KZSC recently received a copy of Mike Preuss‘s self-made album “Big Sur“. In it’s very homemade CD sleeve was this note:

“Dear KZSC,

This album was created by Mike Preuss alone in the wilderness of Big Sur, CA during a four month long creative camping trip with one microphone and a van chock full of instruments equipped with a solar panel.”

This album is shockingly fun, as if Preuss totally escaped the Walden-esque stories of man’s torture and love of the nature + isolation concept. Instead of creating a Microphones-esque album that sounds like a straight reflection of thunder and dark trees, Preuss made an album so pretty and icy cool that it sounds like coconut popsicles (oh my god those are good). Ignore the connotation that “alone in the wilderness” has with giant redwoods and jump straight into a lake during summertime and you have Preuss’s Big Sur.

The song “Brooklyn and Miky” is an absurdly sweet summer song that makes me unbearably happy (and played with volumes far too loud) when I play it on Pockets Full of. A good second best is “Six Pack With Change”, of which we have a special video for you (see below! as above!). I and fellows at the station have been listening to the album all day and I can’t name one person who hasn’t walked in and said “What is this??”. It’s quickly become a favorite amongst us, and I really suggest you dive into it. It’ll enrich all of it (every corner of your soul), I promise.

Electronic music from the center of Isolation is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

This love interest goes by the name of Gigi – a project by Nick Krgovich of No Kids. This album is the perfect Spring-time album (there’s some sun, so there’s nothing wrong with some faux-spring songs). Think of the glories of 60s pop, including the great girl bands and coordinated opera gloves, plus the beauties of Belle & Sebastian’s bedroom floor pop. If you like She & Him, if you like Phil Spector, and if you like Jens Lekman, this album is 100% for you. Not to mention the huge amount special guests (really, each songs got a back up worth loving). To name a few: Mirah, Karl Blau, and Owen Pallett. Yes, our favorite beautiful voice ocean pop lovers. My top tracks that you should alllll look into:

“No, My Heart Will Go On”, “Everyone Can Tell”, and “Some Second Best”. Get on it!

The newest music love interest! is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Yes yes yes, Like This!

Number ONE: The famoussss Annual KZSC Ultimate Music Sale is going on from 10-3pm and it is going to be nuts. There will be dozens of different vendors here to sell you wonderful musics, we will be there to sell you TWENTY FIVE CENT CDs (not to mention the bizarre LPs lurking around) and all of it’s to help benefit this wonderful little non-profit radio station. What’s not to love? Come early for all the bests, bring your car up and take advantage of the free parking, and get digging. We’ll help you to find a bargain and to help us. Yum!

The event begins at 10am and runs through to 3pm. It takes place at the Crown/Merrill Cultural Center at UCSC. For more info please email cdsale@kzsc.org

And THEN, keep your music loving pants on because Santa Cruz’s very own This Is Not a Record Label (really, it’s not) is throwing This is Not a Mikrofest II. What’s that mean? It means amazing show after amazing show after amazing show. The fun begins immediately after the music sale and continues until the wee hours of the night. The full line-up is listed after the jump. While normally I’d point you in the direction of all my faves, I think “my faves” is kind of useless in this situation. Really, all these shows will be worth it. However, I will say that I have a huge personal crush on the anti-folk sweetness of Polka Dot Dot Dot (the beloved Jordan O’ Jordan is a member). And that Matador will never cease to be a KZSC favorite.

Matthewwwww of Matador!

(for more info please visit the facebook event)

DAY SHOW
3PM POTLUCK/ 4PM MUSIC ($3-5 donation/ bring a dish)
—————————————–
POLKA DOT DOT DOT (oly)
http://www.myspace.com/thepolkadotdotdot
MAPLE RABBIT (philly)
http://www.myspace.com/maplerabbit
MARK E. DEUTSCH (oakland)
http://www.myspace.com/markedeutsch
MATADOR (sc)
http://www.myspace.com/matadorfromsantacruz

@ THE CRYSTAL PALACE (107 Blackburn)

NIGHT SHOW
7PM SHARP -10PM ($5 at the door)
—————————————–
KARL BLAU (anacortes)
http://www.myspace.com/karlblau
LAKE (oly)
http://www.myspace.com/lakemusicmusic
JAMES RABBIT (sc)
http://www.myspace.com/jamesrabbit
STARSIRCLEANATOMY (sc)
http://www.myspace.com/starcircleanatomy

@ THE RC4NV (515 Broadway)

SLEEP OVER (themed) SHOW
11PM FREE CAKE
—————————————–
GIRL BAND (sb)
http://www.myspace.com/girlbandsb
WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS (sb)
http://www.myspace.com/watercolorpaintings
GLASS CAKE (berkeley)
http://www.myspace.com/glasscakemusic
MOTHER DUCKER & THE EGGS (sc)
http://www.myspace.com/motherduckerandtheeggs

@ 215 STOREY

This Is Not an OhMyGod is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz