Arachnophonia: Kanye West “Graduation”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Deisy (class of 2024) and features Kanye West’s 2007 studio album Graduation. Thanks, Deisy!

Kanye West

Graduation

Kanye West - Graduation album cover (2007)

Kanye West has been one of the most talented and controversial men in the current music industry. Apart from the many social and political statements he has made throughout the years, West is one of the best producers and lyricists in music.

From his debut album The College Dropout to my favorite album Graduation, West has found ways to express himself and others through his music. You can find a number of West’s albums in our collection at Parsons Music Library including Graduation. This 2007 album has many memorable songs such as “Stronger,” “I Wonder,” “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” and my favorite, “Flashing Lights.”

Additionally, those interested in finding out more about this artist and where he has come from, there is an amazing documentary on Netflix called jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. It’s a very interesting documentary that shows the process of his first album and how he came up in the musical scene.

Parsons Playlists: French-y? Music

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Isaac (class of 2025), which features some music with a French feel.

French-y? Music

I just watched possibly the scariest movie I’ve seen in a long time, Talk To Me, but unlike my eyes, my ears were quite happy with what they were receiving. “Le Monde” was a terrific original piece for a terrifying original picture, so here are some songs that also sounded a bit ‘Parisian’ to me.

Richard Carter – “Le Monde”

Edith Piaf – “La Foule”

France Gall – “N’écoute pas les idoles”

Antonio Muréna – “Melancolie”

Zan – “Yasmeen”

Nicholas Britell – “Roman’s Beat – Hearts”

Madlib Invazion – “Movie Finale”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zey8idJYQAYyx8Hu14iuGrI5&si=uXwT89XLQvXd1WDl

WDCE Charts 11-29-23

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

As a new feature on our blog, we plan to regularly share chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from November 29, 2023 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE Chart 11-29-23

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC 11-29-23

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE 11-29-23 graphic

Arachnophonia: Suite Espagnole

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features a streaming audio version of the solo piano piece “Suite Espagnole”, plus a biography of the composer Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909).. Thanks, Xipeng!

Suite Espagnole by Isaac Albéniz

Isaac Albéniz

Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)

Isaac Albéniz, a Spanish musical virtuoso, and his “Suite Espagnole”

Isaac Albéniz was a Spanish composer and pianist known for his significant contributions to Spanish classical music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on May 29, 1860, in Camprodon, Catalonia, Spain, Albéniz demonstrated remarkable musical talent from a young age. He received his initial musical training from his father and then studied in various prestigious institutions across Europe. His compositions often feature intricate rhythms, evocative melodies, and a passionate, virtuosic piano technique.

Isaac Albéniz: Portrait of a Romantic by Walter Aaron Clark

I have been studying “Suite Espagnole” recently. It is one of Albéniz’s notable compositions, showing his profound affinity for Spanish themes and musical traditions. The suite is comprised of eight pieces for solo piano, each representing a different Spanish region, and the piece “Granada” is one of my favorites. It represents the Andalusian city of Granada, which is located in southern Spain and is known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning architecture, including the Alhambra, a historical palace and fortress complex. This composition is a showcase of Albéniz’s ability to blend classical piano techniques with the traditional sounds of Spanish folk music. Learning this piece always reminds me the memories I spent a summer in Granada with my family.

There’s a biography of this wonderful composer in our music library, Isaac Albeniz: Portrait of a Romantic by Walter Aaron Clark, and feel free to check out the recording, Iberia & Suite española / Albéniz, which is available online!

Parsons Playlist: The boy geniuses

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) featuring solo songs by members of the American indie supergroup boygenius.

The boy geniuses

boygenius - Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus & Phoebe Bridgers

Boygenius, a band comprised of three singer-songwriters (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus), grew enormously popular over the summer, but the majority of listeners are only familiar with the solo music of Bridgers. As a regular listener of both boygenius and the three artists’ solo works, I wanted to shed some light on some of my favorite songs from each of them.

Julien Baker – “Faith Healer”

Julien Baker – “Appointments”

Julien Baker – “Favor”

Julien Baker – “Turn Out The Lights”

Julien Baker – “Relative Fiction”

Julien Baker – “Something”

Julien Baker – “Ringside”

Lucy Dacus – “Night Shift”

Lucy Dacus – “Hot & Heavy”

Lucy Dacus – “Please Stay”

Lucy Dacus – “Brando”

Lucy Dacus – “Thumbs Again”

Lucy Dacus – “VBS”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Garden Song”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Moon Song”

Phoebe Bridgers – “ICU”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Killer”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Smoke Signals”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Graceland Too”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwjQfLqRwk-OVrKObDRJ_pbA&si=5hgSJoVLWAQVpaou

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Tactile Illusions

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) which explores musical textures.

Tactile Illusions

A jar of Skippy creamy peanut butter

Are you team creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter? Just as food is textured, music is too! Here are some songs that I think are smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.

D’Angelo – “Really Love”

Ari Lennox – “Backwood”

Raveena Aurora – “Salt Water”

Kaz Moon – “Furious”

Charlie Burg – “Avalanche”

Toro y Moi – “Ordinary Pleasure”

Dre’es – “Warm”

Health Club – “Way Too Long”

Lake Street Drive – “Hypotheticals”

Grover Washington – “Just the Two of Us”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewxuotwTk4zuXJny119Yp9v&si=PQkxwYb1FNVuJd9g

Parsons Playlists: Songs That Feel Like Thanksgiving

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eliana (class of 2024) featuring some music for your Thanksgiving enjoyment.

Songs That Feel Like Thanksgiving

cornucopia

Christmas is around the corner, but we can’t forget about thanksgiving just yet. While there’s not really any mainstream thanksgiving-themed music, here are some songs that remind me of home and the holidays.

Khalid – “Winter”

Jack Johnson – “Better Together”

Adele – “Hometown Glory”

Philip Phillips – “Home”

Noah Kahan – “Homesick”

The Lumineers – “Sleep on the Floor”

Taylor Swift – “Tis the Damn Season”

Harry Styles – “Canyon Moon”

Rascal Flatts – “Bless the Broken Road”

John Denver – “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

Billy Joel – “Vienna”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewIBys_UumxkWIABkdzJCeH&si=q9_JGAIuZ9XZkxld

Parsons Playlists: Rainy Night

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Alexandra (class of 2026) and features music for a rainy night.

Rainy Night

rainy night window

Here is a playlist of songs I find myself wanting to listen to when relaxing and doing my homework looking out my window to cold rainy weather.

Bruno Major – “Easily”

Mac DeMarco – “Blue Boy”

Loving – “Visions”

The Beatles – “Blackbird”

Billy Joel – “She’s Got a Way”

The Mamas & The Papas – “Dream A Little Dream Of Me”

Gregory Alan Isakov – “Big Black Car”

Djo – “Chateau (Feel Alright)”

Frank Sinatra – “It Had To Be You”

The Beatles – “Something”

Pink Floyd – “Breathe (In the Air)”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezxGRDhYQLHOOLg88FRfl1b&si=hP0k0rAv1xNLhbZO

WDCE Charts 11-15-23

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

As a new feature on our blog, we plan to regularly share chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from November 15, 2023 (click the image to see a larger version):

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

Arachnophonia: Don & Devdas

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog records for the items in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Kiran (class of 2024) and features two Bollywood films Don and Devdas. Thanks, Kiran!

Don (2006)

Devdas (2002)

UR’s South Asian Fusion team, Bollywood Jhatkas, recently performed to some of their favorite remake songs at the 13th annual Celebration of Dance. At the music library, we have a select number of Bollywood films, two of which are remakes! Don and Devdas are two beloved classics that were redone in the early 2000s. Many of the songs were also reused and were given a more updated take.

Bollywood is notorious for recycling their classics, but it’s also received a lot of backlash in recent years. Critics are saying that they’ve run out of ideas and continue to ruin old movies. Some of the movies and songs are very well done, whereas others take away from the classic charm. Devdas and Don are two very controversial films because of this. Personally, I have only known the newer versions, and I have grown to love them. Shah Rukh Khan can truly play almost any role and knows how to draw an audience in. You can watch these remade films by checking them out at Parsons Music Library!