Blog.WBRU

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 » »

After a week of numerous new releases, and before Christmas shopping (OK maybe not yet, but still), here is WBRU’s playlist of the month, full of all our favorite songs, for your own enjoyment!

Kings of Leon- Sex on Fire

• Although the lyrics are slightly repetitive, this is some great passionate alt-rock. If the guitars don’t get you jumping, then Caleb Followill’s voice will entrance you.

The Offspring- You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid

• What a comeback! After “Hammerhead”, the band hit the airwaves hard once again with their unchanging, inimitable, unforgiving style.

Weezer- Troublemaker

• Lead singer Rivers Cuomo said this song was heavily influenced by Eminem, but rock fan out there, do not fret : “Troublemaker” is so powerful you will want to make some of your own.

Read the rest » »

Some guys in London have a great idea: take a band, and have them play in the back seat of a random cab. This is the general theme behind the website blackcabsessions.com, where you can find videos of Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Spoon and The Kooks scrunched into the back of a taxi, instruments and all, playing a single song. It’s pretty impressive - these bands have great sound, even though they’re playing from a taxi. I feel bad for the drummers though; it’s hard to fit a complete, playable drum set in the back seat.

I was excited. I don’t say that very often, but it was completely true in this case; I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Narrow Stairs, especially after Death Cab for Cutie’s stunning performance at the first show of our concert series this year. And after hearing word that The Postal Service – lead singer Ben Gibbard’s side project – would not be releasing an album any time soon, if ever, I’d thrown all my hopes into this being a monumental album.

I hope my excitement will not lead you to think that I am biased when I say that Narrow Stairs is good. Really good. It offers more experimentation and a much darker feel than previous albums, and at the same time steps up the musical intricacy and exemplifies talented use of dynamics. You can still hear the pop sound that, in my opinion, hindered Plans, but it is emphasized appropriately and strengthens the sound as a whole. Each song may not be as individually memorable, as in Transatlanticism (and that may be a nostalgic result), but the album ties together well as a whole, offering a complete sound that encourages you to listen to it all the way through, again and again. There is also an impressive amount of musical variety throughout the CD, which strengthens the overall sound.

Narrow Stairs opens with “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” a beautiful precursor to the rest of the album. It offers an immediate reminder of Death Cab’s past sound and style, but also new musical elements, more intense dynamics and powerful instrumentals. It leads right into the first single, “I Will Possess Your Heart,” an ominous title for a dark and immensely moving song. The four minute instrumental portion at the beginning of the song is well performed and shows the band’s acute skill with dynamics, but is ultimately the only tiresome part of the whole album. It’s beautiful – it just doesn’t hook you enough. Read the rest » »

Nick and Chris from Death Cab For Cutie stopped by the studio last Friday before their concert to be interviewed by Lyra. They began by talking about how it feels to start touring again and how global warming influenced their recent trip to London. They discussed their new album “Narrow Stairs” and how this album represents a greater collaborative effort by the band. They also expressed a little jealousy over not having side projects and ended the interview with a discussion of 1950’s toaster collecting and how toasters “magically” turn white bread brown. Enjoy!

Click on the link to listen to the full interview!

WBRU kicked off its 2008 Summer Concert Series with headline act Death Cab For Cutie on May 9th. The concert was scheduled to be held at the Providence Piers, but due to inclement weather, it had to be moved to Brown University’s Meehan Auditorium.

Before Death Cab took the stage, Amanda Palmer, the better half of the Dresden Dolls, warmed up the crowd with her percussive piano and signature vocals. The highlight of the performance, however, consisted of Amanda busting out a Ukulele and playing an excellent acoustic version of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

After a quick set change, Ben Gibbard and his traveling troupe appeared on stage amidst rollicking cheers and began with a quiet but pulsating version of “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” followed by an unflagging performance of “New Year.” A uniform melancholy prevailed throughout the show, but the songs from the upcoming album Narrow Stairs lent a distinctly different flavor. Often starting with long instrumental introductions, the new songs had an unfamiliar sense of gravity. This new dark sound found its best expression in the band’s single release “I Will Possess Your Heart.” However, much of the creepiness of the new CD was overshadowed during the concert by Ben Gibbard’s energetic air and Chris Walla’s soaring solos.

The band played an eclectic set that included songs from every album they’ve released, but the pieces that pleased the crowd the most were all nearly off of Death Cab’s major label debut Plans. “Soul Meets Body” got the most cheers while the first notes of “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” induced many to pull out their cameras to record this memorable moment, making the crowd light up in a sea of camera displays. The inviting but all too satisfied crowd then went on to request an encore and got it: The band played 6 additional songs and finished their impressive set with “Transatlanticism.” Read the rest » »

Check out Death Cab for Cutie’s brand new music video, I Will Possess Your Heart! Also, be sure to pick up your tickets for Death Cab at WBRU’s first concert series show on May 9th at Providence Piers!

This afternoon WBRU was the first station in the country to play Death Cab for Cutie’s new single, “I Will Possess Your Heart” right near the end of the Retro Lunch with GQ.

Listen up for more from their album Narrow Stairs, due out in May. And starting Thursday at noon, get your tickets to see them at the first show of WBRU’s Concert Series. You can buy them right here at wbru.com, and get them ASAP, since their shows tend to sell out.

You heard it first on BRU. Literally.

*Photo from Atlantic Records