As Sunday was Canada Day and tomorrow is the Fourth of July, we had to celebrate the great music coming for these two countries. The Matinee ’18 July 3rd – North America Edition features six songs. Rockers to heartfelt ballads to groovy experimental electro-pop are all on the mini-playlist. The list is in reverse alphabetical order, and a band we’ve […]

The second part of our Good Friday twinbill – The Matinee ’18 March 30th – North American Edition – has seven songs, and several of them are from some of our all-time favorites. There are upbeat numbers and a few extremely moving and powerful numbers.   Bloodboy – “Is Now a Good Time to Ruin Your Life?” (Los Angeles, USA) […]

Two notable characteristics apply to the The Matinee ’18 March 1st edition. First, it is filled with artists and bands who remain under the radar, but they won’t be long. Second, Canadian artists feature prominently on the mini-playlist with five of the nine songs coming from the Great White North. The Matinee commences with a young singer-songwriter with a gift […]

Anyone who has either read the Marvel comic books or watched the 18 films in its canon – the latest being Black Panther – knows that each character’s story eventually converges with the other superheroes to create a single universe. Montreal imaginative indie-rockers Ought have adopted a similar approach, although within a more manageable size of projects. Their first two […]

The Saturday Sampler February 10th edition is like a day at the amusement park or Olympics. These nine songs will get your adrenaline flowing and make you scream while others let you catch your breath and lose yourself in the moment. We get things started with one of the nicest guys around.   Shakey Graves – “Kids These Days” (Austin, […]

The Matinee ’18 February 9th has a bit of a sunny disposition, featuring songs that will warm your soul and steal your breath away like a beautiful sunset. You’ll find some shoegaze and psych-rock, indie rock to cinematic indie pop, something whimsical yet witty, and a slice of disco. Sit back and let the music below be your guide to […]

The Matinee ’18 January 18th is filled with songs from artists who either were on Artists to Watch list or one of our 61 Most Anticipated Albums. There are, of course, one newcomer and a couple of bands that we didn’t have on our radar when it came to new albums. Dr. Dog – “Listening In” (Philadelphia, USA) RIYL: My […]

The Matinee November 2nd edition starts off with a song from one of soul’s great artists. It’s one of the most moving songs you’ll hear. It ends with a young artist who is finally getting her well-received break. The song she shares is a classic. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – “Call On God” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: Sharon Jones…because she […]

“I am part of that power which eternally wills evil and eternally works good.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, ‘Faust: First Part’ In his classic tale, Faust, German writer Goethe tells the story of a scholar who, unhappy with his life, makes a deal with the devil. He exchanges his soul in return for unlimited knowledge and pleasure. Faust uses these […]

Antisocialites by Alvvays When Alvvays‘ eponymous debut album arrived in July 2014, it represented the ideal summer record. The shimmering dream-pop heightened the optimism and hope that filled the record, and its individual songs (notably “Archie, Marry Me” and “Adult Diversion”) would define memories still to be written. Their sophomore LP similarly arrives at the perfect time. As summer fades, […]

Whether you’re looking for an edgy, post-apocalyptic song; a get-of-your-seat Motown number; some gnarly indie-rock; or something foul yet delightfully intoxicating from a Dark Angel, The Matinee August 24th will fit your mood. Nine songs once occupy today’s mini-playlist, featuring several artists and bands who will be releasing some of the most highly-anticipated records of the fall. Chelsea Wolfe – […]

As usual, there is a bit of everything on our daily playlists, and The Matinee August 18th edition is no exception. One thing we always search for are songs that not only sound great but have a personal message or captivating story to tell. Substance over style as they say, but it’s great when a song has both. Well, all […]

The Matinee August 15th will hopefully get you focused on the tasks at hand. Who are we kidding. The ten songs will have you contemplating the events of the world, reflect on your past, and mostly entertain you. As you listen to each song, hopefully you’ll fall head over heels for the artists and bands like we have. We kick […]

The Matinee August 3rd heavily features North American artists, which might have to do with me returning to my old stomping grounds. It also reflects how great the new music singles are from this part of the world. Given that I’m on holidays, the descriptions are shorter, and I apologize to the artists and bands.   Annie Hart – “Hard […]

With Newport Folk Festival behind us, we’re trying to get back into the swing of things. The Matinee August 1st edition, as such, has the regular nine songs. Unfortunately, exhaustion has set in, so apologies to the artists and bands for the short blurbs. The music, however, is what matters most. Alvvays – “Dreams Tonite” (Toronto, Canada) RIYL: The Pains […]

Saturday Sampler July 22nd features some icy and cool new music singles plus others that will add some heat to your weekend. Plenty of artists from abroad occupy the mini-playlist, so come join us on this musical trip around the globe. The Babe Rainbow – “Johny Says Stay Cool” (Byron Bay, Australia) RIYL: Walter TV, The Rip Cords, The Yardbirds […]

The Matinee July 11th is like a grand buffet, offering a diverse and eclectic set of new music from across the globe. There’s dream folk from New Zealand and Australia plus blistering indie rock from England and the USA. Great Britain also offers some savory R&B, synth-pop delights come from Canada, and the country of Norway offers some biting psychedelia. […]

The six new music cocktails on today’s Melodic Tonic are a tasty mix of indie tunes from the UK, US, Sweden, Canada, and France. From upbeat Americana to ambient experimental with hints of jazz, these tunes provide the fuel you need to help you through your mid-week slump. The Nickajack Men – “Running” (Denny, Scotland) RIYL: My Morning Jacket, Delta […]

These five delicious new audio cocktails to get you through your Wednesday. Today’s mini playlist shines the spotlight solely on North American artists for a change. Let’s begin in the Emerald City with this dynamic tune. Zola Jesus – “Exhumed” (Seattle, USA) RIYL: Austra, Agnes Obel, Phantogram The dramatic new single from goth-pop siren Zola Jesus will do one of three things: “Exhumed” will either […]

Today’s mid-week serving of new music cocktails is light and refreshing. From singer/songwriter fare to upbeat indie pop, these six new singles from artists in Canada, England, Norway, Wales, and the USA will bring some sunshine to your day.   Seadog – “As I Am” (Brighton, England) RIYL: Elliott Smith, Midlake, Grandaddy When you hear this new song from Seadog, you’ll realize why they opened […]