★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
A west-coast chilled out version of the strokes
Thoughts
A gem, perfect little beach acoustic record.Nothing extraordinary but a positive vibe like a precious local band at an outdoor spot.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Little-Joy-Little-Joy/release/1603486
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★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Electro rock. Spacey and ethereal at times, trip hop like.
Thoughts
Reminds me of the electro rock blonde redhead was popular for like 10 years ago but with better songwriting.
Revisiting this a month or two later, really haven’t found a lot to come back to.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Beach-House-7/release/11985825
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★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine
What’s it sound like?
Bare indie art rock
Thoughts
I like it, backended with simple guitar chords or melodies, the album seems to float through a variety of ideas. Vocals typically repeat a catchy mantra of some sort.
Deliberately strange, the album gets a little tired and pretentious towards the end, nothing I really want to come back to.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Drinks-Hippo-Lite/release/11880745
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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening
What’s it sound like?
Young alt rock band with personal exploratory singing.
Thoughts
Pinegrove is one of my favorite new finds over the past few years. Something about this band really just clicks for me. Maybe it’s the familiarity of the chord driven songs with lyrics that I connect with. Either way they’re entire catalog has gotten repeat listens and is a+.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Pinegrove-Cardinal/release/8117868
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★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
A desert rock version of arcade fire: authentic and anthemic.
Thoughts
The band sounds very different here than on in the future. Elements of modern indie are at play and things seem more hopeful than dark and epic (though there is still a rich vision to their sound).
I like the tracks that incorporate sax, it’s used in a kind of jazz freak out way that I think is particularly effective.
Good band.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Black-Mountain-Black-Mountain/release/745333
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★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening
What’s it sound like?
Precious trio that creates spacious but intimate indie rock
Thoughts
An incredible debut album for modern indie. Its very sparse but incredibly effective, somehow they’re able to sound both as expansive as a desert landscape and intimate as a dark cozy room.
A technically basic album, the dual vocals of Romy and Oliver are hard not to love. Jamie xx has proven himself to be a master of texture and there’s a certain atmosphere that’s captured well here. By letting single notes hang and drift or adding some bits of wobbly bass he creates a distinct and fresh sound.
This album stands the test of time and has left an impression on indie rock.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/The-XX-XX/release/2546873
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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening
What’s it sound like?
Sparse kinda danceable electropop
Thoughts
I’ve listened to this record a ton over the years and revisiting it now I’m reminded of my 20s. A lot of these tracks are absolute classics. I find the cool/confident delivery of the vocals to be distinct and a big part of the appeal.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Junior-Boys-So-This-Is-Goodbye/release/777988
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdRr8SXATp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uak5XHVfWqI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoVR96jFK0
Spotify
★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Slow burning hard rock
Thoughts
Like a modern version of early stoner black Sabbath; huge compliment there. Requires a certain patience but worth it for fans of the genre.
The epic track bright lights is the possibly the best example, a hard rock build and swell.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Black-Mountain-In-The-Future/release/1240945
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★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening
What’s it sound like?
Avantgarde campfire sing-along
Thoughts
An album to get lost in and wonderful introduction to the band. Animal Collective’s early trademark strummed guitars and chant like vocals are the core of the album. The sound is defined by it’s lo-fi recording technique that somehow provides both a boxed in but outside. An ode to the human experience of singing together, it definitely has the effect of transporting you to the moment.
I’d like to include this as part of my piece about our ‘desire to be outside’ and how self mythology strives for this.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Campfire-Songs-Campfire-Songs/release/475021
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★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Indie, alt, art house punk. The opposite of overly produced, raw but articulate.
Thoughts
I like this band and promote the type of rock their making: straightforward pop with witty lyrics. I appreciate their not hiding behind layers of electronic mess. Karen O adds a good element lyrically to songs like flush.
Solid album.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Daniele-Luppi-Parquet-Courts-Milano/release/11061185
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