Formed out of Philadelphia, this trio (sometimes quartet) of punks could never have expected the fanfare they were going to receive in this small college town trapped in the Midwest. Touring to promote their 2022 album Diaspora Problems, they hardly have the following to justify this turnout, having only 65,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The lead single off this album, “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?),” however, has over a million plays on the site, indicating their potential for a wider appeal to audiences in the future. Soul Glo has been moving away from their lowkey acts these past few months, playing at Coachella and accumulating prestige along with riches. So, riding the wave of hype following their performance at one of the most famous music festivals in the world, it wouldn’t be unfair of them to assume that this gig at a dive bar in Iowa City would matter very little in the grand scheme of their careers. 

Image via Jayce Bertrand

But the band, as well as most of the audience, would soon realize how wrong this sentiment was. Between Bootcamp stepping off the stage and Soul Glo setting up their equipment, more and more people began pushing into that upper room. They crowded the bar, the sides of the stage, and the stairs leading up from the downstairs entrance. While the two opening performances were attended mainly by die-hard local hardcore punks who make the scene their religion, the more average audience member with a taste for hardcore music began making their way towards the stage. Before, you could stand in the front row and avoid the mosh pit altogether. Now bodies crammed together and mixed sweat. There was no choice but to move with the rest of the crowd. This was all before sound check even began. By the time lead vocalist Pierce Jordan stepped onto that stage, the excitement in the air was palpable. People of all walks of life, all types of style, had come to watch this band with no more than 65,000 monthly listeners perform. 

A brief reprieve before I detail that performance. Just as guitarist GG Gueverra and drummer TJ Stevenson began to tune and check their instruments, Jordan stepped off the stage, right into the crowd in order to grab some drinks. As he moved towards the bar, a young fan stepped in his way, eagerly holding out their hand and gushing about how excited they were for Soul Glo to play. Jordan shook their hand and thanked them, and to my surprise, he stayed in his position, talking to them for more than five minutes before carrying on towards the bar. I can’t begin to imagine how touching of a moment this must have been for Jordan: a fan absolutely exhilarated to be just talking to him. It was at that moment that I was totally sold on Soul Glo.

Pierce Jordan scowling into the camera. Image via Jayce Bertrand

I had frequently played their songs “Driponomics” and “We Wants Revenge” (a personal favorite of mine) on my show with KRUI, but you can never be sure about an artist until you encounter them live. Jordan embodies that authentic excitement of an up-and-coming artist that is so rarely seen in this age of industry plants and one-hit-wonder TikTok stars. There’s a poster framed at the entrance of Gabe’s, showcasing the moody faces of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Chad Channing, Nirvana’s drummer before Dave Grohl joined around 1990. Nirvana performed at Gabe’s a year earlier in 1989, before Nevermind ever released and before the band skyrocketed into international fame. At that time it was just three twenty-somethings who wanted to share their music, never knowing how famous they would ever become. One must imagine if Soul Glo could follow a similar trajectory. 

Now the performance. Jordan offered few words to introduce the band before erupting into an opening jam, causing the crowd to immediately begin a frantic and chaotic surge of moshing and pushing and head-banging. The front row was no longer a safe zone, a fact which I can personally attest to, as the people behind me shoved forward, not out of aggression, but out of a hardcore love of the music. Jordan attempted to walk across the edge of the stage, only to fall right on top of me before joining in the moshing for a few seconds. Throughout the performance he played to my camera, making faces and posing for uber-punk photos. Meanwhile, GG Gueverra shredded his guitar like a maniac, throwing himself into the music as the audience members closest to him gestured, no, begged for him to keep going. After that initial jam, Stevenson took off his shirt, already sweating from the sweltering heat that was filling the packed room. 

Image via Jayce Bertrand

After a few of their lesser-known songs, Soul Glo exploded into “We Wants Revenge,” one of their more popular tracks. The audience responded accordingly; it was at this point that stage diving began, something the band gleefully encouraged in typical punk-fashion. Not a single person was staying still during this song, either due to their own love of the performance, or from the overwhelming wave of bodies pushing towards the stage. Jordan’s mic consistently struggled to carry his voice over the crashing drums and shrieking guitar, but this was a song that needed no vocal support; everyone in the crowd recognized Gueverra’s hectic riffs, and they sang right along with Jordan. 

As “We Wants Revenge” died down, a moment of levity took the stage, and if Soul Glo ever finds itself having a biopic made about them, this moment would be the end of the first act, right as the fun began. Panting and sweating, Jordan just barely managed to gasp out a single sentence: “We had no idea so many people were going to be here.” The crowd erupted into applause and municipal pride, but his sentence continued to ring throughout the room; this band had performed at Coachella, they were embarking on a tour of Japan in the coming months, but the fervent people in Iowa City are what surprised them. This turnout could prove to be the climax of their early career, when they realize just how popular they are becoming. 

Image via Sammond Hamuel

There’s no telling where Soul Glo is bound to take off in the near future. Perhaps the industry will never be ready, or willing, to return to the alternative scene that brought that other Gabe’s headliner fame in 1991. Or, there’s a chance that people want new music and new sounds by new people who previously had no connection to the industry; the latter is most certainly proven by the turnout for this performance. Wherever Soul Glo heads off to, though, I am certain Iowa City will remain a turning point for the band, marking the moment they realized just how much of a draw they were for venues, and how special their sound really is.

The post Iowa City Proves to Be a Turning Point for Soul Glo appeared first on KRUI Radio.

It is hard to find something to dislike about “AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS.” Coming from a six-person collective with four lead singers, the album feels like a group project with no slackers. The listener can transport themselves to a roundtable of vulnerability with their closest friends. Toxic relationships, inner confidence, self-isolation, sexual desires, and more are discussed with clever metaphors, soothing harmonies, and unforgettable instrumentals provided by Charlie Kilgore and Julian Kaufman.

MICHELLE hails from NYC and released their first album “HEATWAVE” in 2018 before ever meeting as a full group. The experimental nature of such an idea translated into the presentation. But their most recent release is what resonated with my style. It has more harmony, more cohesion, and catchier beats. The four leads are a great dynamic. Layla Ku, Emma Lee, Sofia D’Angelo, and Jamee Lockard have wonderful harmonies and powerful solos, the former best emphasized by the opening track, “MESS U MADE.” The song highlights empowerment from within and from comrades.

This track, along with other winners like “EXPIRATION DATE,” “SYNCOPATE,” “TALKING TO MYSELF,” and “HAZARDS,” coat the indie scene with fresh ideas and poetic vocals. If you love indie R&B and want to see what the future of the genre looks like, this album is a must. –Charlie Thomas, Online Content

Wednesday: Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling ‘em Up (Album)

Wednesday’s sonic blend of country and shoegaze burst through my hazy summer morning in Milwaukee and introduced me to a new sound. The Asheville group released Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling ‘em Up in March. A steel-lap and electric guitar start the album with a cresting wail that falls into a rising steel lap guitar line. 

The group’s cover of “She’s Acting Single (I’m Drinking Doubles)” by Gary Stewart hummed in my ears like a swarm of energetic bumblebees. The song starts as an up-tempo cosmic country tune and soars to a chorus as thick and rich as molasses. Lead singer and guitarist Karly Hartzman uses country singing techniques such as vibratos and a twang on her eccentric genre-blending vocals. 

This album ranges from country to indie covers. My favorite tracks in this album are the covers of Chris Bell’s “I am the Cosmos” and Drive-By Truckers’ “Women Without Whiskey,” a re-imagined alternative country song led by guitarist Jake Lenderman’s grounded vocals and jagged guitar. Each song shines with its unique, distorted glow. Originally by Greg Sage, “Sacrifice for Love” has grainy distortion and a hi-hat heavy drumbeat that give a modern touch to this heartfelt song. Xandy Chelmis’ steel lap guitar is the group’s sails, a winding guide through their soaring mass of sound. In a year of acclaimed releases, I often found myself returning to Wednesday’s album featuring the comforting cover of Gary Stewart’s lonely witticisms by a group putting a fresh take on beloved rock and country tunes.

The group ended the year with a single. The eight-minute powerhouse titled “Bull Believer” hints at a darker sound for their next album. Recently, Hartzman posted a Spotify playlist of covers they would choose for a subsequent cover album possible in the future. The list varies from the cosmic country group The Flying Burrito Brothers to indie rocker Ben Kweller. Some punk and heavy metal selections appear on the playlist too. With upcoming international concerts and festival appearances, this group is already on track for a stellar run next year. –Nick Layeux, Online Content

Beyond the Ghost: Sundown (Album)

Beyond the Ghost makes one of the best dark ambient and ambient electronic albums of 2022 with “Sundown.” A part of a series of albums about an apocalyptic war engulfing Europe, this album combines dark ambient melodies with electronic beats and noir jazz. In short, “Sundown” has it all.

Dramatic vocals in “Lives in Reverse” will lift you up to witness the continent ablaze. “No Way Out of This Maze” will cast you back down to escape the decrepit cities while its pulsing beat will goad you on. “Ghosts Marching Home” summons visions of what the world used to be, haunting you as you leave this cursed realm. The final song, “Obscuration,” is a fitting epilogue. The track sums up all the ominousness, dread, and anticipation that latches onto your mind in the album’s first minute and never lets go.

The album varies its melodies from melancholy to melodrama to horror as it tells its story. The album’s cover art and electronic beats make one usually think of cyberpunk when listening, but it can apply to other situations and themes just as much. Maybe you’re navigating a lonely desert, contemplating your existence. Maybe you’re wandering the cosmos in a comfy spaceship. It is an album you can listen to in good times and bad, being both therapeutic and inspiring. Dark ambient afficionados will greatly appreciate this album, but classical instruments and varying beats also invite newcomers to explore this obscure yet fascinating genre. –Jacob Siefke, Online Content

feeble little horse: Hayday (Album, Re-release)

One of the most notable developments taking place in American music scenes over the past year is the emergence of new, young, and exciting shoegaze bands. One of the best bands from this swell is Feeble Little Horse. Their album “Hayday” received a wider release through record label Saddle Creek in 2022.

Band members Lydia Slocum, Sebastian Kinsler, Jake Kelley, and Ryan Walchonski craft an excellent album showing the band’s personality. The album’s tone abides by the group’s ethos to create something fun and enjoyable, not worrying about whatever success comes from it. The songs interchange between somber, soul tearing rage, and quippy lighthearted fun. A song like “Termites” reflects the inner emotional turmoil that many of us feel. “Kennedys” represents the truth that there is always fun to be had in life.

This duality is mirrored in the album’s vibrant instrumentation. There are moments with mellow, staggering guitars which give an almost country sounding feel. Contrasting with this are the jangly swirling riffs, paired with blazing fuzzed out walls of sound. Overlayed vocals, and glitched out, digital distortion give off a cool overtone, prancing across a driving rhythm. Outtakes and recording samples interwoven within the songs further enhance the album’s character. The band’s personality shines through and becomes increasingly relatable. All of this contributes to what is my favorite release of the year. The short, 20-something minute album leaves the listener excited for what comes next. Give “Hayday” a listen, it’s worth it. –John Glab, Music and Online Content

Nick León: Xtasis (EP)

Miami’s Nick León shifted from working on Rosalía’s “MOTOMAMI” to an EP that stomped festivals all over the world: “Xtasis.” The title track was assisted by DJ Babatr, the genre defining Venezuelan with a unique raptor house touch. Released in July on TraTraTrax, “Xtasis” combines Latin tribal techno with a bassline/lead that resembles Robin S’ “Show Me Love.” With a series of carefully arranged snares that can only come from the master mind that is DJ Babatr, Xtasis brought ecstasy to countless festivals and night clubs. Pearson Sound’s stripped down yet equally energetic take on the track complements the exalted original perfectly. The infectious lead contains a white noise hit resembling a Venezuelan charrasca. 

Side B of this EP highlights “Grito,” a homage to the now well-known guaracha that sonically screams away from what you would usually hear on a car audio system by elevating its sound design. Doctor Jeep’s hyperactive mix blends perreo with drum and amp. The bass gives an intense and uplifting shift to the “edgy guaracha” track.

Claimed the best of the year by many, Nick Leon’s “Xtasis” gives a glimpse of what 2023 may sound like. The Miami artist has influenced many, while paying rendition to a well-deserved DJ Babatr, who is nothing else than a living legend in Latin and Venezuelan electronic music. –Andres V. Mora Mata, Music

Jakey: ROMCOM (Album)

Jakey’s “ROMCOM” was initially announced in December of 2021, alongside the release of the lead single “Pine Barrens.” After a delay, the record finally released on November 18, 2022. Jakey has released a few songs that showed promise, but “ROMCOM” really is amazing, considering that Jakey wrote and produced the album alone. 

Speaking of production, this album is special. The sampling is so great on this album, especially if you’re (and bear with me) 1. chronically online or 2. A fan of 90’s/00’s romcoms. Memes like the horrifying ADPi chant and the “I didn’t get no sleep cause of y’all” Vine are notable samples. The most common samples and references, though, come from romcoms like “Never Been Kissed” and “10 Things I Hate About You”. 

Despite the numerous romcom samples, this album is anything but romantic, or funny. It is deeply emotional, personal, and vulnerable. The album is about a breakup, from the anger to the sadness. Lyrics about lying in bed, wishing you had them again, and taking Lexapro all lay on the sadness heavily. The themes are something that almost everyone that has gone through a breakup can relate to. You can almost imagine Jakey turning his post break-up sadness into producing this album.  As someone who has been listening to Jakey’s music since high school, I was happy to finally hear this gem. If Jakey continues to produce like this, and refine his lyricism, he will quickly skyrocket to the top. –Mason Dunn, Music

ROSALÍA: MOTOMAMI+ (Album)

Despite being snubbed by the Grammys, ROSALÍA’s “MOTOMAMI” is truly one of the best, most versatile albums of the year. Ranging with eclectic musical influences like industrial production, minimalist pop, and processed vocals, “MOTOMAMI” is a bold, futuristic and feminist take on Spanish music.

The record dabbles in everything from bachata, salsa, hip-hop, flamenco, electropop, and reggaeton. Everything that ROSALÍA touches on this album turns to gold. Standout tracks include the avant-jazz and industrial reggaeton of “SAOKO,” and the beautiful balladry of “COMO UN G.” Additionally, “DIABLO” somehow manages to expand her already immaculate vocal range with the use of various vocal effects.

Despite the standard edition of “MOTOMAMI” being near perfect, ROSALÍA manages to further improve upon the album on the deluxe edition, “MOTOMAMI+.” The deluxe adds an even more energetic version of “CANDY” with rising Latin star Chencho Corleone, and a fantastic live rendition of “LA FAMA.” Plus, a bouncy Caribbean reggaeton bonus track, “DESPECHÁ.” All additions enhance and expand upon the original’s musical vision. 

Even though the production on this album is impeccable, the greatest feat is how ROSALÍA’s spectacular vocal performances stand out. This should not be taken for granted; many pop stars would be vocally “drowned out” by this level of production. While this album was not deemed worthy of a Grammy nomination, “MOTOMAMI+” has established ROSALÍA as one of the most versatile and exciting new voices in music. –Maurice Crawford, Music

Soul Glo: Diaspora Problems (Album)

Recorded in a warehouse, Soul Glo’s latest 12 track sucker punch album embodies the American diaspora in a passionate blend of hardcore and rap. Vocalist Pierce Jordan delivers lines regarding politics, anxiety, depression, and isolation in wicked fast scream poetry.

Jordan feels entirely genuine with a deep sense of self awareness underlined by a frustration that fuels the entire album. Production features tightly wound percussion, abrasive guitar, and gritty bass lines. The instrumentals stand out yet blend together into a wall of hardcore noise that flows and integrates within the vocals. 

The album features very subtle, yet fascinating blends of different instrumentals and production for the hardcore genre. Horn features brighten the tone without losing the power, entirely unconventional but wholly welcomed when combined with Jordan’s piercing vocals. Various electronic elements add blips and quirks making each track feel fresh and unique. It feels so energetic and passionately experimental. 

Genuine, devastating, and abrasive all around, Soul Glo released a standout album about the experience of growing up removed from your ancestry in a country that does not represent you. Expressing those experiences and frustrations into an incredible rap/punk/hardcore/whatever! album, the result is a standout release from the year and an exciting addition to hardcore. –Elizabeth Pauly, Music

The Mountain Goats: Bleed Out (Album)

The Mountain Goats are dead! Long live the Mountain Goats! This was one of my first impressions after finishing “Bleed Out”, the twenty-first studio album by singer-songwriter John Darnielle and bandmates Peter Hughes (bass), Jon Wurster (drums), and Matt Douglas (every other instrument imaginable…seriously, name one). 

The album’s more rock-focused electric guitars eschew the traditional acoustic accompaniment of the Mountain Goats classics like 2002’s “All Hail West Texas.” The record explores themes any fan of the band will find familiar (interpersonal violence, cyclical revenge, and disillusioned hero worship). However, a new meta-narrative may leave some on the back-foot: schlocky 80s action movies. 

Even though Darnielle’s seemingly put down the acoustic guitar and Panasonic (for now!), he’s still subverting expectations left and right. I think any fan of the Mountain Goats can find a song to love in “Bleed Out”, but many won’t share my opinions. So keep on the lookout! Next year might bring a jazz-swing album about lonely, toxic people. Or maybe a gospel concept album about futuristic robots. Whatever they get to work on, they’ll still reign strong in the hearts of their fans. Long live the Mountain Goats! –Case Fenner, News Director

See below for a playlist of music featured in this article.

The post Staff Picks: Best of 2022 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

It’s that one traditional holiday that your parents always want to celebrate, so you do it to appease them. Plus, since it’s a national holiday, there’s no work or school. An aura of leisure is in the autumnal air, as it gets colder and colder.

But there’s a constant reminder that Christmas is right around the corner. In the moment, it feels like Thanksgiving is pushed to the side, antiquated almost. Even at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, everyone wants to see Santa, not some C-list star sing their latest pop song.

So in honor of this lax holiday that comes and goes quickly like the leaves, KRUI has compiled a playlist filled with songs of thanks, emotional conflict, idleness, community, family, and food. A reminder to allow for moments of connection and joy, and to reflect on the year so far as well. Enjoy the bird and happy holidays.

The post Thanksgiving at KRUI appeared first on KRUI Radio.

On Weatherglow, 5th-wave emo icons Weatherday and Asian Glow, masterminded by Sputnik and Gyungwon Shin respectively, team up to create a new high-water mark for the genre. While these recordings may sound comparatively hi-fi beside Weatherday’s Come In, and a bit closer in production style to Asian Glow’s Cull Ficle, the raucous, DIY ethos is present as ever. Dirty guitar textures blanket an atmosphere of shoegaze and pair it with vibrant riffs and intimate vocal performances. This duo’s comfortability in both crooning and screaming allows them to convey a full range of feeling while writing lyrics that sidestep cliche completely. No one else would sing lyrics like those on “Clockwalk Around the Ache”: “All of my penetrated spells were found to head to you through the neon signs / If we come to break right in time, no longer suffer from each other.” It is a loose poetry just barely audible under the scuzz of guitar and crashing cymbals. Most impressive is how they pull off something only the best emo bands can–they make melancholy really rock. A song like the opener, “Melt a Bed” showcases the variety of their strengths–from the starting get-up-and-jump riff, to the middle section of ambient, crackling synths–the band jumps between levels of energy with such ease that the song is barely more than three minutes–no big crescendoes necessary. “Look Alive, Sunshine”, meanwhile, has some of the catchiest melodies in either of the bands’ catalogs–a feat of its own. Weatherglow is an accomplishment that packs the brilliance of five genre-defining albums into one EP.

–Jaden Amjadi

Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See Your Future

Denzel Curry has never been one to cling to a single style or sound. While he may be best known for his more energetic tracks, complete with jarring, horror-esque production and raucous delivery, he turns away from his signature sounds in favor of a more reserved sound. Many of the beats are much more relaxed than on Denzel’s previous albums, but they still cling tightly to the alien, foggy sounds that are a key component of Denzel’s musical reputation. While the sound may not be as striking, the beats are still filled to the brim with zest and still capture Denzel’s musical personality flawlessly. While he has never shied away from opening up to his listeners, the emotion and tenderness is particularly dense on this record. On the lead single, “Walkin”, he touches on his personal demons and expands on how this struggle is not unique to him, but is a struggle brought on to many by the system. He preaches over a simple yet smooth beat, with a graceful beat-switch in the middle of the track that he glides over with multiple flows. On “Ain’t No Way”, one of the album’s more zestful cuts, Denzel joins forces with 6LACK, Rico Nasty, J.I.D., Jasiah, Powers Pleasant, and Kitty Ca$h, all of whom add a unique element to the track in what is by far the most feature-heavy song on the album. On “X-Wing”, Denzel’s originality in his production blossoms, fusing angelic strings and piano melodies with classic trap 808s and drums. This direction of sound and theme may not have been what most fans, including myself, expected, but the direction Denzel chose is clear and executed with few flaws.

–Evan Weidl

Charli XCX – Crash

After working with some of the most acclaimed artists in the hyperpop hemisphere, such as the late SOPHIE herself, Charli XCX has returned to rip out the barely beating heart of the pop industry to take a nasty bite. On her latest release, Crash, Charli plays up the big popstar trope with lavish outfits, choreographed dances, and even bigger hair while the music follows suit, drawing heavily from the glam pop of the 1980s and millennium-age dance pop. This tongue-in-cheek incarnation of the “pop diva” stereotype is elevated by the undeniably catchy and commanding pop songwriting the singer consistently brings to her work. On tracks like “Beg for You” and “Used to Know Me”, Charli interpolates the classic 00s hit “Cry for You” by September and the 1992 track “Show Me Love” by Robin S. These odes to her so-called pop foremothers not only uniquely reimagine the tunes, but also imbue the record with a shot of pop gold from the past. While it veers hard into the campy realm of mainstream pop, this record also steps away from some of the heavier hyperpop work she has done recently, specifically on her last release in 2020, how i’m feeling now. Throbbing bass and erratic synths are replaced with nostalgic, shimmery keys and light-footed staccato beats on the tracks “Constant Repeat” and “Lightning” just to name a couple. Though, while she may be moving into a territory that some consider superficial, over-the-top, and predictable, Charli proves that she is anything but your run-of-the-mill pop princess. She is indeed the bloody queen of the pop charts.

–Sydney Sjobakken

Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems

To live in the US diaspora population, in my experience, is to be in many ways removed from the culture some would assume of you. It is to recognize you live in a deeply racist, nationalist country while also recognizing, with respect to people in destabilized countries, that much of the terror the US perpetuates is somewhere far away. Of course, this is in no way equal for everyone in the US diaspora (it helps to be white, for one!). On Diaspora Problems, Soul Glo meets these contradictions with wit and grace–and a whole lot of energy. Sonically, the band sits beside emotional hardcore acts like Orchid and Converge–but with an added undeniable sense of groove. As vocalist Pierce Jordan cascades between high register screams and low register rhymes, he reminds the listener how negligible the line between rapped hip hop vocals and screamed punk vocals has always been. Afterall–what hip hop fan could possibly deny “Driponomics” with Mother Maryrose for the banger it is? While the quickly screamed lyrics can be a bit hard to make out, they’re well worth a look-up. Jordan writes about emotional subjects with great humor. Jordan’s lyrics are less about being some dialectical literary dork that politically “dropkicks MGK” and more about being–and through being the inherently political nature of just living on appears. But outside of any lyrical content, the passionately performed music on its own packs more of a punch than your average hardcore record. Soul Glo’s Diaspora Problems is the most exciting punk album to come out in a long time.

–Jaden Amjadi

Zeal & Ardor – Zeal & Ardor

There’s something to be said for musicians who ensure that a constant je ne sais quoi permeates their art; something that tells the listener, “Hey, you’re listening to my album!”. In the case of Zeal & Ardor, their commitment to creating a world through their music that asks, “What if enslaved people in America turned to black magic as a means of escape?” is right up that alley. The Swiss sextet’s newest self-titled album is both ambitious and insular in its sound with tracks like “Emersion”–a synth backdrop coupled with unintelligible death metal shrieks–and the blistering bare-bones black metal “Götterdämmerung” sharing space in this release and neither feeling out of place. Of course, the true highlights are when lead singer Manuel Gagneux brings out his blues-inflected vocals like on singles “Church Burns” and “Run”. Altogether it’s a dark churning mashup of the humid South and freezing Europe with something on it for just about everyone.

–Zachary LeBoeuf

The post The Best Releases of March: Music Staff Picks appeared first on KRUI Radio.