From: The Scene Blog
Five Track Weekend: These pair well with pumpkin spiced anything
EPIC FIREWORKS, FLICKR
Keep your playlists fresh and your friends impressed with this weekly batch of hand-picked tracks for cool kids like you.
1. you plus me – “From a Closet in Norway (Oslo Blues)”
(If you like: City and Colour, P!nk, unexpectedly awesome collaborations)
Indie-folk crooner Dallas Green (City and Colour) and pop singer Alecia Moore (P!nk) seem like a pretty unlikely duo. But they just launched their new collaboration called you me, and it’s pretty damn good. The two talented vocalists work especially well together on “From a Closet in Norway.”
2. little hurricane – “Haunted Heart”
(If you like: Alabama Shakes, US Royalty, The Black Keys but when you’re tired of The Black Keys)
Lower case stylized band names are so hot right now, apparently. Anyway, little hurricane offers a slightly lighter, definitely funkier alternative to blues-rock giants The Black Keys. Driving drums a heavily syncopated, snarling guitar line makes “Haunted Heart” a good introductory track to one of the best up-and-coming bands on the Americana scene right now.
3. Thai and the Get Down Stay Down – “We the Common (For Valerie Bolden)”
(If you like: Dale Earnheardt Jr. Jr., The Morning Benders, cool people that make cool music)
Thao Nyugen is, in a word, freaking cool (fine, two words). Originally from Falls Church, Virginia, the singer songwriter has collaborated with artists like Mirah and Andrew Bird. After moving to San Francisco, Nyugen also began volunteering with a California non-profit focusing on incarcerated women. So yeah, she’s awesome. As a bonus, “We The Common (For Valerie Bolden)” was actually dedicated to a real woman Nyugen met during a prison visit for the aforementioned non-profit. Neat.
4. Escapists – “Blood”
(If you like: Minus the Bear, Two Door Cinema Club, cerebral guitar driven indie-rock)
Mixing math-rock inspired nimble guitar work with indie-pop inspired hooks, London based quartet Escapists drew immediate attention with a series of singles released earlier this year. “Blood,” a standout track among these offerings, is undeniably catchy and features breezy verses and an expansive, heavy chorus that sounds way bigger than you’d expect from a four-piece outfit.
5. Solids – “Haze Away”
(If you like: king Tuff, Speedy Ortiz, fuzzy lo-fi goodness)
Hailing from Montreal, Solids keeps the garage rock tradition alive and well with a healthy dose of DIY attitude. “Haze Away” lives up to its name and features fuzzed-out guitars and driving drums for a simple but surprisingly textured sonic profile.
