KWCW 90.5 Walla Walla

On the Kdub computer is the list of all the best music we’ve reviewed this glorious year: all you have to do is scroll through to your fave genre and boom! you’ve got all the albums, reviews and lynx <3 to put on your show! We in the music director department will keep it updated and fresh, just keep watching out for the FCC WARNING TRACKS so we don’t get fined, like, billions of dollars. also if someone accidentally closed the tab, it’s the excel file saved on the desktop ;)
Now, without further ado, here are the links you’ve all been waiting for!
Yo La Tengo – “For You Too” Noted They Might Be Giants enthusiast Calvin Lincoln goes into the details of the brand new There’s a Riot Going On, calling it “a mix of some soft and pleasant indie stuff with a bunch of ambient soundscapey tracks in the middle; really atmospheric and cozy.” Certainly, a modern classic from a classic band.
ALBERT HAMMOND JR. – “Far Away Truths” MD extraordinaire Tess Carges calls Francis Trouble, “nothing too out of the ordinary but it extends the former Strokes’ lead guitarist’s pretty darn good solo career. This album is filled with punk guitar riffs, reminiscent of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, The Walkmen, and of course The Strokes! Seriously good!! Also a little more poppy than usual!” Thanks Tess, this track is killer!
Lauren Ruth Ward – “Make Love to Myself” Avid music consumer Hayden Cooper loves this new album Well, Hell and tells us that Ward “sounds so old-school and simultaneously badass as she affirms herself over tracks like "make love to myself”… Ward just kills it feeling hyper-confident and in control, not going to let anyone tell her how, who or when to love.“
YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN – ”Yandere“ Co-head music director Cory Cogley says that the new record Dirt of experimental metal band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan "uses sounds that have been before, but melds them together to make them unique and interesting… "Yandere” mixes heavy and progressive metal drums/guitars and keyboards with hip-hop and orchestra.“ Awesome record! This one cannot be missed folks! Naked Giants – ”SLUFF“Sir g00briel himself calls Naked Giants "my dudes.” Indeed, sir. Indeed.

Yooooo everybody’s listening to singles this week I guess….. we got so manyyyy from the vaccines, little dragon, Courtney Barnett, ANMLPLNT [wtf??], and of course the legendary Between the Buried and Me! OK now that we got the lynx out of the way let’s see the album pix…..
Tess: Superorganism by Superorganism This debut, self-titled album from Superorganism is…. captivating/enchanting/outlandish/funky/far-out/and-FUN-as-heck. This album has everything: Frankie Cosmos-like vocals floating above EDM beats, Beck-like guitar riffs, ethereal synths, and drums worth grooving to.This band met via the interwebs, bonded over a love of memes, and decided they wanted to create uhhh dare-I-say the hottest new album of 2018? And now these musicians from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and England live in a large house/recording studio in London (I envision the house from the Beatles movie Help!) and make beautiful tunes. The world has yet to designate a genre to the crazy fusion that is Superorganism, perhaps indie/pop/grunge/edm/techno/sadgirl/happyband. Led by seemingly timid but super badass vocalist Orono Noguchi, this band produces original & authentic tunes. This album is poppy but not obnoxious, consistent but not redundant, angsty but not despairing, and just really worth a listen. Tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 are pretty good…. but in particular, 2,3,4 (i’ll stop there) are songs you shall dance to.
Gardner: How to Socialize & Make Friends by Camp Cope Three words to describe this album-raucous, real, refined. This sophomore album from Australian feminist punk trio Camp Cope preserves the DIY feel of their first release while moving into more sophisticated rock structures, and is a clear step forward in the music career of a group that has already sold out the Sydney Opera House. Emotionally, this album revolves around cycles of loss, growth, and resilience. Musically, their trademark lyrical honesty and raw vocals front big drums and absolutely ripping, evocative guitar throughout the record. The title track from this album is the most powerful track, a real banger, but other tracks like Sagan-Indiana artfully navigate the world of melancholy punk, wistful yet brash. All in all, this album is a compelling testament to the evolving artistic capacity of this group. And again, the guitar in this album really rips.

Gabe: Radyo Siwel EP by Melissa Laveaux My dear lord this record shakes the soul. Start with track one to know what Mellissa Laveaux is all about, but if that don’t tell you, Nan Fon Bwa (trak 2), Angeli-ko (traq 3), and Kouzen (trec 4) certainly will. Le Ma Monte Chewal Mwen starts off slow–& lemme juss call into the limelight the rich simplicity of the percussion on this album, and that track highlights sum mbaqanga-like pluckage sprinkled over top. I can’t do justice to Melissa Laveaux’s voice, nor should I have to–listen to the album folks. And look this woman up! if it’s somehow not accessible for u, before this, the vast majority of her releases have been in English. She is Canadian-born with Haitian heritage, and this album, she claims, is a tribute to her Haitian ancestors & relatives. The album is primarily sung in Haitian Creole (which is a French-based creole language wid Spanish, taíno, and west African influences) and the result of a trip she took to Haiti in 2016 to reconnect with that heritage. It features several artists from around the Carribean and begs a constant stream of listens. Too good for words :0
Calvin: Riddles by Ed Schrader’s Music Beat This new release from Ed Schrader and bassist Devlin Rice shifts effortlessly between chaotic dance-punk songs and shimmering piano-and-synth-laden ballads. The duo enlisted oddball electronic producer Dan Deacon to help write the album, and his footprints are all over it. A lot of the songs skip verses and choruses and instead let the music build as Schrader chants the same melody again and again over hypnotic instrumentals, featuring strong basslines and pulsing polyrhythms. Check out the infectiously sinister opening track “Dunce”, or “Riddles” for some arena-ready synth-pop in the vein of Future Islands.
Hayden: Insecure Men by Insecure Men What a way to come out kicking. This debut album has a wonderfully unique sound to it. The interesting noise spilling out of these insecure men made up of quirky midi-sounds, arcade game samples and little chimes grow and become a little more prominent as the album progresses, but never over-saturateS the core of this album. A gentle, weird, and quiet pop that just sorta floats. Don’t let the soft sounding songs confuse you tho, Saul Adamczewski sings about some really crazy stuff… the dude struggled/struggles with drug addiction and lets you know about his ups and downs (mostly downs). The dude sings about dying with Whitney Houston and for some reason, it’s not melancholic but almost joyous and relieving. The next and last track on the album does exude some sadness, but it wasn’t like sadboi music that sucks you in and makes you feel like a used cigarette butt. Anyways, please watch this video.

Cory: Moaning by Moaning The perfect balance between angst and atmosphere - Moaning’s debut finds a talented trio delivering a shockingly cohesive post-punk set, wavering from tense distorted riffs to shoegaze-y jams a la My Bloody Valentine. With the support of Sub Pop behind them, the songs are excellently recorded, sounding clear and soaring against the overall gritty dissonance. Opening track “Don’t Go” will be enough to hook you, but make it to the end for a rewarding final few tracks (including a few fun rockers like “Misheard” and “For Now.” Lyrically and musically mature, powerful, and hard-hitting, Moaning take classic cues from other post- bands like Slowdive and amp up the intensity to give each track an extra, well-deserved push. Give some love to the new bands out there - this one will not disappoint.

Let’s not forget the legend herself, Lucy Dacus! New album Historian is out now and it’s a true front to back classic! Have a good sprang brake and get this new music rolling out on your shows!

TESS: Ezra Furman: Transangelic Exodus This album is awesome. It loosely tells the story of a queer duo’s road trip as they fight the system and flee across the country. Furman has a crazy knack for storytelling within an album. With gravel-like vocals, mesmerizing drum lines, occasional horn solos, and a lead singer claiming to be “babbling on in exile,” this album is a shameless, defiant escape from heteronormative expectation. And I love it! It’s kind of like Springsteen’s Born To Run if Springsteen were queer and not America’s one and only patriarch. Also, this album has some Wolf Parade vibes which makes me love it all the more. I especially recommend tracks 1 & 7 & 9 (“Love You So Bad”). Thanks Tess! One of the best albums of the year if i do say so myself
Calvin: Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy Folks, this album has everything. It’s got a one minute song, it’s got a sixteen minute song. It’s got drums that sound like they’re from the 60s, it’s got drums that belong on an LCD Soundsystem album. It’s even got a bunch of weird little spoken word bits. anyways this album came out in 2011 as a one man recorded in a bedroom kind of thing, but it’s been remade this year as a polished full band kind of thing now that Car Seat Headrest is more popular, and the difference shows right away. Tracks like “Beach Life-In-Death” and “Bodys” have been transformed into huge indie-rock anthems that take full advantage of the improved production, and new additions to the songs keep this version of the album fresh for fans of the old one. Will Toledo’s lyrics are witty, introspective, and often quotable, with a loose story pulling the whole album together. My only complaint is that some of the quieter songs worked a little better as vulnerable, lo-fi ballads than they do on this cleaner recording, but otherwise the new production only adds more depth to the music.

Hayden: Ought - Room Inside the World This Canadian post-punk band oozes a trance-inducing album that’s got a gentle little spook to it. Unlike some trances that invite you into comfort and harmony, Ought creates a world with a bit of grit as it dives into itself calmly saying “wash away my body I don’t need it” and that you can order your liberation online. The album confused the hell out of my mind as it seamlessly mends indie bedroom pop and scratchy reverb. Very impressive and every listen adds value to the unique sounds, this definitely appreciates in value and I sure as hell appreciated its value. Great review! Here’s “Disgraced in America” iz a good one folks

Gardner: Robert Earl Thomas - Another Age Robert Earl Thomas is known as the guitarist for indie rock group Widowspeak, and is a pro at hazy, lilting guitar melodies that aren’t too fast or too slow, but somewhere in the middle that feels just right. He brings his talents as a songwriter and a performer to his first solo release. This album is relaxed, reflective, and pleasantly jangly, a spacey foot tapper. Thomas’s voice is a bit airey, not so much detached as tired ala The Smiths. Additionally, there’s a skillfully evocative, ambient aspect to this album that reminds me of the slower War on Drugs songs. Versatile and tasteful while sufficiently different from his work with Widowspeak, you won’t regret listening to the title track and highlights “What Am I Gonna Do” and “I Remember”. A truly soothing soft indie rock release for your week.

Gabe: Shannon & the Clams - Onion Shannon and the Clams’, in my opinion, best release thus far has the expertly produced sound of a remastered album from the 1950s. Thanks to Dan Auerbach, who took them under his wing for dis, derr 5th studio album. The album starts off FUERTE with a toucher & feeler of a song: “The Boy”. “if you ever change your mind//touch me and then teach me how to cry” – they sing, with a dingly little strummage on the guitar, harking back to the same epoch of guitar strummage as the Growlers do. Shannon shares vocal duties with high-profile clam Cody Blanchard, and their two sounds go together so well that sometimes you don’t notice the vocalist has changed. The songs on this album display the day-to-day struggles of A Dude striving for fredum,hapinis,luv,et cetera–positing wonderfully that normal folks have a lot of drama, emotion, love, bitterness, in their erry day lives. and it’s so real. and it is BeAuTiFuLL! If I were to complain (and i am not gonna complain but if i were gunna) I would say that these songs are 2 short, and they seem to come to an artificial close. they were 2 yung to die! let em roll, Dan… lol wut

and last and possibly least…..Cory - A Perfect Circle - “TalkTalk” One of the best songs this band has released, this new single comes from their upcoming album Eat the Elephant (the first in 14 years I might add). A successful bridge between the heavy moodiness of Mer de Noms and the softer moodiness of the Thirteenth Step; it’s really a great song but unfortunately I bet only the fans would understand. Watch out for bad words kids!
We will never forget the other cool picks from this week, from Dr. Dog, Flyte, and Million Miles also the MDs just really wanted a bunch of extra picks this week idk lol

We’ve been waiting for you…….Welcome to the third installment of the Newt Music Blast of the fall 2017, please have a seat and listen very carefully to what I am about to say
This week’s new music blast brings some suggestions of safe, reptilian-friendly music to play on air. Let’s start with this stegosaurus, straight out of a grungy New Jersey sewer (peep their album “left turn on red”, it’s out for College radio, but nowhere on the internet!). And continue on with another Horrible conspiracy, and finally, this riot grrrly supergroup.Of course, all directly approved by our reptilian overlords
But before the lizard people get too impatient, let’s move on to some pIcksssssssss..

​Gabe: Frogleg – Busy Checking In
Amphibian of the week! This groovy group provides the jammy pop to get you bouncin in the morning! Sometimes we can tell how a song (or album) was written just by hearing its sounds & structure, and for me this entire album clearly came out of a series of jam sessions by the talented frogleg musicians featured, only later to be constructed into Songs complete with storiez and talez and versez and fun. From the skilled but simple percussion to the carving guitar and jazzy piano, the instrumentation on this album is definitely a highlight. And on the songs Tommy and Isabelle and First Thunder First Rain, the lyricism is on par with those sounds. check it out if u like Natural Child, Dawes, or Lettuce

Cory: The Preatures - Girlhood
“This Australian band has really outdone themselves on this new record. Honestly, I am not really sure how to categorize this. Sure, it’s definitely infectious indie pop/rock, but there are hints of so much more; I can hear threads of melodic alternative, psychedlic dream pop, and folky alt-country. And weirdly enough, this is not on isolated parts of songs; these qualities persist simulatenous throughout the album. Clearly ‘80s inspired, this mixes gorgeous classic rock-style melodies with a tinge of sadness behind each lyric of singer/keyboardist Izzi Manfredi. Throughout the album, she brings the listener through all the many woes of womanhood in the era of millenials, but specially utilizes this epic topic to focus on the intimacy of every detail. For instance, the soaring chorus on the title track (listen below) shows us an identifiable feeling of empty longing, while making evident that it is SHE that is speaking, that she is the human subject who is "dancing in denial.” As much an in-depth personal confession as a grand statement about all women, Girlhood is a must listen for the lost and weary who still want to feel the warmth of summer" Infectious and real! Deceptively upbeat… I like me this one

Gardner: Reptaliens - FM 2030A representative of their kind provided by our very own reptilian “friends?”

Gardner sayssss: “This sinous electronic album will have you zoned out in no time (See the first lyrics off the second track, "if you want to get high”). Husband and wife combo Cole and Bambi Browning bring you into their “pyscedelic dreamspaces” with plush synths, Bambi’s soft crowing, sneaky horns, and even what sounds like an occasional triangle. This album plays less electronic than it appears after the first song, with sleepy guitar underlying most all of the slow-grooving tracks that possess winding, layered buildups of easy melodies and distorted vocals. I bet this couple is effing chill. Some of the songs on this album remind me of if Chromatics and Mac Demarco collabed (see Simulation and 666Bus). Highlights include Nunya, Butter Slime, and If You Want. This album was a total sleeper"


Calvin: Kelsey Kerrigan - Primary Colors
“Kelsey Kerrigan blends the driving bass and pounding drums of post-punk with sugary-sweet pop melodies, resulting in a bright, catchy album. Kerrigan stated that her intent for this project was "to make sad music sound happy,” which definitely rings true. The rhythms and riffs that you’d come to expect from post-punk are here, but they’ve been recast in a major key and aren’t so overtly heavy. That said, Kerrigan’s matter-of-fact delivery suggests that there’s more to these songs than the music is letting on at first listen. Check out “Driving Around” or “What Was the Last Time” for a taste!“

PLUS: check out Ezra Furman’s new single and give the weird Gogol Bordello tape a chance too! That’s all we got for this week folks! I hope it was enough to stave off these hungry creatures.Look alive,

Gabe: Mount Kimbie – Love What Survives
Mount Kimbie and King Krule are meant for eachother. Well, the same could be said for both James Blake and Micachu–and guess what, they’re all homies! Every song with a feature on here is fantastic, and the stuff in between does great biding the time. “biding the time” sounds a little dubious, but that’s really how i experience this album. Those highlights could use some space in between them, and what mount kimbie brings is light, but sonically dense electronic music with a really impressive array of sounds. Blue Train Lines (ft. king krule) and Marilyn (ft. micachu) are my two favorites and i also like sp12 beat to throw in an instrumental track.

CORY: Myrkur – Mareridt
“An absolutely stellar release - there needs to be more music like this in the world. This project, created by pop artist Amalie Bruun, is a mix of black metal, eastern european folk, and ambient music. This really shows Bruun coming into her own as an artist. Despite being in Danish, each song resonates with an incredible beauty and vulnerability that echoes with the pain and sorrow of the whole human race. Also, did I mention she wrote and played nearly every part of the album!? Because of the crazy sexism of the metal community, I encourage all of you to open your minds and give this music the spins it deserves - recommended tracks from me are 1-4, 7, and 8.” Here’s Ulvinde with a pretty incredible video

PAUL: Florist – If Blue Could Be Happiness
“GOOD album right here. 10 songs of lovely, melancholic bedroom pop. wrap yourself in a soft blanket of reverb and sweet sounds, this is some calm and introspective music. strongly reminds me of Frankie Cosmos and I’d say if you’re into that you’ll be into this album. shows centered around indie music in general should def be able to find a place for some of these tracks.” check out this 1

CALVIN: Ariel Pink – Dedicated to Bobby Jameson
“Ariel Pink is known for his larger-than-life faux Hollywood persona and funny, bizarre songs set to 60s pop influenced instrumentals. However, he drops the theatrics for this record, instead providing a set of blissful, personal tracks. Other than a few holdovers of his old style (Santa’s in the Closet is the most unsettling holiday-themed song I’ve ever heard) Pink chooses to focus on creating a consistently dreamy atmosphere. His nostalgia for the music of the past is still as clear as ever, but the songs here are hazy and sincere, yielding surprisingly heartfelt results. A few of the standout tracks are Feels Like Heaven, Another Weekend, and I Wanna Be Young, but the whole thing is good as h-e-” double hockey sticks! Stellar review from Calvin here, check out this videoo ^^


GARDNER: Faith Healer – Try;-)
“Wowie! Imagine Alvvays and Vagabon had a cousin who listened to a lot of Grateful Dead jam recordings and you get something like this album. Full of clean garage rock-style instrumentals, intelligently dark lyrics and a voice reminiscent of SnailMail, Try;-) is consistently enjoyable and I have been vibing all week. The first three tracks on the album and the title track are all moody bangers. Faith Healer’s musical chops show through in her grasp of subtly complex rythms underpinning her deliciously fuzzy guitar solos.” This song Might As Well kicks u while you’re down