Juliette’s Top 10 Indie Songs of 2013
[I’ve asked all my music recommenders to give us their favourite tracks from 2013. Today it’s Juliette Jagger’s picks of the year. – AC]
Artist: Fyfe “Solace”
Album: Self-titled
City: London
This is a great track from early on in the year. There is something so quaint and horribly authentic about this guy, it’s like he just hit record, filled his lungs with air, and can’t expel anything but truth.
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Artist: MTNS “Salvage”
Album: Salvage EP
City: Brisbane
This was a recent discovery but this band has the incredible ability to take the simplest of human emotions and build them up into these blissful, cascading moments of release.
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Artist: Pale “Rundown”
Album: Single
City: London
London duo Pale has been likened to acts such as Pet Shop Boys, OMD, The Weeknd and James Blake, and for good reason too. With their minimalist electronics, stark production style, and that deep R&B groove that has been resurfacing as of late, there is a muted sense of honesty about their songwriting that’s totally intrinsic.
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Artist: Khushi “Magpie”
Album: Single
City: London
This was an incredible debut – what begins with haunting simplicity, voice on voice, unexpectedly takes off soaring with the sheer force of physical longing.
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Artist: In The Valley Below “Peaches”
Album: Peaches EP
City: Los Angeles
This is a great track from LA based In The Valley Below. The duo combine sultry back and forth male female vocals with melodic synths, gritty guitars, and rumbling drums to turn out dark stories of romance and what’s left there after.
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Artist: He’s My Brother She’s My Sister “Clackin’ Heels”
Album: Nobody Dances In This Town
City: Los Angeles
Something like cabaret-country and definitely a good ol’ foot stompin’ time.
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Artist: Caravan Palace “ Beatophone” (Club Mix)
Album: Panic
City: Paris
This song will take you right back to the swingin’ 30’s but these guys bring the beat.
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Artist: Glorious Sons “Mama”
Album: Shapeless Art
City: Kingston, Ontario
The Glorious Sons are the everyday man’s band. These guys consistently put out good, solid, rockin’ tunes, they write lyrics about love and liquor, and they have a real sense of humor about it too.
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Artist: Stuck On Planet Earth “Fast Forward”
Album: Single
City: Vaughan, Ontario
2013 has been a good year for Stuck On Planet Earth. This track has been sitting at the top of both the CBC R-30 and Sirius XM Verge charts for weeks now and with good reason. It’s full of raw, ferocious energy and it’s just a solid rock and roll tune.
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Artist: FAKE CLUB “Bullet Brain”
Album: Single
City: London
I’m so happy to have discovered this band in 2013. Naturally, I’m overly critical of all female rock bands (history hasn’t exactly been on their side) but this one absolutely does it for me. All the pieces fit and I totally buy it. These ladies are brash as hell.
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