KAFM Music Blog
2016 - PJ's Finest Hour
February 20, 2017
2016 - The Finest Hour, by PJ - programmer for the KAFM Desert Canyon Music show on Sunday night.
Aspiring on-air programmers for KAFM sit in on an orientation program conducted by our Program Director, Coach. Aspiring programmers get a rundown of the dos and don'ts associated with representing the station on air. Obviously it's not appropriate to rave about the soup at your brother's restaurant, but I was taken aback by one point: Coach was adamant that KAFM is not an oldies station. We want fresh programming he insisted, and said his expectation was that at least 30% of the music we play should be new releases. I dutifully accepted, not realizing that the door to a golden Quick read more or view full article musical opportunity was about to swing open.
Three years later, a Desert Canyon playlist routinely includes nearly 50% new material. Music distributors send KAFM new releases from artists, asking only that that we play them. Given our lack of musical obligations at KAFM such as a requirement to play hits, we are uniquely positioned to support these artists by giving them air time. We like them. They like us. It's really great to be part of such a positive relationship.
To celebrate the work of these modern day artists, I present my list of the "finest hour" of new music added to the KAFM library in 2016. I employed a one song per artist ground rule in developing this list. There is so much material, I only heard some of what was available. Your top hour would surely be different. Here's mine.
15. Waiting for the World to End - All Night Live, Vol. 1 - The Mavericks The spectacular "Mono" CD hit the KAFM new wall in 2015. They went on tour in 2016, and I had the great fortune to catch one of their high-energy good-time shows on the shores of Lake Superior. It is hard to imagine a better summer evening, so I was thrilled when a disk of their live CD showed up at the station. Frankly this recording is a little fuzzy. It is a problem easily remedied by adjusting the volume upward. Do it!
14. The Do Without - Not Gonna Worry - Bob Rasero It's fun to pair Howling Wolf's "Do the Do" with Bob Rasero's "The Do Without." It helps that Bob Rasero is an exceptional acoustic lead guitar player, song writer and vocalist.
13. Afraid - Love and Sabotage - David Star A Cedaredge local artist, David Star played at the KAFM Radio Room in early 2016. His guitar work on "Afraid" is cutting edge both with regard to the acoustic rhythm, the slide, and wah wah lead. JJ Cale would have loved this guy.
12. Find Ourselves - Devin Allman - Ride or Die Greg Allman's son Devin has definitely found himself as a musical talent. I'm sure his name is both an obstacle and an advantage depending on the circumstance, but check him out on youtube and he looks like he was born to play that cherry sunburst Les Paul.
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11. Boulevard Six - Jim Duffy - Pale Afternoon This is just one example of a jazz record that is consistently bright and upbeat. I'd like to go to New York with Booker T, and watch Jim Duffy play keyboard.
10. Comes a Time - Coral Creek - Coral Creek Ever listen to a song and think, hey this better than the original? This Neil Young cover is so cool! The song is bluegrass rooted for sure, but with a pleasing drum beat. Try to categorize them and they'll break out a saxophone, or perhaps launch a mean electric guitar solo. Their vocals are always excellent.
9. She thinks I Still Care - Eric Lindell - Matters of the Heart Reminiscent of Eric Stewart of 10cc trying to convince himself he's "Not in Love," Eric Lindell wants us to know he doesn't still care. Of course he does. This is nifty song writing - nicely implemented.
8. Belly of the Sea - Darcy Malone & the Tangle - Still Life Blues rock with a great saxophone, great vocals and unique songwriting make this a special tune.
7. Maybe I'm A Rose - For The Sender - Love Letters From Vietnam The tempo change when this song switches gears is quite the hook. She says, "Maybe I'm a Rose, but first I'm your girl." Lucky guy.
6. Leave This Town - Stewart Lindsey - Spitballin' Stewart Lindsey, the former other half of the Eurythmics, excels in this rockin' tune that showcases his guitar skills more than the heavily produced Eurythmics material.
5. Jacqui Juice - The Jimmys - Live In Transylvania Like the Mavericks, the Jimmys feature an impossible to indentify genre that moves from jazz, to country, to big band swing, then good old fashion rock and roll. It's a sweet niche they occupy together, and they do it with gusto. The all instrumental Jacqui Juice is a round trip through that splendid niche, with bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone, guitar, and keyboards alternating and blending to carve out a wonderful song.
4. Cathy With The Curly Hair - Eleanor Friedberger - New View Eleanor trends toward non flashy, but she conveys a down home groove that really works. This song captures from the outset and keeps me interested until it fades away.
3. Lessons Learned - Three Beards - Lessons Learned At a KAFM music board team gathering in the spring of 2016, I pulled a CD from the mail bag that had this adult coloring book looking skull on the cover. I reluctantly agreed to review it. In my hand was a five song EP that includes three of the best rock and roll songs I've heard in years. Lessons Learned is one of them. Gentlemen, it's time to release another CD.
2. The Pain Around Me - Toronzo Cannon - The Chicago Way I can just feel the personal commitment inherent in this incredible song. Toronzo Cannon still drives a bus for the Chicago Transit Authority. Somehow that fact seems to personify the music business. How could this man possibly still need his day job? I guess that just sums up why I like to play Toronzo's songs on KAFM. They're great, and he deserves to be recognized. It's an honor to have the opportunity.
1. Rita - Gnarly Feat - Gnarly Feat I play a lot of songs for people. Come over to the house and chances are you'll be asked to listen to one. People love this song. And why not? It has incredible guitars, biting lyrics, sweet vocals and a rhythm line that flows like a river. Looking at the videos, I doubt any of these guys are twenty. I can't wait to hear their 15th CD. Oh, and I do have some fatherly advice. If you boys ever write another song as good as Rita, make it longer than three minutes and 20 seconds.
Read Less
Aspiring on-air programmers for KAFM sit in on an orientation program conducted by our Program Director, Coach. Aspiring programmers get a rundown of the dos and don'ts associated with representing the station on air. Obviously it's not appropriate to rave about the soup at your brother's restaurant, but I was taken aback by one point: Coach was adamant that KAFM is not an oldies station. We want fresh programming he insisted, and said his expectation was that at least 30% of the music we play should be new releases. I dutifully accepted, not realizing that the door to a golden Quick read more or view full article musical opportunity was about to swing open.
Three years later, a Desert Canyon playlist routinely includes nearly 50% new material. Music distributors send KAFM new releases from artists, asking only that that we play them. Given our lack of musical obligations at KAFM such as a requirement to play hits, we are uniquely positioned to support these artists by giving them air time. We like them. They like us. It's really great to be part of such a positive relationship.
To celebrate the work of these modern day artists, I present my list of the "finest hour" of new music added to the KAFM library in 2016. I employed a one song per artist ground rule in developing this list. There is so much material, I only heard some of what was available. Your top hour would surely be different. Here's mine.
15. Waiting for the World to End - All Night Live, Vol. 1 - The Mavericks The spectacular "Mono" CD hit the KAFM new wall in 2015. They went on tour in 2016, and I had the great fortune to catch one of their high-energy good-time shows on the shores of Lake Superior. It is hard to imagine a better summer evening, so I was thrilled when a disk of their live CD showed up at the station. Frankly this recording is a little fuzzy. It is a problem easily remedied by adjusting the volume upward. Do it!
14. The Do Without - Not Gonna Worry - Bob Rasero It's fun to pair Howling Wolf's "Do the Do" with Bob Rasero's "The Do Without." It helps that Bob Rasero is an exceptional acoustic lead guitar player, song writer and vocalist.
13. Afraid - Love and Sabotage - David Star A Cedaredge local artist, David Star played at the KAFM Radio Room in early 2016. His guitar work on "Afraid" is cutting edge both with regard to the acoustic rhythm, the slide, and wah wah lead. JJ Cale would have loved this guy.
12. Find Ourselves - Devin Allman - Ride or Die Greg Allman's son Devin has definitely found himself as a musical talent. I'm sure his name is both an obstacle and an advantage depending on the circumstance, but check him out on youtube and he looks like he was born to play that cherry sunburst Les Paul.
11. Boulevard Six - Jim Duffy - Pale Afternoon This is just one example of a jazz record that is consistently bright and upbeat. I'd like to go to New York with Booker T, and watch Jim Duffy play keyboard.
10. Comes a Time - Coral Creek - Coral Creek Ever listen to a song and think, hey this better than the original? This Neil Young cover is so cool! The song is bluegrass rooted for sure, but with a pleasing drum beat. Try to categorize them and they'll break out a saxophone, or perhaps launch a mean electric guitar solo. Their vocals are always excellent.
9. She thinks I Still Care - Eric Lindell - Matters of the Heart Reminiscent of Eric Stewart of 10cc trying to convince himself he's "Not in Love," Eric Lindell wants us to know he doesn't still care. Of course he does. This is nifty song writing - nicely implemented.
8. Belly of the Sea - Darcy Malone & the Tangle - Still Life Blues rock with a great saxophone, great vocals and unique songwriting make this a special tune.
7. Maybe I'm A Rose - For The Sender - Love Letters From Vietnam The tempo change when this song switches gears is quite the hook. She says, "Maybe I'm a Rose, but first I'm your girl." Lucky guy.
6. Leave This Town - Stewart Lindsey - Spitballin' Stewart Lindsey, the former other half of the Eurythmics, excels in this rockin' tune that showcases his guitar skills more than the heavily produced Eurythmics material.
5. Jacqui Juice - The Jimmys - Live In Transylvania Like the Mavericks, the Jimmys feature an impossible to indentify genre that moves from jazz, to country, to big band swing, then good old fashion rock and roll. It's a sweet niche they occupy together, and they do it with gusto. The all instrumental Jacqui Juice is a round trip through that splendid niche, with bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone, guitar, and keyboards alternating and blending to carve out a wonderful song.
4. Cathy With The Curly Hair - Eleanor Friedberger - New View Eleanor trends toward non flashy, but she conveys a down home groove that really works. This song captures from the outset and keeps me interested until it fades away.
3. Lessons Learned - Three Beards - Lessons Learned At a KAFM music board team gathering in the spring of 2016, I pulled a CD from the mail bag that had this adult coloring book looking skull on the cover. I reluctantly agreed to review it. In my hand was a five song EP that includes three of the best rock and roll songs I've heard in years. Lessons Learned is one of them. Gentlemen, it's time to release another CD.
2. The Pain Around Me - Toronzo Cannon - The Chicago Way I can just feel the personal commitment inherent in this incredible song. Toronzo Cannon still drives a bus for the Chicago Transit Authority. Somehow that fact seems to personify the music business. How could this man possibly still need his day job? I guess that just sums up why I like to play Toronzo's songs on KAFM. They're great, and he deserves to be recognized. It's an honor to have the opportunity.
1. Rita - Gnarly Feat - Gnarly Feat I play a lot of songs for people. Come over to the house and chances are you'll be asked to listen to one. People love this song. And why not? It has incredible guitars, biting lyrics, sweet vocals and a rhythm line that flows like a river. Looking at the videos, I doubt any of these guys are twenty. I can't wait to hear their 15th CD. Oh, and I do have some fatherly advice. If you boys ever write another song as good as Rita, make it longer than three minutes and 20 seconds.
Read Less
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What We Played At KAFM In 2016
January 17, 2017
If you are a programmer at KAFM you sometimes can’t see the forest for the trees. Spinitron can open up a clearing for you. We play a whole lot of music at KAFM. Here are some statistics mined from Spinitron about what we played and how often during 2016.
The CDs that got the most play during 2016 are:
The top 10 songs of 2016:
Top 10 Jazz CDs for 2016
1. Distant Horseman by Timothy Wenzel - 15 spins (added March 4, 2016)
2. Understanding The Signs by Geoff Hall - 13 spins (added June 16, 2016)
3. Live! by The Piano Guys - 12 spins (added Dec 22, 2016)
4. Resolution by Mehmet Ali Sanlikol & What's Next - 12 spins (added Sept 30, 2016)
5. Pacific Journey by Logical Drift - 9 spins (added Oct 4, 2016)
5. Circles Of 8 by Holland Phillips - 9 spins (added Sept 6, 2016)
Also, programmers played 857 requests during 2016. The most played requested song was "Imagine" sung by John Lennon.
We are still playing a lot of songs from "legacy" artists, and a couple who may become legacy artists. (> 50 spins) During 2016 songs by;
The Beatles played 396 times (includes Fab 4 Fridays)
David Bowie - 166 spins (excludes his final new release) **
The Rolling Stones - 159 spins (excludes their new release)
The Eagles - 161 spins **
Bob Dylan - 156 spins
Eric Clapton - 130 spins (excluding his new release)
Tom Petty, with and without The Heartbreakers - 110 spins
Bruce Springsteen - 93 spin
The Doors - 78 spins
Bob Marley (and The Wailers) - 78 spins
Allman Brothers Band - 73 spins
Little Feat - 72 spins
George Harrison - 72 spins (includes Fab 4 Fridays)
Prince - 69 spins **
Fleetwood Mac - 68 spins
Tom Waits - 67 spins
Jackson Browne - 65 spins
The Who - 65 spins
Bonnie Raitt - 63 spins (excluding her new release)
Jason Isbell - 56 spins
** David Bowie & Glenn Frey passed away in Jan 2016, and Prince passed away in April. Impossible to know how much affect this had on the number of spins. Definitely some.
According to Spinitron, KAFM programmers logged 69,746 songs (18 hour live broadcast day). Of this total, 26,703 were designated as "new". During 2016, 38.3% of the music played on KAFM was "new" music from the wall.
If you are interested to check out the stats, log into Spinitron, select Search, click on the down arrow in the Search For box, select Disk Spin Statistics, under the box labeled “Disk” click on the down arrow and select “library” to see an inclusive report encompassing all genres a CD was played under. If you want stats for the year 2016, make sure to put the right parameters into the box(es) on the bottom lineto the right of where it says “Played”. The search options are picky about spelling. It does matter what genre you pick to put a CD in, ie: Americana, rock-alt, private (if it doesn't belong to KAFM), etc. Also The Red Hot Chili Peppers is different in the database from Red Hot Chili Peppers which is different from RHCP. When you log the music you play into Spinitron, and nothing comes up, you have either mispelled something, left something out (such as the word "The" in front of the band name), OR you are the first one to ever play that song from that album (more likely to happen with new music). Distributors, record labels, artists and other radio stations that use Spinitron look at what we play.
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The CDs that got the most play during 2016 are:
- Dig In Deep by Bonnie Raitt – 110 spins (added Feb 25, 2016)
- Let Me Get By by Tedeschi - Trucks Band – 108 spins (added Jan 18, 2016)
- Stranger To Stranger by Paul Simon – 102 spins (added May 10, 2016)
- Blues Of Desperation – Joe Bonamassa - 97 spins (added March 14, 2016)
- Ziggy Marley Quick read more or view full article by Ziggy Marley – 93 spins (added April 26, 2016)
- True Sadness by The Avett Brothers - 91 spins (added June 30, 2016)
- The Getaway – Red Hot Chili Peppers – 83 spins (added July 1, 2016)
- Set In Stone by Stick Figure – 82 spins (added Nov 16, 2015)
- Love And Sabotage by David Starr - 82 spins (added Jan 5, 2016)*
- Soulrocker by Michael Franti & Spearhead – 82 spins (added May 24, 2016)
- Santana IV by Santana - 79 spins (added April 22, 2016)
- Tell Me I’m Pretty by Cage The Elephant – 78 spins (added Jan 8, 2016)
- Sweet Tennessee Honey by Smooth Hound Smith – 76 spins (added Jan 20, 2016)
- I Still Do by Eric Clapton - 69 spins (added May 10, 2016)
- Cleopatra byThe Lumineers 68 spins (added Feb 16, 2016)
- The Chicago Way by Toronzo Cannon – 67 spins (added Feb 28, 2016)
- Hard To Please by The Black Lillies - 66 spins (added Oct 15, 2015)
- Hold On! by The James Hunter Six - 66 spins (added Jan 28, 2016)
- Radiate / Dissolve by Rogue Valley - 65 spins (added July 1, 2016)*
- Six On The Out by The Westies - 64 spins (added Jan 7, 2016)
- Signs Of Light by The Head And The Heart - 64 spins (Added Sept 23, 2016)
The top 10 songs of 2016:
- No Good Place For The Lonely – Joe Bonamassa - 22 spins
- Drive – Joe Bonamassa - 22 spins
- Dark Necessities – Red Hot Chili Peppers - 21 spins
- Ain’t No Man – The Avett Brothers - 21 spins
- I Can’t Give Everything Away – David Bowie - 20 spins
- All We Ever Knew – The Head And The Heart - 19 spins
- Fire On The Horizon – Stick Figure - 18 spins
- Love Is A Rebel – Ziggy Marley – 18 spins
- Everything Is All I Want For You - The Westies - 17 spins
- Breaking The Blues – Amy Blaschke – 16 spins
Top 10 Jazz CDs for 2016
- Tengo Blues by John Del Toro Richardson – 56 spins (added Dec 17, 2015)
- Sound Of Red by Rene Marie – 51 spins (added May 19, 2016)
- Day Breaks by Norah Jones – 49 spins (added Oct 15, 2016)
- Plugged In by Galen Weston – 33 spins (added Dec 6, 2015)
- Night At the Speakeasy by Svetlana and The Delancy Five – 32 spins (added Feb 7, 2016)
- Full Circle by Brian Bromberg – 28 spins (added March 16, 2016)
- Eight Track II by Dave Stryker – 27 spins (added Sept 18, 2016)
- A Twist Of Rit by Lee Ritenour – 26 spins (added Aug 23, 2015)
- Sun Shine Soul by Ameranouche – 26 spins added April 29, 2016)
- Mo’ Puddin’ by Adrienne Fenemor – 24 spins (added May 18, 2016)
1. Distant Horseman by Timothy Wenzel - 15 spins (added March 4, 2016)
2. Understanding The Signs by Geoff Hall - 13 spins (added June 16, 2016)
3. Live! by The Piano Guys - 12 spins (added Dec 22, 2016)
4. Resolution by Mehmet Ali Sanlikol & What's Next - 12 spins (added Sept 30, 2016)
5. Pacific Journey by Logical Drift - 9 spins (added Oct 4, 2016)
5. Circles Of 8 by Holland Phillips - 9 spins (added Sept 6, 2016)
Also, programmers played 857 requests during 2016. The most played requested song was "Imagine" sung by John Lennon.
We are still playing a lot of songs from "legacy" artists, and a couple who may become legacy artists. (> 50 spins) During 2016 songs by;
The Beatles played 396 times (includes Fab 4 Fridays)
David Bowie - 166 spins (excludes his final new release) **
The Rolling Stones - 159 spins (excludes their new release)
The Eagles - 161 spins **
Bob Dylan - 156 spins
Eric Clapton - 130 spins (excluding his new release)
Tom Petty, with and without The Heartbreakers - 110 spins
Bruce Springsteen - 93 spin
The Doors - 78 spins
Bob Marley (and The Wailers) - 78 spins
Allman Brothers Band - 73 spins
Little Feat - 72 spins
George Harrison - 72 spins (includes Fab 4 Fridays)
Prince - 69 spins **
Fleetwood Mac - 68 spins
Tom Waits - 67 spins
Jackson Browne - 65 spins
The Who - 65 spins
Bonnie Raitt - 63 spins (excluding her new release)
Jason Isbell - 56 spins
** David Bowie & Glenn Frey passed away in Jan 2016, and Prince passed away in April. Impossible to know how much affect this had on the number of spins. Definitely some.
According to Spinitron, KAFM programmers logged 69,746 songs (18 hour live broadcast day). Of this total, 26,703 were designated as "new". During 2016, 38.3% of the music played on KAFM was "new" music from the wall.
If you are interested to check out the stats, log into Spinitron, select Search, click on the down arrow in the Search For box, select Disk Spin Statistics, under the box labeled “Disk” click on the down arrow and select “library” to see an inclusive report encompassing all genres a CD was played under. If you want stats for the year 2016, make sure to put the right parameters into the box(es) on the bottom lineto the right of where it says “Played”. The search options are picky about spelling. It does matter what genre you pick to put a CD in, ie: Americana, rock-alt, private (if it doesn't belong to KAFM), etc. Also The Red Hot Chili Peppers is different in the database from Red Hot Chili Peppers which is different from RHCP. When you log the music you play into Spinitron, and nothing comes up, you have either mispelled something, left something out (such as the word "The" in front of the band name), OR you are the first one to ever play that song from that album (more likely to happen with new music). Distributors, record labels, artists and other radio stations that use Spinitron look at what we play.
Read Less
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - Alexa's selections
January 13, 2017
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Up next, Alexa, who hosts KAFM's "Puttin' Down Roots". Alexa notes that these are not in any particular order.
1 Kaleo | A/B
"...Screams Black Keys/Cage the Elephant/Gary Clark Jr....give these Icelandic-Texan transplants a listen...every song is great for airplay..."
Quick read more or view full article />
#2 Ryan Shupe | We Rode On
"...Mix of adult alternative, rock, reggae and more all infused with a wee bit of bluegrass..."
#3 Kishi Bashi | Sonderlust
"...master of blending pop, classical training and beauty...gorgeous vocals, looping instrumentals that blend so well together and create poppy, fantastic soundscapes..."
#4 Grouplove | Big Mess
"...so much going on, it's like being hugged by a giant-wave of pop backgrounds. Male and female vocals with pretty solid harmonies. ...upbeat, energetic, and creative. Neat instrumentals & arrangements..."
#5 How to Dress Well | Care
"...gorgeous vocals...R&B stylings, pop song structures and swirling melodies...pretty, fun, and soulful tunes scattered all over this record..."
Alexa's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Hayes Carll | Lovers and Leavers
2. Avett Brothers | True Sadness
3. The Wood Brothers | Paradise
4. Bon Iver | 22, A Million
5. Balkan Beat Box | Shout It Out
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
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1 Kaleo | A/B
"...Screams Black Keys/Cage the Elephant/Gary Clark Jr....give these Icelandic-Texan transplants a listen...every song is great for airplay..."
Quick read more or view full article />
#2 Ryan Shupe | We Rode On
"...Mix of adult alternative, rock, reggae and more all infused with a wee bit of bluegrass..."
#3 Kishi Bashi | Sonderlust
"...master of blending pop, classical training and beauty...gorgeous vocals, looping instrumentals that blend so well together and create poppy, fantastic soundscapes..."
#4 Grouplove | Big Mess
"...so much going on, it's like being hugged by a giant-wave of pop backgrounds. Male and female vocals with pretty solid harmonies. ...upbeat, energetic, and creative. Neat instrumentals & arrangements..."
#5 How to Dress Well | Care
"...gorgeous vocals...R&B stylings, pop song structures and swirling melodies...pretty, fun, and soulful tunes scattered all over this record..."
Alexa's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Hayes Carll | Lovers and Leavers
2. Avett Brothers | True Sadness
3. The Wood Brothers | Paradise
4. Bon Iver | 22, A Million
5. Balkan Beat Box | Shout It Out
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
Read Less
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - Tori's selections:
January 9, 2017
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. And up next, our very own, fantastic Music Director and "Champion of New Music", Tori, who hosts KAFM's "Fresh Tracks".
#1 Kyle Craft | Dolls of Highland
"...an album full of riveting story songs, glam rock, twang, harmonica, and surprisingly fantastic Quick read more or view full article vocals...Great use of piano and horns on this album..."
#2 Whitney | Light Upon the Lake
"...A few horns here and there, easy going guitar (little bit of slide), great vocals, great lyrics, modern day americana with a bit of indie rock thrown in there. I can't get enough of this album..."
#3 LVL Up | Return to Love
"...Great lo-fi vocals and melodies, full feeling instrumentals, and the mid-tempo driving style of Pavement. I love this. LOVE it..."
#4 Bon Iver | 22, a Million
"...electronic elements, extreme emotions and beautiful/tragic melodies to create his songs...features his GORGEOUS voice, and he uses seemingly-iffy audio quality the same way someone might use an instrument to add layers..."
#5 Flock of Dimes | If You See Me, Say Yes
"...Jenn Wasner has the most feeling, expressive, beautiful voice in Indie rock these days...where she gets to expand more onto her pop-ideals and creative rhythmic habits...it gives me chills..."
Tori's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Blood Orange | Freetown Sound
2. Marlon Williams | Marlon Williams
3. Carseat Headrest | Teens of Denial
4. Empty Houses | Daydream
5. Andrew Bird | Are You Serious
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
Read Less
#1 Kyle Craft | Dolls of Highland
"...an album full of riveting story songs, glam rock, twang, harmonica, and surprisingly fantastic Quick read more or view full article vocals...Great use of piano and horns on this album..."
#2 Whitney | Light Upon the Lake
"...A few horns here and there, easy going guitar (little bit of slide), great vocals, great lyrics, modern day americana with a bit of indie rock thrown in there. I can't get enough of this album..."
#3 LVL Up | Return to Love
"...Great lo-fi vocals and melodies, full feeling instrumentals, and the mid-tempo driving style of Pavement. I love this. LOVE it..."
#4 Bon Iver | 22, a Million
"...electronic elements, extreme emotions and beautiful/tragic melodies to create his songs...features his GORGEOUS voice, and he uses seemingly-iffy audio quality the same way someone might use an instrument to add layers..."
#5 Flock of Dimes | If You See Me, Say Yes
"...Jenn Wasner has the most feeling, expressive, beautiful voice in Indie rock these days...where she gets to expand more onto her pop-ideals and creative rhythmic habits...it gives me chills..."
Tori's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Blood Orange | Freetown Sound
2. Marlon Williams | Marlon Williams
3. Carseat Headrest | Teens of Denial
4. Empty Houses | Daydream
5. Andrew Bird | Are You Serious
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
Read Less
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - The Beat Junky selection's:
January 5, 2017
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Next up, The Beat Junky, who hosts KAFM's "The Eclectic Ear".
#1 Balkun Brothers | Balkun Brothers
"...hard hitting guitars & monstrous drums in this fusion of blues, funk and rock n' roll. Influenced by Led Zep, Johnny Winter, Black Keys Quick read more or view full article and Hendrix..."
#2 Moreland & Arbuckle | Promised Land Or Bust
"...gritty heartland and delta blues from roots trio. Propulsive percussion, killer guitar rifts and frenetic harp playing characterize their almost primal garage band quality...Dirty and raw music with attitude."
#3 Cage The Elephant | Tell Me I'm Pretty
"...catchy hooks...in a more raw, unfiltered way. Bluesy at times, channeling feelings of Crosby Stills & Nash on "That's Right", even throwing in a latin feel "Cold Cold Cold"...pulls influences from all across the board leaving a feeling of Rock-through-the-ages..."
#4 Ned And The Dirt | Wild Pack: Haunt These Woods
"...southern rock and New England alt. rock fusion. Commanding, euphoric band centric tracks with driving six string chords, solos, bass, and big, powerful percussion...solo and choral vocals..."
#5 The Marcus King Band | The Marcus King Band
"...rough-hewn vocalist, soaring guitar wunderkind, songwriter and bandleader...influences of jazz, blues, and soul. Good horn section...A band definitely on the rise..."
The Beat Junky's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Curse Of Lono | Curse Of Lono
2. Altered Sky | Without Wonderland
3. People's Blues Of Richmond | Quit Or Die
4. Mick Rhodes & The Hard Eight | Paradise City
5. Augustines | This Is Your Life
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
Read Less
#1 Balkun Brothers | Balkun Brothers
"...hard hitting guitars & monstrous drums in this fusion of blues, funk and rock n' roll. Influenced by Led Zep, Johnny Winter, Black Keys Quick read more or view full article and Hendrix..."
#2 Moreland & Arbuckle | Promised Land Or Bust
"...gritty heartland and delta blues from roots trio. Propulsive percussion, killer guitar rifts and frenetic harp playing characterize their almost primal garage band quality...Dirty and raw music with attitude."
#3 Cage The Elephant | Tell Me I'm Pretty
"...catchy hooks...in a more raw, unfiltered way. Bluesy at times, channeling feelings of Crosby Stills & Nash on "That's Right", even throwing in a latin feel "Cold Cold Cold"...pulls influences from all across the board leaving a feeling of Rock-through-the-ages..."
#4 Ned And The Dirt | Wild Pack: Haunt These Woods
"...southern rock and New England alt. rock fusion. Commanding, euphoric band centric tracks with driving six string chords, solos, bass, and big, powerful percussion...solo and choral vocals..."
#5 The Marcus King Band | The Marcus King Band
"...rough-hewn vocalist, soaring guitar wunderkind, songwriter and bandleader...influences of jazz, blues, and soul. Good horn section...A band definitely on the rise..."
The Beat Junky's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Curse Of Lono | Curse Of Lono
2. Altered Sky | Without Wonderland
3. People's Blues Of Richmond | Quit Or Die
4. Mick Rhodes & The Hard Eight | Paradise City
5. Augustines | This Is Your Life
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - Lance's selections:
January 1, 2017
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Next up, Lance, who hosts KAFM's "Radio Rapture".
#1 Rogue Valley | Radiate / Dissolve
"...near perfect fifth release for Mpls. MN quartet. Band centered indie rock\ pop fusion built around the perfectly pure lead and harmony vocals...featuring ambient western guitar riffs, unexpected Quick read more or view full article melody turns, background brass chorus, and meticulous yet prudent production..."
#2 The Lumineers | Cleopatra
"...brilliant second effort from Denver folk/rock band...picking up where they left off, with perhaps a bit more polish, it leaves me wondering...what drives this phenomenon...purity and simplicity?...the easy warmth and intensity of the music?...does it matter?"
#3 Ryan Sheridan | Ryan Sheridan
"...assertive, infectious, high energy roots influenced acoustic centric rock/pop from Irish s/s...Sheridan started on the fiddle at age 7 and at 16 toured the US four years with the 'Riverdance' ensemble, later taking up the guitar and forming bands in Dublin..."
#4 The Bones of J.R. Jones | Spirit’s Furnace
"...uncorrupted, stripped down tracks of rootsy mountain folk and dirty blues incorporating stomp percussion, picked and slide frets occasionally spiced up with additional keys, drums, and bass backing Linaberry's earthy, bobbing and soaring baritone..."
#5 Vaudeville Etiquette | Aura Vista Motel
"...Killer... sophomore release from Seattle quintet...band centered country rock featuring some fantastic paired frets (six string and pedal steel) and terrifically strong, tight and gritty m/f harmony vocals...nice production and tempo mix..."
Lance's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Nate Currin | The Madman and the Poet
2. Parker Millsap | The Very Last Day
3. Smooth Hound Smith | Sweet Tennessee Honey
4. Skinny Lister | The Devil, The Heart & The Fight
5. Mick Lynch | Aliens, Ghosts and Lovers
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#1 Rogue Valley | Radiate / Dissolve
"...near perfect fifth release for Mpls. MN quartet. Band centered indie rock\ pop fusion built around the perfectly pure lead and harmony vocals...featuring ambient western guitar riffs, unexpected Quick read more or view full article melody turns, background brass chorus, and meticulous yet prudent production..."
#2 The Lumineers | Cleopatra
"...brilliant second effort from Denver folk/rock band...picking up where they left off, with perhaps a bit more polish, it leaves me wondering...what drives this phenomenon...purity and simplicity?...the easy warmth and intensity of the music?...does it matter?"
#3 Ryan Sheridan | Ryan Sheridan
"...assertive, infectious, high energy roots influenced acoustic centric rock/pop from Irish s/s...Sheridan started on the fiddle at age 7 and at 16 toured the US four years with the 'Riverdance' ensemble, later taking up the guitar and forming bands in Dublin..."
#4 The Bones of J.R. Jones | Spirit’s Furnace
"...uncorrupted, stripped down tracks of rootsy mountain folk and dirty blues incorporating stomp percussion, picked and slide frets occasionally spiced up with additional keys, drums, and bass backing Linaberry's earthy, bobbing and soaring baritone..."
#5 Vaudeville Etiquette | Aura Vista Motel
"...Killer... sophomore release from Seattle quintet...band centered country rock featuring some fantastic paired frets (six string and pedal steel) and terrifically strong, tight and gritty m/f harmony vocals...nice production and tempo mix..."
Lance's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Nate Currin | The Madman and the Poet
2. Parker Millsap | The Very Last Day
3. Smooth Hound Smith | Sweet Tennessee Honey
4. Skinny Lister | The Devil, The Heart & The Fight
5. Mick Lynch | Aliens, Ghosts and Lovers
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - Alan's selections:
December 28, 2016
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Up next is Alan who hosts KAFM's "The Fuzz Garage" and "Saturday Night Showcase". He also does quite a bit of subbing for other programmers. Here is what he and others had to say:
#1 Fruition - Labor of Love
"Great Quick read more or view full article 3 part harmonies and some inspired guitar and mandolin picking. These folks can play..."
Note: Fruition's "Labor of Love" was Alan's favorite song of the year.
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#1 Fruition - Labor of Love
"Great Quick read more or view full article 3 part harmonies and some inspired guitar and mandolin picking. These folks can play..."
Note: Fruition's "Labor of Love" was Alan's favorite song of the year.
#2 Rogue Valley - Radiate / Dissolve
"...near perfect fifth release for Mpls. MN quartet. Band centered indie rock\ pop fusion built around the perfectly pure lead and harmony vocals...featuring ambient western guitar riffs, unexpected melody turns, background brass chorus, and meticulous yet prudent production..."
#3 The Congress - The Game
"...very strong album...formed in Denver but now based in Richmond...beautiful harmonies, infectious melodies..."
#4 Suzanne Dean - Come To Paradise
"...very listenable album that cuts across the genres of jazz, folk and funk. All originals. Dean is an educator, composer, keyboardist and guitarist....happy music...very good..."
#5 The Westies - Six On The Out
"...bold and broad in scope...masterful and exquisite storytelling...stories not for the faint of heart...The Westies will take you on a journey of an America in desperate times - one that few people see, yet everyone knows exists..."
The Alan's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Switchfoot | Where The Light Shines Through
2. Gonzalo Bergara | Zalo's Blues
3. Baked Potatoes | Loaded
4. Nora Jones | Day Breaks
5. The Head And The Heart | Sign Of Light
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - Veta Bluegrass selections:
December 24, 2016
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Up next is Veta Bluegrass who hosts KAFM's "Bluegrass and Beyond".
#1 Bryan Sutton | The More I Learn
"...finest record yet 3... sounds like a well worn pair of jeans...you dont want it to wear out...co-writers include Tim Quick read more or view full article O'Brien, Nick Forster, Mike Barnett."
#2 Irene Kelley | These Hills
"...sweet voice and has added a great lineup of supporting musicians...she will be winning awards with this record."
#3 Sam Bush | Storyman
"Its been several years since Sam "King of Telluride" and Father of Newgrass has released an album...Great lyrics...great songs..."
#4 Del & Dawg (Del McCoury and David Dawg Grisman) | Del & Dawg
"...friends since 1963 these bluegrass icons sing, play, and tell stories about each other. David Dawg Grisman (mandolin) and Del McCoury (guitar) both sing.Recodred live in Maine in 11/15. Excellent!..."
#5 Earls of Leicester | Rattle & Roar
"Second CD by The Earls of Leicester (play on names Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt). The Earls sound like Flatt and Scruggs with top musicians playing Flatt and Scruggs songs."
Veta Bluegrass Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Giri Peters | Just Whittlin' Around
2. Section House | A Collection of Instrumentals
3. Jordan Tice | Horse County
4. The New Kentucky Colonels | Live in Sweden 1973
5. Gathering Time | When One Door Closes
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#1 Bryan Sutton | The More I Learn
"...finest record yet 3... sounds like a well worn pair of jeans...you dont want it to wear out...co-writers include Tim Quick read more or view full article O'Brien, Nick Forster, Mike Barnett."
#2 Irene Kelley | These Hills
"...sweet voice and has added a great lineup of supporting musicians...she will be winning awards with this record."
#3 Sam Bush | Storyman
"Its been several years since Sam "King of Telluride" and Father of Newgrass has released an album...Great lyrics...great songs..."
#4 Del & Dawg (Del McCoury and David Dawg Grisman) | Del & Dawg
"...friends since 1963 these bluegrass icons sing, play, and tell stories about each other. David Dawg Grisman (mandolin) and Del McCoury (guitar) both sing.Recodred live in Maine in 11/15. Excellent!..."
#5 Earls of Leicester | Rattle & Roar
"Second CD by The Earls of Leicester (play on names Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt). The Earls sound like Flatt and Scruggs with top musicians playing Flatt and Scruggs songs."
Veta Bluegrass Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Giri Peters | Just Whittlin' Around
2. Section House | A Collection of Instrumentals
3. Jordan Tice | Horse County
4. The New Kentucky Colonels | Live in Sweden 1973
5. Gathering Time | When One Door Closes
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - PJ's selections:
December 20, 2016
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016. Up next, PJ, who hosts KAFM's "Desert Canyon Music".
#1 Three Beards | Lessons Learned
"...good old-fashion Rock Music; refreshingly so. The songwriting, instrumentation, and vocals are all good throughout. Too bad there are only 5 Quick read more or view full article songs..."
#2 Toronzo Canyon | The Chicago Way
"...Searing guitar licks, expressive vocals, and original contemporary lyrics... exhilarating tracks...raw and soulful...TC has styles reminiscent of the best of Buddy Guy, Gary Clark, Jr. and the 3 King...good horns and B3 action in all the right places...A hidden jewel of the Chicago blues scene..."
#3 Eric Lindell | Matters of the Heart
...if you like blues, soul, doo wop, R&B, MT, even a little country, this is for you...give this whole thing a good listen - it will not disappoint..."
#4 Waydown Wailers | Empty Promises
"...bluesy and more laid back..."
#5 Gnarly Feat | Gnarly Feat
"...good ol' fashioned Southern Rock with good, vocals, song writing, rhythm section, keyboards, and excellent guitars..."
*Note - Gnarly Feat's "Rita" is PJ's Song of the Year.
PJ's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Coral Creek | Coral Creek
2. Jim Duffey | Pale Afternoon
3. Bay Station | Go Out and Make Some
4. Bob Rasero | Not Gonna Worry
5. Darcy Malone and the Tangle | Still Life
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#1 Three Beards | Lessons Learned
"...good old-fashion Rock Music; refreshingly so. The songwriting, instrumentation, and vocals are all good throughout. Too bad there are only 5 Quick read more or view full article songs..."
#2 Toronzo Canyon | The Chicago Way
"...Searing guitar licks, expressive vocals, and original contemporary lyrics... exhilarating tracks...raw and soulful...TC has styles reminiscent of the best of Buddy Guy, Gary Clark, Jr. and the 3 King...good horns and B3 action in all the right places...A hidden jewel of the Chicago blues scene..."
#3 Eric Lindell | Matters of the Heart
...if you like blues, soul, doo wop, R&B, MT, even a little country, this is for you...give this whole thing a good listen - it will not disappoint..."
#4 Waydown Wailers | Empty Promises
"...bluesy and more laid back..."
#5 Gnarly Feat | Gnarly Feat
"...good ol' fashioned Southern Rock with good, vocals, song writing, rhythm section, keyboards, and excellent guitars..."
*Note - Gnarly Feat's "Rita" is PJ's Song of the Year.
PJ's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Coral Creek | Coral Creek
2. Jim Duffey | Pale Afternoon
3. Bay Station | Go Out and Make Some
4. Bob Rasero | Not Gonna Worry
5. Darcy Malone and the Tangle | Still Life
Keep your radio tuned to KAFM as we continue to present the best in new music and emerging artists for 2017!
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The KAFM Music Bureau Top Picks for 2016 - The H-man's selections:
December 16, 2016
No doubt 2016 was a terrific year for new music! We play a broad range of genres here at KAFM. A lot of it passes through the dedicated and diverse members of the Music Bureau, overseen by KAFM's Staff Music Director, Tori Miner. It is catalogued, reviewed and rated before ultimately finding it's way to our on-air studio. Looking back on 2016, here are some of the Music Bureau's members top picks of 2016, starting with The H-man who hosts KAFM's "The Divided Sky" and "Enjoy The Ride".
# 1 The Record Company | "Give It Back To You"
"...moving bluesy roots music lead by the expressive vocals of front man guitarist and harp Quick read more or view full article player Chris Vos and drummer Marc Cazoria...this thing sizzles from top to bottom and the buzz about them is justified..."
#2 Stewart Lindsey | Spitballin'
"....what a find Lindsey is: his voice is pure magic with a vibrato and range off the charts as well as emotion usually reserved for more polished singers...a phenomenal eclectic mix of rock, blues, gospel, and country..."
# 3 The Soul Of John Black | Early In The Moanin'
"...soul-roots blues is cool for its beats and rhythms. Great storytelling lyrics. Super vocals and guitar playing, with backup singers and accompaniment ....this one is a total guilty pleasure..."
#4 Joe Bonamassa | Blues Of Desperation
"...contemporary rock/blues guitarist reaches new heights in song writing, vocals and of course guitar mastery. JB's epic guitar playing reaches unheard of levels...Best studio album he has ever done, which is saying something...."
# 5 Switchfoot | Where The Light Shines Through
"...the lyrics are inspirational, insightful, and creative with bombs away music that's catchy and superbly crafted..."
The H-man's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Rogue Valley | Radiate/Dissolve
2. Crushed Out | Alien Ocean
3. The Rides | Pierced Arrow
4. The Stumbellas | Hope
5. The Motet | Totem
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# 1 The Record Company | "Give It Back To You"
"...moving bluesy roots music lead by the expressive vocals of front man guitarist and harp Quick read more or view full article player Chris Vos and drummer Marc Cazoria...this thing sizzles from top to bottom and the buzz about them is justified..."
#2 Stewart Lindsey | Spitballin'
"....what a find Lindsey is: his voice is pure magic with a vibrato and range off the charts as well as emotion usually reserved for more polished singers...a phenomenal eclectic mix of rock, blues, gospel, and country..."
# 3 The Soul Of John Black | Early In The Moanin'
"...soul-roots blues is cool for its beats and rhythms. Great storytelling lyrics. Super vocals and guitar playing, with backup singers and accompaniment ....this one is a total guilty pleasure..."
#4 Joe Bonamassa | Blues Of Desperation
"...contemporary rock/blues guitarist reaches new heights in song writing, vocals and of course guitar mastery. JB's epic guitar playing reaches unheard of levels...Best studio album he has ever done, which is saying something...."
# 5 Switchfoot | Where The Light Shines Through
"...the lyrics are inspirational, insightful, and creative with bombs away music that's catchy and superbly crafted..."
The H-man's Best of 2016 | Honorable Mention:
1. Rogue Valley | Radiate/Dissolve
2. Crushed Out | Alien Ocean
3. The Rides | Pierced Arrow
4. The Stumbellas | Hope
5. The Motet | Totem
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