YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

For those readers who are unaware WIDR has been in the middle of hosting an amazing Battle of the Bands over the last month, and it has been symphonic slaughter of top-notch musical groups duking it out for the top spot to play with not only Longface, but also Atsuko Chiba at Shake’s! In honor of such noble sacrifice WIDR would now like to review an album of one of the bands that so many musician put their fingers on the line for! Now let us start this wonderful Longface album entitled Hillbilly Wit. Starting out the album is the song Crescent Moon and what a trance inducer, it teleports you into your own mind, and for me to places that remind me of happier, but far places. Longface then proceeds to slap your subconscious back to reality with the ruckus Deep Fried American Dreams, this track is one a WIDR listener might recognize from a video recently posted on our social media. Jumping to yet another feeling with the third track Candy Store Robbers i’m transported to a Radiohead track that I never knew I loved. Crime Jazz batting clean up is an interesting choice, as it is again another shot at something new on this album. Hillbilly Wit is next at 5, but easily number 2 in my heart. melancholy and bittersweet, everything that is life. Ozone is almost as foggy as our own, but don’t let this discourage you from listening. Howdy is has similar feeling to Deep Fried American Dreams but it takes a different approach to its breakdowns, and lyrical content. Pace is another song that pushes the trance like effect of their style. I love the feeling of slipping away in this building ending. Second to last Heart of Mold giving me a lot of similar Radiohead vibes, but with the beautiful vocal performance by both singers is uniquely their own, resonating through the entire track. Finally Hornswoggled opening with a comedic sampling, or vocal performance, but followed by a song that is nothing but lyrically the best of the album in my opinion, and transitions into a hodgepodge of a finale, finishing one of my favorite albums I’ve reviewed for WIDR so far.

I began my five-part review of the 2017 slew of albums provided to us by Aussie pysch-rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard last week, and I continue it today with the 2nd album, released June 23rd. 2. Murder of the Universe Easily the most controversial of the five albums, Murder of the Universe closes out the “Gizzverse Trilogy,” the three-album-spanning pseudo-narrative epic the band unwound starting with I'm in Your Mind Fuzz and Nonagon Infinity. Most of the internet discussion of this album centers around two things: the “story” and the abundance of spoken-word. Which of course must be addressed as immediately as it is presented in the album; that is, of course, immediately. Separated into three “chapters,” The Tale of the Altered Beast, The Lord of Lightening Vs. Balrog, and Han-Tyumi and the Murder of the Universe, each section employs extensive spoken-word bits, separated by musical sections more obtuse than any previous release of the band in their rhythmic changes and explosive screeches, screams, yelps, shouts, and various other guttural expressions, effects which only serve to enhance the utter unhinged-ness of the album. Although in my opinion the spoken-word never once overshadows the music, and in fact only compliments it as the passages provide clear musical progression with the band easing up during the speaking, only to explode in a froth of nasty noisy riffage in the interim, to many the album will appear to be saturated to a fault with boggy spoken word, slowing down the momentum and interrupting “the flow.” Coming down to a matter of opinion however, obviously, the album will appear genius to others, myself included, especially those of us pre-disposed to spoken-word elements and narrative debauchery. Although “simpler” in instrumentation than FMB, each player knows his role to a tee, and the ensemble of sounds could not have been further perfected, building, climaxing, descending, and occasionally utterly disintegrating with well-rehearsed ease. The album is not perfect either, however, as repeated listening’s reveal the triteness of some of the music next to one another, and some of the more tongue-in-cheek moments could easily come across as contrived, with the seemingly constant call-backs to the band’s previous escapades, (see I'm in Your Mind Fuzz, Nonagon Infinity, and even Paper Mache Dream Balloon). Harkening back to previous work as often as it does, the album may be the most prevalent example of fan-service in the musical world, although that comes along with some of the heaviest, most aggressive and avant garde music the group has ever produced, venturing heavily into black humor and the macabre with themes of death, transhumanism, the circulatory nature of the universe, cyborgs, and vomit. My personal favorite of 2017. Favorite Tracks: Digital Black, Vomit Coffin, Altered Beast IV, Least Favorite Tracks: Some Context, Soy Protein Munt Machine Overall rating: 8.5/10

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

WIDR FM has been given the opportunity to get to know Longface, the Chicago group that will be headlining for our this year's Battle Ground: Shake's Noteworthy for creating an unhinged musical satire around its namesake character, Chicago’s Longface employs clever guitars and elegant vocals to form a unique blend of twang, discord, and pop. An absurd universe of characters draws heavily on the curious imaginings of Kentucky-born artist and songwriter, Anthony Focareto (vocals, guitar). Focareto is a veteran of Chicago DIY, having led acts including New Diet and Regular Fucked Up People. He has stomped around the city’s haunts for more than a decade, living the nomadic plebeian lifestyle parodied in his newest creation. After years of more straightforward rock projects, Longface is a decidedly more experimental pursuit that freely associates Focareto’s country-inspired folk leanings with his penchant for grimy urban noise. He is supported by a group of inspired musicians including Glenn Curran on guitar (Man Without a Head, co-founder of Sooper Records), Dillon Kelley on bass (Coaster, New Diet), and Kain Marzalado on drums (House of Normandie). Focareto broadcasts the ills of modern society through the Longface character in an attempt to divine his freedom from them. The end result is equal parts confession and satire; a world where beer-drinking bumpkins, urban hipsters, and starving artists melt unevenly into a monstrous sideshow of rock n’ roll Americana. In heavier moments, Longface confronts social isolation, substance abuse, and economic stagnation. In lighter moments, he radiates a folksy playfulness and embraces the role of whimsical storyteller. He is haunted by demons, yearning for a return to grace, and trying to catch a break. The debut EP (“The Life and Death of Longface,” 2015) told the story of Longface’s adult years, and his sojourns between country and city. On its follow-up full length, “Hillbilly Wit” (Sooper Records, 2017), the band trades narrative for theme. They concentrate on embodying the sound of Longface more than they do articulating any specific tale. “Hillbilly Wit” is a musical tapestry where infectious vocals, noise rock, and dark comedy materialize into an album made for the jukebox of a cosmic roadhouse. It is, however, not completely devoid of an organizing principle. The final track, “Hornswoggled,” contains a reveal: the album is a compilation of lost songs recorded by a now-missing Longface, found by his Pa-Paw and Uncle Jackie. The individual tracks are therefore experienced as a series of musical vignettes shedding light onto the contours of a greater Longface saga. Titles like “Candy Store Robbers,” “Deep Fried American Dreams,” and “Howdy” are emblematic of the album’s thematic nature. A medley of visual content accompanies the roll out of “Hillbilly Wit.” The band undertook a lengthy collaboration with artists, photographers, and filmmakers to illustrate its vision for the first time. Artist Jennifer Cronin painted iconic album covers. Photographer Natalie Escobedo captured otherworldly images. Visual artists Ryan Gregory, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, and Mark Skala each made music videos to capture the universe on screen. Can you tell me a little bit about the band and its background? How did you get into music? We have all been playing music for many years because music was something we liked to listen to. Sometimes when you try and make it yourself you fall in love with it as a mode of creative self-expression, and as a conduit to an actually existing community of like minded people. How did you meet? We all met playing in other bands around the city of Chicago for the last decade. Where are you from? Longface is from Chicago. Have you always had the same sound – how has it changed? We try to mix noise with pop and twang, and do it in a way that can be both heavy and soulful. Our latest album "Hillbilly Wit" is a much more cogent expression of that sound than our first EP ("The Life and Death of Longface"). Our sound progressed between records when we made more fleshed out songs wierder, as opposed to writing progressive musical movements and placing vocals on top. Before all of that we all played in other types of rock bands with varying sounds. Who inspires you? Community, art, love, and the potential goodness of humanity; other musicians and artists and people who pursue life with passion and/or spend their time taking care of the people around them. How long have you been together? 3 Years. What is each band members role in the group? Anthony Focareto - Vocals, Guitar Dillon Kelley - Bass, Back Up Vocals Kain Marzalado - Drums Glenn Curran - Guitar Do you have any fun facts you’d like to share about Longface? Longface is a loosely conceptual project, driven by a fictional character named Longface and the colorful universe he lives in. The whole thing is part biography, part social satire. Dark comedic muck-raking rock n' roll Americana. Do you guys have any upcoming projects or anything special you would like to share? We would really like for people to check out the video for Crescent Moon, a big production that we spent a lot of time on in order to try and capture the Longface universe visually. The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2PMIh-UirQ How did the band get its name? Dillon said it one time at practice. I think it was one of those "cool possible band names" that band people sometimes keep in their back pocket (sometimes for years). Where can we listen to/download your music? You can listen to our music on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, etc.) as well as on Bandcamp, Sound Cloud, and the website of our record label, Sooper Records. Just look for Longface and/or "Hillbilly Wit" and you'll find it. Who is your favorite Scooby Doo character? Scrappy-Doo Longface will be headlining at Shakespeare's Lower Level with Atsuko Chiba and WIDR's Battle of the Band winner and fan favorite on March 23nd.

WIDR FM has been given the opportunity to get to know Atsuko Chiba, the Canadian group that will be playing before Longface for our this year's Battle Ground: Shake's Can you tell me a little bit about the band and its background? How did you get into music? Have you always had the same sound – how has it changed? We all got into music for different reasons, but the reason we started this band was to have a musical outlet that didn’t have any restrictions. We wanted a project we’re we could attempt anything and not feel like we had to stick to a certain pattern or formula. Because of that, our sound has definitely changed a lot since we first got together. At the beginning, we we’re completely instrumental, and leaned more towards a typical post rock sound. Over time, different styles, techniques and instruments made its way into the fold, including an increasing presence of vocals. How did you meet? Where are you from? We we’re all born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. We’ve all known each other since high school. Eric, Kevin and I (David) played in a band that often played shows with Karim and Anthony’s band at the time. Who inspires you? We take inspiration from music and films of any genre. We have a lot of respect for groups like The Mars Volta and filmmakers like Fellini who transport you to other worlds through their art. How long have you been together? The band has been together for almost 7 years now. We first got together at the end of 2011 and played our first show as a 4 piece one week after that. Anthony joined the project just a few short months after that. What is each band members role in the group? Anthony Piazza: drums, live projections David Palumbo: Bass, Vocals Eric Schafhauser: Guitar, Synths Karim Lakhdar: Guitar, Synths, Vocals Kevin McDonald: Guitar, Synths Do you have any fun facts you’d like to share about Atsuko Chiba? A fun fact about Atsuko Chiba would be that we control all lightning and projections ourselves. Eric and I (David) control 2 sets of lights via footswitches right beside our pedal boards. One controls bright white lights and the other controls colored lights. Anthony is in charge of everything projections. He is able to trigger the different clips and manipulate them with different effects by using his SPD and drum triggers. Do you guys have any upcoming projects or anything special you would like to share? Our main priority right now is writing new material. We have been demoing ideas for the last few months and we’re really happy with what we have so far. It’s still very early in the game to tell if we will release an EP or a full length, but so far the music is quite different than the stuff we’ve released in the past. We will be testing out one of the new tracks on our upcoming US tour that brings us to Kalamazoo on March 23rd! How did the band get its name? The band got started by booking a show before we had any material or even a name. We we’re scheduled to perform at an event put on by the Concordia University music department the following week (a few of us we’re in the Electro Acoustics program at the time). Kevin had just watched the movie Paprika whose main character is called Atsuko Chiba. We thought the name fit the very experimental set we put together for that performance. We never looked back since. Where can we listen to/download your music? https://atsukochiba.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/atsukochibamusic Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and all other streaming services Who is your favorite Scooby Doo character? It’s all about Scrappy! Longface will be headlining at Shakespeare's Lower Level with Atsuko Chiba and WIDR's Battle of the Band winner and fan favorite on March 23nd.

Mark your calendars WIDR listeners and get down with us at Shakespeares lower level for our Battle Ground celebration Friday, March 23rd. Our battle of the bands 2018 winner and your “fan favorite” will be performing alongside touring bands Atsuko Chiba and Longface! Atsuko Chiba is a liberizing band from Montreal, Canada whose sound ventures beyond the boundaries of genre conformity. They have revamped a blended sound of experimental prog- rock, post-punk, hip-hop, and psychedelica, creating their own exceptional sound. Their experimental compositions carry you across an unpredictable soundscape generating both soothing and dissonant tones. Their unshared sound spawns a rare experience for listeners, an inventive aesthetic. Atsuko Chiba has self released all their music, including their recent 2016 EP, The Memory Empire. Hailing from the city of Chicago, Longface presents a folky brew of twangy pop-rock. Kentucky born lead vocalist and guitarist, Anthony Focareto’s idea of Longface was inspired by the tensions of modern reality. The band creates a musical narrative expressing the desire to retire from the weight of urban society while being conflicted with enriching opportunities of artistic growth. This paradox creates both playful satire and solemn disclosure throughout their music. The smooth vocals, transcendent melodies, variance from soft-folky inflections to an erupting grunge of guitars and heavy rock produces a collaborative work of art. Here’s a collaborative playlist made up of bands: 1. “Wasabi Hands” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire A thrilling vigor in vocal delivery. Singer Karim Lakhdar throws you right into this psychedelic rock tune. The rigid rhythm drives this piece along with the hip-hop energized vocals and clean guitar. 2. “Demonsta Titillates” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire The erie introduction to this lengthy arrangement keeps listeners on high alert as it fluently transitions over to steady guitar riffs. The sharp stop cuts the sound, sending listeners into a whirlwind of psychedelic rage. 3. “Crescent Moon” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit This charming song is the first track on their newest release. It’s delicate melody and pleasing vocal harmonies resemble a lullaby, a first taste of the playful irony present throughout the album. The lyrics describe longing for the view of a crescent moon descending over an orchard. Instead, they only find the moon slamming beers. 4. “Deep Fried American Dreams” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit Riding off that delicate intro, track two is met with a bitter explosion of astringent rock. The disorienting vocals and screeching guitar seem to be pulling Longface down the rabbit hole of reality. 5. “Panicopation” , by Atsuko Chiba off the EP The Memory Empire This song really illuminates the unexpectedness of their sound as a whole. They pull you from a hard and clean cut rhythm drivin section and send you into a mesmerizing build of synth. The use of layering the keyboard adds a nice touch to this tune. 6. “Hillbilly Wit” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit This eponymous track continues with the experimental rock sound, adding a touch of blue illumination with female vocals accompanying Focareto with harmony. Lyrically, this song is a great account of their musical satire and the different characters represented in the albums universe. 7. “Escameteur” , by Atsuko Chiba off the album Jinn Changing gears, this song provides a highly contrasting feel in comparison to the mass collection of heavier tunes. Being the first track on their album, its hypnotic sound does a fantastic job reeling in listeners. The vocals and flute present intoxicating tribal undertones, leaving you with wanting more. 8. “Crime Jazz” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit Slowing down and creating a more placid feel, Focareto’s smooth vocals are almost reminiscent of Thom Yorke. The separate harmonic recordings of his voice skim smoothly over top of his melody, creating a glossy feel. 9. “Tidings” , by Atsuko Chiba off the single Figure and Ground With a similar vocal sounds as Wasabi Hands, the hip-hop derived vocals aggressively call your attention. The use of synth and pedal really embellish the sound while the screaming vocals and sweeping guitar drive the song home. 10. “Candy Store Robbers” , by Longface off the album Hillbilly Wit This tune leans towards the soft-rock side... or as Longface has called it, “dad rock”. This easy going, rainy day tune has a sweet melody with lots of color in the harmonies.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. With eight albums in six years, two self-promoted music festivals, and an independent record label that boasts artists like Babe Rainbow, the Murlocs, and even The Oh Sees, they’re hard to ignore. They’ve conquered the Australian psych scene ever since previous champion Kevin Parker decided to make a synth pop record, and after releasing seminal masterpiece Nonagon Infinity in 2016, one of the best records in a year that included David Bowie’s Blackstar, Swan’s The Glowing Man, Death Grips’ Bottomless Pit and DRAM’s Big Baby D.R.A.M., they had their task at hand and their work cut out for them going into 2017. And if eight albums in six years is impressive, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Over the next five weeks, I’ll be reviewing all five, count them, five, albums the band released in 2017, and in the end comparing them and discussing the band’s trajectory forward, before ranking the albums, as what else is there to do but reduce art to numbers? 1. Flying Microtonal Banana The first of the five, released February 24, 2017, Flying Microtonal Banana seems to have risen to the top of the 2017 heap in many fans minds. An “exploration into microtonal tuning,” the album lives up to the name, with almost every song having a microtonal section, often in mind-blowing solos book-ended by catchy hooks and infectious grooves. Similar to Nonagon Infinity in its tight rhythms and complex riffs, it’s easy to see how the album is the de facto “crème of the crop,” but personally it falls short. Overly repetitive in some areas, (see Rattlesnake Doom City) some of the songs work better as live concert ragers, to which I can personally attest, than standard listening material, and although prevalent the microtonal aspect could stand to be a little more ubiquitous, with such a strong harkening towards the concept in the marketing and presentation of the album. I nitpick, but the album is far from perfect. It’s far above even above-average, however, providing an engaging, and occasionally challenging, romp through sounds so natural the album appears to be a fifty-minute jam the band just decided to release, despite the complex music arranged and mixed to perfection. Favorite Tracks: Doom City, Nuclear Fusion, Billabong Valley Least Favorite Tracks: Anoxio, Flying Microtonal Banana Overall rating: 7/10

This week I got the chance to sit down with my close friend Jordon Buell, known by his stage name Jazz Prince, to talk about his music. During our conversation, I had the chance to get to learn about his inspiration, aspirations, and style. Below is a comprehensive summary of the interview. - Where are you from, and over the next couple years where do you want to go? I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan! My entire life I was raised in Portage though. My moms side of the family is actually from Canada, so that's pretty cool. In the next couple years, I wanna be wherever my music takes me. I have no control over what happens in the grand scheme of things only God does. I am going to work my ass off to get to where I need to though, which is on tour hopefully, with a record deal. No matter what I will always live in Michigan; so maybe I'll end up somewhere near Detroit? - What first got you interested in writing songs, specifically the hip-hop genre? Ginuwine. He was the first artist/music I ever heard growing up. He’s probably my biggest influence musically as well. That sound Timbaland and him made is something that can never be duplicated. What got me into hip hop though was just the culture, breakdancing, the clothes, and just about everything that revolved around it. I just grew up in hip-hop. I never grew up listening to anything but hip hop and RnB. No bands, just hip-hop. It's in my blood. I just love the rawness and passion in it. Its changed my life as well as saved it. - Who or what inspires your music? Experiences, love, pain, anxiety, family, women. It really just depends. I wanna be the most diverse artist that I can be. I love being able to put my exact thoughts on a paper and challenge myself to be the most clever person I can. The artists that inspire me the most are Ginuwine, J.Cole, Drake, Tupac, Biggie, Jodeci, New Edition, etc. It just really depends on the vibe. - What’s your favorite style of hip-hop/sub-genre and why? I love gangsta rap. West coast stuff specifically. Although, Get Rich or Die Tryin is one of my fav albums of all time and that's an east coast album. - As a hip-hop artist, where did the name Jazz Prince come from? Well, Jazz comes from the melodic sounds I like to experiment with. I love the sounds of a sax or trumpet being used in a sample, which you’ll hear in my upcoming project. Prince comes from Prince, the artist. He is one of my biggest inspirations ever. Also, just royalty. - What are your upcoming projects and where can people find your music? Currently, I am in the process of working on my debut album “ The Long Way Home” which will be on every platform you can stream! You can get my music on basically any streaming platform, but the majority of my music is on Soundcloud currently. Stay Tuned! - What’s something people don’t know about the Jazz Prince that they should? I can break dance probably better than 90% of people I know. I'm also a really chill, laid back, guy. On top of that I am really into sneakers, but something that most people really don't know, (because it can be embarrassing) , is that I’m a mamas boy.

WIDR is off on a wider adventure than our normal walk in the wood, and sacrifice of a student DJ. WIDR is traveling to the NYC this weekend for the IBS conference! We hope to learn a lot from the many talks happening, and take the knowledge back with us to Kalamazoo, for the glory of the WIDRLand. You can listen to our NYC playlist here. 1. “Mack the Knife” by Ella Fitzgerald This cover of a famous tune done by Ella Fitzgerald is just so upbeat, and fun that it seemed silly not to start our trip out on a high note! Also as we move forward on the playlist, we will also move forward in NYC music history. 2. “Somethin’ Stupid” by Nancy and Frank Sinatra This duet between a father and daughter was the pick, as it seemed none of the songs with Frank alone seemed to be enough, but add painfully sad music, with the thought of that Seinfeld episode makes this my NYC pick. 3. “Rock & Roll” by Velvet Underground This VG chart is one of the well known songs to come from the group. Velvet Underground played a huge role in influencing the many artist around them in NYC, and even became managed by Andy Warhol 4. “Primitive” by The Groupies A band not known for being huge in the NYC scene, this band recorded one track, primitive, and rode the wave it provided. I have very little on this group, but found the song interesting enough to want to put it up. 5. “Vicious” by Lou Reed A simple song by the most hard to deal with member of the velvet underground, Lou Reed's “Transformers” album sparked new life in the early 70s. Inspiring yet again more musicians 6. “Chatterbox” New York Dolls A band people should be getting familiar with if they follow my playlist at WIDR the dolls inspired the punk attitude, style, and much more. You can NYC without the Dolls. 7. “Born to Lose” by Johnny Thunder & the Heartbreakers Out of the ashes of the NY Dolls Johnny T started and drum started a new group with former Television bassist Richard Hell, pushing NYC into punk with more force. 8 “Don’t Worry about the Government” by Talking Heads Hands down this is one of my favorite Talking Heads songs, and it will be easy to see why this might just be another odd song on a album full of such, but its ironies make this song something that stands out. 9. “Can I Kick It” Tribe Called Quest Rap music wouldn’t be anywhere close to what we have now if it was for Tribe. While this isn’t some deep cut, and may people may have heard it, I thought the call back to Lou Reed again, was an interesting mix of two worlds of NYC music 10. “Hard to Explain” the Strokes Off their debut album, the Strokes launched rock music back into the popular charts with this album. We learn that being rich kids from NYC has its advantages. This band is the perfect simile for the buying out of NYC. 11. “The Kids don’t Stand A Chance” Vampire Weekend This indie pop group from the upper side of NYC is the newest of the bands out of NYC, and they are the least edgey, has New York lost its edge? With no more CBGB's that remains to be seen. Wish us luck on our journey, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the music.

Grand Analog is a Canadian based band that blends reggae and hip hop in a feel-good, groovy way. The band formed in 2002 as a short-lived rock band by Odario Williams, who revived the project in 2006 with a new sound in mind. Grand Analog’s first album Calligraffiti was released in 2007 and their following album was released in 2009 titled Metropolis Is Burning. Metropolis Is Burning charted for several weeks following its release. The third album Modern Thunder was released in 2013 and in 2015 the band’s fourth album released: Roll Dub Soul Rap. Their newest album Survival features Odario Williams and brother DJ Olfield Williams, Warren Bray on bass, TJ Garcia on drums, and Aubrey McGhee on saxophone. I was born in 1998, so I had very little experience in the 90’s. My biggest milestone in the 90’s was probably learning to walk. Listening to this album though makes me feel as though I lived in the 80’s and 90’s. There is an unmistakable feel of nostalgia in this album that makes me miss a time that I don’t even remember living. The album as a whole is very jazzy and makes you want to groove. In earlier tracks – especially Survival Mode and Stardust – it 100% sounds like what 90’s psychedelic art looks like. Later tracks like Ballad of the Beast take on a devil-may-care rap attitude. Survival is an album that reminds me of Gorillaz in the way that it mixes rap with old-school beats to make a perfect recipe for head-bopping. I listened to this album many times through as I wrote and, honestly, I had a hard time keeping my thoughts straight because I just kept jamming out and relaxing to the music! Not to mention, I immediately followed them on Spotify so that I can continue to listen to not only this album, but their other albums as well. Is this an album that I would recommend to everyone? I have one word to answer that: yes. Track Listings: Survival Mode, Quiet Life, Stardust, Mutations, Everyday, Ride On/Oshiya Dub, Ballad Of The Beast, Survival: The Levy Best Tracks: Survival Mode, Stardust, Mutations, Ride On/Oshiya Dub

You can listen to DJ Dirty Bird's Playlist on Spotify here. 1. “Help on the Way/Slipknot!”, by the Grateful Dead off the album Blues for Allah. This song is a classic example of the Dead’s groovy psychedelic jam songs; A riff-centric verse and chorus intermingling with solos and more orchestrated soli sections. Perfect opener to any radio show 2. “Reba”, by Phish off the album Lawn Boy. This is formatted a very similar style to the previous song. Riffy verse/chorus mixed with a huge jam interlude. Very different, more sophisticated sound than that of the grateful dead. 3. “Apostrophe”, by Frank Zappa off the album Apostrophe. Another jam song, mostly guitar solo and heavy riffing. Transitional song that leaves what comes next pretty open. 4. “Fluff”, by Black Sabbath off the album Black Sabbath. Despite being associated as the original heavy metal band, this Sabbath ballad is something that’s actually appropriate for church. Fully acoustic, Sabbath proves that they have a gentler more beautiful side behind all the chaos of their music. Sets up well for more acoustic pieces. 5. “The Only Living Boy in New York”, by Simon and Garfunkel off their album Bridge Over Troubled Water. More acoustic music! A much more mellow vibe at the point in the playlist. Easily my favorite Simon and Garfunkel tune, beautiful melody and haunting harmonies done inside an echo chamber. 6. “Cannock Chase”, by Labi Siffre off his album Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying. Very similar vibe to Simon and Garfunkel with the picked guitar and beautiful voice. This song is slightly more orchestrated and the snare drum really keeps the energy of the song up. Beautiful melody and refrain. 7. “Sarah”, by Alex G off his album Trick. Much more contemporary acoustic song, but still beautiful nonetheless. Very meaningful lyrics, you can really relate to them. One of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard. 8. “Surfing”, by Triathalon off their album Lo-Tide. Feel good up tempo surf influenced song, great to bring the energy back up. Very simple song but still very catchy, much like the Alex G song. 9. “Lysergic Bliss”, by Of Montreal off their album Satanic Panic in the Attic. This is another feel good song and a great song to close on as it transitions towards the end and fades out on a jam, just like the playlist started on.

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

Back in my hometown, there’s this place called Gunther Toody’s. I’m not sure if there are any here in Kalamazoo, but it’s this cute little 50’s themed joint. Visiting Gunther Toody’s in the 21st century feels like this album. Born Ruffians is a Canadian band that started in 2004. Comprised of Mitch Derosier, Steve Hamelin, Luke Lalonde, and Andy Lloyd, Born Ruffians has released four studio albums. Their first album was released in 2006 and the group grew from there. They have appeared on CBC Radio 3, toured Canada and Australia, appeared on Skins, appeared in numerous commercials, and were featured in Nirvana the Band the Show. They have also toured with groups such as Franz Ferdinand, Caribou, Peter Bjorn and John, The Hidden Cameras, and Tokyo Police Club. Additionally, their album Red, Yellow, and Blue was nominated for Pop/Rock Album of the Year during the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. Their 5th album Uncle, Duke and the Chief is scheduled to be released February 16, 2018. Uncle, Duke and the Chief is, simply put, beachy. It might be the most feel good album I’ve heard yet. This 9-track album goes back and forth between mellow and upbeat, creating an atmosphere I could definitely be productive to. The album’s bright vocals remind me of groups such as Vampire Weekend, Grouplove, Foxygen, The Shins, and Fox Wilde. Additionally – and I’m not sure if everyone else would agree with me – I get a Frankie Valli 50’s vibe from the album. Maybe it’s the beachy feel, or maybe it’s just me reminiscing being in the car while my mom played his music, but it’s a good feeling nonetheless. You want to know what I picture when I hear this album? I picture myself on the beach with my friends. It’s night, and the stars are out. It’s a little bit chilly, but we don’t mind; we’re just being college kids, we’ll face the consequences of being out in the cold tomorrow. It feels just like a commercial. I can’t express just how feel good Uncle, Duke and the Chief is. This is the album for when you don’t feel your best, like maybe the world is against you and you need a pick-me-up. It’s even the album when you feel on top of the world and you just want that confirmation that you’re all-that. Either way, I know that this won’t be the last time I listen to Born Ruffians Uncle, Duke and the Chief. Track Listings: Forget Me, Miss You, Side Tracked, Fade To Black, Love Too Soon, Spread So Thin, Tricky, Ring That Bell, Working Together Best Tracks: Miss You, Fade To Black, Tricky, Ring That Bell

This weekend I had the opportunity to sit down with The Space Wanderer and learn a little more about his music, style, and what he has planned for the future... Where are you from? What instruments do you play and how/where did you learn to play them? I am from Buffalo, NY originally but didn’t become The Space Wanderer until I went to school in Northern California. I play everything adequately and the internet taught me. What made you want to be a musician? My goal as a musician is to give people the same feeling on the dance floor or in their headphones that my favorite bands and DJs do for me. How would you explain your musical taste, style, and genre? My style varies from album to album. But ultimately I try to convey a feeling or emotion in every track. I like to think that I’ve crash landed on some distant planet and just decided to say “fuck it I’ll make a song” instead of sending an SOS. So each song is a glimpse of some lonely part of the universe. What or who inspires you? I find myself endlessly inspired by live music. When I go to shows I often over analyze the production on stage from the lighting all the way down to the pedal boards and synth setups. Seeing other musicians perform and reproduce their music gives me a insight into the emotions and ideas behind their sound and drives me to create in a similar way. What's next for The Space Wanderer? Any upcoming projects, tours, or goals for this upcoming year? I am working on releasing 12 albums this year. One every month. The first one Yukon is out now! I am also planning a West Coast tour for the fall! How did the band get its name? The Space Wanderer is a character from the Kurt Vonnegut novel "The Sirens of Titan." One of his aliases is The Playboy of the Solar System, which was also the name of my debut album out last year on Postseason Franchise Records Any fun facts, or interesting things that The Space Wanderer fans don't know but might want to/should? My friends say the most interesting thing about me is that I own a ridiculous amount of Shaq records.