The Noise Pop Podcast (2024)

The Best Songs of 2014

2014 has been one hell of a year for music. On this episode we take a look back at the trends that emerged, the artists who stood out, and the songs we loved. We also chat with some of our favorite artists and guests, including Washed Out, Lindsay Zoladz of New York Magazine, St. Lucia, and BANKS, to share their picks for favorite track of 2014. Enjoy the episode, and have a happy new year!

Track Listing:

1. "Lemonade" - Sophie, Single (Painted Palm’s Pick)
2. "Scum, Rise" - ProtoMartyr, Under Color of Official Right (Dawson Ludwig’s Pick)
3. "A Place Like This" - Majid Jordan, A Place Like This (EP) (BANKS’ Pick)
4. "Silver Line" - Lykke Li, I Never Learn (St. Lucia’s Pick)
5. "Birthday Song" - Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy (Rose Ludwig’s Pick)
6. "Heavenly Father" - Bon Iver, Wish I Was Here Soundtrack (Asgeir’s Pick)
7. "Passing Out Pieces" - Mac DeMarco, Salad Days (The Growler’s Pick)
8. "Say Your Love Me" - Jessie Ware, Tough Love (Jesse David Fox's Pick)
9. "Flawless (Remix)" - Beyoncé featuring Nicki Minaj, Single (Lindsay Zoladz’ s Pick)
10. "Trainwreck 1979" - Death From Above 1979, The Physical World (Casey Newlin’s Pick)
11. "Queen" - Perfume Genius, Too Bright (David Steele’s Pick)
12. "Seasons (Waiting On You)" - Future Islands, Singles (Washed Out’s Pick)
13. "Two Weeks" - FKA Twigs, LP1 (Noise Pop’s Pick)

Direct download: Best_Songs_of_2014.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:24pm PDT

Best of the Blogs, December 2014

Too busy to keep up with the best new music? Let us (the Noise Pop Podcast) do all the work for you. Each month we hand select the best new music buzzing around the Internet. This episode includes new music from Jamie xx, Sun Kil Moon, Interpol and more.

Enjoy!

Track Listing:

1. "Every Night" - Hannah Diamond, Single
2. "What is What" - Interpol, Everything Is Wrong Single
3. "Tell Me" - Giraffa*ge, No Reason EP
4. "Continental Shelf" - Viet CongSingle
5. "Name That Thing" - Chumped, Teenage Retirement
6. "Take My Side" - WIll Butler, Policy
7. "Heavy" - William Ryan Fritch, Revisionist
8. "Hollywood" - Tobias Jesso Jr. Hollywood
9. "Sunrise" - Jamie xx, Continuoum
10. "The Possum" - Sun Kil Moon, Single

Direct download: December_2014_Best_of_Blogs.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:10am PDT

Going Home (For the Holidays)

Many of us will be traveling home for the Thanksgiving this week, which can be either bitter or sweet (or both). We decided to provide a soundtrack to the experinece while you wait in security lines or drive down interstates - from Yo La Tengo to Bright Eyes to Ageir, this mix will be your guide through all the emotions you’ll be experience as you head home for the holidays

Enjoy the episode!

Track Listing:

1. "While We Walk Home Tonight" - Thanksgiving, The Ghost and the Eyes with Trees in The Ground Outside the Window
2. “Coming Home” - Leon Bridges, single
3. “Hometown Waltz” - Rufus Wainwright, Want Two
4. “Devil Town” - Bright Eyes, The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered
5. “Goin’Home” - Dan Auerbach, Keep it Hid
6. “Going Home” - Asgeir, In The Silence
7. “I Feel Like Going Home” - Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
8. “Indian Summer” - Beat Happening, Jamboree
9. “Via Chicago” - Wilco, Summerteeth
10. “Head Home” - Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther

Direct download: Going_Home_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:06pm PDT

Best of the Blogs, November 2014

Dig into the best that the internet has to offer. This month’s mix provides new music from Parquet Courts, Panda Bear, Run The Jewels and some admittedly challenging material toward the end of the episode from Arca and Pharmakon.

Enjoy the mix!

Track Listing:

1. “Better Man” – Leon Bridges, Single
2. “Radio On” – Ex Hex, Rips
3. “There’s No Love” – Moon Boots, Single
4. “Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth” - Parquet Courts, Content Nausea
5. “Holding” – Grouper, Ruins
6. “Call” - Les Sins, Michael
7. “Mr Noah” - Panda Bear, Mr Noah
8. “Picture Me Gone” - Ariel Pink, Pom Pom
9. "Close Your Eyes (And Count to f*ck)" [ft. Zack De La Rocha] - Run the Jewels, Run The Jewels 2
10. “Thievery” – Arca, Xen
11. “Intent or Instinct” – Pharmakon, Bestial Burden
12. “So Fine” - Kill Frenzy, Taylr Swft

Direct download: Nov_Best_of_Blogs_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:54am PDT

Musical Beefs

Direct download: Beefs_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:07pm PDT

Best of the Blogs, October 2014

Enjoy the mix!

Track Listing:

1. “Getting It On” - SALES, SALES EP
2. “Magic Mountain” - The Drums, Encyclopedia
3. “Coronus, The Terminator”- Flying Lotus, You’re Dead!
4. “No One is Lost” - Stars, No One is Lost
5. “syro u473t8+e [141.98][piezoluminescense mix]” - Aphex Twin, Syro
6. “Lovely Day” - Alt-j, This Is All Yours
7. “Manhattan (Real Slow Remix)” - Gallant, Single
8. “Can’t Do Without You (Tale of Us & Mano Le Tough Remix)” - Caribou, Single
9. “Buffalo Nickel” - Allah-Las, Worship The Sun
10. “Guess Again!” - Thom Yorke, Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
11. “Snow In Newark” - Ryan Hemsworth, Last Gang / Secret Songs
12. “This Isn’t Real” - CHAMP, This Isn’t Real EP
13. “Fool” - Perfume Genius, Too Bright
14. “Everyone And Us” - Peaking Lights, Cosmic Logic
15. “Back to the Shack” - Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright in the End

Direct download: October_Podast_New_Music.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:25pm PDT

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2014

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is once again coming to Golden Gate Park, October 3rd-5th, and to commemorate HSB 2014 we’ve put together a podcast stuff with a selection of our favorites. It isn’t strictly all bluegrass, but that’s to be expected. We’ve got new tracks from New Orleans outfit Jon Batiste and Stay Human, an incredibly catchy The Apache Relay tune, an old Noise Pop favorite from Hurray For Riff Raff, and more...

Enjoy the mix!

Track Listing:

1. "Express Yourself (Say Yes)" - Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Social Music
2. "Invisible" - Steve Earle and The Dukes, The Low Highway
3. "The Car" - Built to Spill, Single
4. "Young Blood Blues" - Hurray For The Riff Raff, Young Blood Blues
5. The Long Way" - Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds, Fight EP
6. "Katie Queen of Tennessee" - The Apache Relay, Apache Relay
7. "Flowering" - Jeff Tweedy, Sukierae
8. "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes" - Sun Kil Moon, Benji
9. "Taking Chances" - Sharon Van Etten, Are We There
10. "Zigzagging Toward the Light" - Conor Oberst, Upside Down Mountain
11. "You Go Down Smooth" - Lake Street Dive, Live at the Lizard Lounge

Direct download: Hardly_Strictly.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:38am PDT

Best of the Blogs, September 2014

Every month we scour the deepest corners of the internet to find the best and most influential new music that's circulating between blogs and social media. This month we have new songs from a glammed out Ty Segal, a monster track from TNGHT producer Hudson Mowhake and a beautiful ballad from songstress Jessie Ware.

Enjoy the mix!

Track Listing:

1. "Lines" - Whirr, Sway
2. "Dream On" - Rustie, Green Language
3. "Hey QT" - QT, Single
4. "The Clock" - Ty Segall, Manipulator
5. "Another" - Bewilderbeast, Still/Alive
6. "Chimes" - Hudson Mohwake, Chimes EP
7. "Hold Still" - Slow Magic, How To Run Away
8. "How We Be" - Sinkane, Mean Love
9. Progress" - Francisco The Man, Loose Ends
10. "1000 Seasons" - The Rentals, Lost In Alphaville
11. "Share It Al" - Jessie Ware, Tough Love
12. "Color Decay" - Júníus Meyvant, This Is Icelandic Indie Music, Vol. 2
13. "The Chase" - SOHN, Single
14. "Across The Water" - Vashti Bunyan, Heartleap
15. "Gem Landing" - Ellie Herring, Single

Direct download: September_Podcast_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:55pm PDT

The Best Instrumental Songs

Who needs lyrics? There are so many great songs that kill the vocals and let the rest of the band do the talking. This episode celebrates some of the best instrumental songs in rock, pop, and electronic. The one rule we applied to this is that the artist has to historically be a vocal-fronted band (i.e. no Dick Dale, Explosions in The Sky, Budos Band, etc…). So, enjoy! We’ll leave you with the immortal lyrics of a saccharine late 80’s country hit “...you say it best, when you say nothing at all”

Track Listing:

1. Yoga Means Union - Ambulance LTD, Ambulance LTD
2. I Am Citizen Insane - Radiohead, COM LAG (2plus2isfive
3. The Commercial, - Wire, Pink Flag
4. “Det Du Tänker Idag Är Du Imorn” - Dungen, Ta Det Lungt
5. “Theme For A Pretty Girl That Makes You Believe God Exists” - Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations
6. “Swarfiga” - Kasabian, Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
7. “45:33” - LCD Soundsystem, 45:33
8. “Everyone’s A VIP To Someone” - The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike
9. “Bron Yr Aur” - Led Zepplin, Physical Graffiti
10. “Year of the Dragon” - Sufjan Stevens (Arranged by Nico Muhly), Run Rabbit Run
11. “Cecilia Ann” - PIxies, Bossanova

Direct download: Instrumental_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:42am PDT

Best of the Blogs, August 2014

Last month was a busy one for music blogs, there was just so much great new music released - this playlist features selections of the best of those songs, from Jessie Ware, Death from Above 1979, Tennis, and great new singles from Bon Iver, Saint Pepsi and more...

Enjoy the mix!

Track Listing:

1. “Edo Method” -- The Bilinda Butchers,Heaven
2. “Can't Do Without You” -- Caribou, Our Love
3. “Trainwreck” -- Death From Above 1979, The Physical World
4. “Fiona Coyne” -- Saint Pepsi, Fiona Coyne / Fall Harder
5. “Metric” -- Phosphene, Phosphene
6. “Heavenly Father” -- Bon Iver, Wish I Was Here (Soundtrack)
7. “Girls” -- Slow Magic, Single
8. “Tough Love” -- Jessie Ware, Tough Love
9. “Dangerous Days” -- Zola Jesus, Taiga
10. “TRUE” -- Operators, Single
11. “East of Eden” -- Zella Day, Single
12. “Bluets” -- Suno Deko, Single
13. “King of the Fall” --The Weeknd, Single
14. “Preacher” -- Dana Buoy, Preacher
15. “Never Work for Free” -- Tennis, Ritual in Repeat

Direct download: New_Music_July.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43pm PDT

Song of the Summer 2014

We're well into summer now, which means it's time for one of our favorite episodes - song of the summer. We're playing our picks for the best indie summer anthems. We've also highlighted one song to reign supreme as the actual song of the summer, it's still a little early to tell, but these picks are definitely your best bets for summer songs you won't mind hearing over and over.

Track Listing:

1. “Chandelier” -- Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear
2. “Seasons (Waiting On You)” -- Future Islands, Singles
3. “To the Top” -- Twin Shadow, Single
4. “Go” -- Grimes, Single
5. “Do You” -- Spoon, They Want My Soul
6. “Call” -- Francesco Yates, Single
7. “OctaHate” -- Ryn Weaver, Single
8. “Talking Backwards” -- Real Estate, Atlas
9. “Sadie Hawkins” -- Katie Kate, Nation
10. “I'm Not Part of Me” -- Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else

Direct download: Song_of_Summer_Final_Bounce.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:52am PDT

4th of July BBQ playlist

The perfect summer BBQ is a sum of all its parts: sunshine, grill, good company, and the perfect playlist. Lucky for you, we’ve taken care of one of those elements for you. The Noise Pop Podcast has put in the work and assembled the ultimate Fourth of July BBQ playlist for you. This hour long playlist follows the ebb and flow of a summer gathering, from the initial excitement, to the gradual climax and then chilled out afterglow. Enjoy!

Track Listing:

1. "Losing You” — Solange, True
2. “San Francisco” - Foxygen, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
3. “Jump In The Line (Shake Senora)” — Harry Belafonte, Jump Up Calypso
4. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” — Tame Impala, Lonerism
5. “CIA” — Christian Bland and The Revelators, Pig Boat Blues
6. “New Theory” — Washed Out, Life of Leisure
7. “In The Summertime” — Mungo Jerry, In The Summertime
8. “Let’s Go Surfing” — The Drums, The Drums
9. “Me Gustas Tu” — Manu Chao, Próxima Estación: Esperanza
10. “Next Time Around” — Little Joy, Little Joy
11. “Seed 2.0” — The Roots, Phrenology
12. “Cheap Beer” — FIDLAR. FIDLAR
13. “Higher Ground” — TNGHT, EP
14. “Vivrant Thing” — Q-Tip, Amplified
15. “P*ssy” — Brazilian Girls, Brazilian Girls
16. “QueenS” — THEESatisfaction, awE naturalE
17. "Every Day Should Be A Holiday” — Dandy Warhols, The Dandy Warhols Come Down
18. “Something About You” — Terry Malts, Killing Time
19. “Weight” — Mikal Cronin, MCII
20. “If She Wants Me” — Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
21. “Orange Blossoms” — Gardens & Villa, Gardens & Villa
22. “Blue Hawaii” — ASTR, Varsity EP

Direct download: Summer_BBQ_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:48am PDT

Treasure Island 2014 Lineup Announcement

The Treasure Island Music Festival returns to the Bay, October 18 and 19. The lineup has just been announced and to celebrate, the Noise Pop Podcast is picking their 10 favorite songs from this year's lineup and setting the scene for you. For tickets and more information head tothe Treasure Island website. See you on the island!

Full lineup:
Outkast
Massive Attack
Zedd
Alt-J
TV On The Radio
Janelle Monáe
The New p*rnographers
Washed Out
Jungle
Banks
St. Lucia
White Denim
MØ
Polica
The Growlers
Classixx
Chet Faker
Ryan Hemsworth
Ana Tijoux
Asgeir
xxyyxx
Ratking
Tobacco
Bleached
Painted Palms
WATERS

Track Listing:

1. "B.o.B." -- Outkast, Stankonia
2. "Brill Bruisers" -- New p*rnographers, Brill Bruisers
3. "Busy Earnin'" -- Jungle, Single
4. "MS" -- Alt-J, An Awesome Wave
5. "Waiting Game" -- BANKS, London
6. "It All Feels Right" -- Washed Out, Paracosm
7. "DLZ" -- TV on the Radio, Dear Science
8. "Fields" --XXYYXX, XXYYXX
9. "All You're Waiting For" -- Classixx, Hanging Gardens
10. "Teardrop" -- Massive Attack, Mezzanine

Direct download: TIMF_Podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:23pm PDT

Best of the Blogs, June 2015

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

Direct download: Best_of_The_Blogs_June_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:14pm PDT

Indie Music + Musical Theory

We decided to do this topic after reading the following articles about music criticism and composition. Check them out:

Track list:

Direct download: Musical_Theory.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:26am PDT

May 2014

Direct download: May_New_Music.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:01am PDT

A Taxing Time of Year

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.

Direct download: Taxes_2014.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:13pm PDT

Meta Songs

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 homageor a diss. This episode we're playing some of our favorite songs that feature all of the above, from Drake to Okkervil River.

Direct download: Meta_Songs_March_2014.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

March 2014

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 puss*, 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

Direct download: March_2014.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:22pm PDT

February 2014

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, Unf*ck the Word

Direct download: Feb_14_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:42am PDT

Noise Pop 2014 Lineup Roundup

In just a few weeks, San Francisco will be inundatedwith 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 playingtracks from someof 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) atnoisepop.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

Direct download: NP2014_Lineup_Podcsat.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:58am PDT

January 2014

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:

Direct download: Jan_2014_New_Music.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:41am PDT