Reptar’s debut EP, Oblangle Fizz Y’All begins much like Tommy Pickles’s favorite dragon cartoon, Reptar would sing: grunting. Unlike the Rugrats theme song, however, instead of a nauseating xylophone pitter-pattering in the background, there lies a crescendo of mysterious synths. We hear aggressive opening vocals with melodic beats at the monster’s soft underbelly…but what is to come? A verbal attack so common in the battle of love, “I won’t call you if you don’t call me.” Graham Ulicny’s high-pitched and cuddle-able vocals may sound more like one of the Rugrat babies than their feared cartoon dinosaur, but the band’s compositional talent and undeniably catchy rhythms are just as vicious.
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With a name like Cults, it is puzzling that listening to their debut self-titled album reminded me of experiences purchasing the entire …Baby One More Time record just to hear the Britney Spears single by the same name. In 1999 I was surprised to enjoy Spears’s other recordings on the album when it was unimaginable that she could top the single “Baby One More Time,” or produce similarly catchy songs at the least. As I learned, Cults has more striking material to offer than their Pitchfork hits, “Go Outside” and “Most Wanted.” Read More »

Photo Credit: Timothy DeVita

Much like the effects of Crystal Castles’ fans’ intoxication, I left the rave-like concert dripping with sweat, my ears ringing, and a nearing morning of “coming down.” The sweat; however, was mostly not from my own body, the ringing was a side effect of the haunting synthesizer, and the sensation of withdrawal, from my reinvigorated admiration for the Toronto-based “Thrash” duo, Crystal Castles.

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After two years of following The Morning Benders’ music since their 2008 tour with The Kooks, I would finally get to see the California foursome again. This time the encounter would not be in New York City, but instead Washington, DC. While the band may have opened for British Pop/Rock band the Kooks then, they headlined at the Black Cat on a Friday night after two opening bands, Oberhofer and Twin Sister. Did I mention it was a sold out show?

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Think not that The Black’s band name sheds any light (pun intended) on the band’s sound. Impressions of dark and gothic will be obliterated at first listen. This band may be obscure in its limited level of recognition but not in measuring the lightness of its sound. While the hue of black may be absent from the color wheel, it is actually the culmination of all colors. The opening track, “Freeway (Exiled)” on the album Sun In The Day Moon At Night is an immediate indication of this. With enough swing to knock over a ‘50’s sock hop, the tune quickly redirects the listener’s judgments to a lighter impression of The Black’s music.

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Phew, what a month! October was jam-packed with midterms, Halloween, WGTB’s iPod Battle Royale, the Rally to Restore Sanity at the National Mall, (and my birthday). Balancing work and play is not new for Georgetown students, but this weekend may be the time to catch our breath. With leaves’ colors changing and being collected into precariously jump-enticing piles along campus paths, it’s a beautiful time to spend outside. In fact, why not complete your scenic November promenade with WGTB’s Open Mic Night in Bulldog Alley on Saturday Nov. 6th at 8 pm? Until then, there is no better way to welcome the first weekend of November than with songs of Autumnal glory and blissful solitude: may this playlist find you following Napoleon Dynamite’s lead and having a killer time. Click through for tunage!

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They say Classics never die. Frank Sinatra is one of those musical pillars of legend, and despite his passing in 1995, “The Voice” sings on—on MySpace! As Frankie’s MySpace Blog indicates, an exclusive Frank Sinatra tribute collection, entitled His Way, Our Way was released in 2009 featuring thirteen trademark Sinatra covers from contemporary musicians. Popular bands such as The Kills and The Republic Tigers can be heard deconstructing and refreshing classic Sinatra songs such as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

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