All in Column
Two reviews?! Why is this? Why not? Aural Wes presents two takes on The Japanese's new EP:
Wesleyan's super-senior/alumni alt-rock band The Japanese (Adrien DeFontaine ’13, Neo Sora ’14, and Dan Moakley ’13) released their Skyward EP last month, featuring three newly-penned songs and a more thoroughly-engineered sound throughout. Skyward is The Japanese's second EP, and was crowd-funded via a kickstarter campaign full of funny things.
M. Vaughn would be the king of Wesleyan’s 2-Step/deep house scene, if only it existed. Michael Vaughn ‘16, who producers under M. Vaughn, has gone from posting about Electric Zoo on WesAdmits to producing deep house tracks that are perhaps too subtle and sensitive to be given a chance amidst the tank topped hedonism that takes place on Randall’s Island every September. That is a great compliment, I think. M. Vaughn's new Nafe EP and “FADERD MIX [for Aural Wes]” showcase the “yung” producer’s keen ear for infectious melodies and hooks. Both the EP and mix exhibit Vaughn’s harkening back to groundbreaking house and garage producers like MK and Todd Edwards in his production. Deep house and 2-step have re-entered the underground club zeitgeist in recent years, and M. Vaughn is prepared to set himself apart from the trends with some snark and weirdness strikingly absent from most club CDJs. Just look for him “waiting at your local drop,” begging you to join him in a more thoughtful sphere of ignorance.
At their energetic Eclectic show in September, the Wes-alumni trio Big Tusk—comprised of Sam Long, Howe Pearson, and David Thompson—delivered a number of their new Flood EP’s then-unreleased songs. While the live energy and personality of these great guys is experienced from afar on record, Flood makes up for it with an engaging attention to sonic detail.
Rapper / poet Rhys Podell '16 has been making waves around campus recently with his many freestyle, musical, and spoken-word performances. As well as being a member of hip-hop / jazz group The New School, Podell has been releasing a few songs of his own under the name Rhys Langston. Aural Wes contributor Alexandra White caught up with Rhys a few weekends ago for some insight into his enigmatic poetic and musical feats.
Get ready for a weekend absolutely stuffed with concerts! From touring hardcore acts to student soul fusion bands, there's sure to be something for you to enjoy. Check out our previews after the jump!
It started out stupid, like every other night. We pre-gamed in WestCo and listened to nostalgic 90s rap. Everyone got too drunk. Nobody wanted to smoke weed or have sex with my visiting friends. What seemed like any night I may have had at college – or at home in Minnesota, for that matter – soon devolved into a sanguine shit show which the student body of Wesleyan may very well remember for years to come.
Partial Wesleyan alums Speedy Ortiz, and multi-guitar Memphis rockers Diarrea Planet grace the Eclectic House on this fine weekend. Come ready to dance (and bring earplugs)!
Tonsil Hockey is a Wes power pop trio consisting of Jason Katzenstein, Zak Malik, and Adrien DeFontaine. They released their EP Good Luck on Tuesday, delivering three well-produced tracks full of crunchy power chords, catchy hooks, and mushy teenage angst.
