BEST INDIE POP - WEEK 42 2014

Hello everyone! So, I’m just gonna come out and say it— I had that new Taylor Swift song on repeat last night for about 15 minutes, so Best of Indie Pop couldn’t have come at a better time! We have new stuff from Charlie XCX (LOVE it!), Andrew McMahon, Kate Boy (awesome new band alert) and a lot more to help you get through the week. So read on to discover some awesome new tracks while I go down to my local Subway sandwich shop to enter that T-Swift contest for the 3rd time this week.

CHARLI XCX - LONDON QUEEN

We’re gonna start off on a deliciously bubblegum pop note with Charli XCX’s latest track, “London Queen.” If you enjoyed her last single, “Break The Rules,” you’ll totally fall for this track as it’s packed with a drum machine beat, electric guitar, and video game-sounding synths. Her new album, SUCKER, will be out in December and I can’t wait.

ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS - CECILIA AND THE SATELLITE

Andrew McMahon’s first single, “Cecilia and the Satellite,” will grab your attention with its epic piano, big drums, and a swelling chorus that is just begging to be played on alternative radio. If Andrew’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because he used to be in the early 2000’s pop-punk band, Something Corporate, but now he’s going for a more mature sound and it's definitely worth checking out.

RAE MORRIS - CLOSER

Blackpool singer/songwriter Rae Morris proves she can write a solid, epic pop-ballad on her latest track, “Closer.” This piano-driven track is packed with big electronic drums that compliment her strong, smokey vocals beautifully. The chorus is quite catchy and will easily become stuck in your head after just one listen.

TWENTY ONE PILOTS - FALL AWAY FEAT. DR. BLUM OF MISTERWIVES (LIVE)

Ohio’s Twenty One Pilots put a new spin on their track “Fall Away” by adding Misterwives’ Dr. Blum on trumpet, which creates a hip-hop/ska feel. The trumpet breakdown around the 2:50 mark is definitely the highlight and worth watching.

KATE BOY - OPEN FIRE

I think it’s a fact that the Swedes know what they’re doing when it comes to making awesomely infectious electropop, because that’s definitely the case with Kate Boy. “Open Fire” grabbed me instantly with its thumping beat, unique electronic elements, and pop vocals that you can’t help but love. This is totally one of my favorite tracks of the week.

3 LAU - DEEP FADED (3 LAU MASHUP)

This mix definitely has all of the elements needed to get you going. Featuring vocal tracks from all of the popular dance tracks of the moment (Ariana Grande, Tinashe, etc) as well as funky bass lines, infectious electronic elements, and a simple yet effective drum machine beat, this track does A LOT in not even 3 minutes.

SHIFT K3Y - NOT INTO IT

Shift K3y is an English DJ/producer who created a truly catchy house track with “Not Into It.” With a beat made up of hi-hats, clicks and claps, and a bubbly synth line, you’ll find yourself saying the words “they can’t handle it/ tried to take me out to dinner/ I cancel it” for the rest on the day.

DANNY L HARLE - IN MY DREAMS

I found the strange, girly-sounding computerized vocals quite intriguing on this unique synth-heavy dance track, “In My Dreams.” The track features bright yet somewhat gloomy sounding electronic elements, like magical sounding xylophones and synths, that create a futuristic and computerized sound.

MOD SON - 1970

I have a feeling that Bloomington-born rapper Mod Son will be getting a lot of airplay with his organ-heavy track, “1970.” Featuring snaps, drum machines, and wonderfully funky synths, this nostalgia-based track is catchy and will definitely introduce Mod Son to the mainstream.

AS ELEPHANTS ARE - CROWN

We’re ending the list on a very dancey, indie-pop note with As Elephants Are’s latest track, “Crown.” The UK five-piece may have an awkward sounding name that will probably be followed up by someone asking, “…elephants are what?”, but they will get you grooving with guitar-riffs and hand claps that make for a super catchy track.

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And there you have it - the best indie pop of the week. See ya next time!

About Erin Crider

Erin Crider eats, breathes, and sleeps pop culture. If you have a question about a one-hit wonder from the ‘90s or need help remembering lines from a SNL skit, she’s your girl. When she isn’t lurking the internet, she's either going to a show or hanging out at Disneyland. Erin lives in Southern California and has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach.