WYEP Music Blog

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Scott Tady of The Beaver County Times.

In case you missed it here’s what he played (with commentary by Scott):

Yuck, “Chew” – Exhilarating U.K. band specializing in shoe-gazing guitar-rock, which like this new single, has a proper balance between sludgy and spacey. Not sure what they’re getting at with a chorus that says, “We chew it together.” Probably doesn’t matter.

2:54, “You’re Early” – And you’re early if you get hip now to this British duo’s brooding, atmospheric debut single. They’re two sisters, Colette and Hannah Thurlow, who have toured with the aforementioned Yuck and Melissa Auf de Maur of Hole. I understand why this song makes Cindy Howes recall her gothic days :)

Friday mornings on WYEP, Chef Bill Fuller (Corporate Chef for big Burrito) joins Cindy Howes at 7:30am for Pairings! Bill & Cindy challenge each other to pair up your favorite music with matching food and drink. Let’s see what they came up with this week.

Cindy’s Song Pick: Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life” (Happy 65th birthday tomorrow!!)

Bill’s Menu Pairing: Dark Stout, Cold English Sausage, White Cheddar Cheese & Nice Brown Bread

Bill’s Menu Pick: Cold Pizza, Bourbon (neat!) and Warm Lemonade

Cindy’s Song Pairing: My Morning Jacket “Outta My System”

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Justin Jacobs (talking to us via Skype!), contributing writer to Billboard & Relix Magazine.

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Justin:

Yuna, “Live Your Life – Is there a cooler sounding lady out there right now? No, the answer is no. Yuna is from Malaysia, and her story is pretty wild: singing in Malaysian pubs, becoming a Malaysian celebrity, courted by an American producer via email and then flown to America to record this debut. The track was produced by Pharrell Williams, he of great Neptunes and N.E.R.D. fame. Together, they make this laid-back, incredibly sexy and life-affirming track that’ll be stuck in your head for the next 10 to 12 business day.

Oberhofer, “Awy Frm U” – This song was originally released as a single in 2010, but it finally shows up on this months “Time Capsules II,” the debut LP from Oberhofer, band of frontman Brad Oberhofer. It’s sloppy, playful but sincere kitchen-sink pop, and the band members play their instruments to death. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard more piano bashing than on this record. It’s a whole lot of fun, and you should probably buy it.

Bonus picks!

Reggae! I know WYEP isn’t huge on the genre, but it’s almost summer and you deserve some good jams. Sure, every almost summer barbecue will play some Marley or Tosh, but introduce your friends to two new bands and become more popular than ever. The first is from Nigeria: Nazarenes, making fuzzy, deep grooves. The second is Morning Sun and the Essentials, making more pop-friendly, sunshine-y reggae. You can find both on the internet.

Friday mornings on WYEP, Chef Bill Fuller (Corporate Chef for big Burrito) joins Cindy Howes at 7:30am for Pairings! Bill & Cindy challenge each other to pair up your favorite music with matching food and drink. Let’s see what they came up with this week.

Cindy first chose to play The Dandy Warhols’ “We Used to Be Friends”. After listening, Bill paired the song with “an energy drink that you take two big swigs out of, top off with vodka. You drink it while you’re eating tacos in a green Dodge Neon”. Very specific.

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= a great pair!

Next, Bill challenged Cindy to pair “cucumber tea sandwiches, martinis and menthol cigarettes”. Cindy paired that combination up with Rickie Lee Jones’ “Young Blood”:

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= a great pair!

Let us know in the comments if you agree! What songs or meals would you like to see paired up?