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!!!

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.