATION CAMPAIGN“The Iron Beast” [Single]Prosthetic
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 3/26/24

Afterhours Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1JULIA HOLTERSomething In The Room She MovesDomino
2TATYANAIt’s OverSinderlyn
3INTERNET SURVIVORSVARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
4BOLIS PUPULLetter To YuDEEWEE/Because
52AT X SUKUBRATZ“Tu Perrito VIP” [Single]Angels Gun Club
6PORIJ“Unpredictable” [Single]Play It Again Sam
7PERREOTEK VOL. 3VARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
8INDUSTRY CHILDRENVARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
9NABIHAH IQBALDREAMER (Remixes) [EP]Ninja Tune
10FAT DOG“All The Same” (Mandy, Indiana Remix) [Single]Domino

Afterhours Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1JULIA HOLTERSomething In The Room She MovesDomino
2TATYANAIt’s OverSinderlyn
3NIGHT CLUBMasochistGato Blanco
4HALO MAUDCelebrateHeavenly/PIAS
5VEGYN“Another 9 Days” feat. Ethan P. Flynn [Single]PLZ Make It Ruins
6TWO SHELL“Talk To Me (ft. FKA Twigs)” [Single]Young
7BROADCAST“Follow The Light” [Single]Warp
8RODION AND MAMMARELLAMusica E ComputerSlow Motion
9HUDSON MOHAWKE, NIKKI NAIR“Set The Roof (Ghostmemory Remix)” [Single]Self-Released
10ANG“Breakin Up On Speed Dial” [Single]Self-Released
Categories
Concert Review

The Big Lebowski Ball at Kings, 3/23/2024

“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man”

Jeff Bridges as The Dude, “The Big Lebowski” dir. Joel & Ethan Cohen, 1998

I’m sure most of you are well aware, but Kings is a gem in the middle of downtown Raleigh. 

The sound is good, and the beer is cheap — what more could you ask for? 

On Saturday evening, March 23, 2024, the Kings stage transformed into an altar of bowling pins and White Russians in honor of “The Big Lebowski’s” 25th Anniversary. 

Categories
New Album Review

Julia Holter’s “Something in the Room She Moves” Singles

Julia Holter’s new singles are part of her new release which came out March 22, 2024. The new tracks are part of a project Holter is working on about human bodies’ ability to transform and be corporeal (as mentioned on her Bandcamp page). 

This is Holter’s sixth full-length album. I began listening to her majestic sounds a little over a year ago looking for strange, ethereal compositions. I fell in love with her album “Tragedy” for the song “Goddess Eyes”. 

The singles released for “Something in the Room She Moves” have an aura of gold and beauty that have been slowly reaching a climax thanks to the direction of her career. The three songs include “Evening Mood”, “Spinning” and “Sun Girl”. 

In “Evening Mood”, we get to experience creeping beauty, skirting the shadows as the sun sets for the day. Moments of bliss and relaxation permeate the track, leaving the listener in a state of placid peace. 

Spinning” is my favorite release from the singles. An electric little start to the song winds us up for an unveiling of magnetic and addicting grace. The world swirls around in confusing spirals as we get to experience Holter’s delicious composition. 

I’m not the biggest fan of “Sun Girl”. Specifically the first half of the song is a bit too long winded and doesn’t keep me engaged like the lengthy “Spinning” or “Evening Mood”. The second half, after the cacophonous odd noises, is enticing. It’s the strange addicting music that Holter is able to create so well (but only for half of the song). I’m sure many folks will love the whole track, but the first bit wasn’t for me. 

I am excited to listen to the full album when I get the chance. These tracks were awesome teasers and make me want to dive back into the rest of Julia Holter’s discography. 

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Legendary 60s Rock band coming to the Triangle

Rod Argent in 1961 asked his family, friends and classmates to start a band. At the time, they couldn’t have predicted their impact and longevity. This cornerstone of British 60s rock music, The Zombies, are still performing and recording music.

I had the privilege of interviewing Rod Argent who is a vocalist and keyboardist for the band. Here is a few questions I asked him regarding their newest album. Note that the interview has been edited for this blog.

Q: So, I wanted to talk about your new album. I think the biggest achievement of “Different Game” is it standing out from the rest of your music. I think a lot of older bands, stick to their guns, to a fault. And they’re kind of stuck where they used to be, like decades ago. Y’all experiment with the formula. How do you all have that forward thinking mentality when making new music, but also making sure it fits within like The Zombies catalog?

A: Well, we never worry about it sticking within The Zombies catalog to be quite honest. Because as I said, right at the beginning, we always do things the same way. I don’t know any other way of doing it. It’s just me playing around on a piano. You never know where the idea might come from. You could hit a chord sequence that you think, oh, that’s tasty. And oh, God, I really want to write something around that. And strangely enough, the very first song on the album, “Different Game”, my wife and I went to the bar festival in Leipzig, just before the COVID, actually.

The last performance on the festival was in St. Thomas’s church, where (Johann Sebastian) Bach was for the last 10 years of his life. And he wrote the massive thing called Mass in B minor. And I have to tell you, there were 2000 people in the church. It was packed. And it’s a huge musical piece that you’ve got two organs, one on each side of the church. You’ve got two choirs ,you’ve got soloists, and you’ve got an orchestral section as well. It was so loud. I mean, most people listening to classical music think of it as being relaxing and everything. This is the reality of how it used to be. This is like a rock and roll concert, and it is fantastic. And, and there was this one section in called the Sanctus in the Mass in B minor. And it just blew me away.

When we got back home, just for fun, I kept playing it. Then I sort of kept playing this little chord sequence, which was part of it. And then I suddenly found myself singing a tune over it over it. I wasn’t trying to do that.(…)You know, it’s me in the studio, where I am at the moment, just just having fun, really, and making something work.

Q: You talked about wanting to work with an orchestra at one point, which I find kind of interesting. You have one song in the new album(Different Game), which is mostly just strings(I want to Fly). When you’re talking about your inspirations and what you kind of aim for. I feel like this, album feels a very balanced. And It delves into so many sounds. When you all get together, will you all have like a general idea of what genres y’all want to touch on? Or is it more just like, what the band members were kind of feeling at the time?

“I Want to Fly” by The Zombies from YouTube

A: It was to some extent, the fashion of how we were recording and what we were recording. So when we recorded maybe two or three tracks, you naturally think, oh, for balance, it will be great. I really fancy writing a song that is much more stripped down, you know. And at one point, I thought it’d be great to just have a track with just piano and vocals on the album. And that was the original idea for it. I think what had happened, I can’t remember what track I’d heard. But I think I’d heard an Adele track where it was just piano and her voice. I thought this can really work.

And I was just thinking in terms of some of the tracks we’ve recorded, and thinking that will be a nice balance. So that sort of can dictate it to some extent. But we recorded that. And this is what goes on when you’re recording. I love playing on acoustic piano. And Collin’s vocal, I loved his vocal, I thought it was great. Then I thought you know what, it would be great to score some strings. And I scored that arrangement myself. I said, just leave it, let’s just leave it there and keep it really simple and stripped down. And in the end, we added a little bit of bass on it, very subtle bass. And that was it.

The Zombies have an extensive catalog and they continue to innovate. The Carolina theater is a beautiful venue and you will have the opportunity to see old and new members of the band. They will be coming to Carolina Theater on March 31st(Sunday).

If you want to check out the full interview, here is the Youtube and Spotify link.

Rod/The Zombies Interview on Off The Record by DJ Veil
Rod/The Zombies Interview on Off The Record by DJ Veil on YouTube

-DJ Veil

Categories
Music Education

The Metal Minute: Doom Metal

We’re back this week with another installment of the Metal Minute. Many moons ago, I covered progressive metal, an artsy and psychedelic interpretation of the genre.

This week, we’re exploring the despairing world of doom metal.

What is it?

Doom metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that casts a gloomy, despondent shadow. If Edgar Allan Poe was a metalhead, this would be his genre of choice.

Cover for “Dehumanizer” by Black Sabbath

The genre can be traced back to the 1980s influence of Black Sabbath, a band that’s blues-infused style laid the groundwork for what would eventually develop into its own scene.

What’s it Sound Like?

The subgenre features slow, almost laborious tempos that compound an overarching tone of dread, despair and neurosis.

It’s common practice for guitarists and bassists to detune their instruments in order to achieve maximum heaviness. This effect leads many to describe the genre as “sludgy.”

Cover for “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” by Candlemass

The lyrical content of doom metal songs tends to center around several core themes: depression, paranoia, despair and occasionally the occult. While other subgenres, such as black metal, lend themselves towards extreme vocal distortion, most doom metal vocalists sing in a clear fashion.

Thus, it’s all the easier to pick out a song’s bleak themes. For example, “Solitude” by Candlemass represents clear doom metal ethos in its lyricism.

I’m sitting here alone in darkness
Waiting to be free,
Lonely and forlorn I am crying
I long for my time to come
Death means just life
Please let me die in solitude

“Solitude” – Candlemass

Subgenres Within Subgenres

Not only is doom metal a heavy metal subgenre, but is possesses several subgenres itself. Sub-subgenres, if you will.

Doom metal subgenres include drone metal, epic doom metal, gothic doom metal, sludge metal (also known as sludgecore), progressive doom, and many others.

Cover for “When the Kite String Pops” by Acid Bath

Each subgenre retains the core elements of doom metal but with the integration of qualities from other styles. For example, sludge metal is a combination of doom metal and hardcore punk.

Songs like “Finger Painting of the Insane” by Acid Bath feature the loping guitar rhythms characteristic of doom metal with the screaming vocals and “punch” of hardcore.

Who makes it?

There are numerous bands operating in the doom metal scene. Several major players include Type O Negative, Trouble, My Dying Bride and Candlemass.

Cover for “Bloody Kisses” by Type O Negative

Some of my favorite doom metal tracks are:

  • “Christian Woman” by Type O Negative
  • “Tripping a Blind Man” by Type O Negative
  • “Bewitched” by Candlemass
  • “Plague Bird” by Novembers Doom
  • “Nightfall” by Isole
Categories
Local Music New Album Review

Moldy Pear Records’ Food Drive Compilation

Welcome all ye foodies and music enjoyers. Today’s special presentation of things to feast on includes helping out folks that don’t have the capability to get the amount of food they need in their lives.

A fundraiser by Moldy Pear Records (located in Hickory, NC) is taking the initiative to raise money for Feeding America by donating ALL profits from their skramz, punk and indie compilation to this organization. 

Feeding America fights for more legislature and policies regarding food insecurity programs, adds to food banks and meal programs, and is trying to root out the cause for food insecurity in America. They are big proponents of stopping food waste in homes and the food industry by teaching and becoming a collector of food going uneaten and unsold. 

If you didn’t know already, food waste in America is an atrocious issue leading to large amounts of food in landfills (the US government estimates food as taking up 24% of landfill space in their Methane Emissions Reduction Program). Hopefully, programs like Feeding America or Food Not Bombs can help people begin to understand the issue with food consumption in the US (and in the world). 

Of course we’re here to review a little music, but the most important part of this article is to get some of this stuff into the light. I love food and there’s a lot that needs to be done in the world with the way we have decided to consume. 

“Creamy Peanut Butter” by Obscured Wingtip Memoir

This song is so damn painful to listen to. I love that it is the opening doom for this compilation album, and then everything else is much kinder and warmer afterwards. The head thumping chaos fuels me to smile as I get to enjoy this pain as loud as I can tolerate. 

“Table Salt” by Sickle Eater

This reminds me of My Bloody Valentine being mixed with a little post punk. It’s a nice shoegaze feel but still independent in its blood and sound. 

“Condensed Tomato Soup” by Girl Goes to Greenland

I love the slow build in this track. It’s a really calm and simple luxury that gets heavier and deeper as we approach the middle section of the song. The raspy crying vocals grasp for air. It’s a neat song with tons of heart in it. 

“Granulated Sugar” by Snail Trails

This feels like a classic mix of country and punk and the beat of pop-punk. It’s a great little track with the skramz screams and emotion just trying to escape the vocalist. Thank you Snail Trails for this beauty. 

Notable mention to “Hamburger Helper” by Sometimelastyear

Another painful track. It kills me a little more every time I listen to it. I can’t put the horror into words, but it’s definitely worth a listen. 

There’s tons of interesting music on this compilation. I find it very noble to try and raise money this way. If you’re inclined to help donate to Feeding America and potentially discover some new tracks and bands from Hickory, NC, then drop some money to donate for this album.