Soil Compilation

Sports
Around the Big Ten – Week Four

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Week three of college football was the final tune-up for the Big Ten before the conference schedule began. This week, we’ll talk about Iowa’s 55-0 victory over Northern Iowa, Northwestern’s final game before moving into Ryan Field, and the Southern California showdown between USC and Oregon.

Music
Gin Blossoms Live at Hy-Vee Ampitheater

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On a cool night, somewhere in between the last days of summer and first days of fall, the finale to the Hy-Vee Ampitheater’s inaugural season took place. Starring Arizona’s Gin Blossoms, hundreds turned out on their feet for the band in North Liberty’s newest venue.

Sports
Around the Big Ten – Week Three

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Week two of college football gave us a pair of early Game of the Year candidates. Unfortunately for the Big Ten, those games came at their expense. This week, we’ll take a look at Iowa’s cathartic win over Iowa State, Oregon’s early-season struggles, and Ohio State’s meltdown against Texas.

Music
Kendall McCabe

Review: Mumford’s – Eyes

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By Max Johnson Hailing from Ames, Iowa comes the powerful horn-folk dance band – Mumford’s. Mumford’s appeal is a very specific one, a fact that is as clear in their first full-length “Eyes” as it is in their incredible live show. The band’s songs emerge from a place of high contrast. The characters that inhabit the songs live their lives in black and white, completely devoid of all grey areas. Borders exist in the songs, lines are drawn in the sand, but they are sharp and definite and nobody will ever understand why and how they can both exist side … Continued

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Review: Bright Eyes- The People’s Key

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By Pat Quinn The People’s Key is Conor Oberst’s search for the meaning of life. The album as a whole touches on scientific and theological arguments to answer the question many artists before him have tried to answer. While the subject matter of the album isn’t that unique, the blend of stringed and synthetic sounds Oberst orchestrates on this album is. The album begins with a slightly insane man rambling about space, time, aliens and the existence of humanity. Like the rambling man, the beginning of the album is a little spacey featuring more staccato percussion and a stronger lyrical … Continued

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Review: Deerhoof – Deerhoof vs. Evil

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By Terry Quinn Deerhoof’s latest release finds a happy medium between the reverb-flecked, art rock leanings they have built much of their sound around and the nuanced, ADD-informed pop structures of their 2007 release, Friend Opportunity. On Deerhoof vs. Evil this balance allows a collection of songs that can stand strong on their own attributes to fuse together into a seamless experience upon a full listen. This can be immediately recognized in the transition from the playful opening track, “Qui Dorm, Només Somia” to its progression building follow up, “Behold a Marvel in the Darkness.” The two flow into each … Continued

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Review: Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

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By Emily Levins Dye It Blonde is the sophomore effort from the Chicago-based group of twenty-somethings, Smith Westerns.  The album is a wonderful mix of youth, rebellion, and love, all set to a backdrop of fuzzy and dreamy instrumentals.  The songs have a certain drunken haze to them, seen especially with album opener, “Weekend.”  This ten-song collection is the perfect blend of carefree and catchy, a fun and exciting soundtrack to the glory days of adolescence. Smith Westerns – Weekend

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Review: Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

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By Trent Harrison Mogwai’s trademark humor is apparent throughout their newest release, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.  As if the title wasn’t proof enough, sections of the album deviate greatly from their previous sound, using upbeat synthesizers, vocoded vocals, and simple rock compositions. Regardless, every track incorporates a wide range of dynamics, sonically beautiful atmospheres, and meticulous attention to detail. Complete with an infectious, repetitive melody and fuzzy, doom-drone guitars, “Rano Pano” is by far one of the standout tracks on the album.  The album’s brooding, 8-minute closer, “You’re Lionel Richie,” uses soft dynamics to create an enormous … Continued

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In-Studio: Tim Kasher

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By Kendall McCabe Tim Kasher might be best known as the front man of Cursive, the band that safely guided many of us through our teenage angst. A product of the iconic Omaha, Nebraska music scene, Tim also played in the bands The Good Life, Slowdown Virginia, and Commander Venus. He has contributed to musical projects with the likes of Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes), Todd Fink and Matt Bowen (of The Faint), Joe Knapp (of Son, Ambulance), and many others in the revolving cast of characters that makes up Saddle Creek Records. Today, Tim’s hair is just starting to … Continued

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Upcoming Shows

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March 3rd – Cotton Jones @ Blue Moose Tap House March 6th – Menomena @ The Mill March 17th – Bitch @ The Mill March 18th – Cory Chisel @ The Mill March 28th – British Sea Power @ Blue Moose Tap House March 29th – Colour Revolt, Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps @ The Mill March 30th – Nathaniel Rateliff, Christopher The Conquered @ The Mill March 30th – Or, The Whale @ Yacht Club March 30th – Jeff Tweedy @ The Englert March 31st – Das Racist @ Yacht Club March 31st – An Evening With Thurston … Continued

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