Fall 2018 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist, enjoy!

1. "The Hammer" – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
2. "Forum"  – The Dodos
3. "When I Look Into Your Eyes" – Baby Dayliner
4. "Wham Bang! Pow! Let's Rock out!" – Art Brut
5. "Forgive (featuring Washed Out)" – Roosevelt
6. "It May Get Bad When You're Lonely and Cold" – Generationals
7. "Good News" – White Denim
8. "Jerry" – Maxband
9. "If You Really Love Nothing" – Interpol
10. "Enough to Believe" – Bob Moses
11. "I Dreamt We Spoke Again" – Death Cab for Cutie
12. "Run the Road" – Santigold
13. "Skiptracer" – Okkervil River
14. "Suspirium" – Thom Yorke
15. "Maryam" – The Album Leaf

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

Top Ten Releases of 2016 With Video Highlights

2016 ranked as another great year to be a music fan – some of my very fave bands came out with new releases (and I'm still eagerly awaiting ones from Beck and the Gorillaz!) Indie rock veterans Radiohead and Wilco continued their dominance with stellar albums worthy of multiple listening sessions. Band of Horses, Okkervil River and Pete Yorn brought a laid back twang to my year's soundtrack while Santigold and Tycho provided tracks ready for a dance party when needed. Then there's the intimacy of Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam to round out my list, along with the crowd pleasing anthems of Travis.

Give a listen on Spotify to all my Top Ten Albums of 2016 as well as Other Fave Albums of 2016, and check out my picks below with live video highlights.


1. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool
Legendary English band Radiohead released its ninth studio album since 1985, A Moon Shaped Pool. The single "Burn the Witch" dropped with great fanfare as a stop-motion animated video, but it was captured live at Chicago's Lollapalooza festival over the summer. (I actually watched the online feed as it happened and highly recommend revisiting the entire set on YouTube.) It's clear that this band is still at the top of its game and we fans are lucky indeed.

2. Okkervil River, Away
When I heard "The Industry" on local radio WFUV, I was thrilled since I knew immediately it was Will Sheff's creation. Beyond his warm vocals, there was a song structure that belied the intensity of the emotional connection of lyrics and melody. This tune served as the single for Okkervil River's eighth studio album since 1998, Away, which heralds a new creative phase for the frontman with different backing members and life without his beloved grandfather. (When I caught his band at Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2013, he performed next to a framed photo of him in tribute.)

3. Band of Horses, Why Are You OK
Southern indie rockers Band of Horses released its fifth studio album since 2004, Why Are You OK, with a confident collection of songs by this tight knit quintet. Produced by Jason Lytle of Grandaddy and written by singer Ben Bridell, the songs touch on navigating life as a father to three daughters while creating music with a groupthink of incredibly talented guys who happen to really like each other, as evidenced in this video capturing the performance of the single "Casual Party."

4. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine
The collaboration between The Walkmen's frontman and soulful singer Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend's multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine, was one of the best surprises of the year. This solid debut offered songs of both transcendence and foot stomping exuberance – I was able to catch a performance of the band at the Rough Trade space in Brooklyn, the perfect size to get up close and personal with the material. This bewitching tune "In a Black Out" was even tapped for a major Apple iPhone commercial, exponentially expanding the band's reach.

5. Wye Oak, Tween
Baltimore's Wye Oak created its fifth album since 2002 from remnants of songs from the past two albums, yet Tween exists just fine on its own with lush production and layered nuances that has you wondering how exactly the music is pulled off by only two band members. Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars and bass) and Andy Stack (drums, keyboards and backup vocals) combine their talents to create original compositions that expand such sonic constraints, as witnessed in this fan footage of "If You Should See" at a recent concert.

6. Santigold, 99 Cents
Philly native Santigold (née Santi White) is the total indie pop star package, a singer and producer who also creates her costumes, dance moves and positive vibes together with social commentary in her music since 2008. Poking fun at the selfie culture, "I Can't Get Enough of Myself" from the latest album 99 Cents, is an infectious romp of fun as exhibited during this performance on the daytime television show Ellen.

7. Tycho, Epoch
Tycho is the ambient music project of San Francisco's Scott Hansen, who uses vintage-style synths and a live backing band as caught on camera at a recent KCRW session playing "Horizon." The song served as the single for the fourth album since 2002, Epoch, full of electronic experimentation without losing the musical vision of the creator.

8. Pete Yorn, Arranging Time
Pete Yorn returned to his solo career after a stint as The Olms with J.D. King, releasing a sixth album since 2000 called Arranging Time. The single "Summer Was a Day" showcased Yorn's breathy vocals and lean production, finding the perfect balance in live performance as well as the studio.

9. Wilco, Schmilco
With a wink and a nod towards Harry Nilsson's album Nilsson Schmilsson, Chicago's alternative rock band Wilco rolled out its tenth album since 1994, Schmilco.  The sweet single, "If I Ever Was a Child," is never cloying or mendacious under this band's credo and Jeff Tweedy's subtle vocal approach.

10. Travis, Everything at Once
Scottish indie rockers Travis released its eighth studio album since 1990, Everything at Once, another collection penned mostly by the frontman, singer/songwriter Fran Healy. The band's cheery optimism is on full display in this official video of "Magnificent Time" with Healy's golden vocals cheerleading the group. But I love the fan footage below it even more, showing Healy teaching the crowd in his thick brogue how to dance along, documenting the exuberance of the band and the sheer joy of being at of their shows (which I witnessed firsthand during their last tour in NYC). Gotta give it up to the audience member hanging on to that empty drink cup!

Spring 2016 New Music Playlist

Since I recently learned that March 1st is the meteorological start of spring, I won’t hesitate to share this playlist as the official one for the next season. Besides, there are plenty of new albums to check out – from faves like Santigold, Peter Yorn, Wild Nothing and Bibio to new bands such as James Supercave and Bob Moses. And check out teaser singles from upcoming releases by Andrew Bird, Bear Hands, Caveman, The Boxer Rebellion and Woods.  Listen via Spotify or as a YouTube playlist.

1. “Can’t Get Enough of Myself” – Santigold

Santigold is the stage name of Santi White, a Philly singer and producer whose artistry extends into costumes and choreography for her live shows. This bouncy pop single lambasting our self-absorbed culture is off her third studio album since 2003, 99¢.

2. “Burn” – James Supercave

L.A. trio James Supercave recorded its debut album Better Strange, with a solid psych-pop credo. According to singer Joaquin Pastor, this song “Burn” was “born from a bass line and wants to suck you in.” Done.

3. “Nobody Dies” – Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

San Francisco based Thao & The Get Down Stay Down is an alt folk group that just released a fourth album since 2003, A Man Alive. The new collection was produced by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards with a focus on accentuating the playful percussive textures.

4. “Hour” – Porches

Porches is the musical project of Aaron Maine, who has released a second album called Pool after four years on the scene. “Hour” is a lush synth reverie with sweet backing vocals by his life partner, Frankie Cosmos.

5. “Never Ever” – STRFKR

Portland’s indie rock band STRFKR has released this stand-alone single, “Never Ever,” with a trademark danceable groove.  The group is gearing up for a fifth album since the band formed in 2007.

6. “Feeling” – Bibio

Bibio, a.k.a. Stephen Wilkinson, is an English music producer with a love for mixing new and retro sounds with gusto. He just released his eighth studio album since 2005, A Mineral Love.

7. “Tearing Me Up” – Bob Moses

Bob Moses is an electronic duo from Vancouver but now based in Brooklyn.  Singer/songwriter Tom Howie and Berlin-style techno geek Jimmy Vallance joined their skills for a post-club aesthetic, creating pop melodies over cool house music.

8. “Capsized” – Andrew Bird

Chicago’s prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird will soon release his thirteenth album since 1996, Are You Serious. The single “Capsized” serves as the opening track with a typical timeless musicality but more personal lyrics that open up about marriage and parenthood.

9. “To Know You” – Wild Nothing

Virginia based musician Jack Tatum steps out of the bedroom recordings vibe for his third studio album since 2009 as Wild Nothing, Life of Pause. Tatum admits “there’s a different kind of ‘self’ this time around,” by using a full band in production and it shows.

10. “Voices in My Head” – Bob Mould

San Francisco alt rocker Bob Mould (best known as the vocalist for Hüsker Dü and Sugar) is ready with his twelfth solo album since 1989, Patch the Sky. He confidently returns with a straightforward, storytelling style in “Voices in My Head.”

11. “2AM” – Bear Hands

Brooklyn’s raucous indie rock quartet Bear Hands will release its third album since 2006, You’ll Pay for This. The catchy tune “2AM” extols the world of late night partying with a tongue-in-cheek wit.

12. “Spirits” – The Strumbellas

Canadian indie rock/alt country six-piece The Strumbellas is releasing a third album since 2008, Hope. The collective mindset of the song’s sing-along style complements the band’s fake family moniker.

13. “Never Going Back” – Caveman

The sweeping composition “Never Going Back,” serves as the first single from the upcoming album by Brooklyn indie rock/pop quintet Caveman. It is the band’s third release since 2010, called Otero War.

14. “Cold Light” – Operators

The driving force behind “Cold Light” is the gritty vocals of Montreal’s Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, and Divine Fits). His latest band will soon release a debut album, Blue Wave.

15. “Big Ideas” – The Boxer Rebellion

London indie rock quartet The Boxer Rebellion brings its lush, dreamy sound to the new song “Big Ideas.” It is the single for an upcoming fifth album since 2001, Ocean by Ocean.

16. “Exit 353” – Damien Jurado

Seattle’s indie rock singer/songwriter Damien Jurado will release the final album of a trilogy, Visions of Us on the Land. This is Jurado’s twelfth album since 1995, and the majestic song “Exit 353” revolves around the character being left behind on a vacant earth. 

17. I’m Not the One” – Pete Yorn

New Jersey raised now L.A. based singer/songwriter Pete Yorn is ready with his seventh solo album since 2010, Arranging Time. After The Olms side project, Yorn returns to his roots – an outpouring of personal emotions as evidenced in “I’m Not the One.”

18. “Can’t See at All” – Woods

Brooklyn folk rock band Woods will release its ninth studio album, City Sun Eater in the River of Light. The single “Can’t See at All” is imbedded with the group’s distinctive laidback musicality.

Top 20 Songs of 2012 With Video Playlist

There were plenty of moments in 2012 when pure attention through the ears became a moment to behold. When I came across these songs this year, it didn't just make my day... it rocked my world and made my life.  My year flashes before me as I revisit favorite new tunes while still fresh in the mind.

Here again I give you my Top 20 Songs of 2012 in no particular order, but arranged into a pleasing listening session via Spotify here or a YouTube Video Playlist below. It begins with Santigold's self-produced treatment of one catchiest songs of the year and includes some awesome live versions (including a NMMatters one of The Walkmen during this year's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry!) Enjoy, JaneJS

1. "The Keepers" Santigold
2. "Take a Walk" Passion Pit
3. "Heaven" The Walkmen
4. "Simple Song" The Shins
5. "Let's Go" Matt & Kim
6. "Sad Vacation" The Dandy Warhols
7. "Thankful" Caveman
8. "Amanaemonesia" Chairlift 
9. "Good As New" Vacationer
10. "Happy Home" Onuinu
11. "Yet Again" Grizzly Bear
12. "Would That Not Be Nice" Divine Fits
13. "From Nowhere" Dan Croll
14. "Hail Bop" Django Django
15. "Unless You Speak from Your Heart" Porcelain Raft
16. "Summertime is Coming" Paul Banks
17. "Heart" Oberhofer
18. "The Reflection of You" Bear In Heaven
19. "Myth" Beach House 
20. "So Long You Pretty Thing" Spiritualized

Moogfest 2012 Day 2 Highlights

Divine Fits

The second night of Moogfest 2012 started in the arena with a rockin' solid set by Divine Fits, the new band started by Britt Daniels of Spoon and Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs.  I was tempted to see them in NYC early in their tour but waiting made it all the more sweeter.  We jumped over to see The Magnetic Field's folky chamber ballads going on in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (TWA) before going back to the arena for Santigold.  Santi White was pleasantly surprised by all the early Halloween costumes in the crowd while she and her dancers went through their many costume changes. (There were no political costumes which I found strange for a swing state but plenty of Sesame Street characters, although no Big Bird. And note to self, in my next life come back as a Santigold dancer!)

I made sure to catch the beginning of the Thomas Dolby set back in the TWA to see the iconic synth entrepreneur receive the Moog Innovation Award of 2012.  As the third winner of the award (joining Brian Eno last year and Mark Mothersbaugh in 2010) Dolby received a custom Minimoog Voyager, revealed dramatically on stage from under wraps but then it was all about the music.  Dolby rolled out the hits as well as some new songs, saying with a sly smile how he likes to put out albums "every twenty years."

Next up, Electronic Dance Music pioneers Orbital took to the arena stage with their mega act of lights and pulsing beats spanning twenty two years.  Earlier in the day we caught the duo, Paul and Phil Hartnoll, discussing their career at a panel on "Shaping Hits with Moog Synths."  The two bantered like the brothers they are, finishing each other sentences with that British wit.  (There was even an impromtu jam with Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, video here.)  The headlining set pleased the packed crowd, thrilled to be dancing away during this only East Coast stop on the Orbital tour.  Four Tet represented the next generation back in the TWA to close out the night.

Now it's time to figure out a way home with Hurricane Sandy looming large... Crowd photos and video highlights on our Youtube channel here or below.

Peewee & Jambi checking their phones

View at the line at the concession stand

Bob Ross!

P with head Resident

Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, family!

One of the many robots in the lobby

Gnomes with lighted hats dancing outside at the end of the night

Moog sign in front of venue

Early Summer 2012 New Music Playlist

To most people, the Memorial Day weekend is the start of summer so why not explore some new music for your own personal soundtrack.  With a mix of recent arrivals and established artists, releases abound for the listening to heat things up.  Notes are provided with background info for further discovery. Link to listen here, enjoy! 

1. “Disparate Youth” – Santigold

This solid single is off Santigold’s second album, Master of My Make Believe.  With a mix of reggae, jazz and new wave influences, she continues to forge her own distinctive pop path.

2. “Happy Home” – Onuinu

Onuinu is the musical project of Portland multi-instrumentalist Dorian Duvall, combining an electro pop past into a new genre he likes to call “Disco-Hop.”  This shimmering romp of a song is off his upcoming full-length debut, Mirror Gazer.

3. “Heaven” – The Walkmen

The Walkmen are ready to release album number seven after a decade together – this title track highlights their unique sound, featuring Hamilton Leithauser’s passionate vocals over a steadfast foundation. The band members are now living in New York City, Philadelphia and New Orleans, but still present an unwavering united front for indie rock fans.

4. “Bad for Me” – Brendan Benson

This tuneful song is the single off Benson’s sixth album, What Kind of World, which was recorded entirely in analog. In the middle of a busy career as a musician, songwriter and band member of The Racounteurs, he now also has his own record label called Readymade Records.

5. “Good as New” – Vacationer

6. “Trip” – Vacationer

These groove-based songs bring a feel good summer attitude via the new chill wave band Vacationer, embracing all things sunny and cool in the debut release, Gone. Listeners may recognize Kenny Valosi’s fun time vocals from his punk pop band, The Starting Line. 

7.  “Warbeth” – The Magnetic North

This U.K. band is an alt music collaboration between Simon Tong (Gorillaz, The Verve), folk artist Erland Cooper and prolific Irish songstress Hannah Peel.  “Warbeth” is a mesmerizing multi-part composition off their debut album, Orkney: Symphony of The Magnetic North.

8. “Act On Impulse” – We Were Promised Jetpacks

We Were Promised Jetpacks is a quartet from Edinburgh, Scotland, generating buzz with their take on indie rock.  This building jam is off their second release, In the Pit of the Stomach.

9. “Alpine” – Hands

This single from Australian band Hands will be featured on their upcoming full-length release.  Six band members combine to create quirky songs with Scandinavian sounding indie pop sensibilities.

10. “Heart” – Oberhofer

Founder and frontman Brad Oberhofer moved East from Tacoma, Washington to study music at New York University and now his band is based in Brooklyn.  He writes and records all the music himself, gathering a tour band to support this second release, Time Capsule II.

11. “Montauk” – Rufus Wainwright

American-Canadian singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright recently released another album of intensely personal songs featuring his signature tenor and virtuosic piano playing. (He has seven albums of original music, ten if you count compilations and other contributions). This one, called Out of the Game, focuses on his new stage of life finding the wonder in marriage and fatherhood.

12. “Higher Palms” – My Best Fiend

This Brooklyn based quintet embraces the psychedelic ways of fuzzy indie pop.  Singer Fred Coldwell provides spaced out renditions of melodic vocals for this single and lead track on their second release, In Ghostlike Fading.

13.  “Hey Jane” – Spiritualized

14. “So Long You Pretty Thing” – Spiritualized

Jason Pierce (a.k.a. J. Spaceman) has had a tough seven years battling health problems such as double pneumonia and going through chemo for liver disease. So it’s no surprise that the new release for his U.K. band, So Long You Pretty Thing, is full of soul searching songs contemplating the highs and lows of human existence.

15. “Saint Nothing” – Daniel Rossen

This quiet, solemn song is off Daniel Rossen’s solo EP, Silent Hour. Rossen is originally from Los Angeles, traveling east to study at New York University and then becoming part of the indie bands Department of Eagles and Grizzly Bear.