Music
Maps – Turning the Mind
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 by WLOY Staff
Maps, the singular identity of James Chapman, release a mysterious flow of electronica into your head like a dark fairytale. Chapman’s voice slides through your ears and into your head like a melodic whisper. His voice is nowhere and everywhere at once. Most of the songs start with him singing with a calm electronic melody behind him, until it opens up with echoing vocal harmonies and shimmering sounds that generate “Turning the Mind.” This CD is interesting because each song seems to open up near the end of the track, which leaves you wanting more. (more…)
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Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Self-Titled
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 by WLOY Staff
Despite the complicated name of the band, this quartet delivers a simply sweet sound. Their self-titled CD resembles a fusion of Silversun Pickups and Postal Service with a lighter and dancier edge. When I put on the first track, “In Steps,” it took me exactly where I wanted to go: into a state of relaxation. The guitar is lathered across the electronic static and steady beat, which instantly melted away any stress I felt before listening. The voices and words seem to fade away, emphasizing the melody of the guitar. What I found interesting was that some tracks focused more on guitar than electronic sounds, and others seemed to be an equal blend of both. “Pause” carries on that relaxing feeling with humming voices and atmospheric guitar. The electronic sounds are so soothing that I forgot they were there. The track is quite mellow until it suddenly picks up with a strong synthetic dance beat that really caught my attention. (more…)
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The Insomniacs – At Least I’m Not With You
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 by WLOY Staff
If you feel lonesome on a late night, don’t worry, because The Insomniacs will be up with you all night long, singin’ the blues. From the first song on the album, “Lonesome,” the listener knows exactly what this band is about. The Insomniacs introduce themselves with a stylish organ along with jamming guitar riffs and harmonica solos all under the silky-smooth voice of Vyasa Dodson. This guy is a triple threat: piano player, singer and songwriter. If Michael Buble ever sang the blues and meant it, he’d fit right in. (more…)
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Andrew Bird – Armchair Aphocrypha
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 by WLOY Staff
Imagine, if you will, the climax of gruesome plane crash. The plane dives lifelessly through the sky and back towards the earth as gravity begins to assert its strength. Now, picture this scene with a lovely beat to accompany it, complete with a violin, a piano, perhaps an optimistic tune with whistling, a choir, and maybe some horns and lively vocals to compliment. Armchair Apocrypha elicits a powerful feeling of contrast and contradiction as Andrew Bird has a knack for making the terrifying into beautiful, or the mundane into captivating. (more…)
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Skindred Interview
Sunday, June 28th, 2009 by The Professor
Interviewed by Rob Domingo ’06.
[audio:WLOY_INT_Skindred.mp3]
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Leslie West Interview
Friday, August 8th, 2008 by The Professor
The Professor and the Coach snuck backstage at Rams Head Live to hang out with Leslie West. Audio is overdriven but who cares! Leslie was great and hung out beyond the audio limits but we caught a bit of it. RIP Leslie 🙁
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Carl Filipiak Interview
Friday, April 7th, 2006 by The Professor
WLOY’s Tom Whittaker caught up with guitarist Carl Filipiak ahead of his annual Jimi Hendrix tribute show at the Recher Theater in Towson. They talked about Jimi, Carl’s recording and record label. While the Hendrix tribute is an amazing piece of guitar artistry, Carl’s main focus has been in the world of Jazz. He’s has earned critical acclaim as one of today’s most dynamic jazz guitarists, and not just in the Baltimore area. Jazziz Magazine has included him among a renowned list of guitar players in their nominations for “New Fusion Blood,” and JazzTimes calls him “a dazzlingly versatile guitarist.” Don’t miss the Hendrix show, but also make sure you check out his fantastic Jazz catalog!
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Jazz Lives – Carl Grubbs
Friday, July 22nd, 2005 by The Professor
Professor Anthony Villa, director of the Loyola Jazz Band and Fine Arts professor, created a show called Jazz Lives featuring local Baltimore Jazz musicians. For episode 4 this week he talks with saxophonist and composer Carl Grubbs.
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