Photo credit: Elina Nygardh 

Grapell – “Heartbreaker”: Well, this is quite the easy listening song for a song that’s, um, about heartbreak. Somewhere between Death Cab and Real Estate lies the paradigm in which this track exists. I would imagine the music video to this song to be filmed with a smaller number of frames per second, and probably that’s its also done in slow motion with a yellow-green sheen aesthetic. The single comes from the band’s debut album Crier, out November 3rd.

Effee – “Work It Out”: It’s sort of odd that “Heartbreaker” was the first track that stood out to me in my email browsing this evening, because of how seamlessly it flows into Effee’s solo debut track. Effee is singer/songwriter Fran Litterski’s many projects all spun into one. The track is airy and fun, yet with an undertone of vague cynicism. The vocal effects intertwine with the song, like intrusive thoughts in someone emerging from a bout with anxiety but winning the battle.

Twiceyoung – “Uneven Kind”: I lay here on my couch wishing I didn’t get this stomach bug this week. I’m just fatigued enough to realize that going to a show probably isn’t a good idea yet. The composition of this band’s new single (the band whose show I’m missing tonight) reflects my mood. I’m pretty stoked to be over this bug (the worst kind amirite?!) but the recovery still has my mind a little clouded. This layered track isn’t really a downer, but it perpetrates a sense of greyness. The song also doesn’t feel super linear, and that’s fine too. It’s a new route for me in the indie pop world – one I’d like to explore further.

Spirit of the Bear – “Run My Mouth”: I’m kind of in awe of how well these songs I’m choosing to write about tonight are flowing into each other, given that I’m hearing each of them for the first time. Enter Spirit of the Bear, with their airy piano pop. A little guitar wah-wah and lightly played melody will make you want to dance a little jig. Admit it, man!

Steady Holiday – “More Than One Way”: Since we are heading into Autumn, I had to find something a little more bleak to counteract all this lightheartedness above, ya know? Enter outfit Steady Holiday. If you like zoning out to foreboding music, or even just scratching your chin and saying “hmm” pensively while listening to something you’ll probably dig this. It isn’t all bleakness in the song, but if you want to enjoy a striking song and music video stream it below:

Reminder that all songs in our single reviews (that we can find) are added to our “New and Nifty” Spotify playlist – follow it and enjoy the jams.