Monthly Mix: December 2014

The Smashing Pumpkins visit a Monument To An Elegy


     The presents were plentiful this December and the music world also handed out a few gifts of its own just before the clock struck midnight.
     Chicago Illinois alt-rockers The Smashing Pumpkins have been riding high on the waves of their new album Monument To An Elegy [December 5, via BMG]. The nine tracks are laced with synths, hard hitting guitars, and feature Tommy Lee on the drums. Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan says he's surprised by the muddled reviews his new effort is getting, but understands the critics said the same thing about his earlier releases. On the cut "Drum + Fife", an acoustic guitar and a scintillating synth-line lead to the album's best work. The band will play big slots at the Lollapalooza 2015 South America festivals in support.
     As the year winds down, its nice to reflect on all the great memories, experiences, and awesome tunes of course! The December Playlist may be the last one of the year, but it is still jam-packed with enough fresh tracks to keep the elves busy for next year.


December 2014 Playlist

1.  Soft Pyramids  -  "Around This Town"

2.  Modest Mouse  -  "Lampshades On Fire"

3.  The Smashing Pumpkins  -  "Drum + Fife"

4.  Rise Against  -  "Tragedy + Time"

5.  Max Frost  -  "Let Me Down Easy"

6.  Joywave  -  "Somebody New"

7.  The Kickdrums  -  "Breathe Again"

8.  Crescendo  -  "Call Cards"

9.  alt-J  -  "Every Other Freckle"

10.  Misun  -  "Penny"

11.  The Airborne Toxic Event  -  "Wrong"

12.  Vance Joy  -  "Mess Is Mine"

IN THE BONUS:

Here are Orbit Sound's Favorite Songs of 2014.


Favorite Songs Of 2014

15.  Tove Lo  -  "Habits (Stay High)"

14.  The Black Keys  -  "Gotta Get Away"

13.  Big Data  -  "Dangerous" ft. Joywave

12.  The War On Drugs  -  "Red Eyes"

11.  Mike Doughty  -  "Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating In The Future"

10.  Bleachers  -  "I Wanna Get Better"

9.  Weezer  -  "Back To The Shack"

8.  Jack White  -  "Lazaretto"

7.  Foo Fighters  -  "Outside"

6.  Bear Hands  -  "Agora"

5.  Cloud Nothings  -  "I'm Not Part Of Me" 

4.  Spoon  -  "Inside Out"

3.  Foster The People  -  "Coming Of Age"

2.  moe.  -  "Same Old Story"

1.  Tokyo Police Club  -  "Argentina (Parts I, II, III)"

There you have it folks, 2014 is in the books. Have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

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

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Best Albums Of 2014

Bear Hands made a Distraction in 2014

     As the year comes to an end, it's nice to look back at all the albums that made for another banner year in the music world. Here are Orbit Sound's favorite albums of 2014.


Best Albums Of 2014

40.  Warpaint  -  Warpaint

39.  Umphrey's McGee  -  Similar Skin

38.  FKA Twigs  -  LP1

37.  The Gaslight Anthem  -  Get Hurt

36.  Sun Kil Moon  -  Benji

35.  Lana Del Rey  -  Ultraviolence

34.  Real Estate  -  Atlas

33.  Shabazz Palaces  -  Lese Majesty

32.  Charli XCX  -  Sucker

31.  Rise Against  -  The Black Market

30.  The Pretty Reckless  -  Going To Hell

29.  The Smashing Pumpkins  -  Monument To An Elegy

28.  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -  Hypnotic Eye

27.  Flying Lotus  -  You're Dead!

26.  Royal Blood  -  Royal Blood

25.  Thom Yorke  -  Tomorrow's Modern Boxes

24.  Interpol  -  El Pintor

23.  Future Islands  -  Singles

22.  Death From Above 1979  -  The Physical World

21.  Swans  -  To Be Kind

20.  Tokyo Police Club  -  Forcefield

19.  Caribou  -  Our Love

18.  Run The Jewels  -  Run The Jewels 2

17.  Broken Bells  -  After The Disco

16.  Weezer  -  Everything Will Be Alright In The End

15.  Chromeo  -  White Women

14.  TV On The Radio  -  Seeds

13.  Beck  -  Morning Phase

12.  Cloud Nothings  -  Here And Nowhere Else

11.  alt-J  -  This Is All Yours

10.  Phish  -  Fuego

9.  St. Vincent  -  St. Vincent

8.  Foo Fighters  -  Sonic Highways

7.  The Black Keys  -  Fever

6.  moe.  -  No Guts, No Glory

5.  Spoon  -  They Want My Soul

4.  The War On Drugs  -  Lost In The Dream

3.  Jack White  -  Lazaretto

2.  Foster The People  -  Supermodel

1.  Bear Hands  -  Distraction

 

Check in every month for the latest in alternative music.

Stay tuned for the December Playlist!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Monthly Mix: November 2014

TV On The Radio plants new Seeds

      November gave out lots to be thankful for including friends, family, and football. Not to mention a feast of new music.
     Brooklyn New York's indie rockers TV On The Radio are back with their latest album Seeds [November 18, via Harvest]. Heavy on synth and fuzzed out guitars, this record is smooth front to back. On the first single "Happy Idiot", frontman Tunde Adebimpe sings a tale of trying to stay sane while not trying to think about a love that got away. The band's tour kicks off in Miami then heads overseas with a big gig at Sonar Festival in Iceland.
     As the cold begins to settle in, it's good to know the iPod is heated up with fresh tunes. Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror, now it's time to put the headphones on and string up the Christmas lights.


 November 2014 Playlist

1.  Cold War Kids  -  "All This Could Be Yours"

2.  Hospital  -  "Right On"

3.  TV On The Radio  -  "Happy Idiot"

4.  Bully  -  "Milkman"

5.  Foo Fighters  -  "In The Clear"

6.  Imagine Dragons  -  "I Bet My Life"

7.  George Ezra  -  "Budapest"

8.  Milky Chance  -  "Flashed Junk Mind"

9.  Robert DeLong  -  "Long Way Down"

10.  Yelawolf  -  "Till It's Gone"

11.  Brave Shores  -  "Never Come Down"

12.  Walk The Moon  -  "Shut Up And Dance"

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