The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Paulo Nutini

Paulo Nutini's Scream (Funk My Life Up) (Jan’14) puts me in mind of Happy Mondays with a slathering of James Brown. It makes hips shake and vaginas ache does this piece of fucking beauty.

 

It's a bit funky, a bit northern soul, and a bit indie. Most importantly it's heaps of fun and makes you want to go to church.

“You wanna sing Hallelujah”

 

Paulo is Scottish and been taking it down since 2005. Scream is off his third rake over the coals Caustic Love (April’14).

Van Morrison, Ray Charles and old Motown have all provided grist for Paulo’s soul. He’s been compared to Rod Stewart and Al Green. By gits.

Just need, need, neeed more? Then give Iron Sky or Bus Talk a crack.

 

 

The Happy Mondays or New Order?

Happy Mondays, deffo, and their cover Step On (1990). Another track to get you on the good foot.

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Parade of Lights

Parade of Lights are an indie dance band aiming for a rebel without a pause moment in Burn (Sept’14). With incendiary lyrics like “Common let’s ride, we’ll take on the world tonight” it’s clear ‘the man’ everywhere is shiteing it, bracing for worldwide social revolution.

 

But just like Twisted Sister’s We’re Not Gonna Take It if you’re up for some bedroom rebellion, up for the ride, it can be all good anthemic fun. A rock drum beat and some indie guitar keep this song grounded while the synths and vocals send it soaring.

Parade of Lights describe themselves as an electronic rock band and bound out of The City of Angels. They’ve been lighting up the place since 2012. Burn is the fourth track beaming off their second E.P. Golden(March’14).

The band have been compared in favourable light to Imagine Dragons, MGMT and M83. The band have expressed a like of My Bloody Valentine, Failure and Depeche Mode.

Didn't need turned on to more? You're gonna miss out on Golden and We’re The Kids in a flash.

 

 

 

Slippery seconds go to AWOLNATION THISKIDSNOTALRIGHT (2013) because it's a fat cock song.

If you don't like it .  Well you know.

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Circa Waves

If Circa Waves' Get Away (Dec’13) was a one hit wonder… no fucks given. Not even wristy’s. You could die happy after making a song like this. The riff in the intro calls to mind the Sex Pistols Anarchy In The UK and that's never a bad thing. While the band bring the fury the singer is letting slip a heartfelt, proper, love song.

 

There’s pop, rock, punk, garage and indie in this song so nobodies been left out. Comparisons are moot, analysis pointless. It’s the dog’s bollocks, guitar rock at its best. As she said last night, it doesn’t come better than this.

 

 

Circa Waves are banged up in Liverpool and have been ducking and diving since 2013. Get Away flew the coop as a stand-alone single and they have one EP, Young Chasers (June’14) to their credit.

Circa Waves would blag a copy of John Lennon, The Replacements, The Strokes and The Damned.

If you need to go on the lam, purloin a copy of T Shirt Weather, Young Chasers, Fossils and So Long before you go.

 

Sent down for another stretch? Fear not my friend we have some more dodgy critters on the roundtable. The Vaccines and Norsgaard (2011).

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - The Griswolds

The juxtaposition of The Griswolds’ ‘let’s all join the parade’ carnival music and the lyrics… “She used to suck the fun out of me”, “Now you’re fucking crazy” and “…you better leave that prick alone” is what makes this song so special.

 

 

Beware The Dog (May’14) is a potpourri of led by the choir vocals and some noodley guitar lines and keys. The vocals are the big thing here and they’ll take you to a higher place. Although ironically the song is about losing a friend to drug addiction! Get it in you, you wuse.

  

The Griswolds come sloping out Sydney, Australia. They have been on the foil since 2012. They’ve sucked up the one big player Be Impressive(Aug’14) of which Beware The Dog is the stand out track.

The Griswolds give homage to Faith No More, Nirvana, Kanye, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Of Montreal and The Beach Boy and on and on ad infinitum.

Can’t get enough of that sunshine and bounce indie pop? Then steal a march on the oppo and get some of Down and Out, Mississippi and Heart Of A Lion.

Need another hit? No wuckin forries fellah. Have a ride on the Brissy band Violent Soho and Covered In Chrome (2013) because the tune is one the Grissies mentioned loving and they are right to. It's pissing blood the next morning good.

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Young Rising Sons

Young Rising Sons High (Feb’14) is positively gleeeful. Yeah that’s right, with an extra E. No surprises given the name. Christ it starts with a chirpy whistle of the hook. An earnestly sang verse to set up the jump and bounce, all together now, chorus. The whole song feels like a rise.

 

 

If you’ve had enough of uplifting, chippy, indie pop songs with “heys”, handclaps and big drum, don’t go near this one. But if you want to find yourself smiling, brim-full of love for the world, without chemical assistance, perish the thought,  the eagle lands at the one minute mark.

“Just let it go, enjoy the ri-ii-de”

 

 

Young Rising Sons come bouncing out of Red Bank, New Jersey. They have been elevating the masses since 2010. High is off their first self-titled EP (July’14).The band have only dropped two E.P.’s so far.

Young Rising Sons have gone on jaunts with The Griswolds, Kongos, The 1975 and Weezer inflto name but a few.

Young Rising Sons get their indefatigable lust for life from the likes of The Temptations, The Boss, The Beatles, Green Day, Tom Petty and Rancid.

Heart fit for bursting? Switch on and feel the love with King of the World, Red and Gold and Turnin’.

  

For the comedown Dashboard Confessional and Hands Down (2003) a song about the best date of his life.

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - CRUISR

CRUISR have been touring with The 1975 and it’s not hard to see why. They are reading from a similar script without any danger of CRUISR out shining the other.

 

All Over (Aug’14) prances along without a care in the world in the verses but has more dash in the choruses. Positively noisy in the choruses in fact. It’s new indie pop rock standard but being as how it’s their first bite of the apple they throw crisp punches.

 
CRUISR are from Philadelphia and began creating happy vibes in 2012. All Over springs off their second E.P. of the same name (Sept’14).

What tunes keep the guys so upbeat? I don’t fucking know. I’m thinking they might not hate some of what The 1975, Young Rising Suns, Cage The Elephant or Walk The Moon have to offer but that’s pure speculation me old mucker.

Looking to keep cruising? Try these bubbles of joy Kidnap Me or Go For It.

 

 

Silly seconds goes to Len and Steal My Sunshine (1999) just cos listening to CRUISR’s big bubbly joy put me in mind of it…

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings I’m Not Part Of Me(April’14) is a nut cracking punk tune. A bit like the Orwells or The Strokes. Fuck those silver spooned punters have a lot to answer for. Or choose your old timey punk band it will do. Just nut punchingly honest punk rock. Back to the roots stuff. None of your sickly sweet pop punk here, this is drunk with your mates in a dank basement rehearsal space, drinking beer and doing whizz and you’ve run out of smokes and the corner shop is at least two kilometres away and it’s snowing outside.

About the song? Not the point chappy. It motors along. Farts in the bed honest lyrics, a snappy delivery, packed full of awesome. End of story.

“I’m learning how to be here and nowhere else”

Cloud Nothings have been hard moshing since 2009 and pogo out of Cleveland, Ohio. I’m Not Part Of Me is the first gob smacker off their fourth mouthful Here And Nowhere Else (April’14).

Cloud Nothings have expressed an affinity for Black Sabbath, Nina Hagen, Thin Lizzy and lots of other obscure shit too.

Lacing up your boots? Then unleash the force with Didn’t You, Fall In and Now Hear In.

 

 

The lo-fi approach reminded me of an old hometown favourite The Clean from Dunedin, New Zealand. The most influential Flying Nun band and foundation of The Dunedin Sound, they started playing together in 1978 and are still at it today. This fucking rare ska rock gem is Thumbs Off (1981), track two off Boodle Boodle Boodle and it still sounds as fresh as a daisy. Legends and national treasures. Nice blokes too.
 

“She said son you’ll have to go, you know it’s just too much to keep ya

The day was wet as he walked down the road,

You know his head was full of sorrow,

Little did he know that he’d never see his own home again"

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - RAC

RAC (Remix Artist Collective) has mixed some melancholy beats that suck you into this song only to cast you adrift.
 

 

 

Alex Ebert is the singer from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and he seems to have channelled his inner Bryan Ferry on this one. So RAC's Tear You Down Ft Alex Ebert (March’14) is a mesmerising, super chill, electronic song with enough momentum to elevate it above the sum of its parts. Like the best magic trick.

RAC is Andre Allen Anjos. He first appeared in Portugal but is now showing in Portland, USA. Since 2007 he’s been sprinkling the fairy dust on a variety of indie bands tracks including: Tokyo Police Club, Kings of Leon, Foster the People, Two Door Cinema Club, Bloc Party and so on. Tear You Down is off his first march to world domination Strangers (April’14). It’s his own caper with all different guest vocalists, not remixes.

Andre played in metal, punk and indie rock bands. He credits a Japanese artist Cornelius for the providing the inspiration to make remixes that focus on broadening the appeal of a song not just so fuck heads can dance to Indie. He likes sparse, moody and beautiful tunes.

You want to know more, I know you do, I can read your mind. So the really wizard tracks are Let Go, Hollywood and Cheap Sunglasses. Sure, you’re welcome.

 

The second act must of course be Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes Home (2009) the bloody original, no funny business going on here.

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Bahamas

Bahamas is blues, roots, folk, soul or something like that. But on Stronger Than That (July’14) there is an all-in indie chorus and piano like on Lean On Me. So actually it’s like quite like an indie track.

Stronger Than That is a laid back chilling track that minds me of Ben Harper. The chorus is where it’s at and there’s some pretty tight guitar playing too.

Bahamas is Afie Jurvanen a great guitar player and songwriter from Toronto, Canada. He’s been lamenting his lot since least 2009.

Stronger Than That  is the second plaint from the long player Bahamas Is Afie (Aug’14). Afie has mad admiration for Willie Nelson, Van Morrison and Neil Young. Fucking weirdo.

Well if you dig lo-fi whinging and great song writing then ya could do worse than give All The Time and Lost In Light a fair shake of the stick.

Tickety-boo. Now for the follow-up let’s go with some Ben Harper and Steal My Kisses (1999).

 

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - OK Go

OK Go I Won’t Let You Down (Oct’14) is funky like an alleyway sleeping hobos cheesy foreskin. Jackson 5 I Want You Back type funky. Or white funky really like Maroon 5 This Love. A quick intro and straight into the chorus and Turkey necks are contagious.

 

 

 

 

Any which ways it’s got a spritely rhythm and lashings of synths and pianer too. Tip top track all said, give it a crack and you'll be as happy as a pig in shit, this is world class. And the video, even by OK Go's high standards, is pretty fucking good.

“And she's got no tricks to try,

And she don't seem that much to mind”

That groove is the second single off the Chicago bands fourth album and fourth round of sweetness Hungry Ghosts (Oct’14). These cats have been trucking since 1998.

Shit you need to know:

OK Go’s latest album dug the vibes of 80’s pop like Prince, New Order and INXS.

Some critics find their albums a bit eclectic and hit or miss.

Still swingin? Then get on down to The Writings On TheWall, This Too Shall Pass or Here It Goes Again.
 

And talking about swinging here’s Michael Hutchence and INXS with Need You Tonight (1987).

The dude died with his prick in this hand...

...made some good tunes but...

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Wild Party

 

 

Wild Party sound like the Strokes without the pretentiousness. More fun, more bounce, more hip. Chasin’ Honey (Sept’14) has the instant gratification of Last Nite but with light bouncy verses, skippin along on a keyboard hop, that land in a guitar assisted jaunty power-pop chorus.

Call the doctor this tune is as infectious as chlamydia's dick.

 

 

 

Wild Party have been disturbing the neighbours since 2009. They went to school together. Chasin’ Honey is off their only wallshaker Phantom Pop (Oct’14). They come hell-raising out of San Antonio, Texas , where steers have horns and cows live in fear.

The Strokes, Death Cab For Cutie, Phoenix, The Killers and Two Door Cinema are all on the Wild Party door list.

Want to keep going till the sun comes up? Spin some When I Get Older, Outright or Connect The Dots.

 

 

 

 

The after party. Let’s keep this shit simple. The Strokes Last Nite (2001) fits the bill.

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Police Club Hot Tonight (Jan’14) is the song they play at the party you want to be in. It’s light, dreamy, Stone Roses type verses with a tight as a nun’s cunt indie pop rock chorus. All “ooh oohs”, trippy drums and guitar jangle but the rocket touches down on the sweet spot.

Tokyo Police Club come soaring out of Newmarket, Canada. They have been firing it up since 2005. 

Hot Tonight was the first sortie from their fourth mission Forcefield (March’14).

Wingmen for Tokyo Police Club include Pulp, Blur, Bloc Party, Weezer and the Pixies. 

Ready for battle? You’ll need a re-supply so try these heavy hitters Toy Guns,Your English Is Good and Boots Of Danger.

 

Well there is no small dose of 90’s Brit pop in Tokyo Police Club so let’s have a little clap of our own with one of the most infectious tracks of the day…Pulp and Common People (1995).



The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Royal Blood

 

 

Royal Blood rock hard without really being hard rock. More like White Stripes with a sense of urgency and relevance. There’s a hint of Rage Against The Machine in Little Monster (Feb’14) but also grunge bands like Nirvana or Stone Temple Pilots. It’s a righteous tune filled with guitar riffs and drum fills.

 

  

Royal Blood are a duo from Brighton, England who have been hard pumpin it since 2013. So far they have made one donation to the cause, the self-titled long player Royal Blood (Aug’14).

Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley, White Stripes and Led Zeppelin are some of the artists Royal Blood would bow down in homage before.

Feeling their flow? Get jacked up with their massive hits Ten Tonne Skeleton, Figure It Out and Out Of The Black. If you like one you'll be sure to love them all.



 
Royal Blood will be supporting The Foo Fighters on their North American tour dates in 2015 and some others in Europe so with that said here’s the Foo Fighters and best  scream it to the heavens song, Hey, Johnny Park! (1995).