Tuesday Tunes--October 18, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
A heavily interwoven list this week, with artists working together, then some of their solo work, a band, and then a song from a side project, and a little smattering of 90s alt-rock in the middle, just to keep things honest.
Or weird. You know: whatever.
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new and different music that we are enjoying, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website, so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
This week we start off with a returning artist in German EDM duo BUNT. (whom I talked about back in February) with their latest track, featuring Los Angeles' indie pop band Beginners, "Young Hearts".
Again, BUNT. deliver an upbeat, and fun track which heavily features organic, retro sound combined with a great electronic flow to it. "Young Hearts" is particularly driven by jaunty piano, a pure-1980s slathering of horns, and a great turn from Beginners in providing catchy and enjoyable lyrics. This is one of those tracks that just brings a smile to your face, and almost deserves a bit of slow motion walking with you and your mates downtown...
Gangsters or Lovers - BEGINNERS
LA indie pop quartet Beginners, having heard them on "Young Hearts" got my attention so I thought I'd give their latest release Pleaser (an EP that came out earlier this year) a listen and I'm very glad that I did. The first track, "Gangsters or Lovers" is one of those electro-hazy indie pop tracks that feels absolutely perfect--it's a song that is an earworm of the best kind, plus while it does make you want to dance, it's not frantic...it's a song that feels like it achieves everything it possibly could in becoming a great pop track, but is all so effortless and chill that there's an element of cool that you cannot nail down, elevating "Gangsters of Lovers" above the regular pop din.
Plus...I totally want a Popsicle now...and it's...I believe 2 degrees.
If you dig "Gangsters or Lovers", make sure you check out the rest of Pleaser, you will not be disappointed.
Dysania - The Fem Doms
New York based indie alt-rock band The Fem Doms channel their inner 1990s in "Dysania" to excellent effect. Fans of later grunge and miss wearing plaid flannel shirts will find "Dysania" right up their alley, as this combines a lot of the feeling, the pace, and the musical layering of college radio rock into a great little alt-rock track.
I'm looking forward to hearing more from The Fem Doms, especially to see whether they maintain this same mid-tempo garage/grunge style, or if they kick into a harder sound and go more into modern indie rock.
Arrest Me - Bora York
Headed by the husband and wife team of Chris and Rebekah Bartels, Bora York is a fun, five-piece indie band hailing from Minnesota, who in their most recent release, Secret Youth have unleashed an intensely beautiful, danceable, and fresh feeling indie album. "Arrest Me" the first track on the album combines indie pop with a vintage, dreamy combination of synth and funk inspired bass, that by the time Rebekah's harmonies kick in, have gotten you so hooked on the song (and the album) that you pretty much need to clear your schedule down--you're going to be lost for a while...
Bora York is a band that really deserves greater exposure, and I hope that they get a viral kick, or a featured spot in a snappy indie film, or something, because these folks play with such a passion, and a love, that I would find it hard to believe that any synth-y indie pop fan won't love them.
Missoula - Chris Bartels
Wrapping up this week's Tuesday Tunes is a side project from Bora York's Chris Bartels who was looking to escape from the higher produced environment of Secret Youth, and eventually produced Myths and Mold, an EP which delivers a wholly different sound--this feels all about percussion, and layer upon layer of vocals, and a wider, spacier sound that gives songs like the "Missoula" a rich tone not really found in a lot of indie. Personally, as soon as the first vocal layers kicked in, right off the top, with the folksy, almost blues-gospel flair to it, I was jotting this song into the list, and have had it on repeat for quite a while. "Missoula" is a song that will get its' hooks into you and won't let go--I'm especially looking forward to snowy hikes with this one.
Here's the Apple Music Playlist for September 2016! I think this list might be missing the most songs off of it that any Tuesday Tunes playlist ever has, but that is what happens with indie music--but you do get 17 great tracks this month, so it by no means feels bare. Nor was it super quick & easy for me to put together...but that's a given.
Remember, if you want me to put these playlists on other services (like Spotify), let me know on Twitter (I've linked it below)
If you're looking for more Tuesday Tunes, are late to the party, or just want more theguysfrom.com in your day, here are the playlists for:
There are other (earlier) playlists available for you if you check out earlier articles or search on Apple Music itself.
If you're wanting me to put these playlists on other music services (ones that I don't regularly use myself) let me know in the comments below.
See you again next Tuesday with five more Tuesday Tunes!
-S (@Shauncord)