LSMedia or Liverpool student media at liverpoolstudentmedia.com is a brand new website launched by the University of Liverpool's students to promote and support talented Liverpool student's creative written, visual or radio content.

 Our collaborative arts feature, Off The Record makes a triumphant return for its March outing. This month's edition looks at everything from CSI to an educated look at The Raz. Yes that's right, The Raz. 

An Educated Look At... The Raz.

 Yes that's right, this month I am looking into the place that us students all know and love on a Monday night... The Raz ( or to locals 'Blue Angel') What is it about this place that is so ruddy popular? Is it the fat frogs, or 90p Pints? Or the claustrophobic, sweaty atmosphere? Maybe the legendary 'Raz Juice'? Or, most likely, is it because everybody is in exactly the same frame of mind once they enter the bat-cave esque student haunt? I.e. LETS GET WASTED,DANCE LIKE A LUNATIC AND MAKE A GENERAL FOOL OF MYSELF!

You tell me... but I adore the place.

The history of The Raz is actually quite impressive, for example did you know that the first Medical Officer for Britain, Doctor Duncan, used to be a regular back in his student days? And you can't get much better than this, apparently some Liverpudlian band performed their first audition here during their very early days as a band, I think they were called The Beatles? Ever heard of them?

So next time you're stood on the ledge downstairs, feeling like the King of the Swingers with a steady flow of Raz juice just trickling down your back and arms, try to remember that you're in the presence of the ghosts of Rock and Academic glory... or at least pretend that you know the words to 'Saw her standing there.'

Jennifer Wright

CSI Trilogy (TV Show)

Usually, when long time TV shows get to the “crossover” stage, i.e. when they’re mixing with other shows, it usually means that they’re running out of original material. Not so with the CSI franchise. Both spin-offs, Miami and New York, were introduced by this method and the original CSI had a rather excellent two-parter with another US show, ‘Gone Without a Trace’. What’s really good with these experiments is that they are surprisingly well done. It’s fair to say that CSI re-invented the crime-drama show, but now all three CSI shows have come together to solve one complex and disturbing case. With all of them growing in popularity and new ideas, the question was, this month, could it work?Well, yes. Lawrence Fishburne had a lot to live up to when he replaced William Peterson’s and his brilliant character, Grissom, and the ‘new guy’, that’s Ray Langston in the show, has been on and off to say the least so far. Here, though, the nature of the character really shines through as it is a seriously personal case. The use of the other two shows was probably unnecessary, in the end, but they made the story so much more entertaining. If you haven’t seen it yet, find Channel Five’s website and hope that they are still free to watch, it beats watching Emmerdale!  

Tom Vaughan

 Public service broadcaster?

And so the BBC has announced that it is axing it’s digital station 6Music by the end of 2011 as part of a major restructuring of its output. As a big fan of the station I have to say this not only makes me sad but raises some important questions. Currently 6Music has roughly 695,000 listeners on average, a statistic which might make many think its closure is justified, although those figures reflect the fact that DAB radio isn’t as widely available yet as maybe it should be. However, isn’t it this kind of niche audience that the BBC should be not only catering for but actively looking to expand? They spend god knows how many millions on dross like Strictly Come Dancing, chasing the ratings like some kind of moronic pack-hound, and yet seem to forget that the role of a public service broadcaster is to cater for all demographics regardless of ratings. Granted, 6Music could do with a shot in the arm maybe but it’s still the only one of the BBC’s radio stations where you can hear The Clash next to The Coal Porters, or hear specialist shows such as The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show or Stuart Maconie’s Freakzone. Radio’s 1 and 2, largely, just don’t cater for music lovers in the same way, with the same knowledge and passion. The BBC would do well to remember that providing a station that is about the music rather than the bits in-between is as valuable a public service as it can provide.

Paul Brown

 For more info and ways to help save 6Music, head here

2010 through the eyes of an optimist

So it’s now March, we’re now three months into 2010, a sizeable chunk of the year has passed. There’s already been myriad good albums, Hot Chip, Four Tet, Yeasayer and Beach House spring to mind immediately, all of which could rightfully appear in ‘best of’ lists come December. Teen Dream by Beach House in particular seems to have set the bar for the coming year, much in the same manner as Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective did one year beforehand. Bring into consideration the impressive debuts from Delphic and Two Door Cinema Club, and the start of 2010 has hopefully been but a mere sign of what’s to come. 

Still to come are new releases from MGMT, M.I.A., Interpol, The Avalanches and Frightened Rabbit. Add in The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes and Gorillaz (who are all releasing new material) and 2010 looks set to be a really good start to the decade. Also, the undoubted personal highlight of my year (regardless of quality) comes in the form of the new, and last ever, LCD Soundsystem album. Here’s to 2010!

Josh Brown

Ones to Watch

The following two bands are two of the best ‘hidden gems’ on the folk-music scene at the minute. Both of these, Frightened Rabbit and The Avett Brothers, will be hoping to emulate the success of bands such as Mumford and Sons, over the coming few months.             

• Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish Indie-Folk Quintet, who have been on the scene in various guises since 2003. They have received very little wide acclaim, particularly until the release of their stunning second album ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’; which received extremely high praise in the music press. It moved away from the rawness, which only slightly dampened a very exciting sound, of the first album to create one of the most masterful examples of a truly emotive record made in recent years. Yet despite this, and a slot supporting the excellent Death Cab for Cutie, the band still remain something of an unknown commodity, but with the upcoming release of their third album they could deservedly be thrust into a more public domain.

On the critically acclaimed ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ songs such as Heads Roll Off is where you hear the real essence of Frightened Rabbit. Lead singer Scott Hutchinson’s voice cuts a heart aching vocal across a the gentle sound of brushed drum beats, and perhaps the occasional trace of an organ. The two combine to create a fantastic modern pop record, one of heartfelt sincerity, with a sound of true emotion. Keep Yourself Warm is equally striking, and if anything more memorable, combining brutally honest lyrics with excellent backing vocals, and building to a bruising instrumental ending.

Nothing Like You is the first record off the new album, and sounds like something of a release from the more melancholic tone of their previous record. If the entirety of ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ is of a similarly high standard, it will represent a further step forward towards a wider public recognition, which is highly deserved.

‘Sing the Greys’ and ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ in Record Stores now

‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ expected March 2010

• The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers are similar to Frightened Rabbit in that they have been working the folk scene (in America in their case) for the best part of a decade; appearing at low-key festivals and occasional late-night slots on television, and only recently achieving long-overdue chart success. They are a further example of the excellent Country/Folk music to come out of the country which produced legends such as Dylan and Cash, and more recently the impressive Conor Oberst. These two brothers from Concord, North Carolina have a sound which is a world away from the slow life of small-town America. Their music speaks of breaking out of their two-horse town; carried on waves of Old-American spirit, as well as the lighter sounds of, dare I say it, The Beatles, and laid-back elements of Bluegrass.

Occasionally the sound moves from finely worked folk-gems to create a song such as Kick Drum Heart, which is close to being a true pop masterpiece. With an irresistible beat and piano melody, it is a pop song of such charisma it would struggle not fail to win over even the harshest critic.

The Avett Brothers have an impossibly large back catalogue, but the most recent album ‘I and Love and You’ would be an excellent place to start; a showcase of the band’s best work, which reached number 16 in the American Billboard Charts. The band’s 2007 offering, ‘Emotionalism’ is also an excellent addition to anyone’s record collection.

 Pete Ames

 Loverpool

Liverpool’s musical culture is the heart that proudly keeps our city beating, and it is pretty much impossible to ignore how big a part music plays in and around the city. From funky drum n bass nights at The Magnet to grand classical concertos just opposite at The Royal Philharmonic, Liverpool’s diversity when it comes to music is unlike any other city, offering something for everybody’s music taste. Church Street is scattered with talent from different cultures on the musical spectrum, sitar players, metal guitarists and even just the usual teenagers singing Beatles covers, all of who are met kindly by the Liverpool folk who are just out for a weekend’s shopping. Liverpool’s way of celebrating music stretches far beyond the city centre, with places like Oomoo and the Royal Hotel on Smithdown Road giving a platform for students to perform in open mic nights, which have all (in my own experience) shown an incredible amount of talent from the student community. Maybe it is something to do with the musical history of the city, or even just the Mersey water, but Liverpool seems to embrace music a lot tighter than any city I have ever been to. And as a music fan I am proud to be studying here.

Andy Clark

What’s occurin’ this March...

• For the past few months he’s been reading our minds, turning things 3D and attempting (but admittedly in my case, failing to) stick us to our chairs and now he’s taking his very unique performance on stage, pit stopping in Liverpool for 2 evenings of wonder. I am of course talking about the marvel that is Derren Brown.

Stage show ‘Enigma’ starts at The Empire theatre on the 2^nd of March ending on the 3^rd. Ticket details available here.

• The Noisettes reinvented themselves last year to dominate the charts with singles such as Don’t Upset The Rhythm charting at number two in the UK charts. They perform this and other hits on their UK tour which comes to the 02 Academy, Liverpool on the 4^th March. SOLD OUT.

• If you know your Darth Vader from your Yoda, you might just fancy something a bit quirky via Star Wars In Concert. It comes to Liverpool Echo Arena on the 9^th March. Tickets available here.

• Over the past few months, Mumford & Sons debut, Sigh No More has been a firm favourite on my media player. The brilliant folk-esque sounds of critic favourites, Little Lion Man and The Cave will fill a sold out 02 Academy on the 9^th March.

• If you haven’t heard of the following band, you may just want to incorporate them into your life. With their self titled album, The XX becoming a hit amongst critics and fans alike, The XX offer a bit of everything from rock ‘n’ roll to dubstep. They play the Kazimier, Liverpool (Wolstenhome Square) on the 10^th March. Tickets available here.

• Superstar DJ Tiesto is back on the decks and playing to his masses of fans once again on a huge UK tour. See him play his huge club anthems live at Liverpool Echo Arena on the 13^th March. Tickets available here. 

• With Tiesto in town, it is fitting that club night, Chibuku, famed for its celebration of all things dance, celebrates its 10^th birthday. Birthday guests include Chase & Status, Skream and Caspa (plus some very special guests). Why not make a night of it and double your dance fix with Tiesto and Chibuku? Tickets are £23 advance or £18 with an NUS card. 10pm-very late. More info here.

• Possibly one of my favourite days of the year occurs on the 17^th March, a day of novelty hats and everything green. Yes, its time to celebrate everything Irish once again and there is set to be no shortage of places to go in Liverpool with pubs packed to the brim for all day sessions. Get yourself to O’Neils or alike early and get on the Guinness for St.Patrick's Day!

• Critics choice award winner, Ellie Goulding steps out on her first major tour, playing the 02 Academy in Liverpool on the 29th March 2010. Ticket details available here.

* All links given are official ticket outlets, however, LSMedia takes no responsibility for the ticket buying process via external links provided. 

Matt Healy

LSMedia Arts Team. Next Edition: April 2010.