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.
With a new album coming in June, Muse have shared two new tracks for fans. Nothing new here but that’s more than fine. I’ll take variations on these guitar riffs all day long. And this has already fueled several work outs. Muse makes arena rock cool again.
As if no time had passed between their disco heyday and now. And once again completely contemporary. Welcome back Nile Rogers and Co. Get lucky, indeed.
The big story with the new release from Marcus Mumford and his crew is the lack of a certain instrument instrumental to their sound. No banjos on this first single from their upcoming album Wilder Man. “Believe” comes with a fuller palette of production elements. It is atmospheric and dialed back in intensity, until the song opens in a manner electrifying and jolting. And it seems to prepare us for more surprises to come.
At what point do we stop focussing on something being retro instead of paying attention to what makes an artist like Leon Bridges so enthralling. That voice. This song about his mother, showcases Bridges’ lyrical chops and his alarmingly fluid delivery, which borrows as much from jazz and hip-hop as classic R&B. Check out more over here.
FNM is a perfect example of the type of band which has its own unique sound. You hear something and you immediately know it’s them. This easily could have been from one of their late 80’s releases. And in this case, this is a very good thing.
It’s about time. This Icelandic band’s last album remains a constant favorite. “Crystals” serves up what we love about the band. The music is big and expressive. The arrangements are equally expressive and the whole thing has a rather epic feel to it. And make no mistake. I loathe that word. But it fits here.
Kendrick is earning all sorts of love for To Pimp A Butterlfy and the more I listen the more I find myself digging this new release.”King Kunta” launches with scarcely a beat before building upon the groove, bringing in more background elements and production touch-stones until the tension just pushes the flow. By the time he hits the homestretch it’s just full-on swagger.
Some bands come up with a sound that seems to define a specific place. It’s not so much a back story or an origin story, but a musical rendering of both. Ben Schneider’s Lord Huron is one of those bands. The initial song from their forthcoming 2nd release picks up where their debut left off. And that means a return to cinematic indie rock from a fully realized place and time.
Aaron Bruno goes big with just about every song. Mixing genres and time signatures, AWOLNATION tracks are rarely subtle. And because Bruno has a huge gift for equally huge hooks, it works.
If you don’t like Ben Gibbard’s voice, then you’ve already skipped ahead. The band’s last album featuring founding member (and producer) Chris Walla has the band reaching out in some areas musically. I wasn’t sure what to expect following the release of the first single “Black Sun” but the album is solid.
Another track from the upcoming Drone release, this time with a nod to their more synthesized sounds. Muse and AWOLNATION share something in common: nobody else sounds like them. You can identify them immediately. That’s something.
BETWEEN THE BEATS:
Because the riffs.
Click here to find this playlist on Spotify.
For previous editions of The Playlist, see the growing archive here.
15% off select Ray-Bans with free shipping & free returns at Nordstrom.
Core line suits. Dress Shoes. Black Tie. Casual stuff. Giving Spier's Anniversary sale the 5…
Spending a bit more, but not nearly "I got the Mi6 credit card" levels.
007? More like $0.07. Not that cheap, but the focus is firmly fixed on affordability.…
There's a pretty solid stunner of a stacking (Italian made) suit sale at Brooks Brothers.
Five style scenarios mined from BR's quiet 30% off code.