The Other Side

Grouplove

Never Trust a Happy Song
Atlantic Recording Corporation
2011

Grouplove’s self-titled EP debuted in America after the band re-united and recorded in L.A. Originally just known as Group began with Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi’s romantic getaway to Crete. There they met their other band members and traveled the island for the rest of the trip playing around, writing, and singing songs. The entire EP embodies the essence of the liberating experiences the group felt during their travels. “Gold Coast” reminds the listener to not feel trapped by life as the low tuned guitar gears the mind with a simple drum bass beat to a level of reflection and thought, leaving the rest of the instruments to follow shortly behind.

However, with the group’s (no pun intended) new album Never Trust a Happy Song the feeling of release a listener gets from the EP seems to get lost from all the different genre tracks this album offers. Grouplove’s LP, Never Trust a Happy Song, begins with an upbeat melodramatic “Itchin’ on a Photograph,” giving a similar vibe to the EP. As the album continues, it becomes a drawn out story told in too many genres, losing the feel of the album. From the rockabilly sounding “Chloe” to the experimental Stars sound-alike “Slow” track, Never Trust a Happy Song, loses the essence of the liberating music the listener anticipated from the band that had stepped out of their little country in the “Don’t Say Oh Well” track only off of the EP.

Fortunately, one track stayed original on both albums. “Naked Kids” sounds like the exciting portions of the group’s travels with seagulls in the background in the intro as they sing along to the happy indie guitar strums, simple drum beat, tambourine, and hand claps. This track is so catchy that it makes one want to hop in a car on a sunny day with friends and cruise to the nearest beach. 

-Halie Darvis

According to KTSW’s website, we are a “college indie formatted station featuring music from all genres including, rock, hip-hop, electronic and more.” Up until recently, hip-hop should not have been included in this statement. The fact that KTSW has always featured a ton of rock, electronic, and (especially) more is absolutely true. When I started this job back in June, we quickly realized the scarcity of rap music on our radio station. There were a few songs here and there, but the handful of rap tunes compared to the thousands of other songs on our catalog really illustrated the problem we were facing. And if we were able to inject a “significant” number of rap tracks into the catalog, would anyone really care? Do people who listen to KTSW even like rap music? After talking with many of my peers who work for KTSW, people who I feel truly represent our listeners, I knew the answer was yes*.

But that yes comes with an asterisk. Many peoples’ perception of rap is that it is sexist, arrogant, and ignorant, which is likely due to the fact that regular exposure to rap music for the general population mainly comes from commercially formatted radio stations and MTV. But the rap I have always listened to and loved can definitely be classified as music that fits our “college indie” format. It is music that comes from the heart. Its words make you think deeply about love, society, war, greed, education, politics, and life in general. It encompasses ALL genres of music, sometimes on one track. It is musical poetry in its most raw form. Because of this, the genre contains some of the most personal, soulful, gut-wrenching, and powerful music in the world. Rap is honest and direct. Every MC comes from a distinctive background, each with their own unique stories to tell. Every DJ provides a unique vehicle essential for these stories to unfold. Rap is controversial. There are no boundaries, laws, or limits to what these storytellers can and will do. The mission of the KTSW Rap Music staff aligns with these principles: we want to push the limits beyond the music we are familiar with and blend in with the amazing sounds already established on this great radio station.

Below you will find the first 100 songs that the KTSW Rap Music staff has put into rotation since June of this year. I will try my best to make regular posts on the history of the genre, a topic that is just as fascinating as the music itself. If anyone has any suggestions for rotation, please email us at KTSWRapMusic@gmail.com.

Keep listening!

-Rory Burbeck, Rap Music Director

Number    Date    Artist, Album “Track”

1 7-Jun Eprhyme, Dopestylevsky “Smoke Break”

2 15-Jun DJ Shadow, Endtroducing “Mutual Slump”

3 15-Jun J Dilla, Donuts “Workinonit”

4 15-Jun Oddisee, Odd Winter EP “Blizzard of ‘09”

5 15-Jun Reflection Eternal, Revolutions Per Minute “My Life”

6 27-Jun Animul Crackers, Single “Bacon Grease”

7 15-Jun The Roots, How I Got Over “Dear God 2.0”

8 15-Jun Blakroc, Blakroc “On the Vista”

9 20-Jun Atmosphere, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S*** Gold “Guarantees”

10 20-Jun CunninLynguists, A Piece of Strange “What’ll You Do?”

11 20-Jun CunninLynguists, Will Rap For Food “Missing Children”

12 20-Jun Reflection Eternal, Train of Thought “Memories Live”

13 22-Jun Shabazz Palaces, Black Up “Free Press and Curl”, 14 “Youlogy”, 15 “The King’s New Clothes Were Made by His Own Hands”, and 16 “Swerve.. The Reeping of All that is Worthwhile”

17 22-Jun CunninLynguists, Oneirology “My Habit (I Haven’t Changed)”

18 24-Jun Hail Mary Mallon, Are You Gonna Eat That? “Garfield”

19 7-Jul Visioneers, Dirty Old Hip Hop “The World Is Yours”, 20 “It’s Simple”

21 7-Jul KRS-One, KRS-One “Out For Fame”

22 7-Jul Blue Scholars, Bayani “Morning of America”

23 7-Jul Danger Doom, The Mouse and the Mask “Crosshairs”

24 7-Jul Black Star, Black Star “Thieves in the Night”

25 7-Jul Gift of Gab, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up “Evolution”

26 7-Jul Movits!, Get Out of My Head “One Take-Take One/40 Bars”

27 7-Jul Eyedea & Abilities, First Born “First Born”

28 7-Jul King Geedorah, Take Me to Your Leader “Fazers”

29 7-Jul Nujabes, Modal Soul “Feather”

30 7-Jul People Under the Stairs, O.S.T. “Empty Bottles of Water”

31 7-Jul Madvillain Madvillainy, “ALL CAPS”

32 25-Jul Talib Kweli, Gutter Rainbows “Cold Rain”, 33 “Tater Tot”

34 25-Jul Gas Haus, Gang Gastly Ramirez “Dearly Departed”

35 25-Jul Med, Bang Ya Head 3 “This Is Your Life”

36 25-Jul Abstract Rude, P.A.I.N.T. “Yep!”

37 25-Jul Common Market, Tobacco Road “Back Home (The Return)”

38 28-Jul Binary Star, Masters of the Universe “Reality Check”

39 28-Jul Gift of Gab, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up “The Ride of Your Life”

40 28-Jul Myka 9, 1969 “Hand Bone”, 41 “Inner Knowing”

42 16-Aug Elzhi, Elmatic “Memory Lane”

43 16-Aug Med, Bang Ya Head 3 “Candlelight”

44 16-Aug Living Legends, Classic “Never Fallin’”

45 16-Aug Marco Polo, Port Authority “Nostaligia”

46 16-Aug CunninLynguists, Sloppy Seconds Vol. 2 “Cornasto”

47 16-Aug Will Sessions, Leaks “Funky Mirage”, 48 “MOVE!”

49 17-Aug Sergenti, Family & Friends “Tracks”

50 24-Aug Kyle Rapps, On-Air “Love Love 2”

51 24-Aug Blu, Jesus “Jesus”

52 24-Aug Blu, Her Favorite Colo(u)r “Pardon”

53 24-Aug Big K.R.I.T., Return Of 4Eva “Dreamin’”

54 24-Aug Grieves, Together/Apart “Speak Easy”

55 31-Aug BK-One, Radio Do Canibal “Philly Boy”

56 31-Aug Blueprint, Adventures in Counter-Culture “So Alive”

57 7-Sep Hail Mary Mallon, Are You Gonna Eat That? “Knievel”

58 7-Sep Exile, Intro to the Outro “New Seasons”, 59 “Evolve”

60 14-Sep King Geedorah, Take Me To Your Leader “Fastlane”

61 14-Sep Common, Resurrection “I Used to Love H.E.R.”

62 14-Sep Skewby, More or Less “Book of Eli”

63 14-Sep Gangstagrass, Gangstagrass “I Go Hard”

64 14-Sep OCD, Single “Mathematics (Remix)”

65 14-Sep The Weeknd, House of Balloons “What You Need”

66 19-Sep Astronautalis, This Is Our Science “This Is Our Science”

67 21-Sep A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders “Award Tour”

68 21-Sep The Extremities, The Mint Condition “Disassembly Line”, 69 “New Season”

70 21-Sep The Cool Kids, The Instant Classics Mixtape “I Rock”

71 21-Sep Mos Def, Black on Both Sides “Brooklyn”

72 5-Oct L.O.W.F.I., Awakening “Shots Fired”, 73 “Molotov Music”

74 5-Oct Animul Crackers, Single “Get Em’”

75 5-Oct Raphael Saadiq, Stone Rollin’ “Stone Rollin’”

76 5-Oct Astronautalis, This Is Our Science “Dimitri Mendeleev”

77 5-Oct DTMD, Makin’ Dollas “95 Live”

78 19-Oct Ghettosocks, Treat of the Day “Out for Treats”, 79 “Role Models”

80 19-Oct Pete Rock and CL Smooth, The Main Ingredient “In The House”, 81 “Escape”

82 19-Oct The Roots, Organix “Good Music”

83 19-Oct The Dean’s List, The Drive In “No Sleep”

84 26-Oct Evidence, Cats & Dogs “The Red Carpet”, 85 “The Epilogue”, 86 “The Liner Notes”

87 26-Oct Jay Electronica, Call of Duty MW3 “Call of Duty MW3”

88 2-Nov Teen Burger, Burger Time “Chemistry (The New Science Remix)”, 89 “Ain’t Trippin’ Remix”, 90 “Lost Boys”, 91 “Summer Jobs”

92 9-Nov Chief, The Weather Underground “Mission of Madness”, 93 “Remains Untitled”, 94 “Head Above Water”

95 9-Nov Derill Pounds, Emotional Rollercoaster Rescue “Buzzer Killer”, 96 “OOdiepie”, 97 “Cold One”

98 16-Nov Robo-Robb, SOULBOT2 “_289”

99 16-Nov Hieroglyphics, Full Circle “Classic”

100 16-Nov Has-Lo, Conversation B “Face in Disguise”  

WIDESPREAD PANIC

Widespread Panic rolled into the music capital of the world on their 25^th anniversary tour.  They started out as a small band from Athens, Georgia playing for fraternities.  Now, the band sells out theaters and amphitheaters across the country.  Although the 25 years has not all been peachy, they lost their guitarist and longtime friend, Mikey Houser (Panic)  a few years ago to pancreatic cancer.  They have a cult following that goes to hundreds of shows a year.  Austin has become a place for them to come for tour openers and closers throughout the years.  This year was no different they opened summer tour with a two night stand at Austin’s Moody Theater, otherwise known as ACL Live. 

They opened with Driving > Disco > Driving which has become a calling for a soulful southern fried funk revival.    John Bell belts out the lyrics to the songs, with his raspy, bluesy voice.  Dave Schools (Bassist) makes your heart skip a beat with his six string. Jimmy Herring, who took the place of Mikey a couple of years after his death, brings long drawn out rifts that want to makes you want shake. Sonny (percussion) actually played on the first Austin City Limits and is from Waco, Texas.  It does not stop there for him he plays hundreds of instruments in a night not ever missing a beat. Todd Nance (Drums) is the backbone of the band always keeping the band together.  They have one of the best live shows on earth. They mixture of their own tunes along with covers they have perfected. If you have not seen them play, please go and do so, you will not be disappointed.

-Nathan 

Bon Iver
Review by: Allison Johnson

Bon Iver, the self-titled follow up to Bon Iver’s 2008 Indie success For Emma, Forever Ago is a little less “Laying with your face on the floor ” says frontman Justin Vernon and a little more “Colorful”. This albums provides the soundtrack to what seems like the end of a bitter winter (the commonly described setting of the band’s first album), and the beginning of a beautiful spring. From Vernon’s unique falsetto voice to the other three talented musicians that make up Bon Iver, this album is the closest it gets to perfect. Those who loved For Emma will be even more impressed with the broad sound that is Bon Iver.

From the powerful synth-drums on the opening track “Perth”, to the auto tune and sax sounds on closer “Beth/Rest”, this album has a lot to offer. Carried over from the band’s debut album are the never failing sentimental lyrics that so many can relate to. On the hauntingly beautiful “Holocene” Vernon sings “Someway baby it’s part of me, apart from me”, a line that anyone who’s missing someone or something can resonate with. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bon Iver is the wide range of instruments used on the album. Listen for the brief horn parts in “Hinnom, TX” and the simple, sweet piano in “Wash.”. And make sure to pay close attention to the nostalgic, upbeat nature of both the melody and the lyrics to “Towers”. Another theme you will see present throughout the album is the song titles, as many of them are named after or describe real places and experiences. It is the unique elements like these that make Justin Vernon and Bon Iver more than just another Indie Rock band. Their sound is truly incomparable.

JJ Grey and Mofro

 Georgia Warhorse

Released: August 24, 2010

Label: Alligator Records

Georgia Warhorse, the fifth album for Jacksonville based band JJ Grey and Mofro proves yet again that they are a force to be reckoned with.  Mofro spreads its wings with this album, establishing themselves as multitalented musicians and displaying their talent across multiple genres.  However, all of the songs off of Georgia Warhorse represent one solid theme and that is imagery.  JJ Grey, the front man and songwriter of the group, paints vivid pictures of the unique swamplands of Jacksonville where he grew up.  Grey also uses these rich environmental descriptions as metaphors for love, loss, and discrimination.

Georgia Warhorse is, in my opinion, a nearly flawless album.  It allows JJ Grey to showcase his impressively soulful vocals without ever detracting from the display of sheer talent that every musician in Mofro possesses.  One of the album’s highlights is a sexy funk track called “Slow, Hot, Sweaty,” that references Grey’s irrefutable flair for calling upon the sounds of 70’s funk legends.  Another stand out song is “The Sweetest Thing,” on which Grey joins forces with reggae legend Toots Hibbert. 

-Jessie Clemons

Artist: Sleeper Agent

Album: Celabrasion

Release Date: September 27^th 2011

Lable: Mom + Pop

By: Eddie Galvan

Tired of the same old cookie cutter girl fronted bands? Sleeper Agent is here to finally break the mold! They hit you with their fast riffs, catchy hooks, and beats that will make you want to dance around your living room. In their debut album “Celabrasion” the band shows the world what they are made of. Their killer opening track “Get it Daddy” which is the bands first single, jumps at you the second it starts off. They don’t hold off on the energy at all until you get to the very calming track “That’s My Baby” that will make you wish the song never ended. And they keep the raw energy going until the later tracks like “Be My Monster” and “Get Burned.”

Don’t think for a second that Sleeper Agent has left all of their energy in the studio. They bring a contagious energy to their shows as well. Sleeper Agent’s “Celabrasion” has gotten the attention of a particular magazine that gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. And we all know that they just don’t give these stars to just any band. “Celabrasion” will hit you out of no where, like a boxer trying to win a fight in the fourth round! Let Sleeper Agent be the band you want to keep to yourself, but can’t contain yourself to tell others about.

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care—Explosions in the Sky
Released: April 26, 2011

The Austin-based quartet finally broke a four-year hiatus with the release of their sixth studio album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.

Explosions in the Sky have always resented and denied their “post-rock” status. But the band has consistently produced guitar-driven, reverb-heavy instrumental soundscapes with contrasting dynamics and slow build-ups. Again, Take Care indulges its listeners with multi-layered distortion-filled epics—each track opens with vague understatements, intricately building up more layers until it climaxes into a high explosion of loud guitars with arpeggiated melodies and a pounding drum kit, and then resolving into drifting softer tones. The standout track seems to be “Trembling Hands”, which actually contains vocals (exclamations of “oh, oh, oh!”)—but the most interesting component is the exasperated drumming of Chris Hrasky, whose instrument dominates the song.

Listeners may be disappointed with the lack of experimentation, arguing that the album is predictable, expected, and too similar to the band’s past work. Indeed, Explosions in the Sky have in this album resumed to their usual style—but it is a style they have mastered and even trademarked, a style they consistently execute beautifully. Although the band chose not to stray too far from their distinct sound in Take Care, fans of Explosions in the Sky and post-rock in general will be pleased with this album. 

-Michelle Le

The bedroom pop subgenre has seen a rise in exposure over the past few years.  Acts such as Kurt Vile and Emerald Park create intimate music within a confined space and transcend the experience of the mundane into something that can resonate with all listeners.

The newcomer to this setting is Youth Lagoon.  He is a 22-year-old musician who shows exemplary use of soothing melodies, a good balance of upbeat and downcast rhythms and the ability to write simple lyrics that upon closer look show insight.  Case in point is one of the more striking tracks entitled “17”.  A piano intro segues into his singing of his recollections, “When I was 17/ my mother said to me/ don’t stop imagining/ the day that you do is the day that you die.”  The song then picks up with a wavy guitar line and rhythmic claps.  “Afternoon” is the sort of track that will remind you of a clear-cut pop song that succeeds in putting a smile on your face with its infectious whistling, the singer vocalizing ‘oh’s’ and ‘ah’s’ which lead into the outro that will lead you to hit repeat as soon as the song is finished.  It is special witnessing the work of one musician working within his resources and experiences to create something that can speak about what the average listener goes through. Young musicians who make music in their rooms will doubtless be inspired.

-Frank Makri

M83 has been making music for the past ten years that supplies a reasonable backdrop to daydreams and fantasies with their use of bombastic drums, loud synths, and luscious, ambient overtures. Heck, his new album is entitled, “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.”  Anthony Gonzales (the frontman of M83) has made it obvious that he wants us to join him on this long journey (it is a double album) and immerse ourselves into his music.

As stated, this is a double album, so there will be a few songs that don’t seem as crucial as others.  There are a few interludes that come under the 2-minute mark, but they help provide variety, and a calming groove before the next big song hits.  This album hearkens back to the 80’s with its sound that is evocative of new wave/pop records coupled with a shoegaze aesthetic.  M83 also believe in switching things up with other instruments that you wouldn’t expect to hear.  There is a suave saxophone outro in the upbeat song, “New Map”, an acoustic guitar intro in, “Year One, One UFO”, and a great bass solo that eventually culminates into a metal-esque guitar in, “Claudia Lewis”.  “This Bright Flash” is just that- the climax of the album in the form of a majestic, quick, rock track that leads the way for the last few slow tracks to close the album.

At first listen, it may seem that M83 tried to deliver too much here, but let it wash over you with repeated listens. Ultimately, you’re going to be experiencing the best electronic record released in 2011, and one of the better double albums released in recent memory.

- Frank Makri

October 6, 2011

Austin— It’s a beautiful Thursday afternoon and just outside the gate of Stubbs’ amphitheatre there is a small crowd of anxious teenagers waiting to be let inside. These groups of kids have come from all around the Central Texas area today for a special opportunity afforded to them by The Recording Academy and a program called Grammy Camp. 

Grammy Camp is a summer program “that works to make a difference in people’s lives through music.” They host camps in New York, Los Angeles and a few other cities and they teach kids about their musical interest. So, if you are a musician you will work with other musicians and learn how better at your craft. Take Dertrick Winn Jr. as an example, he has attended Grammy Camps in both L.A. and N. Y. and believes that he has become a more well rounded person as well as a better music writer because of his experiences at Grammy Camps. But Grammy Camp doesn’t just host camps, they also host events during the year that allow the youth to learn about music, and that is why these kids are waiting outside Stubbs. They have shown up to watch the sound check of a young band on the rise—Portugal. The Man. 

Portugal. The Man is a psychedelic rock band based out of Portland, Oregon, but originally from Wasilla, Alaska. They have been putting out an album every year since 2006, but have really been exploding onto the mainstream with their latest album “In the Mountain in the Cloud.” In the Mountain in the Cloud” is their first album since signing with Atlantic Records and the partnership has been working well for both parties.

Today Portugal. The Man has opened their sound check up to these youngsters in hopes to entertain and educate. They are giving the groups a look at what goes into putting on a show by allowing them to watch as they prepare the sound, the stage and the instruments necessary for their big show later this evening. Portugal. The Man will also take questions from the kids after the sound check. 

- Lauren “LT” Taylor