We have some amazing music for you! Who are ‘we’? Well, glad you asked! We are your campus radio station, KWVA. You can find us on your FM radio dial at 88.1 FM or on the Internet, where we play our music live at kwvaradio.org. We are teaming up with the Emerald to bring you a weekly column on music. We’ll bring you different content each week, sometimes a top 10 playlist, a couple of our current favorite albums with reviews, a Q&A with a DJ, artist, or band, or you tell us.
This week, we’ll start off with our Top 10 back to school albums. It’s hard to believe summer has already come and gone, but we’re ready for classes, thanks to some amazing new releases in the independent music world.  Here they are, with some suggested tracks to help motivate you to start cracking the books again.
 
1. of Montreal — False Priest (Polyvinyl)
Somewhere between funk, glam rock and indie rock, of Montreal is back with a catchier, more accessible follow-up to 2008’s “Skeletal Lamping.”
Try: “Coquet Coquette”
2. Jenny and Johnny — I’m Having Fun Now (Warner Bros.)
Rilo Kiley’s lead singer Jenny Lewis teams up with Johnathan Rice to make an album that sounds like a richer, less whiny She & Him album. Great Americana.
Try: “Animal”
3. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin — Let It Sway (Polyvinyl)
Crisp, clean guitar riffs make this indie pop album sparkle. Produced by Death Cab For Cutie’s guitarist, Chris Walla, this is absolutely addictive indie rock.
Try: “Back in the Saddle”
4. Atmosphere — To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy (Rhymesayers)
Midwest hip-hop duo Slug and Ant of Atmosphere are well-known for their smart lyrics and catchy rhythms. What’s really great about this album, though, are the stories that emcee Slug tells in his rap.
Try: “The Best Day” or “The Number None”
5. Y La Bamba — Lupon (Tender Loving Empire)
Fans of My Brightest Diamond will love this Portland-based band and album produced by The Decemberists’ Chris Funk. Awesome indie pop with great, smooth female vocals.
Try: “November”
6. The Thermals — Personal Life (Kill Rock Stars)
This is another Portland-based band and another album produced by Chris Walla. The lyrics are more interesting and seemingly more romantic than the band’s older standby songs, and the bass lines can’t be beat.
Try: “You Changed My Life”
7. Chromeo — Business Casual (Atlantic)
Fans of older Chromeo will appreciate the newfound depth of this album. Wonderful, booming bass lines in this dancy, nu-disco album.
Try: “Don’t Turn the Lights On”
8. Eels — Tomorrow Morning (E Works)
Eels lead singer E (aka Mark Oliver Everett) is back with an album that seems much less experimental than recent Eels albums. Sparkling indie rock, rich with melody and charming lyrics.
Try: “Spectacular Girl”
9. Chief — Modern Rituals (Domino)
Gentle and beautiful at times, powerful and deep at others, Chief is marvelous indie rock personified. Fans of Band of Horses will feel comfortable with Chief’s smooth harmonies and swelling guitar riffs.
Try: “Night & Day”
10. Matt & Kim — Sidewalks (Fader)
The whole album isn’t out until early November, but if single “Cameras” is any clue to the rest of the album, Matt & Kim will be very much at home on a back to school playlist.
Enjoy the back to school playlist and don’t forget to tune your dial (or web browser) to KWVA for all the latest and greatest in music you can’t find anywhere else.