Three indie rock tracks to bring some energy to your early summer playlists

Cap’n Marble – “Han Solo”
-If you’re looking for a unique rock energy, definitely click on this new track from Cap’n Marble. I was blown away by the unconventional production elements that make the sound stand out. The comparison that immediately pops into my mind is some of the quirkier tracks from Relient K. There’s an exploratory element to the style here that feels like it’s willing to try new things and not just echo the same old indie rock tropes. The key lyric, “just the comfort of knowing you’re close” is about the security of a relationship. The instrumentation has mostly conventional rock elements, but the distortion, the experimental percussion, and the highlights from electronic elements all make it feel more like something from Sturgill Simpson’s psychedelic catalog than conventional rock music… and I’m absolutely here for it.

Lucy Frost – “Lead Paint”
-I have to say that I was surprised at every turn of this song on first listen. It has this sweet opening that feels like conventional indie pop, even the vocal has an approachable softness to it… but then it gets aggressive in both percussive energy as well as lyrical piercing that is sure to stun a lot of listeners. The juxtaposition between the charm of the vocal and the scathing content really makes for a remarkable piece of indie rock songwriting. I am impressed by this track, for sure, with its clean production and exceptional style. That said, I’m just as interested to follow Lucy Frost’s emerging career. This is the type of songwriter that I want to follow. The sky is the limit here, for sure.

Skinny Dippers – “When You Were It”
-There’s a cathartic energy to the rhythm of this track that I really appreciate. It moves along, but doesn’t rush. The drum fills, the chill guitars, and the storytelling of the lead vocal all come together for something that feels like comfortable folk rock. The crooning, “I forget what you say… I’ll forget what you did… but I’ll never forget how it felt when you were it…” lyric hits just right. If you’ve ever looked back on a relationship, or even just when you were obsessed with someone, this song hits so genuinely and sincerely. So many lines in this track feel like that; familiar, easy going but carrying this transcendent connection. The sound reminds me of two of my favorite indie artists, Jeff Pianki and Darryl Rahn. If you’ve been around my coverage in the past decade, you know those are not comparisons I throw around lightly. This is a heck of a track and I’m glad to have found it.

Image courtesy: Lucy Frost IG