Winter 2023 New Music Playlist

 

Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "ILYSM"  –  Wild Pink

2. "new body rhumba" – LCD Soundsystem

3. "This is Not Our World" – Moby, Indochine

4. "Another One" – Scott McMicken and the Ever-Expanding

5. "From the Hill" – Nation of Language

6. "Oceans Niagra" – M83

7. "Really Really Light" – The New Pornographers

8. "Fallout" – Yo La Teno

9. "Tropic Morning News" – The National

10. "Gamma Rays" – Temples

11. "We Never Went Away" – Ladytron

12. "Enjoy Your Life" – Famingosis

13. "Just Before the Morning" – Local Natives

14. "Weird Goodbyes" – The National, Bon Iver

15. "I Would If I Could" – Daniel Avery

16. "Future Falling" – The Album Leaf

Fall 2019 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "Romeo" – Daphni

2. "Linked" – Bonobo

3. "Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" – The New Pornographers

4. "All Mirrors" – Angel Olsen

5. "Black Cadillac" – Mondo Cozmo

6. "Motorways (Erase It)" – Dhani Harrison

7. "Around Your Sun" – Surfer Blood

8. "Love Is Everywhere" – Wilco

9. "Bunny" – Tourist

10. "Empires" – Elbow

11. "In the Air" – Allah-Las
12. "You're Either on Something" – Temples

13. "Hope" – (Sandy) Alex G

13. "Nighttime Drive" – Jay Som

14. "Treat" – Vacationer

15. "Lost Heads" – Moon Duo

16. "Balance (featuring Washed Out)" – Toro y Moi, Washed Out

YouTube Playlist of Late Summer 2014 New Music Playlist Songs

The videos found on YouTube for my Late Summer 2014 New Music Playlist are a mix of the straight forward audio, filmed footage and showing the band playing the song, which is my favorite type. I plugged in live performances from my favorite online music stations and new tunes sources, KCRW (Vacationer's "Paradise") and KEXP (Eels' "Where I'm From"), as it's always a treat to experience live sessions.  The Orwells and Interpol videos present the groups in action, while Strand of Oaks is stripped down to just Timothy Showalter and his acoustic guitar. Britt Daniel of Spoon is seen driving along in an eery, apocalyptic world with a twist, Avigdor Zahner-Isenber of Avi Buffalo washes up on a beach only to be forced into office drudgery and Ex Hex chooses to rock along to some wacky food obsessions (deviled eggs!)

I did have to insert another song by Christopher Owens, "Nothing More Than Everything To Me." It's a more upbeat tune than "It Comes Back To You," but I do love the video. Owens revisits his youth and the sweet discovery of love. Enjoy it all here or on YouTube.

Late Summer 2014 New Music Playlist

Here’s another collection of music culled from recent releases to help keep the summer vibe going. Check out new songs from indie veterans Spoon, Interpol, The New Pornographers and The Shins along with new bands such as Jungle and The Orwells. Vacationer, Parquet Courts and Ex Hex bring the party atmosphere while Christopher Owens, Stand of Oaks and Tweedy (Jeff Tweedy of Wilco) craft a mellow musical vein. Click to listen here.

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

1. “Can’t Do Without You” – Caribou

Canadian composer/producer Dan Snaith is ready with a sixth studio album since 2005 as Caribou, Our Love. His ready mix of dance beats, weighty bass lines and electronic wizardry is uncontested in this lead single and opening track for the album.

2. “Do You” – Spoon

Spoon returns with its eighth studio album, They Want My Soul, since the indie rock band was formed in Austin in 1993.  The five-piece includes a new member Alex Fischel (keys, guitar) but the gritty vocals of lead singer Brit Daniels still gives the music its edge, as witnessed in "Do You."

3. “Gold Silver Diamond” – Generationals

Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer make up the New Orleans-based indie rock duo Generationals, layering rhythms with stylized pop vocals for a distinctive sound.  "Gold Silver Diamond" is the first single off the fourth studio album since 2009, Alix.  

4. “Paradise Waiting” – Vacationer

Vacationer recently released a sophomore album, Relief, inspired by playing gigs for fans and being together on the road. The band is a collaboration of singer Kenny Vasoli, who imbibes every note with sunny warmth, plus Body Language's Matthew Young and Grand Wheeler. 

5. “Sunbathing Animal” ­– Parquet Courts

The fast-paced punk energy continues with NYC-based band Parquet Courts, back with a third album called Sunbathing Animal.  This searing rock tune is the title track of the new collection.

6. “From Now On” – Delta Spirit

San Diego's five piece indie rock group Delta Spirit delivers a true band aesthetic by writing together and recording everything live for its fourth album, Into the Wide. "From Now On" is the teaser single for the upcoming album. 

7. “Who Needs You” – The Orwells

The Orwells are a young five-piece rock band from the Chicago suburbs, writing about "anywhere USA" with wild exuberance.  "Who Needs You" is a single off the sophomore album called Disgraceland.

8. “The Heat” – Jungle

Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland comprise the London-based duo Jungle, a modern soul musical collective with a self-titled debut album. They expand to a seven-piece live band to bring the groove of songs like "The Heat" to the stage.

9.  “Hot and Cold” – Ex Hex

Power trio Ex Hex hails from Washington, D.C. This female group presents the basics, an "unapologetic Rock and Roll," as found in the single "Hot and Cold" from the upcoming debut album Rips.

10. “Brill Bruisers” – The New Pornographers

"Brill Bruisers" is the title track of eight-piece Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographer's sixth album since 1999. The signature, full-on vocals of the group create an instant celebration of the human spirit with soaring melodies and layered harmonies. 

11. “So What” – Avi Buffalo

Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg took four years to create his second album as Avi Buffalo, At Best Cuckold. The dreamy '60s pop influence saturates the songs again, as evidenced in "So What." 

12. “So Now What” – The Shins

The Shins' feature role in a Zach Braff film (Wish I Was Here) is reprised in "So Now What," gently reminding listeners why the Albuquerque band's indie cred remains intact. The song exists easily on its own merits, and yes, might just change your life.

13. “All the Rage Back Home” – Interpol

"All the Rage Back Home" is the solid opening track for NYC-based Interpol's fifth studio album since 1997, El Pintor. Singer Paul Banks takes over bass from the departing member Carlos Danger, and the group tightly rocks on.

14. “Where I’m From” – Eels

Prolific singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Californian Mark Oliver Everett (a.k.a. E) has released his eleventh full length album for Eels since 1996, The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett. The introspective song "Where I'm From" draws the listener in while softly singing private thoughts. 

15. “Summer Noon” – Tweedy

Jeff Tweedy of Chicago band Wilco began a solo musical project with son Spencer on drums adding creative input to form Tweedy. This song "Summer Moon" finds that familiar world-weary voice over strumming guitar, from the new ablum called Sukierae.

16. “It Comes Back To You” – Christopher Owens

L.A. based musician Christopher Owens (former frontman of indie rock band Girls) has released his second solo album, A New Testament.  "It Comes Back To You" highlights Owens' warm voice and other-worldly artistic vision. 

17. “Woke Up To the Light” – Strand of Oaks

Strand of Oaks is the folk rock outfit by Timothy Showalter based in Philadelphia. The songs for a fourth album, Heal, came together after a horrific car crash where Showalter was forced to reexamine everything --  now contained in every note. 

18. “Pets” – Deadmau5

Deadmau5 is the stage name of Canadian progressive-house music producer Joel Thomas Zimmerman, who just released his seventh album since 2005. The airy instrumental "Pets" is one of 25 tracks (minus the mixes) on this two-disc album, which contains a continuous mix for each disc. 

DID YOU GUESS THREE BANDS?

1. TWEEDY -- FATHER & SON

2. PARQUET COURTS -- BROTHERS

3. THE ORWELLS -- COUSINS & TWIN BROTHERS!!!

Upcoming Releases - Listen to Caribou New Song "Can't Do Without You"

All of a sudden there's a bunch of upcoming releases; I'm counting the days until their drop dates (see list below). One of them is from Dan Snaith, the Canadian mastermind behind the electronica band Caribou (as well as Manitoba and Daphni). His gyrating, funky tune "Odessa" caught my ear with heavy airplay on KCRW back in 2010, and landed a spot in my Late Fall 2010 Playlist plus a Top 20+ Songs of 2010. Based on this one song I was thrilled to catch Snaith live at Moogfest 2010, where he huddled as a quartet behind a drum kit in a corner of the arena stage. (Snaith plays drums, guitar, bass and synths but chooses percussion when performing concerts.) With openers, there's plenty of equipment announcing the next band behind the group and taking up space, but I loved how Snaith felt a need to be even more scrunched together with the rest of the musicians.  It also made the performance much more intense, as they fed off of each other's energy while the sound resonated in the cavernous space before a huge crowd.

Dan Snaith (photo via Merge Records)

The lead single "Can't Do With You" is filled with disjointed samples leading into a fluid groove that finds that "Odessa" bliss once again.  It is off the sixth studio album, Our Love, to be released October 7 via Merge Records.  Caribou will be appearing during the four-day music festival celebrating the Merge 25th Anniversary on July 26 in Carborro, NC before a full tour this fall, stopping at Webster Hall in NYC November 11.  (Merge also recently partnered with Google Play for a label doc and exclusive songs in honor of 25 years.) Check out the song here and other releases -- I've marked my calendar already!

UPCOMING RELEASES TO WATCH FOR LATE SUMMER/FALL 2014:

August 5 - Spoon, They Want My Soul (Loma Vista)

August 26 - The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers (Matador Records)

September 9 - Delta Spirit, Into The Wild (Dualtone Records)

September 9 - Avi Buffalo, At Best Cuckold (Sub Pop Records)

September 9 - Interpol, El Pinto (Matador)

September 16 - Generationals, Alix (Polyvinyl)

September 23 - Sondre Lerche, Please (Mona Records)

September 23 - Tweedy, Sukierae (dBpm Records)

September 30 - Christopher Owens, A New Testament (Turnstile Music)

October 7 - Caribou, Our Love (Merge Records)

New Pornographers Live Session on KCRW

On July 19th the New Pornographers played a live session on Morning Becomes Eclectic before headlining a show at LA's Music Box. Jason Bentley was way too chipper for the sleepy group, launching into a love fest for singer Neko Case which only seemed to make the band more uncomfortable. This focus on Case has thrown this collaborative effort off before with her fiery red hair and warm, womanly vocals. Bently continued with a "back off dude" as if to reference the incident in Boston where she took issue with a fan that threw something on stage. (If you need to see it, cover your ears but here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-1EPeYn3A&feature=player_embedded)

The whole exchange only made me miss Nick Hardcourt more, the former Musical Director/dj for the show who now only appears on Sunday nights. You can listen to his shows "on demand" anytime like I do weekly once if not twice. Here's the link, it's well worth it.    http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/sc/sc

However the band sounded great, opening with "Crash Years" off the latest CD Together, a pick on my Summer 2010 Playlist. There's some more banter during an awkward interview between sets with some standard questions and more spotlighting of Neko Case's beauty which only added to the lackluster atmosphere. As Jason Bently sheepishly admitted, "We're wheeling out the classics." I even noticed some listener complaints on the kcrw website about the exchange (now deleted) so clearly others found it similarly boring.
With rumored infighting between the two main songwriters over the years, Carl Newman and Dan Bejar, all this has me a bit worried. Newman's niece Kathryn Calder joined the band to fill in for Case when her many side projects kept Case too busy for gigs but Calder is now a full fledged member with many songs featuring main vocals. Keeping busy on the side is perhaps what is saving this band from disintegrating? In my post about their NYC concert in June, I described how Bejar would join the others on stage only when necessary -- even playing guitar with his back to his audience. After the show I spotted him jaywalking away from the venue with a female companion as if he couldn't get out the place fast enough. Bejar's distinctive voice adds so much to the band and it offsets Newman's clean cut scout persona. I can only hope they can continue to find a way to work 'together' and keep the new tunes coming.
Listen to the session here -- or you can even watch!http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb100719the_new_pornographer

Summer 2010 New Music Playlist

Summer is definitely here. Time for feel good tunes and relaxing on the porch. New CDs from The New Pornographers and The National also presented opportunities to see these bands in NYC, see separate write-ups in older posts below. Listen at the link here, enjoy! 

1. 21 @ 12/Hot Hot Heat

Also blogged about how I waited months for this to come out after hearing it as an advance copy on kcrw.com's Morning Becomes Eclectic (where else?) I saved the top spot on my playlist for this kicker of a song from the decade-old Vancouver band. Its lead off siren of synths and happy shout outs of "hey" and "woo" makes me realize, who needs words in order to party down with a great song?

2. Let Go/Everest

This LA band isn't shy to embrace a solid rock format and for this song they've added strings as well. It's a lush sonic landscape with a hard hitting rhythmic romp from a band only a few years old, yet comprised of clearly accomplished musicians.

3. Excuses/The Morning Benders

Another west coast band, this time from Berkeley, CA. The Morning Benders embrace all things indie having toured in support of genre greats Grizzly Bear, Death Cab for Cutie and Ra Ra Riot. In a standard four piece band set up, the group expands to create an old fashioned wall of sound for this song. It even opens with the sound of a needle hitting to set the scene, before the entrance of crooning vocals complete with harmonies.

4. Moves/The New Pornographers

5. Crash Years/The New Pornographers

6. Your Hands (Together)/The New Pornographers

This Canadian indie powerhouse is more of a collective of talent that since 1997 also indulges in solo projects on the side. These three songs are just a sample of the rich musical offerings on The New Pornographers' 5th studio release, Together. Carl Newman shares songwriting duties and lead vocals with Dan Bejar along with the distinctive voice of Neko Case. It was Newman that found the name of the band after watching a Japanese film called "The Pornographers."

7. Animal Backwards/Minus the Bear

8. My Time/Minus the Bear

These two songs are off of the Seattle band's fourth full length release, Omni. The band is made up of group of five guys who like to venture away from the indie rock label, pushing the limits of experimentation into prog rock's inventive time structures. The name comes from an incident when a friend joked that his date was like the 70s TV show "B.J. and the Bear" -- minus the bear. For this CD, the band wanted to capture the live energy of playing together as much as possible during the recording process and it shows.

9. Terrible Love/The National

10. Bloodbuzz Ohio/The National

11. Conversation 16/The National

The National's fifth CD, High Violet is a huge success story for this band that's been cranking out the tunes since 1999, so they aren't just critic fav indie darlings anymore. These guys grew up in Cincinnati but are now based in (where else) Brooklyn. The line up includes two sets of brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf along with Aaron and Bryce Dessner, who are even twins. Just listening to lead vocalist Matt Berninger's deep baritone singing over this group's mellow music makes my shoulders drop instantly into relaxation. Plus the lyrics are always worth investigating, whether they're referencing Dostoyevsky or ruminating over poetic imagery.

12. Factory/Band of Horses

13. Compliments/Band of Horses

Ben Brindwell's vocals are sweet and plaintive over his band's signature sound which is so reminiscent of 70s southern rock. The group was formed in Seattle back in 2004 but Brindell has since moved back to his native state of South Carolina and this third CD was recorded nearby in North Carolina. The swells that open "Factory" take me back to middle school crushes in its dreamy soundscape. "Compliments" rocks hard with a driving beat, the boot stomping kind that takes the listener down an open country road.

14. So Brand New/Fyfe Dangerfield

15. Faster Than the Setting Sun/Fyfe Dangerfield

This founding member of the UK indie band Guillemots is now best known for his cover of Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman" which appeared on an 'advert' for a department store there. Originally from Birmingham, Fyfe Dangerfield released this solo CD earlier this year and it's also gaining notice with such romantic yearnings and lush orchestrations for a collection of pop tunes.

16. Closet Astrologer/The Ruby Suns

The Ruby Suns are an indie pop band from New Zealand, creating layered compositions since 2004. This song starts out with simple snaps over a meandering synth intro but then explodes with echoing vocals and rythmic variations. It makes me feel spaced-out for all the right reasons.

The New Pornographers in NYC June 19th

This was my first time to Terminal 5 and it's a great place to see any band. I don't know why but I thought it was much bigger (as in too big) and much shabbier -- maybe because most of the concerts I've seen have been at venues with cracks in floorboards and sticky walls? Last Saturday was a great day to walk The Highline too, something I've been wanting to do for a long time... recommend that as well! Here's my write-up of the concert:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/127302-the-new-pornographers-bring-the-dodos-and-the-duchess-and-the-duke-t


Youtube links:
We were right near this camera, just a bit closer. Sound isn't great though.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggsTeOwNGCk

Here's one from a balcony -- was fun to explore the three levels of Terminal 5 but opted to go back where we started from right at ground level!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgltCpuDUt4&feature=related

Ready, Steady, Listen! Three Album Previews on KCRW

Here's an impressive triple play of album previews for your listening pleasure: The National, New Pornographers AND Minus the Bear! Not sure what all this free music is doing for sales but if it's out there to be enjoyed, why not indulge?

The National's new CD, High Violet is available May 3rd - May 16th at the link below (release date is May 11th). Coming off a huge write up in The New York Times Magazine and embarking on a mega tour beginning in London May 5th supporting their fifth offering, The National might not just be critic fav indie darlings anymore. The guys grew up in Cincinnati but are now based in (where else) Brooklyn -- the line up includes two sets of brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf along with Aaron and Bryce Dessner, who are even twins. Just listening to lead vocalist Matt Berninger's deep baritone singing over this group's mellow music makes my shoulders drop instantly into relaxation. The lyrics are always worth investigating, whether they're referencing Dostoyevsky or ruminating over poetic imagery.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/ap/ap100503the_national_high_vi

Next up is another indie powerhouse -- the New Pornographers's 5th studio release Together, offered until May 9th. I loved their last CD from 2008 Challengers but this band of eight musicians from the Vancouver music scene has been collaborating since 1997. Carl Newman shares lead vocals with Dan Bejar and the distinctive voice of Neko Case. It was Newman that found the name of the band after watching a Japanese film called "The Pornographers." The CD also features collabos with St. Vincent, Beirut's Zach Condon and Okkervil River's Will Shef.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/ap/ap100426new_pornographers_to

The last in the group, Minus the Bear's Omni, is on the site through May 18th with a CD that was released May 4th. It's the Seattle band's fourth full length release with a solid group of five guys who like to venture away from the indie rock label, pushing the limits of experimentation into prog rock's inventive time structures. The name comes from an incident when a friend joked that his date was like the 70s TV show "B.J. and the Bear" -- minus the bear. For this CD, the band wanted to capture the live energy of playing together as much as possible during the recording process and it shows. I love the opener, "My Time" with its synths playing off a solid grove provided by the drums before the journey happily continues.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/ap/ap100419minus_the_bear_omni