TOP INDIE BANDS - WEEK 13 2014

Ugh, honestly, I don't think I'd be able to make it through Monday mornings if it wasn't for the top indie bands that keep me from malfunctioning! That, and my subscription to Vogue magazine. Hmm, on second thoughts, maybe it's time to cancel that... Anyways, thanks to the Curators who helped out with this week's picks from Lykke Li, Moby, Banks and many more. If you think you've got what it takes to be a Curator, then sign up here!

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LYKKE LI – NO REST FOR THE WICKED

Don't get your hopes up, Lykke Li hasn't covered Cage The Elephant. “No Rest For The Wicked” is very much an original song, and a fucking epic one at that! Lykke apparently wrote this after splitting from her boyfriend, so imagine the feels. By the way, does that mean she's on the market again? I Never Learn is gonna be huge, you guys!

PERFECT PUSSY – I

Not gonna lie, I think Perfect Pussy suck ass! Hipsters everywhere are probably, definitely gonna kick my ass for saying that, not to mention because Pitchfork awarded Say Yes To Love a Best New Music this week, but c'mon. Meredith Graves is super, incredibly annoying! To put it simply, I'd choose a Pussy Riot over a Perfect Pussy any day.

MOBY – SAINTS

Fuck you, I'm not crying, I've simply got something in my eye! Okay, so apparently stuffed toy rats are a weak spot of mine. Anyways, if you haven't got a copy of Innocents yet, then you're not my friend. Seriously, it was one of my favorite albums of the year, and maybe of my life. No doubt about it, it's his best effort since the legendary Play!

BRICK + MORTAR – LOCKED IN A CAGE

Brick + Mortar, one of my personal favorite live acts, are currently on tour supporting Middle Class Rut. Opening for a band who suck so much harder than you has clearly started to have an adverse effect on the Asbury Park duo's physical and mental health! Keep on keeping on, Brick + Mortar. One day, promoters are gonna come to their senses!

HUNTERS – NARCISSIST (LIVE)

Note to Perfect Pussy, this is how you do female-fronted punk without making everybody in the room, bar Pitchfork, cringe! Seriously, this performance of “Narcissist” is everything to me. It's my mission in life to recapture the tone of that guitar! By the way, is that guy drumming in his underpants? I dig it, I dig it, I dig it to the bone. Get it?

THE TRAGIC THRILLS – EVERYDAY

The Tragic Thrills are the kinda band who're so fucking inoffensive, even my mom is happy to listen to them. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but fuck it, I love my mom, therefore I love The Tragic Thrills! Anyways, “Everyday” is taken from the band's self-funded, self-titled debut album. Go ahead, treat your mom to it for her birthday!

JOSH RECORD – FOR YOUR LOVE

Is Josh Record a household name yet? No? Ugh, honestly, this has to be the longest rise to fame in the history of ever! Seriously, one day I'm gonna wake up and Josh Record is gonna be fucking huge, and I'm gonna be like, “I told you so, bitches!” By the way, if you dig this, then go and check out Dot Major's reinterpretation over at Best of Chill Out.

BANKS – BRAIN (LIVE)

Did any of you guys catch this live session and interview Banks recently did for Radio 1? Not gonna lie, I always thought Banks had a touch of the stink eye about her, but oh my God, she's the cutest person ever! She sounds amazing too, obviously. Ugh, the passion! Oh, and don't forget to take a listen to her cover of “Are You That Somebody?”

LEMAITRE – HIGH TIDE

Holy crap, Lemaitre are back from out of nowhere with the happiest song you're gonna hear this year! Bite me, Pharrell. On that note, can somebody explain to me what a room without a roof is, for goodness sake? Anyways, “High Tide” makes me wanna skip down the street, splash in puddles and swing around lampposts as if I'm Gene fucking Kelly!

KISHI BASHI – PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! – CURATOR DUFFSTER

Okay, so I take back what I said about “High Tide” being the happiest song you're gonna hear this year. Maybe that goes to the joyful “Philosphize In It...” Fuck it, I can't be bothered to type the rest, that shit is long! So apparently Kishi Bashi wrote this for a Japanese commercial, but people dug it so much, he turned it into a proper song. Bring on Lighght!

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That's it for another dose of top indie bands, but I'm back on Monday for even more! If you didn't think this week's roundup sucked too hard, then I hope to catch you again. Don't forget, if you've got what it takes to contribute, then sign up to be a Curator!

About Jess Grant

When Jess Grant isn't writing on music, she can be found playing it – on her guitar, on her ukulele, and on her recently acquired mandolin. Playing it hideously, she ought to add. Jess also studies. She studies the English language, to be precise. Jess is currently on her way to a degree in the subject, and enjoys starting and never finishing novels, screenplays, and poetry in her spare time. She also likes dogs. Lots of dogs.