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"

Monthly Mix: April 2017

Cold War Kids deliver L.A. Divine

      
     The rain storms have passed and the warmth of the spring is just around the corner. April brought showers, but it also left a bucket full of fresh new music.
     California indie-rockers Cold War Kids are making some noise with their latest album L.A. Divine [April 7, via Capital]. The fourteen tracks are layered thick with guitars and keyboards. On the single "Restless," frontman Nathan Willett emphasizes a message of staying young through constant adventure. Check the band out on tour as they trek through the United States this summer, featuring a big slot at Bonnaroo Music Festival.
     April is in the rearview mirror and spring will be in full bloom in the near future. It's nice to know the mp3 players are re-stocked. The April Playlist makes a good companion while firing up the grill for the backyard barbecue.      

April 2017 Playlist

1.  At The Drive In  -  "Hostage Stamps"

2.  Bleachers  -  "Don't Take The Money"

3.  Cold War Kids  -  "Restless"

4.  Sir Sly  -  "High"

5.  Coast Modern  -  "Pockets Full Of No"

6.  JR JR  -  "Same Dark Places"

7.  Sundara Karma  -  "She Said"

8.  K. Flay  -  "High Enough"

9.  Dan Auerbach  -  "Shine On Me"

10.  Royal Blood  -  "Lights Out"

11.  NoMBe  -  "Freak Like Me"

12.  Kendrick Lamar  -  "HUMBLE."

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon!

At The Drive In - "Hostage Stamps"
Bleachers - "Don't Take The Money"
Cold War Kids - "Restless"
Sir Sly - "High"
Coast Modern - "Pockets Full Of No"
JR JR - "Same Dark Places"
Sundara Karma - "She Said"
K. Flay - "High Enough"
Royal Blood - "Lights Out"
NoMBe - "Freak Like Me"
Kendrick Lamar - "HUMBLE."

Monthly Mix: March 2017

Minus The Bear fills the Voids

     The four leaf clovers of March are now behind us, and the rainy season is now here. March brought a pot of gold, and also a pot of new tunes.
     Seattle indie-rockers Minus The Bear are making waves with their new album Voids [March 3, via Suicide Squeeze]. The ten tracks are jam-packed with heavy guitars and vibrant synths. The opening cut "Last Kiss" is an energetic start to the record and features dueling guitar work from Jake Snider and Dave Knudson. Check them out on tour as they swing through the United States this spring, and the U.K. in the summer.
     The spring is finally here and its refreshing to know the iPods are fully loaded with fresh tunes. The March Playlist makes a good companion for finishing the last of the spring cleaning.


March 2017 Playlist

1.  Glass Animals  -  "Pork Soda"

2.  Weezer  -  "Feels Like Summer"

3.  Minus The Bear  -  "Last Kiss"

4.  Spoon  -  "Can I Sit Next To You"

5.  Portugal. The Man  -  "Feel It Still"

6.  Lorde  -  "Green Light"

7. Depeche Mode  -  "Where's The Revolution"

8.  alt-J  -  "3WW"

9.  Father John Misty  -  "Total Entertainment Forever"

10.  Chicano Batman  -  "Friendship (Is A Small Boat In A Storm)"

11.  Vinyl Theatre  -  "My Fault"

12.  311  -  "Too Much To Think"

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon!

Glass Animals - "Pork Soda"
Weezer - "Feels Like Summer"
Minus The Bear - "Last Kiss"
Spoon - "Can I Sit Next To You"
Portugal. The Man - "Feel It Still"
Lorde - "Green Light"
Depeche Mode - "Where's The Revolution"
alt-J - "3WW"
Father John Misty - "Total Entertainment Forever"
Chicano Batman - "Friendship (Is A Small Boat In A Storm)"
Vinyl Theatre - "My Fault"
311 - "Too Much To Think"

Monthly Mix: February 2017

Ryan Adams becomes a Prisoner 

     Valentine's Day is in the rear view mirror and the warmth of the spring is on the horizon. February brought a sheet of ice, but it also brought a blizzard-sized pile of new music.

     North Carolina rocker Ryan Adams is back in the fold with his latest album Prisoner [February 17, via Pax-Am]. Coming in at twelve tracks, this may be Adams' most complete record to date. On the loud single "Do You Still Love Me?", he shows off his guitar chops as he asks a former lover a burning question. Check him out on tour as he weaves through the United Sates this spring and summer.

     The winter is almost behind us and the sunshine of the spring is just around the corner, The February Playlist makes a great soundtrack for these last few remaining icy nights.

January 2017 Playlist

1.  Saint Motel  -  "Born Again"

2.  Incubus  -  "Nimble Bastard"

3.  Ryan Adams  -  "Do You Still Love Me?"

4.  Imagine Dragons  -  "Believer"

5.  Missio  -  "Middle Fingers"

6.  Cold War Kids  -  "Love Is Mystical"

7.  Hippos Campus  -  "Way It Goes"

8.  Day Wave  -  "Something Here"

9.  Lupe Fiasco  -  "Wild Child"

10.  Maggie Rogers  -  "On + Off"

11.  Violents & Monica Martin  -  "Equal Powers"

12.  Thievery Corporation  -  "Letter To The Editor"

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon!

Saint Motel - "Born Again"

Incubus - "Nimble Bastard"

Ryan Adams - "Do You Still Love Me?"

Imagine Dragons - "Believer"

Missio - "Middle Fingers"

Cold War Kids - "Love Is Mystical"

Hippo Campus - "Way It Goes"

Day Wave - "Something Here"

Lupe Fiasco - "Wild Child"

Maggie Rogers - "On + Off"

Violents & Monica Martin - "Equal Powers"

Thievery Corporation - "Letter To The Editor"

Monthly Mix: January 2017

The Flaming Lips deliver Oczy Mlody

     The year in music is off to a hot start as a bunch of surprise tracks have already dropped. January brought with it a pile of snow, but it also brought a pile of new tunes.
     Oklahoma psych-rockers The Flaming Lips are back making waves with their brand new album Oczy Mlody. Frontman Wayne Coyne conjures up visions of unicorns, wizards, and frogs, as he keeps the musical tone mellow and relaxed. On the record's final cut "We A Family" the band relies on friend Miley Cyrus for additional vocal duties. Catch them on tour as they swing through the U.S., Canada, with a big slot at Vida Festival in Spain.
     As the cold of the winter continues to press on, it's nice to know the iPods are heated up with new tracks. The January Playlist makes a good companion for snowboarding down the slopes.

January 2017 Playlist

1.  Dropkick Murphys  -  "Paying My Way"

2.  Japandroids  -  "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life"

3.  The Flaming Lips  -  "We A Family"

4.  Marian Hill  -  "Down"

5,  The Shins  -  "Name For You"

6.  Arcade Fire  -  "I Give You Power"

7.  Minus the Bear  -  "Invisible"

8.  Real Estate  -  "Darling"

9.  Spoon  -  "Hot Thoughts"

10.  Rubblebucket  -  "Donna"

11.  Bonobo  -  "Kerala"

12.  Gorillaz  -  "Hallelujah Money"

Check in every month for fresh new music!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Purchase songs from the Orbit Sound Playlist on Amazon!

Monthly Mix: December 2016

The Rolling Stones turn Blue & Lonesome

     December has brought lots of snow, tons of presents, and a bunch of new music. Before the year comes to an end, there is still one more sleigh-full of fresh tunes to be delivered.
     English rockers The Rolling Stones have released a cover album in the form of Blue & Lonesome [December 2nd, via Polydor]. The twelve cover songs span from Willie Dixon to Howlin' Wolf. On the Eddie Taylor track "Ride 'Em On Down", the band finds itself in its sweet spot and features vintage Keith Richards guitar work. The rest of the album is top notch classic rock music.
     The cold of the winter has settled in and it's refreshing to know the iPod is restocked with fresh beats. The December Playlist makes the perfect soundtrack for opening the last presents under the tree.


December 2016 Playlist

1.  Portugal. The Man  -  "Noise Pollution (Version A, Vocal Up Mix 1.3)"

2.  Nine Inch Nails  -  "Burning Bright (Field On Fire)"

3.  The Rolling Stones  -  "Ride 'Em On Down"

4.  Rag'n'Bone Man  -  "Human"

5.  K.I.D  -  "Errors"

6.  J. Cole  -  "False Prophets"

7.  The Heydaze  -  "Hurt Like Hell"

8.  Elohim  -  "Hallucinating"

9.  The Revivalists  -  "Wish I Knew You"

10.  Warbly Jets  -  "Alive"

11.  Alex Da Kid  -  "Not Easy" ft. X Ambassadors/Elle King/Wiz Khalifa

12.  Run The Jewels  -  "Hey Kids (Bumaye)" ft. Danny Brown

IN THE BONUS:

Best Songs Of 2016

15.  The Kills  -  "Heart Of A Dog"

14.  Glass Animals  -  "Life Itself"

13.  Warpaint  -  "New Song"

12.  Hippo Campus  -  "Boyish"

11.  Tegan and Sara  -  "U-turn"

10.  Bruno Mars  -  "24K Magic"

9.  POP ETC  -  "What Am I Becoming?"

8.  The 1975  -  "The Sound"

7.  Knox Hamilton  -  "Washed Up Together"

6.  Bear Hands  -  "Like Me Like That"

5.  Radiohead  -  "Decks Dark"

4.  Bon Iver  -  "33 GOD"

3.  Two Door Cinema Club  -  "Bad Decisions"

2.  Phish  -  "No Men In No Man's Land"

1.  The Strokes  -  "OBLIVIUS"

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7

Best Albums Of 2016

The 1975 wake from a deep Sleep

     It's hard to believe the year is almost over and it's time to look back on some of the Best Albums of 2016. There were a ton of good records that came out this year, but here are the ones that made the list:


Best Albums Of 2016

25.  Anderson .Paak  -  Malibu

24.  Young The Giant  -  Home of the Strange

23.  Iggy Pop  -  Post Pop Depression

22.  Car Seat Headrest  -  Teens of Denial

21.  The Weeknd  -  Starboy

20.  Green Day  -  Revolution Radio

19.  Schoolboy Q  -  Blank Face LP

18.  Wilco  -   Wilco Schmilco

17.  Drive-By Truckers  -  American Band

16.  Tycho  -  Epoch

15.  White Denim  -  Stiff

14.  DIIV  -  Is The Is Are

13.  Lettuce  -  Mt. Crushmore
   
12.  Red Hot Chili Peppers  -  The Getaway

11.  David Bowie  -  Blackstar

10.  Weezer  -  Weezer (White Album)

9.  Tegan and Sara  -  Love You To Death

8.  Kings of Leon  -  Walls

7.  Phish  -  Big Boat

6.  Radiohead  -  A Moon Shaped Pool

5.  A Tribe Called Quest  -  We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service

4.  Glass Animals  -  How To Be A Human Being

3.  Bear Hands  -  You'll Pay For This

2.  Bon Iver  -  22, A Million

1.  The 1975  -  I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it

Stay tuned for the December 2016 Playlist!

For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7