Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2021

Filled mostly with songs from the past year beyond a trip down memory lane to acoustic soul baring songs by Damien Rice, Ray LaMontagne and Devendra Banhart plus an old gem by Radiohead. Give a  listen to my Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2021 on Spotify here.  

For further inspiration, visit my posts from past years:  2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

1. "Never Tear Us Apart" – The National

2. "Guess Again" – Jeff Tweedy

3. "The Animals Were Gone" – Damien Rice

4. "Within You" – Ray LaMontagne

5. "Never Seen Such Good Things" – Devendra Banhart

6. "As the Sun Sets" – Sorry

7. "Crush" – Day Wave

8. "Pattern 17" – Jamison Isaak

9. "Love is All We Share" – Cut Copy

10. "Moonlight" – Future Islands

11. "One More Second" – Matt Berninger

12. "My Heart Bleeds" – Rhye

13. "Hurt" – Arlo Parks

14. "Fire for You" – Cannons

15. "Feel You" – My Morning Jacket

16. "Fake Plastic Trees" – Radiohead

17. "Apes & Children" – Lane 8

18. "Dawn Chorus" – Jon Hopkins

Late Summer 2020 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "You're Not Alone" – Semisonic

2. "Through the Trees" – Phantom Planet

3. "Carousels" – Doves

4. "For Sure" – Future Islands

5. "No Distraction" Khruangbin Remix – Beck, Khruangbin

6. "Idaho" – Slow Pulp

7. "Wildfires" – SAULT

8. "Feel You" – My Morning Jacket

9. "Distant Axis" – Matt Berninger

10. "Ordinary Guy (featuring the Mattson 2)" – Toro Y Moi, The Mattson 2

11. "To R." – Father John Misty

12. "Love is All We Share" – Cut Copy

13. "Surreal" – Dan Croll

14. "All Visable Objects" – Moby

15. Will You Return/When You Come Down" – The Flaming Lips

16. "America" – Sufjan Stevens

Fall 2017 New Music Playlist

While we are still waiting for the much-heralded Beck album due in a few weeks, I can’t complain. The past few months brought new music from some of my very fave bands sounding as strong as ever: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem and The National. So enjoy this playlist featuring songs from these and other recent releases as we transition to fall. Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist.

1. “Dear Life” – Beck

Another single appeared as Beck readies to release his 13^th studio album since 1985 next month. With a jaunty piano intro, “Dear Life” brings another genre stew with guitar swagger and lyrical darkness as he mixes up the sentiment, “Dear life, I’m holding on,” for the howling chorus.

2. “tonite” – LCD Soundsystem

James Murphy finally returns to the music that most inspires him after producing other bands and various creative projects: his own. (And it turns out David Bowie had a hand in this eventual return after seven years!) The fourth album since 2002, American Dream heralds the band’s first number one album but better yet, it comprises all the sonic trademarks expected from LCD, from low reverberating synths, pulsating percussion layers and Murphy’s speak-sing rattling off random thoughts, as found in the song “tonite.”

3. “Put Your Money on Me” – Arcade Fire

“Put Your Money on Me” is perhaps my favorite track on the fifth Arcade Fire album since 2001, Everything Now. The slow build with alternating male/female vocals recalls the romantic push and pull of “It’s Never Over (Oh Orpheus)” from the last album, which was presented live as Win Butler and Régine Chassagne sang longingly to each other across the crowd during the last tour in Montreal to great effect.

4. “You Push, I’ll Go (feat. Alex Sanchez)” – Baby Dayliner

A favorite play on KEXP’s “John in the Morning Show,” this cult hit by Baby Dayliner (the stage name of NYC native Ethan Marunas) has finally attained an official release on an EP of the same name, after two albums over a decade ago. The infectious tune “You Push, I’ll Go” follows city dwellers on a night out, vowing to keep the faith in modern life.

5. “Offering” – Cults

NYC indie pop duo Cults is getting ready to release its third album since 2010, with this title track “Offering” serving as a teaser single. The lush instrumentation by Brian Oblivion under sweet youthful vocals by Madeline Follin find their confident musical stride.

6. “Don’t Delete the Kisses” – Wolf Alice

A four piece alt rock band from North London, Wolf Alice pulls away from punk to offer a tender love song, “Don’t Delete the Kisses,” a single for the upcoming sophomore album since 2010, Visions of a Life. The band embraces standard pop sensibilities with a synth heavy take to conjure up images of modern romance, as sung in hushed whispers by Ellie Rowsell.

7. “Airbourne” – Cut Copy

When any band is formed by a DJ, it usually leans heavily into dance music, as with Australian band Cut Copy. “Airbourne,” this quirky party song bubbling with electronics, is off the fifth album since 2001, Haiku from Zero.

8. “Mourning Sound” – Grizzly Bear

Brooklyn-based quartet Grizzly Bear is back with its fifth album since 2002, Painted Ruins. Complex, lavish instrumentation forms the foundation for Ed Droste and Daniel Rossen to trade honeyed vocals once again.

9. “Valley Boy” – Wolf Parade

Canadian indie rock band Wolf Parade will release its fourth studio album since 2003 (after a hiatus from 2011 to 2016).  You'd never know the band was on hiatus for five years by this swaggering single and title track “Valley Boy” with Dan Boeckner’s gritty yet soulful vocals.

10. “We Stayed Up All Night (featuring Ardyn)” ­– Tourist

Tourist (AKA British electronic musician and Grammy-winning songwriter William Phillips) teams up with British twins Ardyn for this buoyant single “We Stayed Up All Night.”  The melodic polish fills this pop song with poise.

11. “Something to Remember Me By” – The Horrors

Veteran English rock band The Horrors has offered a teaser single “Something to Remember Me By,” for its fifth studio album since 2005, V.  The classic pop sensibility of lead vocalist Faris Badwan blithely carries the tune over wavering synths and pulsing drums. 

12. “Asido” – Purity Ring

Canadian electronic duo Purity Ring recently released this stand alone single, “Asido.” The song blankets Megan James’ childlike vocals over electronic production provided by Corin Roddick.

13. “Call It Dreaming” – Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine is the musical project of South Carolinian Samuel Ervin Beam. His sixth full-length album since 2002, The Beast Epic, continues the acoustic aesthetic with his signature sweet soft vocals, this time about themes of time and aging.

14. “Guilty Party” – The National

Indie rock quintet from Cincinnati, Ohio, The National just released Sleep Well Beast, its seventh album since 1999.  “Guilty Party” offers a tender side of the band, although complexity reigns underneath the introspective lyrics as conveyed by singer Matt Berninger.

15. “Party in the Dark”­ – Mogwai

Scottish post-rock band Mogwai released its ninth studio album since 1995, Every Country’s Sun.  “Party in the Dark” is a sweet tune that takes shoegaze into a resplendent chorus and back.

16. “Planet” – Four Tet

Four Tet is the stage name for Kiernan Hebden, an English musician who also considers himself in the post-rock genre. This stand alone single “Planet” flaunts his wide range of influences, with a world view of instrumentation and vocal pairings.

YouTube Playlist of Winter 2014 New Music Playlist Songs

In this YouTube playlist of my latest collection, there were few actual videos produced by the artists.  New music is now just being slapped up on the site as simple promotional previews, but I wish we'd be able to glimpse the band in action instead (whether hanging out or performing?)  In a basic fan to band marketing tool, it'd allow another connection to the people checking out the new tune and wouldn't even cost much by using found footage spliced together.  Ah well.

Link to listen and watch the montage here or click video below.

Winter 2014 New Music Playlist

The ground hog seems to have definitely gotten things right – winter continues with a vengeance for those who are accustomed to such weather or not (looking at you Southeast!)  Why not use the time indoors to check out new bands like Temples, Big Data and Jamestown Revival, along with new releases from Fanfarlo, Cut Copy, Gardens & Villa, Bombay Bicycle Club and more.  As always, the playlist ends in a chill out mode thanks to tracks from Caspian and Hammock.  

Link to listen here, enjoy!

1. "Free Your Mind" – Cut Copy

Australian synth pop quartet Cut Copy has released its fourth album since 2001, with songs promoting the concept of individual freedom. “Free Your Mind” is the title track and single for the collection, using swirling layers to connect the power of positivity embedded in this dance tune.

2. "Colony Glen" – Gardens & Villa

Santa Barbara indie rock quintet Gardens & Villa is back with a sophomore album, Dunes.  Working with DFA producer, Tim Goldsworthy, the song “Colony Glen” relies on a solid synth backbone for a more extroverted sound.

3. “Shelter Song” – Temples
English pysch rock band Temples was formed in 2012 by singer-guitarist James Edward Bagshaw and bassist Thomas Edison Warmsley.  The “Shelter Song” shows this new group’s taste for heavy reverb with a tuneful take on songwriting.

4. "Dangerous"  – Big Data
Big Data is an electronic pop duo (Daniel Armbruster and Alan Wilkis) that uses music as a message to rail against user privacy and other perils of the internet age.  “Dangerous” is a solid pop single from the debut EP, I.O. – EP.

5. “Landlocked” – Fanfarlo
London based indie pop quintet Fanfarlo released its third album since 2006, Let’s Go Extinct. With influences of folk, indie rock and post-punk, the song “Landlocked” highlights Swedish musician Simon Balthazar’s warm baritone over a busy mix of electronic and acoustic instruments.

6. "Tourniquet" – Jeremy Messersmith
Messersmith is a prolific singer/songwriter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With an unusual analogy for a love song, “Tourniquet” is a quirky but catchy tune off Murmurs, his fifth album since 
2006.

7. "Shake" – The Head and the Heart
Seattle indie folk rock band The Head and the Heart recently released its second album, Let’s Be Still. The single “Shake” is emblematic of the group’s aesthetic of sunny male/female harmonies over acoustic guitars.

8. "Red Eyes"  – The War On Drugs 
“Red Eyes” is the single off the third album since 2005, Lost In the Dream, by Philly indie rock quintet The War On Drugs. The band’s signature wall of sound via guitars brings an epic jam, for almost five minutes of group swagger.

9. "Forever" – Painted Palms

San Francisco based cousins Reese Donohue and Christopher Prudhomme recently released their debut full album as Painted Palms.  “Forever” is the title track, a multi-sectioned paean to 60s psych pop utilizing the tools of modern electronic production.

10. "Giants"  – Bear Hands

This Brooklyn indie electro quartet released “Giants” as a stand alone single. With the wavering synths, melodic guitar lines and punchy vocal delivery, the song is instantly memorable yet ready for many a replay.

11. "The Letterbomb"  – Milagres

Brooklyn’s indie rock band Milagres relies on the sweeping, artistic vision of singer and songwriter Kyle Wilson.  “The Letterbomb” combines explosive percussion and Wilson’s storytelling vocals as a teaser single for the upcoming sophomore album, Violent Light.

12. "Step Out" – José González

José González of the Swedish band Junip contributed three songs to the soundtrack of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  For “Step Out” he embraces a cinematic approach to his indie folk songwriting, expanding the music palette with orchestral instrumentation and multi-generational vocals.

13. "Luna" – Bombay Bicycle Club

“Luna” is the single from So Long, See You Tomorrow, the fourth album by England’s indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club since 2005.  The song features singer Rae Morris as a female counterpoint to Jack Steadman’s vocals, amid a swirling soundscape over tabla and mallets in a worldview of percussion.

14. "California (Cast Iron Soul)" – Jamestown Revival

New band Jamestown Revival joins childhood friends Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance flaunting their Texan roots in this song about moving to L.A. Their harmonies and acoustic instruments blend in an easy jam, clearly demonstrating that all ties to home clearly remain intact.

15. "Pulaski at Night" – Andrew Bird

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird recently released a seven song EP, I Want To See, based on this wistful tune referencing his home base of Chicago.  His distinctive, laid back vocals float easily over the eclectic musical arrangement.

16. "Hymn for the Greatest Generation" – Caspian

Caspian, an instrumental post-rock band since 2004 from Beverly, Massachusetts, had to regroup after the sudden, unexpected death of bass player Chris Friedrich last summer. The group went on with the tour in supporting a new EP, Hymn for the Greatest Generation. This title track opens the collection that now has even more depths of emotion.

17. "Then the Quiet Explosion" – Hammock

Hammock is an ambient post-rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed by two guitarists in 2005, Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson.  They craft larger-than-life songs with live instruments, electronic beats and haunting electric guitar lines, such in “Then the Quiet Explosion” from a sixth album, Oblivion Hymns.

Early Fall 2010 New Music Playlist

Wasn't sure whether to call this next playlist late summer or early fall 2010. I know it's not technically autumn but the acorns are dropping and the sun isn't shining as strong as it was a few weeks ago. No surprise to see songs here by Arcade Fire, Fitz & The Tantrums and Rufus Wainwright after my recent posts but hope you'll enjoy the selections, plus of course the craft of compilation! Link to listen here. 

1. Where I'm Going - Cut Copy

This single is actually found as a free mp3 song of the day from Spinner.com but I heard it through 107.1 The Peak's new music show NEXT. Sure I'm a sucker for a good sing-a-long and any kind of vocal shout outs as this electropop band from Australia happily provides. At first listen, this definitely rated as my "NEXT new favorite song" and gets the opening spot to kick off my latest playlist.

2. Fall Hard - Shout Out Louds

Another single off the CD Work from the Swedish band known for its catchy indie pop tunes over the past decade. The infectious chorus provides another sing-a-long opportunity (in perfect English no less!)

3. Fader - The Temper Trap

Here's another band from down under, though leaning more towards the alt rock label. This single off their CD Conditions released last year but still gaining airplay in the U.S. Just can't go wrong with some happy 'woos' in the chorus and a simple boom-chuck, boom-boom-chuck drum beat I think I could even play.

4. Evening/Morning - Bombay Bicycle Club

5. Open House (Bonus Track) - Bombay Bicycle Club

6. Lamplight - Bombay Bicycle Club

This UK band released a full length CD last month called, I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose. It included some new and not so new songs, so I found three faves for my playlist without restrictions or hesitation regarding that matter. Their sound is fresh and free from over thinking things, which I suppose is really easy to do when you're so young!

7. Slow Motion - Panda Bear

The musician behind Panda Bear is Noah Lennox of Baltimore, also a founding member of Animal Collective. In this single, his signature echoing vocals cascade over a musical landscape all his own.

8. Boy - Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot's next CD The Orchard comes out August 24th right after I'm posting this playlist but the Syracuse group released this gem of a song on an EP of the same name over the summer. "Boy" embodies the band's sound, chock full of energy and enthusiasm.

9. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

10. Modern Man - Arcade Fire

11. Rococo - Arcade Fire

12. Empty Room - Arcade Fire

Yes, four songs is a lot from one band for a playlist. (Hasn't happened since last winter when I had four tracks off of Spoon's Transference and I had the web police after me for posting them on the Grooveshark widget!) But it really wasn't easy even choosing only these tunes off the epic album that is sure to be on many lists for 'best of 2010' picks. The sound is a bit more polished, less free form than before yet no less rambunctious or offering soul searing melodies when need be. Arcade Fire is based in Montreal but this collection of songs takes us back to the Butler brothers childhood outside of Houston, Texas with vivid memories of suburban life.

13. Pickin' Up The Pieces - Fitz and The Tantrums

14. L.O.V. - Fitz and The Tantrums

Here's another official full length CD, Pickin' Up The Pieces, from this L.A. band making news for their hip retro sound. It's blue eyed soul meets a pumped up edgy indie vibe and you can preview the album on kcrw until September 14th. Their live show kicks up the energy even further and I totally recommend catching a gig in your area if possible as they hit the road in support of the album (tour dates here!)

15. Zebulon - Rufus Wainwright

This is the coda for the newest CD by Wainwright, All Days Are Nights: Songs for LuLu. It's a emotional ride as he delves into the sadness of his past year with the passing of his mother, folk singer Kate McGarrigle. Last month I witnessed his emotional tenor vocals and accomplished piano playing in concert as written up on a recent blog post -- Rufus Wainwright is a true artist for our trying times.