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

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Monthly Mix: The Playlist, August 2012

     August for some reason always seems like the unofficial end of summer. While the sun may have cooled off, the fresh tunes continued to stay blazing. In addition to awesome music, this month's Playlist also includes some of the year's most psychedelic and, for lack of a better word, bizarre videos.
     According to Two Door Cinema Club frontman Alex Trimble, their new album Beacon is "much more intimate, but much bigger" than the band's first release two years ago. For fans of the band, that almost sounds impossible. They delivered their new single "Sleep Alone" earlier this month, a track equipped with an action packed video. A string of European dates followed by a trip to the U.S. is how these Northern Irelanders will spend the upcoming weeks.
     Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala are also set to unveil their sophomore record in the near future. The band's Lonerism will be available to the public October 5th and features the trippy "Elephant" as its first offering. If the rest of the album sounds as good as this, we are in for a treat. Check them out as their November tour plows through some of the States' hot spots.
     The last offering of the month comes from the always experimental Animal Collective. The Baltimore group is back in action with Centipede Hz, one of the year's most anticipated releases. Often described as "music from outer space", the Collective boys did nothing on their new album to dispute that reputation. "Today's Supernatural" is the lead single and features an absurdly freakish video, which shouldn't come to anyone's surprise.
      As the last tunes of the summer come in, it's nice to absorb the sunny sounds while there still is a chance. The lazy afternoons are almost over as the calendar prepares itself for cooler breezes. August's Playlist features a solid blend of cuts that falls somewhere in between, which is a good place to be right now.


August 2012 Playlist


1. Purity Ring - Amenamy

2. The Lumineers - Ho Hey

3. Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone

4. Bloc Party - Octopus

5. Cherub - Doses and Mimosas

6. Tame Impala - Elephant

7. Major Lazer - Get Free (ft. Amber Coffman)

8. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Windshield Smasher

9. Wild Nothing - Paradise

10. Animal Collective - Today's Supernatural

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