Artist-Curated Playlists

For their second album, Together Alone, Howard Feibuschs namesake recording project Howard expanded to become a full four-piece band, incorporating touring members who had fleshed out the live show for debut album Religion. Ironically, the group setup comes in service of an album exploring the disconnects between our modern forms of always online sociability and its attendant feelings of isolation. For this playlist, Howard assembles a diverse mix of songs that pull the listener into their moment.Feibusch says, "No matter the time, place, or era these songs were made, they take me out of my environment and take bring to an inspired headspace. Some take me inward and others outward. Some inspire to hold still while others to move. All these songs are elevated by both their songwriting and most taken up an additional notch by their unique production.”

Danish rock outfit Iceage are constantly evolving, moving from the goth-inflicted punk of their early records towards a bigger, more luxurious sound of their 2018 album Beyondless. The one through-line is a bleary passion that permeates every chord theyve played since forming in 2008. Guitarist Johan Suurballe Wieth recently created a playlist of his favorite guitarists for the Dowsers, and, predictably, its a diverse, unpredictable assortment. Below is his annotated list.Pete Cosey on Miles Davis’ “Dark Magus, Wili (part 1)”This guitar to me, sounds like an ancient instrument used to scare off prehistoric beasts. Charles Bullen on This Heat, “A New Kind of Water”This Heat has since I discovered them in my early teens, been something I listen to frequently. And it still leaves me in awe, the weaving of sounds incompatible, becomes something so solid. Charles Bullens playing is something that will always keep my mind puzzled.Joanne Robertson, “Wildflower” “Wildflower” is, in my opinion, an underrated piece of work. Some of the most honest guitar music in newer date. Abner Jay, “Cocaine”A box with strings.Johnny Thunders on New York Dolls’, “Jet Boy”However tactless and appalling a guitar solo can appear. No ones got shit on him. Joni Mitchell, “Song To A Seagull,” “The Pirate Of Penance”This brings my mind to what the medieval times in America would look like.Johnny Echols/Arthur Lee on Love, “A House Is Not A Motel.” Many things could be said about the guitars of this band and the songs they play. What comes to mind for me is, what great fun it must to play this song.Peter Peter Scneidermann on Bleedergroup, “Sunrise, Amber Green”I pay great homage to this man. Peter is one of the people that has had the greatest impact on the way I view and play music. As a teen I would watch Bleeder at any chance I got. Later in life Peter has become a dear friend, and someone who has taught me all the tricks in my arsenal. He is hands down the best guitar player I know. Check out his breakdown for each track below.Loren Mazzacane Connors, “A Possible Dawn”With someone who stands behind such vast and diverse body of work as Loren Connors ,it can be hard to navigate. But honestly I find joy in all aspects of his music. A tightly knit organic carpet of sound. James Williamson on Kill City, “Night Theme”I wish I wrote this riff.Ron Asheton on The Stooges, “1970” No comment needed.James Blood Ulmer on Odyssey, “Church”It sounds like someone who has never touched an instrument before, but is an apparent natural. Equally afraid and pleasantly surprised. Lindsey Buckingham on Fleetwood Mac, “The Chain”As I said earlier about guitar solos, I will apply again. He makes that one note work.Jimi Hendrix on Band Of Gypsys, “Machine Gun” I cant deny that I am text book fan of rocknroll in many ways. As cheesy and cliché as it may seem, this was the first song I ever played on my record player. I could continue this list into infinity, but it would become an old song quickly. Therefore I leave you with this.

It’s a slyly ironic title for a playlist, but Anohni is a sly woman. She got her start as a he with Antony and the Johnsons, whose signature elegiac chamber pop anchored a voice both soaring and fragile. There’s plenty that could’ve gone wrong on her debut solo album, 2016’s HOPELESSNESS; the production came courtesy of cubist synth maven Oneohtrix Point Never and trap king Hudson Mohawke, and the themes were overtly political. Lead single “Drone Bomb Me” was, in her words, “a love song from the perspective of a girl in Afghanistan...a 9-year-old girl whose family’s been killed by a drone bomb.” It worked on a visceral sonic level and in a deeper emotional and political sense. This Spotify playlist traces the inspirations for this weird, brilliant record. From the gothic folk of Buffy Sainte-Marie to the chilly high-concept hijinks of Laurie Anderson, Anohni’s eclecticism is on full display.

Since their 2005 debut, San Diego power trio Earthless have been pushing stoner-rock to new extremes in cosmic exploration and rhythmic intensity——and mostly without the use of vocals. However, on their upcoming release, Black Heaven (out March 16), guitarist Isaiah Mitchell steps up to the mic on a full-time basis. To celebrate his graduation to proper frontman, we asked him to curate a playlist of inspirational voices. Thin Lizzy, “Honesty is No Excuse”: Phil Lynott has one of my all-time favorite voices. His phrasing is wonderful. The longing in his voice.....Andy Irving and Paul Brady, “Lough Erne Shore”: Paul Brady has one of the most unique voices I’ve ever heard. Absolutely beautiful. I wish I could sing like that.Bad Brains, “Banned in D.C.”: H.R. is my favorite all-time punk vocalist. An incredible force of nature. Power.Charley Patton, “High Water Everywhere - Part 1”: Patton also has one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. When I close my eyes and listen to his recordings, I see an old man with a few teeth. Gritty and gravelly. Not a cooler voice in the world. Such an old sound. I wish I could sing like him, too.Freddie King, “Same Old Blues”: One of my all-time favorite vocalists and guitarists. The sound that comes out of him is one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. He sounds big because he is big. Belts it.Traffic, “40,000 Headsman”: Steve Winwood is another all-time favorite. So much soul. There’s this brassy sound to his voice that I love——like Sam Cooke.Sam Cooke, “Cupid”: One of my favorite songs of all time by one of my all-time favorite singers. Sams voice was one of the smoothest and velvetiest sounds to come out of a human.Townes Van Zandt, “Rake”: His voice, phrasing, and lyrics are unmatched. How he can keep all that together and play guitar the way he does to accompany what he has to say, I still don’t know. Another great example of Townes’ mastery of voice and guitar is “Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold.”Warren Zevon, “Lawyers, Guns, and Money”: Warren Zevon is pretty new to my life. A good buddy introduced me to him and now I’m hooked. Just a total bad-ass. The voice and lyrics fit together just right.Muddy Waters, “Long Distance Call”: Muddy is one of my earliest heroes. Such an animated voice. One of the most imitated singers of all time.Howlin’ Wolf, “Spoonful”: Wolf is as important to me as Muddy is. Big man with a bigger voice. He was the full package on stage, playing great slide guitar and blowing harmonica, backed up by one of the greatest voices of all time.Fleetwood Mac, “Jumping at Shadows”: Peter Green is another one of my hands-down, all-time favorite voices. He bears it all.Cream, “We’re Going Wrong”: Out of all the singers I’m into and try to imitate, I think I approach my vocals with a Jack Bruce filter. It’s not obvious, but I hear his voice while singing songs I’ve written. I don’t always go the Jack Bruce route, but I’m glad the path is there when I need it.Stevie Wonder, “I Was Made to Love Her”: He gave it all. Pure joy. Arguably the greatest male voice of all time. It doesn’t need explaining.Peter Tosh, “No Sympathy”: Solid as a rock. Such a bad-ass. Preaching.The Band, “It Makes No Difference”: Rick Danko is up in my top five favorite vocalists. He sounds like he’s singing the last performance of his life and absolutely gives it everything he’s got and doesn’t hold back. Everyone on this list does that, but Danko hits me in a different way.The Four Tops, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”: Levi Stubbs, to me, has one of the defining voices of Motown. When the verse kicks in on “Reach Out,” the power that comes through the speakers floors me every time.Sandy Denny, “Late November”: Beautiful and powerful all rolled into one. Music is the healer. You have to give in completely if you want it to heal you. She gave it all.ZZ Top, “Just Got Paid”: One of my all-time favorite bands and guitar players. Billy Gibbons has a voice that doesn’t fit with the way he looks… at least in his early days. Great lyrical content. All hail the Reverend. The real deal.Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, “City Slang”: Fred “Sonic” Smith has a voice I wish I had. Cool as hell. Deep. Another person whose sound is the epitome of cool. One of my all-time favorites.

Vancouver power duo Japandroids kicked off 2017 with a big bang by releasing their biggest and boldest album yet, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, back in January. And if you caught the band on their subsequent never-ending world tour this year, then these songs may sound familiar… “For me, 2017 was a wild ride. I spent almost the entire year on tour—100 shows in 20 countries—so I was always on the move. There were highs, lows, and everything in-between, which is very typical of touring. If there was any one constant among all the craziness, it might be my pre-show playlist, which I listen to every night before we go on stage—you know, to get pumped up. I initially made this playlist in January, ahead of our first shows, and had every intention of keeping it the same throughout the year… but every so often, 2017 sent a undeniable jam my way, and thus some swapping inevitably occurred. And so while not all of these songs are from 2017, when I think back on the year in music, or at least my year in music, this is what I hear.”—Brian King of Japandroids

Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase is celebrating the release of Drums and Drones: Decade, a 144 page book and triple album, culminating the first ten years of his solo project, Drums and Drones. This project, which began in 2007, is initially inspired by La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela’s legendary Dream House installation. The aim of the project is to create elaborate meditative soundscapes derived from the resonant acoustic tones of tuned drums. Drums and Drones: Decade captures the essence of the project in sound/image/text. Check out the Jazz Drummer Spotlight: 1952-66 playlist he made for The Dowsers right here, and go here for more info about the book and its three albums.Says Chase, "This playlist focuses on the drum solo in jazz from 1952-1966. What appeals here, in addition to the incredible music itself, is stylistic evolution and how the drum solo reflects its musical context at each step along the way. In listening to this playlist, an awareness is brought to how the drums ‘play’ melody, harmony, and texture, not only rhythm. Much gratitude and praise goes to these remarkable and pioneering musicians."Brief personal notes:1. “Caravan” - “Papa” Jo is a master of melodic drumming.2. “Skin Deep” - Louis Bellson’s grand drum solo is an early use of double bass drums on record.3. “It Don’t Mean A Thing…” - Max is a master at outlining melodic phrasing (i.e. using the drums to create ‘shape’ which suggests melodic line), and establishing harmonic-like patterns (i.e. ‘arpeggios’).4. “Minor Mode” - “Philly” Joe is a master of ‘melodic rhythm:’ one can sing the melody of “Minor Mode” along with the solo.5. “Swinging’ Kilts” - Three classic Hard-Bop drummers play together here: Art Blakey, “Philly” Joe Jones, and Art Taylor.6. “Folk Tale” - The playful freedom of Ornette’s soloing is beautifully reflected in Ed Blackwell’s melodies and rhythms.7. “Kid Dynamite” - Motian’s playing represents the beauty of abstraction and gesture.8. “Al’s In” - Alan Dawsons brilliant and unconventional style showcase techniques that expand the ‘vocabulary’ of the instrument.9 and 10. “Nomadic” and “Agitation” - Tony Williams, Dawson’s protege, takes center stage on these tracks. A more open and free-form playing style is on display with the drums given extended space to establish the musical scene.11. “The Drum Thing” - Elvin! As Elvin improvises he establishes new thematic ideas which continually build intensity.12. “East Broadway Run Down” - Elvin! I love in particular the long legato phrasing…13 - 15. “The Drum Also Waltzes,” “For Big Sid,” “The Drum Thing” - These are Max Roach’s drum solo masterpieces.16. “Nothing 19” - Milford Graves and Sunny Morgan, two drummers who helped establish the Free-Jazz style.17. “Free For All” - Art Blakey in his glory.

His landmark debut album with Air, Moon Safari, just turned 20, but Jean-Benoît Dunckel isn’t looking back. On March 16, he releases his new solo album, H+, and to prep us for its cinematic dream-pop synth-scapes, he’s made us a playlist of widescreened inspirations. “These days, Im listening to more soundtracky music, music for cinema, because I’d like my life to look more like a movie. I would know the scenario in advance, and I would meet anybody I fancy for real, as I’d take care of the casting as well. This playlist is for traveling safely, and to bring comfort and relaxation.”—Jean-Benoît DunckelWatch the video for the latest single from H+, “Transhumanity”:

Jean Castelis a French multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA who first debuted his Billboard-described "forward-thinking pop" in the form of his catchy single, "What Happened to Us?" earlier this summer. Now with his infections debut EP Orange & Yellow out, Castel created a playlist for The Dowsers exploring what went into the making of his music. Having worked with production group Infrared, a partnership with Spike Stent (Ed Sheeran, Julia Michaels) and mastering by Chris Gehringer (Vince Staples, Rihanna), its no surprise to see some of those artists name-checked by Castel. Listen to his inspired playlist right here and check out his resulting debut EP.Says Castel, "Here’s my playlist. I’ve called it “Orange & Yellow, The Sounds”. They are the songs that inspired my forthcoming EP. I’ve drawn influence from each and every one of these records."

Long Island indie-rock hero Jeff Rosenstock kicked off 2018 in the most awesome way possible: With a surprise album, POST-, released on January 1 to Bandcamp through his own Quote Unquote label. (Polyvinyl Records followed the next day with a widespread digital release before issuing it on vinyl in March.) The new record sees Rosenstock pushing his patented shout-along underdog-punk anthems to thrilling new levels of emotional intensity and instrumental extravagance. (Seriously, "USA" should be Americas new national anthem.) And after dropping the first great album of 2018, he gives us the first great playlist!

"Hey you over there! Its Jeff Rosenstock over here! I didnt go super high-concept with my playlist like 10 Songs To Break Up With Your Lover Over Lunch To or make, like, a playlist with songs from animated movies that would be great to listen to on a long drive and call it Car Tunes. I tried to just make a playlist like I would have made a mix tape or CD when I was a kid——just as many songs I like that could fit onto a CD-R."—Jeff Rosenstock

1. PARQUET COURTS, "SUNBATHING ANIMAL": Parquet Courts are one of my favorite bands, and this song is SO FUCKIN SICK! Just listen to it!

2. CYNDI LAUPER, "MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING": Not that long ago, I found out that Cyndi Laupers Shes So Unusual was a record stacked with great pop jams. It plays like a greatest hits record, not a debut album.

3. BLACK SABBATH, "SYMPTOM OF THE UNIVERSE (REMASTERED VERSION)": Wow! Remastered for my listening pleasure! Thanks, someone! I like playing this riff at soundcheck cause its so thiiiiick and I can think of Beavis and Butthead singing it. Also the shift in the middle of this song is a good example of later-Ozzy-era Black Sabbath taking weird risks! The four records they did after Paranoid are epic and amazing, check em out.

4. ALVVAYS, "THE AGENCY GROUP": You know that guy at the party who is drunk and talking too loud about some band that youve heard of and havent heard and you just want him to go away? Well, that is me any time anyone brings up Alvvays, cause I cannot stop listening to their records. I picked this song because its fun to sing at soundcheck, and a love song titled after a booking agency is good bit.

5. LIL MAMA, "LIP GLOSS": This song is the banger to end all bangers, and I think we can all get behind the universal truth that Lil Mamas lip gloss is poppin.

6. CAKE, "ROCK N ROLL LIFESTYLE": Haaaaaaaa... I heard this song on the radio the other day and thought it was funny. Cake is a cool band, but I dont know much about em.

7. CHAI, "SOUND & STOMACH": Heard this band at a listening station in the Shibuya Tower Records. I really like J-Pop, J-Rock, whatever this is. I kinda thought, "Whoa, I discovered a new hip underground band!" and then I saw ads for their new album lining the streets later on. Im down with any song that has speak-sing rapping a la "There Was a Door" by Crying.

8. LABRADORS, "ALL I HAVE IS MY HEART": We played with the Labradors when we were on tour in Italy and they were so good. I had this song stuck in my head for months after we returned and it always makes me think of good times in Italy.

9. ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, "ACROSS THE BORDER": Okay, so if you like ELO, but you only know the hits, Im here to give you a HARD 10/10 RECOMMENDATION to check out their albums from Eldorado up until Discovery. They are great! Maybe start with A New World Record or Discovery. Anyway, this songs not on either of those two records.

10. SCARED OF CHAKA, "WHY ARE YOU WEIRD?": I have woken up with this song stuck in my head for the last 15 years.

11. P.O.S, "PUREXED": Ive known Stef for a while and its been really fun to watch him turn into such a great creative rapper. This song is next level and totally caught me off guard the first time I heard it.

12. SONIC YOUTH, "BULL IN THE HEATHER": I just basically always want to listen to this song. Theres also a sick Go! Team cover of this

13. KENDRICK LAMAR, "FEAR.": I really liked this record, every song is a jam, and it was hard to choose. I picked this one because I love the verses which, from what I read somewhere, are from the perspective of him as at ages seven, 17, and 27. Kendrick Lamar makes cool shit, have you heard of him?

14. THE VANDALS, "I HAVE A DATE": I heard this song late at night on the radio when I was like 13 or 14 and scrambled to find a blank tape and record as much of it as possible to listen to over and over. Warren Fitzgerald has been a guitar hero of mine forever. He doesnt do any wild n crazy shit on this one, but he does sing on it and its a lot of fun.

15. SCATMAN JOHN, "SCATMANS WORLD": Oh man, have you heard this song? Have you seen this video? Have you looked into the history of Scatman John, who started scatting to embrace a stutter that he was always self-conscious about? BA BO BAYY BO BOPPITY.

16. THE THERMALS, "HEY YOU": Im guessing you like The Thermals, but maybe you forgot that they put out a great record in 2016 that had this perfect pop-punk song on it.

17. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE, "SURVIVAL CAR": I never really liked the song "Stacys Mom" and assumed this band would be annoying until my wife played me this perfect power-pop record. It was hard to pick a song on it, but this song is just such a feel-good classic. Roll the windows down! Do the thingy with your hand and the wind! Oh no, roll the window back up, its freezing!

18. KIM MITCHELL, "GO FOR A SODA": This past summer, we had the pleasure of having Zack Mykula of PUP play drums for us in Canada, and his partner Julia rode with us for a few days as well. We made a playlist of Canadian songs we knew and they were like, "yo, you dont know shit about Canada" and we were like "fair enough." They introduced us to a LOT of pub-rock anthems, but this one just takes the cake. "Might as well go for a soda/ Nobody hurts/ And nobody cries" over arena-rock drums? Its so fun to me finding out about a big hit song in another country that just never made it over to me. Anyway, thats what I have to say about Kim Mitchell. Also, if you wanna listen to more, I suggest checking out "I Am A Wild Party"——theres only a live version and its an insane song.

19. SHIT PRESENT, "SHIT TALK": I love Ionas songs and I love Shit Present. I saw her play this on her own the last time we were in the UK and it made me very happy. Its no "My Fruit Bowl" but I cant find that one on Spotify.

20. SQUEEZE, "ANOTHER NAIL IN MY HEART": Squeeze is another band, like ELO, that I think people have heard are good, but might only know "Tempted" and been like, "Yeah, I guess theyre okay." Well, guess what: Squeeze rocks! Fast, wordy power-pop. I listen to Squeeze all the damn time. Also, "Tempted" is sick too, back off!

21. THE SIDEKICKS, "DAISY": If listening to The Sidekicks is not part of your life, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET IN. This record is a great place to start, and then youll get stoked cause their next record is going to be amazing, and then youre gonna go back to Runners and Weight of Air and be like, "Wow, these are great too, how is this band so good?" And then youll be like me every time I see The Sidekicks. BE LIKE ME only this one time.

In August 2017, indie rocker Jen Cloher released her self-titled record, which cracked the Top 5 on the album charts in her native Australia; she also received a great deal of exposure in North America when her song “Fear Is Like a Forest” was covered on Lotta Sea Lice, the collaborative album from Kurt Vile and Cloher’s better half, Courtney Barnett. Before she heads out on her U.S. and European tours in early 2018, Jen shares the songs that defined 2017 for her. “2017 was a year where we heard more diverse voices break through, in Australia particularly. While global politics became more regressive, divisive, and fear-mongering, music did the opposite.”—Jen Cloher