Monthly Mix: December 2013

American Authors plan to write their own script

     December once again offered up a mountain of snow to keep all the skiers and snowboarders busy. There was also a stocking-load of fresh mp3s that made for the perfect companion alongside a fire and some eggnog.
     Brooklyn indie-rockers American Authors are ending the year with a bang. Although their self-titled EP was released back in the summer, the band is riding the waves of their songs into the winter. The folk-pop sound comes out on the track "Best Day Of My Life" and features some good banjo work by James Adam Shellby. Only one show in Huntington, NY, is scheduled for the tour so far.
     It's a melancholy feeling as one chapter ends and one chapter begins. This year has brought some exciting, unique, new music, and it appears the future will be just as bright in 2014.


December 2013 Playlist

1. Bipolar Sunshine - Drowning Butterflies

2. Miami Horror - Colours In The Sky

3. American Authors - Best Day Of My Life

4. Saint Motel - Ace In The Hole

5. Cut Copy - We Are Explorers

6. The Suits - Stars

7. I Know The Chief - Stay Coloured

8. The Strokes - Slow Animals

9. Black Lips - Boys In The Wood

10. 7 Days Of Funk - Faden Away

IN THE BONUS:

What would the last installment of the year be without a final rundown of the year's top tracks? Here is a look at 10 of Orbit Sound's favorite tunes of the year.

Favorite Tracks of 2013

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs -  Sacrilege

9. Toro Y Moi - Say That

8. Arcade Fire - Normal Person

7. Ducktails - Jazz

6. Bear Hands - Giants

5. Max Frost - White Lies

4. Fitz And The Tantrums - Out Of My League

3. Queens Of The Stone Age - I Sat By The Ocean

2. Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool

1. Portugal. The Man - Creep In A T-Shirt

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Best Albums of 2013



Phoenix went Bankrupt! in 2013

It’s hard to believe another year is almost in the books. This time of year is always fun
to look back on all the great albums that came in and were absorbed into the eardrums.
Once again, the music world treated us to a diverse platter of exciting sounds. There
was a surge in indie rock, and we saw the return of some alt-rock giants from the past.
As the smoke cleared, there were a few gems that stood out above the rest.

With that being said, here is a look at Orbit Sound’s list of Best Albums of 2013:

30. Deerhunter - Monomania

29. Yo La Tengo - Fade

28. David Bowie - The Next Day

27. Cut Copy - Free Your Mind

26. Vampire Weekend -  Modern Vampires Of The City

25. Dawes - Stories Don't End

24. My Bloody Valentine - m b v

23. HAIM - Days Are Gone

22. White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade

21. Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt

20. M.I.A. - Matangi

19. The Avett Brothers - Magpie And The Dandelion

18. The Flaming Lips - The Terror

17. Wale - The Gifted

16. The Strokes - Comedown Machine

15. Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull

14. Foals - Holy Fire

13. Atoms For Peace - Amok

12. The 1975 - The 1975

11. Arctic Monkeys - AM

10. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks

9. Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

8. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

7. Atlas Genius - When It Was Now

6. Toro Y Moi - Anything In Return

5. Queens of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork

4. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

3. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

2. Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends

1. Phoenix - Bankrupt!


Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any albums featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: November 2013

M.I.A. brings the noise with Matangi

     November brought with it the first glimpse of snow and also a heap of new music with plenty of variety. As Thanksgiving draws near, the music world gave us one more thing to be thankful for.
       English hip-hop artist Maya Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A. is back making headlines with her new release Matangi [November 1, via Interscope]. Drawing from elements of punk and pop, she manages to balance both of her inspirations. On "Sexodus", she gets the help of her friend The Weeknd as they freestyle over one of the better beats on the record. Although there are no tour dates in the works, look for her to hit the festival circuit in the spring.
     The trees may be bare this time of year, but the reservoir on the iPod is most certainly not. The November Playlist aims to keep the heat up with cuts from the hip-hop world and the indie realm, making it the perfect companion alongside the last drumstick.


November 2013 Playlist

1. Bastille - Pompeii

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Run

3. Arctic Monkeys - One For The Road

4. Broken Bells - Holding On For Life

5. Young The Giant - It's About Time

6. M.I.A. - Sexodus

7. Tycho - Awake

8. Nonono - Scared

9. Bear Hands - Giants

10. Tennis - Mean Streets

11. Wooden Shjips - Back To The Land

12. Eminem - The Monster ft. Rihanna

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: October 2013

Arcade Fire looks through the Reflektor

     Like usual, October set a colored backdrop of flouresent trees to help ease us into the colder months. While the leaves were busy changing colors and falling from the branches, the phenomenal music cuts also continued to fall down from the skies.
     Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, indie rockers Arcade Fire are creating a major buzz around their latest album Reflektor [October 29, via Merge]. Some of this is because their previous effort won a Grammy, and some of it is because their new one is produced by LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, who is known for infectious dance grooves. Reflektor has elements of imagination, indie rock, and a few dance numbers of course. For the track "Afterlife," frontman Win Butler admits that the song started out with an old recording of a Haitian percussion loop, went through a few variations, and finally ended up with a chorus being added. The band will go on tour as The Reflektors and has two shows in California before heading across the pond to Europe for a couple shows.
     As the brisk weather continues to near closer, it is always good to have some fresh tunes in the mp3 player ready to keep us warm. The October Playlist conjures up some alternative rock cuts, as well as sprinkling in some indie rock and chillwave offerings. As the leaves crunch under our shoes during these autumn strolls, it is good to know the beats will keep going strong.


October 2013 Playlist

1. The Killers - Shot At The Night

2. Phantogram - Black Out Days

3. Pearl Jam - Let The Records Play

4. AFI - 17 Crimes

5. The Neighbourhood - Afraid

6. Arcade Fire - Afterlife

7. Ducktails - Jazz

8. Hollow & Akimbo - Solar Plexus

9. Balance and Composure - Reflection

10. Ra Ra Riot - I Shut Off

11. Toro Y Moi - Campo

12. Cut Copy - Free Your Mind

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any tunes featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: September 2013

Nine Inch Nails are back with Hesitation Marks

     September was enjoyable and featured a mega surplus of stellar tunes that streamed in like fish swimming down current. The weather may have cooled off a bit, but the mp3s certainly did not.
     Cleveland Ohio's industrial rock project Nine Inch Nails have returned to relevance with their new album Hesitation Marks [September 2, via Columbia], the first offering from them in five years. As frontman Trent Reznor puts it "I'm not the same person I was twenty years ago." While that may be true, the Nails still deliver enough punch to help get the head bashing going strong throughout the night. Taking a turn from driving industrial beats, the track "Everything" explores the unfamiliar realms of the pop world. Their massive fall tour starts up in the midwest and features a slot at the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans.
     This month's playlist is filled with alternative tunes and a healthy dose of indie flavor. It makes a good companion with headphones and the brisk autumn trails.


September 2013 Playlist

1. The 1975 - Chocolate

2. Nine Inch Nails - Everything

3. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

4. Two Door Cinema Club - Changing Of The Seasons

5. The Naked and Famous - Hearts Like Ours

6. MGMT - Cool Song No. 2

7. Rubblebucket - Save Charlie

8. Step Rockets - Kisser

9. Minus the Bear -  Riddles

10. Dive In - Let Go

11. Polica - Chain My Name

12. Cults - High Road

13. Satellite Stories - Campfire

14. Keep Shelly In Athens - Recollection

15. Quasi - See You On Mars

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: August 2013

Franz Ferdinand delivers Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

     August seemed to continue the trend for the summer with good weather and hot tracks in the background. While the bees were buzzing around the hives, so were the mp3s this month as a few alt-rock giants emerged back to the forefront.
     United Kingdom alternative rock group Franz Ferdinand are making waves with their first release in four years Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action [August 27, via Domino]. Stacked with guitar-pop flavor, band leader Alex Kapranos says "For this one, we tried to act as if we didn't exist to the outside world and we could just make whatever we want and have our own world to live in and work in." The opening track "Right Action" jumps out of the gates with a flurry and gets boots stomping on the floor, reminiscent to the band's early days of writing fiery garage dance tracks. The album is a fun ride as the energy flows in and out. Their United States tour kicks off in October as they make a trip to Texas, including a spot at Austin City Limits.
     Hard to believe the summer is almost winding down. The August Playlist does its best to keep the heat index hot on the iPod while we soak up the last few days of sunshine and leisure.


August 2013 Playlist

1. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?

2. Kings Of Leon - Supersoaker

3. Franz Ferdinand - Right Action

4. Dr. Dog - The Truth

5. Max Frost - White Lies

6. Cage The Elephant - Come A Little Closer

7. Yuck - Rebirth

8. White Denim - Pretty Green

9. Pond - Giant Tortoise

10. HAIM - The Wire

11. St. Lucia - Elevate

12. Lorde - Royals

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured on Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7 

Mile of Music Rocks Downtown Appleton

     Over the weekend of August 8-11, Appleton was the destination for the inaugural Mile of Music Festival which featured 100+ musicians and bands playing in more than 40 different venues scattered across College Avenue. The mastermind of the festival was hometown singer/songwriter Cory Chisel whose vision was to bring original music to Appleton and give the community an event where people could have fun, listen to music, and party with friends. Mission accomplished, Cory.
    The Mile of Music Festival showcased musicians and bands of various genres, including Americana, indie rock, country, jazz, soul, folk, and more. Local band Greg Waters & The Broad Street Boogie kicked off the festivities Thursday evening in the newly renovated Houdini Plaza. The group played a bunch of fan-favorites out of their original catalog and helped set the pace for a stellar weekend.
     Chicago indie rockers California Wives had multiple sets over the course of the weekend, but really stole the show at Chadwick's Bar with a blistering set that included their hit song "Purple." As frontman Jayson Kramer belted out the lyrics "Will you break until you quit it?", the packed crowd most certainly did not want to quit dancing all night. Look for these guys as their fall tour schedule will be announced shortly, and we hope to have them back at next year's Mile of Music.
     In typical Orbit Sound fashion, we've produced a Mile of Music Playlist that features tunes from some of the great artists that graced the stage this weekend. The first year was a success and we are stoked for next year, as plans are already in the works for the second Mile. Enjoy!


Mile Of Music 2013 Playlist

1. The Blakes - Don't Bother Me

2. Phox - Slow Motion

3. California Wives - Purple

4. Bright Kind - Documentation

5. Dead Horses - Glitterbug

6. Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons - Times Won't Change

7. The Candles - Blind Light

8. Orange Iguanas - Tell Me More (Demi Moore)

9. JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound - Rouse Yourself

10. The Traveling Suitcase - King Eliot

11. Those Darlins - Oh God

12. Norah Jones - Happy Pills

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: July 2013

The Weeknd opens Kiss Land

     

     July is in true form as the sun shines down and the breeze flows by on these peaceful evenings. The influx of brand new mp3s is making for yet another red hot summer. Whether at the water park, or flying down roller coasters, this month's mix will for sure keep the adrenaline going all night.

     Toronto R&B sensation Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd is set to launch his brand new debut album Kiss Land [September 10, via Republic] at the end of the summer. Heavy on bass, and catchy on hooks, The Weeknd delivers some bedroom shaking anthems. As he echoes 'This ain't nothin' to relate to' on the title track "Kiss Land," his beats may start catching on sooner than he thinks. The album-supporting tour hits all major hotspots all over Canada and the U.S. throughout the fall.

     This seems to be the most relaxing time of the year. Perfect for the headphones and a refreshing cocktail. The July playlist zigs and zags on its route as some heavy hitters emerge and some hidden gems lay quietly in the beach sand.

July 2013 Playlist

1. Beck - I Won't Be Long

2. Franz Ferdinand - Love Illumination

3. Pepper - F**k Around (All Night)

 

4. Grouplove - Ways To Go

5. AWOLNATION - This Kid's Not Alright

6. The Weeknd -  Kiss Land

7. Hot Chip - Dark & Stormy

8. Mayer Hawthorne - Her Favorite Song

9. Gogol Bordello - Lost Innocent World

10. Washed Out - Don't Give Up

11. Brothertiger - In Mind

12. Pearl Jam - Mind Your Manners

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in purchasing any songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: June 2013

Queens of the Stone Age return with ...Like Clockwork

     Summer is officially here and is already in full swing. Festival season is well under way and the new music is also pouring in like rain storms. June's mix features some fresh cuts that will most definitely sound good while splashing around the pool.
     California's favorite stoner-rockers Queens of the Stone Age return to the top of the charts with their new record ...Like Clockwork. Like usual, frontman Josh Homme rounded up some of his friends to play on a few tunes, including Dave Grohl and Trent Reznor. On "If I Had A Tail" Homme imagines what he'd do if given an extra appendage as he wails away on a twisted desert-rock riff. Their tour takes them overseas with festival stops at Volt and Rokslide, not to mention heading back state-side for Lollapalooza.
     With the heat approaching, it's nice to have some fresh tunes to keep cool. The June mix hits a variety of places in the musical landscape and makes the perfect accompaniment with a hammock and a shade tree.


June 2013 Playlist

1. Nine Inch Nails - Came Back Haunted

2. Transplants - Come Around

3. Queens of the Stone Age - If I Had A Tail

4. Surfer Blood - Gravity

5. Noah and the Whale - Heart Of Nowhere

6. Portugal. The Man - Modern Jesus

7. Thundercat - Heartbreaks + Setbacks

8. Gauntlet Hair - Human Nature

9. Wale - Love Hate Thing ft. Sam Dew

10. Crystal Fighters - LA Calling

11. Pacific Air - Move

12. Boards of Canada - Reach For The Dead

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Visit iTunes if interested in songs featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: May 2013

Daft Punk shares Random Access Memories

     The month of May is usually synonymous with sunshine and a revival period for mother nature. As the fresh bloom starts to spring up, the musical world also begins sprouting up some blossoms of its own in the form of colorful mp3s.
     Electronic dance-rock duo Daft Punk is back in the fold with their first studio release in 8 years Random Access Memories [May 21, via Columbia]. The long-awaited album was worth the wait as the Frenchmen behind the robot helmets Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter deliver the goods with a 70's-style disco dance party. This record is filled with collaborations, with one of the better cameos coming from Animal Collective's Panda Bear on the club-shaking "Doin' It Right." After one listen, everybody will be dancing and be doing it right. Although there are no current plans for a tour, the rumors will always be circulating.
     With the cold and rainy weather behind us, the warmth of the summer will soon be beckoning. The May Playlist has a dynamic assortment of cuts that will make it easy to take in the vibrant sounds, perfect for a sunny afternoon stroll through the park.


May 2013 Playlist

1. Portugal. The Man - Purple Yellow Red & Blue

2. Capital Cities - Safe And Sound

3. Fitz And The Tantrums - Out Of My League

4. Atlas Genius - If So

5. The National - Sea Of Love

6. Daft Punk - Doin' It Right ft. Panda Bear

7. Empire Of The Sun - Alive

8. Small Black - No Stranger

9. Wild Nothing - A Dancing Shell

10. Frightened Rabbit - Oil Slick

11. Classixx - All You're Waiting For

12. Fall Out Boy - Young Volcanoes

Check in every month for the latest in alternative/indie music.

Visit iTunes if you heard anything you liked on Orbit Sound! 

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: April 2013

The Flaming Lips bring The Terror

    
     Avoiding the rain in April is no easy task. A good umbrella and a solid pair of headphones is often a formidable defense. Lucky for us, under this month's umbrella was an array of shimmering tracks that helped to keep us dry and rocking out at the same time.
     Oklahoma space-rockers The Flaming Lips are back in action with their new album The Terror [April 16, via Warner Bros.]. Frontman Wayne Coyne describes it as "A record about acceptance. When the world expects you to be all sunshine, you want to express feelings that are the opposite so that others can share what you're feeling." The track "Always There In Our Hearts" is a dark haunting number which slowly builds creating a chaotic crescendo. The entire feel of the album plays out in a similar fashion. Look for them as their tour swings through the festival circuit including Bottle Rock, Forecastle, and Capitol Hill Block Party.
     The rest of April's mix is filled with a variety of alternative rock, indie rock, dreampop, and more to help brighten up the gloomy rainy nights.


April 2013 Playlist

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - If You Didn't See Me

2. Born Ruffians - Ocean's Deep

3. Queens of the Stone Age - My God Is The Sun

4. Dawes - From A Window Seat

5. Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool

6. The Flaming Lips - Always There In Our Hearts

7. Deerhunter - Monomania

8. Generationals - Say When

9. Snoop Lion - Ashtrays and Heartbreaks ft. Miley Cyrus

10. Lemaitre - Cut To Black

11. Bonobo - Antenna

12. Daft Punk - Get Lucky

Check in every month for the latest in alternative/indie music.

Please try and support all the great artists featured in Orbit Sound!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: March 2013

Phoenix goes Bankrupt!

    
     "Beware the Ides of March" is the famous warning given to the title character in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.  If Caesar existed today, they might be telling him to beware the "mp3s" of March, for they may cause dancing seizures. This month's mix features some spring-time gems in the form of spanking new indie rock and hypnotic shoe-gaze, sure to help put winter in the rearview mirror.
     French alternative-rock darlings Phoenix are making some major noise in anticipation of their upcoming 5th studio release Bankrupt! [April 22, via Glassnote]. The 4-piece rock outfit, led by Thomas Mars, has introduced the first single in the form of the synthy, eastern-sounding "Entertainment." While Mars states he'd "rather be alone", it is safe to say the band most certainly won't be as their tour will bounce through the western United States featuring a headlining spot at Coachella. They will also be at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival followed by a slew of European festivals including Primavera Sound, Pinkpop, and Leeds Festival.
     As the snow continues to melt away, the March mix most definitely does its best to bring about the much needed sunshine of the spring. In fact, it's so good that it would have Caesar saying "I came, I listened, I conquered."

March 2013 Playlist

1. David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege

3. Phoenix - Entertainment

4. Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends

5. The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather

6. Foals - My Number

7. The Crookes - Afterglow

8. Wavves - Demon To Lean On

9. Psychic Twin - Dream State

10. Haim - Falling

11. Vampire Weekend - Step

12. The Men - I Saw Her Face

Check in every month for the latest in alternative/indie music.

Please try and support the great artists featured in Orbit Sound.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: February 2013

Jim James explores Regions of Light and Sound of God

     As the snow and the slush continue to pile up, lucky for us so does the reloaded reservoir on our iPods.  February produced a healthy amount of solid tracks, ranging from folk to indie rock and all points in between.  Plenty of variety to help spice up the last few weeks of winter.
     My Morning Jacket band leader Jim James is back in the mix of things with his debut solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God.  This record has a stripped-down feel, giving way to a haunting collection of songs.  The first single "A New Life" finds James at his bare-bones core, while managing to slowly morph a folk song into a showtune.  Look for him in the months to come as his tour makes stops at some bigtime festivals including Bonnaroo, Hangout, and Firefly.
     The rest of February's playlist produces a better than average mix, enough to keep the heat going a bit longer as the winter winds down.


February '13 Playlist

1. Fall Out Boy - My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)

2. Jim James - A New Life

3. 90 Pounds Of Pete - Arms

4. My Bloody Valentine - New You

5. Cymbals - The Natural World

6. Atoms For Peace - Judge Jury and Executioner

7. !!! - Slyd

8. The Strokes - One Way Trigger

9. Youth Lagoon - Dropla

10. Cold War Kids - Miracle Mile

11. Goldroom - Sweetness Alive ft. Saint Lou Lou

12. The Away Days - Galaxies

Check in every month for the latest tracks from around the music world.

Try and support the artists featured on Orbit Sound!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

 

Monthly Mix: January 2013

Toro Y Moi offers Anything In Return

     
     Welcome back, folks. Hope everyone had an enjoyable new year's eve. As you can see, there are some slight changes around these parts and there will be more to come as some of the kinks get worked out. Orbit Sound is now here. January's installment will not disappoint, as a surprising amount of quality tracks came blustering in along with the arctic winds.
     South Carolina native and chillwave mastermind Chaz Bundick, better known as Toro Y Moi was determined to blend some pop flavor into his latest album Anything In Return. Bundick delivers just what he intended, a synthy, groovy, melodic record complete with even a few radio hooks. On "Say That," he utilizes his light vocals over a bouncy backbone, including his signature synths dancing in and out. A string of dates through Texas is how he will kick off the tour in February, followed by a run up the east coast.
     The January Mix is stacked with a bunch of quality early season cuts, ranging from hip-hop to punk rock. The year is off to a good start so far and there will be plenty more to come down the road.


January 2013 Playlist

1. Yo La Tengo - Ohm

2. Churchill - Change

3. Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound

4. Dirty Projectors - About To Die

5. A$AP Rocky - Wild For The Night ft. Skrillex

6. Toro Y Moi - Say That

7. Mitzi - All I Heard

8. Tegan & Sara - Closer

9. Ducktails - Letter Of Intent

10. Albert Ryan - We Meet Again

11. Swim Deep - The Sea

12. Rancid - Fuck You

Check in every month for the latest in alternative/indie music.

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter @SteveFerris7