We’re all about music discovery here at KHOL and love sharing what we’re listening to at any given moment. Each Monday we’ll explore the tracks we’re currently obsessed with to get you through the week ahead. Follow us on Spotify to keep up with our recent favorites, including Top 5 Tracks of the Week, Top Tracks of 2022, Sounds of Now and Local Favorites.
Anchorsong — New World
I didn’t plan on staying in Jackson for more than one winter. Quickly, though, as happens to so many folks who only intend to stay in the Valley for just a season, I realized the Tetons were where I wanted to be long-term. This song is (indirectly) one of the reasons why. I heard it on KHOL as I was driving one day soon after I moved here, queued up by our brilliant music director Jack Catlin. “Huh,” I thought. “If I can live in a mountain town where the local radio station plays songs as good as this, I can probably make a go of it here.”
This is my final week as deputy director at KHOL, and I want to thank the station for helping me find my place in Jackson, and for consistently airing music so awesome it makes people stop and consider how lucky they are to have a station like this in a place like this. Cheers to Jack, Emily, Hanna, Tyler at the rest of the KHOL family. – Eli Bernstein, Deputy Director
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Layla
It’s mid-March and at KHOL that means it’s time to gear up for another Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho. The best part about the festival is digging into all the bands that are performing and getting worked up into a frenzy about getting the chance to see them live in action. With New Zealand band Unknown Mortal Orchestra as one of the headliners, this year could turn out to be the best one yet. Their new album, V, comes out on St. Patrick’s Day and with all of the singles they’ve been teasing out over the last couple of years it’s sure to be an impeccable offering. The album is inspired by West Coast AOR, off-kilter pop, and Hawaiian hapa haole music. The song “Layla” perfectly captures the sun bleached palm fronds swaying around in frontman Ruban Nielson’s head and serves as nice way to melt away the snow until the next storm hits. – Jack Catlin, Music Director
Róisín Murphy – CooCool
Irish singer, songwriter and producer Róisín Murphy, who’s been dropping alt-pop and dance club hits since the 90s has recently signed to the very cool record label Ninja Tune, which boasts talent like Thundercat, Octo Octa, Peggy Gou and DJ Boring, just to name a few. So it’s only fitting that her latest release be titled “CooCool.” German electronic virtuoso DJ Koze produces the laid back track, which boasts vibey guitar riffs, anthemic horns and backyard bug ambi over a chill beat while Murphy pronounces “that ol’ magic’s back” and sings about hearing “a sweet lover cooing.” Welcome to spring and the theme is naturecore. – Tyler Pratt, News Director
Nation of Language – Sole Obsession
As my friends and colleagues know, Nation of Language has been one of my main musical obsessions these past few years. The Brooklyn-based trio first burst on the scene in 2020, dropping two incredible albums. And now with this latest single, a third album, Strange Disciple, is on the horizon. This single, “Sole Obsession” is all about knowing when, or if, to give in or give up. Attachment is something we all struggle with — whether manifesting in too much attachment… or too little. Now with this single, I’m reeled back in. – Emily Cohen, Executive Director
Nathaniel Rateliff – Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Nathaniel Rateliff follows a long line of acclaimed artists in covering “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” which was popularized by Willie Nelson, as well as Elvis Presley. Of course, Rateliff — who has put out singles with Nelson — brings his own twang. The full album, “One Night in Texas” was recorded live last year as a tribute to Nelson and includes artists from Sheryl Crow to Margo Price. – Hanna, News Reporter
