INDIE ROCK SONGS

Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut album, appearance on Saturday Night Live and performances at South by Southwest, an extensive touring schedule, not to mention praise and love from the media, bloggers and indie music fans (although the predictable backlash has begun), have propelled the preppy New York City band to near instant international recognition.

- Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa [mp3]

- Listen to tracks from the band's official website

- See rare clips of Vampire Weekend performing live in SF and on KCRW (a phenomenal 40-minute studio session of the band performing almost every song on their debut album)

The literary Columbia University grad students gained warp-speed popularity in and around the campus with their catchy mix of indie rock and Afro-fused beats, and soon began playing at high-society social gatherings and NYC venues in 2006.

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To get indie rock songs, videos, concert and festival listings, album reviews, playlists, news and much more throughout 2008, get the Indie Rock Songs feed.

Labels: Best Indie Songs, Indie Songs 2008, New Indie Aritsts, Vampire Weekend

During the past few weeks, more than 8,000 visitors have checked out, subscribed, listened to and downloaded IRC's Favorite Songs of 2007.

The following lists of links to rock, pop and other genre-specific 'best of 2007' editions, are worthy of reviewing and include many talented entries, song descriptions, samples and in some cases free, non-DRM MP3 downloads. Also included are links to playlists of MP3s featuring IRC's choices for 2007.

However, in the case where a best songs list is based on actual listener input and consumer purchases, that's another matter, and some of lists included here within utilize such methodology. (photos - top left: Zach Condon from Beirut; middle right: Modest Mouse)

Quick Click MP3s:

Heretics - Andrew Bird
- See the full playlist, Volume I

Spitting Venom - Modest Mouse
- See the full playlist, Volume II

No One Would Riot For Less - Bright Eyes
- See the full playlist, Volume III


Check out the list of lists from across the web for the best and top songs of 2007.

Don't miss out on great independent music by easily signing up for the free and easily accessible Feed Me Indie! feed.

Labels: Best Independent Artists 2007, Best Indie Blogs, Best Indie Songs, Best Songs 2007, Indie Rock Links, List of Lists

The RAC mix of The Shins "Sleeping Lessons" track is much like the original - dreamy, melodic and engaging, starting off slowly with lo-fi vocals and guitar and harp strings coupled with ambient keyboard interludes and a bad bass line.

More than half way through the song, the enthusiastic climax - a driving, infectious chorus - reaches exhilarating heights.

By the time it all winds down, listeners may find themselves wanting that forward-marching chorus and up tempo beat to keep going, much the way Arcade Fire's "Neighborhoods" song trio does.

In fact, "Sleeping Lessons" has the unmistakable feel of Arcade Fire's now-famous style of sweeping, indie chamber pop-rock music. To be featured on the cover of Time magazine must say something, but if Arcade Fire made Time, The Shins should definitely get their cover (or should they? eems to be quite the rage these days.


Rather, "Sleeping Lessons" ends much like it started - unpretentious and soothing, even slightly psychedelic, sprinkled with metered harp and guitar strumming that slowly fade behind the megaphone-style lo-fi vocals.

Nevertheless, the failure to capitalize on the driving and infectious chorus that makes the song so memorable was a miscalculation on the part of The Shins. The boys of the band could have really taken the mix to its logical next level - extending the beat, if you will, but they didn't. I so wanted them to embrace the chorus and run with it for a few minutes, rather than little over one minute.

This "failure to communicate" to the masses leaves the door wide open for some electronica deejay or need-a-hit band to do a butcher-job style cover version of "Sleeping Lessons" some day should The Shins ever fall from grace (no signs of that yet and eagerly awaiting the next album).

When you consider The Shins' enormous global popularity in rock music now, it is not a stretch to imagine this song ending up in a Volkswagen, Toyota or GM commercial. Ugh, right?

It's amazing what you can do with one finger - like point out who's to blame for that.

Vinyl lovers alert: This RAC mix is recorded from vinyl; if it's not, prove me wrong because I hear the signature snap, crackle and pop of vinyl in the beginning of this mix, but not on the official music video version.

Labels: Artists, Best Indie Songs, MP3s, Remixes, The Shins, Top 100