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.

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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