BEST INDIE SONGS - WEEK 11 2014

Happy Monday, and International Day Of Awesomeness! And what finer way to spend said holiday than in the company of BitCandy and their best indie songs? If you're unable to think of an answer, that's because there isn't one, douchebags! Anyways, thank you to the Curators who helped me out with this week's pickings from Dum Dum Girls, Editors, How To Dress Well and more. If you think you've got what it takes to contribute to any of my weekly roundups, go and sign up to be a Curator!

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DUM DUM GIRLS – ARE YOU OKAY?

Dum Dum Girls team up with American Psycho novelist, Brett Eaton Ellis, on this short for “Are You Okay?” Fucking standard! It sees my princess, Dee Dee Penny, transform into a murderous blonde in what is surely a nod to my favorite film, Lost Highway. By the way, a personal thank you to Dee Dee for messaging me over Facebook recently to let me know where she got the outfit she wears in the “Lost Boys And Girls Club” video from. So cute!

EDITORS –  WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?

Mark my words, this year is going to be the year of middle of the road music. Editors, Coldplay and Elbow are all returning to bore us to death with their insufferably dull ballads. Fucking Brits! No seriously, as if Adele wasn't enough. That said, you weirdos seem to enjoy this kind of stuff, and since the customer is always right, enjoy this appropriately miserable video for “What Is This Thing Called Love?” Tom Smith, please stop trying to be James Blake.

LUCIUS – TURN IT AROUND

Layla didn't approve of the new Lucius album, you know, the one with the thinly veiled phallic reference on the front cover? If you agreed with her review of Wildewoman, then you're going to hate this video, as it stinks of everything Layla checklisted. Bright colors, vintage clothing and shit loads of disingenuousness. That said, what do we music critics know? No doubt about it, “Turn It Around” is coming to an Old Navy advertisement near you soon.

HOW TO DRESS WELL – WORDS I DON'T REMEMBER

Tom Krell continues to be cool and relevant, you guys. No seriously, Pitchfork recently awarded this a “Best New Track” status and everything. If you want to be appreciated by your hipster friends, you simply have to listen to it over and over and over again, in spite of it being ultimately forgettable. Middle of the road, even. I fucking told you, didn't I? Anyways, when is PBR&B going to die alone in a hotel room choking on its own vomit, already?

DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. – WAR ZONE (LIVE)

Last time I checked in with these dudes, they were making crazy ass videos for even crazier ass songs. So it's nice to see them back to doing what they do best in this live performance of “War Zone,” as filmed at KEXP in, oh wait, November? Oh crap, maybe the crazies hadn't set in at this point? By the way, KEXP is a gold mine of live performances, so go and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Come on, it's the International Day Of Awesomeness.

TEI SHI – NEVERMIND THE END

Gentleman, prepare for the most awkward boner of your life after watching this creepy ass video from Tei Shi. No seriously, that old dude is one fucking lucky old dude. He can probably die happy now. Oh wait! Anyways, “Nevermind The End” is the second single to be lifted from Tei Shi's debut EP, Saudade, available for free on the Brooklyn artist's SoundCloud page. Be right back, I'm going to download it and dance around my room in purple lip gloss.

NO – LEAVE THE DOOR WIDE OPEN

NO are what Editors could sound like if Editors sounded less like Editors and more like The National. Fucking epic, in other fucking words. “Leave The Door Wide Open” is the first single to be taken from the Los Angeles band's debut album, El Prado, available now on the consistently awesome Arts And Crafts. By the way, as a self confessed misanthropist, the scenes depicted in this Magritte inspired video are bordering on my idea of paradise.

TYDES (FEAT. LÅPSLEY) – PRAY FOR YOU

Låpsley first seduced us way back in January with the gorgeous “Station,” and now the British songwriter returns as a guest vocalist on “Pray For You” by Tydes. Not gonna lie, Låpsley kinda owns Tydes in the singing department, but that's not to take away from the Los Angeles producer's atmospheric and spacious production. Anyways, I'm seriously fucking amped to hear more from both of these young artists over the next year or so. Sick moves, bro.

GREAT GOOD FINE OK – NOT GOING HOME – CURATOR BECA

In October, we brought you the peculiarly erotic video for Great Good Fine Ok's debut single, “You're The One For Me,” and at the time we promised to keep you up to date on the Brooklyn duo. Good news is, we kept our promise, and five months down the line, here's their second single, “Not Going Home.” Mm, isn't this a simply lovely way to start a Monday? Bonus points if and when it comes accompanied by a video starring a fucking delicious sandwich.

JAMES SUPERCAVE – THE RIGHT THING

Not gonna lie, I've got absolutely no idea who James Supercave is or are. “The Right Thing” came up on my SoundCloud feed, and since it's an unwritten rule that I've got to listen to any band or artist with super in their name, I immediately pressed play. I'm glad I did, as it's probably the most interesting song I've heard in ages. This is everything our good friends, MGMT, tried and failed to be on their new album. Genuinely weird, genuinely awesome.

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That's it for this week's best indie songs, you guys! If you thought my roundup was awesome, feel free to spread the awesomeness on to a friend. Don't forget, if you've got what it takes to contribute to any of my weekly roundups, sign up to be a Curator!

About Jess Grant

When Jess Grant isn't writing on music, she can be found playing it – on her guitar, on her ukulele, and on her recently acquired mandolin. Playing it hideously, she ought to add. Jess also studies. She studies the English language, to be precise. Jess is currently on her way to a degree in the subject, and enjoys starting and never finishing novels, screenplays, and poetry in her spare time. She also likes dogs. Lots of dogs.