BATB Recap and Spring Fling Lineup

On the eve of Spring Fling, I would like to do a quick recap looking back on Battle of the Bands (plus, it’s more fun than writing my papers) before laying down the lineup.

So I’m going to give the bands my own awards based on the scores and comments from my notes.

**Random Side Note: “Radio Junky” couldn’t make it to judge, so Ralph the security guard stepped in.

In case you forgot, Sister Helen took 3^rd, Gets the Girl 2^nd, Jamestown, The First Town in America, 1^st. Champs.

Now for the UNOFFICIAL AWARDS.

CRAZIEST PERFORMANCE: Sister Helen.

They were prettttty insane. Frontman Nathan Campbell ES ’14 is quite the performer. He stripped on stage and did a headstand in his boxers. Mmmm… The guitarist was solid, but I really think the only reason they won was the "experimental sex rock" spectacle.

These are the eyes of a crazy person.

BEST BREAKOUT BAND: The Black Marias.

Great job, freshmen. The level of improvement they showed from their acoustic demos really blew me away. Solid rock band with an electric violin—a nice touch. I’m looking forward to hearing an album put out soon—I’d recommend some high-energy violin and guitar solos--and I’d say they have a shot at future BATBs.

LOUDEST CHEERING SECTION: Seven Locks.

Few people stayed for the entirety of Battle of the Bands. People milled in and out, with a fairly constant 50 or so average attendance. But as soon as Seven Locks was about to go on the audience got a LOT louder. Audience enthusiasm way up. Clearly, friends of this freshmen group are not afraid to yell their heads off. Let’s hope Seven Locks rocks as hard as its cheering section in future BATBs.

Just listen to them scream.

SEEMLESSNESS AWESOMENESS: Jamestown, The First Town in America.

Their orchestration blends really well within each song, and at BATBs, so did their set. Jamestown played it straight through, making full use of their time and maintaining the energy level. With no gaps in the music, slower songs were just interesting changes of pace. This is how it’s supposed to work.

Here's a song Jamestown didn't play at BATB that I hope they play at Spring Fling.

(the water pipe thing is there for artistic purposes...I swear)

CREEPIEST PERFORMANCE: Roark. I was actually scared. These people are scaaaary. No really. Creeeeepy synthesizers/outfits.

THE “IS THIS STAGE A FIRE HAZARD YET?” AWARD: Gets the Girl.

This group is described on the former YMS blog as a “duo.” Right…

Looking a liiiittle crowded there...

Ellis likes composing for all different sorts of instruments. Blending genres is cool. Rock band? Jamestown has a trumpet; let’s add one. Hell, let’s add a string section! SIC InC (I hope this crazy capitalization thing is right...) goes rock? Nah, we’ll just take Plume Giant; they’re coming anyway. The end result? A very crowded stage of very talented musicians from all walks of the campus’ music scene. Hot musical mess.

Smokin’

And why not? Not too big a fan of the fire marshall myself anyway (‘cuz he seems to think juggling/spinning/eating/breathing fire on campus is NOT a good idea…idk why, I think it’s a great idea) So thanks, Gets the Girl!

BEST OVERALL: Plume Giant (thought we could get through a post without talking about them eh…?)

Plume Giant just gets better every time I see them. At the end of that performance, I was convinced they had won.

Because they were clearly the best.

PG battling with "Fool Hall" (NOT "Honey Pie" this time haha foooled you)

They play their songs on a whim because they know them so well; they have great group chemistry; they don’t stop having fun at no cost whatsoever to their musical focus.

Maybe the judges thought they wouldn’t be able to engage a crowd.

I disagree.

Check out Oliver at SOB. Pretty engaging stuff.

If they’re not opening at Spring Fling next year there will be a tantrum.

So anyway here’s the lineup for Spring Fling (in case you didn’t get the memo..)

With an after party at Toads at 11pm with DJ Earworm.

I kind of want to hear more than three student bands. Do you think we could start a riot? Like get reeeeaaallly angry about one of the artists performing and stage an alternative concert in Trumbull? Designer Drugs! How dare they! Everyone Designer Drugs is racist.

Spread it around.

Remember to pick up a copy of 17O1’s CD “Blue Noise” if you like hard copies of things or download it tonight. Because you won’t be able to get it free anymore.

What are you most looking forward to tomorrow?

Z

Blue Noise in Review

At least part of 17O1’s free new album “Blue Noise” should make it onto your spring playlist.

The compilation album is an eclectic mix of original student music with something for everyone. In an effort to make the album diverse, however, I feel some of the stronger rock and pop primer tracks that did not make the cut were shown short shrift. For example, Jamestown and Gets the Girl don’t feature on the album, only in the primers, but they recently proved themselves to be two of the best bands on campus, and their primer tracks rock. Hmmm.

But the CD already had over 400 downloads the day it was released. Awesome.

I liked both Alec Torres’ TC '13 album and primer tracks, but “Wednesday Night” has an enjoyable almost Jason Mraz-like quality, whereas 17O1 might have chosen “Thoughts of a Blind Man” as a slower track to fill out the album, even though it’s great too.

The opening track “3:33PM” by Julian Kantor SM ’11 is a bit overdramatic—it seems to think that 17O1 will all be legendary--but it’s trying to get people pumped.

“I am part of a syndicate of dedicated, vindicated instrumentalists and lyricists, who want to graduate to ironically be physicists,” Rico Bautista MC ’12 says on the track.

The album still puts out some quality rock tracks: “Stone and Progress” by Bushwhack and “Break, Break” by Salivating Eyes, as well as a high energy and textured jazz piece “Green Tunnel” by Chilled Water Supply.

Chilled Water Supply

Salivating Eyes is a rock quartet with a baller guitarist, CJ Uy BK ’12 (from my 205 class freshman year), that’s even more fun live than on the album. CJ’s signature, wicked-fast guitar solos are a bit more electrically modified on the album, and I think he does best with improv. Still, this track was stuck in my head for most of physics. “Break, Break” was a good choice, but I guess 17O1 decided to overlook their other hit “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend.” oh well. “Break, Break” has a solid riff, and the backup vocals at the end are a great addition.

Where “Break, Break” has a chill rock sound, Bushwhack’s “Stone and Progress” is heavier with strong lead vocals, echoing backup vocals and instrumental countermelodies that keep the song interesting without taking away from the strong, emotional sound of the lead vocals. The breaks could maybe be brought out even more with dramatic chords and cuts in vocal texture to match the skilful drum rolls.

But while its rock and jazz scene look promising, Yale’s hip-hop future is questionable. High Definition’s track “Rich and Famous” is true to its genre but annoyingly repetitive. I could see this being played on Old Campus from a dorm window, but there’s enough bad hip-hop music already on the radio with higher quality electronics (distractions from the lack of/needling melody) for me. Also, the lyrics are trite, inconsistent and unconvincing. Example: “There’s still more [to life], like being on top of Megan Fox in a billboard.”

I don't see you...

“Mile High Club” wins the award for funniest lyrics, but “Scotty & The Pornos” are advised not to take themselves too seriously, but since the 17O1 website claims all the song’s events actually happened, clearly they don’t. The “sexy” voice at the beginning of the track didn’t exactly turn me on, but the storyline was pretty hilarious.

Some of lyrics in tracks such as “One for Me” are completely cheesy, but others such as lyrics in “Thoughts of a Blind Man,” and “L’Absurde” (omg it's the French existentialist concept, death=unpredictable/random. I see you Camus.) are clever and even profound. And any song in French automatically scores 3x more points in my book.

C’est vrai. Namasté, the group behind "L'Absurde," is Paris-based. Tout dit.

This is almost the best thing that’s happened since Kamini. (no, seriously. Watch this.)

Namasté........Kamini

“Leaving Port” by Anchorage made me feel like a pirate at sea, so I’d say it’s worth listening to. Caitlin Pequignot ES '14 is more of a violinist than a singer, but I think this freshman is adorable and refuse to hate on her at all. The song is soft, fun and carefree—a nice reprieve that’s making it onto my finals calmthehelldown playlist.

The album gives a bit too much time (about 10 minutes total) to electronic music that is interesting at first but loses appeal.

But the folk addition is delightful. Plume Giant’s colourful three part vocal harmonies make their track, “Honey Pie” (yeah, this one again. They also submitted Fool Hall. Tough choice.) stand out as a record highlight. (giving PG another shoutout for helping getting me through a reaaally bad week. thanks, you're awesome)

"Tuesday" works wonders

They may not be headed to Spring Fling, but Plume Giant is what I, and everybody else, is listening to. Good pick, 17O1.

Which tracks do you like? Any duds?

Z

17O1 Releases "Blue Noise"

17O1 just released its much anticipated album "Blue Noise."

The album compiles what 17O1 deems the best of original student music and seeks to incorporate a variety of genres. Sweet.

Download it free here.

More info here.

I’ll let you know what I think of the tracks if I ever finish writing this minuet and trio for 210. (what up, Jonathan!)

But Daniel (17O1 boss) thinks some of this talent can make it BIG.

What do you think?