LISTEN: From Safety to Where - "Only Now"

I remember being in high school when I discovered indie rock for the first time. I started listening to all these bands that challenged my perception of pop music, bands that opened my ears and mind to the hook that lied in emotional resonance, in attitude, past the veneer of pop melodies. It was the kind of sound that showed me how visceral music could truly be, creating connections that were rooted deep inside my heart and soul; I didn't know any of these musicians at a personal level, but it felt like they knew me -- and I guess, I sort of knew them in the same way. One of the songs that's always stuck with me is "Only Now," a sprightly jab of post-punk perfection from South Carolina trio From Safety To Where. Check it out below.

LISTEN: From Safety To Where - "Only Now" (via Epitonic)

LISTEN: Surgeons In Heat

If Steely Dan embraced indie pop, it would sound something like Surgeons In Heat. This Madison/Milwaukee four-piece crafts smooth, sharp indie pop rock that, without pretension, evokes a mod sort of cool. There's an undertone of agitation beneath their calm and collected surface that gives the music just the right amount of bite, recalling the songwriting of Graham Parker and Elvis Costello. If you wanted to straddle the line between a relaxed night in and a night of cruising the streets with the top down, spin the band's self-titled, debut EP.

Check out Surgeons In Heat's self-titled EP below.

LISTEN: Bluejay - Marvel Fortune

A blue jay is a beautiful bird, an animal that easily grabs your eye with its brilliant shades of blue. But there's more to the attractive surface of the blue jay. They're smart, curious, and creative birds. Maybe it's stretch to link a band's namesake to its sound, but, much like a blue jay, Brooklyn's Bluejay have an appealing sound that darts in all sorts of creative directions, not aimlessly, but rather with purpose.

Braid Releasing New EP, Download New Song "The Right Time" Now

In high school, I discovered this thing called "indie rock," and then went on to discover all of its multiple subgenres. One of the first band names tied to this special genre that I happened to read or hear was Braid. To this day, I know about as much about Braid as I do about my high school emotions -- which is to say, enough to get by. Semi-abstract, failed attempts at humor aside, Braid was a band that held, and continues to hold, special significance in the world of indie rock -- this I know. While they were active from 1993-1999, their output was primarily deemed "post-hardcore" and also labeled with the often unfavored tag of "emo." All I can tell you -- and all you probably need to know about that period of their existence -- was that it was raw, hard, and beautifully emotive.

LISTEN: Fierce Creatures - "Satan Is A Vampire"

Fierce Creatures - "Satan Is A Vampire"


It's not straightforward, but it's most definitely adventurous -- if the soundwave up there wasn't indication enough. There's a freedom that flows throughout, one that's transportive and empowering; it's about escape just as much as it's about rising above. With its twists and turns, it winds up being quite enchanting thanks to the melodic hooks scattered throughout -- whether it's two guitars playing with one another or a choir singing to the high heavens. Drawing from a variety of genres including post-rock, indie pop, and classic rock, "Satan Is A Vampire" aims to cram a lot of emotional and musical diversity into just a few minutes. Diving deep into the well-textured and arranged sections reveals a world of blissful, energizing, as well as soothing passages that all fit together rather seamlessly.

"Satan Is A Vampire" is from Fierce Creatures' self-produced 2010 EP, I Mostri Feroci. The band is currently working on new material for a future single and their next EP/LP scheduled for release this summer.

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LISTEN: Wow & Flutter - "Scars"

MP3: Wow & Flutter - "Scars"

A real head-bopper that's rough around the edges and raw enough for the reality of the song to shine through. It's this genuineness that lends itself to the truth of the song's message. With energetic rumble, "Scars" tells us not to hide from the past, but to instead embrace it. The cuts and bruises, the mistakes of the past are nothing to hide from. What Wow & Flutter tell us is that these are things we should be proud of. Nothing should be embarrassing, because if it's part of our past, it's helped get us to this point in the present. In its own way, it's a life-affirming song that provides the confidence to be proud of who we are, because without the foundation of our past, we wouldn't be standing today. Enjoy life, don't hide from it. The confident burst of Sonic Youth/Sebadoh-style guitars and the spur of bass and drums help push this message to the forefront.

Wow & Flutter is taken from a term that refers to analog tape fluctuation, in case you were wondering.

"Scars" is from Wow & Flutter's new album, Equilibrio!, out October 19th on Mt. Fuji Records. The word "Equilibrio" is Italian for "balance." Truly a band that's inspiring and wants to make life more enjoyable! Preorder the album here.

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