Today’s Indie: High for This / Ellie Goulding (The Weeknd cover)
Ellie Goulding covers the Weeknd’s High for This, and just like Couer de Pirate’s cover of Wicked Games, its a door closer, candle burner, light dimmer kind of song. Ms. Ellie has come a long way from being afraid of the dark. #indie / tory
Today’s Indie: Ho Hey / The Lumineers
‘and love we need it now / let’s hope for some / ’cause oh we’re bleeding out’
My friend Kristen put this on the speakers during our six hour drive back from the Lost Coast yesterday afternoon, and amidst dozens upon dozens of songs and a hazy head and heavy eyelids from three days of trekking and camping, it still snapped my attention into an instant ‘wait, who are these guys?’ moment within the first taste of the chorus. The answer is Colorado based trio, The Lumineers, who released their self titled debut early this April. I have been listening to their stuff all day, and they remind of some combination of newer Edward Sharpe meets the folkier side of The Head and the Heart meets Wild Child meets the Avett Brothers. Not a bad ensemble to be compared to.
The Lumineers have self-defined their music as “front porch folk” and I couldn’t put it better… there is something so simple, earnest and accessible in this sound, capable of pulling fiercely on the heartstrings. #indie / tory
Instead of of hitting up Sasquatch at the Gorge or catching the string of good shows (Maceo Plex, The Twelves) in our own backyard this Memorial Day, we are taking to the hills to backpack the Lost Coast for the long weekend. I am excited to explore a rare cut of untouched California coast–when workers showed up with their dynamite to build the Pacific Highway they turned back inland for this stretch because it was too rugged to break through. I am more than OK with temporarily shedding the untz and indie in my life for a few days of deserted beaches, friendship, love, whisky, campfire, dogs and hopefully no bears. See you next week.
Today’s Indie: All Wash Out / Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
‘just let it all wash out in the rain’
I have given Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ new album, Here, its first solid listen, and I am left somewhat surprised, but pleased. The album’s earlier single, Man on Fire, captivated me with its quiet echos of a country western sunset, and I have found much of the rest of the album to have a similar feel, with more of a slow, subtle and spiritual glean to it than their previous work. Signature stomping sound, uplifting beats and vocal banter have been swapped with more hushed harmonies and simple guitar melodies. Both types of sound serve different purposes. Both are good. This track, All Wash Out, embodies that peaceful, pensive kind of feeling I have settled into with a lot of the new album. Enjoy. #indie / tory
Today’s Indie: Bloom / The Paper Kites
‘oh the whole world is sleeping / but my world is you’
Aussies The Paper Kites have crafted the perfect peaceful little soundtrack for those early morning moments when you wipe the sleep from your eyes and find yourself so grateful for who you are waking up next to. Gentle harmonies, simple guitar, sweet lyrics… folk bliss.
I found this song via a tip from my friend Janine to check out 8tracks, a collection of amazing user generated playlists with crafty themes like “10 Songs for When You’re Crying Because You can’t Fit into Your Summer Bikini Anymore” (workout songs), “If I Owned Urban Outfitters” (indie rock) and “You’re My Person” (pretty self explanatory). Check it out. #indie / tory
Today’s Indie: Keep it Rolling / Y LUV
‘can I just hold her now’
There is something infectious in the lead singer of Y LUV’s voice that pulls you right into their songs and keeps you there. I became reacquainted with the LA band of four USC graduates when a remix of one of their songs, Never Touch the Ground, was getting a lot of buzz on Hypem last week (for good reason) but ultimately landed back to listening to last year’s Keep it Rolling over and over and over. There is a Zelda score like sound to the slow intro, which gets cut by uptempo drums that gives the track a tap along, soaring kind of feel. Love it.
And because its Monday, that remix by Gazzo:
‘simply saying that I’m never coming down / we never touch the ground’
#indie / tory
Editors note: today’s indie comes as a guest post from our good buddy and fellow music lover, Cyrus. This is his dog, Lily.
Today’s Indie: Orange Stone / Redline Graffiti
Generating a tasteful chillwave, electronica, and even at times lo-fi sound, the indie infused Redline Graffiti shines out of Washington D.C.’s Brookland. It is refreshing to hear a different type of sound come out of an area that has been predominantly focused on go-go, uninspiring rock, and hip-hop. The synthie vibes and carrying celestial vocals of ‘Orange Stone’ allow for easy listening, accompanied by supreme collisions of percussion that stimulate head nodding. And let us not forget about the guitars riffs throughout, which add that complimentary edge to this already moving melodic track. Keep up the good work Redline Graffiti, I’ll be on the look out for you! #indie / cyrus / therabidrelish
Today’s Indie: Call Me Maybe / Ben Howard (Carly Rae Jepson cover)
‘I wasn’t looking for this / but now you’re in my way’
The best covers have the ability to totally transform a song to the point where the new version could stand on its own in its own right if the other never existed in the first place. If I had not already heard Call Me Maybe maybe several hundred times (mostly due to my own volition) and had come across this Ben Howard song I would think it a somber, slow and beautiful portrayal of the emotional perils surrounding potentially unrequited love. Heart piercing strings, rushed, hushed vocals met with pointed pauses, steady guitar… quite the departure from the third place finisher of the 2007 Canadian Idol’s deliciously buttery powderpuff of a pop song.
Howard debuted the cover on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge this week, and I love the sincerity he delivers it with, with only a hint of a smirk during the chorus. No maybes. #indie/tory
Today’s Indie: Kelly / When Saints Go Machine
‘first time Kelly kissed a boy / glow in the dark arrow in the heart’
Happy 90’s laced bliss beats to help you make it through Monday afternoon– When Saints Go Machine’s song has me picturing Kelly from the old 90201 gazing out of her bedroom window lusting over some hair gelled hottie of an earlier era. The track is off the Danish electro pop foursome’s second album, Konylie, out last summer. Really hard not to smile/foot tap along with this one…. pucker up. #indie
Today’s Indie: Pillow Talk / Wild Child
‘when I sleep, I’m dreaming for you’
I have been riding the struggle bus full speed ahead all day, so this shall be brief but laced with the relief that comes with making it to 4:04 on a Friday and seeing the end in site. Here is a great little gift from Austin’s Wild Child filled with echos of love lost. Sweet, simple and a little sorrowful it may not be the best segue into the weekend, but that is what Tom’s posts are for. Happy Friday! #indie / tory
I woke up to a Tweet this morning that The Head and the Heart had just shared another Chapel Sessions recording via the amazing, female driven blog from Colorado, Fuel/Friends. An impromptu Christmas morning! I could not be more pleased with what they recorded on this go. Here are my two favorites.
Today’s Indie: Gone / The Head and the Heart
‘take back your pictures / take back your letters / don’t send me no postcards telling me you miss me’
Gone is a wistful goose bump raiser live, and I have been trying to track down a recorded version of it since the band nailed it at Coachella this year. The song is signature THATH, with a woo-ing chorus, Jon’s soaring vocals, and the stirring up of longings you didn’t even know were buried in you. To call it sigh inducing would be putting it lightly.
Untitled / The Head and the Heart
‘but I remember days when money didn’t matter / I was building forts in swamps in the summer / and you were serving tea to the queen’
Untitled is another doozy, grabbing me in its first few lines and leaving me yearning for the simplicity of sleepovers on big trampolines in backyards under the stars and a life before commuting and Excel spreadsheets and heartache. There are some great harmonies here that I can’t wait to hear live met with beautiful rolling piano, and a riveting ending. And I heard you say, look outside the sun is rising, every cloud in the sky gone. #indie / tory
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