Updates - 10/15/12

It's been a really long time, listeners. I've been pretty AWOL without even realizing it. I don't have many good excuses, but I can tell you that I'm going to update my posts in the next couple of days for sure. I've been pretty busy with my other show, The Sex and Tell Show, which I also keep a blog and archive for. That's been taking a lot of attention as of late, as well as working and some family things. 

More important that updating this blog is that I have some super amazing news. As of Wednesday of last week, I am now the General Manager of WCBN. I am so excited to start work, and I'm so honored that the Board of Directors elected me. I've been talking a lot with Rob Goldey (the GM before me), and I'm feeling much more ready than I was even a week ago to do the job. Wish me luck.

Some more news is that this coming weekend I will be attending Radiovision in NYC, which is put together by our freeform brethren, WFMU. If you recall, last year I also attended this conference, and it was an amazing experience. From October 19th-21st me and 4 other CBNers will be driving to NYC to learn more about how to make radio relevant and useful to you, and hopefully lots of other unrelated things that I will be excited to share with you. I will also be an official liveblogger of the event, so if you feel inclined, head over to my Twitter (@futfreestailo) and follow the event! I'll also be writing full blog posts about the event afterwards, so you won't miss a thing. 

Also, I'm looking for a job that pays in Ann Arbor, so if you know a guy, throw me a bone.

Freestailo #45 - 8/31/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download Freestailo #45 Here

I wish there was a Pokemon anatomy book.

Good morning!

I had an interesting show this morning, and one that kept me on my toes. I had a large variety, as usual, but more so since I used my VERY FIRST reggae vinyl today! I might have at some point accidentally played some reggae, or something very genre-crossing, but I usually don't pick anything from reggae for reasons unknown to me. I liked very much the one I picked though, so I should probably explore that section more.

Regarding the layering, I wanted to say that I felt really good about it today. Sometimes I get in ruts when it comes to layering things, but I think I had a really great groove with the one today. I had a good grasp of what materials I was working with, and how to create a full radio piece with them. It was a much more analytical process today than it usually is when I layer. Often times when I layer, I either am running around the station looking frantically for something that I need, or I have set everything up to go at the same time, which has its virtues and faults. Today though, because of the slow pace and build of the layer, I was able to play one song, then add another, and had the time to mentally process whether it was working or not, and had the time to switch songs if I needed to. I felt very much in control, which is a pleasant feeling, I think. Haha.

Anyway, let's get to it.

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. Ragnarok: Rites of Geburah - Blackdoor Miracle
2. Cédric Stevens: The Siamese Level Linear Enlightenment Mix - The Syncopated Elevators Legacy
3. Bollywood Brass Band feat. Rafaqat Ali Khan: Kehnde Ne Naina - Chaiyya Chaiyya
4. Brian Eno: Somber Reptiles - Another Green World
5. Charmander - Pokemon Gameboy Sound Collection
6. Dead Poetz Society: Lick A Shot Remix - AftaLife
7. Jack de Johnette & Foday Musa Suso: Kaira - Music From The Hearts Of The Masters
8. Pokey Oaks - Music From Powerpuff Girls
9. South Rakkas Crew: Fake Blood Remix - Mad Again
10. Paul Pena: Alash Hem (The Alash River) - Genghis Blues OST
11. Yeti: La Java Blanche - Accordion Babes 2011
12. Galaxie 500: Snowstorm - On Fire
13. April in the Orange: Siva Casting Dice on Herbrus Edge - Siva Casting Dice
14. De La Soul: Shopping Bags (She Got From You) - The Grind Date
15. Sofins Voskopoulos: Den Ei∑ai Kypio∑ - Voskopoulos
16. Melt-Banana: Like a white bat in a box, dead matters go on - Cell-Scape
17. Pikachu - Pokemon Gameboy Sound Collection
18. Autechre: Side A - Autechre
19. i, cactus: yellow cactus - i, cactus
20. Ukrainska Selska Orchestra: Marusia (Little Mary) - Aimer et Perdre (To Love & To Lose)
21. Nensi: Chistyy List - Misc. Songs
22. Hot Chip: Let Me Be Him - In Our Heads
23. Hajime Wakai, etc.: Flooded Forest ~Faron Woods~ - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
24. All Out War: Two Thousand Years - Condemned To Suffer
25. Elf Power: Green Sea Days - The Winter Is Coming
26. Benny Goodman: Caprice XXIV Paganini - Volume II: Clarinet a la King
27. Wayne Smith: Under Me Sleng Teng - Sleng Teng
28. Thelonious Monk: Getting Sentimental Over You - Live! At The Village Gate
29. Steve Miller: Dime-A-Dance - Sailor
30. Kid Koala: More Dance Music - Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs
31. Sven-Åke Johansson: Cymbals in the Night - Cymbals in the Night
32. Koji Asano: Rabbit Room Reservation Center III - Rabbit Room Reservation Center
33. Gazel: Sabreyle gönül - Gazel
34. Empire Brass Quintet with William Kuhlman: J.S. Bach: Contrapunctus I from The Art of Fugue - Baroque Music for Brass and Organ
35. Lama Gyurme: Hope for Enlightenment - Songs of Awakening
36. Play-Along Sound Effects - Play-Along Sound Effects
37. Shakespeare: Othello - Othello
38. Edith Farnadi: Vallée d'Obermann - Lizst: Années de Pelerinage
39. Satyricon: With Ravenous Hunger - Volcano
40. Café Tacvba: 11 - Reves
41. 101 Strings: Orbit Fantasy - From Beyond The Year 2000
42. Hanggai: Yuan Ding Cap - He Who Travels For
43. Fela Kuti: Let's Start - With Ginger Baker Live!

Yes: 

1. Koji Asano Layering: I've used Asano-san's music before for layering, and I've never been disappointed. I really like the ambiance he creates, and especially the gradual build to it. 
2. Pokemon: This should always happen. Using these sounds makes me think that I should use more small sound interludes in general, whether they are Pokemon or not...but they should preferably be Pokemon. 
3. Powerpuff Girls: This is pure aural gold. Hip-hop style remixes of the Powerpuff Girls? Yes, please. Always, please. The best part is that I thought it was just going to be straight-up music from the show, but it turned out to be remixes coupled with quotes and sound effects. 

No:

1. Speaking was ehhh: I was pretty close to the mic, wasn't I? It sounded a little distorted to me, so sorry about that. It sounded good in my ear, but that's good to know that it was too much. 
2. Request awkwardness: With no fault to the wonderful person who requested Steve Miller, I wasn't expecting to get a request, and I was just about to put on a long layering, but knew that I couldn't wait until after the layer.
3. Pauses: There was more dead air than I normally like to have, and it was purely because I wasn't paying attention. I usually have a really good sense of when songs end, but today I was just zoning out a lot. At one point I think I was standing in the FM studio, looking at the computer, and realized I had nothing cued up for what I needed to play in 30-seconds. *headdesk*

Well, hope you enjoyed the show, and I'll see you next Friday! And if you can't get enough of me, you should listen to my public affairs show. 

Freestailo #44 - 8/24/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download Freestailo #44 Here

I don't know what was different about this day from other days, but I had a lot of fun on the show this morning. I think it must of been a combination of getting almost enough sleep, and also getting a couple of calls from listeners, which is always really encouraging/interesting, no matter what. It seems to be that starting of any set with some uptempo music from the African section really does it for me. Who knew?

A major thing in this show that I did differently than normal was that I used a huge amount of 7" records. That's not something I've ever dived head-first into, but have dabble with from time to time, and never from the metal filing cabinets in the other room. I think I had a good variety of local 45s and older 45s from the cabinets, but tell me what you think.

Thinking about 45s more, this also kind of makes me think that when WCBN trains new DJs, they should have one 45 record required for the demo tape, because I honestly didn't play a 45 until I was settled in the station for a few months, and then I was really scared and confused when I tried to do it, and didn't understand why there was a big hole in the middle of it instead of one to fit right around the center of the turntable. *headdesk*

Anyway, take a listen. I think you'll like it. 

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. Femi Kuti: Truth Don Die - Shoki Shoki
2. Le Hammond Inferno: C.K.-T-Shirts - My First Political Dance Album
3. Shonen Knife: Flying Jelly Attack - Let's Knife
4. Afrika Bam-Baa-Taa and Family: Bambaataa's Theme (Assault on Precinct 13) - Beward (The Funk Is Everywhere)
5. Tolga Çandar: Hisardan Inmem Diyor (Türkü) - Türküleri Ege'nin III
6. Matthew Dear: Hammers - EP1
7. Kim Gunmo: (track 6) - ka.m4
8. Radiation 4: John vs. The Elephant - Wonderland
9. State: Spießbürger - Verboten German EP
10. Nilla Pizzi: L'amore è una cosa meravigliosa (Love is a many splendored thing) - Love Me If You Want To
11. Ensemble of Traditional Musical Instruments of Japan: The sun sets on the Temple - Traditional Music of Japan
12. Elba Ramalho: Légua tirana - Brazilian Popular Music
13. Atari Teenage Riot: Riot 1996 - Riot 1996
14. Salif Keita: Wamba - Soro
15. Lyrics Born: Bad Dreams - Later That Day...
16. Motorpsycho: The Hollow Lands - The Death Defying Unicorn
17. Witch Gardens: Aunt Shae/Mean Colleen - R-I-P
18. Kozilek: Last Dance of the Giants [Majora's Mask] - 25YEARLEGEND: A Legend of Zelda Indie Game Composer Tribute
19. Alain Souchon: Pays industriels - J'veux du cuir
20. Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan: Raga Manhj (Dhun in tintal) - Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan (shehnai)
21. Ed Sheeran: Small Bump - +
22. Placido Domingo: Besame Mucho (Spanish Version) - Besame Mucho
23. Theo Katzman: Brooklyn - Romance Without Finance
24. Quiet Cloud: I Am A Lightning Tower (Feel My Power) - Suitcase
25. Teach Me Tiger: Won't U Come Around? - Won't U Come Around?
26. Kona Triangle: Toybox (Kona Remix) - Sing A New Sapling Into Existence
27. Psychic Feline: Non Dot - White Walls/Non Dot
28. Janis Siegel: How High The Moon - How High The Moon
29. Meat Beat Manifesto: No Echo In Space - RUOK?
30. Stereo Total: Komplex Mit Dem Sex - Paris-Berlin
31. Tammy Lynn: Walking After Midnight - Walking After Midnight
32. Ramon: Chica Donde Estas - Chica Donde Estas
33. The End: The Asphyxiation of Lisa-Claire - Transfer Trachea Reverberations From Point: False Omniscient
34. Sigur Rós: Hoppipolla - Inni
35. Starlight Mints: Power Bleed - Change Remains
36. Mouse On Mars: Mine Is In Yours - Radical Connector
37. Sunday Morning Einsteins: Rakna Med Bräk - Kängnäve
38. Brazil: Forro: Balanço Da Canoa - Music For Maids and Taxi Drivers
39. Legowelt: Strange Girl - Classics 1998-2003
40. halc, Insixfour: Serious Moon Business - LoZ Majora's Mask
41. Norbert Stein: No.w.here - Graffiti Suite

Upvote:

1. LoZ: Who else noticed I used a couple of Legend of Zelda remix tracks? I've been on a video game remix kick lately (more than usual at least), and these are a couple of tracks I've been listening to maybe more than I should. They're just soooo good, and I'm happy to share them with you.
2. Placido Domingo: Ummmm so this is a Spanish disco song starring one of the opera world's most famous tenors. WHAT?! I'm obsessed, and I hope someone had the same violent reaction to it that I did.
3. Lyrics Born: I really digged this track, and now I have to play a lot more Lyrics Born on my show. 

Downvote:

1. Theo Katzman: Something happened during the track that was not so legit. Oh well!
2. Brazil Forro: Eh this was kind of lackluster but OK.
3. Shonen Knife: You know, I was expecting something more. I really want to like Shonen Knife, but I'm not sure I did. 

UNTIL NEXT WEEK!

Radiozilla #5 - 8/19/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download Radiozilla #5 Here

Puffy Amiyumi

HEY I'M BACK! You still missed me, right?

So as the rotation gods would have it, I had the Latin Show and Radiozilla back-to-back this Sunday, and honestly, and can't think of a better two hour slot to have. This Radiozilla was especially eventful because I had two people in the studio with me, one being my friend who was visiting, and another being Gus, who is a trainee to become a real-life WCBN DJ! Yaaaay Gus! Luckily for me (and him, who are we kidding), he chose to do his specialty apprenticeship with me during Radiozilla, so a few of these tracks were picked out by him! I've notated which ones with a "+" beforehand. We also learned that we have similar favorite SNES, such as Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG, which makes me like Gus a lot, so we'll probably be best friends now.

Seriously though, it's amazing to see these newbies, and what kind of music they pick out when they have the chance to explore. That's a major thing I love about WCBN, and sometimes I wish we could do more collaborative radio, like how this show was done.

Anyway, enough jibber-jabber.

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. Polysics: Buggie Technica - Hey! Bob! My Friend!
2. Puffy Amiyumi: Radio Tokyo - Splurge
3. +Nobukazu Takemura: Everyone Gets His Own Nemesis - Akey To The Underworld
4. Nubuo Uematsu: Battle Theme - Final Fantasy X
5. Petty Booka: Chotto Matte Kudasai - Let's Talk Dirty In Hawaiian
6. Asobi Seksu: I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me - Asobi Seksu
7. Xtatika: Gone - Tongue Bath
8. Mai Hoshimura: Stay With You - Japan For Sale Vol. 3
9. +Ken Ishii: Frame Out - Jelly Tones
10. Yoko Kanno: Cat's Delicacy - Vision of Escaflowne OST 2
11. +Martin Atkins' China Dub Soundsystem: Mostly Hulusi - Made In China
12. Kicking Giant: Alien ID - Alien ID
13. +Atau: delull - biorhythms
14. +Himawari: Wonder Pan - Mineral
15. Fushitsusha: (track 3) - DBL Live Disc 2

I'm Happy:

1. Gus ole buddy: Gus did a really great job, and I don't think I can say enough how happy I am to have him at WCBN now, and how excited I am to hear what kind of music he checks out in the future for his own show.
2. Puffy Amiyumi: Remember that cartoon, Teen Titans? Well, I don't know about you, but the first time I heard of Puffy Amiyumi was because they did the theme song to this show, and I'm not going to lie...I really liked this show. I also had NO IDEA we had so much Puffy Amiyumi in the station! You will hear more Puffy Amiyumi on my freeform show soon...
3. Martin Atkins: This track was so great. So, so, so great. I love how the hulusi was incorporated, and I really want to figure out how much of it was analog, and how much of it was digitally composed. Songs where I have to question that are what really blow my mind. Good pick, Gus!

But You Don't Like Me:

1. Honestly I got nuthin': This was a great show.

Ja ne, minna-san!

Latin Show #3 - 8/19/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download Latin Show #3 Here

Cumbia dancing

Hola chicos, ¿cómo estás? Hoy me tocan música latina para usted!

I don't normally do the Latin show, but I really love Latin music for a reason unknown to me as of yet. It could be because our Latin section is BALLER but who knows. This was an especially lively show because there were a lot of people milling about: me, my friend who visited me at the station, and about 4 random guys in the lobby who I ran into. Actually, one of them was Argentinian, and he was really enjoying the show. Yay!

Something interesting happened on the show today. I had a listener call in asking for something "cumbia." I asked him for maybe a band name, but he said, "You could probably educate me on some band names." This is something I find interesting, and I want to call attention to it. I was talking to another friend, who listens to WCBN quite a lot, and is a self-proclaimed groupie. We were talking about my process for picking out music, and she suddenly said, "Wait, you don't listen to everything before hand? I thought you only played music you knew really well." I want to say right now, listeners, that this is 100% false. Most of the tracks I play I have never listened to. When I go to the station to DJ, I intend to explore the library, and open my horizons. When I play the Latin show, I want to learn more about Latin music, and share what I'm learning with you. I'm not trying to oppress you with my choices, but work with you to create something really beautiful. If you have a request, I love to take them. If you don't have a request, I want to share what I think sounds interesting or new to me. Sometimes I'll even play tracks that I'm at first skeptical about so that I can learn more about it.

That's my two-cents. Enjoy the show.

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. Rodriguez: Barcelona Boogie - Tell An Amigo
2. Novalima: Guayabo - Karimba
3. Chico Trujillo: Ahora quien - Chico De Oro
4. José Maria Vitier: Samba al sur - Habana Secreta
5. Las Rubias del Norte: Porque Te Vas - Ziguala
6. Flaco Jimenez: En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza (In Heaven There Is No Beer) - Squeeze Box King
7. Orishas: Que Se Bote - El Kilo
8. Grupo Fantasma: Realizando - El Existential
9. Astor Piazzolla: Hora Cero - Luna
10. Jose Barros: La Piragua - Cumbia Cumbia
11. Flor de Caña: Banana - ¡Muevete!
12. Manuel Alvarez y Sus Dangers: Esclavo Moderno - Palenque Palenque
13. Ned Sublette: Ghost Riders in the Sky - Cowboy Rumba
14. DJ Dolores: De Dar Dó - Aparelhagem

No es tan malo:

1. Comboy Rumba:  I had a friend from out of town visiting my show to keep me company, and told her she could help me pick out music if she wanted. She chose the Cowboy Rumba track, and then stopped because she thought she was doing a bad job. Surprise though, that track was awesome. 
2. Cumbia: So glad my listener requested this! It was fantastic!

Radiozilla que hasta la próxima!

Freestailo #43 - 8/17/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download Freestailo #43 Here

You'll understand why I chose this picture
if you listen to the show. 

Today's show was very special, because I had a special guest artist on the show! John Boyle asked me maybe a month ago if he could come on the show, talk a bit, and play his music. He had a show at the Canterbury house the next day, which unfortunately I didn't get to go to, but I hope some of you went.

It was really refreshing to talk to someone with a different sensibility about music than I have, but with similar philosophies about music in general. After talking to John, I learned that he's been to quite a few radio stations across the country, and loves the kind of freeform we do (yaaay!). Since John stayed during the rest of my show after the interview, I also got a chance to use his music in some layering, which couldn't have turned out better. I really want to thank John for creating this music that gave me the opportunity to create a radio piece like on today's show, and I very much hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as I did creating it.

To the music!

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. John Boyle Interview
2. Korean Orphan Choir: Various - Enchanting Korean Orphan Choir
3. Ramon Lopez: Various - Eleven Drums Songs
4. Shujaat Khan: Vilambit gat in tintal - Schujaat Khan (sitar)
5. Linde: Depths - Lander
6. Tim Sparks: At The Rebbe's Table - At The Rebbe's Table
7. Michael Leviton: I Only Want The Sky - Songs From The Big Top
8. Mantovani: You Only Live Twice - Hollywood
9. John Boyle: Kontinuum 1 - Kontinuum
10. Lucian Rebay: Various - Invitation to Italian Poetry
11. Dexter: Various - Fever Dreams
12. Trayer: Supernumeraries - Afterlife An Abandoned Theme Park
13. Gregg Bendian: The Mother Box - Requiem For Jack Kirby
14. Fabolous: Breathe
15. From Ashes Rise: The Noise - Nightmares
16. Frank Sinatra: My Baby Just Cares For Me - Strangers In The Night
17. Daniele Lombardi: Sonata No. 4, Op. 11 - Russian Futurism
18. The Black Angels: Black Grease
19. Calvin Owens: Stop Lying In My Face - Stop Lying In My Face
20. High Llamas: Get Into The Galley Shop - Buzzle Bee
21. Amadou Kiénou: Tiriba - Amadou Kiénou
22. Dorothée: Le Tour Du Monde - Dorothée
23. Laura Bell Bundy: Giddy On Up
24. The Waikiki's: Strangers in the Night - A Taste of Hawaii
25. Malacoda: Into The Fold - Cascade
26. Walter Wanderly: Rain - Rain Forest
27. From A Second Story Window: The Challenge of Caring - Not One Word Has Been Omitted
28. Kris Kristofferson: The Silver Tongued Devil And I - The Silver Tongued Devil And I
29. Chuck Willis: Change My Mind - My Story
30. Gloria Estefan: Me Odio - 90 Millas
31. Quasimojo: Jetlag-4 - Acoustic Coupler

Giddy on up:

1. Dat layer: That incredibly long layer that I did with John Boyle's material was absolutely stunning to do, and I'm still a little floored by how well it went. I think the best part was when the Mantovani record started to skip, which allowed me so much more to work with. AND THEN when it randomly came out of its groove to finish the song, exactly when I would have liked it to. It was magical, so take a listen. 
2. Trayer: I'm really obsessed with this album, guys. I ripped it and took it home, and it's been in my ears ever sense. 

Giddy on down:

1. Dead air: There were a few times when there was just flat-out dead air, and no excuse at all. Sometimes I'd be running around the station. There was that time I was making coffee. There was that time I was on the phone with a listener. Everything.
2. Misplays: There were a few times that I wanted to play something in particular, but then I played something else. I'm really not too upset after the fact, but when it happens it's like THE END OF ZE WORLD. 

Thanks for listening! Check out John Boyle, and tune in for the next show!

What It Is #4 - 7/20/12

Right Click/Ctrl-Click to Download What It Is #4 Here

There wasn't anything particularly special about this show (aside from the fact that soul and funk are awesome), but I really enjoyed spinning these tunes, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them. I did get one call from a listener who requested a string of Motown, but it was within the last 10 minutes of the show, so I tried my best to accomodate.

By the way, if you have anything you want me to play, did you know you can request songs? You can call (734) 763-3500, which will connect you right to the FM Studio at WCBN, and you can talk to the DJ who is currently DJ AT THAT MOMENT to request a song. It's pretty exciting. You should do it often, because we love you guys.

Let's get your funk on.

[Artist: Song - Album]

1. The Sugarman Three: Got To Get Back To My Baby - What The World Needs Now
2. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: I'm Not Gonna Cry - Daptone Gold
3. Funkees: Point Of No Return - Dancing Time
4. Gladys Knight and the Pips: You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You?) - Anthology
5. The Four Tops: Let Me Set You Free - Tonight!
6. Disco Circus: Dig It - Disco Circus
7. Catalyst: Ain't It The Truth - The Complete Recordings Vol. 1
8. S'Express: Blow Me Another Lollypop - Original Soundtrack
9. Red Snapper: Suckerpunch - Making Bones
10. Native Son: In Search Of Beauty - Savanna Hot-Line
11. Charles Bradley: Stay Away - Heartaches and Pain EP
12. Al Green: Pretty Woman - I'm Still In Love With You
13. Brass Fever: Funky Carnival - Time Is Running Out
14. Major Lance: The Monkey Time - Okey Soul
15. Funk Ark: Hey Mamajo - High Noon
16. Bootsy Collins: Sound Crack - Ultra Wave
17. Brad Walrond: Underneath the Metal - Eargasms (Crucialpoetics Vol. 1)
18. Van Hunt: Eyes Like Pearls - What Were You Hoping For?
19. Archie Bell & The Drells: Everybody Have A Good Time - Where Will You Go When The Party's Over
20. Sipho Hot Stix Mabuse: Jive Soweto - Burn Out
21. Michael Liggins & The Super Souls: Loaded To The Gills - Eccentric Soul: mighty Mike Lenaburg
22. The Temptations: Cloud Nine - Great Songs and Performances That Inspired The Motown 25th Anniversary T.V. Special
23. Barry White: Oooo....Ahhh.... - Beware!
24. The Supremes: He's My Sunny Boy - Love Child
25. Stevie Wonder: Front Line - Front Line
26. The Temptations: Snake in the Grass - Hear To Tempt You

Okey:

1. Daptone goodness: I love pretty much everything by Daptone. I should make a list for myself of all the Daptone in the CD section, because I have literally never been disappointed by them. 

Nokey:

1. Barry White: Ehhhh this was okaaaay but a little not at all what I was expecting.

Solid show. See you soon.