Summer 2024 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "The Hardest Part" – Washed Out

2. "Strange World" – La Luz

3. "Angels" – Mondo Cozmo

4. "Still Can't Believe" – Dr. Dog

5. "April" – Local Natives

6. "Hello" – Girl on Girl

7. "Colorful State" – Kishi Bashi

8. "Make it Happen" – Wonder 45

9. "In Front of Me Now" – Nada Surf

10. "Apparition" – Quivers

11. "Maybe We're Alright" – Guster

12. "So Lo" – Pond

13. "Docket" – Blondshell, Bully

14. "Nearly Daffodils" – English Teacher

15. "Forever" – Hovvdy

16. "Bright Spot" – Blue Canopy, A Beacon School

17. "Duet" – Jon Hopkins

Top 20+ Songs of 2020

Another round up with my fave songs of the year – the music that kept me somewhat sane during a very trying year – listed not by preference but how best to order them.  Listen as a Spotify playlist here. 

1. "Friday" – Real Estate

2. "You're Not Alone" – Semisonic

3. "Through the Trees" – Phantom Planet

4. "Become a Mountain" – Dan Deacon

5. "Is it True" – Tame Impala

6. "Cut it Loose" – Maxband

7. "Olympik" – EOB

8. "Love Is the King" – Jeff Tweedy

9. "The Great Divide" – The Shins

10. "Fear of Heights" – Wye Oak

11. "For Sure" – Future Islands

12. "Too Late" – Washed Out

13. "One More Second" – Matt Berninger

14. "You and I" – Caribou

15. "Videostores" – Quivers

16. "Wildfires" – SAULT

17. "Prisoners" – Doves

18. "Dear Stranger" – STRFKR

19. "Feel You" – My Morning Jacket

20. "Will You Return/When You Come Down" – The Flaming Lips

21. "All Visible Objects" – Moby

Spring 2020 New Music Playlist

Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "Where Do You Go When You Dream?" – Woods

2. "Fear of Heights" – Wye Oak

3. "Karen" – Surfer Blood

4. "Beaten Down" – Sharon Van Etten

5. "Friday" – Real Estate

6. "The Worst in Us" – The Dears

7. "Videostores" – Quivers

8. "Music" – Peter Bjorn and John

9. "Hey Hey I" – Other Lives

10. "As the Sun Sets" – Sorry

11. "Too Late" – Washed Out

12. "Mikaela Corridor" – Baths

13. "Upside Down" – Mondo Cozmo

14. "Aries" – Gorillaz featuring Peter Hook and Georgia
15. "Why Not" – Unloved
16. "Olympik" – EOB

17. "Illusion of Time" – Daniel Avery, Alessandro Cortini

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

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

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

Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2018

Compiling this year's Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day was an easy task, considering all the great new music lately from fave bands. Here are tunes that pull at the heartstrings by LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, The National, Beck, Spoon, Washed Out, Mew and more. And check out the gender-balanced cover of Interpol's "PDA" by Daywave and Hazel English. Whether coupled up or single at the moment, it's all music to feed the soul.

Listen to my Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2018 on Spotify here.  For further inspiration, visit my posts from past years: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

1. "oh baby" – LCD Soundsystem

2. "All Disco" – Elbow

3. "Do I Have to Talk You Into It" – Spoon

4. "Seventh Heaven" – Beck

5. "Dark Side of the Gym" – The National

6. "We Don't Deserve Love" – Arcade Fire

7. "Come Break My Heart Again" – The Lone Below

8. "Hard to Say Goodbye" – Washed Out

9. "To Hold and Have" – The Dears

10.  "Love Is Love (Sun on Time)" – Woods

11. "Call It Dreaming" – Iron & Wine

12. "Carry Me To Safety" – Mew

13. "PDA" – Daywave, Hazel English

14. "Up All Night" – The War on Drugs

15. "Girl Like You" – Toro Y Moi

16. "The Fear" – The Shins

17. "We a Famly" – The Flaming Lips

Summer 2017 New Music Playlist

Now that summer is in full swing, here’s another compilation of new tunes curated into a personal listening session.  There are singles from anticipated albums by Arcade Fire, The National, and Grizzly Bear, along with Mondo Cozmo, The War on Drugs and Rostam’s debut. Stand alone songs by Alex Ebert, Declan McKenna and liv round out the list with unreleased music by Gorillaz, Beach House and Daphni plus more. Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist.

1. “Everything Now” – Arcade Fire

“Everything Now” is a swirling, musical ride and title track for the upcoming fifth studio album since 2001 by North American indie juggernaut Arcade Fire. While lyrically skewering materialism, the band seems eager to dance with the help of co-producer Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk. 

2. “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” – The National

“The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” serves as a vigorous reintroduction to The National, the indie rock band from Cincinnati formed in 1999.  This is the first single for Sleep Well Beast, the seventh studio album from the group. Guitarist twins Aaron and Bryce Dessner develop the musical structure for each song, then singer Matt Berninger adds a melody and lyrics to fit the composition, as the creative collaboration continues.

3. “Automatic” – Mondo Cozmo

Mondo Cozmo, a.k.a. Josh Ostander, is ready to release his debut album in August, Plastic Soul. “Automatic” features his gritty vocals and rock anthem leanings, that have quickly found a solid fan base for this new musical project (during the 2017 tour the backing band is Illinois).

4. “Dancing is the Best Revenge” – !!!

“Dancing is the Best Revenge” sums up the credo for this dance punk band out of Sacramento, CA. It is a funky, fun single for the group’s seventh album since 1996, Shake the Shudder, which was formed out of jam sessions during a week in Barcelona.

5. “Hard To Say Goodbye” – Washed Out

Georgia native Ernest Greene has released a third album, Mister Mellow, full of quirky tunes and studio wizardry.  “Hard to Say Goodbye” boasts an infectious melody over Greene’s signature chillwave sonic foundation formulated in 2009.

6. “Three Rings” – Grizzly Bear

“Three Rings” is the first single from Painted Ruins, the fifth album since 2002 by indie quartet Grizzly Bear, which is due in August. The group is now split between coasts, so recording took place in both NYC and LA studios using the usual mix of traditional and electronic instruments for this elegant soundscape.

7. “Broken Record” – Alex Ebert

L.A. based singer/songwriter Alex Ebert is best known as the frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Ima Robot. His distinctive vocals highlight the jumpy flow of “Broken Record,” a single for the follow up to his solo debut, 2011’s Alexander.

8. “Chariot” – Beach House

The sumptuous opening organ chords and majestic singing in “Chariot” herald a new Beach House song on a compilation album of unreleased cuts and one other new song, B-Sides and Rarities.  Baltimore duo Victoria Legrand (vocalist/organist) and Alex Scally (guitarist) decided to release every song that did not exist on an album elsewhere for the band’s dedicated fans.

9. “Humongous” – Declan McKenna

Young English singer/songwriter Declan McKenna is ready to release his debut album, What Do You Think About the Car? “Humongous” is yet another solid pop single from the collection.  After a breakout year in 2016, McKenna is now confidently playing festivals.

10. “Ultralife” ­– Oh Wonder

Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West record as Oh Wonder, a London based alt-pop duo. “Ultralife” is the title track to their second album since 2014, a melodic romp sweetened by synth riffs.

11. “Bike Dream” – Rostam

Multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij will soon release a debut solo album after years with Vampire Weekend and collaborating with Hamilton Leithauser, among others. The single “Bike Dream” is a sweet tune that genuinely expresses joy over life’s little moments.

12. “Heaven” – liv

Swedish indie band collective liv released another single, “Heaven,” a hopeful, hazy, pop gem flaunting the powerhouse vocals of Lykke Li and Andrew Watt of Miike Snow.

13. “Tin” – Daphni

Canadian electronic mastermind Dan Snaith (who also records under Caribou) returns to his Daphni alter ego for another album since 2012 of unreleased tracks. The dance music whirl of “Tin” fits in with the title, fabriclive93, which honors the venerable London nightclub.

14. “City Music” – Kevin Morby

L.A. based musician Kevin Morby,  former bass player of the folk rock band Woods, just released his fourth solo album, City Music. This title track, with Woods’ husky, soulful voice on full display, refers to the idea that cities have singular identities of musical style.

15. “Holding On”­ – The War on Drugs

“Holding On” is the second single for the fourth album since 2005, A Deeper Understanding, by Philly band The War on Drugs due out in August. Adam Granduciel’s gritty singing and guitar wailing is the backbone for the group’s sumptuous, expansive sound.

16. “Sleeping Powder” – Gorillaz

This previously unreleased track seems more emblematic of this U.K. cartoon band, with its cheeky harpsichord intro and melodious dance spin with synths galore. “Sleeping Powder” is reportedly one of over 40 unused songs from the group’s fifth album since 2001, last year’s Humanz, so fans can hope for many more singles ahead.

Top 20 Songs of 2013 with YouTube Playlist

Here's my picks for the best songs of 2013 -- tunes that thrilled at first listen and continued to be faves to revist throughout the year.  It's not a ranked listing but curated as a playlist, as always kicking off fast and fun then meandering through other musical approaches from there.  I chose official videos for this post, all except Okkervil River's "Down Down the Deep River," which is also the name of an upcoming film Will Sheff is creating about his childhood hometown through a kickstarter campaign. So I inserted the trailer for that since there's no official video for the song itself.  This movie is definitely on my list for in 2014...

Find a straight up listening session here or click on the videos and let 'er rip!

1. "If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't On the Dance Floor)"– Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
2. "Dumb Disco Ideas"– Holy Ghost!
3. "Song for Zula" – Phosphorescent
4. "It All Feels Right" – Washed Out
5. "Right Action" – Franz Ferdinand
6. "Sharpteeth" – The Octopus Project
7. "Come Save Me" – Jagwar Ma
8. "High School Lover" – Cayucas
9. "Ohm" – Yo La Tengo
10. "The Perfect Life (featuring Wayne Coyne)" – Moby 
11. "Don't Swallow the Cap" – The National
12. "Shuggie" – Foxygen
13. "In the City" – Caveman
14. "Your Life Is a Lie" – MGMT
15. "Varsity" – Smith Westerns
16. "Reflektor" – Arcade Fire
17. "Down Down the Deep River" – Okkervil River
18. "The Truth" – Dr. Dog
19. "Rose Quartz" – Toro Y Moi
20. "Sun Blows Up Today" – The Flaming Lips

YouTube Playlist of Late Summer 2013 New Music Songs

This time around I quickly found all of the songs from my Late Summer 2013 Playlist on YouTube as official videos, whether with a static image or moving visuals.  It attests to the new notion of putting music on YouTube as a promotional tool, no matter if there's fancy filming along with it or not.

I offer it as a companion piece to the Grooveshark audio, and yet another opportunity to explore new music. Link to the NMMatterscorp YouTube page or click the video below.

Late Summer 2013 New Music Playlist

As if on cue, new releases heated up the summer fun with lush soundtracks courtesy of Washed out, Boards of Canada and Jon Hopkins, plus pop gems from Camera Obscura, Maps and Big Deal.  A retro-tinged Har Mar Superstar, dedicated alt-rockers Primal Scream and indietronica from The Octopus Project round out the latest playlist, while new bands Bear Mountain, Jaqwar Ma and Brazos provide a fine update to any music collection.  Advance singles from Beck and Franz Ferdinand also bring an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year, so dig in.  Link to listen here. 

**EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN NAME EVERY BAND WITH A TIE TO SCOTLAND (ANSWER AT THE END OF THE POST!)

1. “It All Feels Right” – Washed Out

Georgian chillwave musician Ernest Greene is back with a second full-length album, Paracosm, which incorporates over fifty instruments to move beyond sampling.  This single is the first track Greene worked on for the collection and his favorite as it captures the original vision of “daytime” sounding songs.

2. “Right Action” – Franz Ferdinand

Glasgow-based indie rock quartet Franz Ferdinand returns with its fourth studio album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.  From the opening guitar riff, the tune glides along guided by the sultry vocals of Alex Kapranos.

3. “Diamonds” – The Boxer Rebellion

Tennessee native Nathan Nicholson’s heartfelt vocals are a signature part of this indie rock quartet formed in London back in 2001.  “Diamonds” allows an expansive approach to the guitar-driven compositions on the band’s fourth album, Promises.

4. “It’s Alright, It’s OK” – Primal Scream

Scottish alt rock group Primal Scream has released its tenth album since 1982, More Light. This single sends an undeniable “Rock On” message with a breezy approach in Bobby Gillespie’s vocals, backed up by a group sing along complete with empowering hand claps.

5. “How the Ranks Was Won” – Brazos

Martin Crane relocated from Austin, Texas, to Brooklyn for an indie band mentality in his second album, Saltwater.  This beguiling tune tells the tale of a ghost ship with both a bemused detachment and emphasis on melody.

6. “Sharpteeth” – The Octopus Project

This Austin quartet is adding vocals into its experimental mix of indietronica for a welcome human element that slyly enters above the creative fray.  This is the second single from Fever Forms, the band’s fifth album since 1999.

7. “Two Step” – Bear Mountain

Vancouver-based electro-dance band Bear Mountain manipulates synth loops layered with live drums and chopped vocals. Led by frontman Ian Bevis, this irresistible instrumental is the opening track of the band’s debut album, XO.

8. “Come Save Me” – Jagwar Ma

This catchy tune by Australian duo Gabriel Winterfield and Jono Ma is a highlight of the band’s debut album, Howlin.  The solid band sound rocks along with interweaving synths until a slow fade out leaves the listener wanting more.

9. “Yellow Bird” – Pretty Lights

Colorado-based electronic musician Derek Vincent has released the first album of originally produced compositions, A Color Map of the Sun.  “Yellow  Bird” luxuriates in a simple loop of dreamy beats until a female vocal line drifts in above it all.

10. “In Your Car” – Big Deal

London duo Big Deal features Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe, with songwriting and vocals shared in tandem.  For the sophomore album, June Gloom, they expand to a full band sound with appealing pop grandeur.

11. “A.M.A.” – Maps

U.K. musician James Chapman has released his third album as Maps, Vicissitude. This song is the first in the collection, with a drum track intro leading the way for synthesizers as mixed by Ken Thomas (M83, Sigur Rós).

12. “Do It Again” – Camera Obscura

Scottish Indie pop quintet Camera Obscura recently released its fifth album since forming in 1999, called Desire Lines. This sunny, feel good single explains why the band maintains such longevity.

13. “Lady, You Shot Me” – Har Mar Superstar

Har Mar Superstar is the stage name of Sean Matthew Tillman, a singer/songwriter from Minnesota.  He has penned tunes for Jennifer Lopez and Kelly Osbourne but shops his own wares in a retro-style for a fifth album, Bye Bye 17.

14. “Nothing’s Changed” – Tricky (featuring Francesca Belmonte)

Tricky (neé Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws) is a U.K. musician as well as an actor. He continues to blends many influences for a tenth studio album, False Idols.

15. “Defriended” – Beck

“Defriended” is a stand alone single announcing Beck’s return to a electronic playground, with the intentions of releasing two albums of new material after 2008’s Modern Guilt.  The tune wavers through a synth-laden landscape with Beck’s familiar plaintive vocals.

16. “Open Eye Signal” – Jon Hopkins

London-based U.K. producer and musician Jon Hopkins has recently released his fourth studio album, Immunity.  This single acts like a tone poem, with a rhythmic pulse that patiently develops throughout this cinematic composition.

17. “Reach for the Dead” – Boards of Canada

Scottish electronica brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin (neé Marcus Eoin Sandison) have created their fourth studio album since 2005, called Tomorrow’s Harvest. Utilizing various vintage instruments and equipment, the duo resumed their investigations into tonality.

DID YOU GUESS 4 BANDS?

1. Franz Ferdinand

2. Primal Scream

3. Camera Obscura

4. Boards of Canada