INDEPENDENTS’ DAY
A quick examination of the charts can tell you that most of the music that charts or “sells” (grrrr) comes from the majors. However, there are approximately one million indie labels out there that:
Actually, believe in their artists enough to chance on them as artists - not merely market “product” (which we all do) or personality (which may help too much)
Struggle against a system of charts and recognition that too often benefits the majors yet again. In addition, that same system rewards some indie artists who make the jump (look everyone, it’s Boygenius on a major but still signed to Indies as solo artists!) and damns too many others as “sellouts” (rather not name a single one.)
Manage their own lines of distribution or work with distributors to maintain the PHYSICAL product in opposition to the majors who too often settle for a DIGITAL-first release.
Now, let us point out that the majors still do wonders with the artists they choose, even following some of these same tenets. However, they hold so much of the market that again it is mostly theirs they simply move ten catalog sellers aside to add one new release to the foray. In the future, look to the INDIES for the true change, after all so many of those majors were once Indies as well.
JADU HEART - Derealised [LP](VLF/AMPED)
London's Shimmer Pop duo Jadu Heart has found the most beguiling way to pay tribute to both Shoegazers My Bloody Valentine and the homemade Indie Rock of the Nineties. By keeping the drums and guitar parts tighter, Diva Sacha-Jeffreys' vocals wrap around the tautness of the songs themselves. "Cocoon" is their closest to a Shoegaze jam, but Jadu Heart pushes it ahead like subtle Britpop. "Blame" and "Freedom" are their double feature of singleworthy tracks. "Blame" develops beautifully into a New Order-ish gem with dreamy vocals. While "Freedom" propels Jadu Heart into Pop-turned-upside down. Sacha-Jeffreys and Alex Headford have excellent voices for this type of Cure-ian gloom Pop (they fit well next to Sorry and LANNDS) where they use the bright, bouncy chorus to momentarily push away the clouds. While they finally go after those MBV sonics on the "When You Sleep"-ish "I Shimmer," Jadu Heart sounds like modern Alt. Pop group perfectly shelving all their well-constructed ideas. Promising.
SAD PARK - No More Sound [LP/CD](Pure Noise/The Orchard)
Punk/Pop gets an unfair shake. Even more so if it sounds like Weezer. However, Los Angelenos Sad Park cut their songs down to their basic parts and keep them as concise as Pop. The epic “DEATH” (three minutes) spills out over its various segments like classic Green Day complete with a near solemn-to-devoted ending that zings your heartstrings and avoids the shrieking/screaming ending so many others would attempt. Sweetly simple, “CAROUSEL” emerges from an acoustic guitar flourish into an emotional (but not those first three letters) song that fuses tough drum fills with delicate breaks with ease. Finally, “ALWAYS AROUND” is that chugging, out-of-the-gate pogo-ready-with-earworm song whose verses are so quaint that the well-selected chords get to ring out. No worries, because Sad Park knows exactly how to write an anthemic chorus, and this one conveys the same emotion but allows the rollercoaster ride of the rising progression to unveil their optimism. “No More Sound” is as fizzy as a Punk/Pop album should be but with all the hallmarks of great Power Pop.
SMOKEY BRIGHTS - Levitator [LP/CD](Nine Mile/Redeye)
On their fourth album, the Seattle quartet shows a lot more connection than before. As a result, the best songs are drawn from raw live recordings, not a means to promote their stylistic mastery. Kim West and Ryan Devlin are definitely working on that husband-and-wife chemistry that could appeal to Fleetwood Mac fans. West's "Just Wanna Be Yours" and the harmonious "Resolutions" (with a cool synth part) bode well for hits - yet again, not written to impress. "Resolutions" finds its easy pace quickly and smartly rests on it, allowing the building chords to push the chorus toward its - resolution. The more Poppy "Just Wanna Be Yours" tells a great story, and unveils a fantastic pre-chorus to a soaring New Wave chorus surprise. However, that second verse is truly something special. Kudos to not being serious or jokey, just hitting it right down the middle - as future major leaguers would do.
LIFEGUARD - Crowd Can Talk/Dressed In Trenches [LP](Matador/AMPED)
Matador Records continues to find the Indie Rock bands that are our future kings of the hill. Back to that Midwest hotbed Chicago for this trio of teen titans. Kai Slater’s detached vocals (although, Slater can sing too - like Lou Barlow!) complement his SST-period chorused guitar ripping. “17-18 Lovesong” is as abstract as feeble little horse, but Lifeguard uses their space well even finding chunky riffs and a mid-chorus key change anchored on Asher Case’s bassline that puts the track into overdrive. Lifeguard is bringing back the sound of Slint and even Bitch Magnet on these two EPs of songs that only look to capture their punky fervor (“New Age (I’ve Got A)”) and dissonant Sonic Youth-ish sense of experimentation (the Dismemberment Plan-ish “Fifty-Seven.”)
We hope you enjoyed this music. We always leave hoping that there is something on the list or the page for everyone. Support these artists. They are working on music that they love and firmly believe could be loved by others too. Glad to be your musical sifter/selector. Thank you.
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