Monthly Mix: October 2014

Foo Fighters cruise with Sonic Highways

     As the final leaves fall off the trees and Halloween comes to an end, another October is in the books. Just like the witch's brew, the pot of brand new music still burns strong.
     Seattle mega-rockers Foo Fighters are back in full effect with their new album Sonic Highways [November 10, via RCA].  The band recorded the eight songs in eight different cities, with a plethora of A-list guests contributing on the tracks. Frontman Dave Grohl describes it as being much bigger and including more jams, but still sounding like the Foo Fighters. A perfect example of this is the first single "Something From Nothing" which features sharp guitar riffs, vintage Grohl lyrics, and even a funk jam. The band's tour will hit Voodoo Festival and then off to Africa and South America.
     The October playlist is packed with new music and goes great with the last Kit-Kat bar.

October 2014 Playlist

1.  Striving Vines  -  "Sound Of Tomorrow"

2.  Minus The Bear  -  "Invented Memory"

3.  Foo Fighters  -  "Something From Nothing"

 

4.  Echosmith  -  "Cool Kids"

5.  Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness  -  "Cecilia And The Satellite"

6.  Smashing Pumpkins  -  "Being Beige"

7.  Glass Animals  -  "Gooey"

8.  Soundgarden  -  "Storm"

9.  moe.  -  "Same Old Story"

10.  LISBON  -  "Native"

11.  Peaking Lights  -  "Everyone And Us"

12.  Flo Rida  -  "GDFR"  ft. Sage the Gemini

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: September 2014

Prince creates Art Official Age

     The summer has officially ended with a bang. Festival season is behind us, and the long journey of autumn lies ahead. As the days get shorter, it's nice to have a re-stocked iPod to enjoy the crisp nights.
     Minnesota's iconic rock god Prince is making new music again, and it comes in the form of the fresh album Art Official Age [September 30, via Warner Bros Records].  The timeless axe-man delivers the goods with this latest effort, blending in soul, R&B, and funk. The bouncy track "FUNKNROLL" is a playful number and features the full-studio treatment. The album has a refreshing sound, certainly not of the stale variety. Currently there are no tour dates in support.
     This month's mix features a boat-load full of buzzworthy rock music, not to mention a couple names from years past. It goes great with some headphones and the colorful fall trails.


September 2014 Playlist

1.  The Vines  -  "Metal Zone"

2.  The Griswolds  -  "Right On Track"

3.  U2  -  "The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)"

4.  Julian Casablancas + The Voidz  -  "Where No Eagles Fly"

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

6.  Fall Out Boy  -  "Centuries"

7.  Thom Yorke  -  "A Brain In A Bottle"

8.  The American Scene  -  "Royal Blue"

9.  Panama Wedding  -  "All Of The People"

10.  Go Wolf  -  "Talk To You"

11.  Knox Hamilton  -  "Work It Out"

12.  Prince  -  "FUNKNROLL"

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: August 2014

Spoon dishes out They Want My Soul

     The summer has been filled with good times and hot tracks and as it winds itself down, the tune remains the same. This month's playlist delivers another fresh serving of sounds to keep the late night party going.
     Hailing from Austin Texas, indie-rockers Spoon are getting rave reviews with their latest album in four years They Want My Soul [August 5th, via Loma Vista]. The record is a healthy mix of stomping guitar and dream pop. On the lucid track "Inside Out", frontman Britt Daniel proclaims "Time's gone inside out, time gets distorted with this intense gravity." That message sure rings true these days. The rest of the album is a smooth tranquil listen. Catch them on tour as they swing through the United States, Canada, and Europe throughout the fall.
     The August mix is stacked with a stash of new alt-rock. It sounds great in the iPod while blazing down the bike trail, or strolling down the beach.


August 2014 Playlist

1.  Hozier  -  "Take Me To Church"

2.  Panama  -  "Always"

3.  Priory  -    "Weekend"

4.  Meg Myers  -  "Desire"

5.  Miami Horror  -  "Wild Motion (Set It Free)"

6.  Spoon  -  "Inside Out"

7.  The Gaslight Anthem  -  "Stay Vicious"

8.  BANKS  -  "Beggin For Thread"

9.  Sir Sly  -  "You Haunt Me"

10.  Wampire  -  "Wizard Staff"

11.  Eliot Sumner  -  "Come Friday"

12.  Mansions On The Moon  -  "Don't Tell"

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 2014

Rise Against enters The Black Market

     As the dog days of summer settle in, it's good to know there's a fresh assortment of tunes to keep the pool parties going strong into the night.
     Chicago rockers Rise Against are soaring near the top of the charts with their latest record The Black Market [July 15, via Interscope]. Frontman Tim McIlrath says this album is more personal than the last few, and the lyrics certainly reflect the message. On the hard-hitting "I Don't Want To Be Here Anymore", McIlrath expresses the feeling of getting tired of a situation but not knowing where to go. The rest of the songs on the record are similar in fashion and feature lightning fast drumming and laser sharp punk-rock guitar riffs. Their tour swings through Canada and the United States with major gigs at Made In America Festival and Riot Fest.
     The heat of the summer is starting to kick in so it's a good thing to know our iPods are reloaded with cool beats. The July Playlist is filled with new music and does its best job to make the sunsets seem a little bit longer.


July 2014 Playlist

1.  Joywave  -  "Tongues"

2.  Semi Precious Weapons  -  "Aviation High"

3.  Rise Against  -  "I Don't Want To Be Here Anymore"

4.  alt-J  -  "Left Hand Free"

5.  Interpol  -  "All The Rage Back Home"

6.  Weezer  -  "Back To The Shack"

7.  Circa Waves  -  "Young Chasers"

8.  Grimes  -  "Go"  ft. Blood Diamonds

9.  Seether  -  "Words As Weapons"

10.  TV Girl  -  "Birds Don't Sing"

11.  Zella Day  -  "East Of Eden"

12.  Death From Above 1979  -  "Trainwreck 1979"

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: June 2014

Phish heats up with Fuego

     The summer is officially here and the pools are open and ready to be splashed upon. While most people were caught up in the World Cup, the music world was filling its own cup to the brim with a special blend of ice cold sounds.

     Vermont rockers Phish are feeling rejuvenated with the release of their brand new album Fuego [June 24, via JEMP]. This ten track journey is filled with prog rock, funk, pop, and even a few horns. For the tune "555", the band shows off its groovy slow-funk side and features the soft quirky vocal delivery of bassist Mike Gordon. The whole album flows together without any need to skip a song. Check Phish out on tour as they will be selling out big sheds around the country with a final 3-night stop at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.

     It's nice to be able to spend the afternoons in the park, at the pool, in the garden, or at the beach. The June Playlist has a variety of sizzling summer beats to help keep the temperatures rising. It fits nicely alongside a patio and a vodka lemonade.

 

 

June 2014 Playlist

 

1.  Jack White  -  "That Black Bat Licorice"

 

2.  Magic!  -  "Rude"

 

3.  Iggy Azalea  -  "Fancy" ft. Charli XCX

 

 

4.  The Kooks  -  "Bad Habit"

 

5.  Umphrey's McGee  -  "Cut The Cable"

 

6.  Phish  -  "555"

 

 

7.  Caribou  -  "Can't Do Without You"

 

8.  Lana Del Rey  -  "West Coast"

 

9.  Spoon  -  "Rent I Pay"

 

 

10.  Milky Chance  -  "Stolen Dance"

 

11.  Arkells  -  "Come To Light"

 

12.  Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers  -  "American Dream Plan B"

 

 

13.  Decorations  -  "Girls"

 

14.  Say Hi  -  "Hurt In The Morning"

 

15.  Porter Robinson  -  "Sad Machine"

 

 

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: May 2014

moe. goes all out with No Guts, No Glory

    
     May is often considered the unofficial start of the summer. The sunshine is finally out, birds are chirping, festivals are underway, and signs of new life keep us excited for what lies ahead. An added bonus to all this, is the garden-sized allotment of fresh tunes.
     New York jam-rockers moe. are making some headlines with their latest album No Guts, No Glory [May 27, via Sugar Hill]. The album, which according to guitarist Chuck Garvey started out as an acoustic record, turned out to be a hard-hitting rock album, even including a few jams. On the Garvey-penned opening track "Annihilation Blues", the band shows off it's alt-country thrasher muscles and kicks off the album with a bang. The rest of the record is a beautiful journey of guitar-rock mixed in with textured tones of xylophone.  moe.'s summer tour takes them through the U.S., Japan, and Germany, with big gigs at LOHI Music Festival, Fuji Rock, and Gathering of the Vibes.
     Along with all the great weather comes the ability to get outside and enjoy it, whether it be on the beach, on the boat, or on the golf course. The May mix features some phenomenal music and sounds great while bouncing along the vibrant nature trails.


May 2014 Playlist

1.  Dirty Heads  -  "My Sweet Summer"

2.  Tove Lo  -  "Habits (Stay High)"

3.  moe.  -  "Annihilation Blues"

4.  Hooray For Earth  -  "Keys"

5.  Phish  -  "Waiting All Night"

6.  J. Roddy Walston & The Business  -  "Take It As It Comes"

7.  Vacationer  -  "The Wild Life"

8.  The Pretty Reckless  -  "Heaven Knows"

9.  Last Lynx  -  "Curtains"

  
10.  The Pains of Being Pure at Heart  -  "Eurydice"

11.  Y. O. U  -  "Heavy Crown"

12.  Jamie xx  -  "Girl"

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: April 2014

The Black Keys decide to Turn Blue

     April has always been a transition month. As mother nature begins the transition into spring, the music world transitions itself into party-mode and festival season. April showers bring May flowers, but they also bring a whole bucket full of fresh tunes.
     Ohio rockers The Black Keys are back and poised to regain the throne of rock and roll with their new album Turn Blue [May 13, via Nonesuch]. Band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney summoned the production mastermind Danger Mouse for this one. The result is a funky, sexy, guitar-laden, rock album. The title-track "Turn Blue" is a midtempo, psychedelic breeze of a song that is a change of pace from the band's earlier repertoire. An enormous US/Europe tour will kick off in May, with major stops at SNL, Hangout Music Festival, and Glastonbury.
     Although a rainy gloomy day can dampen the mood, it's good to know that a nice pair of headphones and an umbrella can help bring out the sunshine for a little bit. The April mix takes a journey through alternative rock, chillwave, and features some dynamite collaborations. It makes a good companion for stomping through the puddles and dancing in the rain.


April 2014 Playlist

1.  Bleachers  -  "I Wanna Get Better"

2.  Cage The Elephant  -  "Take It Or Leave It"

3.  The Black Keys  -  "Turn Blue"

4.  Capital Cities  -  "One Minute More"

5.  St. Vincent  -  "Digital Witness"

6.  Jack White  -  "Lazaretto"

7.  Lykke Li  -  "No Rest For The Wicked" ft. A$AP Rocky

8.  Royal Blood  -  "Little Monster"

9.  Chromeo  -  "Come Alive"  ft. Toro Y Moi

10.  Fight Like Apes  -  "Crouching Bees"

11.  Snowmine  -  "Columbus"

12.  Big Data  -  "Dangerous" ft. Joywave

13.  Wye Oak  -  "Glory"

14.  Little Dragon  -  "Paris"

15.  SomeKindaWonderful  -  "Reverse"

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