Tag: indiepop

Red Sleeping Beauty Drop Single w/ Amelia Fletcher

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It’s hard to not fawn over a track that takes Red Sleeping Beauty‘s pop craftsmanship then throws in the marvelous support of Amelia Fletcher (Swansea Sound/Heavenly/Catenary Wires) on vocals. The thumping drumbeat gets us started, with a stuttering guitar line faintly toying in the background while the vocals enter pushing the accompanying guitar bits towards more of an outright jangle. When the chorus hits, the vocals get textured backing and the arrangements swell, building it into this indiepop gem that’s going to resonate with all sorts of pop fans. This glorious pop song comes to you courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

Sapphire & Steel Share Evelina

Jorn and Estella, or Sapphire & Steel as they’re presented here, have been working in the indiepop circle for quite some time, and as they continue to charm with their singles, we’re here to share those with you. This new single definitely has a nod towards classic Grant McLennan penned tunes, taking notes from the jangle pop realm, but perhaps dolling them up a bit in a more sophisticated package. Sweet guitar notes ring here and there, but they crash into the softened melodic vocal play of the two songwriters, offering up this sort of indifferent cool, like they know how good the song is, and they’ll leave it at that. I mean, listen to the way “Evelina” gets dropped in the chorus and try to tell me you don’t get the feels.

Jeanines Drop Who’s in the Dark Single

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I’m not going to lie; I thought there wouldn’t be a finer pop tune this year after hearing “Any Day Now,” but it seems that Jeanines were intent upon topping even their own great pop, and we’ve got it below. Alicia Jeanine’s vocal performance instantly pulls at you, coming off like some angelic Nico impersonator; Jed’s backing vocals add a slight buoyancy too, as if the track needed it. Amidst all the frantic jangle and succinct drum work, Alicia hits these high notes meant to shatter your heart with their perfect tonality. Then, a quick summary warmly wraps up the tune and its title, leaving you with the perfect piece of pop to put in your pocket and take out when in need of a little joy. Just another stellar example to get you excited to pick up Don’t Wait for a Sign, out April 22nd via Slumberland.

Jeanines Share Don’t Wait For a Sign

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It’s only March, and it seems like my record collection is being dominated by the excellent year Slumberland Records is putting out…and the Jeanines new LP might just be the icing on this early 2022 cake. On this go round, the band sort of swoosh their way into the melody, sort of creating this sideways shimmy that has you pulling off some hipster hand jive with one leg jerking this way and that. The emphatic stomp of the drums punctuates Alicia’s vocal deliver, teasing what might otherwise be deemed a chorus. I love the tempo and directional twist just before the 1 minute mark, sweeping in with this charming refrain of endearment: “you’ll find me here.” Don’t Wait for a Sign is out on April 22nd via Slumberland.

Jeanines Announce New Album, Don’t Wait for a Sign

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This is the best Wednesday news I never expected! New Jeanines! The band today announce Don’t Wait for a Sign, doing so with a spritely pop ditty to hum in your head all day. There’s this timelessness in Alicia’s performance here, her voice rising and falling, always hitting the perfect pop notes. Those looking for the perfect piece of indiepop won’t find a better tune nodding to the past and living in the present of the genre. The brevity is perfect too, as you can circle back and fall even further in love with each repeated listen, as I’ve been doing the last hour or so. Don’t Wait for a Sign is the fifth release from Slumberland Records this year, and the fifth that’s certainly going to end up on my shelf; the hits just keep on coming.

Salt Lake Alley Share I’m Always Near

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There’s a certain brand of indiepop that always makes me think of discotheques after with fun lighting and easy flowing booze; I see myself in this scene, arms flailing and kicking up my feet on the dance floor while wearing a shit-eating grin across my face. I think of bands like the Lodger, and now I’m thinking of Salt Lake Alley; the Swedish duo with my favorite track of the week dropping today, courtesy of Shelflife. Just listen to the jangling guitars and the way they immediately get your toes tapping, coyly teasing you to join in on the fun in this tune; it’s like listening to the prime-era Smiths, except you know that this band isn’t full of shitty humans. You’ll find this track on their new LP, It Takes Two, out later this year.

Skep Wax Announces Under the Bridge

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I’ve made no secret of my affection for Sarah Records, so it’s great to see that our friends at Skep Wax (partners in our Swansea Sound release) are rekindling the Sarah flame with a new compilation, Under the Bridge. There’s 14 songs, many with original Sarah Records acts like Secret Shine and the Orchids, releasing exclusive content specifically for this compilation, with a few related acts like The Catenary Wires and Jetstream Pony also being thrown into the fray. I love that the collection points at what all these bands are doing now, rather than continuously praising them for all they’ve done before (but read that Bandcamp Guide HERE). Hopefully these new recordings give you a glimpse at what you may (though hopefully you didn’t!) have missed over the years…all leading up to the release of the LP on March 18th.

Nah Offer The Useless Model

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I’ve long enjoyed the bouncing pop bravado from Estalla Rosa and Sebastian Voss, aka Nah, so we wanted to be sure we gave their newest single a shout out as we got our feet back under us. Jangling from the get-go, it’s hard not to fall for the stuttering pop, particularly when Rosa’s vocals come in with this feeling like collapsing into a bed of down feathers; it’s the perfect foil for Voss, who has a hint of David Gedge going on in this rendition, particularly when he takes the lead. I love how all the vocals seem to work against the rushed jangles, creating this drastic spin for the listener that certainly will have you reaching to press play one more time!

Artsick Share Ghost of Myself Video

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I know we’re all clamoring over year end lists for 2021, but please, reserve a spot in next year’s list for Artsick; the band have only dropped two singles from their forthcoming LP, but already I’m saving it a place. This is the sort of frantic ramshackle pop meets punk that got me to jump ship full on into indie rock. It only takes 20 seconds for the waves to wash in and bring thumping drum work; the rhythm section drives the tune forward, bouncing it while Christina’s voice soars atop. Backing vocals also aid in delivering a satisfying bit of infectiousness, guaranteeing the song sticks in your brain all day long! Plus, the video should get bonus points since it was directed by Christina, who also is the sole character in it; I mean, can you direct a video and star in a video, all for a song you wrote?! That has to create some sort of black hole. Regardless, Fingers Crossed is out on January 21st via Slumberland Records.

Another Track from The Reds, Pinks & Purples

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I haven’t written my Best of 2021 yet, mostly out of laziness. But, you can be sure that one thing that’s going to pop up on it is Uncommon Weather from The Reds, Pinks and Purples. That being said, Glenn Donaldson and company have already turned around and prepared another LP for release in early 2022 (I think that leaves room for another LP at the end of 2022 too!). Today there’s another wonderfully subtle pop tune, such that it will cure whatever ails you today. There’s something about Donaldson’s voice that feels like a parent comforting a child, at least that’s the way I’d like to imagine. The soften vocals and light jangles seemingly point to a brighter horizon, even amidst grim imagery like my favorite line “walking in the rain/hoping it won’t stop.” Just please, prepare to empty your wallet to buy all the Donaldson tunes in 2022. Summer at Land’s End drops at the end of January via Slumberland/Tough Love.

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