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.

The Rifles - Groundhog Day

 

1. Who are these heroes? 

The Rifles are one of the finest indie rock bands England has ever produced. Hailing from London, England, they have been smashing it since 2004. Groundhog Day (April'16) is the third single from their fifth album Big Life (Aug'16). 

2. What kind of tune is Groundhog Day?

A chippy little indie rocker with a sticky riff, sweet harmonies and a melancholy story about people trapped in shit jobs in shit places. A bit English. Good but. 

3. Who do The Rifles sound like? 

The Jam, The Smiths and The Clash. 

4. What is the good word about Groundhog from our friends in the press?

“Showcases a band at the peak of their confidence” – Vents Magazine.

“Another catchy tune” – Read Junk.

“Lively opener” – Music OMH. 

5. Which bands put the bang in The Rifles' powder?

The Rifles main influences are The Clash, The Jam, The Libertines, Ash, Guns 'N Roses and Van Morrison. 

6. Why should I give Groundhog a lash? 

Because it's quintessentially English; stiff upper lip and all that. Great rhythm too; quirky.

7. Do The Rifles have any more lovely tunes? 

Sure as shit they do. Wall Around Your Heart and Heebie Jeebies both bang harder that a short time Bangkok hooker. 

8. Any more words muppet? 

Big Life was produced by The Rifles regular collaborator Charles Rees (Paul Weller, The Strypes, Albert Hammond).

“Gotta keep my chin up”

Tom Morello is a stone cold legend; the guitarist and singer for two of the best bands to ever walk gods green earth; Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave. These days he's playing with The Prophets Of Rage. He took time to collaborate with X Ambassadors on the song Collider (Aug'16). The song has a monster Rage Against The Machine riff and that's about it. That's enough. Tom Morello called the riff a "Valhalla-raising riff monster" and I Am High Voltage said it 'cuts a groove like a bansaw."

“Feel the devils, approaching, approaching, approaching me”

The Rifles - Wall Around Your Heart

     1.    Who are the lads?

     The Rifles are an indie rock band from London, England. Playing together since 2004 they have recorded five albums. Wall Around Your Heart (July'16) is from The Rifles' fifth album Big Life (Aug'16).  

  

     2. What's have the chaps cooked up?

     Wall Around Your Heart opens with a delicious lead break and crackles with pent up energy juxtaposed with the soft vocals. A drum and vocal breakdown adds deliciously to the mix and we are done and dusted around the magical three and a half mark. Classic English indie guitar music. 

3. Who do The Rifles sound like? 

The Clash, The Jam and The Stone Roses.
   
   
4. What have the press said about Wall Around Your Heart?

“An instantly catchy pop song” – Music News.

     “A passionate cracker of a track” – Little Indie Blogs.

     “Luvin it lads” – You Tube Comments. 

   

     5. Which bands put the spark in The Rifles?

     The Rifles main influences are The Clash, The Libertines, Ash, Guns ‘N Roses and Van Morrison.

     6. Why should I give Wall Around Your Heart a whip around the ears?

     Wall Around Your Heart has elements of classic English punk meshed with more refined song-writing and production without losing essential vitality.

     7. Do The Rifles have any more good songs?

     Heebie Jeebies is the stand out banger flying along like a Ferrari on an empty highway. 

     8. Anything else?

     Big Life was produced by The Rifles’ regular producer Charles Rees (Paul Weller, The Strypes, Albert Hammond).

“I’m a liar if I say I’ve never been,

In a mess like this before”

    

     

     The Spitfires are an indie rock band from Watford, England. Started in 2012 and influenced by The Jam, The Clash, Arctic Monkeys, The Specials and The Smiths. On My Mind (July'16) rampages off their second album A Thousand Times (Aug'16) and is a rock pop tune that has been said to be "stunning with it's anthemic chorus and soaring melodies."

“I clearly care”

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Carl Barat and The Jackals

Carl Barat and the Jackals have a fucking belter here with A Storm Is Coming (Jan’15). There are crunchy rhythm guitars, straight out of The Clash's London Calling days, and a killer chorus to a very English indie rock track.

 

 

 

Not just punky A Storm Is Coming bears the hallmarks of the greatest hits of ‘Cool Britannia’.

 

“I don’t mind, I know a storm is coming

Things won’t ever be the same again

I won’t run this time, it has to be now or never”

 

 
A Storm Is Coming is off the Carl Barat and The Jackal's debut album Let It Reign (Feb’15). Yes Barat does have a few under his belt.
Let It Reign is an album NME described as crackling“with delinquent fervour and lyrical punch” as they wiped come off their sycophantic chins with relish. Rolling Stone said it was a "call to arms" while they beat themselves off in a frenzy. While other cynics have said it's a bit 'meh'.

Shit you need to know:

The drummer was in a Swindon wedding band before he got the call up into the band.

Carl Barat supported the Sex Pistols back in his Libertines days.

The Black Keys drummer once said Carl Barat looks like a prick and there was no one else he would rather “punch in the face”.

Carl Barat is good friends with one of the godfathers of punk Mick Jones, who produced both of the Libertines albums, the first a debut UK number one.

Carl Barat rips them off to the Velvet Underground, The Clash, Nirvana and The Doors. With the usual caveat, to name but a few.

You mustn’t go past Glory Days if you are looking for more crackers from Carl Barat and the Jackals.

It's Glory Days end of fucking story.

 

Stirring the porridge goes to the London indie rock band The Rifles and the genius of Heebie Jeebies (2013). Heebie Jeebies  is as English as clinging onto former triumphs and yet at the same time inspiring straight up, couldn't happen anywhere else in the world, transcendental fuckin magic.

Here is an ode to getting pissed.

 

“Get a call from Tel and I don't know your brother
Said we met last night about ten to three
And put the world to rights in a minute on an empty street”