Red = album worth listening to Black = The song is either a single or one of the few good tracks
Mumford And Sons - Believe
This is perhaps the most interesting one for me. When the London Other notable songs in the album: The Wolf, Tomkins Square Park, Wilder Mind
The Academic - Sometimes
A song from the easier-listening side of the indie world with the latest E.P from the emerging Irish quartet who are just a year into a record deal and set to release their first full album in 2016. The guitar is simply strummed and low-key, accompanied by softly sung vocals which contribute towards a generally mellow sound. This allows them to strike a nice balance between relaxing and captivating and avoids that characterless quality which affects many indie bands today.
The Offspring- Coming For You
A song from the easier-listening side of the indie world with the latest E.P from the emerging Irish quartet who are just a year into a record deal and set to release their first full album in 2016. The guitar is simply strummed and low-key, accompanied by softly sung vocals which contribute towards a generally mellow sound. This allows them to strike a nice balance between relaxing and captivating and avoids that characterless quality which affects many indie bands today.
The Offspring- Coming For You
2015 saw, after over 25 years since the release of their self-titled début, the return of these pop-punk giants with another single which, I think cements itself alongside some of their biggest tunes including You're Gonna Go Far Kid, Self Esteem and Want You Bad. The song deviates from the classically mundane lyric content that pop-punk boasts with Dexter Holland remarking that it is about 'the government keeping you down' prior to the single's release. Perhaps this signifies more of a potentially political edge to The Offspring's new material. The song certainly sports a heavier side to their sound with a more prominent bass line and a more traditional rock and roll guitar solo while retaining those 'hey's and 'hell yeah's beloved by their fans.
Dinosaur Pile-up - Eleven Eleven
The best intro of the year goes to this Leeds-originating heavy rock outfit. A blend of more classic rock riffs, the grumbling guitars of grunge and aggressively tuneful vocals of punk, Dinosaur Pile-up offer an impossibly rowdy song which can barely be confined to the constraints of it's 'alt-rock' labelling. The result of such a wide combination of styles produce a song which will have you on your feet and ready to smash something in no time. It's stop-start, reverberating guitar riff, thrashing drums and simplistic lyrics bring the spirit of the mosh pit to your (now throbbing) ears.
Slaves - Sugar Coated Bitter Truth
Dinosaur Pile-up - Eleven Eleven
The best intro of the year goes to this Leeds-originating heavy rock outfit. A blend of more classic rock riffs, the grumbling guitars of grunge and aggressively tuneful vocals of punk, Dinosaur Pile-up offer an impossibly rowdy song which can barely be confined to the constraints of it's 'alt-rock' labelling. The result of such a wide combination of styles produce a song which will have you on your feet and ready to smash something in no time. It's stop-start, reverberating guitar riff, thrashing drums and simplistic lyrics bring the spirit of the mosh pit to your (now throbbing) ears.
I've raved enough about this band during the year so if you'd like to read a more general review, you can do so here. This track is one of my favourites, simply because it shows off some of Slaves' versatility. Its paranoid, conspiracy theory-themed lyrics and slightly more intricate guitar melody seem like the perfect way to end what is a n enormous début. However, just as they've lulled you into a false sense of security with the song's relatively peaceful opening, in true Slaves fashion it builds to a roaring crescendo.
Stereophonics - Sunny
From alt rock newcomers to figureheads of the more mainstream genre, the Welsh four-piece released their ninth studio album Keep The Village Alive earlier this year. Packed with soothing ballads and careful guitar arrangements, Stereophonics haven't deviated too greatly from what is a proven winning formula. Kelly Jones' incredible voice, as usual, carries the album with this song an outstanding example of his true vocal range from low pitched gruffness to soaring falsettos. Sunny even features an extended guitar solo, something virtually unheard of in a Stereophonics record.
Other Notable Songs: C'est La Vie, Mr And Mrs Smith, I Want To Get Lost With You
Vant - Do You Know Me / Parasite
This band somehow manages to sound familiar and incomparable at the same time. The frantic tempo of the guitars and machine gun drums compliments the brash, care-free vocals of front man Mattie Vant giving their sound a lazy, casual quality despite the franticness of the backing instruments. Since all of their songs are under three minutes in duration (Parasite lasting just 1.26) you're treated to a short sharp burst of energy which draws to an abrupt standstill before you even know what's going on. The pace is so furious that the songs almost seem to be in fast forward which only acts to enhance the band's appeal in my eyes.
21 Pilots- Stressed Out
It would take a brave man to try and classify 21 Pilots with a genre. I'm not so I won't. The strange, quivering vocals of Tyler Joseph take on a variety of styles depending on the song: sometimes its emotional pop-punk, at others a more classic pop voice and occasionally you'll get a cheeky spoken word rap verse in there as well. The accompaniment is mostly synthetic with a rumbling bass line which, in this song, fits nicely with the deadpan vocals. Listening to the whole album, you're not likely to like every track but there really is something for virtually everyone and this song was a personal favourite for me.
Wonder Years - Cardinals
Proof that pop-punk can be intelligent. The Wonder Years have always boasted poetic lyrics, a tendency to avoid overproduction and generally a darker, more genuinely emotional focus. It was always going to be tricky to follow up 2013's sensational 'The Greatest Generation' with No Closer To Heaven released late last year. While not necessarily 'better' than the last record, it certainly dealt with much more sensitive lyric content and Cardinals is a prominent example of this. The Bridge: "We're no saviours if we can't save our brothers" sums up the overriding theme of the track yet the production team have still been able combine this with a more outreaching, catchy chorus. As a result, Cardinals is as impressive for its craft as it is for its lyrical content.
The Hunna - Bonfire
Despite a truly shocking name and frequent use of words like 'Squaaaaad' and 'turnt' on their social media posts, the London quartet are showing huge promise in the indie-pop scene. They were formed just this year with Bonfire the title of their début E.P. with label, High Time Records and an album set for release this year. I'm imagining that their use of those dreadful words is an attempt to tap into more of a 'pop' following yet the undeniable catchiness of those songs should be enough to see them through anyway. Unfortunately, the echoing, anthemic qualities seen in this song simply aren't there in any of their other tracks but it's still just early days for this group.
The Top 5
Highly Suspect - Lydia
Dubbed by many as America's answer to Royal Blood, Massachusetts' Highly Suspect are carving a name for themselves in their home country but are yet to taste real success on our side of the Atlantic. Comparisons have already been made to some huge names in rock including Kings of Leon (thanks to Stevens' husky vocals) and even Queens Of The Stone Age for their outlandish, high pitched synthesised guitar solos. Their outstanding single Lydia has deservedly commanded a storm of critical recognition for its undeniable power but more importantly an intoxicating classic rock charm.
Other Notable Songs: Bath Salts, Bloodfeather, Mom
A$AP Rocky- Wavybone
It's incredibly rare for me to find a rap album in which I'd struggle to choose a favourite song; it was the case with Dr Dre's Chronic 2001 and Jay-Z/Kanye West's Watch The Throne to exemplify the calibre I'm looking for. Rocky's second album At Long Last A$AP easily sits alongside those massive names, a display of the brave experimentalism which is powering the current growth of hip-hop towards popular musical dominance. The record as a whole has a hypnotic feel to it (almost resembling an hour-long L$D trip) with the echoing vocals, artificially low-pitch grunts and strange instrumental melodies. It's also nice to see Rocky making use of more traditional instruments like acoustic and electric guitars in his backing samples which accompany his impeccable flow which hooks you in as a listener. Wavybone represents a short break from the acid trip giving us more of an insight to the inspiration behind his lyrics as well as some clever sampling for the chorus. The verses from Juicy J and UGK are also a nice inclusion.
Other notable songs: Jukebox Joints, Canal St, Electric Body, M'$
Other Notable Songs: Honey Whiskey, Itch, Wake Up Call, Trip Switch
Neck Deep - Can't Kick Up The Roots
Stereophonics - Sunny
From alt rock newcomers to figureheads of the more mainstream genre, the Welsh four-piece released their ninth studio album Keep The Village Alive earlier this year. Packed with soothing ballads and careful guitar arrangements, Stereophonics haven't deviated too greatly from what is a proven winning formula. Kelly Jones' incredible voice, as usual, carries the album with this song an outstanding example of his true vocal range from low pitched gruffness to soaring falsettos. Sunny even features an extended guitar solo, something virtually unheard of in a Stereophonics record.
Other Notable Songs: C'est La Vie, Mr And Mrs Smith, I Want To Get Lost With YouVant - Do You Know Me / Parasite
This band somehow manages to sound familiar and incomparable at the same time. The frantic tempo of the guitars and machine gun drums compliments the brash, care-free vocals of front man Mattie Vant giving their sound a lazy, casual quality despite the franticness of the backing instruments. Since all of their songs are under three minutes in duration (Parasite lasting just 1.26) you're treated to a short sharp burst of energy which draws to an abrupt standstill before you even know what's going on. The pace is so furious that the songs almost seem to be in fast forward which only acts to enhance the band's appeal in my eyes.21 Pilots- Stressed Out
It would take a brave man to try and classify 21 Pilots with a genre. I'm not so I won't. The strange, quivering vocals of Tyler Joseph take on a variety of styles depending on the song: sometimes its emotional pop-punk, at others a more classic pop voice and occasionally you'll get a cheeky spoken word rap verse in there as well. The accompaniment is mostly synthetic with a rumbling bass line which, in this song, fits nicely with the deadpan vocals. Listening to the whole album, you're not likely to like every track but there really is something for virtually everyone and this song was a personal favourite for me.
Wonder Years - Cardinals
Proof that pop-punk can be intelligent. The Wonder Years have always boasted poetic lyrics, a tendency to avoid overproduction and generally a darker, more genuinely emotional focus. It was always going to be tricky to follow up 2013's sensational 'The Greatest Generation' with No Closer To Heaven released late last year. While not necessarily 'better' than the last record, it certainly dealt with much more sensitive lyric content and Cardinals is a prominent example of this. The Bridge: "We're no saviours if we can't save our brothers" sums up the overriding theme of the track yet the production team have still been able combine this with a more outreaching, catchy chorus. As a result, Cardinals is as impressive for its craft as it is for its lyrical content.
The Hunna - Bonfire
Despite a truly shocking name and frequent use of words like 'Squaaaaad' and 'turnt' on their social media posts, the London quartet are showing huge promise in the indie-pop scene. They were formed just this year with Bonfire the title of their début E.P. with label, High Time Records and an album set for release this year. I'm imagining that their use of those dreadful words is an attempt to tap into more of a 'pop' following yet the undeniable catchiness of those songs should be enough to see them through anyway. Unfortunately, the echoing, anthemic qualities seen in this song simply aren't there in any of their other tracks but it's still just early days for this group.The Top 5
Highly Suspect - Lydia
Dubbed by many as America's answer to Royal Blood, Massachusetts' Highly Suspect are carving a name for themselves in their home country but are yet to taste real success on our side of the Atlantic. Comparisons have already been made to some huge names in rock including Kings of Leon (thanks to Stevens' husky vocals) and even Queens Of The Stone Age for their outlandish, high pitched synthesised guitar solos. Their outstanding single Lydia has deservedly commanded a storm of critical recognition for its undeniable power but more importantly an intoxicating classic rock charm.
Other Notable Songs: Bath Salts, Bloodfeather, Mom
A$AP Rocky- Wavybone
It's incredibly rare for me to find a rap album in which I'd struggle to choose a favourite song; it was the case with Dr Dre's Chronic 2001 and Jay-Z/Kanye West's Watch The Throne to exemplify the calibre I'm looking for. Rocky's second album At Long Last A$AP easily sits alongside those massive names, a display of the brave experimentalism which is powering the current growth of hip-hop towards popular musical dominance. The record as a whole has a hypnotic feel to it (almost resembling an hour-long L$D trip) with the echoing vocals, artificially low-pitch grunts and strange instrumental melodies. It's also nice to see Rocky making use of more traditional instruments like acoustic and electric guitars in his backing samples which accompany his impeccable flow which hooks you in as a listener. Wavybone represents a short break from the acid trip giving us more of an insight to the inspiration behind his lyrics as well as some clever sampling for the chorus. The verses from Juicy J and UGK are also a nice inclusion.
Other notable songs: Jukebox Joints, Canal St, Electric Body, M'$
Nothing But Thieves - Ban All The Music
The second song in possibly the best indie rock album of the year from the incredibly talented and original Essex hailing quintet Nothing But Thieves. They have a versatility to their sound, with particular reference to singer Connor Mason who has, without doubt, one of the best rock voices in music today and will be a catalyst for their impending success. Mason's voice brings what can only be described as a fiery delicacy to their songs, blending soaring operatic falsettos with rawer, more familiar rock screams. The band have drawn comparisons to a range of massive names including The Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Royal Blood if you like this song, be sure to check out their self-titled album
Other Notable Songs: Honey Whiskey, Itch, Wake Up Call, Trip Switch
Neck Deep - Can't Kick Up The Roots
Overall, probably my favourite album of the year, Neck Deep's Life's Not Out To Get You is the emotionally perceptive, harmony-infested follow-up to début: Wishful Thinking. My full review of the whole album can be read here on Ultimateguitar.com (the second one). This track, the opener to the record is a down to earth, fondly reminiscent ode to their home town of Wrexham and one of the most catchy songs the genre has to offer.
Other notable songs: Gold Steps, Threat Level Midnight, Kali Ma, December
Everything Everything - To The Blade
An entry from certainly one of the most original (a more polite way of saying strange) bands of the year, with a tendency to wear uniform and sing in incomprehensible English. Combining the electronic drum beats and electronic synthesisers more familiar in dance music with the intelligent lyrics and soft harmonies of an indie band, they create a distinctive sound which seems to fit perfectly with their peculiar dress sense. This song is "written as a letter to someone who is close a person who's done something terrible" and is testament to the politically-tuned, analytic lyrics which are my favourite feature about the album.
Other notable songs: Gold Steps, Threat Level Midnight, Kali Ma, December
Everything Everything - To The Blade
An entry from certainly one of the most original (a more polite way of saying strange) bands of the year, with a tendency to wear uniform and sing in incomprehensible English. Combining the electronic drum beats and electronic synthesisers more familiar in dance music with the intelligent lyrics and soft harmonies of an indie band, they create a distinctive sound which seems to fit perfectly with their peculiar dress sense. This song is "written as a letter to someone who is close a person who's done something terrible" and is testament to the politically-tuned, analytic lyrics which are my favourite feature about the album.
Other Notable Songs: Regret, Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread, Distant Past, No Reptiles
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