A Quick Word from the Authors:
Since we’re recapping last week’s major/minor music happenings, we feel the need to address the elephant in the room: the Bieb’s…can we say…adorable? mugshot taken after he was incarcerated for drag racing. Yes, drag racing. After the egging incident, we thought he might lay low. Do we think his recent bouts of acting out have anything to do with him not being nominated for a Grammy this year?
He can join One Direction in the sob section, but we have to admit, we’re happy about the 2014 roster. With Daft Punk up for five awards (& performing!) and breakout star Lorde making waves with her album Pure Heroine – we’re in for a good show. One of our dark horse favorites? Best New Artist Nominee Kacey Musgraves, who’s breaking the country music mold with her edgy lyrics and no apologies attitude. Whereas many think this genre to be a one-trick pony, she’s shown up on the scene with a bag of tricks. If you don’t know about Kacey, you should – so we recommend you familiarize yourself before tomorrow’s award show in the happen-chance there’s a hanging chad on the ballot (a la the election of 2000) and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis lose.
And since not all amazing artists can always be recognized (Bieber we’re looking at you, kid) we’ve included some awesome tracks from the past week or so for your streaming pleasure, below.
– Aaron Thomas & Anna Murphy
The Bees Knees
We don't make you work to separate the milk from the cream
In case you only want to scratch the surface of the Sabbath we offer the cream of the crop, highlighting what should be indefinitely considered when crafting a playlist.
The Pasture: Youth Lagoon – "Worms"
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129720420" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The Tryptophan: Panama – "Destroyer" (Cosmo's Midnight Remix)
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131272537" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The Kindle: Mac DeMarco – "Passing Out Pieces
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129507506" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The Indie Gift Basket
Overview
- The Pasture Less is more — slow-churned nights need a soundtrack too, and relaxation is underrated.
- The Kindle represents a peak of accessibility where the masses will be drawn to the raw energy exposed throughout.
- Lastly, in The Tryptophan indie gets plugged. What ups the ante more than experimental electronics and synths?
The Pasture
Drawing from hushed textures the intersection between folk and translucent melodies can surprisingly be seamlessly navigated. So kick back, chill out or fall asleep – but be sure to stream the easy-going tracks below for the epitome of mellow. Highlights from Paperwhite and Youth Lagoon.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120738399" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130443942" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130757827" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130461885" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129720420" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116697319" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The Tryptophan
The Tryptophan is a playlist for the forward-minded individuals, filled with everything from airy ascending melodies to mind-bending beats that work to spark a progressive, yet equally grounded mindset. Highlights from Cosmo's Midnight and Com Truise.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130679842" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130572064" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130447002" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130950330" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131093123" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130978110" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131272537" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The Kindle
The top forty that no one knows, the songs that you pop on that party playlist, the tracks you belt while driving 80 MPH on a dessert highway, or the jams you blast alone in your bedroom, rocking out with your socks on, solo style. Wherever you are, you’re in for a treat by way of indie beats. Highlights from Mac DeMarco and Belarbi.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129507506" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131106094" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129789304" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128512003" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130688743" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
In closing – it’s simple. We’re bringing you three different playlists every week; one for you mellow manatees, one for you vibrant vipers and one for you hazy honey badgers. So whether you’re a homebody who needs a backtrack to lying on the couch or a rabble-rousing hipster looking to paint the town tonight, we’ve got a perfect playlist for you. Enjoy & as always, feedback welcome.
