popwreckoning

Ink’s debut Kansas City festival, Middle of the Map Fest, has announced its lineup. Local greats such as The Appleseed Cast join with national acts such as Two Door Cinema Club, Daniel Johnston and  Cursive.

The festival is in the historic Westport area on both April 8 and 9.

Taking place within the music venues of The Record Bar, The Beaumont Club, The Union and The Riot Room, festival goers will be given access to four different musical choices. Tickets can be purchased on day to day basis ($20 for either Friday only access or Saturday only access) or both days for a mere 5 additional dollars, of $25 total.Tickets can be purchased here.

Here’s the full schedule:
Friday:

Two Door Cinema Club
The Appleseed Cast
The Casket Lottery
El Ten Eleven
Dosh
Paper Route
A Lull
Small Black
Continents
Minden
Roman Numerals
Max Justus
Motorboater
Seafarer

Saturday:

Daniel Johnston
Cursive
Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s
The Raveonettes
The Life and Times
Tamaryn
Candy Claws
State Bird
Soft Reeds
Capybara
Cowboy Indian Bear
Saharan Gazelle Boy
Sam Billen
Lazy
Making Movies
Vertigone and Trystyl
Reach
Les Izmore

More are still to come.

Stay up to date with Middle of the Map Fest here.

It’s very hard to try and put a genre label on One Republic. They utilize almost every type of music, from R&B to alternative rock to even some reggae influences. Most people try and compare them to fellow “piano-rockers” The Fray, but that’s just it: the only similarity linking the two bands is the piano element. So the question remains on how to classify One Republic and if that’s even possible. Their display of a soulful, R&B edge mixed with a melodic rock premise distinguishes them from any other band in the music industry today. They continue to illustrate that distinction even more blatantly on their much-anticipated 2nd full length release Waking Up.

As a follow up to their extremely successful debut album, Dreaming Out Loud, Waking Up is an album carefully comprised of 11 songs that individually have a completely different, unique sound and feel than the one preceding it. The rhythmically-charged album begins with “Made for You,” a haunting melody that transitions into a soulful chorus and starts the album off strongly. It is followed by their first single “All the Right Moves,” which is destined to be an instant hit due to the numerous hooks that are filled with a mix of strings and strong drums. This effectively eerie combination is very reminiscent of Paper Route’s Absence album’s tone and feel. A few songs later listener is hit with “Everybody Loves Me,” a Beck-like album staple that is in a direct contrast to any other One Republic song on either album. It may sound strange to compare One Republic to Beck, but it strangely works.

Waking Up peaks with what has become my personal favorite song on the album, “Good Life.” It is full of rhythmically perfect beats and feel-good harmonies that have a hint of an African tribal flair. It’s the song on the album that will probably not become a single, but will be an instant fan favorite. (It was on repeat on my shuffle for two days straight.) Next up, the U2-esque title track “Waking Up” could almost be considered a 2-part song. Three minutes of the song is a fist-pumping section full of effective chanting and lead singer Ryan Tedder’s Bono-inspired voice. In a stark contrast, the 2nd half of the song moves into a solely instrumental piece with a heart-wrenching melody provided by an immaculate combination of strings and piano, immediately making the listener stop and take notice. One Republic hasn’t entirely dismissed their catchy, melodic Dreaming Out Loud roots, as is displayed with Tedder’s enchanting piano playing on tracks “Fear” and “All This Time.” The album is wrapped up with a song entitled “Lullaby.” It is an appropriate mellow counterpart and conclusion to an otherwise energetic album. It is slowed down to a relaxed pace and enters an almost trance-like state with soft guitars, Tedder’s pure voice, and gospel-like harmonies.

Looking back over the past 45 minutes makes one realize that an album that has combined elements of Paper Route, Beck and U2 (and doesn’t turn out to be a disaster) can rightfully be considered successfully unique. Dreaming Out Loud was full of effective, but safe melodies and textbook undertones, but they definitely take the edginess of their band to a whole new level on Waking Up. With an album dominated by intense drums, clean harmonies, and daring beats, the band has stepped out of their comfort zone and has further created a genre of their own. They could have written a radio-friendly, similar sounding album to Dreaming Out Loud, but they chose to try out a new sound that allowed them to grow and evolve into a new, fearless bad that is taking all the right chances.

Waking Up is a brave album that will earn the band respect from old and new fans alike.

It is streaming on MySpace now and is physically available Nov. 17.

Track Listing:
01. Made For You
02. All The Right Moves
03. Secrets
04. Everybody Loves Me
05. Missing Persons 1 & 2
06. Good Life
07. All This Time
08. Fear
09. Waking Up
10. Marchin On
11. Lullaby

One Republic: website | myspace

Written by: Sarah Hassan

Touring as a band on the road can be a difficult task. Especially when it comes to artists whose minds are constantly on the go, creating new melodies, beats and lyrics like Paper Route. Taking the time in the van to enjoy other artist’s music has inspired them to cover Kid Cudi‘s “Day N Nite” as well as offer a remix contest for their fans.

.Paper Route’s “Day N Nite” cover

From now until November 15th you too can try your hand at the art of remixing with Paper Route’s track “Gutter.”  The best mix (chosen by the band) will receive placement on Paper Route’s Myspace Homepage as AND website as well as an autographed poster from the band. So dust off those headphones, whip out those tracks you love so much and get inspired by listening to JT, Chad, Andy and Gavin as they blast out “Day N Nite” the Nashville way.

Paper Route: website | myspace

Photo by Bob Miller

Partly because it’s that wonderful time of year, partly because the economy kind of sucks, partly because free stuff is awesome and partly (mostly) because we totes owe you for missing a couple Free Music Fridays, check out all the free ish and music we’ve got for you today!

Check out some great music and some great giveaways! To win anything listed below, leave a comment with your name, email and desired prize!!

School of Seven Bells

Sweet guitar riff + jagged beats + silky vocals + space age synthesizers = somehow cohesive and wildly infectious songs. School of Seven Bells is not to be missed. Don’t miss them by entering to win!

Giveaway: Alpinisms CD and Half Asleep 7″

“Connjur”

website | myspace

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Paper Route

Never has anything more creative or more beautiful resulted from a raging case of insomnia.

Giveaway: Are We All Forgotten EP on CD

“Empty House”

website | myspace

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Dungen

Blazing, raw guitar workouts have their own time and place, but now, so do stirringly orchestrated, jazz-cooled compositions with cinematic undertones. Confident melodies and arresting ambiance in tighter frameworks than on previous releases, Dungen’s 4 is an album to be heard. Enter now and hear it compliments PopWreckoning!

Giveaway: 4 on vinyl

“Satt Att Se”

website | myspace | 4 review

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O’Death

So we love O’Death. They’ve got a sound all their own: 1 part gypsy punk, 1 part hillbilly hoedown, all parts awesome. Even more awesome, we’ve got a ‘Make Your Own Ukulele’ kit with the body of the ukulele signed by the band. The most unique thing we’ve ever given away…and f’real yo, we want one for ourselves!

Giveaway: ‘Make your own Ukulele’ kit (body signed by entire band) and Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin on CD

“Lowtide”

website | myspace | Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin review | @ johnny brenda’s

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Eulogies

Never mind the connotations their name derives. These guys are all about a tribute, or eulogy, for the living. Their sweetly bright melodies will have you re-thinking eulogies all together.

Giveaway: Tempted To Do Nothing VinylDisc (one side plays as CD, flip side is vinyl) — how cool is this?!

“Two Can Play” (featuring Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups):

website | myspace

To win anything listed above, leave a comment with your name, email and desired prize!!

The Good Graces

We’ll start off this week’s ‘Free Music Friday’ with a two-for. The Good Graces is the solo project from Kim Ware, out of Atlanta on her own Eskimo Kiss Records. She just released her debut album, Sunset Over Saxapahaw and we’re happy to share “Over It” and “Disassembled” from the release. A healthy double dose of minimalist indie rock to start the weekend.

“Over It” (download)

“Disassembled” (download)

website | myspace

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Paper Route

Nashville’s Paper Route is currently touring with Low vs. Diamond and Barcelona before the head overseas to bring their poppy electronica to the Brits for a short stint. Toss the previous mellow indie rock aside and check the slick upbeat sound of “Empty House” from the group’s Are We All Forgotten EP. These kids are gonna be big.

“Empty House” (download)

website | myspace

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School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells is currently touring with M83, opening many a sold out show across the US and receiving rave reviews. Tomorrow night, the Brooklyn trio hits Philadelphia’s Starlight Ballroom, a highly anticipated show which Editor-in-Chief Jessica will attending. Should you need any convincing to attend, listen no further than the the sweetly smooth “Connjur” off the band’s just released Alpinisms. The ambient melodies will have you floating on a cloud.

“Connjur” (download)

website | myspace

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Valina

Last  up we’ve got Valina, an Austrian import that just signed to Joyful Noise Recordings, those lovely people that just provided us with a free sampler! The band’s third full-length, A Tempo! A Tempo! will be released stateside in March 2009 thanks for Joyful Noise but until then, snag this full and heavy math rock-y track:

“Phantom Of My Longest Day” (download)

website | myspace