Blog.WBRU

Nat King Cole...

Technology has, yet again, found a way to re-vamp the music scene.  Long gone vocal sensation Nat King Cole is coming back to life with the release of a 13 track CD entitled Re: Generations.  Re: Generations, while undoubtedly paying homage to the great jazz legend, is made even more special by the fact that each of Cole’s original tracks is essentially “re-imagined” by a host of varied, contemporary artists. The “King” will be musically accompanied by such artists as TV On the Radio, Cee-Lo, the Roots, Nas, Just Blaze, Cut Chemist, Stephen and Damian Marley, Brazilian Girls, will.i.am and Nat’s daughter Natalie Cole, just to name a few.  The goal of this collaborative work is to bridge the gap between different musical styles and to promote a unity of the peoples. What better way to unify generations than through music? Read the rest » »

Last Monday was a pretty big day for music releases. Among others, The Killers, Kanye West, and Ludacris all came out with highly anticipated new albums. However, something managed to slip by my radar that I should have heard about before its existence took me by surprise Monday evening: Coldplay’s EP companion to Viva La Vida, also known as Prospekt’s March. Read the rest » »

Bloc Party is a difficult band to categorize. With styles that range from the harsh but highly danceable post-punk realities of their 2005 debut Silent Alarm to the gloomily aggressive ballads of A Weekend In The City, they manage to simultaneously hook new fans and frustrate old ones like no other. Although the band’s potential is audible on both albums, they keep stumbling restively through various genres in search of a fitting niche, never quite honest with themselves.  What great news it was, then, when it was announced earlier this year that Bloc Party’s upcoming third release was to be named Intimacy? Could it be that Kele Okereke and his troupe finally found themselves and were ready to present to us their very own, carefully matured brand of alt-rock?

Although not quite what was expected, Intimacy starts off with a bang: ‘Setting Sun’ by The Chemical Brothers mashed up with guitar unusually ragged guitar riffs on the track ‘Ares’ . Russel Lissack’s Telecaster, in fact, sounds more like an industrial size grinder than a musical instrument and Matt Tong’s drum work is reminiscent of a slack joint jackhammer. Even Kele Okereke’s vocals present themselves as just another industrial tool used in the assembly of this song. Paradoxically, the result sounds highly individual and Okereke’s alienating vocals tell a better and more credible story than any of the lachrymose poetry from A Weekend In The City. Read the rest » »

Ever since Brandon Flowers announced that the follow-up to Sam’s Town would be a departure from their failed attempt to produce stadium rock, the Killers’ third LP has been hyped into the next decade and back.  If you’ve been keeping your album release calendar up to date or were just curious as to when the boys from Las Vegas would put out something more like “Somebody Told Me” and less like “When You Were Young”, you are probably wondering, as I was, if Day & Age is really all it’s cracked up to be.

It is.  It definitely, undoubtedly is.  Gone are the days of Flowers’ facial hair and Bruce Springsteen imitations. Day & Age is more like David Bowie, blending an 80s pop sound with characteristics that are distinctively Killers. Read the rest » »

Get excited! Quirky electro-alt. band Beirut is finally going to show the musical world just exactly what they’ve been up to this past year with the release of two new EPs, March of the Zapotec and Holland, in early 2009. According to front man and genre blender extraordinaire, Zach Condon, the simultaneous release of both EPs will serve to reveal the immense musical malleability of  band and of Condon’s own disposition to experiment with various instruments and styles. Read the rest » »

Announcing the next installment of WBRU’s monthly playlist - because turkey and mashed potatoes go best with a side of brand-new alt rock.

Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire

• After over the month at the top of our playlist, apparently Caleb Followill’s sex is still on fire. No word yet on whether or not he’s getting that checked out.

Coldplay - Lost!

• One of the best tracks from Coldplay’s latest LP that is finally getting some attention. The awesome percussion throughout should be enough to help you find your way back to this song no matter what else you’re listening to. Read the rest » »

Have the leaves on the trees fallen already? Have you had to get your big winter jacket out of the closet? If yes, then you know that means THANKSGIVING is coming up, and you deserve a treat with a some interesting/hilarious info from the music world!

Let’s start it off with anniversaries, as Saturday, Scarlett Johansson and Miley Cyrus (!) will be 24 and 16. Although one does not deserve to be talked about after all that we hear from her already, the other definitely should be mentioned as her release from last May is pure bliss in this autumn weather. Anywhere I Lay My Head features covers of her friend Tom Waits’ songs, with a few collaborations from producers Dave Sitrek (TV On The Radio) and David Bowie. The album, despite meeting mixed reviews (1/5 from The Times?!), is simple and beautiful in a non-descript way, and it makes you appreciate even more the wait until winter snow. Read the rest » »

Several weeks ago I saw this insane news story about how Fall Out Boy, in wake of their failed attempt to break a world record by playing concerts on all seven continents, were going to attempt a different record, do the largest number of radio interviews in a single 24 hour period. Being the 15 year old girl that I am I immediately thought one thing: WBRU needs to get one of these interviews.* So last week when my good friend DJ GQ informed me she had secured one and was giving it to me, so began a week filled with frantic question writing and dry heaving. Interview and more after the jump. Read the rest » »