Duh, Music

UH, MUSIC Fall 2012

Home Town Heroes

The Story of White Denim

Schmillion- The Band That Almost Had the Break OTHER STORIES: Piracy Moonwalking Austin Music Clubs

How to Scramble Your Brains with Zesty Beats

The Lonely Island Get their newest album, Turtleneck & Chain!

• We’re Back!

• Mama • I just Had S*X (ft. Akon) • Jack sparrow (ft. Micheal Bolton) • Attracted to us (ft. Beck) • Rocky • My Mic • Trurtleneck & Chain (ft.

Snoop Dogg) • Japan • Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie & Clyde (ft. Rihanna) • Trouble Dookie Island

29 Songs!

• Falcor vs. Atreyu • Motherlover (ft. Justin Timberlake) • The Creep (ft. Nicki Manaj & John Waters) • Watch Me Do Me • Threw it on the Ground • After Party (ft. Santigold) • No Homo • No Homo Outro • We’ll Kill U • Reba (Two Worlds Collide) (ft. Kenan Thompson • Great day

3 classy skits

10 featuring artists 10 videos!

Letter From The Editors

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Table of Contents pg. 7

An Interview with White Denim

All About Dubstep

pg. 11

pg. 15 Interview with Shmillion

Mason’s Top 5 Albums Sean’s Top 5 Albums Liz’s Top 5 Albums Piracy: Is it Okay?

How to Moonwalk Austin Music Clubs

pg. 10 pg. 14 pg. 19 pg. 21 pg. 22

Mason’s Top 5 Albums “D,” White Denim’s third full-length studio album, is quite possibly my favorite album of all time. Ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine as their 46th best album of 2011, “D” has gained national recognition. The songs on the album come from various musical influences, from the psychedelic blues of “Is and Is and Is,” to the Willie Nelson-style “Keys.”

Drummer Josh Block is at his best in “Bess Street,” and the guitaring of Petralli and Austin meshes incredibly well together in “Burnished” and “At the Farm,” my personal favorite song on the album. Every song works well, and it’ll be a long time until another album can top “D” for me.

“Elephant,” the fourth album by the former rock duo The White Stripes, is a powerhouse of an album. Jack White, lead singer and guitarist, isn’t considered one of the best Guitar players of the 21st century for nothing, with amazing riffs in “Ball and Biscuit” and “Black Math.” Meg White on the drums complements Jack very well, providing a great backbone to the guitar. The album also contains the incredible “Seven Nation Army,” possibly my favorite song on any album. Multiple publications such as Rolling Stone and NME have agreed, “Elephant” is an amazing set of tunes.

“Kid A” was a major change of course for Radiohead, the English rock band. The first three albums by the band had a more rock feel, but starting with “Kid A” the band has moved into more electronic areas while still retaining their great instrumentals and lyrics, and won a Grammy for it. “Idioteque” has great rhythms and subtle, interwoven strands of music paired with excellent and haunting lyrics, while my personal favorite “The National Anthem” has a hard hitting guitar riff and an instrumental section just made for jamming out. There aren’t any duds on the album, and it’s just great fun to listen to.

“Panic” is the second album by the self-described “electro-swing” group Caravan Palace. The band is based in Paris, France and produces a combination of gypsy jazz, old time swing music and new electronica.

“Rock it For Me” just makes you want to get up and dance, while “Clash” includes excellent vocals coupled with a very rhythmic section of multiple instruments all in perfect sync with each other. “Sundney” is a great way to end this excellent album, which while not a normal style of music should definitely be given a try.

“Albert” was the very first album by the local “Ed Hall,” considered “the greatest disciples” of the infamous “Butthole Surfers.” The album came out back in 1988, before anyone reading this magazine was probably born, but I’ve grown up listening to the band and it’s a great album. “Candyhouse” has one of the best guitar solo’s I’ve heard, and the psychedelic instrumental in “Ball Dirt Cookie” is awesome to listen to. My favorite song though is the strange and wild “Jungle Lobotomy.”

The album’s not for everyone, but it’s very interesting a great fun to listen to in my opinion.

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White Denim Art Credit

Leaving The Trailer Behind White Denim’s latest album

Art Credit

The full band

By Mason R Clark 7

Bassist Steve Terebecki

“I’ve learned many important lessons on the road. The biggest one has to be learning to open a beer bottle with a lighter.” James Petralli,

lead singer of White Denim, would certainly know about touring. White Denim, Dallas natives but current Austin residents, formed in 2006 from the two bands Parque Touch (James Petralli and drummer Josh Block) and bassist Steve Terebecki of Peach Train, and the band has been touring two or three times a year since.

In person the entire band is a lively bunch, filled with an energy that translates incredibly well to the stage. They are a garage rock power trio, now quartet, in every sense of the word, recording all but their latest album “D” in Josh Block’s 1940’s silver spartan trailer. Live, they plough along with wild abandon, extending songs, changing things up and experimenting on the fly.

“Wow, I almost forgot you guys were here for a second,” Petralli quips to the crowd after a twelve minute rendition of the normally four minute long “At The Farm” at a concert in the small outdoors store “Patagonia” in downtown Austin. There are only a few hundred people at this performance, but White Denim regularly has begun performing at larger venues holding up to three thousand people.

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“There are some strange pressures involved in making and promoting records that I could do without, but ultimately I feel that I am doing the work that I am meant to be doing,” Petralli says. The band has had great luck across the Atlantic, gaining more notoriety in England, releasing one album “Workout Holiday” in Europe far before a U.S. release. “It is difficult and occasionally monumentally fun to tour,” Petralli says. Although it can be tough to tour, it’s an important part of the band to Petralli, though he has the most fun in the studio.

In the summer of 2011, White Denim, along with new guitarist Austin Jenkins, recorded “Last Day of Summer,” an album of unrecorded song ideas put together as a break from the production process of “D.” “I like the balance that we were able to achieve on ‘Last Day of Summer’ between the songs, production, and the instrumental performances,” Petralli explains. “It wasn’t a very fussy collection of tunes, and it being Austin’s first record with us contributed to a relaxed but exciting process that I feel is reflected in the final work.”

Lead singer and guitarist James Petralli

On stage he is constantly moving, being active and putting his all into singing and playing guitar. While Steve Terebecki and Austin Jenkins use radio waves to connect their instruments to the amps that make the music louder, Petralli uses conventional cords to connect his guitar. It’s a miracle he doesn’t trip as he energetically moves around the stage.

Terebecki, the bass player for the band,

“D” has had great critical success and the plays in a different manner. The 29-year-old band has been gaining popularity and fame. They who looks like he’s twelve puts his head down have a long way to go until breaking into true and just plays, his fingers flying over the strings “popular music,” but they’re not consigned to being as he provides a back line to the music. He a barely known but good band like so many other only spares an occasional glance up at his band Austin groups. “ I feel extremely lucky for that. I am members or at the crowd while nodding his head able to contribute more financially and emotionally to his own beat. to my family because of our success as a band.”

Drummer Josh Block slams his way Said success may be hindered however. Drummer through songs, alternating between quiet, Josh Block is moving to Nashville soon, and may almost melodic drumming and crushingly loud reduce the bands ability to tour. “We will spend a accompaniments to the more intense songs the little more on flights and phone bills. We hope that band writes. He is constantly grinning as he it won’t have much negative effect. The potential for plays looking into positive greatly outweighs the crowd and that possibility.” Petralli throwing his all says that Josh is just into playing. the first one of them to

The final “jump into the pool” and and newest move away from Austin. member of the “[Nashville is] where we will band is Austin all end up eventually if not Jenkins, a second in Tokyo, London, Paris, guitar player.

New York, Los Angeles, Jenkins first Berlin, or Chicago.” White played a show Denim is intent on going From elft to right, Josh Block, Steve Terebecki, and James Petralli with the band places. in August of

The band is 2010, though determined to continue he had been to play, though. “We are friends with writing and rehearsing a the band since new record now. We will 2008. Playing begin production at the top alongside of the new year.” The band Steve his is very enthusiastic about black bangs writing new material and swing back and forth as he nods in time with the working on new songs. Almost every album put out music. by the band seems like a transitionary phase. “My

White Denim is quickly becoming more favorite song that I have written is a new one that and more popular as the band begins yet another won’t be released for some time.” tour.

“It is natural and essential for relationships

Though Petralli may find working in the and work to evolve over time,” Petralli says. Well studio more fun, White Denim knows how to put on the band is definitely evolving, and they look to a live show like nobodys business. “We always work have plenty of time to do it. as hard as we possibly can for the people who come to see us play. Always have always will,” James says.

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Sean’s Top 5 Albums/EPs WATCH THE THRONE Kanye West and Jay-Z With a Rating of 4.5 stars by The Rolling Stone, this Rap/ Hip-Hop album is the brainchild of two iconic names in the genre: Kanye West and Jay-Z. This Album features other artists, such as Frank Ocean and Beyonce. Watch the Throne has all sorts of different styles on it. This is my personal favorite Rap/Hip-Hop album.

DRINK THE SEA Glitch Mob This electronic album is beautifully put together. With songs that start slow and then build to incredible sounds, this is the perfect album to listen to as you go to sleep. It will let your imagination run wild under the influience of the music. Drink the Sea will wash your mind with awesome music. It was given four stars on Sputnimusic’s charts. It has a great tracklist of well-put-together songs.

BLUE EP Gemini This trance EP is a well put together group of songs. They feature tempting leads that drop into massive sounds that engulf the senses. The genre name is right, because Blue EP will put you in a trance. It has a 5-star rating off Amazon, so if you haven’t heard it, you are at a loss.

TURTLENECK & CHAIN The Lonely Island Being a comedic group, you know that The Lonely Island will produce a hilarious album. Turtleneck & Chain is filled with absurd songs, that parody all kinds of music. We also have other famous artists in songs, like T-Pain and Akon.

If you want a good laugh, then this is a perfect album for that. It topped the #1 position on the US Rap and Comedy charts.

MECHANOID MELTDOWN Liquid Stranger This Dubstep album is a perfect example of the UFK Drum N Bass (DNB) genre. If you are just getting started into DNB, then this is the album you should buy. With heavy bass, powerful wobbles and occasional vocals, this is a good representation of the genre. This album has 3.3 stars on Sputnikmusic’s charts.

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Dubstep A new music revolution

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When heavy bass and high synths

are thrown in a pot, mixed with drums and stirred with a spoon of creativity, the product is the newest rise in music: dubstep. Originating in south London in the late 90s, dubstep has recently taken America by storm, with artists such as Bassnectar and Skrillex. Dubstep is also making its way into other genres, creating fusion bands such as Crystal Method and Celldweller, each with their own electronic/metal fusion. Dubstep has also sprung up in Australia and Canada “I like how no two songs are alike,” said Michael Strouse, a freshmen at Bowie High School. “No matter how many times you listen to it, it sounds different each time.”

The music is mostly mixed on a computer program, often many.

Some of these songs may feature parts of older songs. For example, the Avicii song Levels there is a vocal sample from the Etta James song, “Something’s Got a Hold of Me.” While most songs are without singing, many contain vocal samples, or even singing from the artist.

Dubstep is often put under the umbrella of dance music, because it features very similar structure to dance songs.

This genre is also closely related to other styles, such as drum and bass, and house music. These other styles often are close enough that they often intermingle. These artists from each often work together on tracks, creating more crossovers, like Caravan Palace (electro-swing) and Foreign Beggars (dubstep/Hip-hop) “I like to listen to dubstep really loud”, said Jonathan Lee, an eighth grader at Gorzycki Middle School.

“It’s pretty much pointless quiet.”

Most dubstep concerts are very loud, featuring bright lights and heavy bass. Some artists have a light show

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“No matter how many times you listen to it, it sounds different each time” Bassnectar live in a Concert

A Dj playing a live concert

that they use throughout their concerts. For example, the artist deadmau5, plays on a giant cube that is made of LCD screens.

Some people have a problem with these concerts, because of the frequent use of flashing strobe lights. People like epileptics cannot attend these.

A popular theme is to have a mix of the electronic music and other styles, with artists such as Crystal Method and Celldweller each creating heavy-metal Electronic fusions. Some of these bands sprung up before, such as Caravan Palace, an upbeat mix of electronic and swing. Some of these mixes are unexpected, such as Beats Antique, which is electronically influenced Belly-dancing music.

While many enjoy the music of a particular artist, they may be hated by other artists and listeners. For example, Skrillex, or Sonny Moore, has received love from thousands of fans During his concerts, But there are many online message boards and chat rooms dedicated to bashing him and his music. A lot of artists are similar, with thousands of fans, but corners of

the internet dedicated to hate mail. They are shocked to learn about these, after hearing nothing but adoration.

Dubstep is a new style of music just trying to find it’s way. It is rapidly gaining fans and listeners. While it has people who like it and people who don’t, all styles and genre have a similar situation, they all have fans and people who don’t care for it.

Lights show at a dubstep concert.

“I like to listen to dubstep really loud... it’s pretty much pointless quiet.”

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Elizabeth’s Top 5 Albums 1. American Tragedy by Hollywood Undead.

One of their older albums released in 2010, but still very popular in the music industry. The ideas behind this album have kept me coming back for more every time I open Spotify. It tells a story of the frustration you feel in everyday life, and I personally think it’s amazing. I would recommend it for someone looking for a bit more Indie music than rock, but it combines the two quite nicely with the variations of songs. According to Sputnikmusicrating.com, it was rated a 2.3. Low, but its still number one in my book.

2. Epic by Blood On The Dance Floor

Another 2010 album, but I enjoy it because I take the tracklist on Epic to be about living life in the way you want to. It’s more or less about standing up and doing your own thing, rather than following someone else’s. Taking chances is a part of life, and it encourages you to do so. Rated a 1.7 on Sputnikmusicrating.com, this band has received a lot of haters, (like Mason or Sean) but stays strong.

3. Smoke and Mirrors by Lifehouse An album that’s older than one expects, released in 2009, but I really love it for the meaning behind the songs. I interpret it to be about someone walking on the edge of life, and living in the gray, unsure about what to do, or where to go. My absolute personal favorite song from this band is By Your Side, which on this album.

Sputnikmusicrating.com rated it a 3.2, right around the middle.

4. Who we are by Lifehouse A second older album, released in 2008, but despite its age, it’s managed to stay public and not die out. I render it to be about missing someone who is far away, and knowing that that person cannot feel or see what you do. Its also about the pain that accompanies missing someone to the breaking point. A 3.3 on Sputnikmusicrating.com, Lifehouse’s second album also rates around the middle.

5. Far beyond driven by Pantera Released in 1994, this dinosaur is in my top five most listened to albums. The hard metal edge, and loud, obnoxious vocals have kept it up their with the more modern stuff, despite its age. Pantera’s a good band overall, but I consider this album to be their best. The song, I’m Broken, which is one of their top five songs, is also on this album.

According to Sputnikmusicrating.com, it got a 3.8, which is pretty good.

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Music is worth a Schmillion words Art by Schmillion

By: Elizabeth Hauglie

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16 From the black Combat boots to the matching hair to the bright blue eyes , Frankie Blue, senior at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, TX, stars at being the lead guitarist in the band Schmillion.

The band, which recently stopped performing, was formed the

times,” Blue mentions. “Right now its kinda a cross between

music and technology festival in Austin. “ We just kinda put ourselves out their,” Blue says. Schmillion considered themselves pretty lucky to get chosen.

garage punk rock and indie.”

The band came to this conclusion after trying out similar genres,

“I thought applying to South

by Southwest was a complete long shot,” Blue says. “We were shocked and excited [when we got picked]. In our minds, this was our big break.” It quite possibly might have been, according to the press found on Schmillion’s bio on their website, “Schmillion managed to turn in an impressive set of edgy rock that will no doubt help in continuing their upward trajectory…their blend of both ’70s underground punk and riot grrrl energy sounds well beyond their years. It’s fitting, then, that the band covered Iggy and the Stooges’ “Search and Destroy” towards the end of their

“I thought it was a complete long shot”

Art by Todd Wolfson

The band all together

such as punk rock, pop rock, and metal/heavy rock. This all reflects back to the original hard core rock base that the band had formed on.

The band previously practiced in Blue’s living room for a while before they wanted to branch out.

They secured a few spots at some local restaurants and other outdoor venues. During that time, they earned “Best under 18 band” 2010, 2011,and 2012 at the Austin Music Awards. The band was highly stoked about the award when someone had the idea that they should apply to perform at South by Southwest, a week-long

“We just kinda put ourselves out their” 10 years old. Schmillion, formed back in 2009, was originally a group of five girls. Over the next year, they morphed into a 4 girl/1 guy band, with crackling guitar licks, belting vocals, and a hard rock edge, unlike any other band because of the age of the members and quality of music.

“Our genre has changed several 16

Art by Arian Brumby

summer between 8th and 9th grade. “I had been playing guitar for a while and wanted to play it seriously,” Blue says. She has been playing guitar since she fell in love with it, when she was 9 or

the band poses with the town lake bridge in the background

set.” This comment allowed the public to see the true magic behind the band by exposing a side that was shown at the 2011 South

by Southwest.

They got picked again next year, at the 2011 South by Southwest, where they headlined the “Best Album” Grammy Award winners Arcade Fire. “We did get offered to sign [a contract] once,” Blue

“And we had school so we couldn’t do a tour or anything”

says, “but the man wanted a song about losing your virginity as a teenager, and topic; she’s still a little sore about we aren’t about that.” Schmillion is not a vulgar band, so much so that not one of their songs is marked as “explicit”, or “unwholesome”.

The band, writing the music in a collaborative effort, divvies out the works, so everybody can add their own special touch to the music, such as Graham’s [the drummer] touch, which is way more indie than Zoe’s [the guitar player’s]touch which is more pop.

Some of Schmillion’s top hits include Capricorn, and The Jam. Art By Audra Shroeder

even image it, not even in her free time.

Outside of the band and school, she enjoys watching movies. “Its embarrassing, but my favorite movies are the ones like Grease; movie musicals like “It’s not about the fame or the the band as a whole it. She doesn’t that,” Blue says, blushing fortune,it’s about doing what we have any idea if and laughing a little. She also love to do,” Blue says fervently, the band will perform again, but enjoys “laughing at absolutely stressing that just because you get she hopes so. “The band is a part nothing with my friends,”. At the an offer doesn’t mean you should moment, Blue is “broke because take it. “And,” I like going places, and gas costs Blue adds, “we money.” Blue hopes the band will had school, so reunite after college and pursue a we couldn’t do career in the performing indusa tour or anytry, coming back stronger than thing.” School ever. At the moment though, Blue did take up a and the rest of the band is headed lot of Schmiloff to college and their separate lion’s time ways, to get degrees, and live the but it was rest of their days, always with part of the the memory of a band that stuck deal of being together until the last moment. in a band.

Art by schmillionn

The band recently stopped performing Schmillion’s second album, Seven because of underlying of me problems. “The band has as much as my leg or arm,” she stopped performing due to gosays. The idea of playing with ing our different directions,” Blue another band is so revolting and says, avoiding and not really not traitor-like to her, Blue cannot wanting to do into detail about the 17

zfd

Made famous by Micheal Jackson, the moonwalk is the dance to learn. It can give the illusion that you are gliding backwords. Impress your friends, family, or even strangers with your ability a to defy gravity and groove out at the same time with...

HOW TO M

1

1. Stand with both feet flat on the ground.

2. Raise a foot on to the toe. This foot will be still.

2

3. Slide flat foot back across the floor, so it looks like it’s gliding.

3

4. Put back foot on toe, like the other foot before.

5. Slide front foot back, like it’s gliding.

4

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6. Repeat, and be the next Micheal Jackson. photo taken by Mason Clark

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NWALK!

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You know you want me

Doritos locos taco Now at Taco Bell

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Know them? listen on-demand wherever, whenever Download Spotify for free today!

Art by IsraelMFA on Flickr

Staggering Facts about Piracy By: Elizabeth Hauglie

Most teenagers don’t realize how much pirating goes on in the world today.

Between the sky-high numbers and the tremendous money loss, the artists do get hurt in the process.

30,000,000,000- the number of songs that got illegally downloaded between 2004 and 2009

$80,688,000,000-the average annual loss the music industry loses to pirates.

The average Ipod contains enough pirated music to equal about

$800.

Jay-Z and Kanye Wests’ album, the top most pirated album Music accounts for content

Watch the throne is

2.6% of the worlds pirated

Facts pulled from: http://www.riaa.com/faq.php http://www.infographicsarchive.com/interesting-facts/ online-piracy-in-numbers-facts-and-statistics/#prettyPhoto http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21195/title. drakes-the-motto-the-most-pirated-song-in-united-states

Art by cliff1066 on FLickr

95% of all music downloads are illegal

Drizzy Drake’s The Motto is the most pirated song in the United States.

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Austin’s 3 Best Clubs The best way to hear music is to see it live. Austin is, after all, the “Live Music Capitol of the World.”

Here are the three best clubs to see music at for teens, as voted on by the editors of “Duh, Music.”

(For Teens)

1.

2.

3.

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The “Duh, Music” Team. All Facts.

Mason Clark is a pretty cool guy. He’s a die hard music fan and nothing makes him happier than seeing live concerts. He’s grown up surrounded by music, but fortunately he’s avoided descending into Hipster-dom. When not listening to music he plays Ultimate Frisbee, reads, or surfs the web. His group is really cool, and Mason is very glad the magazine turned out well and that he got the chance to interview White Denim, one of his favorite bands. His songwriting skills aren’t all that great, but he’s working at it.

Elizabeth Hauglie is a 15 year old massive Harry Potter fan who is still waiting for her letter from Hogwarts. When she’s not doing that, she is listening to emo punk rock music and watching The Walking Dead. Her favorite band is Hollywood Undead, with Blood On the Dance Floor, and Lifehouse coming in as a tied close second. In the little free time she has, she enjoys technical theater and playing with her mentally challenged dog. She hopes you appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the magazine that you’re holding.

Sean McDonald is pretty much perfect at everything he tries. He has a coolness level of 1500 mega-fonzies. He isn’t very musical himself, but is the world’s unofficial leading champion of listening to music. His favorite music is almost any variation of electronic, especially dubstep. He lives in Austin, Texas, the live music capitol of the world, so you know he’s qualified. One day he hopes to become a pro DJ, but until then, you all are at a loss.

The “Duh, Music” Team 23

160 GB memory. 163 pixels per inch.

Ipod classic 7th generation.

You can’t fit more in your pocket