Three track right on the edge of indie pop and indie rock, bringing unique energy

JT Loux – “jealous”
-When I first clicked play on this track from JT Loux, I felt an immediate connection with the alt rock of the 90s. Names like Gavin Rossdale and Liam Gallagher popped into my mind. Now I’m not saying Loux sounds like them specifically, but that the style of the composition feels like that era of music. There are these great hooks that keep the listener feeling the mood of the track along with powerful electric guitar breaks that keep it exciting. This is what a solid genre blend sounds like when it’s done well.

Kevin Kolk – “emiline”
-I always says that songs titled after the name of a person are either love songs or break up songs; there’s no in between. This poppy number from Kevin Kolk has a lot of indie pop charm with a moving energy. The lyrics have the charm that you might hear from a pop artist like Charlie Puth and the melodic energy is definitely something that you can hear even on first listen. While it doesn’t have all the hallmarks of rock production, there’s a rhythm and movement that certainly fits with the genre. A bit more for our indie pop fans, but it’s a track that should stand out for a lot of listeners.

A Darker Bright – “Summer of ’20”
-Since we blogged our way through the Summer of ’20, it’s kind of weird to hear it immortalized in a song here. But I’ll tell you what I like about this song — the powerful chords set up unique melodic energy that has echoes of classic rock with a contemporary panache. The whole sound feels like it was born out of experimental and rewarding artistry. The soaring vocal in the open spaces invites the listener into some rough memories about quarantines and the uncertainty of that time. Generally I’ve shied away from featuring music about the pandemic, but this song did a great job of putting it into context with an appropriately serious gravitas in the composition style. This is an artful reflection on a tragedy.