Just as Mirrors in Your Eyes turned Soundpool away from shoegaze and into the realm of disco pop, this reply from fellow indie electronic artists takes them even further.  The only hints of shoegaze remaining are the soft, ambient vocals that seem to contribute to the atmosphere instead of driving the song forward.  By the nature of a remix album, every song is unique and stands apart, and they are all worth the time to listen.  I’m sure there were remixes to every song on the original album, but the remix album only gives the songs worth listening to.  Sit down, listen up, and enjoy a wide variety of styles that are all connected by the distant vocals that set Soundpool apart from the rest.

Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 4

–NM

Scorched Transmissions’ S/T debut is a work of art that has its ups and downs. Consisting of three members, Future Metz (Rapper), Avitar Virgonian and JD Casten, the group makes a Hip Hop album that definitely sounds original. For example, the track “iFold” features one of the most creative Hip Hop beats I’ve ever heard; the track is also unique in that rapping is used more like a sample and that makes rapping part integrated into the overall flow and development of the beat. From song to song the style of beats can range from Hip Hop to ambient, drone, electronic and trip hop. Lots of varying instruments are used to enhance the overall mood of the album, such as jazz instruments, and this works in favor of the band’s music. The producer is clearly talented and many of the highlights of the album can be found in its clever and atmospheric beats. However Scorched Transmissions is not a perfect album. Though his rapping sometimes help develop the song in a good way, often Future Metz’s plain rapping usually gets in the way and prevent the music from its full maturation. He does try varying his style by switching between spoken words and normal rapping, but he generally speaks at an awkward time and his flow is way too simplistic; his talent as a rapper is far from being impressive. Scorched Transmissions’ debut work wasn’t an impressive release, but it was a release that caught my attention. It would be interesting to see how they develop from here.
Grade: B

~by Tad Machida

Tune in Thursday night at 8:00 PM to Pregammin’ for an interview with award winning director Adam Pesce as he discusses his recent documentary SPLINTERS:

In the 1980s, a pilot left behind a surfboard in a remote seaside village in Papua New Guinea, a land known for cargo cults and cannibalism.

Twenty years later, the sport of surfing is splintering Vanimo Village. For select surfing talent, it’s a way out to compete in the “whiteman’s” world. Personal and clan rivalries emerge as hopefuls claw for this prestigious position. The countercultural sport is also a unique catalyst for social change as women gain newfound status in a violent, patriarchal community.

The surfing experiment comes to a head when four village surfers compete in the country’s first-ever national surfing titles. As the village grapples with its identity, these young heroes dream their surfboards will carry them to a better life.

So tune in Thursday night to Pregammin’ at 8:00 PM for an interview with director Adam Pesce.

For more information regarding the film and screening information, please visit www.splintersmovie.com.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, UCLA Radio is giving away VIP tickets to an advanced screening of The Vow! The screening is taking place on February 8th at the ArcLight Hollywood at 7:30PM. Just head over to our Facebook page to find out how you can win.

A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife (played by Rachel McAdams) in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband (Channing Tatum) endeavors to win her heart again. The Vow has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for the following reasons: an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language.

To find out more about the movie, like it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter, and check out the trailer below. Don’t miss The Vow when it hits theaters February 10th!

In a musical scene that is currently dominated by debut albums, buzz bands, and the blogosphere, it is altogether refreshing to see an established band like Wilco thrive. I don’t really know why, but to hear a band 16 years on release an album as driving and energetic as their early records is as rewarding a musical experience as one can have. For this reason, few albums last year topped The Whole Love in my eyes, and few tour announcements excited me like Wilco’s three night stint in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, my wallet dictated that I could only attend one of these shows and so Friday night I rode into Downtown with a palpable sense of excitement. I arrived at the theatre a few minutes before Wilco took the stage and got a glimpse of the venue, one that had been in disuse for years but is easily one of the most beautiful in Los Angeles and produces perhaps the best sound quality in L.A alongside the Wiltern and the Music Box. Wilco took the stage and opened with the restrained “Less Than You Think,” an unusual opening song for a band full of explosive introductions. However, they segued the subdued sounds of their opening song into The Whole Love’s “Art of Almost,” its explosive solo signaling the true beginning of the set. From there, the band played a slew of songs from The Whole Love, each one benefiting exponentially from the live setting, upbeat songs like “I Might” finding a much fuller sound than explored on the record and lower key songs like “Black Moon” finding increased lyrical power in the intersection of lead singer Tweedy’s guitar and vocals. Interspersed in this first half were deeper cuts from the experimental A Ghost Is Born and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, of which “Radio Cure” signaled a shift in the band’s set towards its more emotionally and sonically powerful songs.

Beginning with Sky Blue Sky’s “Impossible Germany” the set went into new territory with a Nels Cline solo that lasted at least 5 minutes and for lack of a better word, brought the place down. Now listening to any Wilco album, it’s easy to see Nels Cline is a talented guitarist, but listening to him rip into solos like he did last Friday night puts him up there with the best guitarists in the business right now. I had the pleasure of sitting next to his amp on the right side of the stage and delighted in my face melting off during his solos. I never thought I’d say that about a “Americana” group that makes frequent use of string instruments. After “Impossible Germany,” Wilco played a series of songs that drew from their entire discography and had even the most subdued crowd members singing along. Summerteeth’s “Hate it Here” and “Can’t Stand It” (my favorites of the night) meshed perfectly with current hits “Whole Love” and “Dawned on Me” while fan favorite “Heavy Metal Drummer” brought perhaps the loudest sing-along of the night. The set closed with the closer staple “A Shot In the Arm,” and the band reluctantly left the stage.

They weren’t gone long. Guitar in hand, Tweedy began the encore much like he had the main set, with a subdued rendition of YHF’s “Reservations” that built into a wall of sound through “Handshake Drugs,” “You Never Know” and “Walken,” the latter of which received another hefty Cline solo. Pulling back, Tweedy reached way back with Being There’s “Red-Eyed and Blue” and “I Got You (At The End Of The Century)” before closing the encore with the surging “I’m A Wheel” that built into a beautiful symphony of crunching guitars and pounding drums before ending with a defiant scream from Tweedy. Good set? Yeah I’d say so.

I was far beyond hoarse. My usually quite stable glasses had been removed a few songs earlier to better facilitate my head-banging ways and I had somehow shifted into the aisle while flailing away. It was quite the powerful set. Funnily enough, Wilco has never been that band for me. They have always been a consistently engaging group that I frequently listen to, but for some reason or another, they just hadn’t hit me yet. You know how music just clicks sometimes? You listen to an album a few times before it really comes together? I had been listening to Wilco for years and it had never hit me. Needless to say, after last night, it hit. Now I just need to figure out how to scrounge enough money to see them in February..

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you were born sometime around the early 90s. Sure feels like you’ve been alive a long time, hasn’t it?

Now imagine a band that was formed at the same time you were born and that’s still rockin’ out with new stuff to this day. Such a thing exists, and they go by Nada Surf, an alternative rock band comprised of Matthew Cawes, vocalist and guitarist, drummer and backup vocalist Ira Elliot, and bassist and backup vocalist Daniel Lorca. Hailing from New York, the band became popular with a song of theirs entitled “Popular” (what I did there – do you see it?)  The song was off of High/Low, an album of theirs that came out in 1996, and managed to the 11th spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, an amazing feat without doubt.

Thus far, the band has released 7 albums, the newest of which is called The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy and came out on January 24th, 2012. Nada Surf is known for their tendency to make music that transports listeners to worlds of their own, offering an escape of sorts through their enchanting melodies, lyrics, and beats; they manage to do exactly that – again – with their aforementioned newly released album. Nada Surf also creates pieces that are easy to relate to, an example of which is off The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, titled “Waiting for Something,” and it’s a song that’s already emerged to the public thanks to many college radio stations.

Nada Surf explains that with their newest album, they made an attempt to stick with the rawness that comes with unaltered, freshly recorded versions of their songs, choosing not to overthink what they play and “just go with it,” as director Dennis Dugan tried with Adam Sandler & Jennifer Aniston – except it actually worked in Nada Surf’s favor, for The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy successfully carries on Nada Surf’s legend as musical geniuses.

On Monday,  January 30th, 2012, Amoeba Music has done fans of the band a favor by presenting a live show right in the store, allowing shoppers and listeners of Nada Surf the freedom to browse the store as they listen to what is sure to be an amazing performance. And here’s some good news – no need for a ticket giveaway, ladies and gentlemen – it’s all ages and completely free.

For more information, be sure to check out Amoeba’s page about the show.

See you there!

Shuteye Unison

Album: Our Future Selves

Genre: Rock/Post-rock

I was expecting something loud, rough, and noisy when I turned on the first song. But then the album began to blend the rock-y, riff-y instrumentals with more mellow vocals, and there’s something attractive about it. The album develops a very ambient sound, almost to the point of eeriness. Good for 3am background music. Call me crazy, but the wispy whispering vocals almost remind me of Ben Gibbard.

Rating: B

Tracks: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

Sounds like: Silversun Pickups

We’ve got tickets to go to the advanced screening of the upcoming thriller The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe. The screening is taking place on Tuesday January 31st at 7PM at The Grove. Tickets are first come first served. Just follow us on Twitter @uclaradio to find out how you can enter to win!

In this supernatural thriller, widower Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), whose grief has put his career as a lawyer in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric…but upon arriving in the hamlet, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret.  Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost…and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance.

Don’t miss The Woman in Black when it hits theaters on February 3rd. For more information, like the movie on Facebook, follow it on Twitter and check out the trailer below:

Twin Sister is a dream pop / indie pop band hailing from the East Coast.  Their sound is similar to that of Beach House, Real Estate, and I think possibly comparable to a more instrumental Metric.  The band is fronted by Andrea Estella, who’s vocals smoothly drone into the melodic pop sounds of Twin Sister.  They released their latest album In Heaven last September and found their song “Daniel” becoming a hit single among the blogosphere.  As Twin Sister heads out on their North American tour, they are making a stop at The Echo in Los Angeles and UCLA Radio is giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets to go and see them.

Listen to The Banana Stand on UCLARadio.com from 7-8 PM on Monday January 23rd for your chance to win!

Event Info:

Twin Sister w/ Ava Luna @ The Echo on Feb 3, 2012.

UCLA Radio is giving away tickets to see the new movie, Underworld Awakening, valid throughout the run of engagement starting when it hits theaters on January 20, 2012! Head over to the UCLA Radio Facebook page to find out how to enter to win!

Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

To find out more about Underworld Awakening, like the Facebook page and follow the movie on Twitter. You can also check out the official trailer, below.

Want to help out an up-and-coming band, but don’t know who to get behind?

Look no further!  The band LA Font has a Kickstarter campaign going to raise money to record their next album.

Go ahead and click on: LA Font’s Kickstarter Campaign

Who is LA Font?

Did you really not click any of the above links?

LA Font is an indie-alt Los Angeles band making a new album.

To hear their stuff and to see some of the good press they’ve been getting, well, just click one of those links.

And…that’s it.

Send LA Font some money soon.  Be a part of making something cool.

Seriously.

-DJ Octoon

Smog City’s own Bambu will be hanging out with URBAN ROOTS this Saturday Jan 14th. We will have a conversation about how he got started, speaking truth to power, and organizing in the community. Get free downloads from www.Bambu.LA also January 19, 2012: Bambu Live at The Echoplex (with Rocky Rivera and Rhythm Natives) Tix still available! 

To kick off the quarter, UCLA Radio is giving you another chance to win a new phone! We are giving away the new BlackBerry® Bold 9930 on the UCLA Radio Facebook page this week in preparation for The Kick Off, taking place on January 12th in Ackerman Grand Ballroom!

The BlackBerry Bold 9930, runs on the Verizon network and is a powerful smartphone offering the thinnest BlackBerry yet, with the iconic BlackBerry keyboard and gorgeous high resolution touchscreen making this smartphone the best of both worlds. The BlackBerry Bold 9930 helps turn your ideas into action and be bold in 2012.

For more information visit: http://blackberry.com/bold. Don’t miss The Kick Off this Thursday at 8:30PM in Ackerman Grand Ballroom, with headliner Dillon Francis. You can get more information by visiting the website here: http://thekickoff.weebly.com/

To enter, like the UCLA Radio Facebook page and follow the instructions in our status. Winners must be able to pick up their phones on the UCLA campus. They will be announced on Thursday, January 12th. Good luck!

In honor of Drive returning to the ArcLight Hollywood, FilmDistrict will be raffling off a jacket and prize packs during the Q&A with Albert Brooks after the 7:20pm show in the theater on Friday night, January 6!

If tickets are sold out on Friday, fear not: The film will play at the ArcLight through January 12th, and we will be running a contest all week long on The Drive Facebook page. Here’s how you can enter for a chance to win a scorpion jacket or a Drive prize pack:

Find the Drive poster in the main lobby by the coffee cart of the ArcLight Hollywood and take a picture of yourself next to it.

Post this photo to https://www.facebook.com/DriveTheMovie NO LATER THAN Thursday night, JANUARY 12, 2012.

One random and lucky contestant will win a scorpion jacket, and another 10 random and lucky contestants will all win prize packs.

That’s it! Best of luck to everybody!

Don’t call it a comeback: Script Doctor Eric and his sidekick Matt have returned from vacation to do their popular screenwriting podcast: Scriptcast

This quarter, (Winter, 2012) Scriptcast will be recorded Wednesdays, 10am-noon right here on UCLA Radio.

Want to listen live?  Is it Wednesday?  Yes?  Then check your watch: if it’s between 10am and noon, click the “Listen Live” headphones at the top of the page.

If you miss the show, rumor has it they post the episodes in the form of that new-fangled thing called a “podcast” and can be found on iTunes if you search “Scriptcast.”

Another rumor has it that because of the podcast numbers, it happens to be the most popular radio show in the history of UCLA Radio.

A screenwriting podcast is the most popular show at UCLA Radio?

Yes, but on this screenwriting podcast they actually have big-time screenwriters, like Nick and Jeremiah, and actual celebreties like Randall Park.

Okay, one celebrity.

The show also plays unsigned music.  (I do the music for the show: Email your track if you want it played.)

And if that’s not enough, there’s witty banter between Matt and Eric.

Much witty banter.

See you Wednesday.

-DJ Octoon