Smile Share Hideout Single

It shouldn’t take you too long to realize why I’m pulling for Italian outfit Smile; I mean those furiously jangling guitar chords that open the song right up gripped me immediately. Interesting, instead of adding in the casual soft vocals that you’d expect to match up with the guitar work, the lyrical content here is much more spirited, akin to all the great college rock of yesteryear, perhaps due to the band’s love of REM and Husker Du. This track is the first new single since the band’s sold out The Name of the Band is Smile LP, which came out earlier this Spring via Subjangle.

Stream Alpine Subs Sweethaven LP

Having really enjoyed the debut LP from Chicago’s Alpine Subs, we’re back to inform you that they’ve just dropped their Sweethaven LP via Subjangle, and I’m encouraging you to spend some time here. While their debut was this mix between crunchy college rock and jangling guitars, it seems like this round they’re sitting round the campfire with the Grateful Dead, with a pop focus, of course. Listen to “Clear Blue Waters” and tell me it doesn’t sound like its rooted in the Dead’s pre-jam period. To me, it all feels more personable, like there’s this communal aspect drawing us all near, uniting us in the melodic tendencies that are present. I love “Keeping You” and its Nada Surf leanings during the chorus, but have also been gravitating towards the playful swagger of “Live Forever.” Go on and get your listen on below.

Sorry I Missed This: The Crystal Furs Beautiful and True

I’m having to circle back on this new album from the Crystal Furs, as it slipped by my coverage when it initially dropped a few weeks ago. We were big supporters of the band when they were one of the few indiepop gems of Texas, and that’s not changing now that they’ve upped and moved off to Portland. Their new album Beautiful and True actually feels more like a nostalgic indiepop record, which for me is my favorite of the genre. You’re going to get these brimming melodies throughout each track, with the rhythm section tossing out this haphazard bounce while guitars churn those sharp jangles in your ears. I think my favorite standouts are “Hey Maxine,” “The Robber Barons of Lombard Street” and “Pretty Mind,” but we encourage you to get in on your own favorites. The LP was released in limited numbers via Subjangle, but is still available digitally.

Stream The Hannah Barberas Into the Wild LP

I don’t know about you, but my hypochondria/anxiety are full on at the moment, so I’m going back to my comfort zone…the tried and true indiepop I adore. Luckily, we’ve got Into the Wild, the just released LP from the Hannah Barberas, blanketing me in charms and melodies. I love that the band have a distinctive sound for the genre, which seems to be as diverse as possible within the confines of their influences; they bounce around, trade vocalists, share vocals and ultimately provide you with every direction one would like to see things go in the realm of pop. My favorite tunes are “Our Girl is Gone” and “I Like You in Blue.” The new album is available via tons of great people like Subjangle/Gazer Tapes/Doo Lang Records.

Stream the Self-Titled LP from The Late Pioneers

It’s incredibly hard to keep track of all the great music being released nowadays, so hopefully you come here for a little guidance to narrow down your choices. One of the record I’ve been bopping to is the new self-titled LP from The Late Pioneers, which was just released by Subjangle. Ultimately, this is a brilliant pop record, culling influences from various periods of pop music, be that classic singles or the more recent jangling styles of indiepop. Many of the tracks offer this wondrous sense of promise in the world, like “Into the Mud,” but you will also encounter some more reflective pieces to keep the listen balanced. I think my favorite tune is “Leaving Today,” but start where you want and fall in love with this LP.

The Year in Indiepop…According to Nathan

As we’re all looking back on the year 2019, I tend to gravitate towards lists with little agenda, other than to shine a light back on the year in the areas I adore. For one, the indiepop scene. Now, there’s always a great big debate about what indie pop is, so for all intents and purposes, I admit that I just don’t care, so the genre’s purists can yell at me later. Now, this may read as a best of, but merely this is the stuff that stuck out in my brain, so if I missed something, I love you and I’m sorry. Honestly, it just gave me a chance to make a fun playlist (2+ hours!) full of hits for all you pop fans.

 

 

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Lost Ships Drop New EP

The Lost Ships are following up their Best Laid Plans EP with the brand new All of the Pieces EP. They brandish the sort of indiepop that walks that fine line with power-pop, infusing their jangling guitar chords this round with a little bit more volume up front. The first two tracks off this EP are just that, swelling with warm melody wrapped around the slightest jangling notes. But, “How Can I Face the World” has a little bit more punch than one might have initially have expected; it’s almost a full-fledged rock song…albeit one spun in the vein of pop fans like myself. Of course, they back that up with the gentle ballad “Sheila Believe Me” to close things out, which is this striking ballad atop a thick piano background. Their new EP is being handled by the taste makers at Subjangle.

Dial H for the Hannah Barberas

Okay, so that’s a pretty clever title up there, but I can’t take credit, as it’s the name of the new six song EP from the Hannah Barberas. You pop fans are going to be out of luck if you don’t hop on this, as rumor has it that it’s selling quick. Why? Well, let’s just give you one song, and that should be enough to convince you of the band’s greatness. Lucy comes into the party atop a nice ramshackle beat; she offers up a nice verse before asking the rest of the band to joy in emphatically for the chorus. They stay the course here up until about the 1:30 minute mark where they kick on to offer up a slight little twist in the tune. Mind you, this is just one of the six gems you can have; the whole Dial H for Hannah Barberas EP will be available on CD on September 6th via Subjangle.

Sorry I Slept on Alpine Subs

Earlier this month Alpine Subs released their debut self-titled LP, and I’d like to personally apologize for giving you late notice of how great the LP is. It’s weird, it has this strange blend between the mid 00s college indie rock vibe and the omni-present power-pop; it uses these two consistently, giving you 12 songs that can be either soft or be seen as rock. I like the 2/3 punch of “Miles Away” and “Menomonee; the former has this soft swagger akin to I Was a King, while the latter has this innate softness in its style that gives you a little ear candy. But, the more I sit around and listen, the more I realize that the entirety of Alpine Subs is probably best suited for a sit-down/listen-all-the-way-through moment, but you do you…just stream it below.

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