The 30 Best Indie Rock Songs of 2016 (20 - 11)

No fucking about let’s get into it.

20. Get Inuit - Pro-Procrastinator 

Get Inuit are a dirty pop band from Kent, England. They sound like Peace and VANT. Pro-Procrastinator (Nov'15) veers between bouncy English guitar pop and muscular grunge. When it's on song it kicks harder than a horse.

19. Twin Atlantic - The Chaser 

Twin Atlantic are a rock band from Glascow, England. They sound like Biffy Clyro and Muse. The Chaser (Aug'16) has a massive glam-rock riff and is a bombastic, hedonistic, party anthem. 

18. Pop Cult - Feels Right  

Pop Cult are an indie rock revivalist group from Sunshine Coast, Australia. They sound like The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. Feels Right (April'16) is retro-Manchester indie so righteous you'll find religion, and has an intense vocals and hand claps only breakdown. 

17. Sheer Mag - Nobody's Baby 

Sheer Mag are a punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They sound like MC5 and Thin Lizzy. Nobody's Baby (March'16) is packed to the gunnels with 70's classic rock riffs and the fiery lyrics are delivered with fury. Gritty. 

16. INHEAVEN - Baby's Alright 

INHEAVEN are an indie rock band from South London. They sound like The Pixies and My Bloody Valentine. Baby's Alright (Feb'16) is a catchy post-punk tune with a harsh word to say about war-mongering and a me-first generation. 

15. SPOOKYLAND - Big Head  

SPOOKYLAND are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. They sound like Oasis and Neil Young. Big Head (March'16) is a stadium rocker with ringing riffs and pissy vocals that take a savage swipe at gender issues.

14. Jamie T - Tescoland  

Jamie T is an indie rocker/alternative hip hop artist from London, England. He sounds like The Clash and Rat Boy. Tescoland (Sept'16) is an upbeat, ska-tinged, classic punk song.

13. Animal House - Domino 

Animal House are a garage rock band from Brisbane, Australia. They sound like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys. Domino (Oct'16) is the perfect mix of sixties garage and new century indie with a chorus as catchy as chlamydia. 

12.Spring King - Detroit  

Spring King are a post-punk band from Manchester, England. They sound like Public Access TV and FIDLAR. Detroit (May'16) is a primal four-to-the-floor rocker that crackles with energy.

 11. OTHERKIN - I Was Born 

OTHERKIN are a grunge pop band from Dublin, Ireland. They sound like The Vaccines and VANT. I Was Born (Feb'16) is a snappy indie rocker with more bite than a crocodile at Disneyland. 

Twin Atlantic - The Chaser

1.    So Twin Atlantic huh? 

Yeah. Scotland's finest. Scrapping their way out of Glascow and banging lids since 2007 they have four fine albums to their name. The Chaser (Aug'16) is the second single off their latest GLA (Sept'16). Yep GLA is the code for Glascow's airport so it's meant to signify a return to their roots. 

2. What have the boys got to say for themselves?

The Chaser has a massive Marc Bolan style riff, bombastic drums, hand claps and gang vocals. They bang on about what hard chargers they are and how they want to neck anything under the sun. It's a tit ripping ode to hedonism.  

3. Who do Twin Atlantic sound like? 

The Chaser sounds like T. Rex. Muse, Foals and Biffy Clyro in the main. 

4. What have the hard working press said about The Chaser?

“Foot on the monitor boogie” – The Scotsman.

“Heavily distorted guitar riffs and a chant-and-clap hook” – Highlight Magazine.

“A fuzzed out punk rock ode” – There Goes The Fear.

5. Which bands have sorted out Twin Atlantic?

The main influences are Jimmy Eat World, Nirvana, Queen, The Pixies and Pink Floyd. 


6. Why should I give The Chaser a whip past the brain holes?

Do you like tunes like Queen's We Will Rock You, Joan Jett's I Love Rock'N'Roll or T. Rex's Get It On? Of course you do. You'd have to be dead inside not to. Get your snout in the trough post haste.


7. What other blinders have Twin Atlantic got up their sleeve?

First off the train is Heart And Soul. The first single off GLA, No Sleep, is a stomper. Brothers and Sisters builds into a tear jerking epic and Make A Beast Of Myself brings up the rear. 


8. Any more words Chief? 

GLA is produced by Garret "Jackknife" Lee who has been at the controls for bands like Weezer, Bloc Party and The Silversun Pickups. It was recorded in L.A. 

“I tried hard to believe,

Satisfaction is guilt and love is all that is greed”

Ludes were an indie rock ska band from London, England. Active from about 2002 until 2006 they then broke up and three of the members founded Rum Shebeen. Ludes were influenced by bands like The Rolling Stones and The Clash. Ludes gave birth to one superb album The Dark Art Of Happiness (2006) and on that album was this bright ska neck breaker Dead Man's Music.

“I pawed at the record that I wanted to play,

Got on my knees and I started to pray”

Twin Atlantic - No Sleep

    1.    Who are the chaps? 

     Twin Atlantic are a rock band from Glascow, Scotland. Cooking up tunes since 2007 they have four long players under their belt. No Sleep (June'16) is the first single to bubble off their fourth album GLA (Sept'16). 

    2. What have Twin Atlantic dished up here? 

     No Sleep is a big stomper with rampant licks and riffery. Quiet loud dynamics, lyrical hedonism and a bog standard infectious chorus. No angles on this one. 

    3. Who do Twin Atlantic sound like? 

     Foals, Muse and Weezer come to mind. Sort Hits were feeling the influence of Biffy Clyro. 

4. What have the cut and paste bandits said about No Sleep? 

“Rough and ready riffs” – Cultured Vultures.

“A punk rock song led by guttural bass and guitar riffs” – Pop Inquirer. 

“Twin Atlantic rock out big time” – Promo News. 

5. Which bands distorted Twin Atlantic's music?  

Bands that have influenced Twin Atlantic are Jimmy Eat World, Nirvana, Queen, Pink Floyd and The Pixies.

6. Why should I give No Sleep a lash? 

No Sleep is the tune you wait for at the gig. The big kahuna. It's time for the mosh pit to go right off.

7. Do Twin Atlantic have any more heavy duty tunes?

A plethora my good man. Heart And Soul is more of the above but better. Brothers And Sisters is goose for the gander and Beast Of Myself  holds it's own in this august company.

8. Any more words sailor?

GLA is produced by Garret "Jackknife" Lee who has put nose to the grind for Weezer, Bloc Party and The Silversun Pickups to name but a few.

“I take pills and I drink alcohol”

Band of Horses are a rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band have released five albums including this years Why Are You OK? (June'16).  The Funeral (2006) was their debut single and the lead single from their first album Everything All The Time (2006). The Funeral is an epic song that has been featured in numerous movies, TV shows and ads. Contact Music said the song has swelling melancholy leading up to "huge chords and massive stadium rhythms pounding with blunt force."

“At every occasion I’m ready for the funeral”

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Twin Atlantic

 

 

What's not to love about Twin Atlantic’s Heart and Soul  (Apr'14) ? The video. Oh my God could you have made a worse video? But the song is a foot stomping rocker, a Scottish Wild Thing or  Joan Jett’s I Love Rock and Roll. All big drums and guitar. Spoon’s Rent I Pay with a bigger payoff chorus.

A simple up-the-guts, no bullshit, four to the floor, ripsnorter. The best thing Scotland have produced since deep-fried everything. 

  

 

That monster is off the Glaswegians third album Great Divide (Aug’14). The band have been on the loose since 2007.
 

The big men in their life are Queen, Nirvana, Pink Floyd and so on.
 

Looking for another connection? Have a dabble in Brothers and Sisters or Make A Beast Of Myself.

 

 

Another Scottish gem from back in the day. This one will get yer hackles rising it’s the legends Big Country with In A Big Country (1983).

 

“Pull up your head off the floor,

come up screaming…”