Beach House on Morning Sessions

Tune in at 9:20 a.m. Friday as we get ready for this Beach House's homecoming show at Merriweather Post Pavilion with an encore edition of a lively conversation and in-studio performance by the Baltimore-based duo.

Their major-label debut, Teen Dream, is one of morning show host Erik's favorite records of the year. He's a sucker for dream pop music, and Alex Scalley’s echo-driven guitar and Victoria Legrand’s bouncy, narcotic keys and sensually husky voice put me in a blissful trance. It's destined to grace more than a few year-end, best-of lists.

Beach House Gets Kids' Chorus Treatment

They're baaaa-ack! The indie rock-covering kid's chorus from PS 22 in Staten Island, New York wasted no time learning this dreamy song from Victoria Legrand and Alex Scalley.

These talented and expressive children previously covered "Litzstomania" by Phoenix and appeared on Passion Pit's latest. Millions have viewed their videos.

Check out another wish-you-had-a-music-teacher-like this moment with this super version of this Beach House's "Zebra!"

According to Spinner, Legrand wrote on Beach Houses's Facebook and Twitter page, "This is one of the best things ever to happen to us!"

Baltimore Unsigned's Top 30 of 2009

Once again, Baltimore musicians had a great year of releases. With a handful of bands getting signed to major labels this year, including Beach House, Double Dagger and most recently, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Charm City is further establishing itself as the next big scene in the country for music.

1. Vandaveer – “Divide & Conquer”
2. Tommy Tucker – “Keep Good Time”
3. Wye Oak – “Dance My Pain Away”
4. Beach House – “Norway”
5. The Oranges Band – “Ottobar After Hours”
6. Middle Distance Runner – “The Unbeliever”
7. Double Dagger – “No Allies”
8. The Everlove – “You’re the Sun”
9. Title Tracks – “Every Little Bit Hurts”
10. Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddies – “Church on Saturday Night”
11. Justin Jones And The Driving Rain – “California”
12. Sticky Mulligan – “Recipe”
13. Nelly’s Echo – “Young Man”
14. Young Sir Jim – “Stick Shift”
15. Laura Brino – “The Biggest Meteor I've Ever Seen”
16. ellen cherry – “1864: A Civil War Bride”
17. Caleb Stine – “Comes From the West”
18. Ms. Sara and the Help – “Try”
19. Jason Dove – “Big Red Truck”
20. Dan Deacon – “Get Older”
21. Jagged Hearts – “Merlequin”
22. The Seldon Plan – “Lost and Found and Lost”
23. Paul Masson – “My Girl Baltimore”
24. Can’t Hang – “Strangers at Your Funeral”
25. DNA – “Take Your Time”
26. Jah Works – “Twisted”
27. Shook – “Feel Alright”
28. Earthtone – “Old Manhattan”
29. John Mancini Band – “Don’t Go Easy”
30. SoulStice --- “Bird’s Eye View”

Mix Tape Thursday, 2/26/09

Our listeners take over the airwaves with three-to-five song sets all day Thursday. Check out a new mix tape every hour.

Plus, we wrap up the day with a celebrity mix tape from the Bacon Brothers starting at 8 p.m.

Submit your mixtape today. Here's today's lineup:

6 a.m. Leslie Eckard

I call this my War and Peace mix. It's about having your own mind and not letting others rule your thoughts, and being open-minded and seeking a peaceful solution to things instead of trying to get your own way.

• "Zor and Zam," by The Monkees
• "They," by Jem
• "Nobody Right, Nobody Wrong," by Michael Franti & Spearhead
• "Philosophia," by Guggenheim Grotto
• "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," by Tears for Fears

7 a.m. Brandon Hurley

These songs make me think of the financial crisis. We started with the flood of consumerism and high expectations, which have all come crashing down.

We all try to escape through different ways. Some react with medication, some pine for "good old days," others just try to deal with life and try to hang on to hope of a better place. But, at these times we all need to rally around each other.

• "First Day," by The Futurehead
• "Interesting Drug," by Morrissey
• "Compositions for the Young and Old," by Bob Mould
  
• "Fast Car," by Tracy Chapman
  
• "Under Pressure," by David Bowie

Make the Music Happen! Become part of the TMD 5,000 today.


8 a.m. Peter Ochano

It's almost spring! Let's have some songs about trees!

• "I am a Tree," by Guided by Voices
  
• "Fake Plastic Trees," by Radiohead
• "Evergreen," by The Fiery Furnaces
  
• "Apple Orchard," by Beach House
  
• "One Tree Hill," by U2

9 a.m. Steve Moles

All of these songs have a great groove but the artists are very different.

• "And She Was," by Talking Heads
  
• "Action Speaks Louder than Words," by Galactic
• "Too Damn Funky," by Tom Principato
  
• "Hello, Bonjour," by Michael Franti and Spearhead
  
• "Wake Up," by The Neville Brothers

10 a.m. Michael McLaughlin

Songs (and a singer) referencing wolves.

• "The Hungry Wolf," by X
  
• "Wolves," by Iron & Wine
  
• "Furr," by Blitzen Trapper
  
• "Will the Wolf Survive?," by Los Lobos
  
• "Spoonful," by Howlin' Wolf
  

11 a.m. Nikole DiVito

These are my sad, heartbreak songs.

• "Wicked Way," by Benjamin Taylor
  
• "Wash Away," by Matt Costa
  
• "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell," by The Flaming Lips
  
• "ATL," by Butch Walker
  
• "You Can Do Better than Me," by Death Cab for Cutie
  

Make the Music Happen! Become part of the TMD 5,000 today.

12 p.m. Charles Pekor

It's a mix of great tunes, a couple of which WTMD has turned me onto in recent years, and it's a mix of some trippy grooves interspersed by rockin' tunes from great bands. Just great music that fits my alma mater's station's style!

• "Rebellion (Lies)," by Arcade Fire
  
• "Eple," by Royskopp
  
• "Have You Once Recalled the Days?" by Warren Zanes
  
• "What Are You Afraid Of," by West Indian Girl
  
• "Valerie," by The Zutons
  

1 p.m. Kristin Symes

These are pretty much my top five favorite songs right now. I picked them because they are a great mix from a variety of different genres, with a progression from upbeat to soft and chill.

• "If She Wants Me," by Belle and Sebastian
  
• "Something to Talk About," by Bonnie Raitt
  
• "Staple It Together," by Jack Johnson
  
• "Give It Away," by Zero 7
  
• "Day Dreaming," by Lupe Fiasco and Jill Scott
  

2 p.m. Keith Pozanek

The "x" files + god & the devil. Most of these excellent songs received little or no airplay.
I am a closet DJ.

• "True Love," by X
  
• "X & Y," by Coldplay
  
• "Dear God," by XTC
  
• "Devil Inside," by INXS
  
• "We're Having Much More Fun," by X
  

Make the Music Happen! Become part of the TMD 5,000 today.

3 p.m. Robert Buckley

The theme may be obvious: all women! I think this lineup would go over well, and I love Ms. Sara's tune for local flavor.

• "9 to 5," by Ms. Sara and The Help
  
• "Lonely Love," by Juliana Hatfield
  
• "Hurt So Bad," by Susan Tedeschi
  
• "Rehab," by Amy Winehouse
  

4 p.m. Mary Thomas

Representative of the darker side of love and relationships.

• "We Both Go Down Together," by The Decemberists
  
• "Fly," by Moxy Fruvous
  
• "Cold Kisses," by Richard Thompson
  
• "Break Your Heart," by Barenaked Ladies
  

5 p.m. Amanda Krotki

These are all songs from Cameron Crowe movies and we're overdue for a really great new film from him.

• "I Can't Get Next to You," by The Temptations, Elizabethtown
  
• "Vanilla Sky," by Paul McCartney, Vanilla Sky
  
• "Tiny Dancer," by Elton John, Almost Famous
  
• "Dyslexic Heart," by Paul Westerberg, Singles
• "In Your Eyes," by Peter Gabriel, Say Anything
  

6 p.m. Laura McGuire

These are all artists I've seen live in the past year, courtesy of WTMD: emerging artist concerts, First Thursdays, member concerts, Baltimore Unsigned tapings, in-studio performances.

You guys bring great music to Baltimore!

• "Stop and Think It Over," by Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles
  
• "Good Day," by Jukebox the Ghost
  
• "Emancipated Minor," by Ani Difranco
  
• "Frera," by Fools & Horses
• "A Little Bit of Riddim," by Michael Franti and Spearhead
  

Make the Music Happen! Become part of the TMD 5,000 today.