Playlist of the Week: CMJ 2012 Picks

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Indie aficionados and college radio fans rejoice: CMJ 2012 is finally upon us! The annual music marathon kicked off yesterday with a plethora of shows and events all over New York featuring basically every genre imaginable. Unfortunately many of these concerts require a ridiculously overpriced badge, but the ever-accountable PAPERMAG has compiled a lovely guide to what you can (and should) see gratis. In the meantime, fans young and old can get in the collegiate music mood from the comfort of their computers with our weekly Spotify playlist, an eclectic selection of our favorites from the festival for your listening pleasure.

Playlist of the Week: Rainy Daze

Talk about a tease: somehow a forecasted week of sunshine and temperatures in the 70's has turned into grey skies and an incessant cycle of fog and drizzles. It's definitely not our favorite weather, but if nothing else these showers serve as the perfect excuse for some chill time at home. With that in mind, kick back and relax with our latest mix, a blend of cool and calm tunes we like to call "Rainy Daze."

Pump Up the Jam: We're on Spotify!

Technotronic: one of Belgium's finest exports to date

Get psyched y'all: we're hopping on the Spotify bandwagon and bringing you fresh new playlists every week starting today! To kick off the party, we present to you "Humpday Treats," a thoughtful compilation of ten toe-tapping diddys perfect for getting over that midweek slump. So pop in those headphones and turn up the bass: your Wednesday is about to get a whole lot better.

LISTEN: Channel Orange x Frank Ocean

After coming out as bisexual on his Tumblr last week, Frank Ocean released his first album, Channel Orange much earlier than expected. Last night, my Twitter timeline exploded; this new CD seemed to be all that anyone could talk about. Many of my followers (broke college students, such as myself) vowed to purchase Channel Orange, rather than scouring the internet for a free (read: illegal) download. I hadn't seen such an outpouring of support since the Kanye West classic My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. If that's not proof enough, it's already #1 on iTunes. Yes, he's that good. If you're too broke/stingy, listen to the free stream here (don't worry he released it himself!) and while you're at it, download Ocean's 2011 mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra. 

Still not convinced? Then peep Frank's performance of "Bad Religion" on Jimmy Fallon from this past Monday.

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