Do you sometimes tire of ‘vanilla-flavoured’ pop songs? Do you crave variety to cleanse your ‘aural palette’? Well, then maybe you should look into indie music! Yes, it may be a ‘completely’ different world… but just like mainstream it has many artists, labels and songs. And if you listen closely, you’ll eventually strike music gold. It is not a question of preferring one music genre over the other, but being totally open to both. The only difference is that Indie musicians don’t get enough exposure. We all know that the majority of indie artists are underrated, while there are mainstream artists who are very over-rated!
If you do think a mainstream music cleanse is for you right now, you should check out the new album by Young the Giant. This is an alternative indie rock band that has been doing quite well with ongoing gigs, growing media exposure and an ever-evolving music style. The Orange County based band reinforced their status as a progressive band with the release of ‘Home of the Strange’, their third album. The 11-track album starts with ‘Amerika’, a rebelliously pleasing track that depicts the reality of immigrants and touches on the subject of discrimination. It is followed by ‘Something to Believe In’, a track that is both vulnerable and empowering. Songs like ‘Elsewhere’ and ‘Mr. Know It All’ slow down the pace, but the mood picks up again with ‘Jungle Youth’, an insurgent anthem waiting to be claimed by the millenials of today.
‘Titus Was Born’ is an introspective yet visually imaginative number on the album while ‘Repeat’ gives us a taste of some groovy riffs. ‘Silvertongue’ teases with its charade style lyrics and catchy sound, and is followed by the contemplative ‘Art Exhibit’. The album ends with breaking-the-mold, for the youth tracks, ‘Nothing’s Over’ and title song ‘Home of the Strange’.
Young the Giant has evolved for the better over the years. They may have experimented with various styles, but their identity as one of the alternative scene’s favourites is undisputed. ‘Home of the Strange’ is an album that you can loop and enjoy either alone or on a road trip with your friends. This is a genre of distinct taste, comparable to picking out a coffee brew that’ll kick off your every morning. Their music embodies everything that indie is: uncontrolled but reassuring.
These guys might not be on the hottest charts, but they sure make their fans question why they’re not.
