Wishy is my new favorite band, plus new music from Fontaines D.C. as they get ready to release their new album “Dopamine Chamber,” plus fresh selects from Logic1000 and Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 19, 2026

• “All The Rage” — Wishy
• “1000 Pounds” — Superchunk
• “She Walks” — Poster Children
• “You Can Have It All” — Yo La Tengo
• “Nervion” — Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth
• “False Prophet (ashnymph Remix)” — Nightbus
• “Marianne” — Fontaines D.C.
• “I Love You” — Spacemen 3
• “The Dreaming Moon” — The Magnetic Fields
• “Full Spectrum Dominance” — Dummy
• “Jersey (feat. Jam City)” — Logic1000
• “Destroy Everything You Touch” — Ladytron
• “Jumbo (Remastered)” — Underworld
• “Heaven’s on Fire” — The Radio Dept.
• “Mercury” — Automatic
• “It’s Starting” — RIO KOSTA
• “Kelly Watch the Stars (Vegyn Version)” — Air
• “Sad Makeup” — Yukimi
• “Selenge” — Céline Dessberg
• “Consulate Case” — Surprise Chef
• “Blueberry Beads” — John Carroll Kirby
• “Burnin’ Coal” — Les McCann
• “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (Single Version)” — The Temptations
• “Sad Cowboy” — Goat Girl
• “New York, Let’s Do Nothing” — King Hannah
• “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab (Daniel Avery Remix)” — English Teacher & Daniel Avery
• “Radio Free Europe (Jacknife Lee Remix / 2025)” — R.E.M.
• “The Revolution Will Not Be Telefonin'” — Tonico 70
• “Groove” — Beans
• “Mágica” — El Michels Affair & Rogê
• “Pinball Number Count (feat. Dames Brown & Nicholas Payton)” — Brandon Williams
• “Brian” — Alfa Mist
• “Constellation” — The Circling Sun
• “She Raised Us in Sunset Park” — musclecars
• “Para Chick” — Tania Maria
• “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (“1999″ B-Side)” — Prince

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Erykah Badu is heading to town on Sept. 11with the producer the Alchemist. It’s to support their upcoming album, which is out on Aug. 28—but still doesn’t have a name! Maybe the name of an album isn’t even important anymore… who knows! We do have a new single from the project called “Witch Doctor,” which kicks off the show today, plus new music from Dana and Alden, the Womack Sisters and lots more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 18, 2026

• “Witch Doctor” — Erykah Badu & The Alchemist
• “Goin’ Home (Remix)” — McCoy Tyner
• “Les ‘Là-bas'” — Henri Texier
• “Moon & I (feat. Céline Dessberg)” — Azekel
• “El Gaucho (feat. Marcos Valle, Mirella Costa & Zaza Desiderio)” — Dana and Alden
• “All Blues” — Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown
• “Troupeau bleu” — Cortex
• “You Ain’t the Problem” — Michael Kiwanuka
• “Sunshine Kisses” — Sabine McCalla
• “If I Let You” — The Womack Sisters
• “Shadows From Nowhere” — Blue Gas
• “Blue Shadows (feat. Karen O)” — The Avalanches
• “Keep It To Yourself” — Love Spells
• “Star Blanket River Child” — Brightblack Morning Light
• “Computer Love” — Romare
• “In Loving Memory” — Gabriels
• “Carry Me Higher (Elite Mix) [10 Inch Version]” — The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder
• “Puaj” — Salin
• “Ya Banat” — Kazdoura
• “Shmaali شمالي” — Yasmine Hamdan
• “She Will” — Savages
• “Hand Me A Cigarette” — Twisted Teens
• “Believe” — Benjamin Booker
• “Waiting on the Right Time” — Thee Sacred Souls
• “free fall” — berlioz
• “Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Ian Fink cover)” — Sade
• “The World Is a Ghetto (Laroye Rework)” — George Benson
• “Home is Where The Hatred Is (feat. Lisa Fischer) [Main]” — Brian Jackson, Masters At Work, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega
• “Please Forgive My Heart” — Bobby Womack
• “A Couple Minutes (A COLORS SHOW)” — Olivia Dean

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

On their new album, Death Cab for Cutie isn’t wasting anyone’s time. At a crisp 11 songs clocking in at 38 minutes, it’s a quick listen—same as an episode of award-winning television. 

It plays out like a prestige drama, too. 

After 22 years, the Seattle band ditched their longtime record label Atlantic and signed with ANTI-. Songwriter and lead singer Ben Gibbard recently went through a divorce and poured those emotions into this album, including the stand-out single “Riptides,” which shocked me when I first heard it. 

It felt like vintage Death Cab for Cutie, a band I grew up with. It was personal for Gibbard. It was personal for me because I’ve been listening to this band damn near my entire adult life. We’ve grown up together. So, like everything they release, it’s under a bit of scrutiny. Any relationship like that is going to need some vulnerability to make it.

Gibbard, per usual, gets personal with his lyrics.

These days
I say goodbye without opening my mouth
I just stare into the distance ’til you figure it out
‘Cause I feel
As invested as a border guard
Who’s seen too many people leaving to take it to heart

Musically, this song will feel like throwback Cutie, too. It’s crisp, simple and catchy; at this point, you could use them as the definition of indie rock. Maybe they invented it – the natural evolution of Midwest emo from the 1990s turning into something more polished and twee, which is the perfect bedding for Gibbard’s words (always the star of the show). 

They’re a band growing up and looking back. As fans, we’re reaping the rewards of their best (and most honest) work in years.

This story was originally published by Midbrow.

Saying farewell to WDET legend Jerome Vaughn after 34 years at the station before he retires by playing some of his favorites (which means a lot of Beatles), plus a moody Monday mix of songs from Macie Stewart, Martin Lundfall, Nightbus, new music from brother-sister duo Sam and Louise Sullivan and a lot more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 17, 2026

• “Garter Snake (Audiotree Live Session)” — Macie Stewart
• “Like Swimwear (part two) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” — Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet
• “All I Need” — Radiohead
• “Everything in its Right Place” — Kamaal Williams
• “Lazarus” — David Bowie
• “New York is Killing Me” — Gil Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven
• “Clap Hands (2023 Remaster)” — Tom Waits
• “Morning Sunrise” — Swish Jaguar
• “Gil Scott Heron – (Angola, Louisiana remix)” — Martin Lundfall
• “Angles Mortz” — Nightbus
• “Down on Love” — Sam and Louise Sullivan
• “I Made It” — Annie & the Caldwells
• “Coltrane” — Cymande
• “Billy Jack” — Curtis Mayfield
• “Live It Down” — Tyler Ballgame
• “Second Hand News” — Fleetwood Mac
• “18” — Suki Waterhouse
• “Lost Boys” — Phoebe Bridgers
• “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)” — Julia Jacklin
• “Kick Stones (The Boys)” — Westside Cowboy
• “Easy” — Gotts Street Park & Celeste
• “Watching The Detectives (Live at Good Afternoon (Broadcast) / September 27th, 1977)” — Elvis Costello

— In The Groove with Jerome Vaughn —

• “I Want to Hold Your Hand” — The Beatles
• “Strawberry Fields Forever” — The Beatles
• “Let’s Work” — Prince
• “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” — Stevie Wonder
• “For What It’s Worth” — Buffalo Springfield
• “Hello, Goodbye” — The Beatles

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Diving into new music from Azekel, JIM, Kokoroko, Nate Smith, Don Glori, Phoebe Bridgers, Getdown Services and Kurt Vile.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 14, 2026

• “Mountain Top” — RIO KOSTA
• “What It Gave Me” — Jordan Rakei & Jalen Ngonda
• “Comin’ Home Baby” — Mel Tormé
• “Lived In Bars” — Cat Power
• “Moon & I (feat. Céline Dessberg)” — Azekel
• “I’m So Glad” — Magic Sam
• “KEEPS ME WARM” — JIM
• “Da Du Dah (Aleh Remix)” — Kokoroko
• “SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALISCIOUS” — Kassa Overall
• “PATCHWORK” — Nate Smith, Kiefer, CARRTOONS & Kenny Beats
• “All Blues” — Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown
• “Sundancer” — Don Glori
• “Miffed It” — Way Dynamic
• “Haunted” — Phoebe Bridgers
• “Lost Boys” — Phoebe Bridgers
• “Summer Sweat” — Hannah Cohen
• “Golden Gate” — Miranda Lee Richards
• “Germfree Adolescence” — X-Ray Spex
• “Backstairs” — The New Pornographers
• “Buena” — Morphine
• “Up on the Sun” — Meat Puppets
• “Days” — Television
• “Rein Me In” — Sam Fender & Olivia Dean
• “Cha Cha Slide” — Getdown Services
• “Glory” — Sault
• “Si, Si, Si” — Abelardo Carbono & Quantic
• “Pelota (Cut a Rug Mix)” — Khruangbin & Quantic
• “Cajun Moon” — J.J. Cale
• “Hey Joe” — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• “Zoom 97” — Kurt Vile
• “22° Halo” — pôt-pot
• “You Ain’t the Problem” — Michael Kiwanuka
• “Rite of the Ancients” — The Budos Band
• “Spanish Grease” — Willie Bobo
• “Slipping into Darkness” — Funkees

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

It’s a Throwback Thursday, but we start off with fresh 2026 releases from Jordan Rakei, Bruno Berle, GENA, Nightmares on Wax & Adrian Sherwood, and Ezra Collective with Greentea Peng. Throwbacks begin with Stevie Wonder at his most political, plus Dusty Springfield, Wings, The Temptations and The Clash.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 13, 2026

• “Enemies” — Jordan Rakei
• “Big Brother” — Stevie Wonder
• “Crystal Blue Persuasion” — Tommy James & The Shondells
• “Son of a Preacher Man” — Dusty Springfield
• “pawnshop” — Kara Jackson
• “Right Side of My Neck” — Faye Webster
• “Let ‘Em In” — Wings
• “Cool Cat” — Queen
• “Bennie and the Jets (2014 Remaster)” — Elton John
• “I Got the… (2006 Remastered Version)” — Labi Siffre
• “Amor Inteiro” — Bruno Berle
• “Please Go Easy With Me” — S.E. Rogie
• “Swing Lo Magellan” — Dirty Projectors
• “Douwannabwithastar” — GENA
• “Golden (edit)” — Jill Scott
• “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong (Re-Work)” — Bugz In the Attic
• “Flippin’ Eck” — Nightmares On Wax & Adrian Sherwood
• “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” — The Temptations
• “Hercules” — Aaron Neville
• “Helicopters” — Ezra Collective, Greentea Peng & War Child Records
• “Ghetto Defendant” — The Clash
• “Jimtastic Blues” — Greentea Peng
• “Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” — Yannis & The Yaw
• “Run (feat. Andreya Triana) [Sofia Kourtesis Remix]” — Quantic
• “Beige Days” — SOYUZ
• “Midnight (Acoustic)” — Jessie Ware
• “Seventeen” — Sharon Van Etten
• “Returning To Myself” — Brandi Carlile
• “Wind” — John Carroll Kirby
• “That Girl” — Stevie Wonder
• “You Could Be More as You Are” — Saâda Bonaire
• “Penthouse Samba” — Marina Zispin
• “Feather” — Little Dragon
• “Schools of Eyes” — Wye Oak

Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Exploring new music from Meshell Ndegeocello, who is getting ready to release an album of covers and duets on Blue Note, plus fresh selections and first spins from Dawn Richard, Danielle Ponder, Ciaran, the Durutti Column, Jess Williamson and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 12, 2026

• “enough” — Dawn Richard
• “Sun and Moon” — Danielle Ponder
• “The Fall” — Rhye
• “Sargasso Sea” — The Durutti Column & Caoilfhionn Rose
• “K-Bar” — Ciarán
• “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” — Meshell Ndegeocello & Cynthia Erivo
• “Don’t You Want Me” — Meshell Ndegeocello & Cat Power
• “I Used To Live In A House” — Novablood
• “My World (feat. Aidan, Bawo & Ox Eye)” — Jam City
• “Summer Nights” — Dana and Alden
• “Tamborero” — Bomba Estéreo
• “Heaven (Nicolas Jaar Remix)” — Kasper Bjørke
• “The Whole of the Moon” — The Waterboys
• “Tart Tart (The Reflex Revision)” — Happy Mondays
• “Train In Vain (Stand by Me)” — The Clash
• “Hit the North, Pt. 1” — The Fall
• “Let Forever Be” — The Chemical Brothers
• “Wire” — Omni
• “Lie In the Gutter” — Peel Dream Magazine
• “First World Problem” — Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• “I Wanna Know If It’s Good To You? (2026 Remastered)” — Funkadelic
• “Nabed Nade Ei Piny Ka (Rework)” — Owiny Sigoma Band
• “Ankle Injuries” — Fujiya & Miyagi
• “Goodbye to All That” — Jess Williamson
• “Keep It To Yourself” — Love Spells
• “Alberto Balsalm (Aquarium Drunkard’s Lagniappe Session)” — Dungen
• “Roots” — Ian Carr & Nucleus
• “Ibs” — Duval Timothy
• “Booger’s Bounce of Joy” — Karate Boogaloo
• “Acid and Honey” — Babe Rainbow
• “Rainmaker” — John Carroll Kirby
• “It’s My House (12″ Remix)” — Diana Ross

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

It’s been more than 12 years since Future Islands went viral for their performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” 

It completely changed the trajectory of this Baltimore band that had been together for nearly a decade for their television debut, released a handful of albums and had played hundreds of shows together. Still, getting on TV was absolutely huge. With how much has changed since then, could a band even go viral like this anymore? Future Islands lead singer Samuel T. Herring and his dance moves (alongside that killer guttural growl of his)? The stoic-ness of his band featuring Gerrit Welmers on keyboards and William Cashion on bass?

I’m looking back with Future Islands to look ahead, because it wasn’t just a flash in the pan moment for them. They had staying power before the performance and after. 

And, sure, while their sound hasn’t evolved much since those days, it’s been tightened and refined and damn near perfected on their latest single, “One Day,” which is featured on a new double album called “From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth” that brings together live favorites, b-sides and rarities and other oddities.

It’s surprising, however, that “One Day” was considered one of those tracks. It’s Future Islands in full force, doing their hyper-emotional, new wave thing all shaped around Herring’s remarkable voice and vulnerable lyrics. It’s a massive track with a ticky hi-hat that I’m addicted to. You can dance to it, you can brood to it, you can fall in love or break up to it. This thing is versatile and show Future Islands at their best – even after all these years…

This article was originally published on Midbrow.

New music discovery from guitarist Rich Ruth and Allison de Groot, who have a new album coming out in October, plus bridging the musical gaps between Antibalas, Franc Moody, Julia Jacklin, Alvvays and Brandi Carlise, who will be performing at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on Friday, Aug. 21—we’ll be giving away tickets all week on In The Groove.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 11, 2026

• “I’m Not Ready for the Change” — Nation of Language
• “Mercury” — Automatic
• “You got time and I got money” — Smerz
• “Lo Life” — Antibalas
• “Treat Yourself” — Franc Moody
• “Lydia Wears a Cross” — Julia Jacklin
• “Belinda Says” — Alvvays
• “Gods in Heat” — Ista
• “Ill Times” — GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith
• “Elephant” — Tame Impala
• “If You’re Here” — Cornelius
• “C + F” — Sam Prekop
• “Nervion” — Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth
• “Fire” — Waxahatchee
• “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile
• “Highway Anxiety” — William Tyler
• “When I Was Younger” — Bonny Light Horseman
• “Cello Song” — The Books
• “Fake Palindromes” — Andrew Bird
• “Pretty Pimpin” — Kurt Vile
• “Hold on, Hold On” — Neko Case
• “Hot Scene” — pôt-pot
• “Siestas ahí” — Juana Molina
• “French Navy” — Camera Obscura
• “Heaven’s on Fire” — The Radio Dept.
• “Power of the Moon” — Ezra Furman
• “Rock & Roll” — The Velvet Underground
• “Veni Vidi Vici” — Black Lips
• “No Room for Doubt (feat. Willy Mason)” — Lianne La Havas
• “Golden Lady” — José Feliciano
• “Love and Happiness” — Monty Alexander
• “Summertime” — Rosinha De Valença

Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

 

New music discovery from Moses Boyd, the poet Aja Monet (alongside Meshell Ndegeocello + Georgia Anne Muldrow), Azekel, Tiago Caetano, corto.alto… and that’s just the first hour! Plus, getting ready for Big Thief, who are performing tonight at the Masonic.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 10, 2026

• “Days Go By” — James Blake
• “Say Yeah” — Moses Boyd
• “elsewhere” — aja monet, Meshell Ndegeocello & Georgia Anne Muldrow
• “Babystar (Kid Fonque Remix)” — Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill
• “Moon & I (feat. Céline Dessberg)” — Azekel
• “Eco do Futuro (feat. Céline Dessberg)” — Tiago Caetano
• “Amami (feat. Minami Kizuki)” — Yussef Dayes
• “All The Way (Shy One Remix)” — Jamie Woon
• “APRIL (feat. anaiis)” — corto.alto
• “Mantra” — Jordan Rakei
• “Opaline Bubbletear” — Dummy
• “Blue Dada” — Dummy
• “Limit to Your Love” — James Blake
• “Mere Saath” — Lifafa
• “Go Back (feat. Damon Albarn)” — Tony Allen
• “Nature Boy (12″ Version)” — Central Line
• “Every Party Has a Winner and a Loser” — Erlend Øye
• “Time” — Star Moles
• “Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl” — Broken Social Scene
• “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” — Stars
• “Echo’s Answer” — Broadcast
• “The Weight of My Words (Four Tet Remix)” — Kings of Convenience
• “Lazy Lover” — Brazilian Girls
• “Scale It Back (feat. Little Dragon)” — DJ Shadow
• “Intimidated (feat. H.E.R.)” — KAYTRANADA
• “Black Magic” — Jarvis Cocker
• “Only You Know” — Dion
• “Incomprehensible” — Big Thief
• “anything” — Adrianne Lenker
• “That Summer Feeling” — Jonathan Richman
• “American Music” — Violent Femmes
• “Strange Powers” — The Magnetic Fields
• “Are You Glad to Be In America?” — James Blood Ulmer
• “The Book I Read (Remastered)” — Talking Heads
• “Sycamore” — Bill Callahan
• “Swingin Party” — The Replacements
• “Sunny Afternoon” — The Kinks

Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Today’s playlist features new music from Sparklmami, Dana and Alden, Mitski, she’s green, Pearl & The Oysters, and mary in the junkyard. We also play songs from The Cramps, TV on the Radio, The B-52’s, The Cure, Jeff Tweedy, and Talking Heads.  

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 6, 2026 

• “fajas” – Sparklmami 

• “Summer Nights” – Dana and Alden 

• “Mandarin Moon” – Pearl & The Oysters 

• “Tears for Affairs” – Camera Obscura 

• “Spooky (Single Version)” – Dusty Springfield 

• “30 Century Man” – Scott Walker 

• “Low Key” – Tweedy & Jeff Tweedy 

• “Use Me” – Bill Withers 

• “We Do We Go” – NOMO 

• “Bra” – Cymande 

• “Staring at the Wall” – Norah Jones 

• “Somebody Was Watching” – Pops Staples 

• “Everybody Daylight” – Brightblack Morning Light 

• “Earthforms” – Matthew Dear 

• “Wolf Like Me” – TV on the Radio 

• “Stay Away (feat. Menahan Street Band)” – Charles Bradley 

• “Earthquake” – This Is the Kit 

• “Lay Down In The Tall Grass” – Timber Timbre 

• “Hey Now (When I Give You All My Lovin’)” – Romare 

• “TV Set (1977 Version)” – The Cramps 

• “Goo Goo Muck” – The Cramps 

• “Lady Luck” – Richard Swift 

• “Where’s My Phone?” – Mitski 

• “Pretend We’re Dead” – L7 

• “Where to Start” – Bully  

• “Boys Don’t Cry (New Voice Club Mix 1986) [Remastered]” – The Cure 

• “Give Me Back My Man” – The B-52’s 

• “mettle” – she’s green 

• “Boyfriend” – Best Coast 

• “New Muscles” – mary in the junkyard 

• “Venus Hour (Peanut Butter Wolf Remix)” – Automatic & Peanut Butter Wolf 

• “Girlfriend Is Better” – Talking Heads 

• “Cairo FM” – Alewya 

• “Pick Up (12″ Extended Disco Version)” – DJ Koze 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

New music from Dungen, John Carroll Kirby, Karate Boogaloo, Nightbus, and Swish Jaguaralso along with music form Erykah Badu, Radiohead, David Bowie, and Curtis Mayfield. We also feature Detroit artists The Go, Deadbeat Beat, and Slippers. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 5, 2026 

• “Alberto Balsalm (Aquarium Drunkard’s Lagniappe Session)” – Dungen 

• “Ibs” – Duval Timothy 

• “Booger’s Bounce of Joy” – Karate Boogaloo 

• “Acid and Honey” – Babe Rainbow 

• “Swallow Tail” – John Carroll Kirby 

• “Other Side Of The Game (Live)” – Erykah Badu 

• “My Dream” – 79.5 

• “Open the Door” – Betty Carter 

• “Lowdown” – Ronald Langestraat 

• “Discogedanken” – Klaus Johann Grobe 

• “Cha Cha Slide” – Getdown Services 

• “Garter Snake (Audiotree Live)” – Macie Stewart 

• “Down on Love” – Sam and Louise Sullivan 

• “I Made It” – Annie & the Caldwells 

• “Coltrane” – Cymande 

• “Billy Jack” – Curtis Mayfield 

• “Morning Sunrise” – Swish Jaguar 

• “Gil Scott Heron – (Angola, Louisiana remix)” – Martin Lundfall 

• “Flying” – Moon Duo 

• “Angles Mortz (Tom Sharkett Remix)” – Nightbus 

• “Phoenix” – JIM  

• “Go to Sleep” – Radiohead 

• “Mercury Avenue” – Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen 

• “Heroes (2017 Remaster)” – David Bowie 

• “All Dimensions Are Loose” – The Go 

• “Rock & Roll” – The Velvet Underground 

• “When the Sun Soaks In” – Deadbeat Beat 

• “Most Things Haven’t Worked Out” – Junior Kimbrough 

• “Roadrunner (Live At Harvard University, Boston, MA / 1971 – 1972)” – The Modern Lovers 

• “Wants For Everyone” – Slippers 

• “False Prophet (ashnymph Remix)” – Nightbus  

• “No, No, No” – Gossip 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

Sometimes it’s good to just hang out inside of a song that feels like a sunny day.

There doesn’t need to be a destination or some grand lyrical proclamation. It’s a hang-out song; a cruiser.

Some of my favorite movies are “hang-out” movies that just feel like a slice of life instead of a plot-driven narrative. That’s the sonic vibe Kurt Vile has captured (yet again) on “Zoom 97.” It’s the latest taste we get from his upcoming album “Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me,” out at the end of the month via Verve.

Vile has spent most of his career boosting up the city of Philadelphia (much like a proud Detroiter, so I totally get it). On this song, he’s really going for it. The whole affair is a jangly, airy affair that feels like being stoned in middle school and just walking around the park. In this case, Vile is a bit stoned and casually behind the wheel.

Jump in my whip (Yeah), my engine whines, yeah
Zigzag my way down Lincoln Drive, yeah
Puck on my lip, feel I can fly
For a while

This isn’t groundbreaking stuff lyrically, but damn it feels good! You can feel Vile’s bite of bliss oozing through the sparkers. It’s infectious. Because even when things outside of Vile’s pretty Philadelphia may not be the greatest, he’s grateful for what he’s got.

World’s been meltin’ in front of my eyes, yeah
My baby girls, they keep me high, yeah
Ain’t on no trips though, no LSD
True love is the pure drug for me

Vile isn’t breaking new musical ground here. That’s not the point; it’s truly something I don’t want from him. He’s sitting down inside of his sound, perfecting it bit by bit, album by albu … and these dollops of tunes from his latest effort show me that he’s the sharpest he’s ever been at being himself – blissed out and buzzed with nowhere in particular to be.

This story was originally posted on Midbrow.

There’s plenty of new music on today’s show, including tracks from Bullion, Nation of Language, Night Tapes, Phoebe Bridgers, The Strokes, and Tyler Ballgame. In addition, you’ll hear everything from The Clash, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Tom Waits, Lake Trout, and Antibalas. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 4, 2026 

• “Pulse” – Chronical Deep & Kabza De Small 

• “Roo” – Bullion 

• “Weak In Your Light” – Nation of Language 

• “swim” – Night Tapes 

• “Blood Spilled” – Blonde Redhead 

• “My World (feat. Aidan, Bawo & Ox Eye)” – Jam City  

• “Moon & I (feat. Céline Dessberg)” – Azekel 

• “One and the Same” – Thee Sacred Souls & Victor Axelrod 

• “Lonely Girl” – Lamont Landers 

• “If You Don’t Want My Love” – Jalen Ngonda 

• “Nothing But a Heartache” – The Flirtations 

• “Easy” – Gotts Street Park & Celeste 

• “I Can See” – Nick Hakim 

• “TOMORROW, AGAIN” – Nate Smith, Kiefer, CARRTOONS & Kenny Beats 

• “Freddie Freeloader” – Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown 

• “Sounds from Below” – Lake Trout 

• “Little Things” – Lake Trout 

• “Watching The Detectives (Live at Good Afternoon (Broadcast) / September 27th, 1977)” – Elvis Costello 

• “(I Don’t Want to Go To) Chelsea” – Elvis Costello & The Attractions 

• “London Calling” – The Clash 

• “New Case” – Upchuck 

• “Yellow Sun” – Downtown Boys 

• “I Will Follow” – U2 

• “Live It Down” – Tyler Ballgame  

• “18” – Suki Waterhouse 

• “Lost Boys” – Phoebe Bridgers 

• “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)” – Julia Jacklin 

• “Kick Stones (The Boys)” – Westside Cowboy 

• “Jackie Down The Line” – Fontaines D.C. 

• “Downtown Train” – Tom Waits 

• “Baby, I Love You” – Ramones 

• “Going Shopping” – The Strokes 

• “Can’t Get There From Here” – R.E.M. 

• “Go Je Je” – Antibalas 

• “After the Rain” – Cole Pulice 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

New music from Charli xcx, Getdown Services, and Wu-Lu joins dreamy selections from Mazzy Star, Beach House, and Cocteau Twins, alongside post-punk from Fontaines D.C. and Sonic Youth. We also spin a couple of Big Thief songs ahead of the band’s Aug. 10 performance at Detroit’s Masonic Temple. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 3, 2026 

• “Cha Cha Slide” – Getdown Services 

• “I’m Yours” – Tricky & Mitch Sanders 

• “New Park” – Wu-Lu & POiSON ANNA 

• “You Took Your Time” – Mount Kimbie & King Krule 

• “Silently” – Tara Clerkin Trio  

• “Fire Dali” – Lee “Scratch” Perry & Mouse On Mars 

• “Gadabout Season” – Brandee Younger 

• “Well Organised (feat. Lila Iké)” – Ezra Collective 

• “Overchord” – Actress 

• “Sounds We Cannot Hear” – Protomartyr 

• “Breathe” – Romare 

• “Rein Me In” – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean 

• “Marquee Moon” – Television 

• “Magic Metal Montana” – Charli xcx  

• “Blue Flower” – Mazzy Star 

• “Starburster” – Fontaines D.C. 

• “Incinerate” – Sonic Youth 

• “Heaven or Las Vegas” – Cocteau Twins 

• “Norway” – Beach House 

• “Don’t Delete the Kisses” – Wolf Alice 

• “Mind’s a Lie” – High Vis 

• “Los Angeles” – Big Thief 

• “Simulation Swarm” – Big Thief 
• “Dream On” – Palace 

• “There Goes the Fear” – Doves 

• “Mi Mujer” – Nicolas Jaar 

• “Mumma Don’t Tell” – Leifur James 

• “JOHN COLTRANE” – KOMA 

• “Rose Rouge” – St Germain 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

Add Aldous Harding’s fifth album “Train on the Island” to the best of 2026 list.

I’ve had this album on repeat since it came out just a couple weeks ago. There’s something magnetic about Harding’s latest effort, where lyrics feel like a parade of inside jokes and loose references to experiences we’ll never know that somehow still feel specific to me.

“I’m gonna write what I know / Things I ain’t known for a long time” absolutely vaults me, like I’ve got to get to the typewriter right away. 

That’s a lyric from the track “One Stop,” which was released as the first single from “Train on the Island” with good reason. The simple melody of the piano slowly builds as Harding sings over it, switching voices as she goes but always delivering every lyric with great authority and purpose.

Harding is yet again working with longtime producer John Parish, who is best known for his work with PJ Harvey alongside Tracy Chapman and Eels. 

If you’re looking for a musical reference point, I keep coming back to the late 1960s / early 1970s folk scene with names like Nick Drake and Norma Tanega in my head. There’s some fuzziness of J.J. Cale’s laidback guitar sound on this album, too.

I think Harding’s strength is her ability to make you feel what she’s feeling with the delivery of every lyric, with the strum of every chord. I feel like I’m living this album with her, like we went through these experiences together. 

That’s the gift of a great songwriter, to let you in even though you don’t even know the half of it. Harding’s “One Stop” is excellent work and her latest album will no doubt be considered a milestone of musical releases from this year.

This article was originally published on Midbrow.

New music from Lola Young, Kurt Vile, she’s green, Westside Cowboy, Lovespells, and Courtney Barnett. Plus, selections from The Avalanches, Romare, Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, Molly Burch, and Tara Clerkin Trio. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 28, 2026 

• “Shadows From Nowhere” – Blue Gas 

• “Blue Shadows (feat. Karen O)” – The Avalanches 

• “Keep It To Yourself” – Love Spells 

• “Star Blanket River Child” – Brightblack Morning Light  

• “Computer Love” – Romare 

• “In Loving Memory” – Gabriels 

• “Carry Me Higher (Demo)” – The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder 

• “That’s All I Ask (HAAi Remix / Edit)” – Nina Simone & HAAi 

• “Silently” – Tara Clerkin Trio 

• “Save It for Later (Live)” – Pete Townshend 

• “Summer Girl (Bonus Track)” – HAIM 

• “Please Be Mine” – Molly Burch 

• “I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND” – Ruti 

• “22° Halo” – pôt-pot 

• “mettle” – she’s green 

• “SPIDERS” – Lola Young 

• “Heaven’s on Fire” – The Radio Dept. 

• “Quick Canal (with Laetitia Sadier) [feat. Laetitia Sadier]” – Atlas Sound 

• “7/4 (Shoreline)” – Broken Social Scene 

• “Just A Western” – Nilüfer Yanya 

• “Need to Run” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill  

• “Eco do Futuro (feat. Céline Dessberg)” – Tiago Caetano 

• “Just Wrong” – Pino Palladino & Blake Mills 

• “Come Again” – Jim James 

• “Chance to Bleed” – Kurt Vile 

• “Fall On Me” – R.E.M. 

• “Train on the Island” – Aldous Harding 

• “Kick Stones (The Boys)” – Westside Cowboy 

• “One Thing At A Time” – Courtney Barnett 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

New music from Suki Waterhouse, Sylvan Esso, Dana and Alden, and Twisted Teens joins classics from Massive Attack, Björk, Wilco, and The Rolling Stones. You’ll also hear music from Interpol, DIIV, Mitski, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Four Tet, Miles Davis, and more. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 27, 2026 

• “Lee’s Greenhouse (feat. Mei Semones)” – Dana and Alden 

• “U” – Jadu Heart 

• “Unfinished Sympathy (feat. Shara Nelson)” – Massive Attack  

• “Iron City” – Interpol 

• “Concrete Glen” – Sylvan Esso 

• “Don’t Touch” – Love Spells 

• “I’m Yours” – Tricky & Mitch Sanders 

• “Doused” – DIIV 

• “A Forest (Tree Mix) [Remastered]” – The Cure 

• “Cairo FM” – Alewya 

• “Nosedive” – Man/Woman/Chainsaw  

• “All My Freaks” – Divorce  

• “Need to Run (K – Lone Remix)” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill 

• “Canto Andino” – Hermanos Gutiérrez 

• “Nahr El Mot نهر الموت” – Zeid Hamdan 

• “Shmaali شمالي” – Yasmine Hamdan 

• “THE THING” –  TOMORA, AURORA & Tom Rowlands 

• “Army of Me” – Björk 

• “If I Leave” – Mitski 

• “Naraka” – Boards of Canada  

• ‘31 Bloom” – Four Tet 

• “Sunshine Kisses” – Sabine McCalla 

• “So What” – Miles Davis 

• “Florida Water Blues” – Twisted Teens 

• “Hewlett’s Daughter” – Grandaddy  

• “Draggin’” – Hannah Cohen 

• “My Fun” – Suki Waterhouse 

• “Golden Gate” – Miranda Lee Richards 

• “For The First Time, Again” – Tyler Ballgame 

• “Wild Horses” – The Rolling Stones 

• “Farewell Transmission” – Songs: Ohia 

• “Jesus, Etc.” – Wilco 

• “ I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You” – Silver Jews 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

Grammy-winning Pakistani singer, composer, and producer Arooj Aftab joined In The Groove ahead of her first-ever Detroit performance to talk about the city’s rich musical legacy, her genre-defying approach to songwriting and the meaning listeners bring to her music.

Blending jazz, folk and South Asian influences, Aftab has earned international acclaim for creating atmospheric songs that invite listeners to slow down and immerse themselves in the experience.

Although it’s her first time playing Detroit, Aftab says the city has long been on her list. “It’s basically where almost every favorite musician of mine is from,” she says. Calling Detroit “one of the most important cities” for anyone who loves music, she pointed to jazz icons Ron Carter, Yusef Lateef and Regina Carter as artists who shaped her own musical journey. “I’m personally very excited,” she says. “I can’t believe I’ve never played in Detroit.” 

Aftab walked through her songwriting process and said that she thinks music shouldn’t always come with a clear explanation. She prefers to let people to discover their own meaning in her work and “leave a lot of magic on the table.”

Catch Arooj Aftab at the Detroit Opera House on July 24, where she’ll open for St. Vincent’s orchestral performance with the Detroit Opera Orchestra.