Major Album Releases In The Second Quarter, 2014: Turn Blue - The Black Keys May 13th, 2014 Lazaretto - Jack White June 10th, 2014 Meteorites - Echo & The June 3rd, Bunnymen 2014

•Animal Ambition - 50 Cent •X - Ed Sheeran •In The Lonely Hour •Noise - Boris QUADROPHONIC NEWS - Sam Smith

Quadrophonic News May 2014 Issue 9

In This Month’s Issue: • Album Reviews: Salad Days, Broken,, The Full Review Of The SECC$ Tap.e, Vol. 2, The Abstract and The Dragon... And More! Quadrophonic News • Songs About Trains!!!!!!!!! Party Inside!!!! • (Start Again In The) Month of May Calendar Joke Of The Month: Y “What Will You Never Say To A A Banjo Player?” Find The HILARIOUS B Answer Inside A Chart Of The Month 100 D 75 50 U 25 0 2007 2009 M Photo By Michael Shorris Performing At The Quadrophonic News Party Train Tracks The Abstract and The Dragon Lucas McGill '15 Julian Librizzi, ‘15 Imagine a train. It's a completely The Abstract and The Dragon is the joint mixtape that Q-Tip and ambiguous image. What kind of train it is, what released in early December of 2013. While this mixtape it's carrying, where it's going, all of these things got little to no promotion, I honestly think this is one of the best are up to you, but at the end of the day it's just a mixtapes of 2013. The mixtape is reasonably long, with 28 tracks and a train. Despite that, it's capable of carrying an total time of 1:17:22. However, one thing that immense amount of meaning, which depends on fans would notice very quickly is that the album is filled with remixes the beholder. To one person, a train might be a to old Tribe songs, mainly featuring Busta Rhymes. That's not to say symbol of moving forward, into a better, brighter that there is no original content. The main hit of this album is the track future. To another, a symbol of pain and bitter “Thank You,” that will also appear on Busta’s next album, which is remembrance of something left behind. For this expected to come out in 2014. This is actually one of my favorite tracks mystical quality, trains have long been a favorite off this mixtape. With , Kanye West, and Kid Capri making subject for . A strongly worded piece cameos, along with an amazing sample, this song would have been of music can conjure up a plethora of emotions all great with the beat alone. However, what really stood out here are the from one mental image of a train. Here are a few verses that both Busta and Q-Tip deliver. The only problem that I have of my favorite examples of this very particular with this song is that Busta tries to go back to Continued on page 7 skill. From the second it starts, “Night Train,” the first track on Bruce Cockburn's 1996 album, Charity of Night, sets a quick pace that it never falters from, like the train it describes. Aside from the fact that this song demonstrate Cockburn's guitar playing skill and style quite well, the thing that really makes this song spectacular is the way the music itself imitates a train. The drumbeat is fast and regular, like the rhythm of an old locomotive's wheels speeding Busta Rhymes bustin’ rhymes on a train with his close friend Q-Tip through the night. The women singing in the background on this track hauntingly imitate the Doppler affect, as though some ghostly train has raged past you, almost Mac DeMarco’s Salad Days silently. Even the guitar solo sounds like the Eugene Varnedoe, ‘15 brakes of a train, screeching to a halt. If you haven’t heard of Mac DeMarco, count yourself among an In this particular song, the train is a increasingly small minority. Hailing from Bed-Stuy, the Canadian metaphor for both death and freedom. The lyrics musician has recently enjoyed a meteoric rise to popularity following his capture the spirit of a dying man who carries wildly successful and widely enjoyed debut album, 2. Although not his nothing more than the weight of his decisions into first effort – Mac had previously released under the Makeout Videotape the next life, and personifies it as a train in the moniker in addition to his debut EP under Mac DeMarco, Rock and Roll night. All of these factors combined create a Night Club – 2 offered a lackadaisical approach to indie pop previously transcendent experience, like being a passenger unseen and incorporated Mac’s now signature warbly guitar and wit. His on some mysterious locomotive and watching the newly released sophomore album, Salad Days, is as much a response to real world outside slip away. Mac’s newfound fame as anything, building on the successes of 2 and "Ice cubes in a dark drink shine like incorporating a newfound confidence, refinement and maturity into the starlight, starlight shines Continue on page 6 music while not straying too far from his comfort zone, as it. What Salad Days lacks in pure musical innovation, however, it

PAGE 2 NEWS QUADROPHONIC makes up for through its expectedly charming Continue on page 6 Still Cannot Fix This Broken Machine: A Review : The SECC$ Tap.e, Vol. 2 of Broken Nathaniel Cain, ‘15 Britney Franco, ‘17 The long-awaited sequel to Pro Era’s first I have not been able to stay away from ’ Broken. collab mixtape dropped on Valentine’s Day, and it I have been listening to it for months, but in the past week or so, my day carried with it unexpectedly mixed reviews. After PEEP: has started with me popping my Broken cassette into my Walkman and The aPROcalypse, Pro Era’s second group mixtape set listening to it on my way to school. When I leave school, I do the same the bar so high, there was little chance for the Era to go thing (and throw in an extra run-through if I think I need it). The main higher. Unfortunately for The SECC$ Tap.e Vol. 2 these question I have been asking myself is: why is this album so addictive, if were the odds; the album was predictable, slow, and the not parasitic? production was largely unimpressive. That said, no one Broken is an eight-track EP that was released three years after song on the mixtape could be labeled as “bad,” that is, if Nine Inch Nails’ debut album, . Straying away from you could distinguish one track from another. All of the the more upbeat sound of PHM, ’s layering of sounds (the songs seem to have the same mellow, slow, rhythmic most prominent being loud, distorted guitars and machinery) combined sample, which is good for an intrepid track composed of with his thrashing instrumentals, screams, and lyrics charged with anger a verse from each member of the Era, but not good as a create a fast-paced collection of madness and rage. Reznor himself repeated theme throughout the mixtape. described it as “just one ultra-fast chunk of death” in an April 1994 The tape starts out with “Chocolate interview with Guitar World. The only times you are slightly released Strawberries,” by Dessy Hinds and . Dessy from Reznor’s tight grip are during his covers, “Physical (You’re never seems to disappoint; however, the Kirk feature So)” (the original is an Adam & The Ants song) and “Suck” (originally a towards the end seems unnecessary. The next song, song). However, both of these songs are delivered with such “Pussy Facx,” gives Kirk a chance at his own verse, impeccable rawness that they take your breath away. They keep the which he does well. The airy, spacy chorus starts to get album from sustaining an anger that could result in it ultimately annoying, but in between these, Kirk’s verses are fast becoming a self-parody, but they have the same effect as their and smooth. Moving on, we hear “Sol Luna,” which was predecessors. released as a single a few months before the mixtape was Even the songs that are purely instrumental (“Pinion”, which dropped. Joey Bada$$, Dyemond Lewis, and A La $ole starts off the album, and “Help Me I Am In Hell”) carry the same weight all feature, and again, none of them disappoint. of, say, “Last”, in which Trent Reznor displays his signature self- Rokamouth and A La $ole bring what may very well be deprecation mixed with wanting something more. Each song is connected the most exciting chorus of the mixtape on the next with by Broken’s common themes (anger directed at the world and track, “Dirty Dancing.” The fast pace and guaranteed inwards, helplessness, and rawness). The songs all segue into each other, great $ole verse make this the highlight of the tape. an unexpected move that will leave you feeling as if you have been However, the Era decides to slow things back down with punched in the gut without a moment’s notice by the time you are the next track, “Give Her a Call.” Dirty Sanchez shouts finished listening to it. This is what makes this EP so unique, not only in the chorus unnecessarily and it totally clashes with the the general music world but among other NIN albums: its nonstop soft piano sample. It’s hard to tell if they were trying to causticity will leave you feeling drained and, quite frankly, wronged by go for the mellow or rhythmic, Jay-Z-esque hype track the world. with this one. Bada$$ tries to recover with “Pantie Raid Standout tracks: This is tough because I want to name all of them, but I Part II.” The original “Pantie Raid,” was one of the would say “Happiness In Slavery,” “Help Me I Am In Hell” and “Suck.” worst songs on the first Secc$ Tap.e, so going into the song you hope he brings something new to the table. *Although never officially released because of how graphic its content is, Unfortunately, he doesn’t. Bada$$ repeats some of his 3 PAGE QUADROPHONIC NEWS a Broken movie was made by Nine Inch Nails in 1993 as a companion to most cliché lines several times and the track sounds this EP. You can buy it or find it online, which I highly recommend. It is a exactly the same. The last track, Continued on page 7 must-see, and its dark tone mixed with the naked rage of the songs is perfection.*

Do You Like Incredibly Long Links As Much As We Do? Then Check Out This Incredibly Awesome Website! http://www.i-m.co/QuadrophonicNews/QuadrophonicNews/ Quadrophonic News Party Time? Excellent. Oliver Divone, ’15 Room A in Funkadelic Studios, located in Midtown , is a small, humid and at times very loud room. It was also the site of March’s Quadrophonic News Party. Featuring four bands, the party saw a turnout of close to 90 kids, which packed the already small room to its maximum capacity. This, along with a superb performance by every band, created a great atmosphere for the audience to enjoy themselves and the great music. The four bands that played were Moody Booty, Bhsec’s own Granted, Palm Pilot and Yabadum. The first band, Moody Booty, began at roughly 8:30 and played a set that included both originals and covers. Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love” closed their set, which featured improv singing by Year 1 Teddy Rosenowitz. The second band was one composed entirely of Bhsec Sophomores. Noah Goodman, Finn Clark, and Henry Nye’s Granted sounds like what you would get if you put Pavement and Deerhunter in a blender and pressed “ice crush.” The third band, staging at 9:45, was Palm Pilot. Spacy and exciting grooves is basically what they laid down, because their set was filled with cool and edgy sounds and time signatures. Bewildering even the most experienced musician, they successfully combined Jonny Greenwood’s texture with Tame Impala’s progressive sound and Beck’s ability to make their music where it’s at. Finally, Yabadum ended the night, performing a sterile set that included their incredibly danceable songs like “Ball and Chain” and the night’s closer, “Winter.” Overall, the show was a great success. We would like to thank everyone that came out. If you (unfortunately) missed it, we plan to organize more in the future at different venues around the area, so do not be upset and cry!

Photo Credits Michael Shorris and Oliver Divone PAGE 4 NEWS QUADROPHONIC Fun Facts About The Party: • Number of people that died: 0 • Number of people that broke their legs: 0 • Percentage of people that cried tears of happiness at some point during the show: 100% • Number of drumsticks broken: 42 • Number of guitars smashed: 1 • Percentage of these facts that are true: 150% • Does that mean there are more facts than the ones shown here: Yes. QUADROPHONIC NEWS PAGE 5 PAGE QUADROPHONIC NEWS “Train Tracks” Continued like glass shards in dark hair. The fourth song, “Let Her Go” is one that is of And the mind's eye tumbles out along the steel track, fixing particular note because it was created to satisfy his label’s every shadow with its stare." desire for a catchy single. The hypocritical lyrics of the song The simply titled “Trains,” by Porcupine Tree, off reflect his reluctance to jump through hoops, telling the listener their 2002 album In Absentia, tells a very different story. To in the refrain to let the girl go if they don’t love her, but then in the narrator, the train is the thing that takes him away from a slightly less audible spoken part of the song, to keep the girl the woman he loves. The lyrics and melody of this song are if they want. Although perhaps not one of Mac’s personal sometimes calm, sometimes violent but always anguished. favorite songs, the dreaminess of the song coupled with a Like “Night Train,” the song takes a somewhat surrealist poetic commentary on love makes this song one of the best on approach in describing the train, referring to it as a "60 ton the release. “Goodbye Weekend” is a song that recalls and angel… a pile of old metal, a radiant blur." The important challenges the apologetic nature of his hit song from 2, thing about this song is that it showcases how the image of a “Freaking Out the Neighborhood” wherein he apologizes to his train can mean different things to different people. This song mother for getting up to no good, whereas in “Goodbye demonstrates a very personal meaning. Weekend” he informs the listener that no amount of telling him “City of New Orleans” was recorded by Steve what to do will have any effect on him at all. Goodman on his 1971 self titled album, and later covered by “Let My Baby Stay” is a quieter love song that could many other artists, perhaps most noticeably by Arlo Guthrie. perhaps do without the maracas in the background and is a Personally, I prefer this cover better, though the original song pleading to keep his one-and-only right by his side, and material is fantastic as well. The song takes up a similarly according to Mac addresses his recent move to somber tone, but it’s not a life or a love that it mourns. Trains and how his girlfriend “isn’t allowed to live here”. Another as a concept are very closely tied to the identity of America. possible interpretation however is a sneaky allusion to Viceroy, The railroad had a particular appeal to it - the speed and his favorite brand of cigarettes, which was the subject of the comfort combined with affordability and the vagrant whimsy popular “Ode to Viceroy” from 2, and how he can no longer that was undeniably associated with it. As America has buy them now that he has moved out of Canada. The climax of moved into the modern era, trains have largely been replaced the album comes in “Passing Out the Pieces”, the only song on as a means of travel, and those that remain do so under a the album to have been released prior as a single. The track’s considerably changed identity. This song mourns for the lost overblown organs and plush synths are indicative of part of the American identity that was the railroad. DeMarco’s evolution as an artist, and offer a pleasant Throughout the song, the personified train "The City of New digression from the album’s other largely guitar based songs. Orleans" wishes America a good morning and calls itself her Lyrically the song is Mac coming to terms with his newfound "native son" only, at the end of the song, to finally say fame and finding out it’s not all peachy as he has to pass out "goodnight, America," and presumably disappear. pieces of himself to go on, and how his fame has allowed people to exploit his generosity. Continued adjacent “Mac DeMarco” Continued lyrics and melodies which suitably evoke feelings of summer, passion, and longing. The album opens with the eponymous “Salad Days” which seems to be an expression of the hardships of touring and Mac’s Want To Get Into Harvard? solemn acknowledgement that his life won’t be the same anymore now that he has found fame. A catchy if not upbeat Want To Be An Astronaut? tune to accompany these lyrics completes what is one of the highlights of the album before moving on to a softer second Want To Win A Nobel Prize? song, “Blue Boy”. A slightly mellow track, “Blue Boy”’s repetitive guitar riff is well placed alongside lyrics about a Want To End Poverty? boy who constantly worries too much. This theme crops up again in the following song, “Brother”, a somber yet tender Want To Stop Global Warming? song that implores the listener to follow his dreams instead Want To Be Able To Fly? of just living his life. Mac offers that you’re better off dead than working in the nine-to-five mindset, something he knows best about having ditched jobs as an animal- Write For Quadrophonic News! incinerator at a veterinary clinic, a can collector (if that’s even a job), and a one-time substitute teacher, among others, all to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. (Note: these statements have nothing to do with each other) PAGE 6 NEWS QUADROPHONIC “Mac DeMarco” Continued “The Abstract” Continued the Jamaican patois that he used From here, we cool down with “Treat Her Better” an to use when he was coming up and most recently adopted on acoustic song which leads into “Chamber of Reflection”, songs like “Twerk It,” which I just find annoying. However, I another strong song whose synths again hint at Mac’s could ignore that because of the rest of the verses, especially confidence to experiment but is slower and more deliberate Q-Tip’s excellent verses (there is even a verse where he than “Passing Out the Pieces”. On “Go Easy”, the penultimate doesn’t even take a breath). song, Mac croons on his qualms on moving to a new town and Now, one complaint that I have heard about this getting through rough times together. Salad Days closes with a mixtape is that many people who are big fans of A Tribe somewhat out of place instrumental and vaguely psychedelic Called Quest don't like how most of the mixtape is Busta track “Jonny’s Odyssey” which fades into silence before a Rhymes rhyming over old Quest beats. However, the new surprise goodbye from Mac himself at the end. bars that were added over some of these classic beats were My thoughts on the ending – which are that I would outstanding. I would say that everyone who they brought in like to hear him talk more - parallel my thoughts on the album to rap over the beats did their thing. An excellent example of as a whole. While some tracks are undeniably among his best a great remix on this mixtape to me would be “Renaissance to date others, while not unentertaining or not well composed, Rap”, which is featuring Raekwon and Lil Wayne. Both of fall shy of justifying a feature on a new full length album. them spit great verses. Lil Wayne was a surprise to me. After Salad Days has blended songs which give us a taste of his full a lackluster 2013 and some questionable mixtapes, most musical capability and his willingness to explore that, with people, including myself, wrote off Lil Wayne, saying that he songs that are firmly within his comfort zone established on 2. was done. However, after hearing this verse, I could confidentially say that Wayne has a good chance to redeem himself in 2014. The verse was that good. Another pleasant surprise on this mixtape was Missy Elliot making an You Will Like Us You Will Like Us appearance on the “Vivrant Thing Remix”. Missy Elliot has You Will Like Us You Will Like Us been relatively quiet, having last appeared in the public eye You Will Like Us You Will Like Us on J Cole’s Cole World, A Sideline Story in 2011. I liked what she did on “Vivrant Thing”, and can't wait to see more of her You Will Like Us You Will Like Us in 2014, hopefully. You Will Like Us You Will Like Us The Abstract and The Dragon only suffered from one real problem, and that is that the mixtape had little to no You Will Like Us You Will Like Us promotion. I blame this on Young Money Records and to a You Will Like Us You Will Like Us lesser extent G.O.O.D. Music. The reason why I say that is You Will Like Us You Will Like Us that the heads over at YMCMB are now famous for only marketing 5 out of their many artists. The only YMCMB You Will Like Us You Will Like Us artists that are being pushed now are Wayne, , You Will Like Us You Will Like Us Drake, and . No one knows the majority of YMCMB. For instance, the average hip hop fan has no idea You Will Like Us You Will Like Us who is. Most people only know Cory Gunz from “6 You Will Like Us You Will Like Us Foot, 7 Foot”. It sucks for these artists, who are actually were really talented. If you ever have the time, look up a Cory Gunz freestyle. Lil Wayne and Birdman had the perfect “Pro Era” Continued “Far,” is somewhat impressive, from opportunity to sell Gunz at the height of his popularity in its decent NYCk Caution and T’nah Apex features. However, 2011. After Busta Rhymes signed to Young Money in late 7 PAGE QUADROPHONIC NEWS Kirk Knight reappears yet again to screw things up. The tape 2011, I had a fear that he won’t get any promotion at all, ends after this seventh track – thankfully. either. It looks like my fears were confirmed. The Abstract Overall, the lyrical performance of all the Era and The Dragon was one of the best mixtapes/albums of members wasn’t disappointing, but the sound and overall feel 2013, and yet I have yet to see a list that included this wasn’t anything new. The whole tape felt like one bland song, mixtape on their Best of 2013. The beats were excellent, the and compared to The aPROcalypse, it didn’t feel interesting or bars were excellent, and the guest features were excellent. memorable, which is something Pro Era fans always look for. While I don't have the word count to review every track, I Perhaps it was the lack of a CJ Fly feature (“The Way Eye See would say that these remixes breathe some new life into some It” seems like it would fix all the flaws found in this mixtape) classic songs. My personal favorite songs are “Renaissance or perhaps it was Kirk Knight’s forced features, but either way, Rap Remix”, “Come On Down Remix”, and “Thank You”. If Pro Era sets itself up for an easy goal for its next mixtape – you are a fan of A Tribe Called Quest or just a fan of rap in they can only go up from here – right? general, I would highly recommend this mixtape. Quadrophonic News Calendar: Local Performances, Release Dates and Music Must-Knows

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes Thursday Friday Saturday day

May 11: 12: 13: 14: 15: -The Afghan 16: 17: Whigs - Bowl @8 PM

May 18: 19: 20: 21: 22: 23: 24: -Teen Concerts -Blondie - -Built To Spill - -Manchester NYC - Rockwood Rough Trade Music Hall Of Orchestra - Music Hall @1:50 NYC @8 PM Williamsburg @8 Terminal 5 @8 PM PM PM

May 25: 26: 27: 28: 29: 30: 31:

June 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: -Dark Star -Dark Star -Gov Ball - -Gov Ball - Orchestra - Orchestra - Randalls Island Randalls Island Brooklyn Bowl Brooklyn Bowl Park Park @8 PM @8 PM

June 8: 9: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14: -Gov Ball - -Animal -Grrrl Fest - The Randalls Island Collective (DJ Silent Barn Park Set) - Brooklyn @12:00 PM Bowl @8 PM

June 15: 16: 17: 18: 19: 20: 21: -Ringo Starr - -Little Dragon - -Billy Joel - Beacon Theatre Terminal 5 @8 Madison Square @8 PM PM Garden @8 PM

Quadrophonic News would like to thank both Ms. Walk in the library for displaying and making our newspaper look pretty while on the shelf, and Clara Botstein for editing the BHSEC website and keeping the newspaper’s information up to date.

Cover Joke Answer: “Nice Porsche”

Quadrophonic News Is: Editor In Chief - Oliver Divone Writers - Lucas McGill, Julian Librizzi, Eugene Varnedoe, Britney Franco, Nathaniel Cain QUADROPHONIC NEWS © 2014