here they are:
"Harness the Wind" by Calexico: Paul Simon has become something of an unintentional indie-folk and indie-pop icon in recent years. Vampire Weekend have a lot of material that sound like Graceland outtakes, and more recent songs like Phosphorescent's "New Birth in New England" also tend to evoke the exotic, chill vibes of the album. Calexico are the latest to jump on to the Simon-influenced bandwagon with "Harness the Wind," which also sounds like it could have been a Graceland outtake. The rhythms of the song are hypnotic and otherworldly, and the gentle, breezy electric guitar sound weaving in and out make for a pretty Simon-esque song as well. Lyrically, "Harness the Wind" is a song of hope, and it features Iron & Wine's Sam Beam on backing vocals in one of the few instances he sounds more upbeat.
"Heavy Heart" by Bartees Strange: Black indie performers are not as uncommon as one might think. TV on the Radio have made a name for themselves with their ethereal mix of post-punk and funk, and the saucy folkie Kimya Dawson, best known for her contributions to the Juno soundtrack (and a fantastically irreverent children's album shortly after), is another notable name in said category. But neither one are just straight up "indie" in the contemporary sense with a sound that evokes something like early Coldplay for a more contemporary audience. This is where Bartees Strange comes in. His breakthrough song, "Heavy Heart," has a sincerity that makes him seem like he'd be perfect for the soundtrack to a slightly melancholy coming-of-age romantic film in the manner of The Fault in Our Stars. There's a good reason the song sounds as emotional as it does, too, and that is because the song is about missing his family while he's away touring on the road.
"Softly" by Arlo Parks: I've sadly overlooked the music of the 2020's neo-soul sensation, Arlo Parks. Until now, that is. The uniquely whispery yet seductive piano-based sound of "Softly" got me to jump onto the Arlo Parks bandwagon too. Beneath the shimmery sound of this sultry song lies a gentle yet urgent cry for help. When Arlo yearningly croons "break it to me softly" during the chorus, she is actually acknowledging what it is like to have a relationship crumble at the seams even though you might still be in love with the person you're having thoughts about breaking up with. Love can be a strange and delicate thing, and thankfully, Arlo understands and is willing to put these fragile feelings to the forefront here.
"Watching Strangers Smile" by Parquet Courts: Parquet Courts have been around for a while now, but it's only now that they're getting noticed by adult alt radio stations. Perhaps this is because most of their material is a bit too rough and ragged for the format. In a surprising change of style, "Watching Strangers Smile" sounds more like a sunny, sweet, summery power pop song than it does like the garage rock they usually do. The song's fun, upbeat guitar-based sound is backed by a synth in a way that evokes groups like Fountains of Wayne, or perhaps a slightly less rocking version of The Cars. Despite the song's retro sound, it is definitely a 2020's song, particularly for the line where the lead singer is "paranoid (his) mask will slip," and it's likely not a metaphorical mask, if we are to go by the lyric before that which talks about going to the store to buy a beer.
