Because there always is something new and exciting in the music world, Paste looks at the very best new artists out this fall. Bryan Ferry, Warpaint, Mt. Desolation, The Rocket Boys, and The Tallest Man on Earth are some of the best new acts to check out this autumn. Maybe these musicians will turn out to be the best of their decade, just like the 2000’s frontrunners as featured in Paste Magazine’s November 2009 issue. That issue’s look back at the best of the last 10 years featured Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinoise at number one, with City of God as the top movie of the decade. The album sampler flashback from that issue is “Low Rising” by the Swell Season.

The Paste guys rename their show “Signs of the Undead” as they celebrate the coming Hallo-weekend with all things zombies, the latest fright fad. In addition the new TV shows devoted to zombies, the music world is chock full of Zombie tunes, including songs from Dead Man’s Bones, Dish, Jonathan Coulton, Sufjan Stevens and The Mumlers. In a turn from the undead to live music, Paste invites producer and festival correspondent Neal Cohen to share his experiences from last week’s CMJ music festival, including his top three picks to check out: Lord Huron, Dark Dark Dark, The Generational. As always, this episode opens with a flashback to former issue of Paste Magazine. Issue 56 had the “Where the Wild Things Are” cover, arguably the Paste guys’ favorite cover, and the featured track is “When My Time Comes” by Dawes.

Paste loves discovering their new favorite bands and sharing the goods with you. This week’s theme is all about new music discovery in honor of the CMJ music showcase currently taking place in New York City. Producer Neal Cohen corresponds from the streets of Manhattan with some of the sights and sounds of CMJ, giving the Paste guys a heads up as to what bands to be looking out for. Because the CMJ festival is such a marathon of musical mayhem, Paste provides a streamlined tour of CMJ for the radio listener. A Classic Education, Bearhands, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Atlanta band Howlies are among the featured CMJ acts to check out. “I Want You to Know” by Dinosaur Jr. from Paste Magazine Issue 54 is the flashback song that opens this episode.

Paste gets in vacation mode on this episode of “Signs of Life.” They welcome guest host Barb from Sixthman, a rock show production company, to talk about Cayamo, a Caribbean cruise that is like a floating music festival full of Americana musicians. To get in gear for this year’s vacation, Paste plays tunes from artists who will be a part of the upcoming music cruise. Such talents include Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, and Steve Earle. As always, this episode opens with a look back to a tune from a past issue of Paste, and this week it’s “What Do You Like?” by the Indigo Girls

As true music lovers, the Paste guys understand the power of a great live performance. Sometimes those live recordings just don’t measure up, though. This episode takes a look at live recordings that really do capture the essence of an artist’s live performance, and sound even better than the original studio versions. The Avett Brothers, The Arcade Fire, Simon and Garfunkel, and Frightened Rabbit are among the artists whose live cuts blow their studio versions out of the water. Things get started with Loney Dear’s “Airport Surroundings,” a tune from Issue 51, which also featured two pioneers of “mumblecore,” a type of avant-garde, mainly conversational filmmaking.

Paste celebrates the golden anniversary of their AM 1690 show by focusing their 50th episode on one of the magazine’s overriding themes: the best of what’s next. Sleigh Bells, Jukebox the Ghost, Olaf Arnalds, and Nicki Minaj are among the artists to look out for. As always, this episode kicks off with a flashback, this time to “People Got a Lotta Nerve” by Neko Case. That song comes from Paste Magazine Issue 50, an edition that also featured semi-scandalous photos of artists with the instruments they love.