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”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Cold War Kids

 Cold War Kids’ All This Could Be Yours makes a dash for the finish line with driving drums and “Ooh oh ohs" creating an eerily desolate and desperate scene. It’s catchy but.

 

Cold War Kids are from Long Beach, California and have been making music since 2004. All This Could Be Yours is off their fifth album Hold My Home (Oct’14).
 

Cold War kids have described themselves as a soul punk band and have diverse likes. However the bass player's favourite bands as a youngster were Blur and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Great taste my man. Other Cold War Kids influences are Jeff Buckley and the Velvet Underground.


If you’re looking for further ammunition from the Cold War Kids try the indie anthem First or Miracle Mile. They're good ’uns.

 

Both the guitarist and the drummer in Cold War Kids are originally from Modest Mouse. Modest Mouse are from Portland, Oregan, and started making music in 1993. They are similar to Dr. Dog or Bloc Party. Their main influences are The Pixies and The Talking Heads. Float On (March, 2004) was the lead single from their fourth album Good New For People who Love Bad News (April, 2004) and is their most popular song. So with no further ado here’s the Modest Mouse classic Float On.