Summer 2012 Pop Playlist
Posted by Christopher Will on 05/04 at 04:18 PM
What would summer be without a summer playlist? And I don’t mean the same 6 songs they blare on the radio. I’m talking about fresh cuts of music. These should be the songs that remind you of calm summer nights, bright summer days, the shining sun, road trips, summer romance, and the good times that the season brings. So if you need help finding some new songs to get your summer started, here’s a good place to start.
Below are 15 new songs that I recommend, that would make up a solid summer playlist. Here you’ll find bits of hip-hop, pop, dance, and just about everything in between. There are tracks from fresh-faced newcomers to the pop music scene, as well as songs from those well-established radio artists. Check them out, pick the ones you like, and start off your summer with a pop
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Movin’ On 2012 Recap: A Move Forward
Posted by Matt D'Ippolito on 05/02 at 12:28 PM
Movin’ On 2012 was easily the best one Penn State has had in at least the last four years, speaking from experience. After a long line of lackluster headliners and poor or mediocre lineups, we finally got the well-balanced lineup we deserve. So how did it pan out?
Well, while little-known acts like David Mayfield Parade surprised the audience with great sets and rising stars like Young the Giant were equally well-received with incredible jam sessions, the headliners sealed the deal with an excellent show. Whereas Less Than Jake sounded washed up two years ago and The Spill Canvas was largely ignored by students before that, Ludacris pumped up the crowd with a strong set, despite DJ problems, and the Avett Brothers put on one hell of a show. But let’s start at the beginning.
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Concert Review: Ludacris at Movin’ On ‘12
Posted by David Porter Callanan on 05/02 at 10:00 AM
Following a day full of energetic performances from the David Mayfield parade, Young The Giant, and Michael Franti (Who I met, great guy) and Spearhead, Atlanta, Georgia MC Ludacris had some pretty high expectations when he hit the stage as the sun went down over Happy Valley. I think it’s safe to say, he didn’t disappoint. A few thousand fans made their way over to the main stage located in between University drive and Beaver stadium to see the “Disturbing the Peace” rapper. Before hitting the stage Luda teased fans with only his voice from backstage saying “I need y’all louder than that, we might as well go back to ATL.” Following some louder chants the rapper hit the stage with intensity and set the pace for the rest of the night with his hits “Number One Spot” and “Act a Fool.” Luda then addressed the crowd asking which side he could get louder and asked them if they were any “real Ludacris fans” before playing his 12 year old hit “Southern Hospitality.” Both these trends continued throughout the night and the vivacious Penn State crowd did not let him down.
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Concert Review: The Avett Brothers at PSU Movin’ On 2012
Posted by Christopher Will on 04/30 at 01:14 PM
It was 9:30 on a Friday night, and the wind bit against the crowd’s coats and faces as they waited patiently for the headliner of Penn State’s Movin’ On 2012 spring music festival. They had been taken through the brawny, dark dance music of Keegan Tawa, the spunky ska of The Wondershop Showdown, the countrified folk of The David Mayfield Parade, the atmospheric, awe-inspiring alternative rock of Young The Giant, the bright, positive reggae-rock of Michael Franti & Spearhead, and the raucous rap of Ludacris. Now, a gaggle of people of all shapes, sizes, and ages crowded around the barricades as the lights lit up and a half-dozen ragged-looking musicians took the stage. Without pause, The Avett Brothers took up their instruments and launched into their folk-based-country-brushed-indie-pop-rock.
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Movin’ On 2012: Today 3PM - 11PM
Posted by David Porter Callanan on 04/27 at 10:51 AM
As graduation approaches, Penn State seniors filled with bittersweet emotions can distract themselves (temporarily) this today at the 38th annual Movin’ On concert funded by UPAC. Admission to the concert is free to the public and will be held on the fields behind the intramural building.
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Preview Movin’ On Acts: Young the Giant, David Mayfield Parade
Posted by Matt D'Ippolito on 04/26 at 11:27 AM
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Who are Young the Giant and The David Mayfield Parade? If you’re not the type who constantly needs up-to-the-second updates on the music industry, you might not know what to expect from Movin’ On’s openers. Young the Giant should be a fairly familiar name by now, especially if you caught my profile of the band a few months ago. Both groups are still up-and-coming artists who’s national attention is fairly fresh. Here’s what you can expect from each of them.
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Movin On’ Act Profiled: Keegan Tawa
Posted by Christopher Will on 04/25 at 08:49 PM
If you’re a Penn State student, you might have seen Keegan Tawa around campus, walking to class or eating lunch in the HUB, dressed in his Air Force ROTC uniform or his civilian clothes. But on Friday at 3 p.m., you’ll see him standing on the Movin’ On Stage, tearing through the air with deep, guttural, basslines and jaw-dropping dance beats.
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Album Review: The Avett Brothers’ - I And Love And You
Posted by Christopher Will on 04/23 at 02:16 AM
Grade: A-
Never before has the world of music been introduced to an act like The Avett Brothers. The band, fronted appropriately by Scott and Seth Avett, went from relative obscurity to national prominence practically overnight. Though they have not quite made as substantial of a dent in popular music as fellow folk-rock musicians Mumford & Sons, their major label debut, I And Love And You, is one of the most surprisingly complex and prolific albums of the 21st century. The album spent almost 30 weeks in the Billboard top 200 album chart, peaking at #16 back in the fall of 2009. So yes, while I And Love And You has been around for quite some time, that doesn’t make it any less relevant or striking.
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5 Pop Songs You Need To Know
Posted by Christopher Will on 04/13 at 06:55 PM
Top 40 Radio can be both a blessing and a curse. It does a near flawless job of keeping its ridiculously large audience in sync with the hottest pop songs, particularly from those emperors and empresses that reign unchecked over radio waves and billboard charts. If Katy Perry has a new single, you’ll definitely hear it. If Lady Gaga has a single that hit #1 eight months ago, you’ll STILL hear it. If a previously unknown artist releases a single that manages to drag itself into the top 40, you’ll hear it, and if it happens to hit #1, you’ll never unhear it (“We Are Young,” I’m talking to you).
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Local Artist Profile: Maura Westerlund
Posted by Christopher Will on 04/06 at 12:04 PM
You could argue that Maura Westerlund is one of the head honchos of Penn State’s local music scene, as the president of Penn State’s Songwriter’s Club, as well as a veteran singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. The Pittsburgh native has been writing and playing her own original compositions since she picked up a guitar and a notebook in middle school. “I started playing the piano when I was six years old, but having to practice piano for like an hour a day at six years old is really tough.” she explained. “It wasn’t until I was 13 and started playing guitar that I started taking what I knew and turning it into songs.”
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Unknown Hip Hop Artist: Richie Cunning
Posted by David Porter Callanan on 04/03 at 05:49 PM
Last week I wrote an article about the XXL freshman 2012 list and defended the magazine even though I did not agree with their choices. Every year, the XXL freshmen consist of MC’s that have generated an online following, which is known as a “buzz.” Personally, I heard of all but three of this year’s class, so I’m guessing the average hip hop fan knew about two or three of the freshmen (humble brag). In response to XXL’s list, I conjured up a list of a few rappers who despite being somewhat buzz-less, deserve to have a larger buzz than a group of alcoholics at happy hour. During my blurbs all the basic info will be included like hometown, Twitter handles and their projects you can look at online. This week’s artist is one of my personal favorites.
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Who are the Battling Bands?
Posted by Matt D'Ippolito on 03/30 at 11:02 AM
Movin’ On is less than a month away, so it must be that time again: time for the Battle of the Bands!
This year’s battle will feature 12 acts. There are a lot of folk-influenced groups competing, which is probably fitting considering one of the headliners is The Avett Brothers. Still, the lineup includes a house and dubstep DJ in Keegan Tawa, a first for Movin’ On Battle. There are also acts as diverse as ska and the ever-popular rock/reggae/hip hop fusion of Atlas Soundtrack. Here’s more information on each, in the order they will appear:
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Movin’ On Battle of Bands: Saturday, March 31st 9PM at Alumni Hall
Posted by Pat Baxter on 03/29 at 02:33 AM
This Saturday, March 31st starting at 9PM, Movin’ On’s Battle of Bands will take place. It will be held at Alumni Hall in the HUB at Penn State. Twelve bands are competing, but only 2 will be selected to join the the lineup of major acts of the festival on April 27th. The winners will join The Avett Brothers, Ludacris, David Mayfield Parade, Michael Franti and Spearead, and Young the Giant.
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The Real Beef with XXL’s Freshmen
Posted by David Porter Callanan on 03/26 at 06:28 PM
Every year XXL, the largest rap publication in the country, puts out a “freshman” list containing ten rappers that the magazine believes will break out in the following 12 months. In the past, the magazine has made some questionable calls for the cover but also has included some of the game’s biggest stars like Big Sean, Lupe Fiasco, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole and Wale. Obviously not everyone is going to be happy with the list and in the past there has been backlash through email and social networks. But this year the negative feedback reached an all time high. Bloggers, critics, radio host’s, fans and even fellow rappers dissed the magazine for the choices they made and while I can see their beef (I personally respect only three, maybe four of them), the problem lies more within the idea of the cover itself.
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Album Review: “The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2” by OFWGKTA
Posted by Matt D'Ippolito on 03/22 at 05:00 PM
Bewildering. Trippy. Abhorrent. Fantastic. Scary. Cool. Different. As usual, an incredibly diverse set of adjectives can be applied to an Odd Future production.
Most of all, though, the hip hop collective’s second major release is confusing. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to rate.
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Most recent entries
- Summer 2012 Pop Playlist
- Movin’ On 2012 Recap: A Move Forward
- Concert Review: Ludacris at Movin’ On ‘12
- Concert Review: The Avett Brothers at PSU Movin’ On 2012
- Movin’ On 2012: Today 3PM - 11PM
- Preview Movin’ On Acts: Young the Giant, David Mayfield Parade
- Movin On’ Act Profiled: Keegan Tawa
- Album Review: The Avett Brothers’ - I And Love And You
- 5 Pop Songs You Need To Know
- Local Artist Profile: Maura Westerlund
- Unknown Hip Hop Artist: Richie Cunning
- Who are the Battling Bands?
- Movin’ On Battle of Bands: Saturday, March 31st 9PM at Alumni Hall
- The Real Beef with XXL’s Freshmen
- Album Review: “The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2” by OFWGKTA
Contributors
- Stephen Smith
- Alexandra Voigt
- Chelsea Sweithelm
- Nathan Etter
- Charlee Redman
- Natalie Plumb
- John Hendrickson
- Michael Giannelli
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- Ryan Chase
- Pat Baxter
- Marcus Correll
- Aaron Wynne
- Mike Hobson
- Samantha Hatfield
- Brian McFarland
- Lindsay Carolla
- Johnny Chadwick
- Devin Weakland
- Ryan Kappy
- Stephanie Williams
- Christopher Will
- David Porter Callanan
- Matt D'Ippolito
