Current Music - College Radio/Indie

[jholz]

As a big fan of music, I've enjoyed all of the trips down memory lane provided by the 70's, 80's, and 90's music threads. But...anyone listening to anything current? Here in Baltimore we have the benefit of WTMD - easily one of the best independent music stations in the country. I get tuned in to new things all the time. 

 

Here's a few recent tracks that I'm really into - but don't take these as indicative of my taste, I'm open to anything with a bit of thought and musicality to it:

 

 

 

 

The Petey track is my current favorite. Hoping to see him in NYC in December. Hopefully COVID will cooperate. 

 

If y'all have anything else to share, I'm all ears. 

[jholz]

I can see those tracks elicited quite the response. How about a change of pace:

 

 

 

 

[Petethreeput]

I tell you who I am really impressed with... Billy MF Strings.  He was recommended to me by a friend who likes much of the same music I do, and I was blown away.  He is decidedly bluegrass, but during live he shows he can do so much more, and it was really, really good... and I don't really like bluegrass.  I am not convinced I would buy an album of his, but if he is in my neck of the woods, I would not hesitate to go see him again... and again.

To give you another idea and to show just how much I appreciated Billy Strings, I really enjoy Jack White.  I like his funky change of paces in every song, and not unlike Neil Young who I do not believe is a classically trained vocalist, I think Jack falls in the same category.  Anyone who can produce like that with the "different" voice I really respect and I think it really speaks to his talent.

 

A while ago I noted months (maybe years ago), many of the new music is pumped through a machine to get the "popular" groove, and then the vocalist is vanilla.  Of course there are some great vocalist, but the great American Idolization of vocals has really put its stamp on the current music scene.  It took a while, but I think those kids who grew up watching the show are now thinking imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and imitation is the name of the game.

 

[jholz]

21 minutes ago, Petethreeput said:

I tell you who I am really impressed with... Billy MF Strings.  He was recommended to me by a friend who likes much of the same music I do, and I was blown away.  He is decidedly bluegrass, but during live he shows he can do so much more, and it was really, really good... and I don't really like bluegrass.  I am not convinced I would buy an album of his, but if he is in my neck of the woods, I would not hesitate to go see him again... and again.

To give you another idea and to show just how much I appreciated Billy Strings, I really enjoy Jack White.  I like his funky change of paces in every song, and not unlike Neil Young who I do not believe is a classically trained vocalist, I think Jack falls in the same category.  Anyone who can produce like that with the "different" voice I really respect and I think it really speaks to his talent.

 

A while ago I noted months (maybe years ago), many of the new music is pumped through a machine to get the "popular" groove, and then the vocalist is vanilla.  Of course there are some great vocalist, but the great American Idolization of vocals has really put its stamp on the current music scene.  It took a while, but I think those kids who grew up watching the show are now thinking imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and imitation is the name of the game.

 

 

Yeah, it is an interesting thing. I think there is a difference between being a great technical musician and producing a solid song. Billy Strings shows himself at his best (IMHO) when interpreting the work of others, not producing original music. Billy Strings is obviously a very talented musician, but I don't necessarily see him pushing either his genre or popular music in general.

 

Conversely, I think very mediocre technical musicians can produce some really great songs. 

 

Sometimes you get the two together - like Les Claypool. Les Claypool is essentially Jacko Pastori with the ability to write a decent song. Way too many musicians get stuck on technicality and forget that it still needs to sound good. 

[jholz]

Here's a few additional favorites - most from a few years back:

 

The first is Bhi Bhiman, a very talented guitarist and songwriter. He also does a great cover of Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns, and Money":

 

 

After that my favorite track from rather prolific British band Wolf Alice:

 

 

To stick with the British theme, North Shield's own, Sam Fender. I can't speak to the dude's entire catalog, but this is a rocking tune:

 

 

And finally, who would have thought such great music would come out of Nebraska (and I'm keeping 311 in mind...)?

 

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by jholz

[Qqq123xx]

Been into these two for a while. Jenn Wasner is something else. Such talent. Andy Stack lets play drums, keyboard and sing at the same time. 🤩💥. 

 

 

 

[Qqq123xx]

And here's Wasner's project Flock of Dimes. 

 

 

[jholz]

18 minutes ago, Qqq123xx said:

Been into these two for a while. Jenn Wasner is something else. Such talent. Andy Stack lets play drums, keyboard and sing at the same time. 🤩💥. 

 

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Qqq123xx said:

And here's Wasner's project Flock of Dimes. 

 

 

 

Yeah! Hear a ton of these two projects on WTMD, for sure. B'more bands. Some great music has and continues to come out of here - Future Islands and Snail Mail are a couple of other notable talents. 

[Hankshank]

A lot of promising stuff here from my pow. Being an old amateur musician I try to listen to a lot of off mainstream music as years progresses. Having a strong rock/boogie soul I really liked the Indie around 2010, stuff like the Strokes, Yeah yeah yeahs and Bombay Bicycle Club. The indie scene pogressed to be a little too nice for me, electronic, loads of reverb. I’m more in to pub atmosphere than church ditto. I find a lot of the posts here refreshing.

Edited November 12, 2021 by Hankshank

[sonvolt22]

Geese, a bunch of teenagers from Brooklyn. Very good debut album just out, Projector. They describe the vibe best, Radiohead meets prog rock with some of Interpol’s attitude.

[Hankshank]

Just the kind of young guys one is looking for. Liked the album, not least the actual Projector song.
 

Guitars, and raw studio feel still seem, to work. The Decca boss statement is still not a fact. 
 

Keeping my eyes open for stuff like this to happen again:

 

 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Hankshank

[TM4me]

I live in the Annapolis area and listen to WRNR 103.1.  Not as indie as college radio but a great station where I find new music.

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2021 by TM4me

[TM4me]

Black Pumas  - Colors (acoustic)

 

 

[TM4me]

Elle King - Ex's & Oh's

 

 

[TM4me]

Marian Hill - Down

 

 

[TM4me]

Marian Hill - One Time

 

 

[TM4me]

Irontom - Be Bold Like Elijah

 

 

[jholz]

On 11/13/2021 at 8:33 AM, TM4me said:

I live in the Annapolis area and listen to WRNR 103.1.  Not as indie as college radio but a great station where I find new music.

 

 

 

 

Yes! WRNR is actually my backup. Reception depends on the weather and how far south you are in Baltimore, but I'm generally happy when I can pick it up. 

[jholz]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:01 AM, TM4me said:

Elle King - Ex's & Oh's

 

 

 

Such a catchy track. Love Elle King. 

[jholz]

On 11/13/2021 at 8:39 AM, TM4me said:

Black Pumas  - Colors (acoustic)

 

 

 

Another great track. Love this song as well. 

[jholz]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:31 AM, TM4me said:

Marian Hill - One Time

 

 

 

Haven't come across these folks before. Thanks for bringing them to my attention. A little pop-y for my tastes, but I can see the potential. I imagine if I search their tracks enough, I'll find something I like. 

[jholz]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:56 AM, TM4me said:

Irontom - Be Bold Like Elijah

 

 

 

Wow. I don't know what to say. Can't complain about the skating and is that Adam Driver?!? Still just a tad weird for my tastes on this track, but again I can see the potential. Need to delve into these guys a bit more. Thanks again! I always love to come across things I haven't heard before!

[jholz]

Good stuff everyone. Glad to see there's some interest in this line of music. Lots of the usual suspects here plus some new ones. Thanks to all of you!

 

Just to keep the skateboarding theme rolling here's a couple of tracks that I was introduced to through skate videos - namely NB Numeric skateboarding...

 

First, Josh Harmony, used to be pro for Toy Machine and hell of a musician IMHO. Must suck to be that talented...

 

Second, I don't know much about this dude and can't speak to his entire catalog, but this song rocks:

 

 

And a personal favorite, not skateboarding related, but a great band. Saw them in Philly right before the pandemic. Great show:

 

 

And a throwback favorite. Ah, Matt and Kim, how can you complain?

 

 

[jholz]

On 11/12/2021 at 6:11 PM, sonvolt22 said:

Geese, a bunch of teenagers from Brooklyn. Very good debut album just out, Projector. They describe the vibe best, Radiohead meets prog rock with some of Interpol’s attitude.

 

Interesting. Lots of cool things going on in Brooklyn for sure. I'll have to check these dudes out. Thank you!

[jholz]

On 11/12/2021 at 5:32 PM, Hankshank said:

A lot of promising stuff here from my pow. Being an old amateur musician I try to listen to a lot of off mainstream music as years progresses. Having a strong rock/boogie soul I really liked the Indie around 2010, stuff like the Strokes, Yeah yeah yeahs and Bombay Bicycle Club. The indie scene pogressed to be a little too nice for me, electronic, loads of reverb. I’m more in to pub atmosphere than church ditto. I find a lot of the posts here refreshing.

 

Yeah man, that was a good era of indie music. Saw The Strokes in Denver a few times, and enjoyed a number of tracks from Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and Bombay Cycle Club. 

 

I was listening to a lot of Modest Mouse and Built to Spill during that era.

 

Pinback is a great band that was gaining some attention at that time. They were great live. Saw them at the Bluebird in Denver twice. Here's one of my faves from them...

 

 

 

[jholz]

And sorry, can't resist...

 

One of the best, can't ever find it, underground skate video tracks of all time... The Knife Song. If you don't know, then you just don't know.

 

 

[Qqq123xx]

1 hour ago, jholz said:

Good stuff everyone. Glad to see there's some interest in this line of music. Lots of the usual suspects here plus some new ones. Thanks to all of you!

 

Just to keep the skateboarding theme rolling here's a couple of tracks that I was introduced to through skate videos - namely NB Numeric skateboarding...

 

First, Josh Harmony, used to be pro for Toy Machine and hell of a musician IMHO. Must suck to be that talented...

 

Second, I don't know much about this dude and can't speak to his entire catalog, but this song rocks:

 

 

And a personal favorite, not skateboarding related, but a great band. Saw them in Philly right before the pandemic. Great show:

 

 

And a throwback favorite. Ah, Matt and Kim, how can you complain?

 

 

 

Tracy Bryant has some 80/90's Cure flavor. Good stuff. 

[jholz]

43 minutes ago, Qqq123xx said:

 

Tracy Bryant has some 80/90's Cure flavor. Good stuff. 

 

Yeah man, definitely. That guitar and the voice. Reminds you of someone, but you just can't place it.

 

From the best I can tell he's located in L.A. I've tried some of his other tracks, but this is the one that resonates most with me. 

 

[Uncle_Buck2]

If you like the Petey song, you'd definitely like LCD Soundsystem if you're not into them already. If you like the EDM/Indie vibe, here's a few:

 

 

[TiScape]

On 11/12/2021 at 9:29 AM, jholz said:

Here's a few additional favorites - most from a few years back:

 

The first is Bhi Bhiman, a very talented guitarist and songwriter. He also does a great cover of Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns, and Money":

 

 

After that my favorite track from rather prolific British band Wolf Alice:

 

 

To stick with the British theme, North Shield's own, Sam Fender. I can't speak to the dude's entire catalog, but this is a rocking tune:

 

 

And finally, who would have thought such great music would come out of Nebraska (and I'm keeping 311 in mind...)?

 

 

 

 

I’ve been listening to Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) for several years. Here are a couple from ‘05

 

Edited November 18, 2021 by TiScape