TOP INDIE BANDS - WEEK 44 - PART 2 2014

Hello everyone! Hope you all are staying safe and Ebola-free (be careful trick-or-treating this year, kids). Here we have even more of the best new indie tracks of the week from the likes of Ghost Loft, Austin Johnson, Xov, and even some new stuff from Smashing Pumpkins! So stop worrying about trying to fit into that slutty Mayor McCheese costume, grab some candy, and read on to discover some awesome new music!

ARIEL PINK - BLACK BALLERINA

Besides bashing Madonna and pissing off Grimes this past week, Ariel Pink has released another new song called “Black Ballerina.” With lines like, “take your bra and panties off,” it’s a silly, synth-filled track and I can’t help but wonder if his recent online shenanigans were all a ploy to gain attention by pissing off feminists everywhere.

ÁSGEIR - NPR TINY DESK CONCERT (ON THAT DAY, TORRENT, AND HIGHER)

Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir is here to calm you down with his soothing vocals and soft guitar playing with the tracks, “On That Day,” “Torrent,” and “Higher.” “Torrent” is a piano-driven track that shows off his songwriting skills while “Higher” highlights his falsetto vocals. And by the way, after reading a YouTube comment about his epic hairline I just can’t stop staring at it.

SMASHING PUMPKINS - BEING BEIGE

In between posing for the cover of cat magazines (seriously— google it), Billy Corgan has been working on a follow up to 2012’s Oceania. They just released the first single off of Monuments To An Elegy called “Being Beige” that features Tommy Lee on drums, and it's an epic, slow building rock track that is everything the Pumpkins should be in 2014.

OCEAAN - VERITAS

Now we’re gonna get a little quirky with Oceaán’s first single off his November EP, The Grip. “Veritas” will instantly grab your attention with its multiple layers of instruments and electronic elements that all work together perfectly under his silky, R&B-style vocals. Because of how busy this track is, it could have easily ended up sounding like a mess but it's perfectly done and will have you listening again and again.

GHOST LOFT - BE EASY

Los Angeles’ Ghost Loft will make your troubles go away for at least 4 minutes with their latest track, “Be Easy.” Its a low key electropop track packed with shimmering synths and a simple beat, making it the perfect song to wind down to. It's totally one of my favorite tracks of the week.

AUSTIN JOHNSON - ARYLL

Austin Johnson just released his album, Hero, and “Aryll” is a great introduction to the New Yorker’s sound. Featuring gorgeous atmospheric synths and a slow grooving beat, it's a wonderfully blissful 5 minutes.

ASGEIR - IT WILL RAIN

Here at BitCandy we’re really into Ásgeir right now, and “It Will Rain” is probably his best work yet (well, in my humble opinion anyway). Featuring finger-picked electric guitar and subtle drums, it’s more upbeat than the previous tracks of his we put on the list and shows he knows how to write a solid guitar-driven indie song.

OLIVVER - FREAK

Featuring a blend of electric guitar and synths, Olivver The Kid’s latest track, “Freak,” is a bit of an 80’s throwback while still having a modern flare. His pop-vocals are the perfect fit, as he sings the lines, “I remember the time I drove around with you/ I remember the time and I know you felt it too.” Its a solid and catchy synth pop track.

LUH - UNITES

Lead singer Ellery Roberts’s unique vocals will totally steal your attention on LUH’s (Lost Under Heaven) latest track, “Unites.” Featuring a magical sounding guitar hook that you won't be able to get out of your head and simple but big sounding drums, this track is wonderfully dramatic.

XOV - BOYS DON’T CRY

And now I leave you with my favorite track on the list. Nope, this isn’t a cover of The Cure, but it is a tad bit 80’s with its big, echoey drums and synths. XOV (aka Damien Ardestani) does something truly special with this electronic slow burner, and I especially love the electric guitar that comes in at the 2:50 mark because it takes the track to a whole other level.

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There you have it— All the indie tracks worth your precious time this week. See ya next time and have fun at all of your Halloween shindigs!

About Erin Crider

Erin Crider eats, breathes, and sleeps pop culture. If you have a question about a one-hit wonder from the ‘90s or need help remembering lines from a SNL skit, she’s your girl. When she isn’t lurking the internet, she's either going to a show or hanging out at Disneyland. Erin lives in Southern California and has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach.