There are two very alive “scenes” in Indianapolis, the DIY, My Old Kentucky Blog fueled, the tight knit band-of-brothers group that call the wasteland of Fountain Square home and the underground beats guys that A-Squared and M-80 continually breath life into.
With no offense to the bands I love and the shows I get all geeked out about but the Hip-Hop scene is by far the more exciting of the two with their indefinable presence of “Cool”, not to mention they are the most accepting of the artistic niche’s in Indianapolis. Knowing this, being around it, I still haven’t been doing much to help that aspect of Indy music get recognition.
Other than a few random songs I’ve strayed from posting any hip-hop tracks on heycoolkid!. This hasn’t been from any biased stand point or even from personal preference it’s just that usually rap songs stick out and come across as unnecessary when sitting between low-fi and chillwave songs.
Basically this post is an apology.
So here’s what’s been mixed in on my personal playlists over the last few months.
All songs are for promotion purposes only, I own no rights. If you or an artist you represent would like content removed send me an email or leave a comment. Know that I will continue in the future to only refer to you or the artist you represent negatively focusing on your desire to make money instead of art.
“Wilderness Eyes” is a song that from the first note I knew I was in love with. This is the kind of song I’m likely to hit repeat on and just let it play over and over. 41st and Home‘s sound is obviously Vancouverish. I had hoped when I started looking them up to find they were from Montana or something but no dice, they are without a doubt from our Northern Border which is not a negative, I just can’t help but wonder why bands only get this sound when they are Canadian.
This video changes the meaning of the song completely which is one of the greatest things about putting music to an image. Where “Wilderness Eyes” had weight once connected with the video it now has purpose. The video makes me uncontrollably sad especially the scene with the Jeep which I honestly could write ten thousand words on and barely hit the surface but I’ll leave that for another day, if you understand where I’m coming from, fine, if not you’ll take your own thing from the footage and that may even be a better angle.
This is one track that I’d almost written off, not for lack of style or for not enjoying it but merely for how close to commercial “Pop” it sways towards at certain points but there’s complete redemption at 2:05 which although touching on that scream0-pop format of 2005 still comes across as a fresh idea and even more the texture in the vocals are dripping in fresh souls blood.
I know there are nearly four months left in 2011 but I’m going to go on and say that the “Comrad Plymouth EP” will be on the best albums of 2011 list. The EP looks to be the last taste of Conrad Plymouth, ie Christopher Porterfied, before we get the full installment of Conrad Plymouth the band. This is my favorite Porterfield song by and far, it strikes a nerve somewhere deep within myself and resonates there.
Dreamers Of The Ghetto have been one of the few bands I’ve pushed heavily throughout 2011 (link) . These guys (and girl) have put in the work and they are right on the cusp of making that transition into something huge. They just released their first 7″ promoting this song with a video to go along with it. I feel I’m slacking for having put up “Tether” three times now since they create great music and not just one great song but there’s plenty of time to get to the rest of the good stuff.
Nerves Junior are everywhere. Each Day it seems they pop-up on a new site or I hear someone mentioning them. They are this falls’ 1,2,3 and they have the sound to back up the hype.
This is the ideal video for this song, not because it is incredible but because it is real, fan made real, and that is what the strength of Math And Physics Club songs really is, especially when it comes to “Weekends Away”
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Thanks to everyone for the great support lately. When I started Heycoolkid! I never thought people would be as positive towards this site or that it would take off as quickly as it has, especially over the last three months.
I’ve got two playlists coming up this week that should be solid so stop by before the weekend for sure.
As usual… I do not own any of the music on this page. I put it up for strictly promotional purposes knowing that it’s impossible to give a band a solid listen through streaming only. If you are/represent an artist on the page and don’t like postive free promotion let me know and I’ll gladly take the song down. Art is more important than the artists and if we don’t agree on that then you are probably in music for the wrong reasons and I want no part of it.
If there is any music I’m missing or missing the point on let me know.
The Submarines remind me of what Matt and Kim would be like if they weren’t so preoccupied by pretending to be cool or Yacht if they weren’t trying to prove how “completely scene” they are. This song is perfect for anyone wanting to deal with a break-up without having to get all 2003 emo about about it.
If Miike Snow produces a song you can count on two things; the song will be more than worth your time to listen and it will be infectiously catchy. The tone of the vocals with it’s syrupy chillness is what first magnetized me to this song in the first place, they could very possibly be the best sounding vocals this year.
Sometimes it’s good to be heard and Seen. Tarek Musa steps away from his usual role as engineer/producer and leaks a few of his own tracks. Personally I think he should put the day job on hold for a few minutes.
Everything about this song is well placed and even better sounding. It’s got each ingredient of an ideal indie song; a solid hook without being overly repetitive, clap along sections, keys that work as the backbone, and a flow that keeps the song constantly changing. It’s a song that motivates me to get moving not to mention how sing-along-worthy it is, and to finish “It’s Alright, Follow” off it closes with background vocals that are intense and passionate.
I just got an email from Charlie Sheen and all it said was “winning”.
As I promised on Monday, here is Youth Lagoon’s “Cannons.” This and “July” are such great songs, I’m glad he chose to hand them out as a pair because between the two you really get an ideal picture of how great Trevor Powers is and how much talent he is working with.
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Youth Lagoon just put out his new video for “Montana.” I’m surprised by the similarities between it and the Air Review video for “America’s Son” that I’ve been stoked about for a few weeks now. Both will be on my favorite videos of 2011 list and both have very aligned dynamics about them. I realize music videos regularly have shared themes and messages, but for how “out of the box” these two are it’s strange for them to have so much in common.
I first leaked the live audio for this song back in May in the Dear Ryan, We Knew You Couldn’t Stay Gone Long post. I had real concerns about Ryan choosing Glyn Johns to record the upcoming album. Ryan obviously knows more than I do because from what’s leaked so far this album will be his best album of his career. Feel free to argue with me but, and I don’t say this very often, you are wrong. “Lucky Now” sounds better than the best Whiskeytown song and as solid as anything he’s ever put out. He just put up a live video of the title track “Ashes and Fire” which completely sold me on the potential of the new album. Here’s it is:
In reviewing one of the new Megafaun songs I mentioned how we are in the midst of seeing the shift from early to late seventies music happening all over again. As soon as I’d posted the review I realized that I’d forgotten to cite “Little Bit Of Everything” as an example. This song is heavily influenced by Jackson Browne whether Dawes know it or not. Jackson is one of the great songwriters in American history and also one of the most underrated so I’m secretly hoping this new paradigm shift brings about a resurgence of interest. All influences and genres aside this is an amazing song in itself, you really should give this one an undivided listen.
If there were one band that could cover a song and make it better than the original I don’t think any of us would be surprised for it to be Grizzly Bear. Hot chip put down some solid ground work with the original and Grizzly Bear shake the excess and bring their own artistic touch to light, creating an amazing acoustic version of “Boy From School.”
Usually I don’t find it difficult to express why a certain song is my favorite on a playlist, yet I can’t put into words what captures me about “Flight Takes Thought.” It steals my attention whenever it comes on and I can’t do anything other than just sit down and give it my entire focus. There’s magic in the vocals and the emotion is so raw and captured, it’s captivating.
Germany’s A Little Nothing are new to me. This is the first song I’ve heard from them. For as acoustic as “The Start” comes across on first listen when you really dissect what they’ve done in three minutes has a very techno based composition that although subtle is very impressive.
Although “Who Knows Who Knows” is the song I would like everyone to hear, at the same time I’m really just wanting people to experience the abilities that Sunny Pompeii possess. Here’s my write up on the song on its own . Here’s a video to express their range:
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All songs are for promotion use only. If you are/represent an artist on the page and would like it removed I’ll be more than content to do it and at the same time never recommend the music in a positive light again.
Also if there is any music I’m missing or missing the point of let me know.
Like an upbeat Quick Said The Bird, Mother Falcon are incredibly talented musicians who understand the importance of being part of a whole. Nothing escapes from the ether yet at the same time every note in this song is incredible. The vocal round-about does me in more than any other aspect of “Fireflies” reminding me of a mature Lydia who at one point in time I was obsessed with.
This is the title track fromScattered Trees‘ absolutely incredible album which was penned after the death of lead singer Nate Eiesland’s father. The entire album embodies every aspect of emotion possible. As with some of the greatest art ever created if you give an artist something so powerful they need to find a release, a way to make sense of things uncontrollable, somehow it manifests into something great.
Youth Lagoon’s new album “The Year Of Hibernation” comes out on the 27th. This is one of two free tracks they’ve handed out from it (I’ll be featuring “cannons” on the next post). The strength of “July” is how they slow play it until two and a half minutes in and then begin transforming it into this explosion of foot tapping pent up emotion that doesn’t let up until it has developed into this “intenses plénitude atmosphériques” that dissipates into a vacuum of longing. Trevor Powers has figured it out.
From the opening “wait until i get home before you walk out my life” to the “I don’t need your help I can feel helpless on my own” of the bridge “Coffee” is a song that deals with a break up from the bands perspective. From line to line you get a full take on a typical adult relationship of thinking we need someone, to realizing we need that person only until we find someone we need more, and dealing with the balancing act of the lives we choose and the people who come along after those choices who are expected to sit on the sidelines playing second-string to a dream. Basically it’s the indie version of kiss’ “Beth“
I’ve been keeping an eye on Neighbors ever since I came across “Hooligans” last February. “From the first clap in you can tell “August” is going in a direction you want to follow. I’ve been listening to it on repeat for nearly a half hour now and it’s yet to lose the magnetism.Neighbors’ entire EP of the same title is just as attention-demanding as this song, get it for free through their Bandcamp. “-(via)
This is the most addicting track I’ve heard in months. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, when this song comes on I’m dancing. Two notes from the opening synth and I start telling myself “Not this time. You’re not dancing this time” then out of nowhere Kevin Cronin shows up and is holding my hand reminding me “I can’t fight this feeling anymore” and suddenly I’m in some lame eighties movie dancing while hanging clothes up. I picture my roommates walking in “are you dancing with the swiffer?” “um,no. Were YOU dancing with the swiffer?” then without warning I’m playing air-guitar along with the sickest sounding lead in a pop song since I hit puberty.
If I said two words; the first being “Swedish” what would the second be? Yes pop music and swedes go together like chucks and thirty year old men who think they’re still relevant. What? Would you have preferred sluts and Ke$ha or maybe gay pride rallies and Lady Gaga? The point is “New Work” is another example of world dominance from a country I couldn’t find on a globe if my life depended on it. I’m guessing it’s not in Africa or the middle-east and probably not in Texas… “I’d like to phone a friend Regis .” This song does prove that if you take Jay-Z and that chick without any talent off of “New York” and then let someone with actual mixing skills get their hands a little dirty it actually begins to sound rather good. Although, if i have to sit through the last thirty seconds of talking at the end of this track one more time I may never listen to it again…just quit talking. “this is my life yadayadayada cool sweet whatever.Holy annoying delay batman. ( I first heard it here)
Basically this song should be called Eagles Of Death Metal go Pop. Why is Jesse Hughes so good at dissecting genre’s and then creatively turning them on themselves? It’s like forcing someone on acid to stare into a mirror. Hell I don’t even like AC/DC but the sample-esque lead is a nice touch.
I probably like this video so much because of a running stoned conversation that took place between three of my friends that encompassed all of 2003.
This is the first I’ve heard from Dawn Landes. I’ve gathered enough about her to be suspect about her “talent” since she’s got an audio engineers background. which is basically the music version of “those who can’t write edit.” She’s married to Josh Ritter who rides the fence of respect with me. It’s just hard to dig someone when you’re not sure whether their overall ambition is artistic or for recognition. I know from reading that it would probably seem that I’m being negative. I promise I’m not. If I didn’t respect this song I wouldn’t promote or try to get others to listen to it. I’m just saying that Dawn Landes is on my radar and the jury’s out until I hear what the next album sounds like.
I REALLY like this song. I’m nervous that some worthless WB / MTV show whose target audience is basically teenage girls with down syndrome will end up destroying this for me. It just sounds like one of those songs you’d hear playing over some commercial advertising the next weeks episode of “The Hills” where after a break up some unimportant person is going to be crying until they black out drunk in a limo. I kind of hope this ends up being on the new “footloose” movie though because that seems like an ideal fit.
I spent most of my life hating “the boss” and then one morning something just clicked and ever since I’ve been a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. I’ve heard enough covers of this song to make me nauseous, or at least should make me nauseous, I still give each one a chance though. As with most “I’m On Fire” covers this one sounds nearly identical to the original but I appreciate the White Arrows seventies punk-pop twangish touch which actually adds to the song where as most often when bands try to accent Springsteen you can’t help but scratch you head and ask “why.”
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All songs are for promotion only. I do not own any of these songs. If you like one of the songs get to know the band, check out a show, buy the vinyl or at least tell a friend. If you are/represent an artist whose music is on this page and would like it removed just send me an email and I’ll be more than happy to both remove it and recommend them in a negative light from now until the rapture. If there’s anything I’m missing or missing the point on let me know.
