Tag Archives: Indie Rock

Hippo Campus – Landmark

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

An indie band with pro production

Moods

Remember that godawful song 'holiday' by vampire weekend? These songs capture that memorable poppy summerness featuring lyrics that are comfortable yet inquisitive.

Thoughts

Hate to keep using other bands to describe hippo campus but this reminds me of early Phoenix with some production flair. Works well, there are some all out classics on that I think a lot of people would enjoy. ‘Vacation’ is probably the best example with it's anthem worthy hook and shimmering mellow vibe like a chillwave version of pavement for today's 20 somethings.

BJ Burton produced this. The more I hear his work I realize he's developing a track record of seriously good music.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Hippo-Campus-Landmark/release/10084727

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3TQKEUne5Q

Spotify


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Hippo Campus – Landmark

Description: Album Review of Hippo Campus – Landmark


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Low – Double Negative

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Dark distorted ethereal electronic rock

Moods

One of 2018s best

Thoughts

They've taken that distorted sound that borrows from industrial (yeezus, arca, SoundCloud rap) and turned it into something poetic. I think it's best as the succinct ep disarray but it's all good stuff.

Apparently a lot of the sound is credited to producer BJ Burton. There's a playlist on Spotify that samples some of his productions, worth a listen to and someone I'll be keeping a lookout for.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Low-Double-Negative/release/12988816

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m31A4ZGss0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob0CILJ93bA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvEozu4Obfs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Enxzh-O9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMo-EpWcPA

Spotify


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Low – Double Negative

Description: Album Review of Low – Double Negative


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Into It. Over It. – Intersections

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

New school emo

Moods

Introspective and sentimental – revisiting your old highschool

Thoughts

Intersections is the good one, standards is the lame one. Just gonna write both reviews for them here:

Intersections

There's a mature social introspection that separates this from the classic emo-pop I liked in my teens. Hard to deny the poppy directness of his songs, it's as if he's taken the best parts of emo songwriting and applied them as an adult songwriter.

Aside from an off-putting smugness in his delivery but I found this is a satisfying listen overall. At 32 and feeds a trip down nostalgia lane while still feeling new.

Standards

Don't like this one as much as intersections. Pretty good for the genere, mature emo singer songwriter. Lyrics and melodies don't sink in the same way.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Into-It-Over-It-Intersections/release/5029842

Listen!

Spotify


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Into It. Over It. – Intersections

Description: Album Review of Into It. Over It. – Intersections


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Into It. Over It. – Standards

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Revivalist emo singer songwriter

Moods

Revisiting your high school

Thoughts

There's a mature social introspection that separates this from the classic emo-pop I liked in my teens. Hard to deny the poppy directness of his songs, it's as if he's taken the best parts of emo songwriting and applied them as an adult songwriter.

Aside from an off-putting smugness in his delivery but I found this is a satisfying listen overall. At 32 and feeds a trip down nostalgia lane while still feeling new.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Into-It-Over-It-Standards/release/8242767

Listen!

Spotify


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Into It. Over It. – Standards

Description: Album Review of Into It. Over It. – Standards


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Galaxie 500 – Today

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Guitar driven pop rock

Moods
Overly sophisticated college kid

Thoughts
Textbook college rock, not my thing. Dragged and lacked energy.

The one exception is ‘Don’t let our youth go to waste’, classic track.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Galaxie-500-Today/release/671150

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Galaxie 500 – Today

Description: Album Review of Galaxie 500 – Today


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Crunchy punky early aughts NYC indie rock.

Thoughts
Fantastic album. Short potent songs that capture a jagged balance of guitar and Karen O’s strength as a leader.

Feels like a seminal LES album of the times. Cleaner than NY in the 80s but still a bit dirty.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs-Fever-To-Tell/release/407278

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wxdvLIiJ8

Spotify

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell

Description: Album Review of Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?
an indie rock band doing drunk late night lounge

Thoughts
Remarkably different than I remember the arctic monkeys, there’s something intriguing about the direction. After reading the wikipedia its clear Alex Turner is clearly inspired by all the right people. Production is gorgeous with that modern style where everything is turned up in the mix and makes for a rich listen.

I think the lyrics are the weak point: self indulgent, forced poetry that’s trying too hard to be weird. Its not bad but at best like a cult record I’ll enjoy as passive listening; unnecessary at worst.

I want to love this record, and believe I haven’t given it the full chance, but after two listens it still hadn’t set in.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Arctic-Monkeys-Tranquility-Base-Hotel-Casino/release/11952906

Listen!

Youtube


Spotify

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Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino

Description: Album Review of Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Chairlift – Moth

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?
Slick modern synth pop with a good female singer

Thoughts
Good for a light pop record, reminded me of that grouper album I like. However it was lacking substance and inconsistent.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Chairlift-Moth/release/8001396

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Chairlift – Moth

Description: Album Review of Chairlift – Moth


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Sonic Youth – Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?
jagged raw indie rock

Thoughts
An OK record, likely one of their more accessible and it’s interesting hearing them in this stripped down setting as they aren’t one for ‘pop’ formats.

Falls short of something good in my opinion. Daydream Nation remains my one and only sonic youth album.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sonic-Youth-Experimental-Jet-Set-Trash-And-No-Star/release/703500

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Sonic Youth – Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star

Description: Album Review of Sonic Youth – Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Slow Mass – On Watch

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Varied punk: quiet personal songs to pop to post-hardcore.

Thoughts
I dig the dynamic nature of this band who is able to accomplish hardcore as well as personal moments. True post-hardcore (emo) revivalists, this reminds me a lot of bands I grew up listening to in the 90’s.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Slow-Mass-On-Watch/release/12004855

Listen!
Spotify

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Slow Mass – On Watch

Description: Album Review of Slow Mass – On Watch


Rating: 4 out of 5