THE ITHACAN

Song of the Week: “Amongster”

February 26, 2012

I just recently started hearing about this band, Poliça. I never really made an attempt to dig into their catalogue until my friend asked me what I thought about them the other night. So I decided it was time to figure out what was up with Poliça. Good music is up with Poliça. This…

Olympic Proportions: Blur, New Order and The Specials

February 23, 2012

It was announced this week that Blur, New Order and The Specials will be bringing the curtain down on the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The three staple British outfits will be playing Hyde Park during the closing ceremonies. This is interesting for a variety of reasons. We have three very different bands: Brit-pop…

Song of the Week: “Puppets”

February 19, 2012

In a world dominated by dubstep, some electronic artists continue to lead a resistance movement in the form of house, disco and shoegaze. One of these acts is Welsh duo Man Without Country. You may remember me posting about them months ago when I first discovered their music. While the band has not conducted…

Ruminating On Roo

February 18, 2012

On Tuesday, Bonnaroo announced its lineup for this year’s festival, which is held annually in Manchester, Tennessee. This year’s fest will be held from June 7th through June 10th. Bonnaroo continues to be regarded as one of the big four major festivals in the United States next to Coachella, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Here…

Dave Grohl Readies “Sound City” Project

February 17, 2012

Even though he just hauled in five Grammy awards on Sunday, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is showing no signs of resting on his laurels. Grohl recently announced he is involved with a new documentary called “Sound City.” “Sound City” is inspired by a recording studio in San Fernando Valley where Nirvana recorded. Grohl…

Scandinavia Rising

February 12, 2012

I feel as though people sometimes forget music is made in Scandinavia. Most of the focus remains fixed on the United States and Britain. While I am a self-proclaimed Anglophile as far as music is concerned, Scandinavian artists are making some incredible music right now. Here’s a quick list comprised of my favorite Nordic acts.…

Song of the Week: “Sonic Armada”

February 12, 2012

French electronic duo Air has returned with their sixth studio album, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune.” What seems to be French electronic musicians’ obsession with operating in pairs? We have Air, Daft Punk and Justice. Whatever works, I guess. Who am I to question three excellent bands? Anyway, Air’s “Sonic Armada” is the song…

Ba-Rock Obama

February 10, 2012

Regardless of your political leanings, you’ll probably be hard-pressed to criticize President Barack Obama’s 2012 Campaign playlist. Obama’s list samples from a variety of genre styles, but relies heavily on soul, folk and rock to try to win him a second term. Some notables include Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait,” Florence + The…

Song of the Week: “Love Interruption”

February 5, 2012

One year and three days ago, The White Stripes ceased to exist. Jack and Meg White took to their website to announce their split which cast a gloomy pall over the garage-rock world. Since that bit of depressing news, Jack White has concentrated mainly on his record label, Third Man Records. But White is…

Fulfilling My Desire

February 4, 2012

I’m celebrating the release of the movie Drive this week by listening to the soundtrack almost daily. Whenever I take a break from my listening, it’s usually to find other artists that would fit the compilation. One of the tracks on the soundtrack is “Under Your Spell” by a band called Desire. I decided…

Aubrey Plaza Makes Music Video Debut

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • January 31, 2012

Some of my close friends know I have a mild obsession with comedian/actress Aubrey Plaza (April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation). Naturally, she is one of my favorite characters on the program besides the mustachioed demigod of masculinity, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). Today I heard Plaza was involved in a music video for J.…

Masterpiece

January 29, 2012

I don’t like using the term “masterpiece.” Coming from someone who is admittedly hyperbolic, it can be a dangerous word to throw around. It’s definitive and, in my opinion, the end-all-be-all of artistic praises. If you read my album reviews in the print edition, you’ll know that I give glowing remarks to just about everyone.…