“blind tomorrow” by teepee – A Song Feature

 

     “blind tomorrow” is an honest confession about sadness, fear, and anxiety. The song from the duo teepee talks about the mental health struggles the band has gone through over the past two years reinforced by the pandemic. Tereza Lavičková's dreamy and ethereally fragile vocals take you on a journey through her sad soul, accompanied by the presence of comfort in Miroslav Patočka's vocal by the end of the song.
 
    Th3 song, in which the duo returns to their vulnerable and melancholic aspect, is the first track of their album, which is going to be released in 2023. Guitars, reverbs, tangible harmonies, and relieving climax are included.
 
     Tereza explains:
  “"It is too easy to fall under the spell of the depressing and anxious times we live in right now. I know we are not the only ones with these symptoms. Sometimes getting out of bed seems like the most challenging task in your life and you know that the story repeats itself tomorrow. You get stuck in a cycle that's hard to get out of, even though you know all about its tricks. I address my invisible enemy in the song and reject it at the end. It's a story of a struggle with depression, but also about taking a leap of faith for a happy ending."
 
     “blind tomorrow” by teepee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teepeeband
Website: https://www.teepeeband.com/

“Shiver” by The Jürgen Clubs – A Song Feature

 

     The 30-second intro of “Shiver” masterfully serves as a proclamation that the song has a force. Certainly, the intro itself has a magnetic force that draws the listener in as the instrumentation builds. The Jürgen Clubs begin with a brief segment of atmospheric wandering. We assume it’s a synth but could be guitar. Then, the rhythm section of bass and percussion injects the energy that will characterize the body of the song. Soon, a guitar riff enters, and a guitar hook playfully sits atop the melody.
 
     It’s only 30 seconds into the single from The Jürgen Clubs and the listener is already fully engaged. The vocals arrive to add to the magnetic strength of “Shiver.” The voice belongs to Magnus Grilstad, who explained the song:
  “‘Shiver’ roams around a relationship I was in, but it’s something I think a lot of people have experienced at some point. It’s where one partner has given up and has smashed the exit button, leaving the relationship and the second partner surprised that the other partner doesn’t feel like giving it ‘the old college try.’ I bailed on this relationship after a few months and my partner was sure we were gonna fight for the relationship a bit longer, but I just couldn’t see it going well.”
 
     “Shiver” ends creatively, as the high-energy melody slowly transitions to a more Psychedelic Rock sound. 
 
     In addition to Magnus Grilstad, the members of The Jürgen Clubs are Sebastian Toft and brothers Victor and Julius Schack. They are a Danish Indie Rock band based in Denmark. They identify their genre as “Jacuzzi Rock,” a term they coined. They explain:
  “For us, 'Jacuzzi' equals relaxation, sun, warmth, palm trees, inflatable swimming animals, and, not least, a holiday. You don't take yourself so seriously when you're on holiday. You slow down the parades, meet new people and drink an extra cocktail that brings out all your emotions along with the embarrassing and awkward stories. And exactly this is in many ways the epitome of The Jürgen Clubs - hence 'Jacuzzi.'” 
 
     Although “Shiver” is only the second single from The Jürgen Clubs, the future looks bright for the Danish Indie Rockers. “Shiver” is already receiving airplay from national Danish radio channel P6-Beat, while Gaffa (the biggest Danish music magazine) has The Jürgen Clubs as one of ten acts on their "These are going to make it big in 2023" list.

 
     “Shiver” by The Jürgen Clubs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejurgenclubs/

“Juillet” by Frais Dispo – A Song Feature

 

     “Julliet” captures the guitar sound of The War on Drugs, while incorporating characteristics that make the song uniquely that of Frais Dispo. The band is based in Montreal, Quebec. The band’s name translate to Fees Available.
 
     Frais Dispo is the name chosen by the musicians of Foreign Diplomats to launch their very first album in French. Much more than a parallel project, Frais Dispo marks a new milestone in the careers of Élie Raymond, Antoine Lévesque-Roy, Thomas Bruneau Faubert, Charles Primeau and Antoine Gallois.
 
     “Juillet” by Frais Dispo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087925322333

Website: https://frais-dispo.com/

 

Lyrics of “Juillet” by Frais Dispo

Le ciel tarde à se décider

Pris de chaque côté d'une autoroute chaude

Veine sinueuse et grugée

Par des gens soulagés et gauches

 

Et moi

Je continue encore tout droit

Sans voir

Je continue encore tout droit

 

Une odeur de vieille poubelle

Bouillante, fiévreuse et épicée

Les cloches d'une église laide

Juillet, pour une autre année

Juillet, pour une autre année

Juillet, pour une autre année

Juillet, pour une autre année

 

Et moi

Je continue encore tout droit

Sans voir

Je continue encore tout droit

 

Juillet, pour une autre année

Juillet, pour une autre année

Machine translation of lyrics of “Juillet” by Frais Dispo

The sky is slow to make up its mind

Taken on each side of a hot highway

Sinuous and gnawed vein

By relieved and clumsy people

 

And me

I continue straight on

Without seeing

I continue straight

 

A smell of old trash

Boiling, feverish and spicy

The ugly church bells

July, for another year

July, for another year

July, for another year

July, for another year

 

And me

I continue straight on

Without seeing

I continue straight on

 

July, for another year

July, for another year

Favorite Songs from 2022 Posts – Songs 1-10

 

     Our quick summary of 2022 in Indie music.
  A.    Overall, it was not a strong year.

 1.  That opinion should not be interpreted as a dissatisfaction of the strength of this year’s list of favorites. The 2022 list stands up well when compared to other years (still, 2017 is the strongest). It’s just that the depth of powerful releases beyond the top 60-75 does not compare favorably to other years.

2.  Admittedly, that opinion might be a result of us missing some appealing releases. But that is a possibility every year. We didn’t let up in the attempt to find music we will love for years to come.

  B.  Lyrically, 2022 was a particularly strong year, whether the test is based upon poetic imagery or lyrically insightful songs that help put real life considerations in proper perspective. The “Metamorphosis” album from Cloud Cult was the most significant contributor to this conclusion. 

  C.  While reviewing the year-end lists of other Indie bloggers, there are far fewer overlapping songs among the different lists than normal. We aren’t sure what conclusion to draw from the greater variation among the lists.

     1.  “One Way Out of a Hole” by Cloud Cult (from the post of March 3 - CLICK HERE) 

     2.  “Chasing Sleep” by The Good Williams Fringe (from the post of October 14 - CLICK HERE)

     3.   “Welcome to The Deep End” by R.D. Thomas (from the post of December 9 – CLICK HERE)

      4.  “Loud Enough (Live from the Parish)” by Kevin Taylor (from the post of October 21 - CLICK HERE)

     5.  “Champagne Lust” by Vases (from the post of February 25 - CLICK HERE) 

      6.  “Crux at Daylight” by Maximiliano (from the post of January 15 - CLICK HERE (admittedly a late 2021 release))

     7.  “How I Long” by Melle (from the post of March 2 - CLICK HERE) 

      8.  “Broken” by The Haunted Youth (from the post of June 16 - CLICK HERE)

     9.  “The Wolf” by Babes In Canyon (from the post of June 6 - CLICK HERE)

     10.  “End of Love” by Final Stair (from the post of March 7 - CLICK HERE) 

Songs 11 through 20 – CLICK HERE

Songs 21 through 30 – CLICK HERE

Songs 31 through 40 – CLICK HERE

     The full list is available on Spotify:

Favorite Songs from 2022 Posts – Songs 11-20

     This is the second set of ten Indie songs of 2022. We acknowledge the fact that it is difficult to rank the tracks. If the process were repeated sometime next month, some shuffling would certainly occur. The bias is towards bands and artists who are not receiving the attention they desire.

Songs 1 through 10 – CLICK HERE

Songs 21 through 30 – CLICK HERE

Songs 31 through 40 – CLICK HERE

     11.  “Atmosphere” by Kids of Adelaide (from the post of October 17 - CLICK HERE)

      12.  “Outlaw Love” by The Districts (from the post of January 10 - CLICK HERE) 

     13.   “The Funhouse” by Francis of Delirium (from the post of March 13 - CLICK HERE) 

     14.  “Teeth Marks” by S.G. Goodman (from the post of April 15 - CLICK HERE) 

     15.  “Into The Night” by The Darling Suns (from the post of June 10 - CLICK HERE)

     16.  “It’s Mine Now” by The Starving Viking (from the post of April  11 - CLICK HERE) 

     17.  “Giving The World Away” by Hatchie (from the post of February 20 - CLICK HERE) 

     18.  “Best Time of My Life” by Cloud Cult (from the post of April 6 - CLICK HERE) 

     19.  “Midnight” by Broken Fires (from the post of February 28 - CLICK HERE) 

     20.  “Crisis” by Elizabeth M. Drummond (from the post of June 9 - CLICK HERE)

     The full list is available on Spotify:

Favorite Songs from 2022 Posts – Songs 21-30

 

      This is the third set of ten Indie songs of 2022. We acknowledge the fact that it is difficult to rank the tracks. If the process were repeated sometime next month, some shuffling would certainly occur. The bias is towards bands and artists who are not receiving the attention they desire.   

Songs 1 through 10 – CLICK HERE

Songs 11 through 20 – CLICK HERE

Songs 31 through 40 – CLICK HERE

     21.  “Birds” by Bambara (from the post of April 5 - CLICK HERE)

     22.  “King of the Road” by Wake The Sun (from the post of May 6 - CLICK HERE) 

     23.  “Champion” by COAX (from the post of December 7 – CLICK HERE)

     24.  “Through” (feat. LBRS) by Flashback81 (from the post of June 7 - CLICK HERE)

      25.  “Sick Sense” by Leap (from the post of November 1 - CLICK HERE)\

     26.  “Madiba” by Luke Beling (from the post of November 4 - CLICK HERE)

     27.  “You're a Garden” by Meadow Argus (from the post of August 30 - CLICK HERE)

      28.  “Roses or Blood” by Actve Captve (from the post of August 15 - CLICK HERE)

     29.  “Demons” by The Wombats (from the post of November 18 - CLICK HERE)

     30.  “Oh Downhill” by Hazlett (from the post of September 23 - CLICK HERE)

     The full list is available on Spotify:

Favorite Songs from 2022 Posts – Songs 31-40

 

    This is the fourth set of ten Indie songs of 2022. We acknowledge the fact that it is difficult to rank the tracks. If the process were repeated sometime next month, some shuffling would certainly occur. The bias is towards bands and artists who are not receiving the attention they desire.   

 

Songs 1 through 10 – CLICK HERE

Songs 11 through 20 – CLICK HERE

Songs 21 through 30 – CLICK HERE

     31.  “The Way Back Up” by Hayden Calnin ft. Nick Acquroff (from the post of March 28 - CLICK HERE) 

     32.  “Firsts (Over And Over Again)” by Birds of Bellwoods (from the post of November 17 - CLICK HERE)

     33.   “Unwired” by lotusbliss (from the post of September 12 - CLICK HERE)

     34.  “Opium Boy” by ka lok (from the post of September 9 - CLICK HERE)

     35.  “You Can’t Stop The Fire” by The Hvnter (from the post of November 7 - CLICK HERE)

     36.  “Trouble” by Broken Fires (from the post of October 13 - CLICK HERE)

     37.  “Education Is Like This” by Colour TV (from the post of October 10 - CLICK HERE)

     38.  “Where Are You Now?” (feat. girlhouse) by The Wrecks (from the post of May 2 - CLICK HERE)

     39. “The Water” by Riley Pearce (from the post of June 15 - CLICK HERE)

     40.  "Not Settling Yet" by Carousel Kings (feat. AJ Perdomo) (from the post of August 16 - CLICK HERE)

      The full list is available on Spotify:

“Gone (Away)” by Ryan Harris – A Song Feature

 

     Ryan Harris is a Canadian musician and filmmaker, making songs in his bedroom studio in Whistler, British Columbia. His song “Gone (Away)” puts a twist on Joni Mitchell’s song about not appreciating what you have until it is gone. For Mitchell, a “Big Yellow Taxi” took away her ol’ man – “Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it’s gone.”
 
     Harris turns the mirror toward another person – “All you ever know is how
to love something that's gone now.” Additionally, the vocals “Gone (Away)” provide enchantment, but in a more sophisticated and melodic voice. There isn’t a small laugh at the conclusion. Instrumentally, the biggest difference is Harris’ use of a banjo.

 

     “Gone (Away)” by Ryan Harris

Website: https://ryanjharris.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.j.harris/
 
Lyrics of “Gone (Away)” by Ryan Harris
It was right in front of your eyes
Missed another sunrise
Always looking so far
So far away
 
You hope that time would run slow
We're watching as the days go
And everything you wanted
You’ve had the whole damn time
 
All you ever know is how
To love something that's gone now
To love it when it's gone
When it’s gone away
 
All you ever know is how
to love something that's gone now
To love it when it's gone
When it’s gone away
 
Can ya tell me now
Where did we go wrong?
Did those city lights
They sell us heights
Where we don’t belong
 
Did we trade it all?
For another day
We gave what we had
For another path
But it never came
 
All you ever know is how
To love something that's gone now
To love it when its gone
When it’s gone away
 
And all you ever know is how
To love something that's gone now
To love it when it's gone
When it’s gone away
 
All you ever know is how
To love something that's gone now
Love it when it's gone
When it's gone away
 
And all you ever know is how
To love something that's gone now
Love it when it's gone
When it’s gone away
 
When it’s gone away
When it’s gone away

“30 Feet Down” by Cameron Sage - A Song Feature

 

      Cameron Sage says that “30 Feet Down” reflects his naïve hopefulness in his thought process while going through a breakup. It is a life experience that too many of us have endured. But very few have the creative skills to exit with a work that functions as a source of pride.
 
     “30 Feet Down” begins with guitar with characteristics of the favorite Moon Taxi songs. The charismatic voice of Cameron Sage soon enters with analogies of his dread. While still in the first 30 seconds, the kick drum and guitar forcefully push the song forwardly.
 
      The lyrics are intelligent and the vocal emotion ensures that listeners remain invested. “30 Feet Down” does return to its more minimalistic, vocals-driven start at 2:14, then explodes into its conclusion 15 seconds later.
 
      Cameron Sage is based in Chicago, Illinois. “30 Feet Down” is his first release. Understandably, we’re looking forward to hearing more.
 
     “30 Feet Down” by Cameron Sage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameronSageMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cameronsage/

December Cleanin’ Out My Closet (of Deserving Songs) – Part 3

         At the end of each year, we look at the songs that have been listed for mention, but have undeservedly remained on the list for too long. Assuming we still find the songs blogworthy, we dedicate a post to them, although they may be in very different genres. 

     “Cold House” by Talk Show has the percussion-driven feel of an LCD Soundsystem single. Talk Show is based in South East London.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetalkshowband

     The Church continue to release albums after 40 years of being together, although with less frequency. “The Hypnogogue” won’t drop until 2023, but the title track is available. The Australian band explains, ““The Hypnogogue is the most Prog Rock thing we have ever done. We’ve also never had a concept album before. It is the most ‘teamwork record’ we have ever had. Everyone in the band is so justifiably proud of this record and everyone helped to make sure it was as good as it could be. Personally, I think it’s in our top three records.”

     “The Hypnogogue” by The Church

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechurchband

Website: https://www.thechurchband.net/

     New York-based Zianna tells us that "Bones" is a song about navigating the human experience and the journey to finding our purpose. It's about challenging the cyclical flow of nature through imagination, creativity and simplicity.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ziarrathesinger/

  

     "Aftermath" by Dan Harrison, a multi-instrumentalist from New Jersey. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danisharrison/

December Cleanin’ Out My Closet (of Deserving Songs) – Part 2

     This post features songs that should have been posted earlier and that have female lead vocals.

      Bryde is the performance name of Sarah Howells. She was born in Pembrokeshire, but is now based in London.

 
     Still (shadow) by Bryde

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brydeofficial
Website: https://www.brydemusic.com/home

      Indie Obsessive is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, but we have a soft spot for Des Moines, Iowa (long, mostly uninteresting story). Marissa Kephart and Scott Yoshimura are the duo elison.

     “Fruit Flies” by elison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elison.theband
Website: https://elisonmusic.com/

     SkyDxddy is Skylar DeMarino in Austin, Texas. SkyDxddy’s music is diverse, as she delivers intense alternative rock to melodic future pop anthems. 

 

     “Alive” by SkyDxddy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skydxddymusic/
Website: https://skydxddymusic.com/

     Otra comprises sisters Laura and Kara Malhotra. They are from Pacifica, California. Their album is due for release on February 10, 2023. Quoting content: “As the band ruminates on their purpose and sense of self, the tracks search for their own sonic identities - weaving and wandering erratically through a fogfest of hypnagogic synths, chaotic clarinets, haunting vocal stacks, crunchy guitars, and polyrhythmic earth.”

     “Repercussion Concussion” by Otra

Bandcamp: https://thirtysomethingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-that-way
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otratheduck/

     Natalia Salter is based in London, but also spends time in Valencia, Spain. Interestingly, she has roots in Peru. She says of “Million And One:”

  “This song is about how I’ve come to accept and embrace my mistakes and decided to choose to love myself in spite of them. ‘Million And One’ is a song for the sensitive souls, who are not afraid to be vulnerable.  It’s for the people who live in the grey and understand that people and this world are not black and white.“

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliaxsalter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NataliaXSalter

     Morgan Harper-Jones quips: “Pursuing music as a side to fund my knitting career.” She is based in Manchester, UK.
 
“Swimming Upstream” by Morgan Harper-Jones

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganharperjones/