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2016 Favorites

Ashley — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:30:50 +0000

I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a major drag of a year. Like, GIRL, BYE.

Despite the grey cloud hanging over this year, the music released has been nothing short of fantastic…a definite bright spot that we could all cling to when the times got tough. These were the songs and albums that challenged us as listeners, played to all of our emotions, and were just catchy af.

My favorite 16 of 2016 are moody, energetic, passionate, and quirky. These are songs I’ve grown more and more attached to over the year, and have definitely been a comfort to listen to during a year with many ups and downs.

While many of us are eager to put this past year in our rear-view mirrors, we know that 2017 is already going to be a crazy ride. No matter what the new year hurls at us, we can rely on music to help us keep chugging along. There are already a slew of albums that will drop in early 2017 for which I am super duper pumped. I have a feeling, at least music wise, it’s going to be a lit year.

If you like the songs below, head on over to New Jams Vol. 3 on Spotify to listen to all of the great songs I’ve curated throughout this year.

Happy holidays, friends!

Max’s Top 15 of 2015

Max — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 17:58:19 +0000

My top tracks from 2015. I could listen to this playlist all day for month and it wouldn’t get old. Follow my rotating playlist of top new releases on Spotify for regular updates throughout 2016! Subscribe Here

Cassie’s Music Year of 2015

Cassie — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 15:15:56 +0000

Every December I feel obligated to say “What a year it has been” as I reflect on all that has happened in the past 11 1/2 months. This December is no different. In 2015 I lost a job, got a new job, joined the TMD team, saw the Northern Lights, found a new love for Argentinean wine, and made some amazing connections in this crazy industry we call music. When asked to develop my top list of 2015- I admittedly stared at the computer for what felt like hours. Blank. How can I pick top tracks when my ‘2015’ list is miles long?! So I turned back to reflecting on my year. What songs helped me through the tough times, and reminded me of the good ones. I came up with the below, and I hope you all enjoy.

And yes Tim, Parade of Lights was the first band I added.

Missy’s Favorites of 2015

Missy — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:00:24 +0000

I feel like 2015 was about as consistent a year of music could get across the board, as it was a banner year for indie rock, punk, hip-hop, singer-songwriters, electronic, and pop music. We saw Sleater-Kinney reunite, Justin Beiber became “cool”, Kendrick Lamar released the most talked-about politically-charged masterpiece, Adele made her grand return, grime finally broke in the US, and a member of the xx uncharacteristically came out with the most lush, maximalist album of the year.

While this year turned out to be musically stellar, there have been several criminally-underrated releases, so without further adieu, here are my top 10 most underrated albums of the year as well as a playlist of some of my favorite songs.

Top 10 Underrated Albums Of The Year:
1. D.A. Wallach – Time Machine
2. Alex Bleeker & The Freaks – Country Agenda
3. Houndmouth – Little Neon Limelight
4. Joywave – How Do You Feel Now?
5. Gengahr – A Dream Outside (UK Only)
6. Bop English – Constant Bop
7. Fraser A. Gorman – Slow Gum
8.Goodbye Tomorrow – A Journey Through The Mind Of A Non-Believer
9. King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard – Paper Mâché Dream Balloon
10. Palehound – Dry Food

Jay’s Favorite Tracks of 2015

Jay — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:41:20 +0000

2015 was quite a year. For me it was a year of unparalleled personal and professional growth. In fact — and in full disclosure — this was also the year I hit 30. Maybe it’s reaching a new decade or maybe it was just the tone of music in 2015 or maybe I’m just projecting, but I noticed my favorite tracks being much more lyrically driven than in previous years. There’s certainly no doubting this notion with selections like Tame Impala’s “Let It Happen,” Grimes’ “REALiTi (Demo),” Courtney Barnett’s “Depreston,” and Kurt Vile’s “Pretty Pimpin.” Now, I understand this isn’t quite a resounding plug for an uplifting listen. However, there is a realness, intensity, and immediacy in these songs that I haven’t noticed or felt in my prior year-end lists. Also unlike years past, I made the decision to keep my playlist to my absolute top 10 songs — no more, no less. So, to stay with the theme of conciseness, here are the 10 songs that made my 2015. I hope you find as much enjoyment out of them as I have over the course of the year.

Ashley’s Fave 15 of 2015

Ashley — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:00:41 +0000

Well, 2015 has sure been a whirlwind of a year. It’s hard to believe that one of my most exciting and memorable, yet most difficult, years is very rapidly coming to a close. During 2015, I was fortunate enough to travel around Asia for 2 weeks (finally got to holler at the motherland of Seoul, SK), spent a great deal of quality time with some amazing friends, joined the wonderful team here at TMD, went to an insane amount of shows, and listened to a plethora of new music. It’s the music that lifted me up after the passing of my mom, but it was also the upbeat soundtrack to the fun, exciting, and totally rad moments of the year.

I always envisioned that making a year end list would be a fairly simple task. WRONG WRONG WRONG. I naively started pulling songs from my “New Jams Vol. 2” Spotify playlist (a playlist of new music/bands that I’ve been curating over the past year or so…definitely give it a listen if you want even more sweet tunes in your life) and before I knew it, my initial draft contained roughly 70 songs…oops! It took some major listening time + hours of fretting over my decisions before I was able to narrow down my list to a more manageable 15 songs.

My final 15 of 2015 represent the songs that I constantly played on repeat, that made me feel all the feels, that grabbed my attention immediately, that got me through hours upon hours of travel time, and that I sang to at the top of my lungs, and chair danced to while listening at work . These are the songs and artists that I’ve enjoyed immensely this year and I look forward to hearing more from in the new year.

Thanks for listening gang, and have a fantastic holiday!

Gabriela’s 2015 Funkouement

Gaby — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:23:07 +0000

I remember the precise moment I sold my soul to the music devil; South by Southwest, ATX. The very own Most Definitely’s Stoli infused afternoon at The Yard. Before that my unexposed dreams twinkled in classical piano, A Capella’d harmonies, and celestial music festivals. Needless to say, this year had me hooked. My fellow writers and cousins have inspired my search for musical talent. Oh, and I finally got that electric guitar, oww. I bid you adieu Beelzebub’s year. A brief confessional precedes my list; in the words of our most mystical Calypso, “My intentions are honest ones, and my heart is not made of iron…”

Maybe I should blame my fiery zodiac, or just admit… Sharing this list exposes the soundtrack of my year thus far, a personal and utterly biased list. I can’t speak for you, but, if you take a gander you might just find yourself learning moves you’d never dreamed feasible (or flexible enough for). Two quick confessions and then we’ll commence musically, I promise. As a small town high school English teacher, the music industry is comparable to Dante’s second ring of hell, a daunting fiery pit of passion, authenticity, and soul; a niche I am gingerly stepping into through wonderful role models and musical talents. Finally, my draw to the music is through my synesthesthetic (new word?) viewpoint. I see the notes morph through spools of color across my lids, they roll, bubble, pour, through my veins. It’s a direct reaction to the art and dedication of the artists. Alas, enjoy. Make space to dance, lay, and free your body from our daily mundanities.

Here’s a Soundcloud version of the playlist, with a few added bonuses not found on Spotify:

Cheers, 2015.

felipe’s dope ass 2015 playlist full of errors

Felipe — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 01:41:16 +0000

Here’s exactly one hour of tunes for you so I can “fit in.” :-/ Most all the bands I included are worth investigating per their particular sound on their own. I’m a belieber in bands with good solid albums. Something dependable start to finish. Something you can count on. I’m so tired of starting relationships with these “bands” (if you can even call them that) while they lead me on, tease me with scintillating tunes, only for them to sputter away and “ghost” on me after 3 and a half minutes of passion and NEVER call me back… I thought we were having a good time? Why don’t you wanna keep having good times? Why are things always soo complicated? Oh you’re busy?! Ya sure… I see you posting on social media… but no no… I’m suuuure you’re swamped! Umm… so ya, kinda got distracted there. Anyways, the vast majority of these duders are included not necessarily because of that particular song, but because they had an album worth checking out. Bands that only have one good song are, well, boring… For anyone that knows me, you know that I prefer stallions, a big strong beast for studding purposes; none of this one trick pony bologna. So ya, I made this playlist basically as an abridged version of “2015 albums you should check out” but since that wasn’t what I was asked to do, I made you a playlist instead.

Even so, here are the albums to peruse in order of playlist appearance.

(If you a 2015 list of what “I” wanna hear all the time, hmu and I’ll send you a list of like 20 punk rock jams. Hope that’s chill with you.)

Feli Says these are a few sweet albums of 2015 or whatever

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Harmlessness

Wavves – V

Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Best Coast – California Nights

Laura Stevenson – Cocksure

Kid Wave – Wonderlust

Bully – Feels Like

Transviolet – Transviolet EP

State Champs – Around the World and Back

Neck Deep – Life’s Not Out To Get You

Al Bairre – Experience the Al Bairre Show With Al Bairre Experience