The 30 Best Indie Rock Songs of 2016 (30 - 21)

No fucking about, here are the 30 best indie rock songs of 2016.

30. PUP - DVP 

PUP are a punk band from Toronto, Canada. They sound like The Bronx and Weezer. DVP (Feb'16) is the song you get seriously fucked up to pre-loading before a dangerous night on the town. A headbanging rush.

29. The Frights - Kids 

The Frights are a surf/garage band from San Diego, California. They sound like SWMRS and Wavves. Kids (Jan'16) is a scathing garage rocker with a poppy beat. Snarky fun.

28. CANVAS - Gold 

CANVAS are an electronic indie rock band from Toronto, Canada. They sound like E.L.O. and Cheap Trick. Gold (Jan'16) saunters along on one fat riff smelling of last nights whiskey and then turns soft and psychedelic. 

27. Beach Slang - Punks At A Disco Bar

Beach Slang are a punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They sound like Gaslight Anthem and Japandroids. Punks At A Disco Bar (July'16) is a punk anthem that enters on a guitar-only riff and then rolls along mid-tempo, all impassioned vocals but no fat or flourishes. 

26. Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life 

Japandroids are an indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. They sound like Death From Above 1979 or Titus Andronicus. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life (Nov'16) is a passionate rock song that will get you fired up to pursue your dreams. 

25. Pretty Vicious - National Plastics 

Pretty Vicious are a punk band from Merthyr, Wales. They sound like early Manic Street Preachers and Oasis. National Plastics (Oct'15) is an incendiary ball breaker that rocks harder than a jailhouse rapist's erection. 

24. FIDLAR - Why Generation 

FIDLAR are a surf/garage punk band from Los Angeles, California. They sound like SWMRS and The Orwells. Why Generation (Feb'16) is a garage rocker and a mosh pit bone breaker with something to say. 

23. The Bay Rays - New House 

The Bay Rays are an indie rock'n'roll band from Tunbridge Wells, England. They sound like The Fratellis and The Vaccines. New House (June'16) is a barn burning rock'n'roller as infectious as a Thai hooker's taint at three in the morning. 

22. The Rifles - Wall Around Your Heart 

The Rifles are an indie rock band from London, England. They sound like The Vaccines and The Jam. Wall Around Your Heart (July'16) meshes elements of punk with modern refined songwriting and production to create passionate pop rock.

 
21. Beware Of Darkness - Dope 

Beware Of Darkness are an indie rock band from Santa Barbara, California. They sound like The Family Rain and The Arctic Monkeys. Dope (July'16) is a classic rock/bluesy stomper that sports riffs as sticky as two hobos fucking in a puddle of piss.

Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

1.    Who are these rock demons? 

Japandroids are are a commercially and critically successful rock band from Vancouver, Canada. They combine equal parts classic rock and punk and started playing together in 2006. Near The Wild Heart Of Life (Nov'16) is the lead single, and title track, from their third album Near The Wild Heart Of Life (Jan'17). 

2. What have they got left in the tank?

Near The Wild Heart Of Life sounds like R.E.M. crossed with Death From Above 1979; heartland rock and hometown ennui versus the raging punk promise of realizing your greatest dreams with a little help from your friends. A somewhat low-key, but profound, banger. 

3. Who do Japandroids sound like? 

Death From Above 1979, Titus Andronicus and Cloud Nothings. 

4. What is the word about Near To The Wild Heart Of Life from the cut and paste jackals in the press? 

“Letting their arena-rock DNA express itself” – Pitchfork. 

“Rollicking drums and punkish riffs” – Zumic.

“The soundtrack for dive bars and nights where nothing good happens” – Pretty Much Amazing.

5. Which bands have put the fire in Japandroids' music? 

The special influences on the new album are Townes Van Zandt and Tom Waits. The all-time influences are Husker Du, Constantines, The Stooges, The Gun Club and The Rolling Stones. 


6. Why should I give Near To The Wild Heart Of Life a lash? 

It's the kind of song that reminds you to break free and take a chance. Inspirational. 


7. Do Japandroids have any more good tunes?

The House That Heaven Built was the greatest fists-in-the-sky indie rock anthem of 2012. A classic. . The Nights Of Wine And Roses  and Continuous Thunder aren't too shabby. 


8. Any more words?

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is about guitarist/singer Brian King's move from Vancouver to Toronto. 

“And it got me all fired up,

To go far away”

Titus Andronicus are a punk rock band from Glen Rock, New Jersey. Formed in 2005 they have been through a multitude of lineups with lead singer/guitarist Patrick Sickles the only constant. Patrick's main influences are Neutral Milk, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and The Pogues. Titus Andronicus have recorded four albums the latest being a rock opera The Most Lamentable Tragedy (2015). The second single was Fatal Flaw a song Stereogum called “truly badass” and Jonk Music “a fist pumping sing-along.”

“Waiting at the drugstore, oh yeah,

Waiting on the drug dealer all day”

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Modest Mouse

After a creeping down the stairs whimsical vocal opening, Modest Mouse dial in some ska for Lampshades on Fire (Dec’14).

And it goes right off…

…arses are skanking to this one…

There’s a sense of urgency in the swing and this is going park… all… day… long...

“Well you all know what I’m talking’ about
Shaved off my eyebrows when I fall to the ground
So I can’t look surprised right now”

 



Modest Mouse are an indie rock band famous for blowing hot and cold. Some people have called them "crazy motherfuckers". They come ducking and diving out of Issaquah, Washington.

Lampshades On Fire comes sliding off Modest Mouse's sixth dam-buster Strangers To Ourselves (Dec’14). Modest Mouse have been putting the bounce in peoples step since 1993 but their latest album comes after eight years of rest and recreation. No surprises that the tune is an oldie tarted-up.

Shit you didn’t need to know:

Two former members of Modest Mouse now play with the Cold War Kids.

The singer broke his jaw in a bar fight once and three years later spent 10 days in a Buffalo jail because of a pissed while driving conviction.

The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was a member of the band from 2006- 2009.

The Pixies and Meat Puppets have been mentioned as influences on Modest Mouse.

Need a few more peacemakers for the collection? Take aim with these hard hitters Float On or The World At Large.

Pudding for the fat bastards goes to this juggernaut by the Canadian indie rock duo Japandroids, and their 2012 anthem The House That Heaven Built. 

Everybody needs a regular fucking dose of this monster track.

“When the soul of the city, was laid to rest

And the nights forgotten and left for dead”