Best of Indiepop 2018

Everyone has their own definition of indiepop; but I tend to ascribe to the original craft where DIY aesthetics and a softer response to punk were all the rage. But, to each their own. So I went through last year to compile what I think is a pretty all encompassing Best of Indiepop 2018; there’s no order, just a collection of really great indiepop. Some of the below are songs, some are albums, some are just bands or labels that were important. Click on for my picks and a playful playlist. Read more

Remington Super 60 Share Winter Hit

Let’s face it; Winter is right around the corner. You can put holidays aside and all that, as this track from Remington Super 60 is more about the advance of cold weather than holiday cheer. That’s not to say that the understated guitar and tambourine jangle won’t bring you a touch of cheer on their own. The vocals are nice and warm, contrasting the imagery and the band’s call for snow that will stick to the ground. Be it in Norway, where the band lives, or here in Texas, a little cold weather is never a bad thing, especially if you have a nice indiepop tune like this one to enjoy by the fire.

Another Indiepop Gem from El Palacio de Linares

I spent the entirety of this holiday break hanging with old friends and kicking it with my baby daughter; I want those vibes to continue before I have to think about the rest of the world. The best way for me to escape is with some light-hearted indiepop to start off the work-week, so I’m bringing you another gem from El Palacio de Linares. For me, though I speak Spanish, it’s great to have this emotional attachment to the light jangling guitar work first, before working back to translate the lyrics; I think you’ll catch the same sentiment just by spending a quick couple of minutes with this tune. If you love it, keep an eye out, as the band will drop their new LP, Largos Agotadores, via Pretty Olivia Records in early 2019.

Circling Back on the Whip Hand

As the year’s end comes nearer, I’m revisiting notes and such things I’ve made to remind myself of what I really enjoyed. Somehow, I skipped over writing about the Whip Hand, even though it made it into my indiepop list, so I aim to remedy that now. The band walks the careful line between indiepop and shoegaze, utilizing these sharp jagged guitar chords to encourage toe tapping, whilst drawing out vocal notes in a dreamier fashion. Their album Sometimes, We Are, just dropped in October, so you can still go out there and be cool by discovering it and sharing with your friends…like me! Grab the album from Lady Sometimes Records.

Red Sleeping Beauty Cover Zara Larsson

I have no idea who Zara Larsson is (though I remedied that with a quick google search), but I do know I love anything the Red Sleeping Beauty team pull off. They drive their synth-laden pop into overdrive on this cover, pulling back with the memorable chorus that starts with “I want you to ruin my life.” It seems like the perfect chorus for this band of pop enthusiasts, so it’s possible I might only hear it from now on as a RSB original. If you need a good pop song, I think you need this one real bad.

Indiepop Fans Should Keep an Eye on Jan Flu

It’s Monday, and it’s the end of the year, so this post isn’t our typical post, but worthy for indiepop music fans nonetheless. Japan’s Jan Flu reached out over the weekend to share a video of themselves recording their latest album. It took me all of about 13 seconds to realize that while I don’t know anything about the band, I absolutely love them. They sound like a prettier version of Literature, with a deeper vocal presence that actually gives it this indiepop timelessness. All they have available at the moment is this their debut After Image that you can stream on the Spotify HERE, but wanted you to just get ready for great things.

The Perfect Indiepop from The Perfect English Weather

The more I see indiepop used as a descriptor, the more I try to decipher what exactly it all means. In my mind, the music being crafted by Simon and Wendy (of Popguns fame), is the ideal indiepop sound, if only for those that appreciate the softer underbelly of the genre. As the Perfect English Weather, the duo have been crafting these songs of fond yearning; I love how the guitar work is textured and subtle, setting up Wendy for her beautiful vocal display. I always feel better having listened to the group, and I assume that’s the feeling I’ll get from the band’s next album, Don’t You Wanna Feel the Rain, released by Matinee Recordings next week.

Poppy Number from El Palacio de Linares

I’m always trying to keep up with the great Spanish indiepop scene, but as soon as I’m charmed, someone else pops up with something brilliant that puts me right where I started. This joyful tune from El Palacio de Linares is winning Friday for me; it has this solid harmony hiding in the shades of some jittery guitar shuffling. Plus, the whole song is about and a deer and a hedgehog, or so says the title, so why wouldn’t I be won over? You’ll be able to find this tune on Largos Agotadores, the newest LP out in early 2019 on Pretty Olivia Records.

Jigsaw Doubles Down on Indonesian Indiepop

It seems that all over the world people are jamming to those jangling guitars and smooth harmonies that make us swoon…and Jigsaw Records is helping educate me (and others, I hope) on the indiepop scene over in Indonesia. The first of two releases from the area is the new LP from Sharesprings titled Paraparlor; they sound exactly like you’d want them to if you were into indiepop in any way. The other release is from Kaveh Kanes (which I always wondered if that was a GoBetweens reference), offering up the band’s second full-length, Loanwords. They employ similar dreamy guitar work, though there songs seem softer to a degree, blanketing the listener in pop music. Both releases are available, so go and grab ’em while their hot.

More Synthy Indiepop from Coastal

Fanou, formerly of Skittle Alley, gave us Voyage Intererieur earlier this year, and already he’s back with a whole new batch of synth-driven indiepop songs under the name Coastal. I love how his electronic aspects don’t overshadow his indiepop tendencies, instead combining them into one organic collection of concise pop tunes. he has this way of elongating the tension until your ready for the release. Of the tracks present on Endless Summer, I think I’m gravitating towards “The Time” as my personal favorite…definitely holds the heaviest beat. If you’re interested, then mosey on over to Discos de Kirlian to get your hands on these tracks.

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