Whiskey & Bananas Mixtape Series

Our playlist this month comes freshly-squeezed from our longtime digital partner, turned latest acquisition, Juice Interactive — featuring Tommy James & The Shondells, Earl Hooker, Digable Planets & more

OKRP's group of 2017 summer interns curated this month's playlist, a meditation on youth and possibility. Check out what the next generation of advertising sounds like! 8teen — Khalid This song — and Khalid in general — knows how to transport you to having no responsibilities, to driving through your hometown with your friends and all the windows down, music blasting. To wondering what love was like, or worrying about coming home to a parent’s punishment. Take Khalid’s alternative R&B genius for a spin, you won’t regret it. — Anna Alonso Waiting in Vain — Bob Marley “Waiting in Vain” catches the classic Bob Marley vibe that so many other reggae artists try to repeat. Bob glides over the classic reggae beat and riffs, singing as he waits in vain for some love. — Jake Lesnik Momma’s Boy — Chromeo A quirky pop classic about a momma’s boy who is in search for the ideal woman. The upbeat melody of the song contrasts well with the dark comedic lyrics to weave an interesting tale about the search for love. — Tristian Montgomery Adieu — Tchami This song in general for me will absolutely never get old, I can listen to it five times in a row. It has that melodic chill vibe that hits home for me, but also gets you moving when the drop comes around. I know if you are into EDM, this is a trademark song for what it is all about. Let it work on you and you’ll begin to respect it. — Creighton Hudak iT — Christine and the Queens With a beat that will cause every vein in your body to dance, “iT” by Christine and the Queens should be your go-to track whenever you need a moment to sway around the kitchen or take a cruise under the city lights. Regardless of your gender, I guarantee that after playing this track you’ll be screaming, “I’m a man now” at the top of your lungs. — Zur Thibodeaux Flowers in Your Hair — The Lumineers “Flowers in Your Hair” is super short, but jam-packed with meaningful lyrics. This song talks about getting older and paints a great picture. “Flowers in Your Hair” is super laid-back and easy to listen to for almost every occasion. — Lauren Mitchell River Lea — Adele I remember being at DTW airport (Detroit) in December of 2015, waiting for my flight home, listening to “25” on repeat. I appreciated Adele’s ability to generate a feeling of “love lost” in me even though I haven’t necessarily lost a love. The album, as is expected of Adele, weaves a narrative of regret and rebirth. “River Lea” is where the former starts to transition into the latter. It is all about Adele coming to terms with her bad habits, the fact that they are difficult to challenge, and apologizing for the impact they may have had on her partner. The river is a representation of the habits that ruined her relationship. It has made her who she is, but has also carried her down a path she can’t continue on, emphasized in a part of the chorus, saying “I can’t go back to the river.” She is leaving behind the person she was so that she can move on to the next phase of her life. — Guy Madjar Why Georgia — John Mayer Mayer’s lyrics, “quarter-life crisis” and “of a still verdictless life” indicate a feeling of being lost — however, when paired with a pop melody and soft falsetto, the listener gets a warm, hopeful vibe that makes this an easy listen. This one brings me to summer road trips with mom and miles and miles of karaoke. — Grace Paul Sunshine — Atmosphere This is a feel good hip-hop song with understandable lyrics, and warm sounds to match. I choose this song so listeners can be exposed to hip-hop that tells a story while still providing a festive vibe. — John McCormick All the Pretty Girls — Kaleo Kaleo is an up-and-coming group from Iceland with an “indie pop,” Bon Iver essence. I love listening to “All the Pretty Girls” when I want to unwind because of its tranquil and sincere sound. On my 18-hour car ride home from Miami of Ohio to Colorado, I listened to it probably 100+ times. It simply never gets old. — Natalie Cofield

Our 40th volume of Whiskey & Bananas playlist is curated by Dena Blevins, Starbucks Creative Director. These tracks are as energizing as a shot of espresso. Way Back — Amber Mark I love this song, it just makes me happy, the positivity of getting back to where you want to be — makes you feel like anything is possible. I Can’t Go For That — the bird and the bee Such a cool cover of the Daryl Hall & John Oates classic. Better Give You Up — FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) We’ve had a revolving door of French exchange students at our house over the years and this was one of the great artists they exposed me to. Somthing’s Missing — The Internet My son Alec introduced me to this band, and I immediately loved their slow, cool vibes. Vampire — Mai Lan As a Sookie Stackhouse / “True Blood” fan, anything with “Vampire” in it gets my attention. This song is catchy and quirky — and the artwork on the single release is gorgeous. That’s Not My Name — The Ting Tings This album was in rotation in our creative studio at Starbucks years ago. A bunch of us from the studio went and saw their show at the Showbox in Seattle, and it was incredible. The female vocalist Katie White was a bundle of sexy energy clad in shorts and knee-high striped athletic socks. She’s pissed in this song and is letting you know about it. Makeba — Jain Jain is a French singer-songwriter that grew up traveling the world and you clearly hear those global influences in her work. Another find from our French exchange students. What You Don’t Do — Lianne La Havas (Tom Misch Remix) I love the instrumentals they wove into this remake and her vocals are sultry and smooth. Wish I Didn’t Miss You — Angie Stone I’ve always loved classic R&B — this takes me there. There is such a yearning, alluring feel to her vocals — you can feel the pain in her voice. Everyday — Lucy Pearl Love the positivity of this song — Dawn Robinson’s vocals are inspiring and uplifting. And a hidden classic inspired by Dena’s earliest years as a music fan…

Ad legend Keith Reinhard, who is also the father of our co-founder & CCO Matt, curated this month's playlist of jazz classics, complemented by Matisse visuals. Leave Me Alone — Johnny Griffin When people ask what jazz is all about, I always quote the great Chicago-born tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin who said: “Jazz is created by and for people who have decided to feel good, regardless of conditions.” His Chicago “tough tenor” sound on this recording makes me feel good regardless of what else is going on. I hope you feel the same. Intermission Riff — Stan Kenton Stan Kenton was coming onto the jazz scene about the time I was graduating from high school. Back then his sound was considered very avant-garde. I like a lot about Kenton’s music, but especially his five-trombone section that growls in close harmony on this recording. These same trombones inspired a jazz vocal quartet at Butler University in my home state of Indiana. They became famous as The Four Freshmen, with a unique sound achieved by vocalizing Kenton’s trombone charts. Take the “A” Train — Duke Ellington I live very close to a subway station in Manhattan, and every time I pass by it or descend into it, Duke Ellington’s theme song starts playing in my mental hum box. The song was written by his composing companion Billy Strayhorn when the young composer was invited to visit Duke at his apartment in Sugar Hill, Harlem. “How do I get there?” asked Billy. “Take the A Train to Sugar Hill,” said Duke. “It’s the quickest way to Harlem.” This recording is by the Ellington orchestra, conducted by Duke’s son Mercer, and featuring an impeccable tenor sax solo by Branford Marsalis. Moten Swing — Count Basie When Benny Moten played this song with his Kansas City Orchestra back in the thirties, his orchestra included Count Basie on the piano. Since then, Moten Swing has become most associated with Basie. I love the way the brass section surprises us by shouting out, in sharp contrast to Basie on piano who, as one reviewer put it, “plays little notes but gives them lots of meaning.” Moral of the story: You don’t have to be loud to be meaningful. Stompin’ at the Savoy — Benny Goodman When listening to jazz, I like to think of the different instruments and sections as being engaged in a conversation. Jazz people refer to this as “call and response.” One section “calls,” the other “responds.” This song is a great example of such dialogue. First the horn section calls “pah pah,” then the reed section responds, “bah da de da da dah.” A few bars later the call and response is reversed with the reed section calling and the horns responding. Soaring above this delightful conversation, Benny Goodman lifts our spirits with his clarinet solos. Goodman was another jazz great born in Chicago. The son of poor Jewish immigrants, he grew up to form, during an era of racial segregation, the first racially integrated jazz group. Watermelon Man — Poncho Sanchez Talk about Feelin’ Good! How can you feel any other way when you listen to Poncho Sanchez, the Mexican-American conguero (conga player) play Herbie Hancock’s composition about a watermelon vendor? Hancock, yet another Chicago-born jazz legend, composed the tune based on the men who drove their melon wagons over Chicago’s cobblestone streets and sang out about their juicy wares. Now that you know the story, you can almost hear the words “Hey, Wa-ter-mel-on man” in the five-note melodic figure that repeats through the song. Thanks to Poncho Sanchez and other Latin band leaders, this song became a bridge between Afro-Cuban and Afro-American music. Drum Boogie — Gene Krupa My high school buddy, Don Neuen, and I were both percussionists in our high school band and orchestra. We both admired the great drummer Gene Krupa, who was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, and who became a handsome teenage idol. We wanted to look like him and play like him, neither of which ever happened. My friend Don, however, did become a distinguished musician as a faculty member of the Eastman School of Music and later, director of choral music at UCLA. Lacking Don’s (or Gene Krupa’s) talent, I went on to be just a music lover. But when I hear Krupa on the drum breaks in songs like “Drum Boogie,” it brings back those high school days when I was trying to master drum rudiments like flamadiddles and paradiddles. At least I member their onomatopoeic names. Boplicity — Miles Davis Jazz people often talk about the color of notes. You can even do a Google search to find color wheels assigning different colors to different notes. I’m not that sophisticated. But I respond to what Miles Davis and his nonet (nine-person group) are doing in this recording — experimenting with a less aggressive style of playing, and what is described as warm tonal colors, even though the album title is about the birth of cool. On the subject of color, I’ve always liked what Miles Davis himself said about the relationship between music and paintings: “A painting is

We asked our friend Ron Lazzeretti, writer, director, musician and ad man, to curate this month’s playlist, presented by “Whiskey & Bananas.” Almost Like The Blues — Leonard Cohen There’s not much Leonard Cohen music that I don’t like, but I like his last few records best of all. It’s like when his life was nearing its end, he collected all the wisdom he’d gathered and put it all together for an awe-inspiring grand finale. In A Parade — Paul Simon I took a trip to the emergency room last year. Everything turned out fine, but the insanity of that scene…the vulnerability. I love Paul Simon because, like Cohen, he writes from the perspective of where he is in life. There’s nothing sadder than an artist trying desperately to still be what they no longer are. Not just because it’s pathetic. But because it prevents them from becoming that next thing. And no one seems to know that better than Paul Simon. Or the guy coming up next… Things Have Changed — Bob Dylan I share a birthday with Bob Dylan. So every year on my birthday, I listen to all Dylan, all day. Which is why I guess it’s natural that I think of him when I reflect on age and where I am in my life. Lonely Ride — Jodi Walker This track comes from Chicago singer-songwriter Jodi Walker. It’s from her record “Broken Bubble.” I love the fact that a track titled “(It’s A) Lonely Ride” plays like a sing-along. A Little Tattoo — Ron Lazzeretti & Naomi Ashley OKRP suggested I include a song of mine, which honestly, felt weird. Until I thought of one that featured singer-songwriter Naomi Ashley. Her last two records, “Another Year Or So” and “Trying To Fly” are particularly wonderful. I wrote this for her and we ultimately recorded it as a duet. It’s a song about an aching yearning, a sign, and the haunting feeling that you’re on the wrong track. It’s Not Too Late — T-Bone Burnett Here comes some of that hope I promised. Virtually every aspect of this T-Bone Burnett gem speaks to an unmistakable air of darkness, degradation and decay. But that title, that refrain tells us that, formidable as our plight may be, it ain’t over yet. The Boat Song (We’re Getting Loaded) — Ike Reilly Assassination Libertyville, Illinois’ own Ike Reilly is one of my favorite writers and performers. I co-created a web series called The Graveyard Show and all the music in that series is Ike’s. Like Dylan, his songs all seem oddly topical. They seem that way because they’re timeless. Down To The Bottom — Brian Anderson Like Jodi Walker and Naomi Ashley, I met Brian out of the legendary roadhouse, Fitzgerald’s, in Berwyn, Illinois. There’s a wonderful music community in and around that strip of Roosevelt Road that some call The Veltway. Brian is one of my heroes from that crowd and this song about where to find the truth is one of his best. Love Resplendent — Jenny Bienemann Yet another artist from that scene. Jenny just released a record called “Every Soul Grows To The Light.” Absolutely beautiful. And this song about the redemptive power of love is sweet and reassuring without being saccharine and naïve. Celebrate — Anderson .Paak My favorite part of this wonderful, Sly and the Family Stone-style pick-me-up is when a troublesome reminder of the past is recalled, threatening to run the song’s good feelings off the rails. Until another voice interrupts, saving the day with, “Let it go, let it go, let it go.” Which is my new mantra.

This month's guest "Whiskey & Bananas" playlist is curated by John Nau of Beacon Street Studios in Venice, CA, one of OKRP's go-to musical production partners. Enjoy this groovy selection of 1970s California-vibed tracks. Help Me — Joni Mitchell A love song written by the master, Joni, featuring her impeccable voice and beautiful lyricism — one of the most underrated guitarists of her generation. Beginning Again — Brian Auger I bought the record Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express — Live Oblivion Vol. 1 at a used record shop just because of the cover. I went home and put on side one, song one…what the ??? My ears popped off my head. I loved the vibe, the style and chords, and if that wasn’t enough, Brian lays into a smoking jazz solo on the Fender Rhodes (he’s more known for his organ playing). The architect of what would later be called “Acid Jazz”…this guy can play! Killer jazz keyboard solos over Motown soul-inspired grooves. Cherry — J.J. Cale This guy is so cool! The king of laid-back! Always under the radar and often imitated…e.g. Eric Clapton. “Cherry” is just one of the great tracks from J.J.’s album Troubadour. Stay While the Night is Young — Savoy Brown Kim Simmonds went through many iterations of the band, this version being one of his best. A jazz influence creeps into the music on this set and newly added vocalist Chris Youlden’s blue-eyed soul baritone voice brings it. Sandy’s Blues [Live] — Oscar Peterson Trio From the record Exclusively For My Friends. My friend’s dad gave me a tape of this in high school. Upon listening to the intro to “Sandy’s Blues,” I realized I had a decision to make — quit immediately or listen and practice. I chose the latter. Oscar never disappoints. Watch him on YouTube…sooo good! It’s For You — Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays This track and record, As Falls Wichita, so Falls Wichita Falls, has always given me a certain feeling of melancholy that slowly turns to joy. I love this record. It’s a sonic exposé of the pastorale American heartland. Any Major Dude Will Tell You — Steely Dan JEEZ! Where are these guys coming from?? Well…a fusion of classic rhythm & blues, jazz harmony and rock n roll. The sardonic lyrics against the smooth intellectual musical backdrop (the jazz-infused chord changes) create some breathtaking iconoclastic pop music. No imitators here. I Think I’ll Call It Morning — Gil Scott-Heron Gil Scott was making music in the 60’s and early 70’s that helped tell the story of the civil rights movement and political and social injustices in America. For every poem or song that dealt with the plight of the inner city or a corrupt government, a little gem would pop on, a song of hope and beauty, this being one of them. Gil Scott was an original! A writer of books and a seeker of the truth through his music. Hard to compare him with anybody else. With a distinctive voice and style he’s considered one the forefathers of rap music. I Was Doing All Right — Dexter Gordon The POET! Born in L.A., crushed it in NYC, lived in Denmark. A towering figure in jazz (literally). Total command of the tenor saxophone, deep rich tone, laid back and hard swinging, plus a dash of humor — in the sense that if you listen to enough of his solos, you’ll notice he loves to incorporate quotes from other songs (such as “If I Only Had a Brain”). Incident at Neshabur — Santana From the record Abraxas. I always loved the instrumentals, and Greg Rollie’s organ playing is one of my main early influences. 1970 was an exciting time for music, the lines were blurred — Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, which hit a few months earlier, helped open the door for this jazz/Latin/rock mashup! This stuff was playing on mainstream radio.

Check out our guest playlist by OKRP's director of Groupon spots, Luis Peña, who curated hard-rocking and introspective tracks for adventure and the open road. Black Grease — The Black Angels Oh how I love The Black Angels. I almost made the whole mix with just their songs. This is what west Texas sounds like to me. Hustle And Cuss — Dead Weather The sexy duo of Jack White and Alison Mosshart going at it with tension brimming at the seams. We’re starting to break the speed limit. When The Levee Breaks — Led Zeppelin I love air drumming to this masterpiece. Can’t help myself. Full-on smashing the steering wheel to Bonham’s thunder. T.I.B.W.F.— Budos Band I get lost in this song. It’s like a soundtrack to a 60’s horror film about gogo dancers. I love it. Wish You Were Here — Lee Fields & The Expressions My first car was a Chevy Malibu and it only had an AM radio station. And the only station I listened to was KYOK — Soul. Driving and soul go hand and hand to me. You Don’t Love Me-No No No — Dawn Penn I went through a big reggae phase. Actually, I reckon I’m still in it. Dawn Perry’s vocals and the rhythmic bass line gets my head moving every time. Optimistic — Radiohead Ah, Radiohead. You could save the world with your music. I backpacked all throughout Central America in my mid-twenties listening to OK Computer. This is off Kid A. I love how this song builds and builds tension and then releases. Ball of Confusion — Leon Bridges I heard this song the other day and was struck on how current it is today. Leon Bridges does a masterful cover of it. And that bass line is ridiculous. Commit A Crime — Mr. Airplane Man Mr. Airplane Man is the duo of Margaret Garrett and Tara McManus — drums and guitar. Simple and stripped-down grungy blues. That guitar riff makes me want to do terrible things to a Challenger Hellcat. Miss Ohio — Craig Cardiff Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings are on my desert island record list. But this cover of their song by Craig Cardiff is amazing. Gorgeous jazz piano ramblings. “I wanna do right, but not right now.”

We're celebrating the release of Eddie O’Keefe’s film "Shangri-La Suite" with tracks picked by the director and film’s stars - Emily Browning, Luke Grimes & Avan Jogia. One Night — Elvis Presley Bringing it back to the classic early days of Elvis — not the latter-day one that the film’s main characters would set out to kill in 1974. I Want You — Bob Dylan A love song from Bob Dylan’s 1966 classic double album “Blonde on Blonde.” Last Kiss — Frank J Wilson and the Cavaliers The prototypical 1950s tragic teenage pop song. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times — The Beach Boys This Beach Boys classic resonates no matter what times you were born in. I Found A Reason (Demo) — The Velvet Underground A Dylan-esque alternate version of the track from The Velvet Underground’s final album in 1970. Little Bit of Rain — Karen Dalton A great lost gem from Cherokee folk singer and guitarist Karen Dalton in the early 60s Greenwich Village scene. Half-Breed — Cher The film’s Native American characters are mirrored in Cher’s 1970s hit about the troubles faced by being part-Native and part-white in the USA. California Dreamin’ — The Mamas and The Papas What’s a film about 1970s America without California and The Mamas and The Papas? Nights in White Satin — Moody Blues A staple of the “Shangri-La Suite” era. Cool Summer — Bob Lind Bob Lind is a deep-cut classic of the early 60s folk movement. Girl From The North Country — Link Wray Electric guitar pioneer Link Wray covers Bob Dylan to upbeat and devastating effect. (Read Eddie’s in-depth discussion of this track at Aquarium Drunkard.) Hurt — Timi Yuro A soulful heartbreak classic. Not to be confused with the latter-day Johnny Cash song. (Also check out Eddie’s take on this song and three different versions of it at Aquarium Drunkard.)

Ghost Walk — The Budos Band A variety of influences from jazz, funk, Afro-beat, soul and more permeate the Budos Band, an instrumental group on Daptones Records who records in Brooklyn. Hollywood Swinging — Kool & The Gang Get down with the glory days of funk — 1973, to be exact. Le Marin — Babet You know we love our French-language grooves. Get Out Of My Life Woman — Lee Dorsey Check out this lost 60s classic from R&B pioneer Lee Dorsey. Bombay — El Guincho Whether it’s winter in Chicago or summer in Miami, this bright beat will pick you up and get you going. Memory — The Lemons Chicago’s own The Lemons write the catchiest little ditties around, in the classic style of 50s bubblegum pop with a modern twist. Help Yourself — Tom Jones It’s impossible not to love Tom Jones, the eternal guilty pleasure. Grandma’s Hands — Bill Withers Check out this deep cut from classic 70s soul singer Bill Withers. Thought U Wuz Nice (Instrumental) — Phife Dawg Pouring one out for Phife Dawg, a member of A Tribe Called Quest, who we lost to the Great Musical Icon Death Wave of 2016. Stand By Me — Cassius Clay That Cassius Clay? Aka Muhammad Ali, the Greatest of All Time? Why yes, he did record an album, in 1963. Another great lost to 2016.

Last I Heard — Flesh Panthers Flesh Panthers are an excellent secret of Chicago’s rock n roll scene, who have played shows with our boys The Orwells. You should definitely check out their fantastic 2016 album “Willow’s Weep,” which this track is from. Ain’t It Funky Now — Jimmy McGriff You know we love the funky 1970s deep cuts — Jimmy McGriff is no exception. La Fat Fur — Connan Mockasin & Devonté Hynes We were already big fans of Devonté Hynes’ project Blood Orange, and we love this unique collaboration he did with New Zealand-born psychedelic pop artist Connan Mockasin. Fig in Leather — Devendra Banhart Venezualan-American Devendra Banhart makes some of the most unique genre-blending indie music today. We love this upbeat track from his latest album. No Tears to Cry — Paul Weller The former leader of The Jam, one of Great Britain’s premier rock acts in the 70s and 80s, comes back with his own grandiose rock n roll. Summer Madness S.A. — Karriem Riggins Talented multi-instrumentalist and producer Karriem Riggins effortlessly blends jazz, hip-hop and more in his unique work. Words to My Song — Dry Bread Dig this dark and funky deep cut from Cyril “Dry Bread” Ferguson. Breathing Underwater — The Barbaras The Barbaras are a fantastic lost surf-punk gem from Memphis, who worked to record their music with influential rocker Jay Reatard before his untimely death in 2010, with the result that only one album of tracks (discovered posthumously in his archives) was ever released. Endless Talk — Wild Flag Wild Flag was a short-lived rock supergroup made up of members of Sleater-Kinney and others, led by Carrie Brownstein (if you don’t know her from music, you know her from Portlandia!) If I Had a Hammer — Billy Preston Legendary organist and Beatles collaborator covers this American classic (originally by Pete Seeger) in a groovy instrumental way.

Buddy — The Orwells It’s been too long since the world at large got to hear The Orwells’ new tunes — they’re back, buddy. Hourglass — Rodrigo Amarante Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante opened for Angel Olsen here in Chicago recently, playing haunting music in multiple languages. The Palisades — Childish Gambino feat. Christian Rich We’re a big fan of the multi-talented Childish Gambino, aka actor and comedian Donald Glover. Heaven and Hell — William Onyeabor “His name is William Onyeabor, he’s from the 70s” — so goes a line in “Not What I Needed” by another Whiskey & Bananas artist, Car Seat Headrest. This pioneering Nigerian funk-synth master creates haunting, groovy melodies. Baby When I Close My Eyes — Sweet Spirit Austin, Texas-based Sweet Spirit brings a sweeping, grandiose rock sound along the lines of acts like Florence + The Machine. To Binge — Gorillaz feat. Little Dragon Gorillaz, and another Whiskey & Bananas favorite Little Dragon, are masters of blending genres like pop and hip-hop to create entirely new sounds. We can’t get enough. Going Up the Country — Kitty, Daisy & Lewis When you first hear this song, you could swear it was some classic recording from the 50s. But nope — it was made in 2009 by a group of British teenage siblings. Who woulda thought? Right On — Boogaloo Joe Jones Get your retro jazz fix with Boogaloo Joe Jones. Walk a Mile — Holly Golightly We remembered Holly Golightly from not just Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but as a guest vocalist at the end of The White Stripes’ 2003 album “Elephant” — with an impressive collection of solo work. Quiet Whiskey — Wynonie Harris Whiskey — you just never know what it’s gonna do. We love this upbeat classic for obvious reasons.

Lonely Jones — Post Animal We’re big fans of Chicago’s Post Animal, who opened for The Orwells during a weekend of local shows, features actor Joe Keery of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” and creates cool blends of pop and psych-tinged indie rock. Am I Wrong — Anderson Paak (feat. ScHoolboy Q) Our Chief Creative Officer Matt Reinhard is a huge fan of Anderson Paak — we think you will be too if you haven’t heard him yet! New Song — Warpaint The ladies of Warpaint are back with an aptly titled “New Song,” and we’re pretty psyched to hear the rest of the new album. Watcha Workin It Fa — New Breed Brass Band (feat. 5th Ward Weebie) Matt caught this great jazz-funk band playing on the street in New Orleans (where he also took this month’s playlist cover photo) and we can’t get enough. Gimme Some Truth — John Lennon One of John Lennon’s slightly lesser-known political songs that still sounds all too familiar this election cycle. I Know You Got Soul — Eric B. & Rakim We’re throwing it back to the late 80s with this early hip-hop classic from Eric B. & Rakim. Ladies Don’t Play Guitar — Tennis We’re excited to see indie pop-rock duo Tennis continuing to evolve their unique sound with new music. La belle et le bad boy — Mc Solaar It wouldn’t be Whiskey & Bananas without a cool song that’s entirely en français. Annie — Neon Indian Denton, Texas-originating Neon Indian’s catchy, danceable electronic indie pop is hard to get out of your head — but why would you want to? The Less I Know The Better — Tame Impala Tame Impala’s excellent album “Currents” came out last summer, but we’re still jamming hard.

Feeling Free — Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators We’re loving this retro R&B/soul group of American-born Nicole Willis, based in Helsinki, Finland. Half Moon — Janis Joplin Can’t go wrong with some lost Janis classics. Naked Eye — Luscious Jackson Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since this alt-rock gem landed. Shut Up Kiss Me — Angel Olsen We’ve featured Angel Olsen on a Whiskey & Bananas playlist a while back, but she’s too amazing not to include her new music here — we couldn’t be more excited about her new album coming out in the fall. End Of The World — Anika An off-kilter, Nico-esque reimagingining of the Skeeter Davis classic. Sail Away Ladies — Odetta No one did it better than the legendary Odetta. The Girl from Detroit City — Suzi Quatro 70s glam rock wunderkind & “Happy Days” actress Suzi Quatro reflects on her Detroit roots. Heartbreak — Spike & the Sweet Spots This cover of a Shannon & The Clams original by local Chicago retro rock n rollers Spike & the Sweet Spots harkens back to a different era with stunning vocals. Lady Scarface — Lydia Lunch One of the original NYC punk pioneers, Lydia Lunch goes cabaret in this hidden gem. Spare Me Fetzer’s Blues — Caitlin Rose Young Nashville singer Caitlin Rose captures some of the best vibes that country music can offer.

Moth to the Flame — Chairlift Get into the holiday weekend mood with this upbeat indie pop song. Let’s Dance — Ramones The Ramones take on the 60s dance classic. Lipslap — Kero Kero Bonito This Japanese pop-inspired project from London is on fire — can’t wait to check them out in Chicago this fall. I’ll Be Loving You — The King Khan & BBQ Show The retro rock n roll duo The King Khan & BBQ Show makes you feel like dancing and that it’s 1958 again. Betty — Pom Poms Talk about retro — this new pop project from LA is bringing the classic vibes hard, and we’re digging it. Dia Ja Manche — Dionisio Maio Legend has it, in 1968 a ship carrying keyboards and synthesizers disappeared en route from Baltimore to South America, and reappeared on a small island in Africa covered in cosmic space particles, changing the course of African dance music. It’s pretty groovy. (https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/space-echo-the-mystery-behind-the-cosmic-sound-of-cabo-verde-finally-revealed) I Couldn’t Spell !!*@! — Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs Even copywriters know sometimes there aren’t enough words for when someone breaks your heart — and this deep cut from 60s pop-rock group puts it to song. Bang Bang — Betty Chung Hong Kong singer Betty Chung covered this Nancy Sinatra classic in Mandarin in the 60s. Far Away Eyes — The Rolling Stones Run a few red lights (not really) in honor of this Stones semi-deep cut, a mainstay of quiet classic rock radio afternoons. U.F.O. — Jim Sullivan If the cosmic African synths of Dionisio Maio’s earlier track didn’t carry you away, let Jim Sullivan’s “U.F.O.” Keep listening for the 4th of July holiday track…

Move On Up — Curtis Mayfield Kicking things off with this uplifting soul classic. Straight Up And Down — The Brian Jonestown Massacre Hard to say no to retro British Invasion-style rock from one of the top indie bands of the past 20 years. Long Time Now — The Ethiopians Reggae ska always puts a smile on our face, how about you? Don’t Want to Say Good-Bye — Cut Worms Despite the retro sound, Cut Worms is a fresh project from formerly Chicago-based musician Max Clarke, now of Brooklyn. Definitely one to watch. The Seed (2.0) — The Roots, Cody Chesnutt A catchy modern rap-funk-soul classic from the legendary Roots. Ram On — Paul McCartney An early gem from Paul’s first solo years. Let ’em Say — Lizzo, Caroline Smith Minneapolis-based artists Lizzo and Caroline Smith collaborated on this upbeat modern soul-pop track that was recently featured in the season 3 premiere of “Broad City.” Money — The Flying Lizards A classic in the advertising game. 100 Million — Charlie Hilton Portland-based Charlie Hilton recently opened for our Chicago favorites Whitney, playing gorgeously hypnotic indie folk-rock. Dancing Time — The Funkees Nigerian afro-rock group The Funkees are a hidden gem from the late 1960s.

Land Lobster — The Bingers Chicago’s own retro-inspired garage rockers The Bingers have been landing their tunes in everything lately, from James Franco films to ads for Veuve Clicquot and HUF skateboard apparel. Bones — Michael Kiwanuka British soul musician Michael Kiwanuka channels decades of soul, rock and R&B inspiration into his music. All Your Yeahs — Beach House We’re looking forward to seeing indie dream pop band Beach House back in Chicago for the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer. Kachina Doll — Teenage Cool Kids Before Parquet Courts came around, there was bandleader Andrew Savage’s Denton, Texas-originating Teenage Cool Kids, with similarly excellent Americana post-punk rock. Time Away from Home — Summer Salt These mellow retro-pop/indie rockers are from Austin, Texas and recently played a show in Chicago with The Walters (friends of The Orwells). Hey Bulldog — The Beatles This wonderfully underplayed rocking gem from the “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack is always a treat to stumble upon. The Slider — Ty Segall King of California punk fuzz Ty Segall recently released an album of all T. Rex covers that rock incredibly hard. Heart Don’t Know — Jimmy Whispers Jimmy Whispers is one of the Chicago indie scene’s most interesting musicians and exciting performers today, recently making a splash in Europe. Deep Web — Magic Potion It’s always fun to stumble across great European indie music like Magic Potion from Stockholm, Sweden. El Loco Cha Cha Cha — René Touzet Those familiar chords at the beginning were in fact the inspiration for “Louie Louie” in the 50s.

Gardenia — Iggy Pop The king of punk is still alive and well, with this new album produced by Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. Davey Crockett — Hinds Hinds were an absolute standout of SXSW — four young women from Madrid playing extremely catchy rock n roll (tirelessly, across 15+ showcases during the week). They’re poised to blow up huge. Make Me Wanna Die — White Reaper White Reaper are a group of wildly energetic punk rockers from Kentucky who played in Chicago at a DIY show with The Orwells last summer and had the Chicago rock scene hanging at every show in Austin. The Greatest — KING This all-female indie R&B group played at Stereogum’s SXSW party prior to some Chicago groups, with a hypnotic style echoing the best of the 80s and 90s. Vroom Vroom — Charli XCX The rising queen of indie Brit pop has reimagined her style to be more sparse and edgy with this eclectic pop track. Aquellos Ojos — Mujeres Can’t get enough of this timeless rock n roll sound in Spanish. Won’t You Just Wish Me Luck — Croy and the Boys Get those tissues handy — this up-and-coming country group from Austin brings that classic heartwrenching country style to 2016. I Will Miss The Jasmine — Shannon and the Clams West Coast-based Shannon and the Clams wholeheartedly embody modern-retro rock n roll style. Home — BJ the Chicago Kid This hot new rapper speaks about the problems and love of home — our city, Chicago. Something Soon — Car Seat Headrest The indie rock scene of Chicago and Austin was buzzing about Car Seat Headrest’s dark and compelling sound across their SXSW showcases.

Le Coeur Au Bout Des Doigts – Jacqueline Taieb Who can resist retro French songs? We can’t! Suckcess – Michael Rault Michael Rault is an up-and-coming, retro-style garage rocker from Canada who played a few great shows in Chicago recently. Windowpane – Mild High Club This Chicago/Los Angeles group creates groovy, trippy tunes that make it feel like the 70s all over again. School – Frankie Cosmos The daughter of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates, Greta Kline aka Frankie Cosmos is making quite a splash in the indie world with her lo-fi music. Synth Song – The Symposium Elmhurst, Illinois natives The Symposium are making the music we wanted The Strokes to keep making after their first couple albums. Master Splinter – Heaters This Grand Rapids, Michigan-based group creates a haunting, modern take on 60s psych and rock n roll. Get Ready – Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band A great jazz-based take on the Temptations classic. Ace of Spades – Link Wray It seems like the guitar icon and rock pioneer never made a bad song. Catamaran – Allah-Las The Allah-Las instantly transport you to a far-off indie rock beach. Psychotic Reaction – Count Five A 60s garage rock classic.

When It Comes To You – Dead Ghosts The garage rock revolution continues with this great group from Vancouver, Canada. 100 Days, 100 Nights – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings exist in a timeless space of great music. Most Wanted – Cults Cults’ incredibly catchy indie pop would be flooding the airwaves in our ideal world. So Destroyed – Prince Rama Is it world music? Rock? Pop? Psychedelic? This song is all of that and more. Lady Luck – Richard Swift Richard Swift combines retro soul style with a modern touch. She Ain’t Mine – Yoko and the Oh No’s Yoko and the Oh No’s are a rising young Chicago rock band that blends the glam showmanship of frontman Max Goldstein with down-home blues and rock grooves. Keep an eye on these kids, they’re going somewhere! No Woman – Whitney Whitney is a new Chicago band to watch, made up of former members of indie darlings Smith Westerns and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, with a modern country-soul sound. Ashes to Ashes – Alan Jenkins Dig this far-out instrumental cover of the David Bowie space classic – which we chose just prior to his recent passing. Goodbye to one of the greats. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart – JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound A Chicago band covering another Chicago band, but with a twist. Cinnamon – Cullen Omori The first single from the former Smith Westerns frontman’s new solo project.

Coming Home – Leon Bridges Leon Bridges is making big waves as a new retro-soul singer in the tradition of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. One Summer Night – Ariel Pink Indie multi-instrumentalist Ariel Pink brings a variety of eclectic retro influences to his avant-garde pop projects. Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash The first international Jamaican-style rocksteady hit song in 1968. Young Men of Promise – Yellowbirds Yellowbirds is our latest indie pop obsession – great classic pop melodies with modern electronic touches. Chinese Translation – M. Ward If you only know M. Ward as Zooey Deschanel’s partner in She & Him, be sure to check out his amazing catalogue of modern Americana indie folk rock. Dead Wrong – Hanni El Khatib A former creative director for a skateboarding company, Hanni El Khatib’s West Coast, modern blues rock style is right up our alley. Cassie (Won’t You Be My Doll) – Part Time Just try to get this 80s-tinged song out of your head. Everywhere I’m Local – Har Mar Superstar Har Mar Superstar’s neo-R&B gets under your skin and stays there. Ritual Union – Little Dragon Multi-cultural, multi-genre Swedish indie group Little Dragon is behind some of the most innovative music today. Women of a Certain Age – Arcade Fire This great reggae-influenced track from the world’s biggest indie band is from a new EP of their “Reflektor” sessions material.