Radio Roundup: New Year, New Favorites
Social Media Manager’s Pick – Matt Held ’26
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Social Media Manager’s Pick – Matt Held ’26
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check out these recommendations and let them become the soundtrack to your semester.
Folk Genre Manager and DJ’s Pick: Elle Thompson ’25
Library Manager’s Pick – Kyle Hooker ’24
General Manager’s Pick — Gennie Herron ’23
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check back each week for a new set of recommendations.
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check back each week for a new set of recommendations.
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like)
*RIYL (recommended if you like) Co-Concert Manager Exec Pick — Luke Robins ’23 Album: “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” — Little Simz Genre: Hip-Hop RIYL: Noname, Slowthai, Tierra Whack Blurb: Little Simz had my favorite verse of 2019 with her feature on “New Breed” and I was still blown away by how much I loved this new album. The versatility of Inflo’s beats is only surpassed by Little Simz’s ability to adapt her voice and flow to each new style thrown her way. Little Simz does it all on this album that will go down as one of my favorites of 2021. General Manager’s Exec Pick — Maddie Van Beek ’22.5 Album: “A PawPaw Rod EP” — PawPaw Rod Genre: Hip-Hop, Funk RIYL: binki, Terry Presume, Jelani Aryeh Blurb: PawPaw Rod’s debut single, “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS” is what got me through last winter and the tail end of my semester off. It is filled to the brim with good vibes and addictive rhythms. Since its release, I have eagerly awaited each new single until now, when we finally have the complete EP. Library Manager’s Exec Pick — Kyle Hooker ’24 Album: “The Subdudes” — The Subdudes Genre: Roots, Folk Rock, Cajun RIYL: Keb’ Mo’, The Radiators, Seal Blurb: This is a really fun album with prominent horn riffs, harmonic vocals and interesting instrumentation in general. For example, the band substitutes a tambourine for drums, giving it a different sort of feel/beat. The group is from New Orleans and nicely blends elements of folk, R&B, country, funk and gospel. It’s a perfect soundtrack of a leisurely weekend morning. Tech Director’s Exec Pick — Dan Frazo ’23 Album: “Payador” — Tim Hill Genre: Psychedelic Folk, Desert Rock RIYL: Khruangbin, Leonard Cohen, Liz Cooper, The Stampede Blurb: Tim Hill is an LA-based singer/songwriter with a unique ability to bring time to a complete standstill. After listening to his debut (and only) album, “Payador,” straight through, one finds themself trapped in a hot blur, like a cold glass of water left outside in the Arizona desert. Bringing together slow rhythms, melancholic lyrics and captivating loops, “Payador” is a masterpiece of genre-mashing psychedelia. Social Media Director’s Exec Pick — Kai Velazquez ’23 Album: “After Hours” — Rahsaan Patterson Genre: R&B RIYL: Eric Roberson, Meshell Ndegeocello Blurb: This is the kind of album that’ll get you cheesing and thinking about your boo. “After Hours” is composed of funky, upbeat and Isley-ish vibes. Patterson’s vocals are fused with enthusiasm and get you moving on your feet. Music Director’s Exec Pick — Natalie Penna ’24 Album: “Transatlanticism” — Death Cab for Cutie Genre: Indie, Emo RIYL: The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Slaughter Beach, Dog Blurb: “Transatlanticism” is a laid-back, mostly-quiet, melodic album to listen to as you stare at your ceiling. It’s seriously one of my favorite albums of all time, and I love Ben Gibbard’s songwriting. Listen to the Tiny Vessels to Transatlanticism to Passenger Seat sequence — you can thank me later! Co-Concerts Manager’s Exec Pick — Yardena Carmi ’23 Album: “Working for the Knife” — Mitski Genre: Indie Rock RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, Soccer Mommy Blurb: Mitski’s back, baby! After a three-year break from releasing music — aside from a couple of guest spots and soundtracks — this new single falls effortlessly into the existing Mitski canon. Come for the infectious, silky-sweet vocals; stay for the existential dread.
General Manager’s Pick — Maddie Van Beek ’22.5 Album: “Ice Melt” — Crumb Genre: Neo-Psychedelia Dream Pop RIYL: Men I Trust, Puma Blue, Yellow Days, Foxygen Blurb: Fresh off the heels of their newest indie pop psych rock album, the Brooklyn quartet, Crumb, is making the trek up to Middlebury, Vermont this Friday, October 1. Spend this week memorizing the words to every song so you can sing your heart out at our first live concert of the year! Co-Concerts Manager’s Pick — Yardena Carmi ’23 Album: “Sable (Video Game Soundtrack)” — Japanese Breakfast Genre: Instrumental, Ambient RIYL: Hans Zimmer, Vangelis, Sufjan Stevens Blurb: Japanese Breakfast has been putting out a ridiculous amount of great music lately and her latest project, a soundtrack for an indie video game, is no exception. “Sable'' is soft and relaxing. Its mostly wordless retro vibe is perfect for the late night homework grind. Co-Concerts Manager’s Pick — Luke Robins ’23 Album: “Psy From The Psycho World!” — PSY Genre: Hip-Hop RIYL: Outkast, Digable Planets, Seo Taiji and the Boys Blurb: If you only know PSY from “PSY Gangnam Style,” I promise there’s more. “Psy from The Psycho World!” will have you bouncing through campus with its classic SoCal and disco inspired beats. Business Manager’s Pick — Jacob Raymond ’23 Album: “SINNER GET READY” — Lingua Ignota Genre: Avant-garde, orchestral, metal, Appalachian acoustic RIYL: The Body, Daughters, Liturgy Blurb: Lingua Ignota’s third album, “SINNER GET READY,” is one of the most dense, horrifying, engrossing and beautiful albums I have ever heard. The album attempts to grapple with the zealotry of the Christian faith in Appalachia by taking the listener on a journey through both gorgeous hymnal singing and chilling screams backed by a gigantic classical composition that feels trapped between some kind of blissful heaven and hellish purgatory. While listening to this album all the way through is really difficult, and it is not an album I’d recommend listening to on a whim, it is one of the most unforgettable albums I’ve ever listened to and each track is sure to give you chills. Library Manager’s Pick — Kyle Hooker ’24 Album: “June Rich Debut” — June Rich Genre: Folk Rock RIYL: Indigo Girls, Melissa Ethridge, The Chicks Blurb: I was organizing CDs in the station last week and came across this album from a somewhat obscure artist I had never heard of before. I saw from the label that they are 90’s folk rock, a genre that I generally enjoy, and the short review sticker claimed they are similar to the Indigo Girls, a great band. Overall, the album has a nice vibe — beautiful vocals and harmonies from two talented singers — with some nice witty lyrics and plenty of edginess. Music Director’s Pick — Chad Kim ’23.5 Album: “The Forgotten Edge” — Molly Lewis Genre: Tropical, Ethereal RIYL: Weyes Blood, Sufjan Stevens Blurb: In a fairly niche genre where the instrument is your mouth (but you don’t use your mouth for singing), Molly Lewis is arguably one of the best whistlers of our time. She will lull you into tranquility as this album takes you on a journey through the sounds of the west. A recommended setting to listen to it would either be somewhere high up watching the sunset or in a sauna. Social Media Director’s Pick — Kai Velazquez ’23 Album: “The Man Who Sees Tomorrow/ Lodarore” — Uwade Genre: Acoustic, Indie, Folk RIYL: Anjimile, Joy Oladokun Blurb: There are only a few songs that can quiet down the anxious thoughts in my mind, and those are Uwade’s tracks. Her vocals are soft and gentle, like an autumn lullaby that people can huddle around to feel its warmth. These songs are dedicated to her father, Dr. James I. Akhere, who passed away last year. Uwade sings to remind us that community love is essential to our survival, that we can’t afford to stand alone because “we make each other who we are.''
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check out these recommendations and let them become the soundtrack to your semester. *RIYL (recommended if you like) Social Media Director’s Pick — Kai Velazquez ’23 Album: “Foreign Things” — Amber Mark Genre: Soulful pop RIYL: Remi Wolf, Austin Millz, Hope Tala, Smino Blurb: Amber Mark has been said to create music that will make you dance and cry. I would add on top of that that her music will remind you of the light illuminating your path in dark times. The start of the semester has been tough, but my favorite track on this EP, “Worth It,” has kept me going. Mark sings about the moments when you feel like you don’t deserve the good in life and reminds you that “you’re so damn [worthy]” of joy. Through grief, regret and pain, the lyrics and beats will reverberate through your heart. Co-Concert Manager’s Pick — Luke Robins ’23 Album: “An Overview on Phenomenal Nature” — Cassandra Jenkins Genre: Indie Rock/Folk RIYL: Big Thief, Slaughter Beach Dog, Indigo de Souza Blurb: This first week of school, I have felt non-stop out of breath. From readjusting to the social scene to remembering homework exists, stressors can be overwhelming. Cassandra Jenkins’ babbling production and swirling lyrics reminds me to take the space I need to breathe. Library Manager’s Pick — Kyle Hooker ’24 Album: “Seal” — Seal Genre: Pop/ Neo R&B/Soul RIYL: World Party, The Subdudes, also classic R&B Blurb: This album is a few decades old, but I was told that’s alright. In any case, this album is the debut, self-titled album from Seal, which I own on cassette (courtesy of my mom). The album has a nice blend of higher energy songs with a good baseline and slower, more mellow songs. All of them are long, with nice groove, pacing and beautiful, passionate lyrics. The first track is called “The Beginning,” which I feel is fitting for transitional moments. General Manager’s Pick — Maddie Van Beek ’22.5 Album: “If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is” — Still Woozy Genre: Indie Rock RIYL: Rex Orange County, Omar Apollo, Glass Animals Blurb: After years of incredibly catchy singles and EPs, Sven Gamsky, better known as Still Woozy, has finally released his debut album. “If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is” was produced in Gamsky’s home studio garage, imbuing it with all of the character of his bedroom pop roots. The album takes us through Gamsky’s often chaotic mental state. “You wouldn’t last a day in my head” is the repeated warning of the opening track. These lyrics are balanced out by Gamsky’s strong command of sound and genre blending, making for an album that’s layered with emotional and sonic complexity. Music Director’s Pick — Natalie Penna ’24 Album: “i’m so glad i feel this way about you” — Insignificant Other Genre: Indie Punk/ Indie Pop Rock RIYL: Remember Sports, Origami Angel, Diet Cig Blurb: “i’m so glad i feel this way about you” is a catchy, bouncy and sometimes angry album about a lot of complex feelings. Each song is its own specific moment in time, and they feel personal while being easy to relate to. Above all else, this album is super fun whether you’re deeply listening or just looking for something to play while you study. Music Director’s Pick — Pia Contreras ’22 Album: “Obviously” — Lake Street Drive Genre: Alternative RIYL: The California Honeydrops, Anderson East Blurb: The song “Hypotheticals” has been stuck in my head since I first heard it in March, and I’m not upset about it at all. “Obviously” is a very fun album to sing along and dance to. Side note: if you ever find yourself with the aux on a car ride and don’t know what to play, pick this album — you won’t regret it.
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check out these recommendations to carry you through the summer, and listen to the roundup here on Spotify. *RIYL (recommended if you like) Creative Director’s Pick - Chad Kim ’23.5 Album: “Sauropoda” — L’éclair Favorite Song from the Album: “Castor MacDavid” Genre: Psych Jazz/Funk RIYL: Beyond the Seasons, Pink Floyd, Los Bitchos Blurb: If you’re looking to be seduced into a sundrunk daydream, then L’éclair can provide the funky beats and immaculate synth transitions to guide you there. L’éclair is composed of seven Frank Zappa-types — indicative of a cloning experiment gone right — who have mastered their own unique instrument. Each band member grabs your attention and invites you into the experience as they jam in perfect harmony. All the tracks they have released so far immerse you into deep funk, and “Sauropoda” is a delicately curated gateway album into this psychedelic solar storm. Get on outta here and go listen to it outside! Music Director’s Pick - George Werner ’21 Album: “The House at Sea” — Amor de Días Favorite Song from the Album: “The House at Sea” Genre: Dream Pop RIYL: The Clientele, Papercuts, Cass McCombs, Still Corners, classical guitar Blurb: Originally the side project between the Clientele’s Alasdair MacLean and Pipas’s Lupe Núñez-Fernández, Amor de Días’s 2013 album “The House at Sea'' provide a soothing, readily listenable collage of passing images. Classical guitar features on many of the tracks, which are awash with a bright nostalgia, offering scenes of beaches and passing clouds. If you are looking for a bilingual soundtrack to a slow day on an empty seashore, you could do much worse than put on “The House at Sea.” Tech Director’s Pick - Maddie Van Beek ’22.5 Album: “Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)” — Fred again.. Favorite Song from the Album: “Kyle (I Found You)” or “Angie (I’ve Been Lost)” Genre: Dance/Electronic RIYL: FKA Twigs, Tourist, Jayda G, TSHA, Ross from Friends, Brian Eno Blurb: British producer Fred again.. assembled this album by sampling from “actual life.” Over the course of eight months, he curated snippets from personal FaceTime conversations, iPhone videos and clips from YouTube and Instagram, then transformed them into a series of equally thoughtful and catchy songs that flow into each other seamlessly. Music Director’s Pick - Dan Frazo ’23 Album: “Guantanamo Bay Surf Club” — Guantanamo Bay Surf Club Favorite Song from the Album: “Escargot Blues,” “Georgia Make” or “Homesick of Home” Genre: Alternative Rock, Surf Rock RIYL: Atta Boy, Ezra Bell, Dan & Drum, Flipturn, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners Blurb: The name "Guantanamo Bay Surf Club" was conceived of in Havana, Cuba when the band was invited upon their arrival in the country to go surfing with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. While the Colorado-based trio are no surfers, they certainly know how to have a good time. Their self-titled album was released in 2017 and is the perfect complement to any hangout. Between the groovy hooks of songs like “Escargot Blues” and the gentle lo-fi beats of “Georgia Make,” Guantanamo Bay Surf Club pairs nicely with summertime delicacies such as enjoying an adult beverage with friends or falling asleep in the sun, knowing full well you’re going to wake up with a nasty sunglasses tan line. Creative Director’s Pick - Pia Contreras ’22 Album: “Colores” - J Balvin Favorite Song from the Album: “Azul” Genre: Reggaeton RIYL: Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Maluma Blurb: What is better than a color coordinated album? Very few things. Combine that with reggaeton, and you get something really great! This album assigns a color to each of its songs depending on what they “feel” like, a fun concept that plays into the vastly different moods of each of the tracks. I strongly recommend giving this a listen, particularly if you want to unwind or simply dance some pent up energy out of your system. Social Media Manager - Jose Morales ’22 Album: “:3” - Axolotes Mexicanos Favorite Song: “Verano en Espiral” or “Cara de Idiota” Genre: Indie Pop, Punk, J-Pop RIYL: Los Bonsáis, Las Annettes, Cariño Blurb: Axolotes Mexicanos is a band based in Madrid and their latest project “:3” is fun and energetic. Their loud guitars remind you of an indie punk track, but they also build up some pop and J-pop production for an interesting and exciting sound.
Have your Spotify playlists become stale? Is your weekly mix just not cutting it? Maybe it’s time to branch out and listen to something new. The Executive Board of WRMC, Middlebury College’s radio station, has selected a wonderfully wide range of albums, spanning time and genre, for your listening pleasure. Check back each week for a new set of recommendations. *RIYL (recommended if you like) Business Manager’s Pick - Maia Sauer ’22 Album: “Anika” - Anika Genre: Post-Punk, Dub, Electronic RIYL: John Maus, Ariel Pink, Molly Nilsson Blurb: For her 2010 self-titled project, Anika worked with Geoff Barrow of Portishead, a fun mix of ’60s pop and folk covers. I just rediscovered “Anika” on my Spotify and have been enjoying its moments of punky heaviness interspersed with those of greater mellowness. Anika’s echoey speak-singing carries throughout the album. Give this one a listen if you’re looking for a lowkey energy boost this week. Tech Director’s Pick - Maddie Van Beek ’22.5 Album: “tape 001” and “tape 002” - BETWEEN FRIENDS Genre: Alternative Pop RIYL: Dayglow, Gus Dapperton, Remi Wolf, Ryan Beatty, Kid Bloom Blurb: Alt-pop sibling duo BETWEEN FRIENDS is in the process of releasing three short mixtapes about the past year, with “tape 001” and “tape 002” already out and “tape 003” on the horizon. After a two-year hiatus, their work has matured and become much more daring. While “tape 001” sticks to their pop roots and evokes artists like MIA or Crystal Castles, “tape 002” takes more risks, leaning into hyperpop in a self-described “ode to nightlife.” The mixtapes are short, fun listens — keep your eyes peeled for “tape 003!” Creative Director’s Pick - Chad Kim ’23.5 Album: “The Future’s Still Ringing In My Ears” - Sam Cohen Genre: Ethereal, Psychedelia RIYL: Sam Evian, MGMT, Post Animal Blurb: Striking a delicate balance between the nightmarish and the blissful, “The Future’s Still Ringing In My Ears” embodies acoustic and electric overtones complemented by psychedelic undertones that can really get you amped for the nightmare zone. You don’t have to worry about being a poser, as two of Cohen’s most popular songs come from this album; I believe this is a testament to the album’s allure. If you’re looking for an album to narrate actions of metaphorical arson or a drunken stupor whilst in a playground, then this album is for you. Creative Director’s Pick - Pia Contreras ’22 Album: “Good Thing” - Leon Bridges Genre: R&B,Soul RIYL: John Mayer, Sam Cook, Otis Redding, Ray Charles Blurb: This album masterfully plays with old-school tropes and new sounds to create what I think is a very cool album. While of course I am a fan of “Beyond,” I recommend listening to “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” and “If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)” to understand just how versatile Bridges can be. Give these a listen if you’re interested in a fun blend of new music that leans toward retro. Social Media Manager’s Pick - Jose Morales ’22 Single: “Star” - Yella Beezy ft. Erica Banks Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop RIYL: Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, Boosie Badazz Blurb: Yella Beezy and Erica Banks have both made a name for themselves this year in Texas with singles like “That’s on Me” and “Buss It.” Banks’ “Buss It” became a Tik-Tok phenomenon, and she has been on a couple features since that record. These two up-and-coming artists have now collaborated on the fairly recent single “Star,” that dropped in late January. The beat is a throwback to glamorous 2010’s Hip-Hop productions with its use of background vocals, a drum introduction and light bells. The artists also bring an aggressive rap flow with their usual brand of braggadocious lyrics, and Erica Banks’s feature is the highlight of the track. Her delivery is punchy, fun and creative, and I am looking forward to her upcoming projects.