Soil Compilation

Music
Interview: Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers

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I sat down with multi-instrumentalists Jano Rix before his gig with The Wood Brothers at The Englert Theatre on November 12th. Taking a beat to touch on what shaped him artistically, his favorite illustrators, and the impact dancing has had in his adult life, Jano let us into how he makes a chaotic world feel focused and comfortable.

Sports
Cash in Hand 

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College athletes across the country are now receiving direct revenue-sharing payouts, fueling everything from luxury shopping sprees and impulsive spending to investments, charity, and family support. Their choices reveal how a generation of 18-to-22-year-olds is navigating sudden wealth in a rapidly shifting era where college sports now function like big-league business.

Music
Track of the Week

Track of the Week: “No Sentiment” by Cloud Nothings

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Tomorrow, January 24th, Cleveland’s Cloud Nothings’ new album Attack on Memory will be released. But if you’re one of the many who have already downloaded it, you’ve probably listened to stand-out track “No Sentiment” a dozen or so times. Produced by the famed Steve Albini, the new album leaves behind the Times New Viking-esque lo-fi mess of Turning On to capture the energy and intensity of various John Reis bands, like the Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu. “No Sentiment” contains the albums’ thesis statement – “No nostalgia/no sentiment,” lyrics bellowed so purely, you have to believe in it.

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Track of the Week: “The Lion’s Roar” by First Aid Kit

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Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit released “The Lion’s Roar” video earlier this month. The song also serves as the title track of their forthcoming album, due out January 24, 2012. First Aid Kit originally became popular through their skillful cover of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song.” But, on this track, the girls have taken their soaring harmonies to new heights with the help of producer Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes.

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Track of the Week: “Make a Mess” by Zoe Boekbinder — 10/24/11

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By Kendall McCabe Darling Specimens by Zoe Boekbinder “Zoe was born somewhere, sometime, and there are some interesting things to say about her.” Or so goes the curt biography on her Facebook fan page. Whether or not there are any interesting things to say about Zoe Boekbinder, Zoe Boekbinder definitely has some interesting things to say. This autumn, Boekbinder released her second full-length album, Darling Specimens. It’s a collection of doe-eyed songs that are full of heartbreak and the songstress’s glowing, old soul vocals. (Some of the songs are even backed by beats from Iowa native Philip Rabalais, who makes … Continued

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Track of the Week: “Goodbye Bread” — Ty Segall

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By Max Johnson Ty Segall has a gift, but I don’t know what for. On his last album, Melted, Segall was brash and subversive, embodying the dirtiest garage-rock bands, an Iggy Pop we could call our own. His latest offering, this summer’s Goodbye Bread, is more indebted to Dylan’s Basement Tapes or to John Lennon’s solo work. On the title-track opener, it seems he’s moved his 4-track from a filthy garage down to a dingy basement. Which seems like a small-scale change, but it might be big enough to throw some old fans for a loop. “Goodbye Bread” holds on … Continued

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“Tanktop” by Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps

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This week, KRUI added Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps’ second full-length album Little Wind to the library. This follow-up to their 2008 release Backyard Tent Set finds Caroline and her band older and wiser. You can hear the miles traveled in Caroline’s voice, and in the distinct bite of her lyrics. Her newfound honesty, at times, gets garbled by lo-fi vocals—like on KRUI’s Track of the Week, “Tanktop.” Yet, at Smith’s most childish and nostalgic moments, her vulnerable thoughts still ring through; on tracks like “Eagle’s Nest” her sound is abundantly crisp and clear, and it cuts like a … Continued

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Caroline Smith

Track of the Week: “Sway” by Mates of State

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Mates of State, the Kansas-based husband and wife duo, released their seventh full-length album “Mountaintops” today. The record is a brand new add to the KRUI library this week. On November 17th, you can catch Mates of State perform in Iowa City at the Blue Moose Tap House with Ra Ra Riot. Mates of State – Sway by CloudDrops You can also stream the rest of the album at Rolling Stone.

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Track of the Week: “Tangie and Ray” by Fruit Bats

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On August 2nd, Fruit Bats will release Tripper, the follow-up to their beloved 2009 release, The Ruminant Band. This album is a brand new add to the KRUI charts this week, and the infectious “Tangie and Ray” is a perfect traveling song for those moving back to Iowa City in the coming days. Fruit Bats will also play The Mill in Iowa City on September 7, with other KRUI favorites Vetiver and Breathe Owl Breathe.

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William Elliot Whitmore – “Everything Gets Gone”

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Iowa native William Elliot Whitmore will release his latest effort, Field Songs, on July 12. That same day, he will give an in-store performance in Iowa City at Record Collector. Preview the raw, folk ballad “Everything Gets Gone” from his forthcoming release right here on KRUI. William Elliott Whitmore – Everything Gets Gone by antirecords

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