Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

March 28, 2019

Bill Baird: “Strigidae”

By: Jack Anderson

A decade and a half into his extensive multi-media mania, Bill Baird still impresses listeners just as much as he weirds them out. Currently calling Oakland his home but with deep roots in Austin and San Antonio, Baird has created renowned installations in both California and Texas, was a key member of SOUND Team and once went under the moniker Sunset.

Now writing and releasing under his own name, Baird has earned international praise for his vast discography, with records that push the sonic envelope of psychedelia and veer into the realm of experimentation. Baird’s latest endeavor combines his bold songwriting with viscous soundscapes and a live installation to create the album Owl and its visual counterpart The CubeOwl came out late last year and today you can officially purchase it on vinyl! If you’re not sold on the analog quite yet, maybe the modular midpoint from Owl will do the trick. Here’s “Strigidae”!


Episodes

July 13, 2026

Kurt Vile: “Pretty Pimpin'”

Ryan Wen put it best: Kurt Vile is like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young with Stephen Malkmus as the head. The blues-meets-slacker rock musician’s tenth studio album, Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me, is his “bringin it home to Philly” album, largely recorded in his home studio there and his first release […]

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July 9, 2026

Cure for Paranoia: “The Artshow” [Live In Studio 1A]

We’ve gotten really acquainted with Dallas hip-hop group Cure for Paranoia this year, and their meteoric rise has been a joy to be a part of and to watch from the sidelines. The winners of the 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest hit their Austin tour stop a couple of weeks ago, making a pit stop […]

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July 8, 2026

Slow Pulp: “Better Man”

Slow Pulp has a way of making introspective songs feel inviting, and “Better Man” is no exception. Soft guitars and Emily Massey’s understated vocal give the track room to breathe, capturing the complicated feeling of wanting to grow while still figuring things out. The song comes from an album that leans into subtlety, favoring mood […]

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July 6, 2026

Briscoe: “The Heart of Texas”

In the midst of a nearly year-long tour, Austin indie-Americana breakouts Briscoe have released “The Heart of Texas.” The song commemorates the anniversary of the horrific Kerr County floods that devastated entire communities and families and resulted in the deaths of around 60 people, including children. The song is what I would call “cinematic Americana,” […]

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July 1, 2026

David G. Smith: “Hero Street”

David G. Smith shines a light on an often-overlooked piece of American history with “Hero Street,” a moving tribute to the eight Mexican American soldiers from one small Illinois neighborhood who gave their lives in service. Anchored by understated acoustic guitar, heartbeat-like drums, and mournful steel guitar, the song honors both the sacrifice of these […]

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June 30, 2026

Jenny Gillespie Mason: “Rungs of Love”

During the oppressive heat of the summer, it’s easy to long for a breeze – and today’s song, “Rungs of Love” by Jenny Gillespie Mason, feels like one. In this single from In the Safety of the Light, Mason’s debut solo album, the Northern Californian artist croons about finding love and focus in a chaotic […]

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June 26, 2026

Deer Tick: “Mary Singletary”

The new album from Rhode Island indie-folk group Deer Tick, Coin-O-Matic, is a slice-of-life of the group’s hometown of Providence, which serves as our main character, with an album of vignettes that stitch together to illustrate the town’s “once-speedy past” and the gallery of characters wherein. But the town also has secrets. On “Mary Singletary,” […]

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June 25, 2026

Sweet Limb: “Dopamine” [Live In Studio 1A]

Austin’s Sweet Limb blends alt-R&B, hip-hop, soulful grooves, and lo-fi textures into music that feels both intimate and expansive. Led by Chris Robinson, the project pairs emotional vulnerability with head-nodding production. Sweet Limb performs tonight at The Drop-In, opening for Jackie Venson.

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