BEST INDIE SONGS – WEEK 48 – PART TWO 2014
Stop everything, hipsters! Ariel Pink has released the greatest indie album of the year and there isn't anything you, Grimes, Madge, that feminist who maced him that time or anyone can do about it. If you haven't already listened to Pom Pom, then make sure you do at some point around that eating turkey and thanking people shit you weird Americans do on Thursday. On that note, here are some other things I'm thankful for this week: That I'm currently not, nor ever have been, a member of Interpol, Snapcash, first-person sex in GTA V, Jaden and Willow Smith and the following best indie songs featuring Belle and Sebastian, Deerhoof, Selah Sue and more.
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BELLE AND SEBASTIAN – THE PARTY LINE
The comments beneath this video are hilarious. Here's a particular favorite: “Why? Why? Why? God damn it! Fuck creativity from now on, let's all become Calvin Harris.” Note to self: Don't piss off Belle and Sebastian fans as they're all obviously uptight assholes who can't handle a bit of pop music in their sad, miserable lives. Oops. Seriously, though, get over yourselves and dance with me.
DEERHOOF – EXIT ONLY
A lot of music leaves me a psychotic, dribbling mess, but not Deerhoof. Come on, dude! You're supposed to be General Zod and you can't even handle this? Never mind, at least Ed Rodriguez saves the day at the end of the video. Or is that Joey Ramone? Jokes aside, this is fucking awesome.
SELAH SUE (FEAT. CHILDISH GAMBINO) – TOGETHER
It's nice to see the Belgian chanteuse, Selah Sue, back and embracing a more pop-orientated sound. But what's she doing associating herself with Childish Gambino? His closing verse adds nothing to this song, but then again, do his verses ever? “Rap like this you an icon.” Ha ha. If you say so, Bino.
LILY AND MADELEINE – CAN'T ADMIT IT
A pure classic from the Indianapolis siblings, Lily and Madeleine, here. This elegant accompanying video from the director, Luke Tate, should put the First Aid Kit comparisons to bed once and for all.
THE FAMILIAR – WORLD ENDS
In September, BitCandy was honored to première The Familiar's video for “All In White,” and this week, the Brooklyn-via-Tromsø duo return with “World Ends.” Described as a “film noir journey into the dark heart of Norway,” the monochromatic shots of apartment blocks perfectly compliment the postmodern electro-pop of a band who, rumor has it, have never been in the same room together.
FATHER JOHN MISTY – BORED IN THE USA
Father John Misty lives to troll another day. God bless you, Joshua Tillman.
YEARS AND YEARS – MEMO
With their sickeningly hipster fashion sense and their frontman, Olly Alexander's brush with acting, Years and Years are the kind of band I love to hate. But I simply can't hate them when they keep on releasing consistently magical songs like “Take Shelter,” “Desire” and “Memo.” No wonder the London trio's debut album, Desire, is on course to smash the Top 10 on iTunes in the UK this week.
MADE IN HEIGHTS – PANTHER
Made in Heights go from blowing my mind on “Ghosts,” to blowing my load on “Panther.” This is the ultimate slow-jam to get down to this Thanksgiving. Just ask the ultimate skank, Lindsay Lohan.
JACK GARRATT – THE LOVE YOU'RE GIVEN
Move aside, Chet Faker. The London musician, Jack Garratt, not only has a better voice than you. He has a better beard, too. Ouch. Seriously, though, this song is up there with anything the Australian troubadour has done. Or James Blake, SOHN, or any electro-soul crooner for that matter.
SOHIGHT AND CHEEVY – GIFT
When Sohight and Cheevy stated “Happy songs is our mission,” they really meant it. “Gift” is the latest in a long line of uplifting slices of nu-disco from the Russian-born, Los Angeles-based duo of Yaroslav Kirillov and Zmitrek Zhukovsky. Inspired by the ability to “always stay a child” and to “continue to dream of great things,” “Gift” is guaranteed to cheer up even the dullest Thanksgiving.
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Happy Thanksgiving, hipsters!
HARVARD SAILING TEAM - HIPSTER THANKSGIVING
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.