Tag Archives: indie rock

Arachnophonia: Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Georgia (class of 2025) and features Arcade Fire’s 2010 album The Suburbs. Thanks, Georgia!

Arcade Fire
The Suburbs

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Canadian Band Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs is an indie rock, baroque pop exploration of suburban life in modern America. The album is inspired by the singer’s upbringing in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston that I visit regularly to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The town is filled with tall trees and smooth concrete, and every retail chain and restaurant you can name. I remember 110 degree summer days spent indoors, malls and movie theaters, pools and Tex-Mex, long drives and drive-thrus.

It is both a sense of placeless-ness and nostalgia that define this album, especially in the reflection on and mourning of the city or town you once knew as a child. Going from a placeless neighborhood to a faceless job, wanting children in a world abusing itself into extinction, mourning time wasted, these are all explored in this album that I believe connects to what it often feels like to be an American today.

Many things lately feel off, almost fake. We buy things manufactured from far-away places, our homes, communities, and jobs are long drives apart, neighborhoods are being rebuilt to look the same as everywhere else. Presidents are celebrities, health care is sold by greedy corporations, recession is approaching, and yet we are being fed facts mistold and fears misplaced. It sometimes feels like we’re living in the shadows of all that’s been built here. What does it mean to be an American right now? How do our communities reflect the world we live in? Where do we truly live? Where are we from?

First they built the road, then they built the town, That’s why we’re still driving round and round

Parsons Playlists: (Indie) Rock

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Torsten (class of 2025) and features some indie rock tunes.

(Indie) Rock Playlist

Indie Rock

A mishmash of some of my favorite songs to play while driving. The playlist is mostly headbangers with strong beats and a heavy guitar presence but there are some less intense songs here and there. I hope you enjoy!

INOHA – “GESHUOU”

Cafuné – “Tek It (I Watch The Moon)”

The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”

Last Dinosaurs – “Sense”

d4vd – “Feel It”

Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know”

The Strokes – “Someday”

Two Door Cinema Club – “Undercover Martyn”

Still Woozy – “Again”

Hippo Campus – “baseball”

INOHA – “Seventh Heaven”

Wallows – “Calling After Me”

Joy Again – “Looking Out For You”

INOHA – “Trips”

Last Dinosaurs – “Zoom”

INOHA – “Naomi”

Arctic Monkeys – “If You Were There, Beware”

Arctic Monkeys – “Brianstorm”

Wallows – “Remember When”

The Jungle Giants – “Used to Be in Love”

COIN – “I Want It All”

Still Woozy – “Shotput”

almost monday – “can’t slow down”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeweRHIfyL8Gog0-6Ejm3GWC&si=ybiKo2UrmfF2QwHn

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Mt. Joy

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features tracks by the indie folk/rock band Mt. Joy.

Mt. Joy

Indie rock band Mt. Joy is both an international sensation and an underrated group. If you are a fan of alternative, indie, or rock music, give the group a listen. Here are some of their greatest hits.

“Julia”

“Astrovan”

“Ruins”

“Orange Blood”

“Evergreen”

“Silver Lining”

“I’m Your Wreck”

“Dirty Love”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zey88BMrlbiuc9VzjZZV3Zjr&si=BqBNAuEwUFdD_ayY

Arachnophonia: The Killers “Hot Fuss”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Danny (class of 2023) and features the Killers’ 2004 album Hot Fuss. Thanks, Danny!

The Killers

Hot Fuss

The Killers - Hot Fuss album cover

Everybody – and I mean everybody – seems to know the Killers from one song: “Mr. Brightside.” The song has become a party and nightclub staple, garnering tons of partygoer enthusiasm as everyone shouts the lyrics in unison.
But what if I said that although it is the group’s most popular song, it is not one of their best songs? What if I said that the Killers have been very prominent in the alternative rock industry for years, pumping out album after album over the years, with some of the core members remaining in the band for its entire existence?

I can go on for hours talking in-depth about every single one of the Killers’ albums, from Hot Fuss all the way to Pressure Machine. My favorite album of all time, Sam’s Town, is also by the Killers. However, in terms of popularity, I feel that Hot Fuss takes the awards. Therefore, to appeal to the general public of those reading this post, my focus will be on this 45 minute masterpiece.

Hot Fuss was released on June 7th 2004 and reached seventh on the Billboard 200. Although being extremely popular in America, the album was actually more of a commercial success in Ireland and England. This album, was the beginning of a 17 year (and counting) career. It was the very first album by the Killers and has been the one that most people adore most.

The track list is absolutely amazing. The four band members, Brandon Flowers, Ronnie Vannucci, Dave Keuning, and Mark Stoermer each had significant roles in writing most of the songs. Vanucci, the drummer of the band, had the least writing credits on the album, but only 3 of the 11 songs on the album were written alone by Brandon Flowers. The rest all involved some sort of mix of the 4.

One of the most interesting easter eggs within the album is the connection between two of the songs and “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf” which was included in their album Sawdust (a compilation of unreleased songs). The two songs in Hot Fuss that are connected are “Jenny was a Friend of Mine” (the opening track) and “Midnight Show.” The three songs all tell the story of a criminal case concerning Robert Chambers.

This was also the album that featured the anthem “Mr. Brightside.” Some other notable songs of theirs include “Smile Like you Mean It,” “Somebody Told Me” and “All These Things I’ve Done.”

Despite these being the most popular songs on the album, the tracks I have enjoyed the most are “Everything Will be Alright,” “Believe me Natalie,” and “Change your Mind.” The second of the trio is the most upbeat and encapsulates most of the rock elements the Killers were known for. The other two are much slower and are just as good in my opinion.

In conclusion, Hot Fuss is one of my all time favorites. My ranking for all Killers albums goes as follows:
1. Sam’s Town
2. Hot Fuss
3. Day & Age
4. Battle Born
5. Imploding the Mirage
6. Sawdust
7. Wonderful Wonderful
8. Pressure Machine

Parsons Playlists: Indie Rock

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring an indie rock playlist curated by Music Library student manager Ryan (class of 2022).

Vista Kicks – “Chasing Waves”

Adam Melchor – “Joy Ride”

Champagne Lane – “Golden Hour”

Whitney – “FTA”

Iron and Wine – “Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me”

The Happy Fits – “Too Late”

indie rock

The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”

The Shins – “40 Mark Strasse”

flipturn – “August”

Peach Pit – “Alrighty Aphrodite”

Peach Pit – “Drop the Guillotine”

Half Moon Run – “Black Diamond”

and here is a link to the full list on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewqK0MqWOox99fCw9-uZvgM

Arachnophonia: Franz Ferdinand

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Alex (class of 2021) and features the Scottish band Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 self-titled debut album. Thanks, Alex!

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish Rock Band founded in Glasgow who’ve achieved worldwide success throughout the past decade and a half making post-punk revival music. Franz Ferdinand’s best work struck the world in their first ever album, you guessed it… Franz Ferdinand. Released on February 9th, 2004, the album launched Franz Ferdinand to international fame with over a million copies sold in both the United Kingdom and the United States and received a Grammy nomination for best Alternative Album in 2004.

Franz Ferdinand 2

The album has a quiet start with the soft intro of the first song on the album, “Jacqueline”, before the band explodes showcasing their eccentric talent. The album is rooted by its hit classics such as “Take Me Out” and “Michael” which blend the perfect combination of dance-rock rhythms and light pop hooks. Songs like “The Dark of the Matinee” and “Darts of Pleasure” surround your ears with a dark and soothing rhythm but almost juvenile lyrics which keep the bittersweet taste of the whole album. My personal favorite song “Auf Achse” appears melancholy at first glance but features a powerful background of instrumental talent that moves you along as if you’re feeling their world around you.

If you’re into any form of indie / alternative rock music and you’re feeling nostalgic for the early zips, this is the album for you. Even if you’ve already listened to it on repeat the past week like I have.

Franz Ferdinand 3

Arachnophonia: The Black Keys “Brothers”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Abby (class of 2021) and features The Black Keys’ 2010 album Brothers. Thanks, Abby!

The Black Keys

Brothers

The Black Keys - Brothers album cover

The Black Keys have always been one of those bands where I couldn’t name a single one of their songs off the top of my head, yet I know all the words to nearly every one I hear. Looking back, they very well could’ve been considered my favorite band for how often I listened to their music and how much I liked it.

I can’t say exactly why I never committed titles to memory; it certainly wasn’t because they were forgettable songs. Rather, I think it was the sheer fact that, at the height of their popularity, their music was so genre-defining and omnipresent that I only needed to hum the melody or say a few lines from the chorus, and anyone would know what song I was referring to. Take the song “Tighten Up” for instance. If you don’t recognize it from the title, listen to the first few bars of the track and wait for the instant hit of nostalgia.

The Black Keys

The group consists of two friends from Akron, Ohio: Dan Auerbach on guitar and vocals and Patrick Carney on drums. They started the band in 2001, and like all good grassroots garage bands, dropped out of college to pursue their bluesy-rock sound and slowly built an underground fan base through extensive touring, frequent album releases, and music festival appearances until their commercial breakthrough in 2010. This album, Brothers, catapulted them from garage indie band to one of the most popular and famous bands in their genre and winning them three Grammy Awards in the process.

For me, they defined a pivotal era in my music history. Being a child who grew up on her dad’s CD collection of alternative rock albums from the 70s and 80s, The Black Keys were one of the first bands that I discovered all on my own and shaped what I would listen to from then on. They drove me to find other music like theirs: the type of music that couldn’t have been written at any other time, yet still feels timeless.

The Black Keys - Brothers back cover

Arachnophonia: George Ezra “Wanted On Voyage”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Colin (class of 2021) and features Wanted On Voyage, the 2014 debut studio album by British singer-songwriter George Ezra. Thanks, Colin!

George Ezra

Wanted On Voyage

George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage

I’m fascinated by the vocal talent of musicians and for some reason, I discover a lot of artists that I enjoy through listening to covers of their songs by a cappella groups on YouTube. I had no idea who George Ezra was until I listened to the Trinitones perform a mash-up of “Barcelona,” “Budapest” and “Paradise” over a year ago. The all-male group surprised me with their impressive talent, but also with the arrangement of the songs. I was familiar with the song “Budapest” because it had been playing on radio stations at the time, but the artist behind the song had escaped my familiarity. After listening to Wanted on Voyage however, George Ezra has become a frequent artist on my Spotify playlists.

Wanted on Voyage is Ezra’s debut album released in the UK in 2014. He had first been discovered by Columbia Records in 2012 from his videos on YouTube performing his own original songs. After being contracted to work for Columbia Records, Ezra found inspiration for his album in 2013 when he traveled by train across Europe, writing about the places he visited and the people he met. From this collection of memories, Ezra sat down and penned the songs for the album, immortalizing his journey.

George Ezra - Budapest

The album gained many positive reviews on release, attributing the success to the relatively simple composition of the songs that are dramatically enhanced by Ezra’s ability to sing. A vital characteristic to Ezra’s music is his voice, which is naturally lower than many popular artists. The pitch of his voice adds flavor to his songs that make it appear as if these songs only fit the register that Ezra is able to perform in. Some highlights of the album for me are “Budapest” and “Barcelona,” which is not a surprise considering these are the songs that led me to George Ezra’s music. The mix between Ezra’s incredible voice and the instrumentation and production on both tracks really drives home the idea of why I enjoy his music so much. Another track I enjoy is “Did You Hear The Rain?” which was released as the first single from the album.

Wanted on Voyage is a fantastic album that does not try to create complicated music. The purity of the instrumentation and vocals shine through on every track. George Ezra actually filmed a Mahogany Session video for “Budapest,” which is a video series that allows artists to acoustically perform some of their most famous songs for the world to gain a more intimate view of the artist. This particular video is great, because I honestly cannot tell the difference in the quality of Ezra’s singing between the video and the recorded song from the album. Wanted on Voyage truly shines as Ezra’s first step into the musical world and it manifested a popularity around him that still holds true to this day.

George Ezra

Arachnophonia: Bibio “The Apple and the Tooth” and “Mind Bokeh”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Jane (class of 2022) and features two albums by English musician Bibio. Thanks, Jane!

Bibio

The Apple and the Tooth

Bibio - The Apple and the Tooth

and

Mind Bokeh

Bibio - Mind Bokeh

I can’t remember how I first found Bibio, but it seemed like all of a sudden, his songs were all I listened to (69 hours worth in 2018 alone, but who’s counting?). His music, which blends acoustic guitars and mandolins with ambient nature sounds and funky jazz-electronic beats, has had a huge influence on me since the summer of 2014. His music might not be for everyone; a lot of it is instrumental, and it doesn’t follow a lot of the patterns that most modern pop songs do. I really love it though, and I’m so excited that my requests have been heard and we now have two of his albums: The Apple and the Tooth (2009) and Mind Bokeh (2011).

There are tons of great songs on both albums, but The Apple and the Tooth is kind of special because it has 8 remixed songs from his previous album — one of my favorites in the history of all music — Ambivalence Avenue (2009). Mind Bokeh is filled with more great songs; some of my favorites include “Feminine Eye“, “More Excuses“, and “K is for Kelson“.

If you’re looking for music to study to, fall asleep to, cry to, or feel inspired by, chances are that Bibio has at least 20 songs that will fit your mood. He’s a great artist, albeit fairly unknown, so give him a listen if you want to try something new!

Arachnophonia : The Smiths “The Queen Is Dead”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about items in the Parsons Music Library‘s collection. All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student worker, Aly (class of 2018) and features a classic 1986 album by the British group The Smiths. Thanks, Aly!

The Smiths

The Queen Is Dead

Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

One of The Smiths’ most well-known albums, The Queen is Dead, is the quintessential album for anyone looking to get into this quirky indie rock band. The album, released in 1986 and re-released as a collector’s edition in 2017, has been unanimously praised, and even considered the “greatest album of all time” by major British music publication NME. The lyrics, sung by the famous now-solo Morrissey, are filled with clever imagery and sharp social commentary. Track 9, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” was featured in the classic rom-com 500 Days of Summer and remains one of the most famous Smiths songs. This album is full of songs that take a few listens to really absorb all of the witty lyric details that often hint at social unrest, emotional struggles, and even anarchy. For someone looking to indulge in some of the best vintage fight-the-power music with hints of satire, this album is definitely worth the listen.

Smiths - Queen Is Dead poster