tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294783752023-11-15T09:54:24.698-06:00The music/mp3 blog of Rach, the college radio music manager. There are pony rides and free cotton candy!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-5478581287763526682007-05-25T16:03:00.000-05:002007-05-25T16:19:47.494-05:00

I don't know about you folks, but sleep hasn't been a priority lately. You'd think that summer would yield those nice 11 hour shifts of rapid eye movement, but when you're a Fort Worth socialite like me (ha), you don't get the shuteye you require.So, here's a nice not-quite-soporific, yet certainly soothing track by The Republic Tigers, signed to the fledgling OxBlood Records (with label-mates

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-16959741998255579912007-05-24T09:45:00.000-05:002007-05-24T10:01:03.956-05:00

Oh, Cassette Deck blog, how I've missed you.Funny how summer project/obsessions slip through the cracks when "real comittments" spring up. You know--a full courseload, two jobs, some cobbled-together effort at social interaction. Well! Now it's summer again, and I've retired to my hermitage (the office where I work.) It's the place where the chairs are ass-ache inducing and the glow of the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1154097285333305932006-07-31T15:02:00.000-05:002006-07-31T15:13:08.110-05:00

I feel like I've been missing out on something beautiful and amazing for far too long. Her name is Neko Case.I recall a trip to CD Source years ago with my friend Leslie--she was gushing about The New Pornographers, and accordingly purchased Mass Romantic. We listened to "Letters from and Occupant" several times on the car ride home. For all intents and purposes, it's the quintessential indie

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1154097856281369262006-07-28T09:34:00.000-05:002006-07-28T09:44:16.300-05:00

Hey folks. Sorry I've slipped away for the past ten days or so; I've been doing a little writing for Texasgigs.com and getting clips together to write for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of these days.) We'll see! I've also been fairly obsessed with Neko Case as of late, so that's occupied most all of my usual rumination time. More on that later.I wanted to post a link to the full Anathallo

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1153253455539954552006-07-18T14:43:00.000-05:002006-07-18T15:12:27.556-05:00

Many changes are underway at KTCU. We're actively working to better promote our station while scheduling bands to come to the studio for interviews and live performances. With a new Station Manager, Program Director, and two new Modern Rock Managers (I'm one of the latter), we're striving to fuse KTCU with great "indie" music (the overarching term!), both on the local and national level. So

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1152805069739632732006-07-13T09:24:00.000-05:002006-08-10T15:51:46.953-05:00

When it comes to band names, it is essential that one keeps an open mind and sloughs off any preconceived notions of the band's material--i.e., listen to the music before deciding whether or not you'll enjoy it. It may seem obvious, but judging bands by their names is a conceit that I am regrettably guilty of from time to time. While it may be a widely held belief that a band called Take A Razor

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1152718812446772952006-07-12T09:58:00.000-05:002006-07-12T13:38:31.670-05:00

Recently, I've picked up on a couple of criticisms of Sufjan Stevens floating around in the ether, one a particularly hard-line case posted on Allmusic, and the other more of a comment-in-passing from Goodhodgkins. (Great essay!)While I admit that Sufjan's persona is swaddled in pretension despite his "humble" demeanor, and his acclaim is perhaps overblown in the indie sphere, I find myself

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1152283935305249692006-07-07T09:42:00.000-05:002006-07-07T09:52:15.316-05:00

I just realized that all but 3 or 4 pairs of my laundered undergarments are at my parents' home an hour away. Shall I ...A. spend $1 to wash 3 or 4 pairs of panties, orB. just go buy a package of cheap ugly panties ?C. or just not wear any panties?I'm leaning toward option B. I need some more cheap ugly panties anyhow.Here are a couple of songs I'd like to dedicate to my estranged panties.+ A

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1152207529647065092006-07-06T12:20:00.000-05:002006-07-06T12:38:49.663-05:00

I am back, wholly, completely, and relieved to be in one piece. The 13 hour drive to Chicago (and back again!) with several bodies and two dogs of varying size is daunting, but doable. It was nice to see family, despite the circumstances, and I was able to partake in some sinful deep dish stuffed pizza. Nothing can top Chicago-style pizza. NO THING.For your listening pleasure, some fun upbeat

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1151330366439477252006-06-26T08:42:00.000-05:002006-06-26T09:00:58.570-05:00

Good morning all...sorry about the slacking in posts lately. My grandpa passed away on Saturday, so I'll be in Chicago Wednesday through Sunday with family. Won't be posting until I get back, so hang tight.Stella Rose has their new full-length out. It sounds great. They're a highly talented local flavor, not to mention really nice folks, and if you like Bush and Stone Temple Pilots, you will

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150986223558328722006-06-22T09:00:00.000-05:002006-06-22T09:27:07.286-05:00

The Millennium explored the charted waters of 60's psychadelic pop, treading where The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, and The Association have tread before.And you know? The Association reference is quite merited--The Association's producer, Curt Boettcher, is the motivating force behind creating The Millennium. Who'da thunk.Their own description fits well:"Boettcher and his friends came up

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150835486480045032006-06-20T16:05:00.000-05:002006-06-20T15:47:24.176-05:00

So I've got a new love--the Portland bunch The Online Romance pledge their allegiance to analog recording formats, despite what their modern band name would lead one to believe. Their website comes complete with a compendium of information about the band's history, lineup changes, hidden videos, and an amusing FAQ strewn with links to Wikipedia articles for referential purposes. Analog indeed!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150811292312401432006-06-20T11:01:00.000-05:002006-06-20T11:04:47.006-05:00

A promotional poster for Under The Influence Of Giants: four bandmates clad in what I can only assume are leisure suits gaze out of airplane windows. I'll bet those suits have the distinct odor of mothballs. A slightly terrifying female mannequin flight attendant looks on in ways that only a slightly terrifying female mannequin flight attendant can look on. A drink with a ... flower in it.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150731637695838202006-06-19T10:26:00.000-05:002006-06-19T10:51:45.270-05:00

(Nice yarmulke.)Last night's NBA finals game was severely disheartening for a keen Mavs fan like me. Josh Howard, why, oh why did you call that time out? Why oh why does Dwyane Wade exist in this world? Why couldn't we make our free throws in overtime? Sighs all around. Yet, I keep the faith. We can take our last two games at home. FAITH!So what's a gal to do? Take off work and go to Six

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150673541980827512006-06-18T17:52:00.000-05:002006-06-19T00:42:05.120-05:00

With a name like Alaska, you'd think that Alaska would sound more like Alaska.I see your mouse hovering over the big red X...wait! I'm explaining, I promise.Certainly every cute-clever-kitschy-intriguing band name brings some accompanying distinctive sound or genre to mind. It may have to do with deconstructivist bullshit about every word conjuring different memories and meanings from

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150472567345490652006-06-16T09:48:00.000-05:002006-06-16T10:49:18.816-05:00

Yes, Anathallo has been posted a bit in the mp3 blog sphere, but they're fairly new to me and I'm impressed with what I've heard. And, they're touring at the moment, so...it's timely!Anathallo crafts their songs with an epic mentality, undaunted by switching time signatures and tempos at will. The indie-rock collective incorporates eclectic sounds--an array of horns, bells, hand claps, tapping,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150405373275916162006-06-15T15:58:00.000-05:002006-06-15T16:45:57.010-05:00

"If you're lookin' for a hand to hold / you know, you were a long way off"The lyrics of Ghosty's "Big Surrender", accompanied by sparkling guitar and plodding bass, is refreshingly blunt for the indie pop sort. Plus, the sing-along worthy melody makes it pretty darn infectious. Stream it at Ghosty's myspace; I'll post it as soon as I figure out what's wrong with my FTP space.The earnestness of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150320574075631792006-06-14T16:02:00.000-05:002006-06-15T16:48:50.486-05:00

Clinton Piper's voice on The Lord Henry's first release, Voila, strikes me as a remarkably similar to that of Julian Casablancas of the Strokes. You know, the whole compressed singing-through-cupped hands effect. Not a bad thing, though. Plus, the band is presumably named after one of Oscar Wilde's colorful characters.The Lord Henry's newer material prevents them from being completely lumped

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150230728763166392006-06-13T15:16:00.000-05:002006-06-14T15:52:04.593-05:00

Indie loves from Glasgow, Camera Obscura, have been charting quite heavily on CMJ as of late, and what's more, Rachel E. and I are in the process of setting up an in-studio performance (or interview, in the least) with them here in the KTCU studio. Cross your fingers.The group plays here in dear old Dallas at the Gypsy Tea Room on July 14th. Here are the rest of the dates:07.04.2006 * Toronto,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150208247386281682006-06-13T09:05:00.000-05:002006-06-14T14:05:30.413-05:00

A four-piece from San Diego channels the sounds of what can probably be described as indie-folk-psychadelia. Twangy guitar, slide, and piano compliment dreamy vocal harmonies. Sometimes, the lead vocalist is a bit akin to Dylan. Recently added 'em to our playlist at KTCU. Sounds like a blend of Beulah, Lullaby for the Working Class, and Wilco to me.+ The Donkeys - Come On Virginia+ The Donkeys

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1150145904358758352006-06-12T15:14:00.000-05:002006-06-14T14:05:54.723-05:00

The owner of the stable where I board my horse owns several Brittany Spaniels, all of which have been trained as "bird dogs," retrieving fowl shot out of the sky. Lovely!So here's a nice old pickin'. Hearkening to the folk-acoustic-indie genre, Birddog rivals the backwoods sentimentality of bands like Lullaby for the Working Class. Sort of reminds me of Grandaddy wandering the mountain roads

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29478375.post-1149868153173099552006-06-09T10:30:00.000-05:002006-06-14T12:39:58.093-05:00

Hello ! I'm Rachel, and I have a passion for music, seeking out music, stumbling upon music, having music thrust at me, thrusting music at other people, and handheld electronic Yahtzee.Here it is, a tangible excuse for my musical obsession. I've blogged for several years about this and that, but I now have the itch to deviate from my usual--so I'm diving headlong into the vast realm of mp3

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620280353851858817noreply@blogger.com0