Leon Bridges released Good Thing as a follow up to 2015’s Coming Home. We hear a nice evolution from the Fort Worth, TX native. On this album he had help from producer Ricky Reed, (Twenty One Pilots, Halsey, Meghan Trainor and Maroon 5). Bridges’ debut album was pure 60s soul and we see a nice evolution which crosses between retro […]

Quirky and clever, club-worthy to stadium anthems, heartfelt ballads to dreamy pop tunes, The Matinee ’18 December 6th edition has all this covered and more. It’s the gateway mini-playlist into the weekend, so turn up the volume and enjoy. Vök – “Spend The Love” (Hafnarfjörður / Akranes, Iceland) RIYL: BROODS, Warpaint, Marina and the Diamonds It wasn’t long ago that […]

Whether you’re lining up to snag a bargain during the Black Friday sales or are recovering from the massive Thanksgiving feasts, The Matinee ’18 November 23rd edition will help you stay alert and wide awake. The nine songs taken together are like a massive caffeine cocktail, so forego the Red Bulls and just spin the mini-playlist. Amasa Hines – “Zatoichi” […]

On the other half of our doubleheader, The Matinee ’18 November 13th – Part 2 traverses many dimensions. There are cosmic tunes, a wall-shaker, and a song that is perfect for a wedding. Then there are a few tunes that belong on a film soundtrack plus another that features one of the best voices in the business. If you haven’t […]

The Matinee ’18 October 18th is full of cinema, theater, magic, and epics. Let these nine songs take you places that real or imagined.   Behaviorist – “Dirty Pictures” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: San Fermin, Phoria, Rubblebucket The respect and popularity of an artist should never be judged by the number of followers s/he has on social media. Instead, look at […]

The Matinee ’18 September 10th includes 6 awesome new tracks to get your week started off right. As we transition into fall, we are still able to capture those upbeat summer days with these new releases. Artists today are representing Australia, Canada, The US and The UK today. Deidre & the Dark – “One Night” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: Natalie Prass, […]

Get ready for the weekend with The Matinee ’18 September 7th edition. There are some seductive and groovy numbers, bubbly pop tunes, and, of course, fiery rockers. We begin, however, with a song from a man who left us far too soon. Charles Bradley – “I Feel A Change” (Brooklyn, USA) RIYL: Charles Bradley Almost exactly a year ago – […]

Living In Symbol by Astronauts, etc. More than six years ago, Anthony Ferraro, under the name Astronauts, etc., casually and with little fanfare released “Mystery Colors”, which became one of 2012’s surprise hit. He followed that up with a few more singles, including one of the decade’s most outstanding tracks, “Coldboy”. For the long-time keyboardist of Toro y Moi, whose […]

The Matinee ’18 April 26th features nine gems that will make you want to relive Thursday. From brooding spine-tinglers to moving dream-pop numbers to exhilarating neo-soul to rockers that welcome spring, we’re convinced today’s mini-playlist will impress if not dazzle you. audiobooks – “Gothenburg” (London, England) RIYL: Alice Glass, Zola Jesus, Esther Joy Some bands’ online success doesn’t always translate […]

The Matinee ’18 April 3rd is filled with fabulous storytellers and superb musicians. The nine songs will either crush your souls, make you laugh, entice you to take a long drive, or daydream about better days to come. Arctic Lake – “What You May Find” (London, England) RIYL: London Grammar, Portishead, Dahlia Sleeps Since debuting three years ago with the […]

With the long weekend before us, The Matinee ’18 March 29th edition features some several upbeat tunes, including some funky numbers, to get you through the workday. There are also some laid-back, easy-listening tunes in case you want some mellower fare. Enjoy your Thursday and have a safe and most excellent Easter break. Air Waves – “Warrior” ft. Kevin Morby […]

For the most part, The Matinee ’18 March 15th edition is loud and robust. The music is meant for turning up and letting yourself go. The first song, though, will ease you into the mini-playlist so as to now blow out your ear drums. Enjoy the tunes, which are listed in reverse alphabetical order. Tiger Darrow – “Like Summer” (New […]

If we had to use one word to describe the Saturday Sampler March 10th edition, it would be vintage. There are several songs that beckon to bygone eras and others that are breathing new life into contemporary genres. Since this is Saturday, all of them will have you moving in some way. We get things started with a track that […]

The Matinee ’18 March 5th includes an eclectic sampling of various artists, some of which will be attending the upcoming SXSW festival next week. We have a mix of singer-songwriter, indie rock, synth pop and indie pop. We hope you find your new favorite song or band. We have artists representing Canada, The US and The UK today. Allman Brown […]

Rules Of Engagement by Ria Hall Every two years, one of the best arts and music festival in New Zealand takes place. Aptly called New Zealand Festival, the three-week extravaganza features the best international and national talent in theatre, film, and music, and the 2018 programs is the Festival’s most ambitious. On Saturday night, Kiwi singer-songwriter Ria Hall put on […]

Kadija Kamara is an unlikely, fast-rising music star. Having won an MTV Iggy Artist of the Week poll and been featured by fashion house Fendi, the expectation is that she’s just another pop singer, electronic producer, or hip hop artist on the over-saturated top-40 train. She is none of these things. Instead, she’s completely retro, fusing ’60s and ’70s psychedelia […]

The sonic cocktails on the Melodic Tonic ’18 January 24th edition are a diverse offering. From blues and funk to electronic dream pop and psych rock, these six songs bring you a rollercoaster ride’s worth of emotions. Let’s kick things off with a powerful blues collaboration from two American legends.   Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite – “No Mercy in […]

The Saturday Sampler January 20th edition brings you nine brilliant new songs from across the globe. Featuring artists from Austria, England, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S., today’s playlist offers a variety of genres to please every musical palette. We kick things off with a stunning Scandinavian artist.   Big Fox – “The Fight” (Malmö, Sweden) RIYL: Lisa Hannigan, Joan As […]

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 Melodic Tonic ’17, November 16th edition features powerful American voices with equally powerful messages. But sprinkled between the well-known names are two new bands with unforgettable sounds. Today’s playlist begins with one of music’s finest (and fiercest) voices. Brandi Carlile – “The Joke” (Seattle, USA) RIYL: Indigo Girls, Patty Griffin, Ingrid Michaelson American singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile is one of […]