Were you a fan of MGMT’s “Oracular Spectacular,” or, more particularly, of “Electric Feel,” “Kids” and “Time to Pretend”? Have you had fun blasting the infectious “Daylight” by Matt & Kim out of your fast moving vehicle? These tunes are great, and, with the “indie” label attached, they make you feel on top of the current music scene.
Unfortunately, it is hard to scan the plethora of music blogs in order to impress a music snob, so I am here to try and help out. This week, I’m changing it up. I’m going to list five tunes by five different artists that are catchy yet obscure enough to give you some credibility among music geeks.
I’ll do my best to cover different genres, but, given my taste, I will inevitably leave many out.
1. “O.N.E.” by Yeasayer: How perfect for the first tune, “one” spelled in all caps. This song combines Afropop guitar jangles and bass riffs with ’80’s-style production to create an epic danceable beat. The timing of the chords is truly bizarre, but Yeasayer are able to show off their quirks in accessible fashion. Any fans of Animal Collective’s less experimental side will immediately take a liking to this tune and this band.
2. “Who Knows Who Cares” by Local Natives: I know I’ve already professed my obsession with this song in a previous review. But I like it so much that I am now putting it on this list and demanding that you listen to it. At first a tranquil guitar riff and beautiful harmonizing, this song is then lifted to a faster pace by a string accompaniment. Indeed, this is a feel-good tune about living life to the fullest, about taking a “van down to Colorado.” This song is for fans of the recent streak of chamber pop in popular indie music (read: Grizzly Bear’s “Veckatimest”).
3. “Shadow People” by Dr. Dog: Despite sounding eerily similar to Adam Sandler’s band from “The Wedding Singer” during the first verse, this tune shows off Dr. Dog’s ability to recall music from a past time in a familiar, more current songwriting structure. This tune is for those who refuse to listen to music past 1980. Believe me, Dr. Dog can play some great (classic) rock ‘n’ roll.
4. “The High Road” by Broken Bells: Okay, maybe this tune isn’t so obscure, but it is so catchy and immediately likeable that I had to include it. Danger Mouse’s dreamy production is so nicely complimented by James Mercer’s voice. At first Mercer — lead singer for The Shins — sounds blasé, but, as more instrumentals enter the song, the once effortless voice is fervently strained. The tune, and the rest of the album, has been my go-to for studying.
5. “Jail La La” by Dum Dum Girls: Unfortunately I missed this four-piece as an opening act just a few weeks ago. Still, I have been digging their freshwoman effort, “I Will Be.” “Jail La La” is so highly stylized with fuzz and distortion, and so catchy with its up-tempo pace and cool vocal delivery. Have fun listening to this tune in your car with the windows down on a summer day.
There you have it — five promised songs by five current artists. Show them to your friends and let them know how truly cool you are.
For the Record - 04/22/10
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