Not to be overly trite or anything but if there’s any time of the year to throw your inhibitions to the wind, it’s summer. Summertime is marked by random tattoos, skydiving and spontaneous road trips, youthful frivolity and carelessness. It’s really the time to try new things, cause why not? I happen to believe that rule should apply to music. Widen your horizons. Forget your notions of what music should be and try something new, even if you would normally think it’s too weird to listen to. For this reason probably, I associate really indie indie music with summertime. I’ve linked three of my odder summer jams below. Hey, maybe you won’t even think they’re that weird.
Witler
Not to be overly trite or anything but if there’s any time of the year to throw your inhibitions to the wind, it’s summer. Summertime is marked by random tattoos, skydiving and spontaneous road trips, youthful frivolity and carelessness. It’s really the time to try new things, cause why not? I happen to believe that rule should apply to music. Widen your horizons. Forget your notions of what music should be and try something new, even if you would normally think it’s too weird to listen to. For this reason probably, I associate really indie indie music with summertime. I’ve linked three of my odder summer jams below. Hey, maybe you won’t even think they’re that weird.
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The word “fanzine” is a portmanteau of “fan” and “magazine.” So when you squish those two separate words together what you’re left with is an unofficial magazine made by fans. Go figure. London-based four-piece Fanzine must love irony. Fresh faces on the music scene, they are currently on tour with Yuck and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Though they’ve only released four tracks to date, they have a scuzzy but honest sound that’s difficult not to treasure. They harness a sort of nostalgia that many of us associate with the ‘90s. This is beautiful song-writing and real musical talent. They offer a free download of their EP with a digital download of their very own fanzine. Check ‘em out.
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The word “fanzine” is a portmanteau of “fan” and “magazine.” So when you squish those two separate words together what you’re left with is an unofficial magazine made by fans. Go figure. London-based four-piece Fanzine must love irony. Fresh faces on the music scene, they are currently on tour with Yuck and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Though they’ve only released four tracks to date, they have a scuzzy but honest sound that’s difficult not to treasure. They harness a sort of nostalgia that many of us associate with the ‘90s. This is beautiful song-writing and real musical talent. They offer a free download of their EP with a digital download of their very own fanzine. Check ‘em out.
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A few weeks back a friend of mine and I fulfilled a promise we’d made when we were 15–that if the Kooks came to California we’d go. We were fortunate enough to get tickets to the sold out show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. An intimate venue, it was among the most fun concerts I’ve ever been to. Sweaty and bouncing off of every surface of the stage, I also don’t think I’ve ever seen an artist so cracked out. Regardless, they were completely on top of their game; I would go as far to say they are better live than they are in the studio. I hardly expected much from their new material, but I have to admit it’s pretty good. I’ve been waiting for them to release a single to actually write about it, and their upcoming album’s title track, Junk Of the Heart, was released just the other day. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the release of the remainder of the album. Download it below, the 15 year old version of myself insists you do.
I wrote about Stu McLamb’s solo-project-turned band The Love Language a while back after the release of sophomore album “Libraries.” McLamb’s first, self-titled album was completely a solo effort, recorded in a storage space on $200 worth of equipment. It’s muddy and distorted, benchmarked by boom-snare drums and heavy instrumentals that pool together to create angsty but oh-so enjoyable summer jams. I’ve linked one of my favorites below. Download it, take it for a spin, add it to your summertime playlist.
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I wrote about Stu McLamb’s solo-project-turned band The Love Language a while back after the release of sophomore album “Libraries.” McLamb’s first, self-titled album was completely a solo effort, recorded in a storage space on $200 worth of equipment. It’s muddy and distorted, benchmarked by boom-snare drums and heavy instrumentals that pool together to create angsty but oh-so enjoyable summer jams. I’ve linked one of my favorites below. Download it, take it for a spin, add it to your summertime playlist.
Portland-based trio Unknown Mortal Orchestra has caused quite the stir on the blogosphere lately and deservedly. Their debut album dropped last week and though it’s homemade like many buzz bands of the moment, there is something about it that distinguishes it from everything else–a sort of extraterrestrial, supersonic feeling that’s especially rare in a homemade album. It feels more like the product of another time in the not-too-distant-future than something that was whipped together in a modern American bedroom. Yet it maintains a sort of dusty, second-hand vinyl quality that makes it even more enigmatic. Rowdy and delinquent it’s just distorted enough to crash-land a spot next to rock ‘n roll classics and contemporaries. With androgynous, falsetto delivered vocals that you cannot sing along with without sounding ridiculous, it manages to blend in a tasteful degree of youthful pop.
Be sure to download their remixes (including “Jesus” by Dom, “First Of tha Month” by Bone Thugs N Harmony and “Try Again” by Aaliyah).
Tracklist
1. FFunny FFriends
2.Bicycle
3. Thought Ballune
4. Jello and Juggernauts
5.How Can U Luv Me?
6. Nerve Damage!
7. Little Blu House
8.Strangers Are Strange
9. Boy Witch
10. I Want to Be Left to My Own Devices
11. Cyrus’ Theme
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Portland-based trio Unknown Mortal Orchestra has caused quite the stir on the blogosphere lately and deservedly. Their debut album dropped last week and though it’s homemade like many buzz bands of the moment, there is something about it that distinguishes it from everything else–a sort of extraterrestrial, supersonic feeling that’s especially rare in a homemade album. It feels more like the product of another time in the not-too-distant-future than something that was whipped together in a modern American bedroom. Yet it maintains a sort of dusty, second-hand vinyl quality that makes it even more enigmatic. Rowdy and delinquent it’s just distorted enough to crash-land a spot next to rock ‘n roll classics and contemporaries. With androgynous, falsetto delivered vocals that you cannot sing along with without sounding ridiculous, it manages to blend in a tasteful degree of youthful pop.
Be sure to download their remixes (including “Jesus” by Dom, “First Of tha Month” by Bone Thugs N Harmony and “Try Again” by Aaliyah).
Tracklist
1. FFunny FFriends
2.Bicycle
3. Thought Ballune
4. Jello and Juggernauts
5.How Can U Luv Me?
6. Nerve Damage!
7. Little Blu House
8.Strangers Are Strange
9. Boy Witch
10. I Want to Be Left to My Own Devices
11. Cyrus’ Theme
Fresh on the music scene, San Diego’s Mrs. Magician is slowly but steadily churning out drum-kick, post-punk singles. With only five tracks released, it isn’t yet apparent exactly what their deal is—whether they’re trying to make a point or simply speak for a generation. With a bedroom pop sensibility driven by screeching guitar riffs, they are reminiscent of a rowdy night on the town. Whatever they’re doing, these guys are up to no good, with egregious track titles such as “I’m Gonna Hang Out With the Lesbians Next Door and Drop Acid” and “There is No God.” You almost get the sense that their primary aim is to point a middle finger at their conservative parents or elicit head shakes from the media. They take a slower spin with “Angel Baby,” a less controversial, doo-wop nap-track that feels like a slow dance in a 1950’s dream. Controversial as they can be, they’ve nailed a pretty cool sound and offer free downloads of all of their songs on their SoundCloud.
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Fresh on the music scene, San Diego’s Mrs. Magician is slowly but steadily churning out drum-kick, post-punk singles. With only five tracks released, it isn’t yet apparent exactly what their deal is—whether they’re trying to make a point or simply speak for a generation. With a bedroom pop sensibility driven by screeching guitar riffs, they are reminiscent of a rowdy night on the town. Whatever they’re doing, these guys are up to no good, with egregious track titles such as “I’m Gonna Hang Out With the Lesbians Next Door and Drop Acid” and “There is No God.” You almost get the sense that their primary aim is to point a middle finger at their conservative parents or elicit head shakes from the media. They take a slower spin with “Angel Baby,” a less controversial, doo-wop nap-track that feels like a slow dance in a 1950’s dream. Controversial as they can be, they’ve nailed a pretty cool sound and offer free downloads of all of their songs on their SoundCloud.
It’s surprising that Long Island one-man-show-turned-five-piece Beat Radio isn’t a more prominent face in the indie scene. An ultra-palateable blend of folk and indie electronica, Beat Radio paints a landscape you wouldn’t mind crawling into and getting lost in for a while. The electronic progressions and digital beats hardly overwhelm the music, rather subtly enhance it. The vocals are what ultimately win you over, in a soul-healing sort of way reminiscent of folk-outfits such as Blind Pilot. They’ve released three albums and an EP, each track uniquely delicious and eclectic, perhaps most beautiful when it’s stripped from its electronica sensibility and left only to its natural devices–a guitar and a voice. Check them out below and if you like what you hear, check out their site where they offer more free music (a difficult offer to pass up).
Free Samples
Memoir of a Lightning BoltAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Stranger FlowersAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Hard Times For DreamersAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Golden AgeAlbum: Golden Age
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It’s surprising that Long Island one-man-show-turned-five-piece Beat Radio isn’t a more prominent face in the indie scene. An ultra-palateable blend of folk and indie electronica, Beat Radio paints a landscape you wouldn’t mind crawling into and getting lost in for a while. The electronic progressions and digital beats hardly overwhelm the music, rather subtly enhance it. The vocals are what ultimately win you over, in a soul-healing sort of way reminiscent of folk-outfits such as Blind Pilot. They’ve released three albums and an EP, each track uniquely delicious and eclectic, perhaps most beautiful when it’s stripped from its electronica sensibility and left only to its natural devices–a guitar and a voice. Check them out below and if you like what you hear, check out their site where they offer more free music (a difficult offer to pass up).
Free Samples
Memoir of a Lightning BoltAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Stranger FlowersAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Hard Times For DreamersAlbum: Safe Inside the Sound
Golden AgeAlbum: Golden Age
