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, of pop, or of 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 installment includes new singles from beloved artists like Gorillaz and Lykke Li, big albums from the likes of Father John Misty and Natalie Prass, and a new Wild Pink song that is one of our favorites of the year. It was a very good week.
Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer
Where Pure Comedy presented one side of the talents of Father John Misty — grandiose ideas and arrangements that deal with modern existential dread — there is another side of Father John Misty that was explored on early albums that sat sidelined. God’s Favorite Customer is far more personal, and as the tightlipped lead-up to the album revealed, he doesn’t need shock value to showcase his sharp, affecting songwriting.
Wild Pink – “There Is A Ledger”
It feels rarer and rarer that a relatively new indie rock band emerges and actually feels like they could follow in the footsteps of The National or The War On Drugs as forces in the rock world. The path to such success is narrow, but Wild Pink’s songwriting and aesthetic puts them in fine position to do so. “There Is A Ledger” hits on a similar ’80s synth-aided guitar rock that The War On Drugs and Ryan Adams have already expanded upon, though this is a bit more singer-forward compared to TWAD’s jammier tendencies.
Natalie Prass — The Future And The Past
Natalie Prass‘ debut album was one of the best records of 2015, but her follow-up is committed to not simply repeating the formula. There are moves towards pop and ’90s R&B, with Prass singing defiantly about the political times we are living in. Just two albums in and Prass is already in career mode.
Oneohtrix Point Never — Age Of
If you like your electronic music to have overtones of doom and chaos, then Oneohtrix Point Never is for you. Perhaps the best thing that can be said of Age Of, along with much of his excellent catalog, is that it never compromises moments that make for difficult listening and still has enough beauty, intrigue, and cohesiveness to latch onto. To say it is more accessible than ever might be an oversell, but Daniel Lopatin has tapped into something special on this album, and it could easily be his most heard record yet.
Juliana Daugherty — Light
Juliana Daugherty is more than just a fantastic songwriter. She’s a talented musician who plays multiple instruments and has her MFA in poetry. On her debut album, these all come into play in a collection that recedes from collective angst and tackles inner turmoil that can seem just as daunting.
Lykke Li – “Sex Money Feelings Die”
Has there ever been a more on-the-nose Lykke Li song title? Her new album, also perfectly titled So Sad So Sexy, finds the Scandinavian pop singer experimenting with more hip-hop influences, which you can hear in this one. It’s a remarkably contemporary turn for an artist whose previous album was filled with timeless torch songs. Lykke does not want to be put into a box.
Gorillaz – “Humility”
For the second year in a row, a new Gorillaz album will be released into the wild. But while the animated front for the band is going through the cycle of losing a core member (Murdoc), musically, Damon Albarn sounds sunnier and happier than ever. “Humility” bounces on the hot cement of a summer’s day, reminding that Albarn is a man of many moods. This one just feels particularly ripe for the moment.
Neko Case – Hell-On
Neko Case’s solo career has provided the perfect yin to the yang of her contributions to The New Pornographers for the past 20 years. On her first album under her own name in five years, Case delivers the powerful vocals and sturdy songwriting that she’s become known for. Making the album more fascinating is the storyline behind it, in which Case’s house burned down and her privacy was violated by the reporters covering it. This isn’t just another memorable album from a great artist we probably take for granted. This is a songwriter on a mission.
Nite Jewel – “On Your Own” and “The Joke’s On You”
[protected-iframe id=”01d395822a9da47f225b4177394a1c06-60970621-76566046″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7kbz2kyMzjEk8MulQrLIEL” width=”650″ height=”380″ frameborder=”0″]
Ramona Gonzalez has long danced by herself under a slowly twirling disco ball, but on this new single, the rpms get revved up and the dancing shoes wear out their soles. It’s an inspired bit of songwriting from an indie vet, enough to make you wonder why we haven’t been giving Nite Jewel the attention she deserves.
The Coathangers – Live
Atlanta’s The Coathangers aren’t the prototypical band to release a live album, and maybe that’s what makes this record so intriguing. What they are is a live force, and the new collection manages to capture that, combining two sets recorded in Long Beach, California. Live albums are best when showcasing a band at the top of their powers, and on Live, The Coathangers make the argument that they are one of the most vital garage punk bands in the game.
Meg Myers – “Take Me To The Disco”
Meg Myers recently released a video that paired stunning images with a powerful message and radio-ready sound. But on the title track to her upcoming record, Myers demonstrates versatility, with the song’s titular message standing in contrast to the starkness of it all. It all serves to showcase that Meg Myers is a rising artist worth every bit of attention she is getting, even if this sounds a bit like that Donnie Darko “Mad World” cover for comfort.
Jim James – “Throwback”
My Morning Jacket leader Jim James’ solo music is usually pretty easy to differentiate from his full-band efforts. It’s often moodier and more experimental, with its raison d’etre explicit in its nature. “Throwback” is not that kind of song. It’s a rocking, wailing effort that has previously been debuted live, with most expecting it to wind up on an MMJ album. Whether it is indicative of where James is heading with his new solo album remains to be seen, but people needing something to hold them over until the next MMJ record should be plenty pleased.
