NEW INDIE MUSIC - WEEK 32 PART 2 2014
by Erin Crider
8/11/14
Just like Jay-Z and Beyonce’s tour (and marriage), summer is almost over and we’re here to help you enjoy what’s left of it with more of the best indie tracks of the week. So put away your guilty pleasure copy of Now That’s What I Call Music, Vol. 51, and instead let us decide what to put on your end of summer playlist. Besides, it’s Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande-free so you can feel safe with us. We know what's good for you.
1. JOHNNY ARIES - THIS GRAVE IS MY BED TONIGHT
Woah. Someone really likes the Smiths and is probably sporting one of those “Morrissey Tour Cancellation” shirts. I mean the song title itself would have Moz wishing he thought of it first. That being said, I too like the Smiths so it’s no surprise that I am way into this super sad indie-pop track. And fun fact: Johnny Aries just joined The Drums so he’s one busy (and likely depressed) guy.
2. TOMMY ALTO - MOUNTAIN TOP
This track features shimmering guitars, intriguing drum beats, and a chorus filled with gang-vocals that you’re going to want to sing along to (and do I hear someone furiously shaking a tambourine during the chorus? Sweet). They’re like the Canadian version of Vampire Weekend but with better vocals.
3. THE DEVIOUS MEANS - RUSTY LITTLE SCISSORS
I’m a total sucker for loud and fuzzy electric guitar, which is probably why I’ve been obsessed with everything Jack White has ever done (well, besides that song he did with Alicia Keys for a James Bond soundtrack. Remember that? No? Good). “Rusty Little Scissors” is a fantastic modern blues/rock track that I’m completely in love with. Here’s to hoping they take The Black Keys’ place on alternative radio! *Fingers crossed*.
4. LUCIUS - HOW LOUD YOUR HEART GETS
This Brooklyn quartet is perfectly indie-pop in each and every way. The track’s beat is mostly made up of foot-stomps and hand claps (which are always fun and folky, right kids?), clean electric guitar, and tight vocal harmonies that tie the whole thing together. I could easily see this being played on the radio between The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men in no time.
5. WE THE WILD - GLOW
Besides having an interest in slow motion table-top tennis, We The Wild know how to incorporate a bunch of electronic elements in a track without it sounding messy or cluttered. “Glow” is a bass-heavy indie-electro track that will totally have you clicking “replay” the second it’s over.
6.FANTASTIC FANTASTIC- HOUSES
What the funk is this?! (See what I did there?) Featuring soothing, fast-talking vocals, a funky bass line, and a drum machine beat, this synth-pop track will have you grooving in no time (not moving or dancing, but straight up grooving). It’s the perfect lo-fi song for hazy summer mornings and looking at these guys will totally inspire you to add some color to your wardrobe.
7. ELIZA AND THE BEAR - LIGHT IT UP
I’ll admit, at first my stomach dropped and I was worried another doofus from the band Fun. went off and created a solo project. But my fears quickly eased as I discovered this is a delightfully fun indie-pop song that is just begging to be added to radio rotation with it’s “woah-oh-oh’s” and vocals reminiscent of The Shins.
8. GEORGIA - HARD LIE THIS
I love the lower and uppercase mixed letters in GEoRGiA. It gets me nostalgic for the AOL member profiles of my tween years and Angel Fire webpages with auto-play midi files (sorry, I started to drift off into the internet of yesteryear). Anyway, it’s a lo-fi electro-pop track that is reminiscent of older M.I.A. with its in your face vocals that sounds as if she’s flawlessly making it up as she goes. It’s solid.
9. ANNALIESE - CASHMERE
With nostalgic lyrics like, “I’ll be your rodeo queen/ I’ll be your small town hero/ Matching tattoos of flaming hearts with arrows,” it’s like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey got together and messed around with electronic elements and this was the result. But since that is likely to never happen (which sucks because I’d be very much into it), Annaliese is here to fill that void with her sultry vocals and pop/country/electro sound.
10. GALLANT- MANHATTAN
As a person who isn’t necessarily the biggest fan of R&B or artists like Frank Ocean or The Weeknd, I was surprised to find myself completely smitten with this song. I love the slow hand claps and how the lyrics reference out of date technology (“put it in your VCR”). This 22 year old is truly a unique talent and makes artists like Sam Smith look like amateurs. It’s a must listen.
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Hope we cleansed your pallet with some awesome new indie tracks! And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out Part 1 because we really can’t have you going back to your mom’s Now CD.
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.