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The CHIRP Blog
Tony Breed writesMore comics about music: “The Chairs’ Hiatus”
Hey folks! It’s been a while since I’ve shared any comics about music with you. I suppose I’ve seen them, but nothing really grabbed me enough to want to share.
But today I found this story, by Matthew Bogart, called The Chair’s Hiatus, and I highly recommend you read it.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle— Happy Birthday Syd Barrett Edition
Today, let’s celebrate a great talent who flamed out too soon. Syd Barrett was the original creative force propelling Pink Floyd, with classic singles like “See Emily Play” and the album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Unfortunately, drug use and mental health problems led to his departure from the band in 1968. He put out two influential solo albums (in particular, Robyn Hitchcock has taken a lot from Syd) but declined too much to continue, passing away at the age 60 in 2006. Let’s pay tribute to this unique and talented artist by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Tony Breed writesWhat if you were to graph your rock & rock lifestyle?
Let’s say you are a computer programmer/nerd/punk. Could there be a more perfect expression of your person than a graphic visualization of your concert attendance for the year?
This is how my friend Pam has chosen to sum up 2011, and frankly I think it’s so awesome I wish I’d done it myself.
How would you sum up your year?
Erin Van Ness writesLast Chance to Support CHIRP in 2011!
Technically, yes, you have until 11:59pm tomorrow evening when the ball drops to become one of the shiny, happy, proud 2011 members of the best radio station in Chicago. But we’re pretty sure you’ll be so busy checking out a show, enjoying the company of your loved ones, or watching the Navy Pier fireworks blaze that we thought we should send you a reminder today.
CHIRP has had an amazing ride in 2011. Through the highs (two best radio station nods!) and lows (a devastating flood in July) we’ve persisted with one major goal in mind: to provide you with the best local independent radio station there is. At the end of this rollercoaster that we call 2011, we ask you to take a minute to think about what CHIRP means to you.
Did you discover a new band or learn about a local organization? Did you listen to an interview with your favorite artist or see an amazing show? Did you purchase some unforgettable albums or attend a cool community event?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re the perfect candidate to become a member of this station. So before you crack open another bottle of champagne, put on your dancing shoes, and get those lips puckered up, head on over to chirpradio.org/donatenow, and show your support today.
Please don’t delay. This is absolutely, positively your last chance to become a 2011 member of the Best Overall Radio Station in Chicago*!
Wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy 2012 from your friends at CHIRP!
*As voted in the Chicago Reader’s Best of 2011Poll
Shawn Campbell writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2011 (Shawn Campbell)
Throughout December CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2011. Our final list is from CHIRP Radio President and Founder Shawn Campbell.
(Click here to get the complete list of CHIRP Radio members’ picks.)
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Seapony – Go With Me (Hardly Art)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
Who needs groundbreaking when you have a record this lovely and breezy? As a sucker for a great pop song, I fell under the spell of Seapony the first time I heard them, and probably listened to this album more than any other in 2011. -
Wax Idols – No Future (HoZac)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
Wax Idols meld multiple decades of sound into their hyper-catchy garage rock. There’s a bit of 60s girl group, some 70s postpunk, 80s tough grrrl rock, all blending together nicely in a record that reveals a little more with each listen. -
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 (Capitol)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
This old school blast from the Beastie Boys made me tremendously happy. Clever enough to be satisfying, dumb enough to be fun. -
Disappears – Guider (kranky)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
There’s always been something enticingly ominous about Disappears, and Guider delivered more of that dark, driving energy. In fact, it almost feels like the second half of a double album with last year’s Lux – there’s not a lot of evolution, but there’s an equally strong set of songs. -
Gold-Bears – Are You Falling in Love? (Slumberland)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
While I liked this year’s Pains of Being Pure at Heart record, Gold-Bears grabbed the fuzzy C86 spot in my heart that The Pains’ self-titled album held in 2009. Catchy songs buzz and soar, teenage heartache abounds, and there’s just a little more oomph behind it all. -
The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar (Atlantic/Canvasback)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
Giant, swirling walls of guitar and a tremendous sense of intensity, that great build-up and release, made The Big Roar perhaps the best shoegaze album since the heyday of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. -
Wild Flag – Wild Flag (Merge)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
I loved the fact that one of the most anticipated records this year was from a group of women in their 30s and 40s – and that, at the end of the day, all the excitement was completely merited with a strong set of rock songs and a really great energy. -
Tashaki Miyaki – 12” EP (Self-Released)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
Fuzzy, druggy pop songs, heavy on the reverb, half girl group, have Velvet Underground – a formula I’m virtually powerless against when the songs are good. And these are good. Bonus points for the cover of Buddy Holly’s “Heartbeat.” -
Mickey – Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreamer (HoZac)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
What’s not to love about scuzzy glam garage from Chicago? Replace a few ‘s’s with ‘z’s, a few ‘y’s with ‘ee’s, in titles like Bright Lights Big City, Kids in Love, and Baby We’re Gold, and this album could sit proudly next to the likes of Sweet and Slade. -
Stone Darling – All I Wanna Do 7” (Self-Released)
BUY: Insound / iTunes
I don’t particularly like including a single on my best-of list, but this song haunted me for the second half of the year. Gorgeous harmonies, lush and lovely, and no, not a lost Mazzy Star track.
Honorable Mentions
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Beach Fossils / What a Pleasure EP / Captured Tracks
A Classic Education / Call It Blazing / Lefse
Swiftumz / Don’t Trip / Holy Mountain
Charles Bradley / No Time for Dreaming / Daptone
Evans the Death / Threads 7” / Fortuna Pop!