Indie
Noah’s Barks pages relating to the indie music genre. Combine with other tags for subgenres, e.g. “indie+rock,” “indie+pop,” or “indie+electronic.”
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The Magnetic Fields – “Distant Plastic Trees”
The debut album by the legendary indie pop artist The Magnetic Fields features vocal contributions from Suzan Anway. Distant Plastic Trees will leave you cold—but not in the way you’ll expect. (read more)
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Tegan and Sara (Retrospective)
I reminisce about one of the music acts most responsible for breaking me out of my high school "classic rock" phase. (read more)
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Saint Etienne – “Asleep at the Wheels of Steel” (2002)
‘Asleep at the Wheels of Steel’ features more soundtrack work by Saint Etienne. Is anything on this compilation worthwhile? (read more)
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Belle and Sebastian – “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance”
Ah, fuck. On Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, Belle and Sebastian were just a minute too late. Everyone made a big deal about Reflektor, but Arcade Fire couldn’t groove their way out of a paper bag. Turns out Belle and Sebastian totally can, but if you were to upgrade to plastic, they’d probably be… (read more)
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Belle and Sebastian – “Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant”
Yo, get out of here slow-tempo Belle and Sebastian haters, ‘Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant’ has some of their most immaculate arrangements. (read more)
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The Wake – “Assembly” (2002)
Oi, The Wake tricked me with Assembly, so this review is dedicated to the other five fans of The Wake. The compilation Assembly ostensibly has five unreleased songs, but it’s actually two. “Rise and Shine” is a demo of “Sail Through.” “Make You Understand” is “World of Her Own.” “The Calendar” is “Torn Calendar.” They’re… (read more)
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Cults – “Cults”
Goddamn, when are Cults gonna pick up that telephone that’s ringing in the background of every song? Must be lawyers chasing them for copying Phil Spector‘s production. It’s a neat gimmick that makes up for the fact that Cults write such generic songs. Outside of “Never Heal Yourself,” “Bumper,” and “Abduction,” there’s nothing particularly notable… (read more)
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Camera Obscura – “Let’s Get Out of This Country”
Thank you, Camera Obscura, for giving me “If Looks Could Kill.” I haven’t heard such a blissfully perfect pop song since… I don’t even remember. But it’s been my most played song since giving Let’s Get Out of This Country a shot. Sometimes, I like to pretend I’m a man above being charmed by twee… (read more)
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Two Door Cinema Club – “Tourist History” (2010)
Tourist History is a fun little album but entirely a one-trick pony. At least Two Door Cinema Club has the sense to cut it at 30 minutes, making the album work as a short blast of energy. The band could benefit greatly from a vocalist with more guts. A lot of these club rhythms could… (read more)
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Moscow Olympics – “Cut the World” (2008)
Cut the World is modern, jangly, dreamy, twee pop reminiscent of similar-sounding ’80s indie pop bands, particularly The Wake. Seriously! If you like this, listen to Something That No One Else Could Bring, it’s practically the same thing (but better). Though derivative, Cut the World does that scene justice. Every song is good, and what it lacks… (read more)