Blogs
The Current: Stream of Consciousness on Music Streaming
When I first started listening to what I define as “good” music, I would find a lot of new bands from Pandora Internet Radio. I'd plug in a song I liked and then some sort of computer algorithm would be employed and find me a bunch of other sick songs similar to...
Deerhoof, "La Isla Bonita" (Polyvinyl)
With nothing more than ten days of jam sessions, contemporary indie giants Deerhoof release one of their best efforts in years. There's something so impressive about fluency. When a studio artist doodles out of boredom and produces a beautiful portrait, when your...
Cooly G, "Wait ‘Til Night" (Hyperdub)
Commanding nocturnal blues.The title to Cooly G's latest full length effort, Wait 'Til Night, should be taken as a command as much as you should take it as simply a title, as this record seems only to exists between twilight and the break of dawn. There's a...
East India Youth, "Total Strife Forever" (Stolen Recordings)
Catharsis in a closet.This is just one of those times when the album art doesn't match the music. In my opinion at least. Whereas the cover is the stuff of traditional melancholy, an array of blues molding a somber face, Total Strife Forever (someone's bitter) is...
Deptford Goth, "Songs" (Pias)
A follow up album worth the listen.On his sophomore LP, British producer Daniel Woolhouse moves forward from his somber debut of 2013 toward somewhat of a sense of resolution. While his first record was weak trembling, Songs is lightness with a glaze of groove. What...
Son Little, "Things I Forgot" (Anti)
Neo-blues with all sorts of unique elements.Soulful and bluesy, Son Little's “Things I Forgot” gives a new twist to 20th century blues by adding in rock and indie elements. Little's vocals are one of the most impressive aspects of this album, and can be heard in...
Algernon Doll, "Omphalic" (Struggletown)
Slightly pop-y 90's alternative rock-inspired tunes.Algernon Doll would probably fit snugly on a bill with any 90's alt rock outfit. That isn't to say that they sound generic though; in fact, solo artist Ewan Grant has skillfully taken the recognizable sound and...
Filmstrip, "Moments of Matter" (Exit Stencil)
The twang and jangle of indie-country.Moments of Matter is everything a stereotypical indie-country album should be (if a genre such as this exists). It has the jangly guitars, some fiddlers, vocals with a southern twang, and lyrics expressing the importance of...
HAERTS, "HAERTS" (Columbia)
Glittery indie-pop overload.In early October 2013, the indie pop band known as HAERTS, released their first EP entitled Hemiplegia. Their upbeat 80's synth style mixed with shimmery guitar melodies and smooth female vocals helped to establish their sound and earned...
Sleater-Kinney, "Start Together" (Sub Pop)
Greatest hits album from a band with greater hits than most.I could go on forever about the wailing vocals, socially conscious narratives and virile instrumental edge that Sleater-Kinney have given to feminist punk, or to music in general, but at this point, what else...
Homemade: Boston
I may be biased because I grew up outside of the city, but I'm super excited to be focusing on Boston this week for “Homemade.” To me Boston has such an interesting and rich history, especially in terms of alt-rock and punk. Boston's music scene began emerging in...
Minutia: Five Songs You NEED to Hear Now That Weed is Legal
Courtesy of Brookings.After a tough-fought victory at the polls, DC residents decided to take a leap forward for human rights and consumption everywhere: legalized Mary J, baby! You've dawdled down Adams Morgan and bought your essential “tobacco only” bong...
Leading Lades: Vibe out with London-based singer Nao
Courtesy of Pigeons and Planes. A tweet from DIY Magazine announced the release of Nao's latest song “Good Girl” on Nov. 5 off her debut EP So Good. I've been following this 24-year-old singer since she collaborated with fellow London musician...
Guest Post: HOLYCHILD Comes Full Circle Upon Return to D.C.
Louie Diller and Liz Nistico of HOLYCHILD hanging out in Washington, D.C. / PHOTOS BY NATE COVER After entering the 9:30 Club hours before doors, Liz Nistico can be seen sitting on the wooden floor in a vibrant pink, patterned Lazy Oaf dress. In front of her is an...
Another Kind of Currency: The Shins and Systems of Economic Planning
Courtesy of Handsome Tours. What kind of AU columnist would I be if I didn't write an article that somehow directly involved politics and different viewpoints? I mean, this is the most politically active campus in the nation, so surely you'll find people who like...
Feedback: How to Share Your Love
Courtesy of Threadless. “I really wish you had pushed Portugal. The Man harder on me.” A dear friend of mine recently remarked. I should have told him I was working hard on ending my long tenure as a music pusher. I have worked on and off for WVAU writing columns and...
Under the Tide: One Hit Wonders – New Radicals/Gregg Alexander
Courtesy of TSOAM. Groups with one hit wonders are a puzzle. They arrive in the music scene with a chart hit, fade into obscurity, and leave you wondering, where the heck did they disappear to? Have they become irrelevant, or are they just not making music anymore?...
The Current: Fwends Don’t Let Fwends Hate the Beatles
Like any two people born four decades apart, my dad and I have very different music tastes. He not-so-affectionately nicknamed my favorite band (Modest Mouse) “Mighty Mousey” and claims they sound like dying cats. However, we definitely agree that the Beatles are...
Vibe of the Week: Some Wes Anderson Lovin’
Courtesy of Cool Spotters. There are many different aspects of a film that contribute to its greatness. A solid script, strong actors and good direction are the usual recipe for a movie people will respond to. However, people often overlook the importance of music....
Porque no los Dos: Devendra Banhart
I can't stop scrolling through Google images of Devendra Banhart. I can't stop listening to his music or wishing I could stroke his beautiful beard and locks. The Venezuelan-born musician not only makes beautiful songs, but creates captivating art that is featured...
Minutia: Reptilian Overlords and Music as Humanity’s Chains
AP Image As the process of globalization trudges on day after day, its primary means of oppression must strengthen, broaden, and perhaps most sinister, appear more attractive. The wolf in sheep's clothing now nestles into the sheep's skin. Mile after mile, new...
Leading Ladies: On Annie Lennox and Being a Young Feminist Today
Courtesy of the Associated Press. When I was 10-years-old, I didn't think I was like “other girlsÛ. I liked sports and wrestling boys and I wore those cut-off pants, you know, those long pants with the zips at the knees that you could zip off into shorts? I hated...
Another Kind of Currency: The Broad Street Riots of 1837
I'm going to be doing something slightly different for this week's column. No, don't worry, I'm not completely changing my column or anything, but this week, instead of looking for the meanings behind the lyrics as you would in an English class, but instead as you...
The Tough Crowd: Politics and Punk
AU is all about politics. WVAU is all about music. This week's The Tough Crowd interview combines both, plus it includes my personal love of punk. Everyone knows punk and politics go hand in hand but how does one get involved with the political side of punk? Kristen...
Moi Non Plus: Air
Courtesy of Last.fm. One could think that the only things that would come out of Versailles are Rococo paintings, bourgeois aspirations and gruesome French Revolution memories. Nevertheless, by some chance in life, two tr̬s tr̬s beau hommes have embodied the royal...
Feedback: Making the Great Gatsby Modern and Popular
Courtesy of Clash Music. The Great Gatsby is a lurid story, one read over and over in English classes in the USA, but despite its repute it belongs to a different time. The movie version tries to modernize the story by changing up some details, but also through music....
Pop Exodus: I Will Beat You Over the Head with this Space Metaphor
I'm choosing to write about “Check It Out” because it is such a Pop song; a co-writing feature from Pop Legend will.i.am., focus on a sugary beat, heavy on the auto-tune, light on the rapping (though the rapping that's still on the track is as aggressive as ever)....
Coo Coo Ca-choo: Reliving Soul Train
Courtesy of The Urban Daily. Congratulations, everyone. Midterms are finally over! In keeping with the excitement of this time of the semester, I thought I would give you all some music to help you celebrate. In the 1970s, the American music television show, Soul...
The Current: Yet Another Article on Ebola
If you're reading this column, then you're most likely aware of the current Ebola crisis. This virus has seemingly created a virus of its own in its spread over all outlets of media, from the tweets of overdramatic teens claiming their common cold is a new strain of...
Minutia: I’m Sort of Tired of Talking about Music
When I say talking, I also mean writing, sharing, seeing shows, really anything you can do in the company of others with music. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the art as much as ever, but the culture surrounding it is largely counterproductive bullshit. I'm sick...