indie underrated

Retro pop fans, get in line! You’ll love this new single from Creature Fear, “My Girl’s a Dream But She Only Loves Jesus.”

It has surprises around every corner. The structural arrangement is refreshingly unique, built around a series of incredibly catchy hooks, and the instrumental arrangement is equally unique with its eclectic mix of traditional rock instruments, supplementary tones, and playful percussion tracks. 

We hear a mix of 1960s pop bands like Shocking Blue and modern alt rock groups like The Kills. That being said, it was tough to pin down comparisons for this track. That’s a testament to the true inventiveness of Creature Fear. They’re a band playing at the top of their game and we can’t get enough of it!

You have to hear this cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Perfect” by The Gromble.

The Gromble has always sought to “blend the familiar with the unexpected.” And perhaps the most explicit way to accomplish this mission is by releasing a fresh reinterpretation of a contemporary classic.  

While some covers are imitations, this one is a reimagining. The Gromble pays respect to the original where it’s due and maintains the structure of “Perfect,” but they make the song their own by dressing it in the alt/indie/pop style that their fans love. 

Where the original is groovy, the cover is atmospheric. No doubt a result of The Gromble’s inclusion of keys and ambient tones. This gives the cover a nice melodramatic emotion that isn’t as present in the original. 

If you’re unfamiliar with original work by The Gromble, allow this to be your segue. They released a single titled “Favorite Joke” back in February and we recommend checking that out in addition to this cover of “Perfect”!

We’re hypnotized by “Lights Out,” one of our favorite tracks from Roller Derby’s newest album When the Night Comes. 

Roller Derby is doing what they do best on this track: mixing synth pads and chorus guitars to create beautiful and deep dreamscapes for vocalist Philine Myers to float over. And float she does with gripping emotion. 

What separates Roller Derby from other dream pop groups is their ability to incorporate catchy and memorable vocal hooks into their songs. Exceptional melodies are hard to come by. Roller Derby’s ability to continually access them is truly remarkable. 

We love a song with a great bridge and “Lights Out” has one. We didn’t want to wrap up this post without mentioning it. 

If you like bands like Beach House, this is a sure thing for you.

Listen to these songs and more now on our playlist!