Indie-pop collective I’m From Barcelona is something of a paradox. For one, the 27-piece isn’t even from Spain. They’re from Sweden. They released their third album earlier this year, following sophomoric slump Who Killed Harry Houdini (2008). Forever Today is definitely redemptive, though I don’t know if it does quite enough to nudge them from the “Guilty Pleasures” category to “Indie Essentials;” utterly enjoyable but not anything profound or lyrically poignant. It’s pure, simple, nostalgic fun. It bears a non-conformist lyrical message, ironically through sing-a-long style vocals, ambling through summer in a sugary-sweet mixture of sounds: trumpets, key boards, guitars, handclaps, etc. It succeeds in maintaining a level of youthful fun and carelessness without entering the realm of obnoxious.

1. Charlie Parker
2. Get In Line
3. Battleships
4. Always Spring
5. Can See For Miles
6. Come
7. Skipping a Beat
8. Dr. Landy
9. Game Is On
10. Forever Today
11. There Is No Sun

LA five-piece Grouplove has hogged some of the blogosphere covers recently, as they have been on tour with Florence and the Machine. Their full-length debut is scheduled to release next week and I’ve been trying to get into it but just can’t seem to. It’s too contrived for my tastes, like they really wanted to be rockstars as kids and weren’t really cut out for it but never got over playing dress-up. I’ve skipped through most of their songs, unfazed and unimpressed by their recycled rock appeal and iffy lyrics. I did however hear this song the other day and admit it’s been stuck in my head. It’s got a fun tune that kinda reminds me of “Toni the Beat” by The Sounds. Don’t really know what’s up with the frontman’s A Clockwork Orange makeup though.

I downloaded this song by accident the other day and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since. Seriously. I’m still drooling over it. Texas-based chillwave outfit Neon Indian is set to release their sophomore album Era Extraña in a week from today and I can’t wait. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the rest of the album is as good as this song. It’s dreamy and funktastic.

Polish Girl

12FV

With the emergence and booming success of the likes of RAC and Starslinger, Indie remixes are becoming increasingly popular on the music scene. These most likely aren’t the kind of remixes you’ll hear at a party and you definitely won’t hear them at a rave. Typically, they’re the instances of a musician or a band adding their own colors and flair to another artist’s work. They usually don’t meddle with the song to the point where it’s something completely different. RAC for instance, has a knack for taking an already original and hooky track and embellishing it without disemboweling it. A lot of times I think these reworked songs are better than the original. Plus it’s always cool to see how one artist envisions another’s song.

Indie Remixes Playlist

^click to download

1. Everything to Me (Christian Strobe Remix) by Lips
2. Colours (Xaphoon Jones Remix) by Grouplove
3. Escapee (Lo-Fi -Fnk Remix) by Architecture In Helsinki
4. Hawaii (Niva Remix) by Blackbird Blackbird
5. Rad Racer (Summer Heart Remix) by Work Drugs
6. Rollerskaters-Sleep Tight (Star Slinger Remix) by Starslinger
7. Cough Syrup (Ra Ra Riot Remix) by Young the Giant
8.Worse It Gets (RAC Remix) by Penguin Prison
9. I Remember (Painted Palms Remix) by Yeasayer

It seems that the dream pop genre has shoved aside the chill-wave and garage rock that reigned in 2010 to dominate in 2011. These bands that seem to have pirated the soundtrack from your dreams are everywhere this year. I couldn’t exactly say why because it’s not like you’re gonna turn dream pop on if you wanna bust a move and you definitely can’t sing along with it. Regardless, there’s something ineffably catchy about it when its done right. Dream-pop outfit Braids is set to release a 7″ with Purity Ring in October. Purity Ring has caused quite a stir on the blogosphere lately and I have a feeling Braids will catch up with the repute pretty soon. Take a listen to Braids’ contribution to the upcoming release “Peach Wedding.”

BONUS JAMZ

Loftcries by Purity Ring

Ungirthed by Purity Ring

New Jersey based psychedelic beach-pop four-piece Real Estate has released their first single off their upcoming album “Days,” set to drop later this month. This track, titled “It’s Real,” is breezy and languid as ever. It’s carelessly poppy and sweet, with enough hooks to catch the Loch Ness Monster. Real Estate presents a kind of honesty that makes them easy to love and this song does not stray from that. There’s not really any other way to describe it. It’s just real. Ha.

It’s Real

12FV

I think it’s a real measure of someone’s skills not only as a musician but as an artist when they are able to take someone else’s work and make it their own, while still remaining reverent to the original piece. My iTunes library is stuffed with covers, simply because I like to see how artists remaster music that isn’t theirs. I compiled a few for your listening pleasure.

Indie Covers Playlist

^click to download

1. Girl U Want (Freelance Whales Cover) by Devo
2. Teenage Dream (Foxes in Fiction & Weed Cover) by Katy Perry
3. Pink Moon (Beck Cover) by Nick Drake
4. Kids (The Kooks Cover) by MGMT
5. When You Were Young (Noisettes Cover) by The Killers
6. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (STRFKR Cover) by Cindy Lauper
7. Under Control (Tokyo Police Club Cover) by The Strokes
8. Pull My Heart Away (Alex Winston Cover) by Jack Penate
9. I’m Going Down (Free Energy Cover) by Bruce Springsteen
10. I’m Going Down (Vampire Weekend Cover) by Bruce Springsteen
11. Temptation Inside Your Heart (Morning Benders Cover) by The Velvet Underground
12. Bring It On Home To Me (Spoon Cover) by Sam Cooke
13. Computer Games (Yalls Cover) by Mi Sex
14. Baby I’m Yours (Arctic Monkeys Cover) by Van McCoy
15. Your Song (Ellie Goulding Cover) by Elton John

BONUS

Weezer and Foster the People have been covering each other at their live performances lately. I had the pleasure of hearing Foster the People perform “Say It Ain’t So” at Outside Lands two weeks ago and it was awesome. You can listen to low quality recordings of both covers below. I’m crossing my fingers both bands record these covers in the studio. Shitty recordings will have to do for now.

14. Pumped Up Kicks (Weezer Cover) by Foster the People
15. Say It Ain’t So (Foster the People Cover) by Weezer