Spring 2024 New Music Playlist

  Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "It's Over, If We Run Out of Love" – David Holmes, Raven Violet

2. "Bubblegum Dog" – MGMT

3. "Coming of Age" – Van Houten

4. "Water Underground" – Real Estate

5. "Burial Ground" – The Decemberists

6. "Together Forever" – STRFKR

7. "Loved" – Four Tet

8. "Is This Love" – James

9. "Alone" – Maps

10. "Neon Pill" – Cage the Elephant

11. "Willow" – Cowboy Sadness, Bing & Ruth, The Antlers, Port St. Willow

12. "Lines" – Maxband

13. "Long as I'm Not the One" – Grandaddy

14. "Spare Me the Decision" – Nation of Language

15. "Capricorn" – Vampire Weekend

16. "Dramamine" – Middle Kids

17. "RIP Dunes" – Backwards

18. "Wall of Eyes" – The Smile

Top 20+ Songs of 2018 with Spotify Playlist

Another round up with my fave songs of 2018 listed not by preference but how best to order them for the optimal listening experience – although I have to admit that David Byrne's "Everybody's Coming To My House" has to be my #1(along with the euphoric concert experience of seeing him in non-stop motion with band members at Forest Hills in September during his American Utopia tour.) Here's to the year that was and the one that will be!  Listen as a Spotify playlist here.

1. "Everybody's Coming To My House" – David Byrne
2. "Humility (featuring George Benson)" – Gorillaz
3. "Magnetism" – Vacationer
4. "Wide Awake" – Parquet Courts
5. "Once In My Life" – The Decemberists
6. "It's Late" – A Beacon School
7. "Buzzing In the Light" – Dr. Dog
8. "A Perfect Miracle" – Spiritualized
9. "The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs" – Wye Oak
10. "Don't Move Back To LA" – Okkervil River
11. "Wait By the River" – Lord Huron
12. "The Ceremony of Innocence" – Moby
13. "Forgive" – Roosevelt, Washed Out
14. "Gotta Run" – Lea Porcelain
15. "Hand It Over" – MGMT
16. "Music Snob" – De Lux
17. "Echo" – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
18. "Where Your Mind Wants to Go (featuring Ludovico Einaudi)" – Blonde Redhead
19. "Lemon Glow" – Beach House
20. "The One To Wait" – CCFX
21. "The Deconstruction" – Eels
22. "More" – Jamison Isaak

Top Ten Releases of 2018 – Plus Others Worthy of a Listen

Here's my list of the Top 10 Albums of 2018 – check them out on Spotify at the link here if you missed any, it'll be well worth your ears.

Also, I have a playlist of releases that came along during the year that I needed to revisit again and again. It's 27+ hours long (yes I still spend most of my day listening to new music) but fun to review! Fave Albums of 2018

In no particular order beyond providing the best segue for the playlist...

1. Wye Oak, The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs
2. Death Cab for Cutie, Thank You for Today
3. Okkervil River, In the Rainbow Rain
4. Dr. Dog, Critical Equation
5. The Decemberists, I'll Be Your Girl
6. Gorillaz, The Now Now
7. Moby, Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt
8. A Beacon School, Cola
9. De Lux, More Disco Songs About Love
10. Phosphorescent, C'est La Vie

Summer 2018 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist (with glorious live versions by Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Dr. Dog and Washed Out!) 


1. "Magnetism" – Vacationer
2. "SGL" – Now, Now
3. "Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)" Bear Hands
4. "Wide Awake" – Parquet Courts
5. "Transhumanity" – JB Dunckel
6. "Once In My Life" – The Decemberists
7. "Quiero Otoño de Nuevo" – Mint Field
8. "Cranberry" – Hovvdy
9. "It Was Not Natural" – Wye Oak
10. "It's Late" – A Beacon School
11. "These Falling Arms" – The Sea and Cake
12. "It You're Going to Break Yourself" – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
13. "Human Being Song" – Okkervil River
14. "Buzzing In the Light" – Dr. Dog
15. "Black Car" – Beach House
16. "Pirates" – Brazilian Girls
17. "Juicy Socks" – Cherry Glazer
18. "Face Up" – Washed Out

Winter 2018 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist (except "Chico's Radical Decade" by the The Go! Team).

1. "Everybody's Coming to My House" – David Byrne
2. "Fluoresecent Light" – Stars
3. "Severed" – The Decemberists
4. "Gotta Run" – Lea Porcelain
5. "Listening In" – Dr. Dog
6. "Hand It Over" – MGMT
7. "Music Snob" – De Lux
8. "Taste" – Rhye
9. "Echo" – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
10. "Sunday" – Geowulf
11. "Chico's Radical Decade" – The Go! Team
12. "Can't Stop My Dreaming (of You) – Jono Ma & Dreems
13. "Can't Get It Out" – Nada Surf
14. "The One to Wait" – CCFX
15. "The Deconstruction" – Eels
16. "Friday Morning" – Khruangbin

Here's to 2018 – New Releases Ahead by Favorite Bands (David Byrne, Franz Ferdinand, Moby & more)

What a difference a year makes... I combed through the lists of upcoming releases looking for reasons to be hopeful about 2018 and found just a few: Moby, Franz Ferdinand plus all those unreleased tracks by the Gorillaz promised ahead. Then yesterday one of my top musical heroes David Byrne not only announced a new album in 14 years (!) American Utopia but he also gave a talk in NYC entitled "Reasons to Be Cheerful." I tuned into the online stream (archived on Facebook and YouTube), hanging on every word from this wise and witty shaman. Byrne espoused about his latest project, Contemporary Colors, along with answers to world problems large and small. His talk was set to carefully chosen, although some completely random, visuals just like those at groundbreaking concerts as frontman for The Talking Heads. 

Check out the first single from the album "Everybody's Coming to My House" via the video below with fitting artwork of the artist by Doug Henders. This tune produced by longtime pal Brian Eno features danceable beats, poetic lyrics – stream of consciousness, about ordinary but which say much more – and those unmistakable vocals that have been copied, but never exactly replicated. As if 2017 wasn't awesome enough musically with a new album (after many years) from another all time fave band LCD Soundsystem, with this new music on repeat for my ears I am not only cheerful, but one extremely happy music fan. It's simply the same as it ever was!

UPCOMING NEW RELEASES IN 2018:
January 19 – De Lux, More Disco Songs About Love (Innovative Leisure)
January 19 – The Go! Team, Semicircle (Memphis Industries)
January 26 – Django Django, Marble Skies (Ribbon Music)
January 26 – Calexico, The Thread That Keeps Us (Anti-Records) 
February 9 – Franz Ferdinand, Always Ascending (Domino)
February 9 – MGMT, Little Dark Age (Columbia)
March 2 – Moby, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt (Mute)
March 9 – David Byrne, American Utopia (Todomundo/Nonesuch Records)
March 9 – of Montreal, White is Relic/Irrealis Mood
March 16 – Yo La Tengo, There's a Riot Going On (Matador Records)
March 16 – The Decemberists, I'll Be Your Girl (Columbia)
April 6 – Wye Oak, The Louder I call, The Faster It Runs (Merge)
April 27 – Dr. Dog, Critical Equation (Thirty Tigers)
April 27 – Okkervil River, Rainbow Rain (ATO) 
Gorillaz – TBD
Arctic Monkeys – TBD
Vampire Weekend  – TBD

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

Winter 2015 New Music Playlist

Needless to say, winter has arrived. Let’s hope the Blizzard of 2015 is just that – one for the ages. Digging out to new music while sending good thoughts to the Boston area and those with much more snow than we in the NYC area. Check out debuts by Will Butler and Museum of Love plus returning salvos by Modest Mouse, Mew and The Go! Team. There’s also plenty to get a dance party going (YACHT, Mark Ronson, Belle & Sebastian and Stars) or mellow out with The Lone Bellow and The Decemberists. Link to listen here or check it out as a YouTube playlist and enjoy! 

1. “Where Does This Disco?” – YACHT
L.A.-based YACHT released this catchy stand-alone single with its stylistic stamp of dance punk meets synth pop. Formed by duo Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans in 2002, the pair expands with a touring band for their energetic live shows.

2. “Daffodils (featuring Kevin Parker)” – Mark Ronson
This collaboration between producer Mark Ronson and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker is just one of three found on the hit album Uptown Special. Parker’s cool vocals float over one gigantic groove, blending into an unexpected genre-smashing delight

3. “Take My Side” – Will Butler
Arcade Fire’s Will Butler adds another side project with a solo debut, Policy, due in March. The lead single, “Take My Side,” is a confident tune infused with infectious energy, from his antsy singing to non-stop strumming guitars and a rockin’ beat.

4. “Ferus Gallery” – Allah-Las
L.A. alt rock quartet Allah-Las started playing its mix of psych rock and garage pop in 2008. “Ferus Gallery” exudes a classic laid-back California vibe on the aptly named sophomore album Worship the Sun.

5. “Boys Latin” ­– Panda Bear
Baltimore musician Panda Bear (a.k.a. Noah Lennox, co-founder of Animal Collective) is now creating his experimental compositions while living in Lisbon. This single off the fifth album since 1999, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, features his layered vocals amid a garrulous foundation of electronica.

6. “Competition” – The Dodos
The Dodos, San Francisco’s indie rock duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, has been exploring percussion driven music since 2005. “Competition” is the single for its sixth full release, Individ, with weaving rhythms and fingerpicking guitar grounded by Long’s warm, earnest voice.

7. “Down South” – Museum of Love
Former LCD Soundsystem drummer Pat Mahoney establishes himself on a new dance music path with Dennis McNanay. This first song, “Down South,” off the self-titled debut album, chugs along with poise.

8. “The Party Line” – Belle & Sebastian
Glasgow pop band Belle & Sebastian is back with Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, the ninth album since 1996 (and its first in five years). The party vibe is kicked into high gear and the group aesthetic sounds as taut as ever.

9. “No One Is Lost” – Stars
Canadian quintet Stars released its seventh studio album since 2000, No One Is Lost. This title track is an upbeat song with surprisingly dark lyrics, smooth harmonies and an irresistible dance beat.

10. “Simple Machine” – Guster
Boston alt rock band Guster is back with its seventh collection since 1991, finding a new vigor with producer (plus bassist for The Black Keys and keyboardist for The Shins) Richard Swift. “Simple Machine” is a delightful romp of a song and is the first single from the album, Evermotion.

11. “Lampshades on Fire” – Modest Mouse
Seattle-based indie rock band Modest Mouse returns with a sixth album since 1993, Strangers to Ourselves (its first since 2007). “Lampshades on Fire” is the first single for the upcoming release, full of the unyielding angst fans expect from the group.

12. “Moonlight” – Hanni El Khatib
“Moonlight” is the title track that leads off the third album by L.A.-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Hanni El Khatib. The quirky intro leads into a shadowy world of jagged rhythms and shaggy group vocals.

13. “The Scene Between” – The Go! Team
This song is the title track and teaser single for a fourth album since 2000 by The Go! Team, a band from Brighton. The contagious combination of hip hop and electro, screaming guitars plus cheers and chants is the brainchild of Ian Parton.

14. “Empty Nesters” – Toro y Moi
Toro y Moi is the musical project of California-based Chazwick Bundick, ready with his fourth album since 2008, entitled What For? “Empty Nesters” veers away from the retro R&B of the last collection, embracing a solid guitar pop sound this go-around.

15. “Make You Better” – The Decemberists
Indie folk rock quintet The Decemberists released its seventh album since 2000, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, ending four years of silence. Colin Meloy continues his role as the charismatic narrator (lead vocals, guitar and principal songwriter) in this first single “Make You Better.”

16. “Every Age” – José González
Swedish singer-songwriter and guitarist José González has combined classical guitar with soft vocal melodies since 2003, also contributing to the band Junip. “Every Age” is a languid, haunting single from the upcoming album Vestiges & Claws, his first solo release in seven years.

17. “Satellites” – Mew
Danish alternative quartet Mew (active since 1994) is back after six years with a future release, +-. “Satellites” serves as the first single, with lead vocalist Jonas Bjerre’s high vocal range soaring over this characteristically epic tune.

18. “Shadows” – Ryan Adams
North Carolina native Ryan Adams is releasing a self-titled album by default since he couldn’t decide on another name. (To his credit, he has had to title fourteen of them since 1991.) “Shadows” showcases Adams anthemic songwriting, utilizing a voice consistently up for the challenge.

19. “Then Came the Morning” – The Lone Bellow
Southern-born but now Brooklyn-based indie folk trio The Lone Bellow recently released its second album since 2011. “Then Came the Morning” is the title track; its swelling harmonies over spare instrumentation allow the human element to shine.

Here's to 2015 -- New Releases (Listen to "Daffodils" by Mark Ronson w/Kevin Parker of Tame Impala)

New Year's Eve Festivities in Easton, Maryland via The Star Democrat

Happy New Year to my fellow new music fiends! After celebrating the arrival of 2015 worldwide (even the Eastern Shore of Maryland where I spent much of 2014 was featured on CNN, although it was probably just chosen so Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin could make raunchy crab jokes) winter has settled in with a vengeance here in the Northeast. It seems a perfect time to focus on future releases that will warm my soul with new tunes in the coming months. After pouring over comprehensive lists of upcoming albums, I found plenty of favorite bands to get excited about (see list below).

Mark Ronson's song with Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" might be everywhere, but his "Daffodils" is a catchy groove with floating psychedelic vocals by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala -- an instant favorite for my next playlist and I crank up the volume every time it gets a play on KEXP or KCRW.  Check it out below and also if you haven't heard the new song "Take My Side" by Will Butler head over to Soundcloud. The kid brother of Arcade Fire singer Win Butler is staking his claim to a solo career after various side projects. As he asks in song, "Are you gonna take my side?" I'm already there.

NEW RELEASES TO WATCH FOR IN 2015: Updated as needed
January 13 - Mark Ronson, Uptown Special (Sony Music Entertainment)
January 13 - Panda Bear, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper (Domino Recording Company)
January 20 - The Decemberists, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (Capitol Records)
January 20 - Belle & Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance (Matador Records)
January 27 - The Dodos, Individ (Polyvinyl Records)
February 10 - Father John Misty, I Love You Honeybear (Sub Pop Records)
February 17 - José González, Vestiges & Claws (Mute)
February 27 - Dan Deacon, Gliss Riffer (Domino Recording Company)
February 27 - of Montreal, Aureate Gloom (Polyvinyl Records)
March 1 - Jon Hopkins, Late Night Tales (Night Time Stories Ltd)
March 3 - Modest Mouse, Strangers to Ourselves (Epic Records)
March 10 - Will Butler, Policy (Merge Records)
March 24 - The Cribs, For All My Sisters (Sonic Blew/Sony Red)
March 24 - The Go! Team, The Scene (Memphis Industries)
March 31 - Death Cab for Cutie, Kintsugi, (Atlantic Recording Company)
March 31 - Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell (Asthmatic Kitty)
April 7 - Toro Y Moi, What For? (Carpark Records)
April 7 - Lord Huron, Strange Trails (IAMSOUND Records)
April 14 - Calexico, Edge of the Sun (Anti, Inc.)
April 14 - Villagers, Darling Arithmetic (Domino Recording Company)
April 28 - Mew, +/- (Play It Again Sam)
April 28 - Blur, The Magic Whip (Parlaphone Records/Warner Music)
May 5 - Best Coast, California Nights (Harvest Records)
May 19 - Hot Chip, Why Make Sense (Domino Recording Company)
May 26 - Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Multi-Love (Jagjaguwar)
TBA - My Morning Jacket, Beach House, Band of Horses, Passion Pit, Radiohead, Django Django and Tame Impala!

Winter 2011 New Music Playlist

What a winter we're having in the Northeast with three major snowstorms and another one this week. At least some new releases along with some holiday gifts (CDs!) are keeping all this indoor time interesting. Here's the link to my picks for a new music listening session whatever the weather may be...

1. Foster the People -- Pumped Up Kicks

This song was found on Sirius U in another one of those moments of discovery while driving. Checking out the read out while weaving in traffic on the interstate, I found this band from LA that just released a self-titled EP. The cheery groove with singalong lyrics, handclaps and whistling make it the perfect song to kick off the playlist. While their other songs don't seem to quite merit such a spotlight, this is definitely a young band to keep an ear out for going forward.

2. Grouplove -- Naked Kids

Here's another new band out of Los Angeles. Their myspace profile photo shows them all smiles running with a banner that reads "Never trust a happy song" so don't say I didn't warn you. This one even has sounds of the beach with the cooing chorus, shout outs for singing, and a jangly tambourine beat evokes the summer time fun of perfect waves and living out dreams. Another standout in a beginner's collection, with that toe in the water self-titled EP just released has me hoping for more happy songs ahead.

3. Matt & Kim -- Cameras

This Brooklyn couple's third release, Sidewalks, may have slicker production values but retains all of the playfulness of a house band in the basement. Matt Johnson belts out the vocals while working the synths and Kim Schifino keeps the beat perfectly basic.

4. Baths -- Hall

This creation is the brain child of Will Wiesenfeld, a 21 year old from the San Fernando Valley. He throws in everything from pure piano to samples of pen clicks or running water, just for starters. When his voice is added over the hip hop beats and dreamy synths, a warm falsetto brings a welcome human element to the track. The debut release Cerulean shows a wide range of musicianship and innovation, making Baths another new artist to follow.

5. Local Natives -- Wide Eyes

Local Natives are also from Southern California, and their more traditional band set up harks back to 70s with sunny harmonies plus a laid back vibe. Their forray into world beats bring to mind the Talking Heads -- the group even covers "Warning Sign" on Gorilla Manor, their debut release from last year. This song opens the collection and invites all to the chill party atmosphere.

6. CAKE -- Long Time

7. CAKE -- Sick of You

It's been over five years since the last release of new tunes from this veteran SoCal band that put the ALT in alternative music back in the mid 1990s. They haven't missed a trick -- the new songs are full of the same wry takes on modern life with killer beats over stand out bass lines, horns and the ubiquitous vibraslap. These two tracks are just a sampling of the Cake attitude available on their new release, Showroom of Compassion, and instant classics in my mind.

8. Avey Tare -- Lucky 1

Avey Tare is actually a side project of David Portner, a founding member of the New York based band Animal Collective. This is the single off of last fall's release Down There and while things may not deviate that much from his group efforts, it's still extremely worthwhile listening.

9. Autolux -- Audience No. 2

I'ts back to the west coast for this pick -- Autolux formed about a decade ago in LA and this song off their second release Transit Transit. Their sound is full of the popular fuzzed out arrangements now known chill wave but with an edgier vibe.

10. The Dears -- Omega Dog

This Montreal based band is back with their fourth release, Degeneration Street, full of heartfelt longing under the glow of Murray Lightburn's distinctive vocals. The single "Omega Dog" begins with a tight groove but ends in a psychedelic swirl -- quite a journey for just one song.

11. The Hundred in the Hand -- Young Aren't Young

"Young Aren't Young" sounds like it took a team of musicians but it's actually a Brooklyn duo creating the entire song, with just some help with background vocals. Eleanore Everdell sings into a lo-fi bullet microphone over lushed, layered electro dance beats with a wailing guitar provided by Jason Everdell. Their other songs from the self-titled release issued last fall Dressed in Dresden are similarly styled but this one stands out for its confident and tight musical structure.

12. The Decemberists -- Down By the Water

This Portland, Oregon indie rock band just issued its sixth full length release, The King Is Dead, with all of its story telling and folk influences still going full throttle. "Down By the Water" bursts forth with a driving beat and full sound before frontman/singer/songwriter Colin Meloy deftly spins another tale.

13. Ima Robot -- Sail With Me

14. Ima Robot -- Ruthless

Ima Robot is LA singer Alex Ebert's band for the past decade -- before Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros exploded onto the scene. His warm hippy vibe presides over this band as well, leading a clapping sing-a-long at the end of "Sail With Me" and the call outs of "Ruthless." Both tracks are off of last fall's release, Another Man's Treasure.

15. Dr. Dog -- Shadow People

Dr. Dog is a group from Phili that derives its psychedic rock from hippie bands in the 1960s and early indie pop of the 1990s. This wandering, feel good song is off their 6th release of last year as their journey continues.