Setlist

The Official Music Magazine of the University of Pennsylvania Winter 2009

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02 Setlist Magazine
which Genre are you?
An (Extremely Unscientific) Quiz to Determine Which Genre of Music Best Fits Your Personality

What is in your pocket right now? What do you like to do for fun?

A Lighter A Listen to your vinyl collection

B 9MM B Get money
C Cattle prod C Ride bulls
D Dark eyeliner D Write poetry about your feelings

What is your favorite movie? What is your favorite article of clothing?

A Almost Famous A Tie dye shirt

B 8 Mile B Do-rag
C Maverick C Cowboy hat
D Edward Scissorhands D Skinny jeans

You go to concerts in order to... What are your summer job plans?

A Rock out A Roadie

B Throw your hand in the air B DJ
C Hear Freebird C Cowboy
D Cry D Hot Topic employee

results
A’s Classic Rock. With an ear
for the long gone days of yesteryear and
B’s Rap. Coming from the
streets, you like music that speaks to you
a fond reminiscence for the “heyday of about your hardknock lifestyle, tough
Rock’n’Roll,” you think popular music just economic situation, and ice cream paint
sucks. Because it ain’t cool unless it’s 30 job. Tricked out cars and bikini-clad
years old when you hear it for the first women are a must.
time.

C’s Country. Yee-Haw! Ride

‘em, Cowboy! You can be found down at
D’s Emo. You may only be 20
years old, but the world is out to get you,
the country fair, checking out the steer and you’ve already suffered enough for a
and arriving in style in your pickup truck. lifetime. Your black clothes, studded belt,
Your girlfriend just left you and took your and body piercings remind everyone that
shotgun too, but at least she left the you’re hardcore; if only everyone knew you
dog. listened to Avril Lavigne.
Winter 2009 03
from the editor...

editor-in-chief:
David Faber
layout/design editor:
Anna-Lara Cook
web-editor:
Lisa Zheng
business manager:
David Faber Jake Walker
Editor-In-Chief

04 Setlist Magazine
 6
12
A Blast from the Past Mashup Your Mind
None of us can forget the songs of our Girl Talk and Super Mash Bros. have put
childhood, and here’s making sure you the mashup on the map, gaining fans with
don’t, ever: relive the hits and see just each and every show. But are mashups
what your (former) favorite artists have music? Yes? No? Can’t decide? Read as
been up to lately. That’s not all: Penn’s two of our writers battle it out for your
music hall of fame is just a page turn away. support. Careful: this one’s a hot topic.

8 14
Professor Playlists Holiday Wishlist?
It’s clear our professors hate distraction; It’s that time of year again –gifts are under
they have, after all, ordered embarrassed the tree, carols waft through the air, and
students to take out their earbuds. But families gather in front of the fire. After
after class? Pull back the curtain on the excitement wears off on Christmas
two of the best and see what’s playing morning, the toughest part remains:
outside of lecture – with some surprises. what did you really get for Christmas?

English Patient
band is anything but. This future campus
fixture has been conquering Penn since
NSO and is looking to break into the big
9
The movie was great, if a little sad, but the
Album Reviews
16
The past few months have seen some
big name artists – 50 Cent, OneRepublic,
Weezer, and Dashboard Confessional –
release major studio albums. Before you
time. Up next: a show at the top of Mount hit the record shelves, read our reviews:
Everest. Afterwards: world domination. you may save yourself a trip to the store.

10 20
Top 10’s of 2009 Concert Reviews
Is it really December? Already!? No matter – With more venues than other cities,
our staff has been working on this one for a Philadelphia has a great live music scene.
solid 12 months. Paring down a year’s worth Penn’s campus is no exception; Grizzly
of music into a list of the 10 best (and worst) is Bear performed to an excited crowd,
no small task, but we’ve accomplished it. See and Wolfmother stopped by a mere
what we chose and whether you agree with cab fare away. Though of course you
our picks. went, read these in case you blinked.

This
publication is

SAC
FUNDED
Winter 2009 05
Blast from the where
are now?
Past they
by Rafe Pilling
As this decade comes to an end, we thought that we
would take a look back at some of our favorite popstars
from the 90’s and see what they have been up to. Here’s
what we got:

Tionne Watkins: Best Known as “T-Boz” from TLC

our middle school music After TLC cooled down, T-Boz continued to
by Lee Marcus remain in the spotlight. She wrote a book entitled
Thoughts, a collection of poems and essays detailing her
If you’ve ever watched the Disney channel with your younger life experiences. She has also has appeared in several
sibling (or by yourself just for fun), you might reminisce TV shows and movies, including Celebrity Apprentice in
about the 90’s: Tamagotchis, Lunchables, Mario Kart, and 2006, and is planning on releasing a new solo album
Pokémon, to name a few. But when an “ancient” 90’s pop in 2010. In October, Watkins announced that she has
tune starts blasting, you can’t help but belt out the lyrics, been battling a brain tumor for the past three years;
loudly and proudly. Here’s a list of six songs that will make she has had it removed, however, and, after a year of
you wish you were ten years old again – and you can still therapy and rehab, feels ready to perform again.
sing if you want.
MC Hammer: Best Known for being MC Hammer
“I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys (1996)
As number 3 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s, the Backstreet After declaring bankruptcy in 1996, MC Hammer
Boys’ most successful and memorable song showcased their classic has continued a career in the entertainment industry.
pop appeal. “I Want it That Way” was played well into the beginning He has released 10 studio albums and made many
of the new millennium. television appearances. He was one of the housemates
in the original version of The Surreal Life and has his
“Wannabe” by the Spice Girls (1996) own reality show on A&E entitled Hammertime, which
When the Spice Girls announced a reunion tour in 2007, the
depicts his personal, family, and business life. Hammer
first concert sold out in just 38 seconds, mostly because of their
incredible, psychedelic pop songs, such as “Wannabe,” a song that
continues to preach as well, devoting time to youth
almost every kid who grew up in the 90’s has memorized. ministries as well as prisons.

“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith (1997) Ricky Martin: Best known for hit songs “Livin’ La
After a few seasons of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Smith recorded Vida Loca,” and “She Bangs”
“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” which hit number one on the charts and
coined the word “jiggy” for those who, unlike 45-year-olds at Bar Since the release of Martin’s eponymous
Mitzvahs, can dance with a superb sense of rhythm. breakthrough English album, he has released three
more albums, two in English and one in Spanish. He
“Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65 (1998) founded the Ricky Martin Foundation, whose mission
Perhaps one of Eurodance’s most repetitive and popular songs,
is to advocate the well-being of children around the
Eiffel 65’s one-hit-wonder reached number 6 on the charts in 1999.
The techno-pop mix clearly captures the essence of the late 90s:
world. Martin is currently working on a new album with
the worship of nonsensical lyrics. tracks in English and Spanish, and is rumored to be
penning his first book.
“…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (1999)
Oh, Britney. 1999’s “…Baby One More Time” peaked at number one Krist Novoselic: Best known as Nirvana’s bassist
on the Billboard top 100. Although it would be ten years before
she would be annihilated by a South Park episode, we embraced Since Nirvana ended, Novoselic has kept quite
every word of her majestic pop music. busy. He left the music industry in 2003 in order to
pursue a career in politics. In 2004 he wrote a book
“All Star” by Smash Mouth (1999) called Of Grunge and Government, detailing his part
Smash Mouth’s hit song topped the Billboard Top 40 in 1999. The in Nirvana as well as his political beliefs. He created
song speaks of the advice that countless “somebody’s” told Steve
the political action committee JAMPAC in Washington
Harwell on his way to stardom. And now, at least in our minds, he’s
and writes a weekly column on music and politics.

06
a rock star and an all star, without “the shape of an L on
his forehead.” Most recently he acted in Robin William’s latest movie,
Setlist Magazine World’s Greatest Dad.
Penn Music
Hall of Fame
by Mike Rubin
John Legend
Who else would we talk about first? Legend stuck it to several way lamer schools by
turning down scholarship offers from both Harvard and Georgetown to come to the
University of Pennsylvania. After graduating from the College, he released two platinum
albums (Get Lifted and Once Again) and one gold album (Evolver). Introduced to Kanye
West in 2001 by Devo Springsteen, a producer and fellow Penn graduate, he’s the
recipient of six Grammy awards. Take that, Crimson.

James DePriest
Getting accepted to Juliard is pretty impressive. James DePriest is the director of
conducting and orchestral studies there. A man of many talents, he graduated from
Wharton and got a Master’s from the Annenberg School of Communication. DePriest
has worked with the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and London
Symphony Orchestra. He received the National Medal of Arts in 2005.

David Zippel
Flexed his lyrical prowess on Broadway, winning a Tony for City of Angels. Zippel also
worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the show Woman In White. He has undoubtedly
influenced Disney watchers: he also wrote the lyrics for Hercules and Mulan. For “I Can
Go The Distance,” he was nominated for an Oscar. I’m also quite proud to say that he’s
my cousin.

Rick Chertoff
Don’t know who he is? That’s fine. Have you heard Cyndi Lauper’s megahit “Girls Just
Wanna Have Fun” or any other song off of She’s So Unusual? He produced the whole
album. He has worked with groups such as The Kinks and The Alan Parsons Project, and
coproduced the great John Williams’ theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Eric Bazilian
He’s the lead singer of the 80’s and 90’s band The Hooters, which combined rock and
ska. The Hooters achieved critical and commercial success with Nervous Night in 1985,
receiving a five star review from Rolling Stone and selling two million records. Bazilian
wrote the Joan Osbourne smash hit “One of Us” and was nominated for a Grammy.
Weird trivia: he actually formed a band while at Penn with Rick Chertoff, called Baby
Grand.

Other Honorable Mentions:

Maryanne Amacher, composer
Beverly Bower, operatic soprano
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, Oscar-winning songwriting tandem
Elliot Lawrence, jazz pianist
Alan Livingston, producer
David Raskin, film and television score composer
Anand Wilder, guitarist of experimental band Yeasayer Winter 2009 07
Penn Prof. Playlists by Christian Albornoz
Most of us don’t wonder what our professors do with their free time, namely because we have no
free time of our own. But it is a curious thought. Whether they enjoy furthering the boundaries of our
knowledge or playing Ultimate Frisbee, one thing is for certain: they listen to music. iTunes has become
as universal as the remote control, so wouldn’t it be interesting to take a glimpse into the playlists of a
couple of Penn’s best educators? Of course.

The Pixies - “I’ve Been Tired” First up:

Nirvana - “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Prof. Joseph Kable
Velvet Underground - “Sweet Jane”
U2 - “Bullet The Blue Sky”
(PSYC 160) who had
The Clash - “Lost in the Supermarket” this to say:
Desaparecidos - “Greater Omaha” “People’s musical
Joy Division - “Love Will Tear Us Apart” preferences are
Cursive - “The Lament of Pretty Baby” correlated with what
Bruce Springsteen - “Thunder Road”
Bright Eyes - “Land Locked Blues”
was popular when they
R.E.M. - “Nightswimming” were in their teens and
The Cure - “Just Like Heaven” twenties (peaking in
Indigo Girls - “Closer To Fine” the early twenties: see
Ani DiFranco - “Both Hands” Holbrook & Schindler,
Janis Joplin - “Piece of My Heart”
White Stripes - “Seven Nation Army”
Journal of Consumer
The Raconteurs - “Top Yourself” Research, 1989) -- and
Spoon - “The Underdog” that bias is evident in
The Flaming Lips - “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” my list.”
The Pixies - “Where Is My Mind?”

The Closer: Dr. Susan Phillips (CHEM 053), on one of her Billy Joel - “The Entertainer” and “The Downeaster Alexa”
lecture slides, stumped the majority of the class with a Bob Marley - “Buffalo Soldier”
question not even the TA’s could answer correctly: “What is Bruce Springsteen - “Radio Nowhere” and “The River”
my favorite song as of late?” I believe the answer was “Thanks Counting Crows - “If I Could Give All My Love”
Crosby, Stills and Nash - “Ohio”
for the Memories” by Fall Out Boy.
Crowded House - “Nobody Wants To”
The Cure - “Friday I’m In Love”
Eric Clapton - “Let It Grow “
Fall Out Boy - “Thanks For The Memories”
Green Day - “American Idiot” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
Hootie & The Blowfish - “Only Wanna Be With You”
The Housemartins - “The People Who Grinned…”
The Killers - “Read My Mind” and “Shadowplay”
Maia Sharp - “Willing to Burn”
Maroon 5 - “She Will Be Loved”
Matchbox Twenty - “Mad Season”
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - “Shit Outta Luck”
The Pogues - “The Sunnyside Of The Street”
The Ramones - “I Wanna Be Sedated”
Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Stadium Arcadium”
Sheryl Crow - “If It Makes You Happy”
Southside Johnny - “Love On The Wrong Side”
Third Eye Blind - “Never Let You Go” and “Jumper
U2 - “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
The Wallflowers - “6th Avenue Heartache” and “Josephine”
Yellowcard - “Ocean Avenue”

08
3 Doors Down - “Kryptonite”

Setlist Magazine
 by Amanda Ureña
There are so many great things to say
about The English Patient, and I’m not talking
about the movie. This up-and-coming band
made up of Penn students consists of Chris
Milione on guitar, Mike Tzeng on drums, Mac
Mein on bass guitar, and Adam El Sehamy, the
lead singer. Put these four good-looking guys
in room with a crowd and some instruments
and you’ll get something great.
These guys are more than talented; they
are also goal oriented and passionate about
things other than music. According to Adam,
“Every band wants to go to the top, but we
also have other ambitious things that we want
to do.” Surprisingly, the band has not actually
seen the movie The English Patient; instead,
their name comes from the fact that Chris is an
English major and the rest of the band is pre-
med.
The English Patient primarily covers
90’s Rock Hits, which should tell you a little bit band members L-R: Chris Milione, Adam El
about their musical influences –the Red Hot Sehamy, Mac Mein, and Mike Tzeng
Chili Peppers, Third Eye Blind, and, of course, the
game Rock Band. They want to record original
songs as well, but for right now their goal is to
The English Patient
increase their fan base. As a band, their goal in
life, according to Adam, is to cover “Killer Tofu” The English Patient’s second gig went down at UPMUNC, the immense
by The Beats (from the television show Doug) annual East Coast conference put on by Penn’s Model United Nations
and to play a show at the top of Mount Everest. Club. Model U.N. is a bit different from frat houses, but overall the show
The first goal seems a little more realistic. The still went smoothly. Model U.N. had such a great time that they rehired the
other guys want to bond more as a group with band for a second event in January, the Ivy League Model United Nations
either laser tag or paintball. For right now, the Conference. At the Model U.N. event, The English Patient performed the
band plans on playing their next show and following hits:
finding another gig after that one. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Not only are they hard working and By The Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
talented, but when Chris, Mike, Mac, and Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Adam get together, they are full of nothing but Drive - Incubus
jokes, which makes the band more loveable. Basket Case - Green Day
To wit: at one point, Mac and Mike arranged All The Small Things - Blink 182
a harmonized version of Hansen’s “MMM Bop” Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
and replaced the words with “syphilis infection.” Absolutely - Nine Days
They also jokingly stated that their fan base was Kryptonite - Three Doors Down
drunk girls, fat emo girls, skinny emo girls, and I’m On a Boat - The Lonely Island
guys who look like Nickelback. Forgot About Dre - Dr. Dre
Their debut came at the “The Moose Say It Ain’t So - Weezer
is Loose” event, held at the fraternity house of Santeria - Sublime
Alpha Chi Rho (AXP), which was on the same Two Princes - Spin Doctors
night as Fall Fest. Originally, the band had been
interested in doing Fall Fest, but they were When choosing what to play, they consider what the people at the party will
told they could not perform covers of songs. like and incorporate that into their show. Since the guys don’t have much
It worked out for the best, though, because time to practice because of schoolwork, they made sure that they had a
the AXP event was on the same day that Adam set repertoire that they add to depending on the show. They always have a
and Mac contracted swine flu. The band had back up plan for gigs, which is easy for them due to their years of training as
prepared for four weeks to be ready for the musicians (Adam, Mike, and Chris can play multiple instruments besides what
show, however, and despite their sickness, they they play for the band). The process they go through to start playing the songs
went on anyway and performed flawlessly. They is easy, according to Adam, because many 90’s songs are simple to play with
played two sets that night, and on the second their uncomplicated power chords. Mike says, “Sometimes Chris breaks out in
set Mac took over the mic and sang “I’m On something, and we are like ‘woah that’s awesome, lets play that’ and
a Boat.” Unfortunately, the auto-tune function
they were supposed to use malfunctioned.
that’s how we decide our setlist.”
Winter 2009 09
Top 5’s of ‘09
Top 5 Albums of 2009
Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
Muse, The Resistance
John Mayer, Battle Studies

Top 5 Singles of 2009

Daylight – Matt and Kim, Grand

1901 – Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys, The Blueprint 3
Uprising – Muse, The Resistance
Down – Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne, All or Nothing

Top 5 Biggest Disappointments

Death of Michael Jackson – June 25
We were all stunned by the sudden death of the King of Pop, who was a mere weeks away from his series of
50 comeback concerts in London. Although his public appearances were rare in his final years, it will be a long
time before his name is forgotten.

Chris Brown’s assault on Rihanna – February 8

Though we thought they were great together, pop music’s ultimate power couple just wouldn’t last. Details are
just emerging now, but one thing is for sure: with one swing, Brown lost himself the support of thousands and
the respect of millions.

Oasis breaks up – August 28

The band that brought you “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall” just couldn’t get its act together, again.
Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have had a rocky, yet successful relationship in the past, though this time it
reached a breaking point. Forget any thoughts of reuniting; Noel has sworn never to work with Liam again.

Black Eyed Peas – E.N.D. – June 9

“Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” lit the charts on fire as they rose to become successive number ones
for a combined 26 weeks in the summer of 2009. But chart success makes not a good album, and the Peas
could never replicate the success of their breakout album, Elephunk.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss win Grammy’s for Album and Record of the Year – February 8
Despite battling Radiohead’s In Rainbows and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida for Record of the Year, Plant and Krauss
pulled out the surprise victory in both major categories, winning a total of five golden statues amidst middling
reviews.

10 Setlist Magazine
 Top 5 Worst Albums of 2009
Brooke Hogan, Redemption
Jordin Sparks, Battlefield
Daughtry, Leave This Town
Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
Creed, Full Circle

Top 5 Worst Singles

Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
Poker Face – Lady Gaga, The Fame
Battlefield – Jordin Sparks, Battlefield
Hotel Room Service – Pitbull, Rebelution
No Surprise – Daughtry, Leave This Town

Top 5 Worst Public Moments

Chris Brown’s assault on Rihanna – February 8
When her Grammy performance was cancelled and he was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse, we knew
something was up. But it wasn’t until a few weeks later that we found out he had abused his then-girlfriend
Rihanna, and seeing the pictures only made it worse. He’ll be kicking himself for this one for years.

Kanye interrupts Taylor Swift – September 13

He barged on stage, took the microphone out of Swift’s hand, and uttered what would become the most
parodied words of the year: “Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, imma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the
best videos of all time – one of the best videos of ALL TIME!” Kanye, how could you be so Heartless?

Bruce Springsteen shows his age – November 13

He may sell out stadiums across the country, but his age is beginning to show. At a concert in November,
Springsteen (who turned 60 in September) bellowed, “Hello, Ohio!” to the raucous crowd. Too bad he was in
Michigan.

Drake falls on stage – July 31

During a performance of his smash hit “Best I Ever Had” while on tour with Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and Young
Jeezy, Drake landed wrong and collapsed on stage. He had torn his ACL weeks earlier and has since had
surgery, but he may never be able to live this one down (especially since the YouTube video will never let him).

T.I. goes to jail – May 26

His advice may have been to “Live Your Life,” but it should have included a warning against breaking federal
weapons laws. His one-year sentence is already more than half over, though, and we can all look forward to the
day when we’ll have the Rubber Band Man making music once again.

Winter 2009 11
watch out, you’ve been played
Super Mash Bros at Penn: October 10, 2009 by David Faber
It’s the classic impossible task: to define your Lord of the Brocean,” mashed Coldplay’s “Speed
sound when you’re not creating new music. For of Sound,” J-Kwon’s “Tipsy,” and – believe it or not
Super Mash Bros, though, the latest mashup group – Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek,” all in the first 90
to follow in the footsteps of Gregg Gillis (better seconds. Followed minutes later by a mash of Lil’
known to his fans as Girl Talk), the definition is easy. Jon’s “Get Low” and “Fat Lip” by Sum 41, the crowd,
“It sounds like Girl Talk’s hot cousin,” boasts their predictably, ate it all up.
website, which contains a short description, a link to Indeed, this formula seemed to encapsulate
the free download of their two albums – Fuck Bitches, the Bros most successful tactic: take a popular song
Get Euros, and All About the Scrillions, respectively – from about the year 2000, one that all college kids
and exactly 15 pictures of concert photos. The duo danced awkwardly to during middle school, lay it
performed at Penn’s Fall Fest on Saturday, October over rocking power chords, techno, or something
10th, coming on at 6:30 for a 90-minute set. that no one would ever, ever think to mash with, and
The light was still falling and the crowd still hit play. There’s a reason why this stuff was popular
gathering when Super Mash Bros took to the stage, without being mashed – it’s loud, fast, and catchy,
though within only a few minutes, Locust Walk on and nearly impossible to forget. With a large enough
College Green was overflowing with students. Super library and the finest mixing software money can buy,
Mash Bros had clearly performed for other college though, just about anyone can do this. And anyone
crowds before, as they knew all the right things to who argues that their music is original, innovative, or
say; they prefaced their first song with “don’t be afraid anything other than a few guys looking to postpone
to get a little rowdy,” and the crowd responded with the real world for a few years is looking at the wrong
cheers, raised hands, and the sloppy cries of drunk stage.
sorority girls. Although not the ideal venue, the small The worst of it, however, was only revealed
stage in front of College Hall had plenty of space for later. Upon arriving home and downloading their two
the twosome, who needed only a small table with free albums, I was stunned at what I was hearing. The
turntables, a laptop, several bottles of water, and two exact same songs that had been played mere minutes
microphones. earlier, complete with identical song choices, mixing
The music got off to a rousing start, the techniques, and segways, were now playing on my
speakers blaring with the oft-changing songs, mixed speakers, as if the Bros were mixing them right there
deftly by the work of the DJ behind the turntables. in my room. And while this was bad enough, there
The first track, a rehash of their song “Broseidon, was still a kicker: the DJ had been making it seem the
whole time that he was mixing the songs live on the
stage; his arms were pumping and his body moved
to the beat, moving his hands on the turntables when
the songs changed.
But it was all a lie. The songs were not
played live; the Bros had only pressed play once
at the beginning of the show, moved and danced
convincingly, and relied on the fact that no one
had bothered to look up their music and pay close
enough attention to what was being played. It was
a sham to the highest degree, and a pathetic one
at that. The self-proclaimed “cousins” of Girl Talk, it
seems, are more closely related to Milli Vanilli and
Ashley Simpson than they are to anyone else. But
with history as our guide, we see that a similar fate
– shame, embarrassment, and failed comebacks –
befell both of these artists, and while the Bros have
yet to garner the acclaim of either of them at their
height, it isn’t hard to imagine why they never will.
 MASHED-UP
Are Mash-Ups Music ?
no... by Lee Marcus
Mashups have a long and storied history. From the
yes... by Rick Ganz
Simply put, yes. Though the answer to this question is
esoteric “One Song to the Tune of Another” on a 1950’s comedic painstakingly self-evident, inevitably there will be those select
radio show to the newly released “DJ Hero” videogame, few who argue to the contrary. Personally, I liken “them” to
mashups have developed quite an impressive popularity. But that annoying, overly intellectual kid in the front of lecture,
this popularity is because mashups are fun, not because they are the one that always challenges the example or analogy the
actually music. professor uses to explain something when the main point of
Mashups are tracks created digitally by combining the explanation has been made clear just so he can quench his
vocal and instrumental elements of two or more songs. This unrelenting need to annoy. In the spirit of harmony, I will first
isn’t music; it’s merely the recreation of sounds using others’ present the obvious reason that mashups are music and then
music. The key word is digital. Mashup artists aren’t using address the “technical” objections made by the dissenters.
instruments; they’re using a computer. A computer has software As I said before, those of us who experience music and
and circuits and microchips and a headphone jack. A computer life as a whole in the normal sense look no further than empirical
has no chords, no windpipes, and no voice. It merely has evidence to support our claim. Consider the following example:
technology. Jesse goes downtown one night to a club. The next morning Jane
While technology has helped improve the audible asks Jesse how his night went. He replies, “Great! The club
quality of music, its roots haven’t changed all that much. When was fun. The DJ was solid. Really good MUSIC!!!!!” As most
the Super Mash Bros. created “Broseidon, Lord of Brocean,” people know, clubs play mashups; that is, they play songs or
Coldplay and J-Kwon influenced them, yes, so much so that the compositions made by blending two or more songs, usually by
entire track is from Coldplay’s and J-Kwon’s music. You can’t overlaying elements of one song over those of another. In my
buy two types of potatoes (such as sweet and baked), mash example, Jesse refers to mashups as music. Though my scenario
them together in a pleasant, uniform way, and expect an entirely is admittedly trite (and cheesy), it is far from extraordinary; in
unique vegetable. fact, it is most likely more common than not. If you refute this
That’s exactly what mashup artists do: blend songs together. assumption, you are probably that in kid in the front of lecture,
Yes, it’s cool, yes, it’s probably hard work, and yes, it’s and respectfully, you are wrong.
different. The difference, though, is in expectation. Mashup In short, we listen to mashups as we would any other song
artists aren’t around to create new, original music. Super Mash and largely judge them based on the same criteria. Beat,
Bros. didn’t come to Penn to showcase a new album (both of harmony, rhythm, and vocals all exist in mashups as they do
their albums are available online for free). Instead, mashup all other types of music. It is also worth noting that mashups
artists simply want to have a good time, and to give people a exhibit other music-like qualities: they are danced to, they are
different experience that they might not find otherwise. For composed, and they are played. As technology continues to
them it’s all about having fun. expand and the music industry continues to evolve, we too must
Some people claim that mashup artists threaten the change. We must not be so enraptured in the traditional sense of
sanctity of music by using the songs of other bands to create new words to overlook realities such as the fact that a computer too
tracks. I disagree. I don’t think the music world is threatened may be used as an instrument. I say the mashup movement is
by mashup DJs; I think it is unchanged. Mashup artists don’t metonymic of the future American philosophy of thought!
impede bands and artists from innovation – would J-Kwon and As for you traditionalists who still live by the book, let
Coldplay ever actually play together? – but they don’t help them us consult the dictionary to further affirm my point. According
either. What does Girl Talk offer to the music world, besides to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, “music” is defined as:
the perspiration from the tough combination of work and fun? “the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession,
Music aficionados don’t critique the musical technicality and in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce
skill of mashup artists; they discuss how much fun the crowd a composition having unity and continuity.” Enough said.
had, and how the atmosphere was. Mashups are the music man’s music. Only those who excel
We don’t judge mashups in terms of music, and we at producing music in the traditional sense can forge ahead in
shouldn’t. We can’t use the same criterion to judge a Bruce creating the music of modernity. Mashups are exciting and
Springsteen concert with a Girl Talk show. I guarantee you incredibly fun. They afford casual listeners and aficionados
that no mashup artist will crack the Setlist top 10 albums of any alike the opportunity to re-experience old tunes in a new,
year. But we don’t mind the absence of music in mashups; it’s creative way. In so doing, the spirit of music endures
all about putting on a show, and giving us a good time. In that
category, mashup artists are matched by few.
indefinitely.
Winter 2009 13
Wishlist: Big Gift (Apple MacBook)
Get this gift and you’ll be the envy of your friends and the
coolest kid on the block.
Deciphering What Your The Macbook has become the ultimate music machine.
With programs such as Garage band and Logic Pro, you can have
your very own recording studio right in your home. If you received
Gift Really Means this gift, then you’ve hit the jackpot.

Fruit Cake (John Mayer album)

It’s the thought that counts, right? This gift was given
by Cam Cogan and Rafe Pilling with good intentions, but something about it leaves a bad taste in
your mouth.
Well, the holiday season is in full swing and you know what Over the past couple of years, people quickly noticed
that means: family, friends, foods, and, if you’re lucky, a few that John Mayer could really play the guitar, leading to a lot
gifts. Unsure how to decipher what you got? We at Setlist of hype over his newest release Battle Studies. Unfortunately,
Magazine are here to help you out. Below is a simple way to Mayer himself did seem to realize what he could do and the
find out what that musical gift you got really means. album came out sounding a little dull. If you received this gift,
it was from someone with good intentions, but who could not
Tickle Me Elmo (Beatles Rock Band) quite hit the spot.
A must-have, family-friendly gift that everyone wants, but
can be a bit tricky to find. Candy cane (Death Cab EP)
Rock Band is a game whose success is only matched by A fun stocking stuffer that’s short but sweet.
the fun in playing it. The title’s newest release features a playlist Earlier this year Death Cab released a wonderful five song
comprised entirely of Beatles hits, a story mode allowing you to EP, short, sweet, and catchy. A great little gift for any music fan, if you
follow the band’s rise to stardom, and now the ability to sing in received this CD, it was probably from a thoughtful, knowledgeable
harmony with your fellow players. You owe whoever gave this to music fan.
you a big favor; he or she probably had to call in quite a few to get
a copy of the game.
White Elephant Gift (Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus
Coal (Brooke Hogan’s The Redemption) Phoenix)
You’ve been a naughty, naughty kid, and with this you get A gift that’s under $20, but bound to please any lucky
what you deserve. The only reason you’d ever buy it for someone recipient.
would be to watch them squirm. This breakout album for Phoenix was the recipient of
If the album cover is not punishment enough, then just critical and consumer acclaim alike. Fans of any musical genre will
pop this CD in to your player and prepare yourself for such tracks find favorable facets in Phoenix’s release, headlined by the catchy
as “Stripped,” “Handcuffed,” or “Ruff Me Up.” If you received this as a single “1901,” which has been one of this year’s most popular songs.
gift, then you must have seriously wronged someone because no If you find yourself at a White Elephant party this Christmas season,
one deserves to find this under the tree. go for the gift shaped like an album case and cross your fingers; if
you’re lucky, you’ll land this fantastic album.
Christmas Sweater (Miley Cyrus’s The Time of Our
Lives) Tomogachi (Your very own Auto-Tune program)
The kind of gift Grandma would give you and the one you Right now it’s all the rage, and everyone’s using it; ten
love to hate. Great for cheesy theme parties or the back of your years from now, not so much.
closet. This device, which is most often used to correct or adjust
Everyone by now knows Miley Cyrus and her latest hit, the pitch of a singer’s voice, has caught the eye of such artists as
“Party In The USA.” While the only thing this song seems to be T-Pain, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Lil Wayne, The Black Eyed Peas, and Lady
great for are parties, deep down everyone has a soft spot for it. If Gaga. Get this gift for Christmas and perhaps you can join their
you received this gift it was probably from a well-meaning family ranks, glazing over the imperfections in your voice with a smooth,
member who just wants to show you they care, they just didn’t robotic sound. Put all those tracks in a time capsule, though, and
quite know how. a few years from now you’ll probably be wondering what on earth
everyone was thinking.

Hess Truck (iPod Nano) The ASIMO Robot (The Eigen Harp)
It comes out every year, updated with nothing but minor While it seems like the coolest gift out there right now, it’s
changes, but you have to have the new one. a bit before its time.
Since it came out in 2005 it’s averaged about one release Heralded by its makers as “the most expressive electronic
per year. Not unlike the Hess truck, it’s compact, colorful, and does musical instrument ever made,” Eigen Labs’ Eigen Flute looks like
almost exactly what it did when it was introduced. The design’s a some bizarre crossbreed of keyboard, guitar, and bassoon. While it’s
little sleeker, the screen’s a little bigger, and it now takes the photos played either with keys or a breath pipe, it’s capable sounding like
and videos it’s been able to display. While you’re sure to be pleased anything from a violin to a synth to an electric guitar to a drum kit,
with this gift, know that whoever gave it to you may have been a and has a built-in envelope filter and pitch-shifter that is sensitive to
little short on creativity. touch. If you’ve received this gift from a wealthy, eccentric relative,

14
no doubt you’ll be pleased, but you may be hard-pressed to find a
good application for its seemingly boundless potential.
Setlist Magazine
 Proposed New Year’s
Resolutions for Bands by Jake Cassman
Silversun Pickups

Never work with your current producer ever again. We assume it was Dave Cooley’s brilliant idea to add way
too much Coldplay-like ambience and too many melodramatic string arrangements. He’s also never told you
that all of your songs, as good as they have been, are at least one minute too long. So get rid of the guy.

Kanye West

Do not speak in public until July 2010. This probably isn’t long enough, but we’re being generous. Mr. West,
we love you and we’re gonna let you finish, but Lil Wayne is probably a more legit voice of this generation in
this decade than you ever were, and that’s sad. So shut up until you learn the words to “You Belong With Me.”

Lady Gaga

Wear one pair of INTACT jeans for an ENTIRE day. And they have to be on your legs – no funny business. The
“Bad Romance” video had more ridiculous outfits than your “Gaga Oh-la-la” rant had words. Don’t you think
you can tone it down? P.S.: PETA might kill you for what you did to the polar bear.

Michael Jackson

Die. Again. Did anything improve your standing in the public eye than your not-so-untimely demise? If lying
is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off, then dying is the most fun you can have without
taking a little boy’s clothes off.

Drake

Destroy every existing copy of Degrassi: The Next Generation. We assume Lil Wayne never watched the N – if
he had, he would never have gotten you on his label. It’s awfully hard to imagine you amounting to anything
more than Bow Wow so long as people can still see how bad an actor you are. Unlike whoever you were
singing to, you are not the fucking best.

Green Day

Play Russian Roulette with one of your “21 Guns.” Ever since you made all that dough with “Time of Your Life,”
you haven’t been able to release an album without a crappy ballad. “Macy’s Day Parade” and “Wake Me Up
When September Ends” smelled worse than geek stink breath. Stick to your guns, and don’t crappily serenade
us with them.

Winter 2009 15
 Weezer’s Raditude
By Drew Samoyedny
True fans remember clichéd abomination that emerged on of the recent popularization of South
June 3, 2008 as a day November 3. Raditude’s first single, “If Asian music. As I listened to the album,
that will live in infamy—the day their You’re Wondering if I Want You To (I I prayed and pleaded for each track to
favorite band stripped itself of its last Want You To)” opens the album on a bear some resemblance to the geeky,
shreds of dignity, a day filled with positive note. Its catchy riff and hard- socially- backward-yet-somehow-cool
confusion over a betrayal like they hitting chorus are infectious, and the Weezer of the past. Yet my pleas went
had never seen before. That day was lyrics are reminiscent of the socially unheeded and the seemingly endless
the release of Weezer’s eponymous awkward Rivers Cuomo we fell in love thirty-three minutes of Raditude
sixth studio album, known as The Red with years ago. But “I Want You To” dragged on.
Album. Horrified fans listened as Rivers ends up being only an empty promise, In an effort to salvage what
Cuomo, the band’s lead singer and as the album’s later tracks wallow in I can from this beatdown that I have
guitarist, bulldozed his way through mediocrity. just laid upon my favorite band, here
mind-numbingly generic, even childish, The most frustrating aspect of the are my recommendations: I give a
tracks. Weezer laymen might recognize album is that Weezer tries to sell the green light to both “I Want You To”
the sickeningly inane pop-hit “Pork and songs as prepackaged pop hits. The and “Put Me Back Together”, which is a
Beans” as the album’s most successful tracks “The Girl Got Hot”, “I’m Your collaboration between Cuomo and the
single. The Red Album signaled a new Daddy”, and “Can’t Stop Partying” are lead singer of The All American Rejects.
low for the band, and pointed them exercises in utterly forgettable club- I give a yellow light (download if free)
in a troubling new direction. We fans scene anthems that outline the lifestyle to one song: “Let it All Hang Out”,
prayed that the musical butchery Cuomo wants to be a part of. “Can’t which despite its empty plot and lyrics
would stop. It didn’t. Stop Partying” includes a rap interlude brought me back to the Maladroit days
The release of Raditude, recorded by Lil’ Wayne. Weezer working of screeching guitars and catchy beats.
Weezer’s latest album, was not with Weezy? I’m all for collaboration, I give an emphatic red light to the rest
preceded by hopes of a return to the but when Lil’ Wayne dropped the first of the album.
band’s gritty roots. With a name like F-bomb I’ve heard on a Weezer album,
Raditude, nobody expected it to be I couldn’t help but cringe. “Love is the
the dark, emotional journey that was Answer” is a sitar-heavy, internationally
Pinkerton, Weezer’s greatest album. But flavored cut that very obviously tries
few foresaw the overproduced, heavily to win attention by riding the coattails

50 Cent, Before I Self Destruct

By Mike Rubin
With his Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ The production is lazy and mentor and protégé serves
in 2003, “Fiddy” became a sensation. “In muddled. On many of the songs the only as a space filler. The
Da Club” was ubiquitous, but 50 Cent instruments are barely distinguishable. 50 album abruptly about-faces
was never a great rapper; his flow is slow Cent knows when to quit, though; most of for the last four tracks,
and a bit awkward, conjuring up visions the songs are three minutes or less, and transitioning to auto-tuned
of a mush-mouthed Dr. Dre. Before I Self the album clocks in at under an hour. If the sex jams, though I’m not sure
Destruct, 50 Cent’s latest offering, lacks songs aren’t gold, it’s better to not push why R. Kelly singing about
great beats. Combined with his lack of your luck. “smelling shit” is sexy. I can’t
lyrical skill, all that’s left is a forgettable rap The only truly outstanding cut tell whether it’s supposed to
album. is “Stretch,” a smooth, confident, and be a joke, but it comes off as
The lyrics, at best indolent atmospheric song that is reminiscent of a bad one.
and at worst embarrassing, delve into the best of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. With a Before I Self Destruct fulfills 50
the usual gangsta clichés without much good beat featuring a catchy line played Cent’s five-album contractual obligation
success. Such is the ridiculous boast, “got with the highest notes of the piano, the to Interscope Records (the fifth will
more guns than a gun store,” from “The lyrics themselves become part of the flow, be a greatest hits record). He’s now
Invitation.” On “So Disrespectful,” 50 Cent instead of highlighted. This works much contemplating retiring from the music
name-drops and takes shots at The Game better considering Fiddy’s boring lines. business for good. I hope he can come
and Pimp C. Referencing irrelevant rappers A guest appearance by Eminem out with a swan song to prove that he is a
(one of whom is dead) only illustrates his on “Psycho” is totally wasted. Despite legitimate rap artist; it would be a shame to
desperate search for subject matter. He the lyrics about murdering people, his hang it up with this album.
doesn’t want to offend anyone currently performance is surprisingly subdued. The
in the industry, so he picks fights he can’t two rappers sound jaded talking about
burying people in their yards. What could

16
lose.
have been an interesting battle between

Setlist Magazine
 OneRepublic’s Waking Up
By Freda Zhuo
It’s been a busy obscure the songwriting. For example, you over the synths and cello lines as if those
few years for can’t tell whether the first track “Made secrets are already beginning to escape.
OneRepublic. In 2007, the band’s debut for You” is any good, because it switches One of the album’s highlights is
album Dreaming Out Loud burst onto the from pounding drum beats to a piano the title track, which is hugely enjoyable
scene with hits like “Apologize”, remixed sonata as if it were a Muse track from the as it echoes the grandiosity of U2. The
by Timbaland with customary flair, and latest Twilight soundtrack. Lead single “All other highlight of the album is arguably
“Stop and Stare.” The band’s front man the Right Moves” is catchy but drowns “Marchin’ On”, which layers a tribal chorus
Ryan Tedder, a skilled songwriter and in synth chords. “Everybody Loves Me” with a military beat and Tedder’s wistful
producer in his own right, penned Leona has a chorus that will get stuck in your vocals. While not necessarily the catchiest
Lewis’ breakthrough single “Bleeding head, but something about the twangy or most immediate song from Waking Up,
Love”, which in turn became one of 2007’s guitars coupled with Tedder’s growls it is certainly the most sonically interesting.
most inescapable songs. In fact, Tedder is rings false. There are many things that Overall, OneRepublic’s Waking
perhaps one of music’s most in-demand OneRepublic can do (especially when Up is a respectable sophomore effort,
songwriters, writing and producing for acts armed with a synthesizer), but country- providing a relatively enjoyable – if
as diverse as Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé, Lupe tinged rock is simply not one of them. unchallenging – listen. While none of the
Fiasco, and DJ Tiesto. Now, OneRepublic That’s not to say there aren’t hooks are as inescapable as “Apologize”,
is back with its sophomore effort Waking bright spots – there are several on this many of the songs are undoubtedly
Up, armed with its front man’s impressive album, which provides ample evidence catchy. It’s expertly crafted pop, but
résumé of pop hits…written for other artists. of Tedder’s talent at writing a hook. As the problem with expertly crafted pop
At first listen, Waking Up is shown by his work with other artists, is that it can sound like it’s trying too
a little daunting, as OneRepublic has Tedder is at his best when he’s crafting hard. And when the efforts fall flat –
expanded its already atmospheric sound, a power ballad. The album’s third track, which it does at times on Waking Up
incorporating African-inspired drumbeats, “Secrets”, begins with a cello and launches – one can’t help but wonder whether
children’s choirs, and cellos. This into what can only be called a wonderful Tedder outsourced his best material.
obsession with layering synths, strings, assault on your ears; here, OneRepublic
guitars, piano, and practically every uses its overblown production to its
other instrument can become grating at advantage. Tedder repeats the phrase
times; not only does it make for a rocky “I’m gonna give all my secrets away”
initial listen, but the production can also throughout the song, and the words float

Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the Heart

By Richie Zitomer
To say that Christmas in the Heart go to charity. As to a Christmas album being other Dylan albums: It
is not what you’d expect from a Dylan released in October, that is anyone’s guess. just isn’t as serious or
album is a drastic understatement; after all, But enough back-story: how does as mesmerizing as any
it consists of Bob Dylan singing Christmas the album sound? The answer is, well, fun. of his recent work, to
songs. If that isn’t strange enough, it was The songs are cheery and upbeat. Dylan, far say nothing of his old
made available early to Citibank customers. from phoning in his performance, seems to classics. Nevertheless,
Also, it’s a Christmas album released in really enjoy singing each one. He manages if you do want to get
October. to infuse these songs with real energy. His into the Christmas
There are several theories as excitement is contagious; it’s hard not to spirit early, this is the
to the reason for this album. The most warm to parts of the album. right album for you. To
popular argues that he is actively trying to That being said, it is far from great. sum up: fans of Christmas music, consider
confuse fans and critics. True, one of Dylan’s Hearing Dylan’s trademark voice earnestly getting Christmas in the Heart. Fans of Bob
favorite hobbies seems to be confounding belt out Christmas tunes sometimes feels Dylan, buy “Have Yourself a Merry Little
expectations, but he has done that so many downright awkward. To enjoy Christmas Christmas” and “The Christmas Blues” and
times that it is hard to believe that this in the Heart, it is not enough to like Bob save the rest of your money for the next Bob
factors into his decisions. Dylan, or even to like the idea of him Dylan album.
More likely, Dylan is taking a load making an album like this. You really need
off. He is having a bit of fun by playing (and, to like Christmas music. Because once the
sometimes, writing) songs of a lighter, less novelty wears off (about midway through
serious tone. His decision to make it available the third song), it’s just you, Bob, and an
to Citibank customers is understandable overgenerous helping of yuletide cheer.
knowing that all proceeds from the album As far as how it compares with

Winter 2009 17
 The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic
By Cam Cogan
Embryonic is the Flaming Lips’ But for every track that leaves which would
twelfth studio album, and their years of you hanging, there are two to step in and have been
recording are really beginning to reflect in dazzle you. “Aquarius Sabotage” throws a completely
their work. I’ve followed the band loosely slew of distorted bass, harp chords, crash ridiculous in
since their release of Yoshimi Battles the cymbals, and psychedelic synth sounds, any other setting, are indicative of true
Pink Robots, and this album embodies the all blasted through a blown-out stereo. genius at work, and sound truly haunting.
degree to which their work has matured A minute of this chaos and suddenly “Watching the Planets” marches to an end
in the seven years since that release, all everything subsides, dissolving into a that carries forward the somber feeling
without losing its experimental core. Each beautiful symphony of synth strings. It embodied in many of the tracks’ outros.
song on this album is a self-contained went down in my notes as a, “hit-and- It stands out, oddly enough, because its
journey; this free form is just fine, as run song that leaves you punch-drunk, percussion is straight, without the random
the band possesses a singular talent wondering, in an ecstatic daze, what the rolls and fills in the rest of the album. The
for producing songs that are incredibly fuck just happened.” blown-out bass and tragic chimes mesh
immersive. The next song, “See the Leaves,” perfectly with the vocal melody and
If a song fails to grab hold, makes an equally compelling exit as its theme, and induce a sense that the world
however, the free form is more a curse parts decay from a sort of crash-groove. created by the album is crashing down.
than a blessing. While “Evil” is thoroughly “Your Bats” has a similar feel, with the It’s a piece with suitable grandeur, which
trippy, it’s easy to get bored, as without usual cocktail of syncopated guitar and brings the album to a definite close,
any pattern to latch onto, one can get bass with drumlines from the far reaches leaving you with a profound desire to
lost in the mist. “If” is more engaging, of your subconscious. “Powerless” is a real return to the place you’ve been for the
but builds without a satisfying resolution, triumph, and features an amazing guitar last hour and a half.
suffering from the same aimlessness as solo. “The Ego’s Last Stand” is the peak Buy this album.
“Evil.” “Gemini Syringes,” “Sagittarius of the album, featuring a buildup into
Silver Announcement,” “Scorpio Swords,” a phenomenal jam, finally resolving in
and “The Impulse” all suffer from the perfect form. It’s simply perfect.
same problem. While not especially The final two tracks also stand
exciting or memorable, however, these out, and bring a full album to a very fitting
tracks serve to pace the album, acting as close. “Virgo Self-Esteem Broadcast” is
an intellectual rest between songs that unlike anything I’ve ever heard before.
really push the imagination. The backing track of hooting monkeys,

Dashboard Confessional’s Alter the Ending

By Amanda Ureña
Dashboard Confessional faced cause the acoustic versions are almost some of their songs, like the use of bells
a challenge in creating Alter the Ending: exactly the same as the originals. Al- in “Hell on the Throat.” Carrabba and the
with their fifth studio album, they had to though the acoustic verisons sound less band started using some Southern Rock
please both their old fans as well as a new overproduced than the original record- in “Get Me Right,” and are even reminis-
mainstream following. Including both the ings, they are still a big let down to old cent of their old musical style in “Even
originals from the new album as well as fans. The only song that sounds like the Now.” It seems Carrabba took some mu-
acoustic version of all of the songs, the former Dashboard Confessional sound on sical inspiration for this album from his
most surprising part of the new album is this album is the acoustic version of “Even Further Seems Forever days. There is also
the deluxe edition. With Alter the Ending, Now.” a turn back to his Christian roots in many
the band had to overcome the disap- In most of the songs, the tone of his lyrics.
pointment from The Shade of Poison Trees of the guitar seems to be exactly the same Chris Carrabba started Dash-
and Dusk and Summer, the band’s previ- and the sound is too clean for the emo- board Confessional to get away from
ous two albums. All I can say about this tion that Chris Carrabba is attempting to the sound of the bands of his past. He
album is: what happened? let out. The full sound that Carrabba now wanted music that was simpler, and that
Alter the Ending was supposed wants is actually stifling his lyrical mes- would give way to his emotions. Now that
to escape the overproduc- sage. Because of this, the music just fades Dashboard Confessional is using the full
tion of Dusk and Summer, into the background, and Alter the Ending band sound, this new album strays from
but the music that was once has less raw emotion that Carrabba’s first the foundation of their musical identity.
great has lost its grace and few albums. Alter the Ending is less relat- Chris Carrabba’s musical taste may have
emotion; the fact that the able because of the lack of Carrabba’s changed, but that does not mean his fan
band went mainstream may usual style of lyrical dialogue. Repetitive- base’s taste will change with his.
have negatively impacted ness and poor poetic choices doom the
their sound. The deluxe edi- lyrical content of this record.
tion was supposed to be This is certainly not the best
the best of both worlds, but Dashboard album, but there are some
front man Chris Carrabba redeeming qualities to it. The band incor-
didn’t successfully achieve this ideal be- porated some interesting techniques into

18 Setlist Magazine
 Paramore’s Brand New Eyes
By Amanda Ureña
Paramore released their third It’s time to move forward!” from “Feeling The proof of
album, Brand New Eyes, on September Sorry” is notably positive, as is “Open your Paramore’s struggles
25th, and the Tennessee rockers have truly eyes like I opened mine. It’s only the real was included in this
topped themselves. Surprisingly, Paramore world” from “Careful.” albums’ songs. Williams took the band’s
has not lost their stride from previous Not only are the messages in this experiences and wrote the song “Looking
albums, despite the struggles within the album more mature, but the band’s sound Up.” She pleads with the band in the song
band. The concepts behind the title of also has a more polished quality. Josh and saying, “It’s not a dream anymore! It’s worth
Brand New Eyes are growth and seeing Zac Farro, the other two founding members fighting for.” In writing the new album, the
things in a new perspective; this album in of the band, added to this album with band was able masterfully evolve their
particular shows a progression from who their powerful guitar and drum skills. Even music by sorting out their issues after their
the band was in the past to who they are though this is their most refined album, Riot! Tour.
today. the band was still able to nail some edgy Three hits came off the album
In Brand New Eyes, Hayley techniques. “Misguided Ghosts,” with its Riot! including “That’s What You Get,”
Williams, lead singer and songwriter of raw sound, is completely different from “Misery Business,” and “Crushcrushcrush.”
Paramore, tones down the heartbrokenness anything Paramore has ever recorded After that album, Paramore’s fans expected
that dominated the band’s previous albums before. Williams’ vocals also shine; in their a great deal from the band’s new release.
and wrote more positive messages in her previous albums, Williams’ vocal style was Paramore definitely delivered on their
lyrics. In “Playing God,” we hear some of the similar to that of her contemporaries, but fan’s hopes and recorded a great album
harshest words ever sung by Williams, but Brand New Eyes differentiates Williams filled with new improvements. If you don’t
the point of the song is to look at ourselves in terms of her vocal range. Her most already have the album Brand New Eyes, it’s
in the mirror before judging someone powerful song is “All I Wanted,” with each time to go shopping.
else. “We’re not getting any younger, and chorus more powerful than the one before
I won’t look back ‘cause there’s no use. it.

Chester Bennington and Julien-K’s Dead by Sunrise

By Taja Jones
Dead by Sunrise, consisting of Linkin soaring over perfected guitar chords political riot. Beginning with, “when you
Park’s Chester Bennington and Julien-K and a tight drum sequence. The energy read the news does it make you sick?
(an electro-pop rock band featuring doesn’t stop here, as “Fire” fades into Murder, money, politics,” it masterfully
the founding members of Orgy), paired the band’s first single, “Crawl Back incorporates the use of massive guitar
up with legendary producer Howard In,” which is an aggressive, classically sounds and Bennington’s gifted vocals.
Benson to deliver one of the most constructed alternative rock song. As the song enters into the second
successful side projects the industry Relying heavily on guitar, the album verse, “when you can’t buy gas, you
has yet to see. Filled with moody and welcomes more solos than previous can’t pay rent, and all you’ve got is
edgy songs that would otherwise taint works of both Julien-K and Bennington, the Government. No win, no future, no
the aesthetic of Linkin Park, Out of which is apparent in “Let Down,” as benefit…” it makes it apparent that the
Ashes is Bennington’s fantasy sound, Bennington’s voice fades from a rough album will end on a high note. “Walking
and his dedication to his newfound guitar solo. The album continues to go in Circles” only delivers on this promise,
band is clear in the musical and lyrical strong as Julien K’s influence pervades as the melancholic tone solidifies its
crafting of the album. the music. Popping up in both “Let sound.
Reminiscent of a moodier version Down” and “Too Late,” the synth sounds Out of Ashes is a polished, specifically
of Audioslave’s Revelation or Velvet contribute richness to the sound, while crafted album that never lets the listener
Revolver’s Libertad, Out of Ashes creates highlighting the unwavering essence of down from start to finish. Perfected
a new sound that adopts the unique Bennington’s voice. in both lyrics and musicology, it is an
influence of Julien-K and meshes that For those not wholeheartedly adopting essential addition to any collection of
with the nu-metal sound the new sound, an influence of Linkin rock albums.
of Linkin Park. Out of Ashes Park circa Minutes to Midnight shines
consists of rises and falls, through, as “Inside Me” solidifies itself
neither of which result in the as the “Given Up” of Out of Ashes. “My
loss of the band’s aesthetic as Suffering” reveals more Linkin Park
the listener is woven in and residue (as it’s the first song on the
out of melodic tunes and into album to revive Bennington’s trademark
heavier sounds. screaming), and “Condemned” is a
The first track, “Fire,” starts savage, addictive and aggressive song
from the fading of scratched that screams to be put on repeat.
riffs and spirals into the full- As the album ends, it picks up with “End
blown sound of Bennington’s voice of the World,” the perfect song to incite a

Winter 2009 19
the Dodos Grizzly Bear
Live at First Unitarian Church October 7th at Electric Factory
by Riley McCluskey by Lee Marcus
If you have the privilege of seeing The Dodos perform The up-and-coming Indie quartet Grizzly Bear came on
live, make sure you can see The Dodos; get there early and at the Electric Factory and played much of their newest album,
stand in one of the front rows. Otherwise you might miss the Veckatimest. As a warm-up to the whispery, psychedelic Indie
little things—Meric Long playing slide guitar with drumsticks pop the crowd was waiting for, Beach House and front woman
during “The Season,” or affixing LED lights to his fingers during Victoria Legrand took the stage.
a lights-off version of “Troll Nacht.” You might not notice that Beach House would have been more pleasant had
drummer Logan Kroeber doesn’t use a bass drum, but does drummer Daniel Franz cared about making music. But with Alex
attach tambourines to his feet. And you may be confused about Scally’s guitar ranging from meticulously tranquil to purposefully
who’s making those weird, distorted, sci-fi sounds—they come whiny and an interesting mix between keyboard and white noise,
courtesy of Keaton Snyder, a classically trained vibraphonist (like Beach House created a relaxing atmosphere of, judging by their
a big, expensive xylophone) who dropped out of music school lyrics, doom and displeasure. When the speaker that connected
to help The Dodos record their third album, Time to Die. The to Victoria’s keyboard started cackling, the band seemed upset,
Dodos are quintessentially “indie” – in that their sound defies even annoyed. Scally made dumb jokes about having “electric
convention—though labels such as “freak-folk” or “psych-folk” problems at the Electric Factory.” Nevertheless the audience was
seem to stick best. They’re Animal Collective for the average annoyed since, as Victoria Legrand put it, “there’s something going
person, combining bizarre open tunings with pop sensibilities, on demonic.”
and their live show is truly a treat. The niece of famed French 1950s jazz composer Michel
Secure in my second row position in the basement of Legrand seemed much more crass than her uncle. Victoria Legrand
First Unitarian Church on Monday, October 14, I watched my introduced a song about “stuff sucking,” and later reminisced about
favorite indie-trio go to work, opening with the first track from “how cute we all used to be.” Beach House performed in front of
Time to Die, “Small Deaths.” What began as a mellow, acoustic trippy black and white triangles; black and white, just how beach
guitar piece ended in a flurry of snare drums, vibraphone hits, house sees the world throughout her songs.
and a flurry of layered screams as Long put his vocal loop pedal After Beach House’s hour-long set, Grizzly Bear took the
to work. Clearly, we would not be seeing the side of The Dodos stage at just after nine o’clock, and opened with a lengthy version
that gave us mellow bits of poetry like “Bob,” “Undeclared,” or of “The Southern Border is Calling.” Latino influences in the song
“Acorn Factory” this evening—the San Francisco trio was here to made it exciting and the audience appreciated the end of the wait
plug in and play rock music. between sets. People danced, clapped, sang or hummed. People
As the night progressed with a blend of songs from woke up.
Time to Die and 2008’s acclaimed Visiter (tracks from their Most of Grizzly Bear’s set consisted of just that: themes
2006 debut, Beware of the Maniacs, were regrettably entirely of waking up, of getting by, of perservering. A flute solo by Chris
absent), I realized that the biggest joy of a Dodos concert is Taylor at the beginning and end of “Ready Able” was uplifting,
watching Meric Long’s hands at work; as a former student complemented by peaceful vocals and soft cymbals, eventually
of West African Ewe drumming, Long sought to apply the bringing the crowd into a boisterous frenzy by song’s end.
intensity and feel of drumming to guitar. His quest led him to After Grizzly Bear played the more depressing “Knife” and “Fine for
a difficult and interesting style of finger-picking that allows Now,” it seemed fitting that Victoria Legrand join the band for a
him to play ornate melodies all while maintaining a steady couple of more energetic tunes. After she left, the band relaxed
rhythmic bass drone with his thumb. When The Dodos rolled the audience with “Colorado” and “Ready Able.” They then closed
into “Jodi,” the best example of this captivatingly percussive the pre-encore set with “I’ll Live With You,” an epic, sentimental track
style, the crowd seemed torn between raucous head-banging befit with comfortable chords, delicate vocals, intriguing keyboard,
and intent focus on watching a guitar virtuoso at work. and the feeling of yearning in harmony at the end.
After a 75-minute set that included some Visiter Although Grizzly Bear left the stage, loud screams and whistles from
favorites like “Fools” and “Red and Purple,” The Dodos called it an the crowd did not stop for six minutes, and they responded with
evening. The four friends I had convinced to join me, none of a lengthy version of “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss),” a delicate,
who had heard of the band prior to the show, were now converts soulful hymn that ended with howling vocals and powerful
and eagerly introduced themselves to the band after the set. I instrumentals. It was a strong, fitting ending to an emotional,
thanked Long and Kroeber for being the rare independent act uplifting set.
that can deliver the precision and intensity of their albums in a Grizzly Bear’s optimistic tunes ended the evening with
live setting, even on a cold Monday evening in Philadelphia. positive energy, one that made me see the passion in the band
in a new light, reassuring me that their indisputable rise from a
small, Brooklyn-basement experimental rock band since 2004 will
continue well into the future.

20 Setlist Magazine
 a Night out with Wolfmother
The four years since Wolfmother’s self-titled by Jake Cassman
album have certainly been anything but boring.
Andrew Stockdale, along with drummer Myles Heskett
and bassist Chris Ross, formed the band in 2000,
and within five years had found themselves in the Nemeth and Peres thrashed about the stage
international spotlight. Songs like “Joker and the Thief” with as much energy as has ever graced the stage
and “Woman” took over the radio, “Love Train” got at the Electric Factory, nailing every riff with surgical
those silhouettes to boogie in an iPod commercial, and precision, and Atkins thundered away relentless behind
plenty of other tracks could be found on TV show and them. Stockdale, by contrast, was remarkably tame
movie soundtracks. All of the success wasn’t enough to as he wailed his way through his ridiculously high
keep them together, however, and Andrew Stockdale melodies. Even when he was addressing the crowd
found himself the only remaining original member of he seemed more like an ordinary, polite Australian
the band. The singer, guitarist, and songwriter added twentysomething than the rock god his songs have
Ian Peres on Bass, Adam Nemeth on guitar, and Dave always suggested he wants to be. That being said, he
Atkins on drums for their follow-up, Cosmic Egg. And did more than enough to live up to his reputation – the
while the reviews were positive and the fans flocked to jam on the “Woman” instrumental seemed to last for
the sold out Electric Factory on November 6, the band five minutes, and Stockdale took plenty of liberties on
still had something to prove. And they did anything but his numerous solos. And, or course, the crowd ate it all
disappoint. up. There was a mosh pit for every song (except for the
The crowd, mostly young men in black t-shirts acoustic ballad that opened the encore), the crowd’s
featuring other bands on them, waited patiently while singing and clapping along arising spontaneously, and
Thenewno2 and Heartless Bastards played their sets; Stockdale himself was clearly surprised and impressed
the former was unremarkable, and while the latter by the energy his fans had brought to the show.
had a great female vocalist, they failed to amaze as There was some potentially worrisome news
well. But by 11 p.m., the crowd was getting itchy with for the band – the response to the songs off the new
anticipation. By the time Stockdale and company made album was not even as enthusiastic as the response to
it to the stage, everyone in the Factory was bouncing “Mind’s Eye,” a gem of a song from the old album, but
off the walls – just the type of atmosphere you want definitely not a hit. It didn’t seem like there was a great
for a rifftastic, pedal-to-the-metal rock show. And amount of interest in the band’s new material, not even
Wolmother gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, the first single “New Moon Rising.” That being said,
from the first tiff on “Dimension” and throughout the each member of Wolfmother left the stage with a well-
rest of the night, the crowd chanting the words all the earned smile on their face. And as each fan hobbled
way. out of the Electric Factory, counting their bruises and
wiping sweat from their brows, all that could be heard
was happy laughter and sighs of satisfaction. Everyone
was exhausted, beat-up, and hoarse – and they couldn’t
have asked for anything more.

Winter 2009 21
Setlist’s Top 5 to See
1. December 15th: Alicia Keys, The Element of Freedom
We all know Alicia Keys: the R&B superstar burst onto the scene in 2001 with her debut album, Songs in A
Minor, selling over six million copies, and her single “Fallin’” retained the number one spot at the top of the
charts for six weeks. Since then, Keys has been busy: she has recorded two studio albums, both of which
debuted at number one, won an incredible twelve Grammy awards, and made her film debut in 2007’s Smokin’
Aces. She has been busy, to say the least. Her new album, The Element of Freedom, has enormous expectations
to live up to, though if her collaboration with Jay-Z on number one song “Empire State of Mind” is any
indication of her recent work, we need not be worried. Get this one right away; with a history of huge debuts
and the musical chops to back it up, this one will literally fly off the shelves.

2. December 21st: Lil’ Wayne, Rebirth

When it was announced that Lil’ Wayne was going to be releasing another album, it didn’t turn many heads.
This was the same guy, after all, who is known for being prolific; he recorded with the likes of Akon, Fat Joe, and
T.I. for some 77 – yes, that’s 77 – collaborations in 2007 alone. But when it was released that the new album,
Rebirth, would be a rock album, those same heads began to turn in Weezy’s direction. The album was originally
scheduled to be released nearly 8 months ago, on April 7, 2009, and Lil Wayne was even featured on the cover
of the April 16 issue of Rolling Stone in anticipation of its release. We’re still waiting, though we’ll be first to
admit that we can’t wait to give this one a listen.

3. January 12th: Vampire Weekend, Contra

Originally forming while undergrads at Columbia University in Manhattan, the members of Vampire Weekend
didn’t record their self-titled debut album until after graduation, while each of the four members worked
a full-time job and somehow found the energy to simultaneously log time in the studio. Let’s just say the
arrangement worked out: after a blog buzz big enough to get them shot for the cover of Spin before the album
had even been released, the album went on to crack the top 10 of just about every list of 2008. Nearly two
years later, we’re breathlessly waiting for their sophomore effort, Contra, whose two leaked singles, “Cousins”
and “Horchata” have set us counting down the days to January 12th.

4. December 29th: The Starting Line and The Dangerous Summer at The Theatre of the Living Arts
What originally started with an email entitled “Jamming and shit” had grown to form The Starting Line by
the time their first EP was released in 2001. Hailing from Churchville, Pennsylvania, a mere 3-hour drive from
Philadelphia, their full-length debut, Say It Like You Mean It, received major airplay on MtV and other popular
venues in 2002. Seven years, three albums, countless tours, and one “break” later, the band is reuniting for a
two-night show in Philadelphia. Tickets to the first show on the 29th sold out so fast that a second night was
hastily scheduled at the Trocadero Theater on the night of the 30th. Although the band insists that they are
only “taking a break from their break,” we see the potential for otherwise, and we’d love to be there to witness
it, live.

5. December 31st: MSTRKRFT, Lotus, DJ Pex, DJ Playloop, Electric Factory

MSTRKRFT (pronounced master-craft) has never had difficulty pumping up a crowd. This twosome, hailing
from Toronto, has been performing together since 2005, though they never lacked work beforehand; both
members performed and produced separately before joining forces. Now that they’ve decided to make music
together, we’ve been the beneficiaries, enjoying remixes of Justice, Bloc Party, and The Kills, to name a few, as
well as a studio album, Fist of God. Their recorded tracks are energetic and never lack a beat, though their live
performances are the real draw, which is what has us majorly excited for this show. If you love to dance, this
one is for you: topping it off is appearances by Lotus, DJ Pex, and DJ Playloop, which will all let you dance the
night away.

22 Setlist Magazine
Coming Soon
cd realeases concerts
Week of December 13th: Sunday, December 13th:
Chris Brown, Audio Push, New Boyz; at Electric Factory
Animal Collective, Fall Be Kind
[EP]
Jamie Foxx, Body Wednesday, December 16th:
Never Shout Never; at First Unitarian Church
Alicia Keys, The Element of
Freedom
Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster
Tuesday, December 29th:
Robin Thicke, Sex Therapy The Starting Line, The Dangerous Summer; at Theatre of the Living Arts

Wednesday, December 30th:

Week of December 20th:
The Word; at Theatre of the Living Arts
Mary J. Blige, Stronger

Lil Wayne, Rebirth Thursday, December 31st:

MSTRKRFT, Lotus, DJ Pex, DJ Playloop; at Electric Factory

Week of January 3rd:

Thursday, January 7th:
Christina Milian, Christina Edwin McCain, Carrie Rodriguez; at World Café Live
Milian

Katherine McPhee, Unbroken

Sunday, January 10th:
The New Familiars; at Tin Angel

Week of January 10th: Parachute, Safety Suit; at World Café Live

Monica, Still Standing

Ok Go, Of the Blue Colour of Wednesday, January 13th:

the Sky Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker; at World Café Live
Omarion, Ollusion

Vampire Weekend, Contra Thursday, January 14th:

Four Year Strong, The Bled, This Time Next Year, Title Fight; at First Unitarian Church

Rest of January:
Sunday, January 17th:
Eels, End Times
Nile, Abigail Williams, Dreaming Dead, Immolation, Krisiun; at Trocadero Theatre
Chamillionaire, Venom
Spoon, Transference
Thursday, January 21st:
Three 6 Mafia, Laws of Power Arch Enemy, Arsis, Exodus, Mutiny Within; at Theatre of the Living Arts

Winter 2009 23
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