New sounds from classic & emerging artists

"I Can't Stop Thinking About You" is the first single from a new album on its way from Sting called 57th & 9th.

The refrain ends with the line "I don't care if you exist." So is it about searching for an ideal? Or perhaps for an idea - he's been quoted as saying it was inspired by looking at a blank page and waiting for inspiration.

Anyway it's a rocking pop tune from what's billed as Sting's "first rock album in 13 years." And it's now in our New Music rotation.

Mixing new and classic music from classic and new artists - that's what we do on Birch Street Radio. So we've also added "Alaska" by Maggie Rogers.

We won't recount here how this song became a viral internet hit (but you can read about it here). What matters is that it's an infectious fusion of folk and electronic music that holds up to repeated listening.

Just weeks after releasing music for the video game Final Fantasy XV, Florence + the Machine are back with "Wish That You Were Here," a song for the soundtrack of Tim Burton's next movie. The film, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, is based on a young-adult novel by Ransom Riggs. Honestly we're not familiar with either the video game or the novel/movie -- but the music stands on its own, with Florence Welch's powerful voice fronting epic-sounding orchestration by The Machine.

Coming back down to earth, we have a new single by Kings of Leon, "Waste A Moment." It's a catchy driving-down-the-highway-with-the-speakers-turned-up kind of track. The new album Walls is coming next month - and happens to be produced by Markus Dravs, who has also worked with Florence + The Machine.

Besides these additions to our featured New Music bin, we've picked more tracks from the latest albums by Wilco, Rich Robinson and Sara Hartman. And you'll hear us trying out new sounds from other artists, including some intriguing indie bands.

What music do you think we should be checking out? Send us your thoughts on this page, or find us on Facebook or Twitter, or email us. And keep listening!

New sounds from classic & emerging artists

"I Can't Stop Thinking About You" is the first single from a new album on its way from Sting called 57th & 9th.

The refrain ends with the line "I don't care if you exist." So is it about searching for an ideal? Or perhaps for an idea - he's been quoted as saying it was inspired by looking at a blank page and waiting for inspiration.

Anyway it's a rocking pop tune from what's billed as Sting's "first rock album in 13 years." And it's now in our New Music rotation.

Mixing new and classic music from classic and new artists - that's what we do on Birch Street Radio. So we've also added "Alaska" by Maggie Rogers.

We won't recount here how this song became a viral internet hit (but you can read about it here). What matters is that it's an infectious fusion of folk and electronic music that holds up to repeated listening.

Just weeks after releasing music for the video game Final Fantasy XV, Florence + the Machine are back with "Wish That You Were Here," a song for the soundtrack of Tim Burton's next movie. The film, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, is based on a young-adult novel by Ransom Riggs. Honestly we're not familiar with either the video game or the novel/movie -- but the music stands on its own, with Florence Welch's powerful voice fronting epic-sounding orchestration by The Machine.

Coming back down to earth, we have a new single by Kings of Leon, "Waste A Moment." It's a catchy driving-down-the-highway-with-the-speakers-turned-up kind of track. The new album Walls is coming next month - and happens to be produced by Markus Dravs, who has also worked with Florence + The Machine.

Besides these additions to our featured New Music bin, we've picked more tracks from the latest albums by Wilco, Rich Robinson and Sara Hartman. And you'll hear us trying out new sounds from other artists, including some intriguing indie bands.

What music do you think we should be checking out? Send us your thoughts on this page, or find us on Facebook or Twitter, or email us. And keep listening!

Dig the Rigs & other new music on Birch St Radio

Catching opening acts is always a good way to discover new bands, and that's how we found The Rondo Rigs, who supported Carsie Blanton on part of her current tour.

The Rigs are a trio consisting of Eric Robertson (Bass, Guitar, Mandolin), Duncan Wickel (Fiddle, Cello, Leslie) and Nicholas Falk (Drums, Banjo, Bass) -- or as they call themselves on stage, Ric, Nick and Wick.

Their music builds on traditions from the Appalachians to New Orleans, mixing country, rock, blues, funk and other styles.

They've just released their debut album, and we've added "Nothing But Love" and "Rachel" to our own Marvelous Mix.


Also joining our New Music rotation this week:

• Jimmy Eat World is back after a three-year break and will release their new album Integrity Blues next month. We're spinning the single "Sure And Certain."
• We've said before that Tyler Boone's album True Experience offers a wide variety of sounds, from gentle ballad ("Paper Wings") to hard rocker ("Don't Let Me Down"). Our latest selection is the bluesy "When I Was Young."

And we're excited to debut "Tasteless," the first single from the second album by Bryan Hansen Band, When You Stop Pulling Back.

This New Jersey outfit combines Bryan's singing and songwriting with an excellent jazzy/funky band. He cites Dave Matthews and John Mayer among his influences.

We've been playing "Parallel" and "Summers Mind" from the previous album, Brothers Among Wolves. Check out the new song while we wait for the rest of the new album.

We do our best to keep our Marvelous Mix of Music fresh and interesting, and we sure hope you enjoy it! Please let us know what you think by commenting on this page, by email, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Dig the Rigs & other new music on Birch St Radio

Catching opening acts is always a good way to discover new bands, and that's how we found The Rondo Rigs, who supported Carsie Blanton on part of her current tour.

The Rigs are a trio consisting of Eric Robertson (Bass, Guitar, Mandolin), Duncan Wickel (Fiddle, Cello, Leslie) and Nicholas Falk (Drums, Banjo, Bass) -- or as they call themselves on stage, Ric, Nick and Wick.

Their music builds on traditions from the Appalachians to New Orleans, mixing country, rock, blues, funk and other styles.

They've just released their debut album, and we've added "Nothing But Love" and "Rachel" to our own Marvelous Mix.


Also joining our New Music rotation this week:

• Jimmy Eat World is back after a three-year break and will release their new album Integrity Blues next month. We're spinning the single "Sure And Certain."
• We've said before that Tyler Boone's album True Experience offers a wide variety of sounds, from gentle ballad ("Paper Wings") to hard rocker ("Don't Let Me Down"). Our latest selection is the bluesy "When I Was Young."

And we're excited to debut "Tasteless," the first single from the second album by Bryan Hansen Band, When You Stop Pulling Back.

This New Jersey outfit combines Bryan's singing and songwriting with an excellent jazzy/funky band. He cites Dave Matthews and John Mayer among his influences.

We've been playing "Parallel" and "Summers Mind" from the previous album, Brothers Among Wolves. Check out the new song while we wait for the rest of the new album.

We do our best to keep our Marvelous Mix of Music fresh and interesting, and we sure hope you enjoy it! Please let us know what you think by commenting on this page, by email, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Van Morrison keeps singing, and other new music

Van Morrison will release his first album of new music in four years about a month from now.

Called "Keep Me Singing," it's his 36th studio album. It has 12 original songs plus a cover of "Share Your Love With Me," an early-60s song by Alfred Braggs and Deadric Malone that's been recorded by numerous artists over the years.

The first track to be released from "Keep Me Singing" is "Too Late," and we've added it to our New Music bin.

Michael Kiwanuka's second album, Love and Hate, is an elaborate and varied work by an artist pushing well beyond the acoustic blues/folk of his debut.

We're captivated by the title track, a seven-minute epic that evokes a sense of struggle with both "Love and Hate."

Various aspects of this album have drawn comparisons to Pink Floyd, Isaac Hayes, Dr. John, Bill Withers and others. We'd add Marvin Gaye to that list. The influences are broad; the result is unique.

Also added to our New Music bin this week:

• "We Don't Know," the latest tune to spin out from The Strumbellas' most recent release, Hope.
• "Running Out Of Time" by Amos Lee, from his newly-issued Spirit album.

We're trying out a lot of other new music, which you might hear pop up now and then in our mix, and we plan to add a big batch of fresh material to our New Music rotation next week, so stay tuned!