In addition to the best of the week, we will also be highlighting some other favorites. This is technically from last week since the big drop (wooo Friday), meh sue me.
Red Shoulder – Squirrel Flower
This is just a great song, plain and simple. It’s a familiar sound, but the Boston native absolutely nails this and got us all shit our pants excited for her album in January.
Always – Rex Orange County
This album is great, enjoyed the whole thing. Rex sounds like the awkward pubescent middle school boy in my heart who just graduated from emo and sings original rock songs in his room in a muffled voice (because he hasn’t found my way yet and doesn’t want an awkward compliment from his parents/my parents), but then got really hot and mastered his voice and now rules the world.
Use This Gospel – Kanye West, Clipse, Kenny G
This is by a guy named Kanye West, I had never heard of him but he’s pretty good. I like how he sing-raps, looking forward to checking out the rest of the discography. I hope it’s as wholesome as this. By the way I hate swearing. I almost skipped this whole album by this no name, but then I saw that the OG Kenny G was on the track so I decided to give it a shot. The production is pretty good.
This is what Kanye West looks like in case you’d never heard of him like me, he’s the one on the right:
Cult – Mad Gatsby
Damn man, I’m down. If I can be honest it was so lit that I hurt my ankle stomping on the floor too aggressively at the concert because when EVERYONE is stomping on the floor you follow suit. This show was crazy, loved every minute of it.
This is our weekly best new tracks article. We cover mostly brand new songs but also some gems from the last few weeks. Follow our playlist if you want to follow on Spotify or if you hate my writing and just want the music:
Dead Battery – L’Orange and Jeremiah Jae
Oh man, this song is piping hot like when you eat that first bite of mom’s beef stew right off the stove son. I’m cheating a little bit because this came out as a single a month ago (haha or 2 months ago tomato potato) but it was too hot not to lead. And a banger is a banger whether or not I caught it when I came out am I right guys? Anyway, damn this is a heater.
Summer Camp – L’Orange and Jeremiah Jae
What can I say, this team from North Carolina and Chicago respectively is something special. Check out our review of the album (it’s a brief review, who has time to read a full review right guys, am I right) but this song is also amazing and is a center piece of one of my favorite albums of the year.
Devil In Her Eye – Mad Gatsby
HOLY SHIT, did these guys come out of nowhere. Singer/Songwriter Brandon Burtis and Producer Alec Berkley burst through the gates on some hot ass on fire ass horses like in Hercules (?). Amazing EP in general, Cult also SLAPS. Love these guys, can’t wait to hear more. Also can’t wait to see the next album art, because this one is SICK.
My Love – Anna of the North
Anna coming in HOT with the album! ‘Playing Games’ was an early entry on the Indie Pong playlist, one of the first entries when the single came out. We’ve been highly anticipating this album and it did NOT disappoint! Bangers throughout and very well constructed. Check it out and make sure not to miss this banger and also Lonely Life (also slaps).
Things I Do – Andy Shauf
I’d like to joke about Andy Shauf being pregame music because it’s low key but in all honesty I would easily pregame to Andy Shauf and probably have an awesome night because this shit is just awesome music as per usual. This is some strutting down the street in khakis music, definitely with some Ray Bans, kind of mood where you would make thumb guns at someone to let them know how hard you were vibing but you would never do that because you have such refined music taste which basically makes you a God.
Reflection – Hana Vu
Is this going to piss my musical theater sister off? I don’t know, she hasn’t answered my text yet. Are you down though? Because I’m fucking down.
In my opinion anyone can make the right synth and anyone can find the right vocal modulation, but what’s really hard is finding that perfect combination of not only those two things but also lyrics that match. I’m down for some pixel affection get at me.
Sunset by Plane – Anamanaguchi, Caroline Lufkin
Who’s trying to go hard like it’s the end of an anime in a club (?) like a super lit anime where they club at the end to some Nintendocore Bitpop- you down? Because I’m fucking down, spike my hair and call me by my middle name (Akira) because I’m down af.
Worth Noting: We’ve already featured King Princess and Great Grandma and they’re still on the list, both great albums that you should check out! Follow our playlist for weekly updates without having to read!
First of all, shouts out to Bandcamp for being the best music site on the planet (besides Indie Pong of course) and constantly shining a spotlight on unique acts from all around the world. Bandcamp is my favorite website to find new music on for sure, here is the original write up they did in case you’re interested: https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/10/25/lorange-jeremiah-jae-complicate-your-life-with-violence-interview/
This album is absolute fire. It’s a war-themed concept album by producer L’Orange (North Carolina) and producer-rapper Jeremiah Jae (Chicago – aye whattup Chi-Town) that utilizes some killer old school style beats and interludes reminiscent of Mm.. Food but with a fresh flavor that makes it completely it’s own. The Madgibbs reference is totally warranted, as Complicate Your Life With Violence also achieves that innately nostalgic feeling while being brand new and original content with something to say. There isn’t a bad lyric on this record, and you can bet it’s going to be on rotation for a long time.
Here’s a video that they released in August directed by Ryan Calavano:
Love a good Hip Hop album, saving rap bar by bar. Stay tuned for some more Hip Hop updates soon, particularly in our upcoming……….
It was late, about 2:30am, on a Thursday. I had just sent my thirteenth consecutive text to my friend Austin about my top 20 Outkast songs list I had made, equally spaced out so he would get the alerts in even intervals all night. There is nothing better than waking up to texts from your friends. Austin had asked me to not text him so late because he works early, but I knew he was just being considerate of my time and that it was a fake excuse. It was no bother, I love sharing music with my friends. Austin blocked my number because he’s such a good friend, but he DIDN’T block my roommate’s number, or any of my neighbors’ numbers, so I was set. Austin is so funny, he would make jokes like “Do you have any other friends” and “Your texts make me want to kill myself” – hilarious. I guess that’s what you get when you selflessly devote your free time to your friends.
In all honesty starting a music blog has always been a dream of mine. Last year I quit my film industry job of three years, a career I had been working towards since high school, and this is the direction my life has taken me. I can’t wait to share music with you all. Check out our playlist ‘Indie Pong Best New Tracks’ for new music every week.
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