Monthly Mix: May 2015

My Morning Jacket slides down The Waterfall

   
     It seems as if summer is just around the corner. Pool parties and backyard barbecues will be in full swing and they wouldn't be complete without a fresh batch of new tunes.
     Kentucky rockers My Morning Jacket are riding high after releasing their latest album The Waterfall [May 4th, via ATO]. Packed full of  heavy guitars and complex rhythms, this record is vintage Jim James. For the cut "Compound Fracture" James sings a message of getting the most out of life before our time is up, while a summertime beat provides the backdrop. The whole album weaves in and out of smooth grooves and big ax shredding. Check out the band as their tour makes big stops at Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, and Forecastle Festival.
     It's time to dust off the grill and get the summer festivities started. The May Playlist will provide enough new beats to recharge the iPods just in time to keep the party going well into the night.


May 2015 Playlist

1.  Bully  -  "Trying"

2.  X Ambassadors  -  "Renegades"

3.  My Morning Jacket  -  "Compound Fracture"

4.  Panic! At The Disco  -  "Hallelujah"

5.  Rozwell Kid  -  "Kangaroo Pocket"

6.  Third Eye Blind  -  "Everything Is Easy"

7.  Leaf Erikson  -  "Looking For Signs"

8.  Ducktails  -  "Headbanging In The Mirror"

9.  Hot Chip  -  "Need You Now"

10.  Elle King  -  "Ex's & Oh's"

11.  Diamond Mind  -  "Acid Jungle"

12.  MS MR  -  "Painted"

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: The Playlist, May 2012

     Although the summer isn't technically here yet, it sure does feel like it. This May treated us to sunshine, a fresh bloom of wildlife, and signs of new things to come. The same can be said about the musical offerings, which features an array of new sun-baked treasures.
     Canada is definitely not short on relevant music these days. Toronto's Metric exploded back onto the alt-radio waves this month with "Youth Without Youth", a glam-rocker that finds front-woman Emily Haines describing a new generation of youngsters who are neglecting their childhood innocence. As the summer nears, this message seems to be very much appropriate. Their new album Synthetica is available for download June 12.
     It's always refreshing to hear music with meaning, and this month The Gaslight Anthem delivered. The New Jersey-based punkers handed us an early summer anthem in "45", a track off their upcoming Handwritten (July 24) which features a soaring guitar riff and powerful vocals about moving on from a past relationship.
     Michael Angelekos, lead singer of electro-pop outfit Passion Pit, claims that there is more of a dichotomy between the lyrics and the music on the band's new album Gossamer (July 24). The first single "Take A Walk" is a departure from the group relying on their trademark synth grooves and gives way to Angelekos exploring themes of political nature, something we haven't seen from them before.
     As the weather continues to become more enjoyable, the new music seems to as well. We here will throw our sunglasses on, grab our mp3 players, and head to the beach to soak up the rays, and of course the fresh tunes.

May 2012 Playlist


1. Jack White - Freedom at 21

2. Metric - Youth Without Youth

3. The Gaslight Anthem - 45

4. Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)

5. White Arrows - Roll Forever

6. Passion Pit - Take A Walk

7. Happy Hands Club - Astrology

8. Friends - Mind Control

9. Hot Chip - Night & Day

10. St. Lucia - Closer Than This

11. Animal Collective - Honeycomb

12. B.o.B - So Good

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

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For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @s_ferris