Expect the unexpected on The Matinee ’18 June 28th edition. There are rockers and blissful dream-pop. You will also find some tunes that echo bygone eras. Be forewarned, however – don’t judge a book by its cover. Or in this case, just because a song sounds pleasant, its meaning may allude to something completely different. We kick things off with […]

The Matinee ’18 May 15th – North American Edition features four of our long-time favorites plus two “newcomers”. The latter will be releasing their debut albums later this year. We kick things off, however, with one of the great artists of this decade.   Mitski – “Geyser” (Brooklyn, USA) Be the Cowboy by Mitski RIYL: St. Vincent, Japanese Breakfast, Lykki […]

It wasn’t long ago when A Place To Bury Strangers were considered the next great shoegaze, noise-pop band. They were trusted to take the music of My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, and Slowdive to harsher and louder heights. They were, after all, dubbed the “loudest band of New York” for a reason. In the 11 years since their self-titled debut […]

Yesterday’s mini-playlist was filled with under-the-radar talent. The Matinee ’18 March 2nd edition, however, is loaded with indie stars, many of whom dropped brand new tunes yesterday. There is, of course, plenty of hidden gems, although eight of the nine artists listed have been previously featured in this space. As such, you’re likely to recognize a few of the names. […]

Make Way For Love by Marlon Williams On his superb eponymous debut album and the off-circuit single, “Vampire Again”, Marlon Williams displayed a playful and adventurous side. The LP, with its country-folk and roots-rock orientation, was a jaunt across the barren Outback of Australia and the deserts of the US. It was complex, riveting, and a unique and masterful piece of […]

Crowd pleasers. Entertaining and energetic numbers. Warm and intimate ballads. A 17-year old singer-songwriter who will knock your socks off. You’ll find all these things on The Matinee ’18 February 6th edition, so you’re sure to find a new artist that you’ll want to follow to the very end.   BERRIES – “Faults” (London, England) RIYL: The Big Moon, False […]

The Matinee ’18 February 1st edition kicks off the second month of the year with nine incredible songs. Some will take you back in time and relive the music of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Others will take you to the future with their innovative approaches, blurring genres together to form music that can only be described as spectacularly […]

Is it too early to say that one of the year’s best albums has arrived? Given 2018 is only 15 days old, it is likely the case, but Shame‘s debut LP, Songs of Praise, will not be immediately forgotten. For that matter, this post-punk titan of a record will long be remembered come December because, unlike so much music these […]

The Saturday Sampler January 13th edition includes nine sizzling tracks from across the globe. Featuring artists from Australia, Canada, England, Germany, New Zealand, and the USA, these tunes offer plenty of sonic richness for all your weekend plans.   Caroline Rose – “Soul No. 5” (New York City via Burlington, VT, USA) LONER by Caroline Rose RIYL: Bec Sandridge, Alex […]

From indie folk to psych rock, the Melodic Tonic ’17, December 6th edition is a mid-week sonic feast. Featuring six artists from six countries (Australia, England, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden, and the US), this mini-playlist offers something for everyone. We kick things off with one of our favorite American indie rockers.   Strand of Oaks – “Passing Out” (Philadelphia, USA)  […]

The Saturday Sampler November 18th is another global affair, featuring nine songs in four languages from artists in three countries. With styles ranging from soul to psych rock to New Wave and pop, these tunes offer something for everyone. Check back tomorrow when our Weekend Showcase playlist includes everything we have shared this week. Today we begin by remembering the […]

The Matinee November 9th edition is filled with alumni. As a result, the artists and bands are listed in reverse alphabetical order once again so those at the end of the alphabet get their time at the top. There is one newcomer to the list, but they’ve been around for a couple of years. We’ve also changed things up a […]

The Matinee November 3rd features get-up-on-your feet tunes, emotionally-moving numbers, and a song by a band with one of the great names in music history. You will be entertained, stunned, and just amazed by the talents of these nine bands and artists. Things get started with a humdinger of a disco-pop tune. argonaut&wasp – “Prove It To You” (Brooklyn, USA) […]

Alex Lahey has a lot to say, and she’s wasting little time sharing her stories with us. Since breaking out in Australia as a Triple J Unearthed find with “Air Mail” in 2015 and the viral hit, “You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me” in early 2016, the Melbourne-based artist has emerged as the country’s next big music sensation. Last year […]

The music of Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers is emotional, intimate, witty, and incredibly relatable. It’s easy to see why Ryan Adams produced and released her 2015 EP, Killer, on his record label. It’s also easy to see why Conor Oberst and Julien Baker tapped her to support their tours when hearing her first LP, Stranger in the Alps, which […]

The Matinee September 14th is in reverse alphabetical order so that a band we’ve featured often gets their chance to be at the top (granted, they’ve always had a special place in our hearts). The mini-playlist features a wide-range of genres, from old-school R&B and soul to smooth dream-pop, catchy indie-rock, and alt-country. There is also a fantastic track from […]

Most of the nine songs on the Matinee August 31st edition could be considered throwbacks. The artists channel some of the legendary artists and genres in music, but transforming them with a modern twist. There are a couple, though, who are just innovators. Some would even say pioneers. Take a listen below. Oh, you might want to have some popcorn […]

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 […]

Today’s mid-week serving of new music cocktails has a unifying, one-word theme: calming. These are great rainy-day tunes. We are all seeking relief from the stress of life and the chaos of the world. What better way to find solace than with six new singles from artists in Canada, USA, and Netherlands? All of the artists have one-word band names, so […]

Once again we take a new music trip around the globe on The Matinee July 27th edition. Speaking of trips, some of us, including myself, are en route if not having already arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, and we hope one of these days the artists listed below will be gracing the stages of NFF or one of the after-parties. […]