Phoenix Documentary Available to Stream

Out of all of the bands that had an excellent 2009, French songsters Phoenix had a breakout year with their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Now their 2009-10 world tour has become the subject of a new documentary chronicling the band's trip across the globe. That documentary, which is titled From a Mess to the Masses, is directed by Antione Wagner, who was also responsible for the music video of the single "Lisztomania." You can watch the entire documentary below.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/30586903[/vimeo]

SO MANY GIVEAWAYS!!

This week at WKNC, it's a veritable giveaway-a-palooza:

Barenaked Ladies w/Ben Kweller @ Raleigh Amphitheater on 7/31

Phoenix @ The Koka Booth Amphitheater on 6/11

Passion Pit @ The Fillmore in Charlotte on 6/11

Martha Ann Motel @ Slim's on 6/11

The Light Pines @ Pour House on 6/11

Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Cat's Cradle on 6/12

Max Indian @ Pour House on 6/12

We're also still giving away passes to Robin Hood, Sex and the City 2, and Killers at Crossroads 20,

as well as The Karate Kid advance screening at North Hills 14 Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Keep Listening to WKNC, and ya might just win something!!!!!

Phoenix is rising again...on WKNC giveaways!

Nous aimons Phoenix!  So, we've decided to make a few more tickets to their show at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre on June 11 available to win.  Just be the correct caller when the WKNC DJ asks for it, and you could win tickets for you and a friend to attend the show.

Soundoff4 LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

This week we spoke about Broken Social Scene's bonus EP, the official release of Dark Night of the Soul, Crystal Castles rush release, Phoenix scoring a film, and we reviewed LCD Soundsystem's This is Happening.

http://interviews.wknc.org/soundoff04.mp3

DJ Ones' Five Music Facts from the past week

1. You Say Party! We Say Die!'s drummer Devon Clifford passed away after a gig the band was playing in Vancover. After collapsing on stage, the band asked fans to call 911, and Clifford was soon after rushed to a near-by hospital. Clifford died on the April 18th after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. Clifford was 30-years-old. (via NME)

2. Broken Social Scene has announced that they will be releasing a bonus EP alongside their upcoming full length. The EP will be available to those who either pre-order or purchase a physical copy of the album. The 10 track EP is entitled "Lo-Fi for the Dividing Nights." (via Pitchfork)

3. The collaboration between Danger Mouse, Mark Linkous, and David Lynch entitled "Dark Night of the Soul" will be officially released July 13th in the US. The album is dedicated to Vic Chesnutt who died after contributing to the album. The official release also comes after the suicide of Linkous. The album was initially leaked online and the collaboration originally "released" the album as a picture book including photos by Lynch with a blank CD that had a sticker on it which said, "Use it as you will." (via NME)

4. Crystal Castles are to rush-release their upcoming album. The change in dates is coming after their upcoming full length was leaked online. This comes alongside the news that, along with many other bands, Crystal Castles had to cancel tour dates due to volcanic ash that has been interfering with European airlines. (via NME)

5. Phoenix are set to score an upcoming film by Sofia Coppola. The band will be doing the soundtrack for Coppola's next flick entitled "Somewhere" which is due out in the fall. (via Pitchfork)

WKNC has Phoenix Tickets!

Whether your first experience with Phoenix has been hearing their 1901 track on the Cadillac Crossover commercial or if you've stuck with the band since their debut album United, it is undeniable that the French band has set their mark with their eclectic and synthesized sound. Formed in 1999, the group got their start touring in French bars doing Hank Williams and Prince covers and has since released four albums. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released in 2009 and received recognition on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in January 2010 and won Best Alternative Album at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

This week WKNC will be giving away tickets to their show on June 11th at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary before they go on sale! When the deejay announces it, be the correct caller to win a pair of tickets to the show. Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

And don't fret if you don't win this week, because daytime deejays will also be giving away pairs of tickets next week too!

Bonnaroo announces 2010 festival line-up

The line-up for this summer's Bonnaroo, an annual music festival which takes place in Manchester, Tennessee, has been announced. The festival will take place June 10-13, and tickets are on sale now.

The following artists have confirmed they will play during the three-day festival, including a couple North Carolina based artists. Here's the list:

Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs perform "Dark Side of the Moon," The Dead Weather, Damian Marley & Nas, Phoenix, Norah Jones, Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Fogerty, Regina Spektor, Jimmy Cliff, LCD Soundsystem, The Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Rise Against, Tori Amos, The National, Zac Brown Band, Les Claypool, John Prine, The Black Keys, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Beck, Dropkick Murphys, She & Him, Against Me!, The Disco Biscuits, Daryl Hall & Chromeo, Jamey Johnson, Clutch, Bassnectar, Kid Cudi, Baaba Maal, Kris Kristofferson, Medeski Martin & Wood, The xx, GWAR, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Tinariwen, Wale, Deadmau5, The Melvins, Gaslight Anthem, Miike Snow, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dr. Dog, They Might Be Giants, Punch Brothers, Isis, Blitzen Trapper, Blues Traveler, Miranda, Lambert, Calexico, OK Go, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Martin Sexton, Lotus, Baroness, Dave Rawlings Machine, Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Japandroids, Jay Electronica, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ingrid Michaelson, The Dodos, Manchester Orchestra, The Temper Trap, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Tokyo Police Club, The Entrance Band, Local Natives, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Rebelution, Diane Birch, Monte Montgomery, Julia Nunes, The Postelles, Lucero, Here We Go Magic, Hot Rize, Neon Indian, B.O.B, Needtobreathe.

According to Bonnaroo's Web site, there may be additional acts added to the line-up later.

88.1 Pick of the Week 6/11

Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix earns 4 out of 5 stars
May Chung

The French quartet’s fourth studio album rips off not only Mozart’s name sake but also his unadulterated style. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is a composition of catchy ballads, orchestrated with dance pop ditties and heavy synths. The throwback to German romantic composers is the sort of puckish impudence that moves a limb or two. As it should.

Arguably, the album’s opener, “Lisztomania” is this summer’s belting roll-down-the-car-window hit for the Vampire Weekend crowd. “Darling I'm down and lonely” Phoenix’s front man, Thomas Mars croons in his ever-disaffected manner. Gloriously infectious, it is this kind of melodious case of the travesties that defy (or perhaps reinforce?) the Stokes comparisons. It only takes one spin to know why.

The use of falsettos (none more prevalent than in “Fences”) doesn’t seem to hurt either. They seem to be very popular in recent indie releases (think MGMT, Passion Pit). Still, they didn’t just land an SNL on high octaves alone. “1901” and “Rome” add to the ridiculously vivid guitar melodies. Both warrant continuous plays: the first, grandeur of hooks and likely successor to the season jam; the second, complete with snare hits and a riveting outro. So encouraging, it almost seems a shame not to live it up.

But the album’s best hit yet is “Lasso." From a whole album devoted to the eternally lovelorn, this one tears a new heartache. Where would you go with a lasso?” Mars inquires, “Could you go and run into me?” Is he wooing a cowgirl? No matter, the nostalgia is enough to encourage any silly old unpretentious fool to try his hand at love—only to be left listless and unfulfilled.

“Love Like a Sunset” has a reminiscent Air-like quality, which not surprising since it was Mars who was the voice behind “Playground Love." (Incidentally, the song was used in The Virgin Suicides, directed by Thomas’s domestic companion and baby’s momma, Sofia Coppola). Over three-fourths through, the song diverges into a dreamy territory, though it is quite satisfying. It’s actually the sultriest bit of fun to come from the French since Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Dance me, Amadeus. Though Phoenix have been a staple in indie rock for quite some time, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is an innocently new beat, and is a craft in its own right, having been already labeled by many as one of the best records of the year.

Reports of their death have been greatly exaggerated. This Phoenix refuses to die.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.< /blockquote>

WKNC's picks for top albums of 2009, part one

It's hard to believe 2009 is half over.

There have been tons of albums out in months one through six that our DJs have released over the airwaves, some of which resulted in countless requests and songs that got stuck in our heads for days on end. It's hard to narrow them down, but a few of the WKNC music directors have made their picks for the top five albums of the year so far in their respective formats.

Local Music Director Adam Kincaid selected...



1. Bombadil: Tarpits & Canyonlands
2. Colossus: Drunk On Blood
3. The Love Language: The Love Language
4. Lonnie Walker: These Times Old Times
5. Embarrassing Fruits: Community/Exploitation

With honorable mentions for...

Americans in France: Pretzelvania
Hammer No More The Fingers: Looking For Bruce

Disagree with Adam's picks? Send him an email and let him know which albums you would have chosen.

Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre selected...



1. Cotton Jones: Paranoid Cocoon
2. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
3. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavillion
4. Harlem Shakes: Technicolor Health
5. Screaming Females: Power Move

With honorable mentions for:

Akron/Family: Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free
Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Are there albums you think should have been on the list? Email Jenna to discuss.

Underground Music Director Damion Sledge chose...



Saigon and Statik Selektah: All in a Day's Work

If you have Underground albums to add to the list, email Damion.

Stay tuned for the next six months of albums on WKNC, and we'll see which ones come out on top in December!