Big Sonic Heaven celebrated a few milestones: The Cure’s re-release of the 1986 New Vocal Version of “Boys Don’t Cry” earned platinum status, with sales and streams exceeding one million. Plus, their album “Bloodflowers” turned 26!

The film “Pretty In Pink,” where New Order graced the soundtrack turns 40, and let’s not forget the Rough Trade pearl-vinyl re-release of Cocteau Twins’ “Head Over Heels” as the label celebrates 50 years!

A lot of brand-new music this week coming from Stereolab, ACTORS, Plastic Milk, Searows, Ninon, Good Day Father, which is Tanya Donelly’s new band, and more!

Check out the playlist below. The show is available on demand at WDET.org for two weeks.

• “Drink Before the War” – Sinéad O’Connor
• “Sleepsong” – Deary
• “Burrow” – AtticOmatic
• “Screw” – The Cure
• “Sonic Amadea” – Good Day Father
• “Safari” – The Breeders
• “Heaven” – CASTLEBEAT
• “October Love Song” – Chris And Cosey
• “Blush” – The Secret French Postcards
• “Cloud Land” – Stereolab
• “Leave Me Alone” – New Order
• “Verdi Cries” – 10,000 Maniacs
• “Snow Heart” – Lucy La Dusk
• “Naive” – Softcult
• “Texture” – Catherine Wheel
• “Transatlantic” – Basement Revolver
• “CTRL” – ACTORS
• “Evelyn” – Xymox
• “Goodbye Vista” – Deserta
• “Looking Glass Girl” – The Glove
• “Sloppy Heart” – Frazier Chorus
• “Gilded Shadow” – Olive Kimoto
• “Ornaments of Gold” – Siouxsie & The Banshees
• “Until We Meet Again” – Lisa Gerrard & Marcello De Francisci
• “Thoughtforms” – Lush
• “Crystals (feat. Benjamin Gibbard)” – Sea Lemon
• “In Violet” – Searows
• “Ripple” – The Church
• “Wax Tongue” – Plastic Milk
• “When Mama Was Moth” – Cocteau Twins
• “Kisses” – Slowdive
• “Army Of Me” – Björk
• “Leave on your light” – NINON
• “Stare Into Light” – Velour 100
• “Cry” – The Sundays
• “Ascension” – There’s Talk

Blasting through the brick wall with Beastie Boys before cooling things down with new music discovery from Jill Scott, Daev Martian, Thundercat, Shy One, IZCO and much 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 February 16, 2026

• “Sabotage” – Beastie Boys
• “Excursions” – A Tribe Called Quest
• “Norfside (feat. Tierra Whack)” – Jill Scott
• “Bright Moments” – Admin
• “TRUMPETS (feat. 070 Shake)” – _BY.ALEXANDER
• “Rico Suave Bossa Nova” – Jay Dee & J Dilla
• “Babido’s Theme” – Daev Martian
• “I Did This To Myself” – Thundercat
• “Moonlight (feat. Private Joy)” – Shy One
• “Strike a Pose (feat. Camille Munn)” – IZCO
• “9th Wonder (Blackitolism)” – Digable Planets
• “BIG POPPA” – Kassa Overall
• “Vibes from the Tribe” – Phil Ranelin
• “Chantized” – Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller And Yusef Lateef
• “Let Your Hair Down (feat. Hutch the Great)” – Max Sinal
• “The Creator Has a Master Plan (Live)” – Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
• “Big Beat Bam (Remix)” – Sister Nancy
• “Sun Is Shining” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
• “Survivor” – Chronixx
• “La Piña Madura (feat. Quantic) (Violla Remix)” – Abelardo Carbono
• “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” – Baz Luhrmann
• “Get Free (feat. Amber Coffman)” – Major Lazer
• “Praise You” – Fatboy Slim
• “Melodie Is A Wound” – Stereolab
• “Give It To Me Baby” – Jarina De Marco
• “Bloodlines” – Franc Moody
• “Big City Life” – Smerz
• “Roll The Dice” – Smerz
• “Can’t Run But” – Paul Simon
• “Found A Light (Beale Street)” – BADBADNOTGOOD & V.C.R

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.