The Matinee ’18 December 11th – Part 1 has some powerful tunes, clever takes on the world that is, and a sultry affair. It’s, in our humble opinions, the ideal mini-playlist for these wintry days. After you’re finished here, check out Part 2 of The Matinee. Deerhunter– “Element” (Atlanta, USA)  RIYL: Ezra Furman, The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band Most […]

Like yesterday, The Matinee ’18 November 9th edition has a strong overseas presence with more than half the songs coming from Australian artists and bands. This is just evidence of how the music scene Down Under is flourishing. The mini-playlist also includes a duo of young teenagers, a super-duo, one of the UK’s best young bands, and one of the […]

The Melodic Tonic ’18 October 24th edition will quicken your pulse then mellow you out. Get ready to dance in your chair courtesy of some better-known bands while a few emerging artists dazzle you with their talents. We start with the return of a familiar voice. Beirut – “Gallipoli” (Berlin, Germany via Santa Fe, USA) RIYL: DeVotchKa, Calexico, Fleet Foxes […]

The Matinee ’18 February 16th is full of surprises with a few all-time favorites unveiling new songs to go with tracks from fast-rising “newcomers”. There’s a bit of almost everything below, from rockers to slow burners to melodic ballads. Happy Friday everyone! Courtney Barnett – “Nameless, Faceless” (Melbourne, Australia) RIYL: Courtney Barnett We still remember the day – one of […]

We start the new year with fresh tunes from familiar voices. The Melodic Tonic ’18, January 10th edition is a strictly North American mix of indie legends and emerging talents alike, so crank these tunes to cure your winter blues. We start with a band that needs no introduction.   The Breeders – “All Nerve” (Dayton, OH, USA) RIYL: The […]

Today’s mid-week serving of new music cocktails is full of zest and zing. From quirky American indie pop and garage punk to whimsical British indie fare, these six songs will give you a musical buzz without the hangover. So dig in as we celebrate the return of some indie greats while getting to know some talented newcomers.   tUnE-yArDs – […]

Your mid-week serving of new music cocktails features old-school indie rock, Cuban-French electronic soul, and three varieties of indie folk. These five tracks are as smooth as your morning coffee: it starts out with a hot jolt then becomes something just warm enough to sip and savor.   The Breeders – “Wait in the Car” (Dayton, OH, USA) RIYL: The […]

Autumn has officially arrived, and The Matinee September 21st edition reflects the changing of the seasons. These songs are lot darker and subdued, without a summer anthem to be found. Some of the nine songs, however, will amuse you, others will haunt your mind for days, and the rest will leave you spellbound. Haley Heynderickx – “Oom Sha La La” […]

The National are arguably one of the best studio bands making music these days. The Brooklyn-based indie band with a global appeal have been crafting their non-traditional rock sound for nearly 20 years, delivering genre-defining albums like Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010). Now with their seventh studio LP, Sleep Well Beast, we examine where this “thinking person’s rock” band stands. Does this album […]

Simplicity can be beautiful, exhilarating, and brilliant, and this is the theme of The Matinee August 29th edition. Even the most uplifting and exciting song doesn’t need a whole of instruments and textures to get the adrenaline flowing. We start things off with a band that has long perfected this art. The National – “Day I Die” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: […]

Around the world we go and where we stop is… The Matinee August 10th edition, of course! Just yesterday, Ben was watching The War on Drugs perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and we were pondering who could be the next indie band or artist to play on one of the late-night talk shows. Our mini-playlist today, as such, reflects who we […]

The Matinee July 13th offers another round of great new music. There are some spine-tingling numbers, gritty rockers, quirky electronic pop, and a folk tune that will have you smiling. Let’s get to the tunes. TORRES – “Three Futures” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: St. Vincent, Waxahatchee, Weyes Blood Mackenzie Scott, a.k.a. TORRES, has slowly trickled out new music and teasers, offering […]

The Matinee June 30th features another exhilarating set of new music. Nine songs once again are shared. There are some familiar names and a few that are still making a name for themselves. Listen right to the end because the final song is one of the year’s most stunning. CYMBALS – “Car Crash” (London England & Paris, France) RIYL: Future […]

The Matinee June 16th is a new music kaleidoscope, offering a few choice selections from different genres. Wendy usually joins me on Fridays, but she’s off on holiday. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy the samplings below. Arcade Fire – “Creature Comfort” (Montreal, Canada) RIYL: Arcade Fire Admittedly, we weren’t terribly ecstatic by Arcade Fire‘s first single for their new album, “Everything Now”. […]

The art work for Aldous Harding‘s debut album featured the Lyttleton, New Zealand native. She is situated in a field of brush donning a Liquor Centre ball cap, and her face is solemn. The image provided insights into what Aldous Harding would be – a calm, serene collection of intimate folk music. Her sophomore album, Party, is like the flip […]

John Moreland has a gift for creating something beautiful out of the downtrodden and misunderstood. One of today’s top songwriters, Moreland has been gaining career speed since the release of his 2013 debut, In The Throes. In 2015 he followed that up with High on Tulsa Heat to critical acclaim (read our review of that here.) Both albums showcase Moreland’s songwriting […]

The Matinee May 12th has 9 awesome new tracks for your listening pleasure. One from a favorite of all of us of course and a few more alumni and also brand new artists for you to take a listen. The sampling today is worldwide with artists representing Denmark,  France, Sweden, the US and the UK today. The National – “The System […]

Future Islands are the reigning royalty of indie synth-pop. Over the last 11 years, they have cemented a reputation for both showmanship and craftsmanship. Their live shows are marked by high-energy performances from frontman Samuel T. Herring, while their music always gets the crowd on their feet. Now with the release of their fifth album, The Far Field, we ask the […]

The Matinee March 30th edition features nine songs with the “wow” factor. Songs that will take you to heaven, others that will take you back in time, many that will just steal your breath way, and others that will have your rocking. We start things off with a singer-songwriter on the verge of international stardom.   Aldous Harding – “Imagining […]

The Saturday Sampler March 25th edition sizzles with international singles from Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, and the US. These nine songs are the high-energy soundtrack to your weekend. Hopefully you’ll discover a new favorite artist while you enjoy some new tunes from established groups. Be sure to check out our Weekend Showcase tomorrow for all the music we have shared since […]