The electric indie-rock sound of PS I Love You earned them a spot in the ranks of known rock and with their third full-length, “Death Dreams” they remain true to their post-punk pop-infused indie rock, expansive guitar solo sound. As with the title of the album, this collection of songs is darkly beautiful and heavy. Check it out.
FCC: Clean!
RIYL: No Age, Japandroids
Check out:2,3,8
London native Adam Bainbridge is Kindness. The sound is indie-funk with it’s roots deep is disco. He joins the ranks of popular indie artists today like Toro Y Moi, Washed Out and Memory Tapes in providing the indie masses with something to bop too. The thing that makes this album great is the sampling which is majorly done through jazz instruments, specifically the sax which gives this album an extra funky feel. Check it out.
RIYL: Kisses, Toro Y Moi
FCC: CLEAN!
Check out: 1,5,7,8,10
Slugabed (Greg Feldwick) has released his debut album as Slugabed, “Time Team.” The album is a collection of dancefloor melodies. Electronic synth pop, it’s packed with uplifting rhythms and vocal melodies. It’s not cliche’d dubstep. It is pure dance music and experimentation with sound using the classic synth and drum machine.
RIYL: Baths, Burial
FCC: 10
Check out: 2,6,8,11
Food Will Win the War has packed their accordion-infused, violin-tinged, glockenspiel rock into their album, “A False Sense of Warmth.” The album is warm and fun, rolling from jangly love ballad to instrument-packed rock songs. Best described as folk-rock, Food Will Win the War will be good for you. Listen!
RIYL: Freelance Whales
Check out:1, 6, 7, 11
FCC: Clean
Amusing and energetic psych-pop, Reptar is fun and infectious. Their album “Body Faucet” is a mixture of sing along anthems and punky pop melodies. Their sound is bizarre yet nearly predictable like Vampire Weekend. Synth, drum machine and charming vocals make this album one to be heard.
RIYL: Vampire Weekend, MGMT
Check out: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9
FCC: 6, 10
As terrifying as this photo is, look past that. Apparat’s single “Goodbye” is a beautiful love ballad with avant garde instrumentation and heart wrenching synth, reminiscent of Broken Social Scene in their best moments. This track reminds me of Imogen Heap’s emotional heart wrenching meoldies.
RIYL: Frou Frou
FCC: Clean
Cheap Time are back with their third album, “Wallpaper Music.” The album is really strong and sounds a lot like good ole’ Cheap Time but with a more deliberate sound. Half glam jam pop, half punky noise rock, “Wallpaper Music” sounds a lot like their label buddies, No Bunny. Check it out!
RIYL: Jay Reatard, White Fence
FCC: Clean
Check out: 1,2,9,10
Santigold’s much-awaited second album “Master of Make Believe takes her signature international pop sound and infuses it with African-style percussion and more reggae tone. Powerful and expansive, the album is a perfect follow up for her “Santogold,” giving her listener more but not too avante garde (via MIA’s “Maya”). Top tracks: “GO!” “Big Mouth” and “Freak Like Me.”
RIYL: MIA
Check out: 1,2!,4,5,7
FCC: CLEAN
Beach House, indie dream pop’s most reliable duo bring us their newest album, “Bloom.” The album was co-produced by Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Blonde Redhead producer Chris Coady, who also produced the band’s previous album Teen Dream. And the album is much like the Beach House we know and love, rolling ballads exploding bizarrely in your ears. Romantic dream pop. Give it a listen.
RIYL: Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver circa “Bon Iver”
Check out: 1,3,5,9
FCC: Clean
Pure basement music. Listening to this album, you see all of the amenities of a really raw and grungry punk rock show held in some guy’s basement. OFF! is Keith Morris of Black Flag and Circle Jerks and a bunch of other dudes circa 1990s L.A. punk scene. The album is uncut and under produced and angry. This is mosh punk. No indie noise rock just straight punk that answers to the lack of anger in modern rock. Check it out!
RIYL: Jay Reatard, Black Flag
Check out:1,4,6,
FCC: 8