The Best of Bonnaroo '10 Part 2: Rise Against. 16 weeks to go...

In this weekly feature, I will be counting down the weeks to Bonnaroo 2010 by exploring a group or artist that I am psyched to see. Check back on Tuesdays for new updates, and be sure to check out past features you've already missed. Oh, and BUY YOUR F-ING TICKETS NOW!

This week's artist is Rise Against. Rise Against is a Chicago-born punk rock band who have been rocking since 1999. The band is the punk answer to such politically-minded artists such as U2 and Radiohead. Much of the subject matter for their music is social responsibility, humanitarian crises and fair trade. Though in the wrong hands, this would make for terrible rock 'n roll, Rise Against's hardcore punk riffs drive a Prius with spiked tires and a sick-ass sound system.

Animal rights and veganism aside, Rise Against seriously rocks. Protest anthems such as "Prayer of the Refugee" shift from a collared appeal of worker's grievances to a growling chorus of righteous proletariat fury (a bit wordy but it's a fun visual, I think you'll agree.)

Rise Against will definitely add a much-needed punk rock kick to the festival, in stark contrast to its laid-back jam band reputation, and with their straight-edge sensibilities, they will certainly fit in well with like-minded artists and festival-goers who generally shy away from the power chord and rock anthem crowd.

Check out these tracks: "Give It All," "Tip the Scales," and "Savior"

Bonnaroo will be June 10-13 in Manchester, TN and is one of the biggest music festivals in the country. For a complete line-up and to order your tickets, go to Bonnaroo.com.

The Best of Bonnaroo '10 Part 3: Julia Nunes. 15 weeks to go...

In this weekly feature, I will be counting down the weeks to Bonnaroo 2010 by exploring a group or artist that I am psyched to see. Check back on Tuesdays for new updates, and be sure to check out past features you've already missed. Oh, and BUY YOUR F-ING TICKETS NOW!

This week's artist is Julia Nunes. Julia is the internet success story. Since January '07, Nunes (pronounced 'noons') has been posting videos of herself covering various pop and rock covers, as well her own original compositions, mainly played upon her weapon of choice: the ukulele. Her covers of such tracks as "Survivor" by Destiny's Child, "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger and "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers created a faithful following for Nunes. Using various recording and video editing techniques, Nunes often sings the harmonies for her own songs, layering several tracks of vocals, percussion, and other instruments to create a much richer sound than a single track would produce.

The video for her cover of Weezer's "Keep Fishing" not only established the trademark image of Nunes (clad in PJ's and a knit toboggan, recording from her dorm room), but gained the attention of piano-rocker Ben Folds. Folds invited Nunes to tour with him and open several shows, in which she would play the songs "Gone" (which she had previously covered) and "You Don't Know Me" with Folds himself. Since her touring stint with Ben Folds, Nunes has been touring on her own, promoting her own album and various EP's through Rude Butler Records, a company she herself started with her parents.

Julia Nunes is impossible not to love. As she finishes each song, she often will update her viewers with show info, personal stories, recording out-takes or whatever tidbits of information she feels like divulging. It's easy to connect with Nunes in a 'you were always a blast to hang with in high school' way. She feels like someone you've known for years.

It's truly rare to find anyone from teh Internetz that is blowing past their fifteen minutes of fame and doing something they love because they love it rather than trying to get the most views and five stars, and Nunes is clearly having the time of her life playing music. Whether she's touring, recording, or posting another one of her amazing covers, Nunes always shares the love with her fans and viewers for their support, and y'know what? I'm pretty sure she means it.

Check out these tracks: "Gone" (cover), "Maybe I Will" (original), and "It's the End of the World" (cover)

Bonnaroo will be June 10-13 in Manchester, TN and is one of the biggest music festivals in the country. For a complete line-up and to order your tickets, go to Bonnaroo.com.

The Best of Bonnaroo '10 Part 1: She & Him. 17 weeks to go...

In this new weekly feature, I will be counting down the weeks to Bonnaroo 2010 by exploring a group or artist that I am psyched to see. BUY YOUR F-ING TICKETS NOW!

This week's band is She & Him. She & Him is the pet project of indie rock artist and Monster of Folk M. Ward and the beautiful and infinitely talented actress/singer/songwriter Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel and Ward met during the filming of one of Deschanel's films and collaborated on the film's soundtrack. Soon, Ward convinced Deschanel to record some of the songs she had secretly been writing for years, but had been shy about recording. The duo produced an album in 2008, and have been touring off and on in America and Europe, as well as performing at several music festivals.

The band's sound is a melodious throwback to original country and new indie-folk, as Deschanel channels Patsy Cline and Mama Cass. There is a nostalgic feel to most of their tracks, like you could here them on a 60's jukebox in a Missouri diner.

I fully intend on going to this show, meeting Zooey afterwards, falling madly in love with one another, getting married, and starting a beautiful family together just outside of Nashville.

Check out these tracks: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", "You Really Got a Hold on Me," and "Sentimental Heart"

Bonnaroo will be June 10-13 in Manchester, TN and is one of the biggest music festivals in the country. For a complete line-up and to order your tickets, go to Bonnaroo.com.

Indie band’s new album sounds too ‘safe’

Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album “Contra” continues the band’s already considerable indie-pop reputation but doesn’t quite display much growth from the band. “Contra”, from independent label XL, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 list, beating out Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” and Lady Gaga’s “The Fame”. This makes Vampire Weekend one of only 12 independent bands to achieve such an accomplishment.

Debuting in 2008 with their self-titled first album, the New York-based band has been the focus of both shining praise and venomous Internet criticism for their upbeat, melodious form of pop music. “Vampire Weekend” brought the band modest success in both the American and UK pop charts, and served to establish the band’s preppy, yet cynical and smart brand of rock. “Contra” maintains this style without actually surpassing it.

The first track, “Horchata,” begins with the same whimsical, melodic style that earned Vampire Weekend the ire of many bloggers and music critics when the band first came on to the national music scene. The band makes no concessions and soldiers on with their signature synth and African pop beats. Singer/songwriter Ezra Koenig has not abandoned his extensive, poetic vocabulary and continues to sew together an expressive tapestry of lyrics. “In December drinking Horchata/I’d look psychotic in a Balaclava. Winter’s cold is too much to handle/Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals.”

The track “White Sky” opens with a happy synthesizer melody, which will inevitably cause a slight bobbing of the head in time to the music, as Koenig details a walk through Manhattan. The song is upbeat and catchy, but Koenig’s melodious falsetto can lean towards annoying at times.

One of flaws of “Contra” rests in the short length of the album. Clocking in at ten tracks and roughly 37 minutes long, fans of Vampire Weekend may feel cheated. Additionally, the album displays more of the band’s key talents in music, but it doesn’t do much to develop something new. Apart from the more radio-friendly track “Giving Up the Gun,” most of the album feels like safe territory for the band.

By Tyler Figg

Staff Reporter for the Purdue Exponent

Publication Date: 01/22/10

Brilliant!

You may not want to believe it to look at them, but these guys


rock every bit as loud and hard and fat as these squirts


Even Pitchfork had the sense to give Farm high marks and a rave review. Listen for yourself. Then GO BUY!

Peter Bjorn and John - Nothing to Worry About

Thanks again to Sweden.

EMI Should Choke on a Bag of Dicks

After a nearly 40-year long working relationship, EMI summarily dismissed us along with who knows how many other independent accounts (both single-location and small chain accounts) on Friday, March 6^th.

Like UNI some ten years ago, EMI has evidently determined that a healthy bottom line and pay raises for a coterie of executives can only be maintained by trimming accounts to reduce total number of per-week shipments and by dumping as many non-essential front-line personnel (a.k.a. customer service, sales, and fulfillment people) as possible.

Unlike UNI some ten years ago, EMI is not a healthy (albeit supremely evil) recording company with a roster of money making artists. Coldplay and an unstable crew of cowboys and christians just can't hork up the kinda moolah that UNI's urban division alone was projectile vomitting throughout the tail end of the 90's when UNI told all small fry (retailers and artists alike) to suck hind tit.

Nevertheless, by way of heartfelt reminisence, here's the age-appropriately sized Sex Pistols from 2003 to kiss away the crocodile tears from our eyes. I can only hope that what EMI has done to Caroline someone else (probably UNI) will soon do to them.