Late Fall 2018 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist (except Jmmy & Ocean Cat). Enjoy!

1. "Freelance" – Toro y Moi
2. "This Time Of Year" –  Ra Ra Riot
3. "Sixteen Days" –  Pond
4. "Death In Midsummer" –  Deerhunter
5. "Gallipoli" –  Beirut
6. "Dreamt I Was Gonna Be Your Man" –  Oberhofer
7. "Lover Chanting" –  Little Dragon
8. "Not the Same" –  Jmmy & Ocean Cat, Nile Rabb
9. "Alien" –  Beach House
10. "Sinking Ship" –  CAKE
11. "Swimming at Night" –  Django Django
12. "Merrie Land" –  The Good, the Bad & the Queen
13. "Panic Blooms" – Black Moth Super Rainbow
14. "Problems III" – The Growlers
15. "Adored" – Hatchie
16. "Hanoi 4" – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
17. "Open Again"  Thom Yorke
18. "Universalis" –  Hammock

Top 20+ Songs of 2016 With Spotify and YouTube Playlist

It's always a nice exercise to review all the gifts of music encountered over the course of twelve months. This year was especially easy to go over the twenty song allotment for this end of year recap of top tunes. It's such a diverse group of artists but the list contains some of my very favorite voices on the music scene: Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Beck, Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, Hamilton Leithauser, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Fran Healy of Travis, Will Sheff of Okkervil River, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, The Avett Brothers and Santigold. Plus I was so thankful for plenty of soaring melodies to carry me away from the neverending stress of daily news during this election year, for example The Boxer Rebellion, Wye Oak and Ra Ra Riot + Rostam.

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist below.

1. "Can't Get Enough of Myself" – Santigold
2. "Burn the Witch" – Radiohead
3. "The Industry" – Okkervil River
4. "If You Should See" – Wye Oak
5. "Wow" – Beck
6. "2AM" – Bear Hands
7. "They Want More" – Ages and Ages
8. "Casual Party" – Band of Horses 
9. "Selectallcopy" – Autolux
10. "Magnificent Time" – Travis
11. "In These Fine Times" (featuring De Lux) – Classixx
12. "Hey Lion" – Sofi Tukker
13. "Trouble" – Cage the Elephant
14. "Never Ever" – STRFKR
15. "Summer Was a Day"  – Pete Yorn
16. "Water" – Ra Ra Riot & Rostam
17. "Beneath the Black Sea" – LNZNDRF
18. "Big Ideas" – The Boxer Rebellion
19. "If I Ever Was a Child" – Wilco
20. "The Castle" – The Flaming Lips
21. "No Hard Feelings" – The Avett Brothers
22. "In a Black Out" – Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
23. "In My Car" – Gold Panda

Winter 2016 New Music Playlist

With the East Coast bracing for a major snowstorm, it’s handy to have my next playlist ready for consumption. New releases by Cage the Elephant, GIVERS, and The Decemberists are ready to heat things up while a stand-alone single by The Dandy Warhols, “You Are Killing Me,” fits the mood as things grind to a halt. There are also teaser songs from albums dropping soon: Chairlift, School of Seven Bells, Ra Ra Riot, Animal Collective, Pete Yorn and more. Plus check out new bands Knox Hamilton and Sheer along with a pick off the official debut from Car Seat Headrest. Listen via Spotify at this link or as a YouTube playlist. 

**ANOTHER CHANCE FOR EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN NAME EVERY BAND WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE LINEUP (ANSWER AT THE END OF THIS POST!) 

1. “Badvertise” – Dr. Dog

Philly area band Dr. Dog recently collaborated with Pig Iron Theatre for a performance, Swamp Is On, which included this energetic frenzy of a song. The band is also revisiting songs from their debut back in 2001, a cassette release known as Psychedelic Swamp transformed into an official studio album.

2. “Heart Is Full” – Miike Snow

Swedish/American indie synthpop band Miike Snow dropped this single from an upcoming third album, III. The group was formed in 2009 by producing team Bloodshy & Avant with singer Andrew Wyatt, carving out pop hooks and expertly crafted tunes.

3. “Bent (Roi’s Song)” – DIIV

Zachary Cole Smith’s band is ready with a sophomore album, Is the Is Are, since 2012’s debut, Oshlin. The Brooklyn shoegazers released the single “Bent (Roi’s Song)” in a hazy dreamscape that is their signature sound.

4. “Water” – Ra Ra Riot & Rostam

Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band formed in 2006 at Syracuse University, now based in Brooklyn. The group collaborated with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij for the songwriting and production of this single from the upcoming fourth album, Need Your Light.

5. “Romeo” – Chairlift

Synthpop duo Chairlift is releasing a third album since 2005, entitled Moth. With a pulsing beat, “Romeo” is off to the races with layers of Caroline Polachek’s enchanting vocals.

6. “Hightimes” – The Big Pink

The Big Pink is an electronic rock band from London, a quartet of multi-instrumentalists that has been creating music since 2009. “Hightimes” is the anthemic opening track from the upcoming EP Empire Underground.

7. “You Are Killing Me” – The Dandy Warhols

Portland rockers The Dandy Warhols released this single featuring the band’s signature chug of electric guitar.  With singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor’s deadpan delivery, irony ensues once again.

8. “Record High, Record Low” – GIVERS

Tiffany Lamson’s golden vocals return for this swinging tune off GIVERS’ sophomore album, New Kingdom. The band was formed in Lafayette, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina displaced Lamson and guitarist Taylor Guarisco from their apartment in New Orleans; they continue their musical path together.

9. “Why Would I Now?” – The Decemberists

This fall The Decemberists released an EP Florasongs, after seven albums since 2000. The earnest vocal stylings of Colin Meloy convey the obvious retorts in answer to the question, “Why Would I Now?”

10. “Summer Was a Day” – Pete Yorn

Singer-songwriter, guitarist and drummer Pete Yorn will release his seventh studio album since 2000 in March, entitled Arranging Time. He is returning to solo work after performing as The Olms with J.D. King, and this single finds his artistic introspection intact as the poetic visions pour forth.

11. “Confusion” – School of Seven Bells

NYC’s synthpop band School of Seven Bells was creating music during a dark time—founding member Benjamin Curtis was being treating for lymphoma; he died in 2013 despite a positive prognosis. The resulting material is part of a fourth and final album, SVIIB (as the name of the band is often abbreviated). The heartbreakingly sweet single “Confusion” is a tribute to the strength of all involved.

12. “Work It Out” – Knox Hamilton

Knox Hamilton is a quintet from Little Rock, Arkansas, influenced by 70s rock as evident in the debut EP How’s Your Mind. The melodic vocals carry the listener along for a fun ride throughout this optimistic tune of reconciliation.

13. “Trouble” – Cage the Elephant

Cage the Elephant recently relocated from Kentucky to Nashville where its fourth album, Tell Me I’m Pretty, was produced by Dan Auerbach (Black Keys, The Arcs). Matt Schultz’s gritty vocals provide the perfect conduit for their blend of pop and punk rock.

14. “FloriDada” – Animal Collective

Animal Collective is an experimental pop quartet originally formed in Baltimore in 1999. This wacky opening track for its tenth album, Painting With, is actually inspired by the detractors of state of Florida, which the band says gives the area a certain charm.

15. “Something Soon” – Car Seat Headrest

Car Seat Headrest is an indie rock quartet based in Seattle, an outgrowth of Will Toledo’s musical project in his native state of Virginia. He has produced fourteen albums since 2010, but debut album Teens of Style contains older songs like “Something Soon” reworked by a full band as well as new material.

16. “Girl from Conejo Valley” – M. Ward

Portland’s singer-songwriter and guitarist M. Ward is also a member of She & Him plus Monsters of Folk. His ninth solo album since 1999, More Rain, finds tuneful ballads such as the single “Girl from Conejo Valley.”

17. “Believe Your Mine” – Nada Surf

NYC alt quartet Nada Surf also has a ninth album coming out soon, titled You Know Who You Are.  The warm vocals of Matthew Caws have carried this band along into a blissfully mellow territory since 1992.

18. “Monochrome” – Sheer
Sheer is a L.A. four-piece with a fondness for 90s buzzy production since forming in 2010. “Monochrome” is the opening track for the band’s debut album, Uneasy, and as the first song the band ever wrote together, it immediately finds the sweet spot of collaboration.

DID YOU GUESS THREE BANDS?

1. CAGE THE ELEPHANT – BROTHERS Matt & Brad Schultz

2. KNOX HAMILTON – BROTHERS Boots & Cobo Copeland

3. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS – TWIN SISTERS Alejandra & Claudia Deheza

Here's to 2016 -- New Releases & LCD Soundsystem News (Plus LCD Soundsystem Faves Playlist)

The best Christmas present I received this year came in the form of a song, "Christmas Will Break Your Heart," a self-described depressing little ditty from James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (one of my favorite bands ever). Supposedly he'd been singing it to himself for the past eight years, but it landed this year as I struggled through the holidays without my parents who have left the earth within a year of each other. In the vein of "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" which gave rise to the social media term NYILYBYBMD, Murphy's ballad with its emotional build perfectly captured my mood this season.

So here we are in the new year with announcements that not only is LCD headlining Coachella 2016, but heading out on tour in support of a new album after calling it quits four years ago. I was lucky enough to attend the first night of the final week of shows in March of 2011. Our video of the opening song "Dance Yrself Clean" at Terminal 5 still gives me chills to revisit and witness how quickly things kicked into high gear. (That video remains the most popular upload on the NMMatterscorp channel with over 12,500 views - another interesting video is the Red Bull Academy interview with James Murphy explaining why he was disbanding the group!) I'll also include our video for "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House," the first tune I heard by the band and making me a fan forever -- it certainly did not disappoint, amped up in the lineup with the requisite crowd surfing. I'm thrilled by the prospect of the new album, but I'm not sure I want to mess with the perfection of this concert experience. However others that didn't get to see LCD live will now get the chance, as it seems they have become more widely known by their absence. Or perhaps its the music fans' hearts growing fonder, my love for the band has only grown that's for sure. Head over to Spotify and take a listen to my LCD Soundsystem Faves playlist, and there's also plenty of new music I'm looking forward to in the months ahead. See my list at the end of this post.

UPCOMING NEW MUSIC RELEASES IN 2016:
January 22 - Chairlift, Moth (Columbia)January 22 - Eleanor Friedberger, New View (Frenchkiss)

February 5 - DIIV, Is the Is Are, (Captured Tracks)

February 12 - School of Seven Bells, SVIIB (Vagrant)

February 12 - James Supercave, Better Strange (Fairfax Recordings)

February 19 - Animal Collective, Painting With (Domino)

February 19 - Ra Ra Riot, Need Your Light (Barsuk) 

February 19 - Choir of Young Believers, Grasque (Ghostly International)

February 19 - Wild Nothing, Life of Pause (Captured Tracks/Bella Union)

March 4 - Nada Surf, You Know Who You Are (Barsuk)

March 4 - Miike Snow, III (Jackalope/Atlantic)

March 4 - M. Ward, More Rain (Merge)

TBA - M83, Gorillaz, Thee Oh Sees & Beck, LCD Soundsystem!!!

New Song by Ra Ra Riot, "Water" (New Album Out February 19)

Ra Ra Riot (Photo credit: Shervin Lainez)

There is something so immediate about Wes Miles' voice, pure and sweetly sincere. I could identify it instantly this week as a new song "Water" was released ahead of his band Ra Ra Riot's fourth full length, Need Your Light (due February 19 from Barsuk Records.) This track is a collaboration with Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, a musical compatriot in the band Discovery from 2005 to 2009 (with one self-titleld EP). The story goes that Miles was staying with Rostam last January and they simply started writing again. Rostam has stated that he felt that the live quality of Miles' singing hadn't quite been captured on record, so he took on producer duties as well. 

Take a listen to "Water" via the lyric video, and see how nicely the vocals are isolated in order to spotlight Miles' endearing qualities in song, all while rhythmic beats and swirling synths surround him.  Rostam also serves as producer of record for another tune in the new collection, "I Need Your Light." After the last album, 2013's Beta Love, Miles had planned to take more of a break but after a few months he says "the inspiration came very quickly." I'm still aglow from catching the band on tour in support of Beta Love after interviewing Miles for PopMatters, witnessing the group's infectious energy and impressive musicianship from the front row. Thrilled to know there's more to come from one of my favorite bands of all time, and looking forward to hearing the whole thing in February!

New Bands to Update Any Musical Collection for 2014

Popmatters has posted "The Best Hopes to Break Out in 2014," including my write up for pick The Wild Feathers. I also wrote a bog post about this band after catching them in Austin at the ACL Music Festival, embracing a classic country rock that appeared on the 70s music scene. Since I suggested that the New Year is also a great time for people to update and organize their own music collection, I thought I'd offer suggestions some new bands to satisfy fans across the genres.  I may still favor the indie pop sound, but as my playlists will attest,  I also enjoy more mellow musical moments along with the kick-ass dance tunes.  

So check out the suggestions below and dig into some tunes, while supporting current bands that welcome new fans.  The groupings are for reference only -- not to make any kind of statement but more as a guide for those willing to experiment. Some bands here have been around awhile, but that doesn't mean their new music isn't fresh for a listen.

Country folk rock leanings: The Wild Feathers, Jamestown Revival, The Head & The Heart, White Denim, Okkervil River, Band of Horses

Solid rockers: Divine Fits, Dr. Dog, The Dandy Warhols, The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys

Harder edged rockers: Augustines, Superhumanoids, Jack White, TV on the Radio

Contemplative indie rockers: The National, Junip, Yo La Tengo, Grizzly Bear, The Shins, Travis

Epic soulful rock: Portugal. The Man, Phosphorescent, Spiritualized, Frightened Rabbit

Electronic indie pop: Painted Palms, Ra Ra Riot, Phoenix, Jagwar Ma, Youth Lagoon, Washed Out, Broken Bells, The Go! Team

Mellow tunes: Low, Devendra Banhardt, Earlimart, Mazzy Star, Nada Surf, Jim James, The Olms

Psych rock leanings: MGMT, Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Deerhunter, Animal Collective, Wampire, STRFKR

Punk rock leanings: Parquet Courts, Franz Ferdinand, Superchunk, Palma Violets, Matt and Kim

Motown sound leanings: Vintage Trouble, Mayor Hawthorne, Har Mar Superstar, Fitz & The Tantrums, Nick Waterhouse

Gal groups indie pop/rock: Haim, Lucius, Frankie Rose, Santigold, Dum Dum Girls, Warpaint

Guy groups indie pop/rock: Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals, Vampire Weekend, Django Django, Telekinesis, Cayucas, Generationals, Caveman, Dan Croll, Smith Westerns, Cage the Elephant

Gal/guy groups indie pop/rock: Tennis, Cults, Phantogram, MS MR, The Naked and Famous

Electronic zone out: Boards of Canada, Caspian, Hammock, Beach House, M83, Moderat, Moby (instrumentals)

Dance tunes galore: YACHT, Hot Chip, Passion Pit, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Cut Copy, Daft Punk, Empire of the Sun, Holy Ghost!, Arcade Fire (new)

Experimental Electronica: The Octopus Project, Jon Hopkins, Beck, Bibio, Toro Y Moi, Atoms for Peace, Panda Bear, Four Tet, Major Lazor, Pretty Lights, Trentemoller, Porcelain Raft, Black Moth Super Rainbow

Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2013

OK, round two for a Romantic Tunes Playlist in honor of Valentine's Day 2013. (If so inclined, revisit the original list for Valentine's Day 2012 here.)  Going back into my iTunes collection it was easy to come up with another dedicated listening session to fill the day with romance -- plus I had added a few over the year (The Walkmen for example) to keep things current.  Again, this is a purely personal list from my own musical history.

Beginning with the adorable sentiment of Hot Chip's "One Life Stand" to the soaring melody of Elbow's "One Day Like This," I have ordered things carefully for smooth segues and left the ending mellowed out as always.  Certain songs take right me back to the time and place of the year they came out, others have stuck with me through the decades and still sound new with each visit.  Some even break my heart with the music, words or both.  But whether uplifting or sinking of sentiment, these songs just show how the heart is made to be used for more than pumping blood.  Use this link to listen, indulge and enjoy!

1. "One Life Stand" -- Hot Chip
2. "NYC" -- Interpol
3. "Swinging Party" -- The Replacements (live version 1991)
4. "Heaven" -- The Psychedelic Furs
5. "Wordless Chorus" -- My Morning Jacket
6. "Love Is Luck" -- The Walkmen
7. "Yet Again" -- Grizzly Bear
8. "Out Go the Lights" -- Spoon
9. "You're the Best Thing" -- The Style Council
10. "Heroes" -- David Bowie
11. "No Distance Left to Run" -- Blur
12. "Eyes Be Closed" -- Washed Out
13. "Live Alone" -- LCD Soundsystem (Franz Ferdinand cover)
14. "Lights Out, Words Gone" -- Bombay Bicycle Club
15. "Can You Tell" -- Ra Ra Riot
16. "Decide" -- Caveman
17. "Love You Madly" -- CAKE
18. "Nothing But Our Love" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
19. "One Day Like This" -- Elbow
20. "Outro" -- M83

Ra Ra Riot Interview & Concert Review @ Webster Hall January 25

Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot

I happened upon a live session with Ra Ra Riot on WRNR Annapolis yesterday, as I was in the car driving the flat-as-pancake terrain on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  Happy to learn that this classic rock station now has a morning new music radio show called "The New Black," which can also be streamed online.  Anyway, I had just seen this fave band tearing it up in NYC at Webster Hall last Friday night (official PopMatters interview with frontman Wes Miles and concert review posted today with more photos/videos here), so it was fun to visit with them again.  The early morning vibe on WRNR was decidedly different, a scaled back version of the group without a drum kit but still worthy of their time and for any old or brand new fans that may be listening.

A quick interview on air reflected the early hour as well and you can check out a video of a new song, "I Shut Off," from the session here.  With the Super Bowl this weekend the host of the show with his over-the-top radio guy voice asked if they'd be rooting for the Baltimore Ravens.  Maybe they didn't realize how close they were to the town (granted they were just as close to Washington Redskin territory), but no one gave any props to the local team.  

Miles did say how he had both quarterbacks on his fantasy team, so he'll be happy with any outcome!

YouTube Video Playlist of Winter 2013 New Music Songs

For those of you who prefer some visuals with your new music, I've put together another YouTube Video Playlist for my latest collection of songs for Winter 2013.  Some videos have already appeared in previous blog posts about the songs (The Octopus Project and YACHT for example).  Others are live appearances I found online, some of which intrigued me simply by their locales (Unknown Mortal Orchestra at a familiar Mercury Lounge while I found Ra Ra Riot thrilled to be returning to their alma mater, Syracuse University).  A more professional video captured Wild Nothings as hosted by KEXP at last fall's CMJ Music Marathon, along with other official videos created by bands.  Lastly, how interesting to see an official lyric video for the Major Lazer song -- so that's what Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors is singing! Link directly to YouTube here.

Winter 2013 New Music Playlist

The year has started with enough music for another new music playlist and then some! Many selections are singles from upcoming releases that aren't even out yet but the songs sound strong enough to want to share immediately, from Jim James, Foxygen, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, to STRFKR, Major Lazer and Atoms for Peace.  Other tunes are stand alone singles that need no padding to release on their own. It all bodes well for 2013, so dig in. Link to listen here.

1. "Whitby" -- The Octopus Project
Austin-based indie electropop group The Octopus Project has released an infectious single "Whitby," as part of a digital Whitby EP.  The song features the vocals of Yvonne Lambert, veering away from the instrumental but always melodic ways of the band.

2. "Second Summer" -- YACHT
This song from indie electropop band YACHT is a single in honor of the Portland/Texas/L.A. group's tenth anniversary by its core, Jona Bechtoit and Claire L. Evans. "Second Summer" is a supposed state of mind, flaunting their goal "to create environments of total freedom," along with an instant dance party everywhere they go.

3. "Breakers" -- Local Natives
Local Natives is an indie rock quartet from Los Angeles, expanding their sound to include atmospheric instrumental breaks as evidenced in the "Breakers" introduction.  The song is a single from their upcoming sophomore album, Hummingbird.

4. "Like a Sundae" -- Black Moth Super Rainbow
Black Moth Super Rainbow is a collective of musicians from Pennsylvania that embrace analog electronic instruments to create their take on psychedelic electronica.  "Like a Sundae" sits solidly in the middle of the track list for their fifth album, Cobra Juicy.

5. "Off" -- Frightened Rabbit
Scottish indie rock band Frightened Rabbit is about to release their fourth album, but this song is from last fall's EP State Hospital.  The airy introduction creates a melancholy mood, before the down home jam by the quartet kicks in with Scott Hutchinson's gritty vocals.

6. "Nothing Arrived" -- Villagers
Villagers is an Irish indie rock quintet with soaring melodies, piano and acoustic guitar strumming supplying the heartfelt core of their music.  "Nothing Arrived" is off of their second album, {Awayland}.

7. "Only Heather" -- Wild Nothing 
Jack Tatum's music project Wild Nothing released a sophomore album, Nocturne, in 2012.  His songs combine dream pop with indie rock, with a backing band for the live group sound.

8. "While I'm Alive" -- STRFKR
STRFKR is a new abbreviation for Portland's electronica band a.k.a. Starfucker.  The quartet overlays pop melodies and dance grooves that defy identification.  "While I'm Alive" is the opening track to the group's third album, Miracle Mile.

9. "Flood's New Light" -- Thee Oh Sees
Guitarist John Dwyer's prolific career includes this energetic quintet based in San Francisco. A new irresistibly catchy tune, "Flood's New Light," is off their sixth album in the current configuration, called Putrifiers II.

10. "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" -- Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Portland's Unknown Mortal Orchestra is riding their buzz band wave with a world tour and new sophomore album II.  "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" is the single for the new collection, showcasing the trio's fuzzed out guitar and buried vocals that still manage to stay above water.

11. "Default" -- Atoms for Peace
Atoms for Peace is a super group side project of Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers).  The quintet displays the complexities of sound similar to Radiohead in "Default," the single off the upcoming album called Amok.

12. "Shuggie" -- Foxygen
Jonathan Rado and Sam France are the songwriters for this new band, embracing a retro psychedelia which still sounds funky and fresh without being sardonic.  "Shuggie" is the single from their debut album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic.

13. "Beta Love" -- Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot is now a quartet, streamlined for the new electropop focus in their third album (also called Beta Love).  Wes Miles' falsetto calls everyone to the dance floor to the punctuation of synths, and fans should be eager to loosen up.

14. "Know You" -- Wild Belle
This sibling duo from Chicago brings on the reggae, via heavy reverb and indie sensibilities.  Natalie Bergman's enchanting vocals streamline the transition throughout their debut three song single.

15. "Know Til Now" -- Jim James
Jim James, the frontman of Louisville's psych rock band My Morning Jacket, releases his first solo album (under his own name) with the upcoming debut, Regions of Light and Sound.  "Know Til Now" mixes soulful vocals and bass heavy R&B without any restrictions of a group think.

16. "Get Free" -- Major Lazer
DJ/producer Diplo returns to his musical project Major Lazer with a second studio album due in February, Free the Universe.  Amber Coffman of The Dirty Projectors lends her idiosyncratic style, singing over the exotic synth layers and reggae beat.

Here's to 2013 - Music Events With Mini Playlist

Good riddance 2012, happy to see you go.  Although it was a great year for new music, the country was awash with bad news about violent shootings, destructive storms and political posturing (which continued right up to the last minute and beyond!)  As I let the holiday decor linger into the next weekend, I thought I'd put forth some new year wishes and reasons to look forward to 2013.

My musical wishes would revolve like a disco ball around more indie pop danceable tunes, with lots of hand claps and sing along choruses or endings.  Ra Ra Riot is leading the way with their new release Beta Love (out January 22 and the band will be at Webster Hall Janury 25). The group is now a tight quartet with electropop leanings and it should be more than interesting to see them play these new tunes live, after seeing the band in their original format two years ago.  Check out the title track single in this mini playlist below, created just for fun.  Unknown Mortal Orchestra also released two new songs (listen to "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" with their distinctive fuzzy groove).  This band was one of my Top Concert Experiences of 2012 and I'm eager to see the trio when they take the stage at a larger venue, the lovely Bowery Ballroom February 28.  Another concert I'm looking forward to seeing is Django Django, one of my choices for PopMatter's "Best New Artist's of 2012", at the Music Hall of Williamsburg March 6 and 7.  The band's intriguing instrumental that leads off their self-titled debut album is included here with the songs plucked for my Fall 2012 New Music Playlist , "Default" and "Hail Bop."

I'm even game to think spring, by saving the date April 10 to see Cavemen at Webster Hall. (They are also playing Brooklyn Bowl January 27, with a full list of tour dates listed here.)  In the NMMatterscorp video at the end of this post, the band impressed the audience at last year's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry with their expansive sound and confident stage presence.  And speaking of that indie fest, it will return to the Brooklyn Academy of Music April 25 through 27... so mark those calendars!

Ra Ra Riot Releases New Song "Beta Love"

Photo via Barsuk Records (Shervin Lainez)

In another BAM-related post, indie darlings Ra Ra Riot have released the title track off their upcoming album, Beta Love, due January 22. I caught this band back in February 2010 there as part of the Sounds Like Brooklyn festival, one of BAM's first forays into new music performances. (Allowing a young, hipster audience into the grand Howard Gilman Opera House was a novel idea back then!)  The group that filled the stage that night has been reduced to a quartet, which is not a bad idea given the flooded airways of large group jams by The Lumineers or Monsters and Men.  

"Beta Love" welcomes fans back into the fold with an introduction featuring Wes Miles' warm tenor.  Yet now it's over synths before a dance beat kicks begins and he floors it in falsetto, more like Michael Angelakos of tour mates Passion Pit.  It's a new direction to be sure, but it makes me just want to hear more. The band begins a national tour tonight, returning to their roots in Syracuse, NY where they met during their college days at Syracuse University (see other tour dates below). 




Beta Love Tracklist:

01. Dance with Me
02. Binary Mind
03. Beta Love
04. Is It Too Much
05. For Once
06. Angel, Please
07. What I Do For U
08. When I Dream
09. That Much
10. Wilderness
11. I Shut Off

Ra Ra Riot 2012-2013 Tour Dates:
11/14 – Syracuse, NY @ Setnor Auditorium (Syracuse University)
11/28 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s *
11/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Liacouras Center ^
12/08 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon #
12/09 – Hartford, CT @ Arch Street Tavern #
12/11 – Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall #
12/12 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place #
12/13 – Ithaca, NY @ Haunt #
01/23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
01/25 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
01/26 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
02/02 – Tokyo, JP @ Hostess Club Weekender &
02/03 – Tokyo, JP @ Hostess Club Weekender &
02/07 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue
02/08 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theater
02/09 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
02/11 – San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
02/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
02/15 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
02/16 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
02/17 – El Paso AZ @ Lowbrow Palace
02/19 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater
02/20 – Austin, TX @ The Belmont
02/21 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
02/23 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s
02/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
02/25 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
02/26 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
02/28 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
03/01 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
03/02 – Madison, WI @ Der Rathskeller
03/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
03/05 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
03/06 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
03/07 – Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
03/08 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
03/09 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street

* = w/ Passion Pit and Joy Formidable
^ = w/ Passion Pit
# = w/ Guards
& = w/ Vampire Weekend and Ultraista

Ra Ra Riot on Jimmy Kimmel Live, January 20

Ra Ra Riot (RRR) was formed during their college years at Syracuse University much like Vampire Weekend (VW) did at Columbia University. Fun fact is how RRR's lead singer Wes Miles is a childhood friend of VW's Rostam Batmanglij, but I digress. Now into their fifth year and a second album The Orchard, released last year, RRR is a band crazy with energy live -- thus their name. I was able to see it first hand though from the third tier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last February and highly recommend catching a live gig if given the opportunity. I chose the song "Boy" for a recent playlist and here it's performed confidently on stage at the Jimmy Kimmel Live show January 20th, offering a glimpse on a headlining gig. For the song "Too Dramatic" the band gathers closely across the front of the stage for the chorus harmonies, following Miles's sweet lead vocals (just not sure about the new Harry Potter glasses for him however!)

"Boy"

"Too Dramatic"