Listzomania

I thought it was a pretty weak year for “indie rock,” the kind of year that makes me say things like, “I fucking hate indie rock,” even though the term “indie rock” is so vague and loaded that it’s pointless to use if you’re actually trying to make any kind of point, and even though lots of my favorite music would typically be filed under the category “indie rock.” Hmm. Not a good start to the post there. Let’s forge ahead.

Point being I generally did not get off on most of the indie rock that the tastemakers were pushing. But here are some actual indie-ish songs that I did like a lot. Songs I loved you could say. List:

“Laura,” Girls (video above)

“Hellhole Ratrace,” Girls

“1901,” Phoenix (Do they play this on the radio? They play it on commercials for sure.)

“Two Weeks,” Grizzly Bear (The only argument I have thus far been able to find for why this band is not unbelievably boring)

“This Tornado Loves You,” Neko Case (live on Letterman, sounding just as good as she does in the studio)

“Stillness is the Move,” Dirty Projectors

“John Lennon,” Arkells

“Blood Bank,” Bon Iver

“The Sweetest Thing,” Camera Obscura

“Easy,” Deer Tick

“This World Is An Open Door,” Franz Nicolay

“This Blackest Purse,” Why?

“Hunchback,” Kurt Vile

“Young Adult Friction,” Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Was a hater at first but this one won me over)

“You and I,” Wilco ft. Feist

“Useful Chamber,” Dirty Projectors

Two-thirds of these videos are pretty great, by the way.

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