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The Playlist – September 2013

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Music is a little like food and clothes. These are areas where it’s probably worthwhile for one to explore & expand their tastes. The Playlist is assembled each month by Dappered’s very own music correspondent, Tim Johnstone. Tim is a former Virgin Records Label Rep & current award winning Program Director at KRVB, which was awarded the FMQB AAA station of the year markets 50+. You can also catch his work on Fridays when he assembles the Weekend Dossier. 

Arcade Fire – “Reflektor”

BAM! Arcade Fire + James Murphy (LCD Sound System) + David Bowie = home run. This is most welcome. It is also just a little bit surprising as it marks a definite tweak in the band’s sound. Bringing in Anton Corbin to direct the video is just brilliant. There are a lot of haters out there when it comes to these guys and the video is just going to set them off.

 

Paul McCartney – “New”

The seemingly ageless original boy band member delivers his most Beatlesesque track in forever with this Mark Ronson produced gem. Magical Mystery Tour redux. This is pert near perfect pop, this is.

 

Haerts – “Wings”

This New York based band (with members from Germany, Britain and America) mines an 80’s Europop sound with occasional goth attributes. This easily could have been included on any John Hughes soundtrack back in the day. And they pull this off live which is always impressive.

 

TV On The Radio – “Mercy”

It’s been a long three years since Nine Types of Light, which was released just nine days before their bassist died of lung cancer. It’s awfully good to hear these guys again. Thanks for bringing back the wall of guitars and the angst fellas. It was missed. And there’s this too.

 

Satellite – “Say The Words”

This is the kind of big, reaching-for-the-rafters music that usually comes courtesy of bands from across the pond. In this instance the band is homegrown, Brooklyn based, fronted by Steven McMorran who pours everything he has into his song writing and live performances. They are spectacular live.

 

NoNoNo – “Pumpin Blood”

This ridiculously catchy ear worm comes courtesy of a Swedish trio who understand the power of a massive hook, moody vocals, propulsive beats and a little distortion. Also, whistling. Tons of whistling.

 

The Head & The Heart – “Shake”

Seattle’s Sub Pop darlings give us a taste of their upcoming CD Let’s Be Still via this warm and friendly harmony laden track. Can’t wait to hear the whole album.

 

Pet Shop Boys – “Axis”

Thirty years on, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe continue to create vital dance music, always with a sense of style and often, humor. Their new album Electric is their best in some time.

 

Volcano Choir – “Byegone”

This is something. It is grand and sweeping. It is expansive and introspective. And it’s lovely. Justin Vernon has a hand in this group consisting of members of  Collections of Colonies of Bees and All Tiny Creatures but I prefer it to most of his Bon Iver work. I understand this is practically blasphemous. But there it is.

 

Cayucas – “High School Lover”

For those of you who prefer an endless summer, this band from California’s central coast should make you happy. Their latest album Bigfoot is full of beach friendly summer indie rock. You might recognize “High School Lover” if you’ve been watching the NFL as Verizon has been using this track in their media blitz.

For previous editions of The Playlist, see the growing archive here. Top Photo Credit.

Comments

  2. First one, James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) just a typo i would imagine, but man what a great group… Glad Murphy is still active!
    Edit: Great list too. Enjoyed most of it!

  4. For the fans of The XX: London Grammar – If You Wait.
    For the fans of LCD Soundsystem: Holy Ghost! – Dynamics.
    Also, new MGMT and Naked & Famous albums.

  5. Music is a very personal and regional thing, and this list looks like its curated for a Williamsburg resident. I’ve found a gem or two (which is probably the authors intent), but these lists routinely leave out anything with an urban vibe.

  7. I was ready to throw a fit if Arcade Fire wasn’t on here. Janelle Monae’s “The Electric Lady” is another can’t miss album.

  9. I’m likin’ the new Superchunk album “I Hate Music” – not a September release but pretty recent.

  11. Dang, I didn’t know she had a new album. I’m not really a pop music kinda guy, but I’m listening to it now and it’s really hard not to get up and dance in my cubicle.

  13. hipsters, despite being insufferable, listen to good music. i’m a big ol’ yuppie and i love my hipster music.

  15. I’m not much of an electronic music fan beyond Animal Collective, but I’ve been a bit obsessed with this Kingdom song lately (maybe b/c it doesn’t sound much like one)

  16. “Good music” is a pretty subjective thing. I’m not getting at the quality of music, but more at the variety. These lists always lack in variety. They seem pretty homogeneous to me. Where is Janelle Monáe on this list?

  19. Didn’t think it was a heated debate. But you gotta admit, Joe… these lists aren’t the most diverse.

    I still enjoy the concept of them (that’s how i was introduced to The Heavy). But it would be nice to see the author expand his suggestions a bit.

  20. Good stuff. I like the new Arcade Fire a lot more than I thought I would. So, so excited for the return of TV on the Radio, such a great band.

  21. Genius, thanks Mason. Joe, you might consider doing this in the future, it’s actually pretty easy to do.

  22. Nice one. You might enjoy some of these people if you like this: Flume, Nylo, Catching Flys, Washed Out

  24. If you’re going to complain at least you could have done something constructive and thrown out some more suggestions.

  25. This is a website dedicated to men dressing smartly so you’re inevitably gonna get music with a higher IQ. Just be glad there’s no Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers. But if you want an urban vibe you can do worse than the new 2 Chainz- Feds Watching.

  26. Your’e right – i can list suggestions. But does not listing them somehow invalidate my observation?

    To name a few: John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Schoolboy Q.

  28. I might have come off as snarky, I see. Wasn’t my intention. Apologies. I’m not trying to take shots at Tim. I think Tim does great work. Nor am I diminishing his effort.

    The list just seemed very insular to me; targeted at a specific audience/demo. One that i do not think is mutually exclusive to a men’s style style blog, or a well dressed man for that matter.

    Music is a very cultural/personal thing. Your music will reflect your life experiences/culture. I found none of these relatable to me at all. Therefore it made me feel alienated; outside the bubble.

    Just my $.02

  29. I might have come off as snarky, I see. Wasn’t my intention. Apologies. I’m not trying to take shots at Tim. I think Tim does great work. Nor am I diminishing his effort.

    The list just seemed very insular to me; targeted at a specific audience/demo. One that i do not think is mutually exclusive to a men’s style style blog, or a well dressed man for that matter.

    Music is a very cultural/personal thing. Your music will reflect your life experiences/culture. I found none of these relatable to me at all. Therefore it made me feel alienated; outside the bubble.

    Just my $.02

  31. You’re right though. Music is a subjective and personal thing. Sure, Tim could have made a checklist of 10 different genres and then check off each box, but these ten songs are still fairly diverse in style. I guess I’m just having a hard time understanding why you would feel alienated by a list of songs you don’t particularly care for.

  32. If its any help: Wicker Park, Chicago; The Mission, San Francisco; H Street, Washington DC; Silver Lake, LA; Capitol Hill, Seattle; (The) Uptown; Oakland; Northern Liberties, Philly are all rough equivalents. I’d say Wicker Park and The Mission are the closest analogs to Williamsburg.

  33. Reading through these comments I’m kind of surprised by the reaction Losc29 got. I guess its all up to interpretation but nowhere in here did I think his observation or the way he said it was rude. It was simply an observation. One of the many reasons I enjoy this site is because the conversation is always civil.

    I definitely agree with what he said regarding the homogenous nature of the suggestions, but it doesn’t bother me because all of the suggestions Tim made fall into my preferred genres and frankly this isn’t a music blog. I think they are great choices and
    maybe when something with more of an urban vibe catches Tim’s fancy he’ll include it.

    Keep up the great work guys!