Monthly Mix: June 2017

Phoenix say Ti Amo

     As the sunshine continues to pour in, so does the insane amount of quality new music. June is in the rear view mirror, but it left a mammoth-sized heap of fresh tunes.
     French rockers Phoenix are creating a buzz with their new album Ti Amo [June 9, via Glassnote]. Frontman Thomas Mars describes the record as a joyous outlet from the turmoil of their native homeland of France. The ten tracks have a bubbly-synth vibe, and at times reach Italian-disco dance peaks. On the title track "Ti Amo," the band goes into full throttle party mode, while Mars weaves back and forth between English and Italian lyrics. Check them out on their massive world festival tour, with a nice slot at Summer Sonic in Tokyo.
     As the summer continues to roll on, it's refreshing to know the iPods are reloaded with fresh beats. The June Playlist takes a trip through alternative and indie rock, and also makes a good soundtrack for enjoying a day at the beach.


June 2017 Playlist

1.  Foo Fighters  -  "Run"

2.  Arcade Fire  -  "Everything Now"

3.  Phoenix  -  "Ti Amo"

4.  The Killers  -  "The Man"

5.  Queens of the Stone Age  -  "The Way You Used To Do"

6.  Portugal. The Man  -  "So Young"

7.  Lorde  -  "Perfect Places"

8.  Broken Social Scene  -  "Halfway Home"

9.  Joywave  -  "It's a Trip!"

10.  MuteMath  -  "Hit Parade"

11.  Gov't Mule  -  "Stone Cold Rage"

12.  ODESZA  -  "Line Of Sight" ft. WYNNE & Mansionair

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon:

Foo Fighters - "Run"
Arcade Fire - "Everything Now"
Phoenix - "Ti Amo"
The Killers - "The Man"
Queens of the Stone Age - "The Way You Used To Do"
Portugal. The Man - "So Young"
Lorde - "Perfect Places"
Broken Social Scene - "Halfway Home"
Joywave - "It's A Trip!"
MuteMath - "Hit Parade"
Gov't Mule - "Stone Cold Rage"
ODESZA - "Line of Sight"

Monthly Mix: May 2017

Paramore returns After Laughter

     Spring is in full swing and the birds have began chirping and singing. May brought a garden of fresh flowers, and also a huge batch of new music.
     Tennessee pop-punkers Paramore are back with a new album entitled After Laughter [May 12th, via Fueled by Ramen]. Frontwoman Hayley Williams describes the album as life after a period of bad times. On the first single "Hard Times," the band shows off it's energetic rock side and features great xylophone work. Check them out on tour as they swing through Europe this summer and the U.S. in the fall, with a big gig at Riot Fest.
     As the sunshine continues to shine bright, it's refreshing to know that new tunes are loaded on the iPod. The May Playlist makes a great soundtrack for sitting on the patio with a cold cocktail.


May 2017 Playlist

1.  Phoenix  -  "J-Boy"

2.  Foster The People  -  "Doing It For The Money"

3.  LCD Soundsystem  -  "Call The Police"

4.  Muse  -  "Dig Down"

5.  The National  -  "The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness"

6.  Paramore  -  "Hard Times"

7.  Rise Against  -  "The Violence"

8.  HAIM  -  "Want You Back"

9.  The War On Drugs  -  "Thinking Of A Place"

10.  Rancid  -  "Telegraph Avenue"

11.  Fall Out Boy  -  "Young And Menace"

12.  Oh Wonder  -  "Ultralife"

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon:

Phoenix - "J-Boy"
Foster The People - "Doing It For The Money"
LCD Soundsystem - "Call The Police"
Muse - "Dig Down"
The National - "The System Dreams In Total Darkness"
Paramore - "Hard Times"
Rise Against - "The Violence"
HAIM - "Want You Back"
The War On Drugs - "Thinking Of A Place"
Rancid - "Telegraph Avenue"
Fall Out Boy - "Young and Menace"
Oh Wonder - "Ultralife"

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: 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