Jangly guitar pop and clever lyrics set this band apart, as their album explores themes like loss and creating your own path to happiness.
Fans of alternative indie music must add this album to their library. The band blends elements of folk, rock and electronica music to produce a distinct sound.
The Decemberists
When it comes to indie folk music, The Decemberists stand out as one of the top bands. Comparable to Fairport Convention and Dylan Thomas in terms of frontman Colin Meloy’s lyrics being highly emotive and imaginative. There is an incredible balance of power within their lineup with each member contributing his unique strengths towards creating odd yet melodious tunes with traditional elements that seem quite traditional as well.
Meloy was dismayed to hear open mic performances filled with nothing more than boring dreck, so he formed his own band: the Decemberists after an 18th century Russian uprising. Over several releases they refined their sound until their debut full-length album Castaways and Cutouts received widespread acclaim.
Picaresque set the standard high for The Decemberists when it came out two full-length albums later, as its expansive lyrics made for a major success. Subsequent releases echoed this success in some way or another until The King Is Dead marked a return to folk-driven approaches while lacking some of the mythical material featured on earlier records; nonetheless it made an outstanding showing from The Decemberists.
Once the group had spent several years touring, they returned together to record I’ll Be Your Girl, their fourth studio effort and first with producer John Congleton who had worked with St Vincent, Angel Olsen and Future Islands. Although modern in sound it contained old-timey instruments which gave an old world feeling.
This album was an overwhelming success and became their best-selling record to date. Soon after came The Crane Wife, which proved even more rocking than its predecessors. Opening with Picaresque-esque folk melodies before building into powerful Who power chords reminiscent of their previous releases, The Crane Wife proved yet another landmark moment for Decemberists fans in indie folk circles.
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes first emerged onto the indie scene over a decade ago with their self-titled album, drawing inspiration from various folk and rock acts (from Beach Boys to Crosby Stills & Nash), while forging its own sound all its own. Boasting breathtaking vocal harmonies and selling over two million copies worldwide, it quickly became both critical and commercial success resulting in multiple hit singles as well as sparking an indie folk trend that continues today with numerous imitators.
Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop, 2011) witnessed the band continuing their meteoric ascent. More traditional than its predecessor, Helplessness Blues evokes classic folk-rock of the 1960s through charming acoustic instruments and simple domestic melodies; from Montezuma’s yodeling and doo-wop harmonies to Bedouin Dress’s vibrant raga-psychedelic dance steps; every track on Helplessness Blues will become instant classics.
Pecknold’s soaring falsetto, intricate compositional structures and lyrics exploring loss and aging marked an impressive maturation in their sound, and this progression was captured on Crack-Up (Fleet Foxes 2017). While their first two albums featured bucolic imagery and golden harmony, Crack-Up stands out with its dark moodiness requiring listeners’ full focus from start to finish.
Crack-Up stands as an album that defies an increasingly distant musical environment with intricate, demanding music like that which Fleet Foxes specialize in, featuring sudden tempo shifts, whispered asides and instrumental passages that hang like string in the wind – an impressive and compelling album sure to appeal to fans of alternative indie band music.
This album explores the struggles associated with growing old, death’s inevitable arrival and life’s constant trials and tribulations that we all must eventually confront. Many songs feature Pecknoldian pairs–brothers, friends, lovers or shadow selves–who share common experiences of regret, guilt and sorrow; such lyrics invoke feelings of profound loss while echoing an ever-shortening existence characterized by fleeting moments that often go by without notice.
Fever 333
Fever 333 are one of the most dynamic bands in modern music. Not only is their music captivating and politically aware; their message speaks directly to all listeners. Their latest album DARKER WHITE offers an outstanding example of blending aggressive sonic aggression with thought-provoking political commentary that is sure to shock listeners worldwide.
Since 2017, drummer Jason Aalon Butler (Letlive), guitarist Stephen Harrison (The Chariot), and bassist Aric Improta (Night Verses) have formed the group through longstanding friendships and mutual respect. Butler says, “Even though we come from various bands, it has been wonderful working with each other over time and playing together has always been great fun.”
Your musical style combines rock, hip hop and punk sounds for an engaging story of injustice and oppression. Never afraid to push the limits of their genre and never one to back down from a challenge, they stand together in confronting exhaustion and systemic inequities head-on – something which sets them apart as truly remarkable performers.
With their latest album, the band takes a stand on issues like police brutality and climate change, calling on listeners to stand up for justice against oppressive systems that surround us.
“New West Order,” the opening track on the album, features massive riffing and intense shouting reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine bands like R.A.T.M.
Tracks such as “Murderer” and “Nosebleed” showcase punk rock elements while exploring industrial influences with glitchy noise and glitchy sounds. Slow song “No Hostages” conveys more of a dystopian atmosphere with its vocal delivery.
Tracks like “$WING” combine groove-heavy basslines with Butler’s signature rap delivery for an explosive musical experience that bridges modern hip-hop with aggressive rock. Finally, “MOB MUSIC PT 2” serves as an anthem of resistance and unity that closes off this album in style.
After the success of their last album, this band will be touring both North America and Europe this fall. Check their schedule here.
SALT
SALT has quickly established themselves in the alternative indie band world. Their music has been widely acclaimed for its unique sound and complex lyrics. SALT pride themselves on being family friendly and consider music an international language. Each member of this band dedicate themselves to crafting emotive songs that bring audiences back for more.
SALT has continued its national tour through all seasons despite colder conditions. They have performed over 150 shows during this year alone and attracted much media coverage. Furthermore, SALT is currently working on new material which will be released for release later in 2024.
Though their latest album is still being created, the band has already released two singles that have received widespread acclaim. “Earth to Heaven”, is an upbeat tune with shimmering guitar sounds and beautiful vocal melodies that nods toward dream pop and dazzles listeners with its beauty.
“Trouble in Paradise” is an instrumental piece that showcases the band’s musical talents. Featuring an acoustic guitar, string section, and seductive vocals – making for an engaging listening experience! This track offers both rock and blues elements for an all-encompassing listening experience.
SALT are taking on new challenges with their newly released album. Touring across America this year with an impressive array of openers as support, they hope to reach even more people than in 2018. Notoriously brave band SALT have not been afraid to push the limits and test themselves creatively when pushing genre boundaries, earning themselves an ever-expanding fan base; their risk-taking is what earned them much praise from press as well as multiple award nominations and feature in multiple blogs and websites.