BEST INDIE LOVE SONGS - PART 2

I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but the truth is, hipsters are not too cool for love and they too will be bitten by the love bug at some point in their lives. It’s just that they (we) express it in a rather idiosyncratic, less needy manner compared to their (our) mainstream hopeless romantic counterparts.

In music, the expression of love is relative. You don’t have to listen to schmaltzy overbearing love songs all day just to get on board the love train. Sometimes, a heartfelt, more grounded approach encapsulates the profound experience the best.

So in solidarity with those hipsters who are in love, are yet to love or have sadly fallen out of love, here’s the top 11 Best Indie Love Songs that we’ve painstakingly compiled just for you. Why? Because we can and as fellow hipsters, it’s our obligation to look out for your emotional well-being during these vulnerable times. Sappy love songs be damned!

And in case you missed it, here's our Best Indie Love Songs - Part 1.

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS - HOME

Though a lot of people associate this song to a car advert (well, who doesn’t have a love-hate relationship with their cars?), “Home” is just a genuinely light, feel good love song. From the cheerful harmony to the equally gleeful vocals, this song feels like a breeze on a lazy Sunday morning. The excerpt of the chorus that reads: “Ah, home, let me go home, home is wherever I'm with you…” perfectly sums up the whole song. It’s light and feels just right, not too shabby eh.

DAMIEN RICE - CANNONBALL

This song is beautiful as much as it is relatable. Well, if you’ve experienced being hurt or have been in countless bad relationships before, you’ll understand the apprehension that is conveyed in this song; the healthy fear of committing in a relationship because of the sting of past failures. It’s a song about self-preservation and “Cannonbal” is an allegory of the subject’s past attitudes about love and relationships -- that he just dives into them with reckless abandon and lives with the consequence later. The song talks about slowing down in the end but he still is doubtful if it ever is possible. “Cannonball” is a beautifully crafted song that pierces through the heart.

COLDPLAY - FIX YOU

Unconditional love is the greatest love there is. Whether it be romantic, spiritual, platonic, parental or family; it doesn’t really matter as it is all-encompassing. It truly conquers all and in “Fix You,” it’s manifested and talked about in the simplest and most compelling manner. Being there for someone regardless of the circumstance and without asking something in return is the greatest expression of love. It’s a very uplifting song with a really haunting melody and it is always serviceable when you’re down and in need of a good pick-me-up tune. It fixes you in no time before you realize it, that’s a guarantee.

MY FAVOURITE BOOK - STARS

When you fall in love with someone, everything that person does is magical to you. It’s the beautiful side of love. The part where you become a kid again and take pleasure at the little things your partner does. You’re all too familiar with the routine but just like your “Favourite Book,” you keep going back to your favorite chapter. You gaze at your partner in amazement as if it was your first time. The inviting voice of Amy Millan seamlessly marries with the exquisite melody to convey the feeling of wanting someone without going overboard or obsessive. It’s the right kind of love rendered in the right kind of song. When everyone looks at love like a child, it might not be as stressful as adults portray it to be.

ELLIOT SMITH - SAY YES

As ambiguous as the song may be, the most telling part of it is the first verse that goes: “I'm in love with the world through the eyes of a girl whose still around the morning after.” Sometimes, we become jaded about relationships for reasons that we only know but there will come a time that someone would sweep us off our feet and make us think otherwise. Then all of a sudden, we’re conflicted because for the first time in a while we’re seeing the world or relationship in a more positive light while on the other hand, we’re thinking that it’s just a passing fling and we might end up looking like a fool in the end. ”Say Yes” is an ambiguously delightful song that can be anything to anyone because its lyrics and melody are open-ended.

LOCAL NATIVES - WHO KNOWS WHO CARES

‘Go with the flow’ is just about the most straightforward advice one can get when it comes to matters of the heart. It’s a double-edged sword but who cares? Sometimes, in order to find yourself, you need to take chances and figure out things as you go along. And “Who Knows Who Cares” embodies this approach in a myriad of ways. From the free flowing lyrics to the slow yet unorthodox build up, soaring vocals to layered melodies, you name it; this song is as bold as it gets without being annoyingly overbearing. “Who Knows Who Cares” is not just a good indie love song but a perfect camp out song with friends.

ARCADE FIRE - MY HEART IS AN APPLE

It’s about leaving your comfort zone (hometown, loved one) to become a better person. You know you had it good and should be thankful for it but there’s something missing in your life and you’re determined to find it regardless of the consequence. It’s a song about self discovery and experimentation. The haunting, quivering vocals accompanied by the sound of the running water are both heartbreaking and comforting. “My Heart Is An Apple” is a layered concoction of contrasting emotions and melodies that is best enjoyed when you’re battling homesickness.

AVALANCHE CITY - LOVE LOVE LOVE

How can you not love this song? I mean it’s light and cheerful and the use of two penguins in the music video is the cutest thing ever. You can’t go wrong with that as well as saying love three times or more. It’s a commitment song and an optimistic one at that. If those are not enough to win you over, I don’t know what is. Or maybe you’re just a cynical loner who needs a warm hug from a real person. Either way, “Love Love Love” is that kind of song that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Get a life and give this song a try.

BEN HARPER - WAITING ON AN ANGEL

Just like the old adage goes, “Patience is a virtue.” All it takes is the right person to make a relationship work. And this virtue is perfectly enveloped in this minimalistic yet poignantly stirring love song by Ben Harper about patiently waiting for the right person, of waiting for an angel to lift you up from the sadness of solitary life. It’s a hopeful song which I think fits it just right because it’s too beautiful to be pessimistic.

MOTHER FALCON - BLUE AND GOLD

It goes without saying that the song itself is amazing, but the Official Music Video…it’s just so exquisite. Perhaps too exquisite for words so I won’t even attempt to. I can, however, tell you how it makes me feel. The video gives me a sense of euphoria like nothing else, like I’m walking in the clouds. It is love personified. Once you experience it, you can’t look away.

THE VERVE - SONNET

Love, loss, feeling lost. What else did I miss? Well, nostalgic romanticism, I suppose? “Sonnet” talks about a past relationship that didn’t quite work out the way you wanted it to be. When you think about it, you recognize that you still feel something but you know it can and will never happen. So you’re left alone with your thoughts and ‘what if’ questions. It’s an open-ended song that requires a little bit of emotional maturity to be understood. The vocal or melody, on the other hand, is gratifyingly straightforward. Experience and decipher the song the way you want it. After all, that’s what music is all about.

-

So there you have it, 11 of the Best Indie Love Songs laid out in full blown Technicolor. Love can be many things to everyone but for us, it’s an excuse to listen to these works of art wherever and whenever we can.

So what are your favorite Indie Love Songs? Let us know at the comments section below and maybe, just maybe we’ll include them in our list next time.