indie underrated

Jack Manley‘s latest single, “Way Loud,” is an instant alternative rock classic. This song fuses together a lot of rock’s finest elements from the past 40 years: the guitars have a resonant, arpeggiated 80s sound; the bass has a deep, new wave sound; the vocal melodies have an early 2000s Strokes-y vibe; and the overall production has a roomy, 90s feel. When you stack all of these techniques together, you get a sound that’s fresh and informed. That is exactly what Jack Manley has accomplished with “Way Loud,” and we think fans of Radiohead will love it.

Heavy June has a new album titled Old Ones Not Dumb Ones: Wiser Hands, and “See Color” is one of our favorite songs on it. This track is a versatile, alt rock banger. The R&B-inspired vocal melodies sound emotional while the instruments sound heavy and harsh. And the resulting song comes across as both jarring and compelling. We recommend it for fans of artists like Jean Dawson.

Check out this new single by Analog Dog: “over it” is a certified indie pop groover! This song features colorful synth tones, Nile Rodgers-inspired guitar parts, and disco-rock beats that are sure to have listeners dancing along. It’s not just a dance song though; the vocal melodies are full and catchy and they make the song ideal to sing along to as well. We love the surprisingly dissonant bridge and the horn solo that close the song out. Fans of artists like Foster the People should love it.

We love what we hear in “Sidewinder,” the first single off the upcoming EP by Russel Taine Jr., Ghosts. This pop rock tune is powerfully driven by its loud guitars and crashing drums, but it finds tenderness in its vocal arrangement. The singer’s voice is pure and it really explores the spaces in front of and behind the rhythm of the song. The choruses are hooky and triumphant in a Foo Fighters kind of way, but the production has an intimacy that is reminiscent of artists like Ben Kweller.

Summer isn’t over yet! So we’re still jamming to Pool Party by Alex Cherney and the Brothers Nylon. “Should we go back in?” is the perfect closer for a concept album of its nature. Do we end the party or keep it going? That is the question. And this indie-funk tune has the perfect vibe to match. The tempo and groove keep the party going while the melancholic chords and melodies contemplate the end of the celebration. Why not one more dip in? We’ve been playing this record on repeat!

We especially like the soul-inspired inclusion of strings on this song. Fans of classic disco and new R&B should love it.

Listen to these songs and more on our playlist now!