Box Full of Letters

Inevitably, once Thanksgiving rolls around and eccentric homeowners begin to put up their Christmas lights three weeks too early, debates over the best albums of the year start to creep into everyday conversation.

Everyone has their own opinions, but most of the time, I find that there is a general consensus over a few major releases. From what I can tell so far, those releases have included Animal Collective's, Merriweather Post Pavillion and Wilco's, Wilco the Album. Obviously, both of these albums were excellent, especially Merriweather, but I've talked with a decent amount of people who've struggled with whether or not to include them in their top albums based on their accessibility and mainstream popularity.

Last night, my friend Katie made the statement that perhaps a top album list should highlight releases that aren't already recognized as the best of the year, and I guess to some extent I agree, but I'm still on the fence.

So far here's what I'm thinking...

Vetiver- Tight Knit
Lotus Plaza- The Floodlight Collective
Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
The Clean- Mister Pop
Cotton Jones- Paranoid Cocoon
Fruit Bats- The Ruminant Band

Still Pondering the rest...

Vultures

I HATE COMCAST.

More on this issue shortly.

Apple Orchard

Last night, I ventured to the Pilot Light without any sort of real expectation for the headlining band. Which, in most cases, leads to a few beers and an early night.

Hope For AGoldenSummer was one of the most enjoyable bands that I have seen live this month.

As per my usual routine, I spent the beginning of the night at Barleys and waited for a call from a "man on the inside" to let me know which act was on stage at the Pilot Light—and if the show would actually start at ten, or hold off until one. I knew it would be more towards the one-ish side when my friend Will's band, William & Jennifer, the second act of the night, didn't actually take the stage until almost midnight.

After William & Jennifer's set,, Hope For AGoldenSummer took the stage with guitars, a banjo, and a saw. The Pilot Light is always a haven for those who have a passionate relationship with PBR, and last night, the relationship was especially close. But once Hope For AGoldenSummer took the stage, the crowd became mostly silent. A reaction that was somewhat of a miracle.

The band had played the WDVX Blueplate Special earlier in the day and had been described to me as "laid back folk with a chick who plays the saw." While this explanation suits the group, it doesn't do justice to their blended harmonies and unique cover choices. In addition to covering "The Only Living Boy in New York," the group also performed a haunting cover of Aaliyah's, "Are You That Somebody" which even included an interpretation of the Timbaland rap.

I love shows that leave me surprised, and Hope For AGoldenSummer absolutely fulfilled my Monday desires.

Let's Talk About the Radio

I feel as though I'm somehow breaking the fourth wall with this post, but today I had an epiphany that the time has come to put faces (very attractive one's I might add) to the voices and somewhat brilliant, but mostly eccentric, minds behind WUTK. So now, next time you hear a particularly wonderful, or vomit-inducing, song on your favorite specialty show, you will know who to praise or accost when you see them lurking around campus.

Obviously, as displayed in the photo above, we are always fully focused in our weekly meeting where we review the cd's sent to the station and decide what to put into rotation. Our rotation, which is what you, the listener, hear daily on 90.3, mainly consists of three classifications: A-1, which is heavy airplay, A-2, which is medium airplay, and B-1, which is light airplay. Zak, shown at the head of our fancy meeting table, is particularly focused. His skeptical head scratching, plaid shirt, and beard perhaps explains why he is the host of our indie show, the Indie Aisle.

Actually, I think it's a requirement to wear plaid when hosting the Indie Aisle. To the right, is myself and Keven when we hosted the show over the summer.

Below, sporting her usual baseball cap, is Katie. She hosts the Americana(ish) show, the Y'allternative. Katie also deejays at WDVX and is forced to put up with my shenanigans on a daily basis.




Above, is Matt. He hosts our world music show, Simmer Down. He also has exceptionally long hair and does not like Gardettos, our staple vending machine snack.

To the right of Katie and I is Brian. He hosts our electronic show, The Midnight Voyage. Brian is also our station's Music Director and is one of the happiest people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. He also knows everything there is to know about fast food and My Morning Jacket.



The beautiful lady to the right is Brittney. She's a member of our music department and also deejays throughout the week.

To the left, is Lauren. She has one of the toughest jobs at the station, which is putting up with me as the co-host of our local music show, Local's Only. Lauren also gives excellent love advice and is the perfect compliment to my cynical rantings on air.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Doug, our newest addition at WUTK. Doug provides comic relief and co-hosts the Indie Aisle with Zak.

So now that you've seen the faces of the WUTK music department, why don't you tune in? On your FM dial, we are 90.3. We are also streaming 24 hours a day 7 days a week at wutkradio.com.

Another Likely Story

It always amazes me the things our memories tend to link together.

For instance, every time I drink a Sprite, it reminds me of Knoxville Mexican restaurant El Charro's. Is this merely a coincidence, a conspiracy between Coca-Cola and Mexican food, or just a sign of my devotion to the restaurant's bean burritos? I'll most likely never know the answer, nor do I even really care, but I will forever associate Sprite with El Charro's.

This brings me to the band Au Revoir Simone. Earlier this summer, I was introduced to their album: Still Night, Still Light and immediately latched on to the eerie female harmonies and heavily looped keyboards. The album became a staple throughout the first months of my summer, and then, as always is the case, fell into the woodwork.

Then came St. Petersburg, Russia.

My family took a trip along the Baltic Sea through Eastern Europe in late July that lead us to St. Petersburg. One of the few unfortunate aspects of traveling with my family is that we inevitably embark on some sort of a cheesy tour at least once in every country that we visit. In the case of St. Petersburg, it was a canal tour. Of course, the scenery the tour highlighted was breathtaking, most notably the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood. It reminded me of Candyland.

While on the Canal, our guide distributed earphones that (imagine this) guided us along the tour. As luck would it, my earphones turned out to be shitty and broken and, seeing as though I hated to spend the next hour in silence, I brought out my iPod. The first track that happened to play on shuffle was a track by Au Revoir Simone. The music, coupled with the scenery, blended perfectly and the tour ended up being one of my favorites on our journey.

Thus, the other morning, when I put on the album it immediately brought back vivid images of Russia and, more than likely, it always will.

I still find it ironic that a band with a French name will forever inspire memories of Russia.

Do You Listen to Your Classical Records Anymore?

I hate the pressure of picking out records. I'll admit it. It's one of those situations similar to when you're asked to discuss for whom and how you're voting. In your mind, you know exactly who, how, and why you want your particular candidate to win the election, but in a friendly debate, it's impossible not to over analyze your company's opinions. You take into account their age, the way that they're dressed, their manner of speaking, the environment where the conversation is taking place, and even their level of intoxication.

For example, lets say you're at a friend of a friend's house. You walk into the room and join a a crowd with who you, for the most part, are barely acquainted with. You sit, politely chat, have a beer, and then, oh shit, it's your turn to pick out a record. In any sort of similar situation when you are surrounded by your own close friends, you would effortlessly stroll over to the vinyl collection and immediately pick out an album. But this scenario is different. The pressure's on. You wonder: "will a choice that I think is obviously sarcastic be taken in the same fashion, or will I look like a dumbass?" You struggle with taking the easy way out by picking a classic album and then ponder whether something with a more recent release date would be appropriate. As you finger through the records, you realize that with each passing minute it is becoming more and more apparent that you aren't comfortable in your quest. The silence becomes overwhelming and your company is restless. Finally, you cave and go for the first thing you can find. You then realize that no one is even paying attention.

Perhaps, this post explains why i am such an anxious person.

Asleep in the Tunnel

The Clean came out of retirement to sign with Merge Records which resulted in one of my favorite albums of the year.








Check it out.

About Today

I've recently noticed a surplus of articles, advertisements, and films focused on the year 2012 and whether or not it will mark the "end of the world." Personally, I think it would be pretty damn entertaining to watch the Sunsphere topple to the ground, surrounded by explosions from meteors destroying the First Tennessee building, and ultimately washed away by a tidal wave from the Tennessee river.

I can safely say that many people don't share my sentiments and feel that we are indeed approaching the end of our wonderful democratic society. Although, it is beyond me as to how this fear has expanded to an almost embarrassing level within the past few years. Today, the front page of the "Faith and Family" section of the News Sentinel features a massive photo from the the new film, "2012" with a quote from a local religious figure displayed prominently above it. I recognize that many associate the end of times with their own personal faith, and this is fine, but it is beyond me as to how have we reached a point where a film is inspiring not only an entire article in a non-related section of the newspaper, but also warrant's in-depth analysis by professors and religious figures.

Perhaps this is just a pet peeve of mine, or perhaps I just struggle to take exploited fears seriously, but, to put it bluntly....I just don't get it.

All of the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands

The time has come. After months, no wait, years of procrastination, I have finally decided to start a blog. As much as it pains me to give my journalism professors the satisfaction of actually heeding their advice and joining hands with technology in the quest for "digital media convergence," I feel that if I truly do want to become one with my major, my thoughts must be let loose for the world to see, not on a tailored sheet of paper, or over the airwaves of a radio station, but on the screen of someone's shiny chrome laptop in China.

I guess now that I have let my reasoning for starting this venture be known, I should tell you, the reader, who for some unknown reason has taken an interest in my spastic thoughts, a bit about myself. Firstly, I have to credit my partner in crime, miss Katie Cauthen, for most of the photography that I will display. Let it be known that if I don't state otherwise, she has lent her amazing talents to all of the photo's accompanying my ramblings. I'm a Senior(ish) at the University of Tennessee studying Journalism and English. I spend a decent amount of time at the college radio station, WUTK, where I serve as a disc-jockey and the Local Music Director. Most days, I can't believe that my "work" consists of listening to music, interviewing artists, and hosting a local music show. I also recently, meaning last week, made the decision to dive into the wonderful world of print by taking an internship at Knoxville's alternative weekly publication the Metro Pulse. I've worked at a small local Thai restaurant, Stir Fry Cafe, for almost five years and could easily tell you every type of pud-thai after taking ten whiskey shots.

Somehow, I feel as though my "brief" introduction has become anything but brief. I think I'm going to go and make some coffee.