Author: Shelby Joy Leone
I am in a rut. A deep, dark, seemingly inescapable rut of the same four albums on heavy rotation over and over. This happens to us all, we get bored of the stuff we listen to over and over, yet we do not have the energy to go find something new. So, let me do the work for you.
I graciously ignored all of my reading for my 9:00 AM class and spent far too long diving into the indie k-hole that is Bandcamp. Bandcamp is one of the top platforms where independent artists can be discovered and shared online, and is the birthplace of artists like Frankie Cosmos, Car Seat Headrest, and Shakey Graves. Who knows, maybe one of these bands will be the next starlet of the DIY community. However, with so much music being released every day, it can be hard to sift through and find the true gems.
So, let’s deep dive and see what bandcamp has to offer.
Popularized Architectural Movement by Beret
I found Beret thanks to a friend’s radio show on Rainydawg.org, UW’s student run radio station, and have been a fan ever since. With drum machines, layered guitars, monotone vocals, and angst you can dance to, Beret’s Popularized Architectural Movement is a release with lots of character to it.
P.A.M is the perfect house show album. There is an energy that comes off of this release that harkens to a Rainer soaked hardwood floor somewhere where platform boot-clad college kids dance and sway to the music then run outside between sets, so they don’t pass out from all the condensation that’s built up. The release is goth-y at times, especially on the closing track Private Woman which mixes the monotone cadence of Marilyn Manson with the sweet guitar tones of an indie rock band. The references Beret draws from it seems, is far aider than just goth. For example, on the song Sociopath, I hear Gang of Four, Minor Threat, The Garden Puzzle, (side project of Fletcher Shears ½ of the Garden). There seems to be a lot of punk influence in Beret’s earnest and chanted lyrics (“The less I’m allowed to feel/ the more i can take from you”(…) “Go ahead admit your jealousy / drag out dirty laundry / Statuesque is the man without feeling / The man without feeling is the man in control”).
In typical DIY fashion, a disclaimer can be seen below the album “don’t buy this on bandcamp, contact me directly”.
Mechanical Injury by Pinch Points
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something that is gonna punch you in the face, move over Johnny Rotten, Pinch Points is the Sex Pistols 2.0. Fun, fast, and loud, Pinch Points are a 20-somethings wet dream and a 60-year-old’s nostalgia trip. Sometimes the energy is fun, other times is anxious and reckless, and I am here for it. Pure Australian energy. Blink and you will miss it, their release Mechanical Injury clocks in at a total of 17 whole minutes. I have never thought the word Ogopogo would be relevant in 2019, but here we are. The album’s standout is the witty and fun “jelly brain” that laments the side effects of too much tv watching shows like Masterchef The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette (same Pinch Points, SAME).
Zut Alors by Chanel Beads
A bit of dream pop gold, Chanel Beads is a fantastic example of the total independent artistry that bandcamp can inspire. Smooth, dreamy, and sweet, I always feel nostalgic when I listen to Chanel Beads. On the track “male friendship” there is satisfying mix of indie influences (something akin to The Walters), drippy shoegaze-like trance-inducing synths, and lyrical gems like “haven’t had a friend this long/ it’s so hard to know what’s wrong/ And I don’t wanna see you dead /you know the rest” (Ow, my HEART). Everything is smooth and layered, both musically and in its subtext. There’s a sense of looking back on something painful with a calmness that only comes with time. This release really feels like a scrapbook of grief. According to the artist’s description of the EP: “Zut Alors is a dated French expression for aw shucks/darn/geez. This EP is about how grief reshapes and morphs as each year passes, becoming increasingly mundane and ubiquitous. It’s dedicated to my older brother Tyler.”
Grief never sounded so charming.
Little Songs by Snail Polish
ALRIGHT LISTEN, do I know and love Dev, sole member of Snail Polish? Yes. Is it biased to put her on this list? Maybe. BUT THIS RELEASE IS SO GOOD. When I am in a sad mood, feeling blue, all I need is a taste of the ever-sweet and innocent songs of Snail Polish. Lo-fi, DIY, and minimalistic, this release simplicity reveals an earnestness from Dev. Her lyrics are simple, yet infinitely charming, recounting nights spent with friends (blue dot) or fantastical depictions of self (1,000-year-old friend). Musically, the keyboard/synth and simple beat combo makes for a fun-loving sound, with a short interlude of house show-esque full band sounds snuck into the middle of the ep (Match crock). When Florist meets Frankie Cosmos meets early Girlpool meets a little bit of hellogoodbye era pop you get Snail Polish, a brilliant addition to the long standing tradition of honest bedroom records.
SHELBY JOY LEONE | I’m with the Bandcamp | KXSU Music Reporter