Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the very best of the indie releases from the past seven days. This week we got an excellent new track from Grimes, new single from the highly-anticipated new Tegan And Sara record, and a Frankie Cosmos album with a lot of songs.
While we’re at it, if you want more music recommendations curated by Steven Hyden delivered directly to your inbox every week, sign up for the Indie Mixtape newsletter.
Frankie Cosmos — Close It Quietly
Frankie Cosmos was one of the pioneers of the “bedroom pop” movement. But recently, Greta Kline’s songs have felt more polished and technical. That’s not to say that the tunes are techincally any longer. All the same, Close It Quietly is the culmination of an evolution, comprised of 21 songs that still manages to span under 40 minutes.
Lower Dens — The Competition
It’s been four years since Lower Dens released Escape From Evil, but The Competition picks right up where the synth rockers left off. Clearly influenced by the new wave acts of the eighties, Lower Dens still bring a unique modern twist to their new music. Throughout the record’s eleven tracks, the band zeroes in on their unique brand of “anthemic wonder,” as described by Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx.
Bat For Lashes — Lost Girls
Bat For Lashes’ latest effort really lives up to the “cinematic” title that was placed upon Lost Girls by the Natasha Khan’s marketing team. As it would turn out, many of the record’s themes originally existed in the form of a screenplay of the same name, written by Khan. Although the film itself never came to fruition, you can still hear the stylistic influence of cinema come through in the music.
Death Cab For Cutie — The Blue EP
Most Death Cab For Cutie releases find a way to worm their way right into your heart and burst it open from the inside. The band’s latest is no different, with a good percentage of The Blue EP‘s five songs revolving around the 1999 Olympic Pipeline explosion in Seattle that took the lives of several children. But the short project also finds the band slowing down the tempo a bit, with tracks like “To The Ground” and “Blue Bloods” that showcase a group at their most contemplative.
Tegan and Sara — “Hey, I’m Just Like You”
The title track for Tegan and Sara’s forthcoming album shows a band that is “grateful for their friendship and assur[ing] each other that although they stand out from the crowd, they are truly one and the same,” according to Carolyn Droke for Uproxx. Where the album’s lead single “I’ll Be Back Someday” was a more straightforward mid-aughts anthem, the duo’s latest is a modern synth number, with electronic elements leading into yet another infectious chorus.
Grimes — “Violence”
Grimes has billed her new project Miss_Anthropocene as “a concept album about the anthropomorphic Goddess of climate Change: A psychedelic, space-dwelling demon/ beauty-Queen who relishes the end of the world.” Maybe that’s why she gets along so well is Elon Musk? While the album still lacks any firm details, the latest musical preview is “an engaging piece of atmospheric but dance-ready electronic pop, not so far removed from the style of Grimes’ previous work,” writes Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx.
Belle & Sebastian — “This Letter”
Belle & Sebastian are set to contribute eleven brand new tracks to the new film Days Of The Bagnold Summer, which is set for release in 2020. “This Letter” is the first sampling of what we can expect from the soundtrack, a finger-picked number that showcases the band’s knack for beautiful and simple atmospheric songs.
Hovvdy — “Ruin (My Ride)”
Hovvdy write really great, spellbinding music. “Ruin (My Ride)” is no exception, utilizing electronic drums and reverb to achieve a state of utter relaxation. One of the more underrated bands in the indie scene, the band’s new album Heavy Lifter is sure to make waves when it is released on October 18.
Higher Power — “Seamless”
Sure, maybe this is an outlier from the rest of the material on this list, but Higher Power’s new single is an absolute monster. The UK hardcore punks definitely aren’t lacking in their share of pummeling riffs here, but they also manage to dial back the aggression on the choruses and channel some Alice In Chains-inspired vocal performances. Also, that harmonic swipe on the bridge/breakdown is definitely cool enough to write home about.
Briston Maroney — “Miracle Single (Steve’s First Bruise)”
If The Strokes had a child with The Hives, you’d have the latest single from prolific songwriter Briston Maroney. Fresh on the heels of his latest EP, Carolina, Maroney is already getting ready to roll out new music, which by the looks of it, is going to be especially rocking.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. .
