Music

The Noise Pop Podcast

The Noise Pop Podcast is a monthly series showcasing new music discoveries and a diverse slate of guest artists from the independent music scene and beyond. Produced by Noise Pop, San Francisco’s go-to indie music, arts and film festival for over 25 years and hosted by music journalist Adrian Spinelli (Paste Magazine, SF Chronicle, etc..), we deliver engaging episodes that are always rooted in the music that we love and that we know you will too. Past guests have included: Khruangbin, Thao Nguyen, Quantic, Wye Oak, Helado Negro, Speedy Ortiz, Rexx Life Raj, Shigeto, Låpsley, Thievery Corporation and more.

Latest Episodes:

Best of the Blogs, June 2015 Jun 03, 2014

Show notes

Keeping up with all the new music that gets released can be overwhelming, there are simply too many options. It’s a full time job to stay on top of it all... fortunately we’ve got the Cliff Notes version for you. The Noise Pop Podcast offers a monthly mix of the absolute best songs that have been released online over the past month. This mix features new music from NP Podcast favorites, Parquet Courts and the hauntingly beautiful JJ, with her most accessible single to date. Follow along with the track list and enjoy the best new music swirling around the internet right now.

Track list:

1. “Goddess (Jerome LOL Edit)” - Banks, Single

2. “Down On My Luck” - Vic Mensa, Single

3. “Komorebi” - Craft Spells, Nauseau

4. “I Don’t Know You Anymore” - Bob Mould, Beauty & Ruin

5. "Bye Bye Big Ocean (The End)", A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Sea When Absent

6. “Alkaline” - Papertwin, Vox Humana EP

7. “Suffering You, Suffering Me” - SlowClub, Complete Surrender

8. “Instant Disassembly” - Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animal

9. “They Come In Gold” - Shabazz Palaces, Lese Majesty

10. “Hotel” - The Antlers, Familiars

11. “All White Everything” - JJ, V

12. “Down From the Rafters” - Hundred Waters, The Moon Rang Like A Bell

13. “All The Time” - Bahamas, Bahamas Is Afie

Indie Music + Musical Theory May 21, 2014

Show notes

We know major chords make us feel happy, and minor chords make us feel sad. But beyond that, there is so much more to the composition of a song; it's a careful construction that can conjure up a variety of emotions, from anxiety to exuberance. So this episode, we're diving into the theory behind the songs we love and finding out what makes them so good from a technical perspective. We decided to do this topic after reading the following articles about music criticism and composition. Check them out: Daily Beast article chastising the nature of music criticism Slate article using music theory to deconstruct Katy Perry's Teenage Dream Track list: 1. “Don't Play With Guns” -- Black Angels, Indigo Meadow 2. “Blue Moon” -- Beck, Morning Phase 3. “About to Die” -- Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo Magellan 4. “Birthday Song” -- Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy 5. “Water Me” -- FKA twigs, EP2 6. “Broken Heart” -- Dr. Dog, B-Room 7. “Girlfriend” -- Ty Segall, Melted

May 2014 May 06, 2014

Show notes

With so many new tracks in circulation recently, we've had a hard time narrowing down our choices for each episode. So we did things a little differently this episode and created a playlist for you, played all the way through with no interruptions. As much as we love to talk, we'll let the music speak for itself this time. New tracks from Wye Oak, Twin Shadow, Thee Oh Sees (surprisingly!) and a nod to the late DJ Rashad. Tracklist:1. “Coffee” - Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso 2. “Eurydice” - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Days of Abandon3. “Drop” - Thee Oh Sees Drop4. “Fade White” - Baths Ocean Death EP5. “Water Fountain” - Tune-Yards, Nikki Nack6. “Running Wild” - La Sera, Hour of the Dawn7. “The Tower” - Wye Oak, Shriek8. “Like You Used To” - Kidnap Kid, Stronger EP9. “To The Top” - Twin Shadow, single10.”Attachment” - Hannah Diamond, single11. “Waterfall” - Fear of Men, Loom EP12. “Black Diamond” - Ayer, single13. “Ascii Bott” - Percussions, text14. “I’m Gone” - DJ Rashad, Just A Taste

A Taxing Time of Year Apr 15, 2014

Show notes

Ah tax season. It's dramatic for most Americans - the dread, the procrastination, the thrill of a refund, the defeat of an audit. We've rounded up some of our favorite tax and money themed songs to get you through April 15 and to let you know you aren't alone. In fact, we've even thrown in some tales of a few artists who may hate tax time even more than you do.

Track list:

1. "Taxman" -- The Beatles, Revolver

2. "What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes" -- Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Impeach the Precedent

3. "Gonna Make My Own Money" -- Deap Vally, Get Deap!

4. "1040 Blues" -- Robert Cray, Shame + A Sin

5. "Consumerism" -- Lauryn Hill, Single

6. "Who'll Buy My Memories" -- Willie Nelson, The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories

7. "Free Money" -- Patti Smith, Horses

8. "Blame It on Cain " -- Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True

9. "Money Trees" -- Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city

10. "Sunny Afternoon" -- The Kinks, Face to Face

11. "9 to 5" -- Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs

Meta Songs Mar 25, 2014

Show notes

It's no surprise that musicians find inspiration in other musicians from time to time. Sometimes that inspiration even earns a shoutout - whether it be in the form of a copied lyric or lick, an homage or a diss. This episode we're playing some of our favorite songs that feature all of the above, from Drake to Okkervil River.

Track list:

1. "Gimme Sympathy" -- Metric, Fantasies

2. "Plus Ones" -- Okkervil River, The Stage Names

3. "Blonde on Blonde" -- Nada Surf, Let Go

4. "Ben Lee" -- Ataris, Single

5. "Let It Rain" -- Tilly and the Wall, Wild Like Children

6. "Worst Behavior" -- Drake, Nothing Was the Same

7. "Jump" -- Rihanna, Unapologetic

8. "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above" -- CSS, Cansei de Ser Sexy

9. "Feel Good Inc." -- Gorillaz, Demon Days

10. "All I Want" -- LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening

March 2014 Mar 11, 2014

Show notes

We had a really hard time narrowing down our choices for new music this week, so we packed this playlist a little more full than usual. This episode features tracks from emerging favorites Cathedrals, Kill J and Franke Cosmos, as well as some new music from some of our favorite indie veterans, Woods, How to Dress Well and Avey Tare.

Track list:

1. "Bullet" -- Kill J, Single

2. "Birthday Song" -- Franke Cosmos, Zentropy

3. "Words I Don't Remember" -- How to Dress Well, Single

4. "Baby" -- Saint Pepsi, Gin City

5. "Next Level" -- Pool Cosby, Can't Wait

6. "Moving to the Left" -- Woods, With Light and With Love

7. "Interference Fits" -- Perfect Pussy, Say Yes to Love

8. "White Wash " -- Halcyon Drive, Single

9. "Cavity" -- Hundred Waters, N/A

10. "Busy Earning" -- JUNGLE., Single

11. "Little Fang" -- Slasher Flicks., Enter the Slasher House 12. "Harlem" -- Cathedrals, Single

February 2014 Feb 26, 2014

Show notes

Well, after last week's trip down Heartbreaking Memories Lane, we thought we'd pick things up a bit with a selection of new tracks making noise in the last couple weeks. This week's episode features single release from Emily King and YACHT, cuts off promising new records from Future Islands and Angel Olsen, and lots of other indie goodness.

Track list:

1. "Slow Down" -- EMBRZ, EMBRZ

2. "Passing Out Pieces" -- Mac Demarco, Salad Days

3. "Plastic Soul" -- YACHT, Single

4. "Distance" -- Emily King, Single

5. "Good Sex" -- Kevin Drew, Darlings

6. "Seasons (Waiting On You) " -- Future Islands, Singles

7. "Chinese New Year " -- SALES, Renee/Tonka Time 7”

8. "Hot Tonight " -- Tokyo Police Club, Forcefield

9. "I’m Not Part of Me" -- Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else

10. "Forgiven/Forgotten" -- Angel Olsen, Unfuck the Word

Noise Pop 2014 Lineup Roundup Jan 29, 2014

Show notes

In just a few weeks, San Francisco will be inundated with great shows, night after night, in almost every venue around the city for six days straight. That's right, the Noise Pop Festival is back, and to get you excited (or help you narrow down with shows to see), we're playing tracks from some of the artists we're most excited for. The festival takes place all over the city, Feb 25-March 2. Tickets are still available (but going fast) at noisepop.com Track list: 1. "Avant Gardener" -- Courtney Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas 2. "Time to Run" -- Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams 3. "Swerve...The Reaping of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding)" -- Shabazz Palazes, Black Up 4. "Where's the Indifference Now" -- Mark Mulcahy, Dear Mark J. Mulcahy, I Love You 5. "Feelin" -- DJ Rashad, Double Cup 6. "Green Aisles" -- Real Estate, Atlas 7. "Black Boots" -- Cold Cave, Sunflower 8. "Searching Through the Past" -- Bleached, Single 9. "Childhood's End" -- Majical Clouds, Impersonator 10. "Do What You Will" -- Papercuts, Fading Parade

January 2014 Jan 14, 2014

Show notes

We're a couple weeks into the new year, which usually means two things: 1. we've broken our resolutions already and 2. we're getting excited for the year's new records. This episode, we've rounded up tracks from some of 2014's most anticipated new releases (okay, Dirty Gold came out a few weeks ago, but Angel Haze still deserves a spot on this list.)

Track list:

1. "Here It Comes" -- Painted Palms, Forever

2. "Lost Boys and Girls Club" -- Dum Dum Girls, Too True

3. "Scum, Rise" -- Protomartyr, Under Color of Official Right

4. "Haunt" -- Clams Casino, Instrumentals, Vol. 3

5. "Pauline Hawkins" -- Drive By Truckers, English Oceans

6. "Black Dahlia" -- Angel Haze, Dirty Gold

7. "Love Is To Die" -- Warpaint, Warpaint

8. "Mr. Wonderful" -- Saint Pepsi, Gin City

9. "Pearly Gates" -- The Men, Tomorrow's Hits

10. "Remurdered" -- Mogwai, Rave Tapes

Alternative Christmas Mix Dec 17, 2013

Show notes

Good tidings! The Noise Pop Podcast got you a gift - a reprieve from the same old holiday music you hear every season. We've assembled our favorite alternative Christmas songs and put them together in a mix that covers the full range of emotions the holidays can bring on. Put this mix on while you're bundled up next to a fire or unwrapping presents. Happy holidays and we'll see you in 2014 Tracklist1. "Lumberjack Christmas / No One Can Save You From Christmases Past" -- Sufjan Stevens, Silver & Gold2. "Christmas in Prison" -- John Prine, A John Prine Christmas3. "A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn't So)" -- The Flaming Lips, Ego Tripping At The Gates of Hell EP4. "I Wish It Was Christmas Today" -- Julian Casablancas, Single5. "Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree" -- The Magnetic Fields, Realism6. "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis" -- Tom Waits, Used Songs7. "It's Christmas Now" -- The Wearing, Single8. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" -- The Ramones, Brain Drain9. "Green Grows The Holly" -- Calexico, Holidays Rule10. "Just Like Christmas" -- Low, Christmas11. "King Knight" -- Salem, King Night

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