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Manchester Orchestra Album Review: "Hope" - BY: Emily Balog, Editor

I was recommended Manchester Orchestra’s most recent album Hope at the behest of my General Manager and dear friend Ryan Garner here are WXVU. I confess that I had not heard much of the Atlanta, GA natives' music until this point. I’m more of a folksy-anything-with-a-harmonica-or-banjo kind of gal myself, but I trusted in Ryan’s advice and gave it a try.

I was told to find a quiet, comfortable spot. So, I grabbed my favorite coffee from Holy Grounds (salted caramel with cream - super healthy) popped up to the station in third floor Dougherty, slipped off my shoes (it happens, don’t judge!) and settled in for a quiet listen. I was completely blown away.

Manchester Orchestra slows things down in Hope, the acoustic accompaniment to the band’s fourth album Cope. Originally released this past September, the piece features the startlingly haunting vocals of lead vocalist Andy Hull, the gentle guitar riffs of guitarist Robert McDowell, and rich piano chords by pianist/percussionist Chris Freeman. The deep, melodic harmonies are reminiscent of a more atmospheric Head And The Heart or early Death Cab than an alt-rock-punk band.

It is without any doubt that this album makes the top 10 for my 2014 list. Disarmingly aching and beautiful, Hope has undeniably made a fan out of me. Within the past few weeks, I have been unable to pull myself away from this phenomenal re-imagining of Cope. I have listened to the album from start to finish a countless number of times and am fairly certain my roommate and I now know every word.

I now look forward to hearing more by Manchester Orchestra and plan to educate myself on some of their other music. It is in this light that I encourage our readers –if they have not already- to listen to Hope, a gorgeous alternative acoustic album to set your heart on fire.

Suggested Tracks:

"Girl Harbor"

"The Mansion"

"The Ocean"

"All I Ever Really Wanted"

#newmusic #Collegeradio

2014: A Year In Music - BY: Emily Balog

Access to a constant supply of new music is arguably the best part of a college radio station. Living at the cutting edge, our DJ’s find the music that makes our listeners feel something; the diamonds in the rough. Whether it’s tap-your-toes-dance-to-the-beat-trumpets-blaring alternative rock or softly whispered love songs, WXVU endeavors to bring the best to Villanova’s Campus.

2014 was a year filled with incredible music. Top examples range from Alt-J’s summer hit: “Left-Hand Free” to the soulful musings of Hozier in his self-titled debut album Hozier. We heard from Banks with the darkly enticing “Begging for Thread,” who reached WXVU’s top charts several weeks in a row. Field Division released the atmospheric Reverie State and the world sighed in, softly lulled by the dreamlike quality of each verse.

It is important to note that access to all of this fantastic music and, indeed, the daily broadcast of 89.1 FM WXVU Villanova Radio, would be impossible without our promoters. On behalf of everyone at WXVU, a special thanks to: AAM, The Syndicate, Terrorbird Media, Never Better Promotions, Pirate, Planetary and all of our other promoters for providing us with years of music. We would be nothing without you.

As we ring in 2015, WXVU’s Executive Board would like to list some of our favorite discoveries from the past year. There is a little something for everyone. As always we strive to provide an eclectic blend of sound. Without further ado, here are the top Album’s of 2014 (at least in our opinion!). We hope you enjoy the music as much as we do. Thank you for listening:

Ryan Garner – General Manager

Here and Nowhere Else - Cloud Nothings

From Parts Unknown -Every Time I Die

Rented World - The Menzingers

Breath and Bloom - Gates

Michael Benson – Loud Rock Director

Elements of the Infinite - Allegaeon

The Joy of Motion - Animals As Leaders

3. Kindly Bent to Free Us - Cynic

Z2 - Devin Townsend Project

Time to Die - Electric Wizard

Katie Lee – RPM Director

Abandon Ship - Knife Party

Acoustic - Above & Beyond

ZABA - Glass Animals

Turn Blue - The Black Keys

Redux EP - Kaskade

Luke Bonomo – Public Affairs Director

Royal Blood – Royal Blood

Sonic Highways – The Foo Fighters

1984 – Ryan Adams

Get Hurt – The Gaslight Anthem

Something Supernatural - Crobot

Jonathan Wong – Programming Director

Asymmetry – Mallory Knox

La Gargola – Chevelle

The Predator Becomes the Prey – Ice Nine Kills

Devil – Chiodos

Versus - Emarosa

Emily Balog – Promotions Director

Hozier – Hozier

Hope – Manchester Orchestra

After the Disco – Broken Bells

Goddess - Banks

In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith

Denis McPhillips – Training Director

Supermodel – Foster the People

Paracosm – Washed Out

Summer Breeze – William Bolton

Relief – Vacationer

Listen – The Kooks

Technical Director Assistant – Brian Sakhuja

Worlds – Porter Robinson

Deliverance – Culprate

Mefjus – Emulation

Knife Party – Abandon Ship

The Glitch Mob – Love Death Immortality

Did we miss anything? Email me, Emily Balog, at [email protected] for the opportunity to write your own review to be published on our blog.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

#wxvu collegeradio newmusic

Top Station Albums Nov. 18 2014

Foxygen - ...And Starpower

Tv On The Radio - Seeds

Caribou - Our Love

Field Division - Reverie State

Fiance - EP1

Zola Jesus - Taiga

Zulu Wave - Jagorilla

Flight Facilities - Down to Earth

Alex G - DSU

Crying - Get Olde Second Wind

#newmusic collegeradio wxvu

Twenty One Pilots Concert Review - By: Megan Cooper

If you have never attended a Twenty One Pilots concert, you don’t know what you are missing. The so-called “schizoid-pop” band that played at last year’s Villanova Winter Concert puts on a show unlike any other. The band consists of just two people: singer/piano/key-tar/ukulele extraordinaire Tyler Joseph and equally awesome drummer, Josh Dun. What Twenty One Pilots lacks in size, they make up for in enthusiasm and musical talent.

One element that makes Twenty One Pilots’ concerts so great is exactly what the band would tell you: the fans. Joseph constantly reminds the crowd that there would be no concert without an audience; they are just as important as the band to create a good show. Twenty One Pilots fans –also known as “The Skeleton Clique”- are incredibly dedicated. On September 28th at the Tower Theater, I was fortunate enough to witness the full force of this clique. Fans were so excited that the band sold out not just one, but two nights at 3,119 capacity venue. By the time doors opened at 6:30 PM, there was already a line winding down the long street outside the theater.

Once inside with the crowd packed together like sardines, the night began with the up-and-coming indie-pop band Vinyl Theater. The band, which has recently signed on to label Fueled by Ramen, started the night off strong. Their new single, “Breaking Up My Bones,” was unbelievably catchy, and got the crowd moving as much as they could in such a tight space. Unfortunately, Indie-Pop band, Misterwives, was unable to perform due to the illness of lead singer, Mandy Lee.

After much anticipation, Joseph and Dun erupted on stage in their trademark ski masks with the energetic “Guns For Hands,”—the latest Twenty One Pilots song. The rest of the set included songs off their album Vessel, including hits like “Holding Onto You,” “Car Radio,” and “House of Gold”. The set was rounded out with a few short ukulele covers of “All I Do Is Win,” “Bugatti,” “Drunk in Love,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “Summertime Sadness.” These songs were a fun surprise and ignited the crowd with energy.

There were several notable moments during the show; beginning with Joseph walking on the crowd while Dun completed his signature backflip during “Holding Onto You”. During “Semi-Automatic, the fans carried an entire drum set above them while Dun played. Complete calmness engulfed the venue when the lights were turned off for the stripped-down favorite “Addict With A Pen”. During the final song, the crowd held up platforms for Joseph and Dun to stand on as they drummed the closing lines of “Trees”.

Towards the end of the show, Tyler announced to the crowd that this would be the final tour featuring songs off of Vessel, which they have been touring since its release in January 2013. This news meant just one thing to fans: a new album is on its way. Which also means an entirely new live show is in the works. So, clear your calendars music fans! Whether you are a dedicated member of “The Skeleton Clique,” or a fan in the making, Twenty One Pilots are sure to satisfy. Your standard for concerts will be changed forever.

Self-Help Festival Review - By: Sharon McEnearney

Last year, A Day To Remember brought together some of the biggest names in the alternative genre to create what would be known as the Self Help Festival. Due to it’s overwhelming success on the West Coast, A Day to Remember decided to extend the festival to the East Coast this year at the Festival Pier in Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia. With a bill including The Wonder Years, Bring Me the Horizon, Chiodos, The Story So Far and many more, the 9000+ tickets sold out quickly. I was lucky enough to be one of those coveted ticket-holders.

After waiting in a dauntingly long line of excited spectators, we were ushered through the festival gates. Once inside, I, along with many other fans, began claiming spots in front of the main stage to acquire coveted spots near the front of the stage. Others meandered over to the smaller second stage where lesser-known bands such as Gnarwolves, Crown the Empire, Cruel Hand and August Burns Red would be preforming.

Anticipation filled the air as first headliner Chiodos took to the stage. Perhaps it was due to theirs being the first set of the day, but the crowd was surprisingly calm for such heavy music. Despite this, Chiodos’ played a strong set, setting the tone for the rest of the festival. Front man, Craig Owens, ended the performance by reminding fans of the message behind the Self Help Festival: “it’s all about loving yourself”.

Following Chiodos came California-based The Story So Far. The crowd swarmed the stage as lead singer Parker Cannon walked out. However, despite initial excitement, The Story So Far’s performance fell short of expectations. Cannon rarely interacted with the crowd and his vocals sounded slightly off. The other band members lacked energy and enthusiasm. While a somewhat disappointing set, fans still enjoyed themselves as crowd surfers came from every direction and Cannon’s vocals could not be heard over the sound of the crowd singing along.

One of the top headliners of the night, The Wonder Years took the stage to thunderous applause. Made up of Philadelphia natives, the band gave it their all. With impeccable vocals and expert drumbeats, The Wonder Years proved how far they have come from their humble beginnings as a small-time Philly-based band. The set included a mix of old fan-favorites including, “Won’t Be Pathetic Forever” and “It’s Never Sunny in South Philadelphia,” as well as hits off their new record, The Greatest Generation. As the band wrapped up their set, front man Dan Campbell, known for his passionate speeches during concerts, paused to thank everyone from their hometown for supporting the band from the very beginning. He expressed how The Wonder Years would be nothing without their fans and exited the stage to another enthusiastic round of applause.

Other notable headliners included Bring Me The Horizon and A Day To Remember. Both groups succeeded in pumping up the crowd. Bring Me The Horizon attempted the dreaded wall of death, wherein the crowd divides into two sections and then on the band’s command, charge at each other as fast as possible and collide. The crowd happily obliged to front man Oliver Sykes request and the wall of death ensued. Luckily no one was reported injured, so Bring Me The Horizon’s set ended on a high note.

Finally, the main headliner of the night, A Day To Remember, came out to perform their set, making their presence known as they opened up with the song “The Downfall Of Us All” from their incredibly popular album Homesick. The band also played several songs off their newest album Common Courtesy including “Right Back At It Again” and “City of Ocala”. A Day To Remember also managed to accomplish something that some bands seldom do: they sounded just as good live as they do on their record. The band matched their studio sound almost note for note which was impressive, especially considering the fact that they have been tour nonstop all fall. As they left the stage, the band thanked everyone who made the very first North East edition of Self Help a success and hinted at the fact that the festival may return next fall.

All in all, Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing was a decent venue choice as it easily accommodated the number of attendees. The main drawback was that there was a singular merchandise table crammed into a little tent that could not adequately service the number of festival-goers. Despite some of its flaws, Self Help proved to be an enjoyable festival filled with music of some of the best bands out there. It was definitely “a day to remember.” (See what I did there?)

Top Station Albums Nov. 3

The Kooks - Listen

Cold War Kids - Hold My Home

Alt-J - This is All Yours

Pianos Become Teeth - Keep You

Tiny Moving Parts - Pleasant Living

Transit - Joyride

Hostage Calm - Die On Stage

Banks - Goddess

Zella Day - Zella Day

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Lose

#wxvu collegeradio newmusic

Alt-J : "This Is All Yours" Album Review - By: Stephanie Parker

Two years removed from their widely praised debut album: An Awesome Wave, Alt-J has done it again with the release of sophomore album This is All Yours. Band members Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Thom Green have managed to maintain their unique sound with breathy vocals and distinctive lyrics. Particularly interesting is the use of buzzing insects and flutes as interludes. These moments captivate the audience and beg them to listen closer.

Throughout the album, the listener experiences a variety of musical intrigue. “Every Other Freckle,” is a sensual ode to the beauty of the human body. “Warm Foothills” is a fascinating song featuring vocals from Newman, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Lianne La Havas, and Marika Hackman that are entwined together so seamlessly; the switch from male to female vocalists is nearly imperceptible. Particularly interesting is “Bloodflood Pt. II,” - a continuation of older Alt-J songs: “Bloodflood,” “Fitzpleasure,” and unreleased “353”. Though many of the lyrics are old, the song still feels fresh and new.

Surprising to Alt-J fans is the sleepy sound throughout most of This is All Yours. Save for the three singles (“Left-Hand Free,” “Every Other Freckle,” & “Hunger of the Pine”) this is an album best enjoyed curled up on a couch with a cup of tea. In stark contrast to the jaunting, punchy tones of An Awesome Wave, Alt-J manages to shift musical gears while maintaining the soul of their original work. Without too much gusto, the album is a wonderful exploration of sound and a worthy follow up to An Awesome Wave.

Rating: 8/10 ∆

#alt-j #newrelease #collegeradio

Cloud Nothings New Single "Psychic Trauma" - By: Ryan Garner

When Cloud Nothings released Attack on Memory in 2012 listeners were treated to an album which, while inconsistent, showed promise of what the band was capable of. Now Cloud Nothings has released their fourth full-length, entitled Here and Nowhere Else, which came out on April 1st.

On their most recent single, Psychic Trauma, the band has grown into a sound that is exciting and uniquely theirs. The song begins mid-tempo before really taking off at the 40 second mark. The highlights of the song are Dylan Baldi’s raspy yet catchy vocals and Jayson Gerycz’s furious drumming, particularly in the last 30 seconds.

Psychic Trauma is a track that will appeal to both fans of indie-pop and punk music, similar to the way that Japandroids did when they released Celebration Rock. If Psychic Trauma is any indication of the way the rest of Here and Nowhere Else will sound, Cloud Nothings should be poised for a breakout year.

Be sure to check out this great article on WXVU! Highlights the station and General Manager Steven Gulotta!

#college radio #WXVU

Modern Baseball "You're Gonna Miss it All" Review By: Sharon McEnearney

Modern Baseball may be a relatively unknown band, but it is one that you should definitely begin to familiarize yourself with. This four piece band, based out of Philadelphia, PA, released their sophomore album, You’re Gonna Miss It All, in early February.

Following the release of their first album, Sports, Modern Baseball became known for their catchy, infectious sound and sarcastic yet powerful lyrics. You’re Gonna Miss It All delivers plenty of the same material as Sports: carefully crafted acoustic introductions, strong guitar hooks and clever lyrics that cover topics ranging from Instagram and iPhones to the aftermath of dealing with a breakup and the struggles of growing up. While You’re Gonna Miss It All is quite reminiscent of Modern Baseball’s Sports album, it does provide proof that the band has grown both as musicians and people.

Modern Baseball has a sound that can’t quite be classified as indie, nor does it fit the pop or pop-punk mold. This unique sound has played a large part in the success of the band. You’re Gonna Miss It All tends to stick to the band’s strengths by utilizing a mix of acoustic guitar along with punk hooks with just a hint of the emo/indie sound. The overall sound of the band hasn’t changed much. Instead, Modern Baseball appears to have fine-tuned their sound. Songs like “Fine, Great” and “The Old Gospel Choir” really reflect just how much the sound of the band has improved.

More impressive than their musical growth, is the artistic development of the band’s lyrics. You’re Gonna Miss It All deals primarily with the themes of learning to grow up and dealing with problems almost everyone in their early twenties face. While many musicians try to keep songs dealing with these themes positive and hopeful, Modern Baseball doesn’t shy away from the issues at hand. Their songs have a very honest feel to them which makes them not only relatable but also wrought with raw emotion. The song “Two Good Things,” for example, contains the lyrics, “trying hard not to look like I'm trying that hard, failing miserably at everything including that. Making plans in my head right before I go to sleep, trying to think of who could make a better me than me,” something that every twenty-something has felt at least once. The song “Going To Bed Now” also drives home a major theme of the album stating: “I'll admit I'm in the same boat, caught between my adolescent safety net and where the world wants me to be.” It is this aspect of realism and complete honesty in the lyrics really helps give You’re Gonna Miss It All that little bit of edge which helps makes the album memorable.

As a whole, You’re Gonna Miss It All is a very strong album for a band that is quickly growing in popularity. There is no doubt that Modern Baseball has much in store as they continue on in their career.

You’re Gonna Miss It All: 9/10

Recommended Tracks: “Fine, Great”, “Apartment”, “Going To Bed Now”, “Your Graduation” and “Two Good Things”

MisterWives "Reflections" Review- By: Yena Lee

I work at “The Sparket,” also known as the Late-Night dining option on South Campus. I work three-hour shifts late at night, which can sometimes get boring. For this reason, my co-workers are always playing music to liven up the mood. Recently I heard about the band MisterWives. They just released an EP in 2014 called “Reflections”. The EP contains only 6 songs. They’re new to the music world, as shown by their limited following on their Spotify page, but the band shows great potential. Their style is laid-back and upbeat, with the exception of the song “Coffins”. My first impression was that the lead singer definitely shows similarities to one of my favorite artists, Ellie Goulding. MisterWives also has some great instrumentals surrounding their vocals. As a band-geek I appreciate the jazzy style from the trumpets and the details from the violins. It may be only their first EP, but I can’t wait to see what they’re going to come up with next, so definitely be sure to check them out.

photograph provided by pidgeonsandplanes.com

Top 5 New Album Additions This Week at WXVU

1. The Jezebels - The Brink

By: Matteo Patrera

Riding off their debut studio album, Prisoner, the four-piece Australian indie rock group is back sounding better than ever. With Intense tracks and bursting vocals that highlight a pop tone, The Jezabels are destined to remain at the top of the boards once again

2. Death Vessel-Island Intervals

By: Matteo Petrera

Death Vessel’s first album Stay Close, released group in 2005, received critical acclaim. As much can be expected for Island Intervals. Signed to Sub-Pop records, the folk/dream-pop band's smooth, haunting vocals and laid back style in Island Intervals are bound to capture the ears of many.

3. Sam Roberts Band - Lo-Fantasy

By: Matteo Petrera

Coming off their 2011 album release of Collider, Sam Roberts, vocalist extraordinaire, and his group return with an awesome new album. Lo-Fantasy is filled with upbeat mixes of indie pop and rock, ranging from the upbeat, poppy “Shapeshifters” to the slower, dreamier vibes of “Never Enough.” A personal favorite.

4. Skaters - Manhattan

By: Matteo Petrera

Skaters has been hailed as “everything we wished The Strokesstill epitomized,” band. Grungy, garage-y, fast paced songs are the basis of the album, blended with the embodiment of the Los Angeles skate culture that the band originates from.

5. Thumpers - Galore

By: Matteo Petrera

London alt-pop duo Thumpers, riding off the massive hype stirred up by their single “Sound of Screams,” has put out a great new album. Galore is filled with melodic, synth driven pop and is sure to bring in tons of popularity for the relatively new group.

#wxvu #college radio #college #death vessel #sam roberts band #skaters #thumpers #newmusic