Sarah Bennett

The Delta Riggs: ‘Dipz Zebazios’

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

Bored with your current playlist? Looking for an album of pure gold? Look no further.

Australian-based band The Delta Riggs have just released their newest album, Dipz Zebazios, and there’s a good chance it will blow your mind.

The psychedelic rockers, self-described as “Outerspace Australians” on Instagram, are set to open for a Foo Fighters stadium tour in their home country, along with popular punk rock band, Rise Against. Although the band has garnered attention at home, they seem to be a hidden gem overseas.

Dipz Zebazios is The Delta Riggs’ fourth studio album since their first self-titled EP in 2010.

Comparable to fellow psych-rock band Tame Impala, they most definitely know how to successfully blend trippy with catchy, as heard in the album’s first single, “Supersonic Casualties” and the ultra-acid, likely hit, “From My Mould”.

However, Dipz Zebazios isn’t lacking a bit in voltage. Songs like the album’s second single, “The Record’s Flawed”, and super-charged “Telescope House”, offer upbeat electric guitar riffs that would be recommended for fans of The Black Keys. On the other hand, “No Friends” is reminiscent of carefree punk greats, like The Stooges and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

And yet again, the album seems to hook the audience with slower songs that are strong reminders of the same type of dreamy feels of Portugal. The Man. Specifically, in “Ornate Delicate Creatures”,“Star Eyed Families”, and album closer, “From Above”.

On top of it all, lead singer Elliott Hammond, former instrumentalist for Wolfmother, shares striking similarities with fellow accent-baring vocalists Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and Liam Gallagher of Oasis.

Although all these things may seem to illustrate the album as a rip-off of multiple artists, it is shockingly the exact opposite. Dipz Zebazios achieves something that every band wants to do, yet hardly any band can pull off: being influenced by a plethora of people, yet funneling that in to a distinct, one-of-a-kind sound.

As you take a trip through this album, which you will most definitely do, it all feels vaguely familiar, like something you can’t necessarily put your finger on. The Delta Riggs have successfully combined geniuses of different decades and genres, added a modern touch and successfully made it flow into one smooth and unique sound- and called it Dipz Zebazios.

In a day and age where most don’t pay for music, this is the one to buy. Add it to your Christmas wish list if you have to. Dipz Zebazios is The Delta Riggs’ pathway to international success and is perfectly, outta this world.

5/5

The Best Subscription Boxes

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

vinyl-subscriptionboxes

The market for subscription boxes has blown up within the past year. Companies like Dollar Shave Club and Birchbox have exploded over commercial TV and Facebook; but for the growing number of those who don’t have cable television, the words “subscription box” might be new or completely foreign.

Subscription boxes are themed boxes that are delivered to your doorstep monthly or quarterly, for a relatively cheap price. Most include samples of lesser-known or expensive products that the average person wouldn’t normally try, so it’s a win/win situation for both the company and the customer.

The majority of boxes are geared toward adult women and the beauty industry, which is great for women, considering the steep prices of quality products.

However, with the popularity of subscription boxes has, naturally, come the growing numbers of options. Sifting out the duds from the gems takes a lot of research and sometimes faith, considering one month’s box could be perfect and the next could be filled with products that will just collect dust. Luckily, some boxes seem to stick out more than others:

5. Nina Garcia Quarterly

At $100 (every three months), this quarterly box is the ultimate splurge. Although you’ll only be receiving four a year, fashion journalist Nina Garcia tends to pick products that aren’t only high-end, but super useful. These boxes tend to value over $400 each, so even though you’ll be taking a risk with your credit card, you’re likely to see a high reward.

4. PopSugar Must Have

For $40 per month, PopSugar will deliver more than just beauty samples to your doorstep- past boxes have included everything from purses to mini exercise balls. The site also offers boxes for men and themed boxes such as a “Bridesmaid Box”. Maybe for the more experienced subscriber or just outright adventurous, PopSugar tends to offer an array of cute products each month.

3. Sample Society

At $15 per month (plus tax), this box is slightly more of a splurge, but for good reasons. Sample Society is a box put out by Allure Magazine and each month includes five deluxe samples, each reviewed by their editors and sent to you in a mini-mag. Each box also includes a $10 off coupon (on a $50 purchase) on BeautyBar.com. Although they may seem similar, Sample Society tends to have higher quality and more interesting products each month.

2. Ipsy

Similar to Birchbox, Ipsy is $10 a month, shipping included. After signing up, you’ll take a beauty quiz and mid-month you’ll be sent 4-5 “deluxe” samples or full-sized products, picked by the company. Ipsy also packages each box in a makeup bag, which can become great gifts. Ipsy also works on a points system, but is much more social media based- you can get points for sharing a variety of promotions on Facebook for points. If you’re iffy about sharing, you can also earn points through reviewing products. Each product review is 10 points and 500-1000 points will buy you a full-sized version of something from their website.

1. Birchbox

For only $10 a month (that includes shipping), subscribers are sent 4-5 beauty and lifestyle samples that they get to pick ahead of time. Most products in this box tend to be high-end and this box works on a points system. You can earn points by giving feedback, referring friends and buying full-sized products (1 point per dollar spent). After 100 points, you get a $10 store credit to the website- not too shabby.

5 Best Christmas Movies on Netflix

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

vinyl-christmasmovies

December has thus far proved a good one to be a Netflix subscriber, with the arrivals of American Horror Story: Coven, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, and Almost Famous. Sadly, there were a couple of anxiously awaited titles missing from the list, and they all revolve around the most important part of December: the holidays!

No Home Alone, no Christmas Vacation, not even Will Ferrell dressed as an Elf! Disappointment would be an understatement, but never fear, they haven’t completely let us down. From the classics to the wildly inappropriate, the top picks of Netflix’s slim holiday pickings are here:

5. Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton becomes drunk Santa to tell the most raunchy Christmas tale of all time. Definitely not one to watch with the family, but this anti-“feel good” film is sure to keep you laughing.

We’ll forgive Netflix this time, but hopefully next holiday season we’ll be seeing The Grinch, a non-computerized Frosty the Snowman, and at the very least, Tim Allen as The Santa Clause.

4. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Holy Jonathan Taylor Thomas! A Disney throwback of epic proportions. What do you get when you combine a cheesy Disney movie with a cheesy Christmas movie mixed? The cheesiest holiday movie ever. Complete with a 1998 Jessica Biel as the love interest, this one is certain to bring back memories you didn’t know you had.

3. Love Actually

Speaking of love story, Love Actually is (actually) a great romcom for the holiday season. With actors like Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, and Keira Knightley, this predictable love story is sure to warm you up inside no matter what the weather is like outside.

2. Nightmare Before Christmas

“Is it a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie?” is one of the first questions asked about this movie, and the answer is that it doubles as both. Who doesn’t love a creepy Tim Burton love story?

1. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

While there’s a good chance you might find this movie just about as interesting as watching laundry dry, this is the most classic Netflix pick and most appropriate to watch with the family. If you want that good, ol’ fashioned Christmas time feeling, this is a great choice. Maybe even bring some notes to get in to the Christmas spirit during finals, or something to keep you entertained.

Old Crow Medicine Show at The Classic Center on November 20

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

IMG_3896

If you were raised in a place anywhere near the South, you’re probably used to being surrounded by some type of folk or country music (even if it’s unwillingly). However, within the decade, national radio is starting to hear a greater variety of music and a brand new genre. That genre, which falls somewhere between alternative country, bluegrass, and folk/Americana, has given us a number of gems- The Avett Brothers, The Devil Makes Three, and Old Crow Medicine Show.

In a day and age full of drinking anthems, the popularity of “Wagon Wheel” ranks somewhere among “Sweet Caroline” and “Free Bird”. The song, co-written by Bob Dylan, has launched Old Crow Medicine Show into stardom. Being within this potluck genre means “Wagon Wheel” is a top pick for a variety of radio stations and listeners alike.

Although I wasn’t sure what to expect when seeing Old Crow Medicine Show at The Classic Center on November 20, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

Upon arriving, I noticed the crowd was very mixed, ranging from young college students to senior citizens. The huge theatre with possible seating of 2,600 filled the complete lower level and a majority of the lower balcony, after the doors opened at 7pm.

The night promptly started at 8, with Dom Flemons, previous member of the popular Carolina Chocolate Drops. Flemons, complete with a tilted hat and suspenders, introduced the audience to an instrument called “the bones”. Similar to playing the spoons, except with animal bones (hence the name), this was only one contribution to Flemon’s unique old-time talent. His distinct voice, skilled banjo pickin’, and alive stage presence was an interesting pre-cursor that got everyone anxious to see the main act.

After about a half hour intermission, the lights among the crowds again dimmed and revealed the headliner, which consisted of seven men, each posted at a different instrument and adorning a different pair of cowboy boots.

Throughout the performance, the members of Old Crow switched between a multitude of instruments; including guitars, vocals, dobro, fiddle, upright bass, drums, banjo and even an organ. But one thing was constant: the energy and vivacity.

Fitting together and reaching a point of perfect sync can be a struggle for all bands, especially big ones, but Old Crow had no problem with this.

Nor did they have a problem connecting with the audience. From the very beginning, the two lead singers, Ketch Secor and Christopher “Critter” Fuqua, were very verbal and weren’t short of Georgian references. Each audience member could relate to something they said, whether it was talks of Commerce, Gainesville, or Madison County, or distinct Georgian landmarks like the Braves and I-85.
Was it rehearsed? I’m not sure and it didn’t matter. The audience connected to what they were saying, right down to their Southern drawwww-ls.

But those weren’t the only stories they told. The band members also explained how they picked up ultra talented pedal steel player Gill Landry, busking on the streets of New Orleans. And apparently, after Bob Dylan heard Darius Rucker’s cover of “Wagon Wheel” on the radio, he sent Old Crow another song, “Sweet Amarillo”, the third track on their latest album Remedy.

The story they didn’t tell? Cory Younts, who performed a trifecta of drumming, organ playing and whistling, has also played mandolin with fellow Nashville star Jack White.

Needless to say, by the end of the concert, the immense talent in the room was obvious- of each musician and of the group as a whole. Although the pit had been standing since the beginning, the rest of the room stood up around “Wagon Wheel” and didn’t take back to their seats.

Old Crow invited Flemons to re-join the stage and from that moment until the very last, the theatrical performance became more than just that: it became a good time. The only thing worse than a boring audience is a boring performer, and this show was the complete opposite. If I walked in with a tinge of doubt, then I left it inside that building.

Old Crow Medicine Show is certainly a show, and a show worth seeing for anyone that enjoys genuine talent-driven artists and one rowdy, hell of a time.

IMG_3884 IMG_3874

IMG_3884

Flake Music: ‘When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return’ Remaster

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

Not only did Garden State establish first-time director Zach Braff as more than his Scrubs character, it also introduced the mainstream world to a staple of the modern indie-rock world: The Shins.

The film helped skyrocket the band to fame almost over night, after Natalie Portman’s character hands Braff’s a pair of headphones and proclaims, “You gotta hear this one song, it’ll change your life I swear” (referring to their mega-hit “New Slang”).

The official Garden State soundtrack later won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and the film quickly gained a cult following, along with its most featured artist.

Long before The Shins found fame, they were merely a side project of four guys that belonged to another band, named Flake Music. Drummer Jesse Sandoval, keyboardist Martin Crandall, bassist Neal Langford and well-known singer-songwriter/guitarist James Mercer comprised the group, based in Albuquerque.

In their seven-year span of existence between 1992 and 1999, Flake Music only managed to release one full-length album, “When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return”. That album, released by what seems to be a now-extinct Omnibus Records, floated around the Internet with little information behind it and three tracks listed as “untitled”.

The album was first reissued in 2002, and this week, SubPop has released a second, updated reissue that has been remixed and remastered. The reissue also includes new artwork from Seattle artist, Keith Negley.

The fresh rendition of this classic 1997 album is remixed by Kennie Takahashi (notably, a sound engineer that often works with Danger Mouse) and remastered by J.J. Golden.

It’s not hard to tell “When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return” is ancestor of The Shins; from their upbeat rhythms down to James Mercer’s distinct voice, Flake Music is the angsty teen preview of The Shins.

While the modern, classic sound of The Shins is weaved throughout each song on the album, it’s definitely reminiscent of the garage punk feel of the time. Think the heavier drums and guitar riffs of Brand New’s “Mixtape” but with Weezer’s carefree, bright sound.

Naturally, the album is most closely comparable to The Shins 2001 release, “Oh, Inverted World”. Mercer’s lyrical roots are exposed and they are just as lovely as his current work in The Shins and Broken Bells.

“When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return” has some very nice surprises though, including three songs that are strictly instrumental on the album, including the outro, “Vantage”. If you want to feel the true 90’s vibes, go for the distorted “On the Playground, in the Wind” or psychedelic “Faded Polaroids”.

Even though the album has a track named “The Shins”, Flake Music is definitely a separate entity. The album is now available on CD and for the first time in over 15 years, you can hear this one spinning on vinyl. Recommended for fans of The Shins and lovers of quality music.

4.5/5

Father John Misty: “Bored in the USA”

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

Father John Misty has released the first single off of his new album.

“Bored in The USA” is a slow, piano-based satire, backed with Josh Tillman’s powerful vocals and even more powerful lyrics.

As a play off the 1984 Bruce Springsteen hit “Born in The USA”, Father John Misty strikes the same political chord 30 years later. Lines like “they gave me a useless education” and “keep my prescriptions filled” are echoed with corny laughter typical of a game show from the sixties.

In a sea of singles about shaking your assets and self-centered love, it is, at the least, refreshing. This beautifully written melody matched with a well-informed perspective of American culture is more of a twin to Springsteen than a rip-off.

Father John Misty is the newest side project of singer-songwriter J. Tillman, former Fleet Foxes drummer. “Bored in The USA” is the introduction to the second Father John album, “I Love You Honeybear”, set for release in February 2015.

According to SubPop, “I Love You, Honeybear is a concept album about a guy named Josh Tillman who spends quite a bit of time banging his head against walls, cultivating weak ties with strangers and generally avoiding intimacy at all costs”.

The highly anticipated album will be available in four different formats that include 11 songs total – hopefully all as wonderfully mastered as this release.

4/5

Damien Rice: ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

After an eight-year hiatus from the studio, Damien Rice has released his third album, My Favourite Faded Fantasy.

Since his last studio release, 9, in 2006, Rice has been touring and working on collaborations with a multitude of artists, including Ray LaMontagne and David Gray. Rice’s last individual release was a live album in 2007, Live at Fingerprints: Warts and All.

Although it’s been almost a decade, fans of Rice don’t have to worry about this album being a complete re-vamp of his soft style.

My Favourite Faded Fantasy is a collection of rainy day music, complete with piano, guitar, violin, and Rice’s signature raspy, soothing vocals.

The album begins with the title track, a mysteriously dark and high-pitched melody. As the song builds, layers of different instruments and distorted sounds metabolize into a grander picture that defines the album, then ends abruptly.

The second song, “It Take A Lot To Know A Man”, introduces Rice’s familiar use of violin and catchy yet profound lyrics. However, from there, the album seems to ride a steady stream of a lot of the same.

Golden tracks include “I Don’t Want to Change You” and the beautiful eight-minute long “Trusty And True”, which oddly, holds a slight reminiscent feel you could compare to that of The Decemberists.

The album rounds out with a token Rice tune, “Long Long Way”, featuring slow, repetitive lyrics that are supported by ghostly female backing vocals and a plethora of soft instruments, including a clarinet that helps the album fade out.

Whereas many of Rice’s most popular slow ballads provide an array of technical instrumental solos or surprise monk-like vocals, the majority of My Favourite Faded Fantasy has a simpler feel.

For die-hard fans, the album would be considered a great and long-awaited response to 9; for long-time listeners and more surface level fans, the album has a couple of solid, interesting tracks that uniquely fit with Rice’s previous work. However, for virgins of Rice’s music, this album is not suggested for your first listen.

Compared to 9 and the album that shot him to success, O, My Favourite Faded Fantasy is, for the most part, a mundane compilation. The album is far from “bad” and still holds a couple of great songs, but the album as a whole doesn’t rise to the same of level of Rice’s previous masterpieces.

Although the Ireland native’s newest album has skyrocketed to number one in his home country, I’m not sure it will do the same outside of the U.K.

While My Favourite Faded Fantasy is a good album to flip through on a drizzly day, refer back to O to soak up the true brilliance of Damien Rice.

3/5

The Flaming Lips: ‘With A Little Help From My Fwends’

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

When first hearing about The Flaming Lips releasing a Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover album, two emotions came over me: excitement and terror.

Not many would dare to dabble in the untouchable work of The Beatles, much less make an entire cover album; but if anyone were bold enough to try, it would be The Flaming Lips. After seeing the incredible live version of “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds” at Bonnaroo, expectations were high.

With A Little Help From My Fwends features the same 13-track listing as its predecessor, down to the exact same order of songs. The album incorporates a modern, psychedelic revamp with the help of some of The Lips’ “fwends”, including My Morning Jacket, Dr. Dog, Phantogram, and Miley Cyrus.

The Flaming Lips take their psychedelic rock edge to the next level with this one, which you can expect to be just as trippy as its cover art.

With A Little Help From My Fwends begins with a ghostly take on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” featuring a pandemonium of uneven sounds that almost deafen the ear. However, at the chorus, a shining beam of light appears, and The Lips’ shift back to the classic melodic anthem.

The track continues to jump back and forth between the two variations, and it becomes apparent that this is the strategy for the entire album. If you aren’t tripping on psychedelic drugs, this album is sure to trick you in to thinking that you are.

Modern beats, overdubs, and weird distortions a plenty; the chaos and strangeness ultimately take away from the beautifully orchestrated masterpieces of Lennon and McCartney. The more popular hits seem to take the hardest falls. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!” are sure to turn your trip sour.

However, the album isn’t full of complete duds and is saved by the melodic voices of certain artists. Shockingly, Miley falls into that category.

Appearing on both “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and “A Day in The Life,” Cyrus’ calm, subtle voice highlights the lyrical beauty of the songs.

Other album climaxes include “Getting Better” with Dr. Dog, Chuck Inglish, and Morgan Delt, a peaceful, upbeat medley with a range of voice types.  Phantogram’s eerie touch adds a unique spin to “She’s Leaving Home”.

While the concept of With A Little Help From My Fwends featuring a range of successful artists is right on point, the album itself falls short.  Even though it has the Flaming Lips feel, the purpose of this album is lost and never to be found by the listener.

The acidic distortions bleed through what many consider to be one of the greatest albums of all time. With A Little Help From My Fwends layers The Beatles’ classic hits with grandiose sound effects that ultimately make it a failed, unoriginal attempt, instead of the tasteful and reminiscent reinvention many were hoping for.

Thankfully, The Flaming Lips might be able to use their exaggeratedly trippy covers as amazing live material, but I won’t be riding around to this with the windows down any time soon.

Taylor Swift: ‘1989’

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

With the pull of her Spotify catalog, an enticing sweepstakes, and the projected first platinum album of 2014, it’s no surprise that Taylor Swift’s new record, 1989, has been the center of Internet controversy for weeks.

As it is Swift’s fifth studio album and first “fully pop” record, fans are more pumped than ever to see what the singer-songwriter has created. The album was made with the help of 12 producers, including Swift herself, and has greatly surpassed its predicted sales of 750K copies (600K were sold on the first day alone).

The album, which includes hit singles like “Shake It Off”, “Out of The Woods,” and “Welcome to New York”, emulates a mature, pop queen version of Swift that hasn’t been directly seen on her previous albums.

While 1989 is Swift’s first self-proclaimed “pure pop” venture, it’s obvious that this album is the final stage of her metamorphosis away from country, into the genre in which her voice truly belongs.

The album includes a standard 13-tracks, while the deluxe edition contains three additional tracks and three voice memos explaining Swift’s songwriting techniques.

The genre is a perfect fit for Swift’s voice, but it seems as though her songwriting abilities have taken the back burner in exchange for her pop sensibilities. Even though each song has an apparent 80’s pop theme pulled from influences such as Madonna and Annie Lennox, the wording seems to fall somewhere between catchy and force-fed repetitiveness, as heard in “Bad Blood” and “Out Of The Woods.”

However, Swift captivates her fans purely through her matured vocals. This album makes one thing very apparent: Taylor Swift is a talented and powerful young woman.

Something else that is clear from 1989? Swift clearly knows how to rule a market, arguably better than any other artist has done in a long time.

Swift establishes herself as a person and as a voice with this LP, with the help of producers Jack Antonoff of Fun., Imogen Heap, and significant others.

The highlights of the album are well-defined, including first hit single, “Shake It Off,” “All You Had To Do Was Stay,” and the typical T-Swift ex-boyfriend ballad, “Style” (reportedly written about ex-boyfriend Harry Styles).

However, one part missing from the new release for long-time Swift fans may be her softer, previously acoustic heartbreak anthems. While “Clean” and “This Love” might be slow, “Wildest Dreams” is the only relatable song of the album that resembles Swift’s pop-country footsteps.

After the first 16 songs, the rawest part of the album is revealed: the voice memos. Although deluxe versions are typically only buys for die-hard fans, the last three tracks perfectly close what Swift considers the album she’s “most proud of” and are a must-hear for a multitude of fans.

The voice memos, which are titled after tracks “I Know Places,” “I Wish You Would,” and “Blank Space,” give meaningful insight into Swift as an artist and songwriter. Swift explains the various ways she writes and how the melodies and production come together. In addition to getting personal tips from the superstar, this is a chance for the fans to hear Swift’s unaltered voice in the initial stages of a song.

Overall, Swift’s shift in genre has resulted in one of the most hyped albums in recent memory. Based on record sales alone, this may be her greatest album and career move yet. Regardless of the lyrical superficiality, 1989 is an upbeat album that is definitely worth a listen – and there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself singing along.

Listen: Angelo De Augustine: “Old Hope”

Posted on by Sarah Bennett

a2b45d21-7832-406c-b5b2-72446acd4cb5

Newcomer Angelo De Augustine’s eerie new single, “Old Hope”, has arrived just in time for your fall playlist.

The hauntingly calm ballad is the second single from his debut album, Spirals of Silence. At a mere two minutes, “Old Hope” is short and sweet enough for your drive home or as a studying staple.

De Augustine’s mellow guitar riffs and soft vocals make this a perfect listen for fans of Elliott Smith and Nick Drake.

The Los Angeles native stepped on the scene at the beginning of September with his first single, “How Past Begins.” Although this is his first full-length album, he has already succeeded in captivating audiences with simple serenades produced in his bedroom with a reel-to-reel recorder. De Augustine is currently touring with singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen.

“The title, to me, means to be caught in the endless loop of silence, where you very much desire to live in the world, but are too afraid to be the one to initiate the first step, and are therefore sent back to the beginning,” the 22-year-old says in a press release about the title Spirals of Silence, which is set to be released on November 18.

Tour Dates:

11.20.14 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern*
11.21.14 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre*
11.22.14 – San Francisco – CA @ The Chapel*
* w/ Noah Gundersen