Our seven favourite indie albums and seven favourite indie songs released in July 2024 - featuring SOFT PLAY, Kasabian, Cigarettes After Sex and more!
Welcome to the latest edition of our monthly indie review blog. In this edition, we review the best new indie music released from the month that’s just been.
June itself was an absolute bumper month for new music giving us plenty to mull over! With contributions from Matthew McLister and Neil Renton, here's a review of the best albums and songs from July 2024.
Albums
Cigarettes After Sex - X’s
Cigarettes After Sex are far from the household name their streaming numbers might suggest. Despite earning billions of listens (24 million monthly Spotify listeners alone), the Texan band have maintained a cult persona of one removed from the mainstream. Producers of a type of sensual dream-pop fit for bedroom chilling and, well, soundtracking the activity described by their risqué band name itself. The biggest draw, of course, is the soothing vocals of frontman Greg Gonzalez, a singer harbouring a style ambiguous in gender and almost erotic in nature.
The blissful, mid-tempo template is one they’ve embraced again on third album, X’s – sonically luscious, softly melodic, the guitars typically reverbed. An offering of rich and entrancing tracks, noir in scope and only subtle in difference. This time round, Gonzalez’ lyricism follows the highs and lows of a four-year relationship to its eventual demise.
You could argue that X’s is Cigarette After Sex’s most consistent album of the three released so far. While the Texan band deliver their famed reverbed sound, similar lustful lyrics and reveal little desire to move the dial, the overall standard – more so when comparing each record’s weaker moments – is far raised.
Of course, the doubters will point to the lack of variation over their discography and find itchy feet here. But with a musical formula this pleasurable on the ears, Cigarettes After Sex will seduce you all over again third time round. (Words by Matthew McLister)
You can check our my full review of X’s on the Clash website.
SOFT PLAY – HEAVY JELLY
Punk duo SOFT PLAY have had quite the career to date. The Royal Tunbridge Wells band – formed of Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent – were initially called Slaves and released their much-celebrated debut album Are You Satisfied in 2015. Upon release, they suddenly found themselves darlings of BBC Radio 1 and later receiving a Mercury Prize nomination for their efforts.
After a further two records, the band appeared to go on a hiatus in 2018, returning in 2022 to reveal a name change from SLAVES to SOFT PLAY stating, “the name 'Slaves' is an issue [and] doesn't represent who we are as people or what our music stands for any longer.” After six years between albums, the pair’s new album HEAVY JELLY is a solid return, typically featuring a heavy, abrasive punk-metal sound and lacking any sugar coating. There’s also plenty of the welcomed (and unfiltered) lyrical charm of their past.
The grief-filled final track ‘Everything and Nothing’ later takes an emotional left turn, carried by a sweet mandolin riff contrasting to Holman’s strained vocal delivery. Written during lockdown, it has the duo reflect on their intense and tragic journey that has seen them experience the loss of close figures. After a highly charged 25-minutes to this point, the closer is a beautiful moment of reflection and despair.
Overall, HEAVY JELLY struggles to match the high bar set on the duo’s nine year old debut, but there’s a heap of charm and punk edge throughout to keep you entertained, while the finale see’s them venture into emotive depths unimaginable before the name change. So RIP SLAVES and long live the SOFT PLAY. We have high hopes for you.(Words by Matthew McLister)
Read my full review of SOFT PLAY's new album HEAVY JELLY.
Travis - LA Times
Travis have been everywhere recently. Kicking about Glasgow in a bus to promote the album. Appearing on memes because of it. Podcast interviews, supporting and almost toppling The Killers on their recent arena tour and Fran’s bright, bright orange hair means they’ve been hard to ignore. Well saying they’ve got an album to promote. It takes a while for it LA Times to kick in.
‘Bus’ and ‘Raze The Bar’ amble about without setting the heather on fire. It’s not until ‘Gaslight’ turns up that the album heads in the right direction.
Suddenly they’re The Band Who we all fell in love with. Making us tap our feet while making us think. ‘Alive’ shares its DNA with the group at their peak while ‘Naked In New York’ is a beautiful song about loneliness and longing for home.
‘The River’ which is one of those Scottish rowdy odes that are destined to be chanted in a crowded venue as folk hug strangers and celebrate. Title song ‘LA Times’ closes it all with a slight misstep into rap. Don’t let that put you off. There’s many highlights and not just in Frans hair. (Words by Neil Renton)
Kasabian - Happenings
Twenty years ago, Kasabian’s self-titled debut album launched the Leicester band and propelled them on a journey towards household name, chart topping and festival headlining status. Many wrote them off as lad rock Oasis wannabees, but there was always more to them than first met the eye. An infectious fusion of indie, dance and psych-rock with grubby dancefloor-filling capabilities. Much of their longevity was built around their ability to excel within a live environment and this quality is heavily tapped into again on Happenings.
Their eighth record is the second album without original frontman Tom Meighan (you can read about the bitter fall out elsewhere), typically possessing a collection of feel-good, people-pleasing tunes designed specifically (some might cynically…) for audience participation.
Kasabian have always been an easy band to sneer at both critically and by the music snobs. Neither were they a band you’d listen to for a sense of intellectual curiosity or emotional depth, two important caveats going into their latest. Instead, Happenings’ 10 tracks over 28 minutes flies through largely through its exhilarating energy and Serge Pizzorno’s hype-man enthusiasm.
Ok, so the “ey-ey-eys”, “oh-oh-ohs” and “oh-eeh-ohs” heard throughout are a little cringe, but performed to a crowd of enthused thousands, the words will slip out in an act of joyful release. “We’re not here for a long time / we’re here for a good time” admits Serge on breezy album closer ‘Algorithms’ and it's a mantra summarising Kasabian’s enduring, non-pretentious appeal. An appeal that shows little sign of waning after Happenings. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Read my full review of Kasabian's latest album, Happenings.
Eminem - The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace)
You can tell one of the world’s most famous rappers has a lot to get off his chest when he opens his latest album with the sound of him spitting. And it’s not just phlegm he’s unleashing on the world. He’s back with a vendetta and he’s taking pot shots at everyone.
From Caitlin Jenner to Christopher Reeve and everyone else in between no one is safe. And it’s infuriating. He’s clearly got skills that separate him from many of his peers but there’s times he feels like that one person in the group WhatsApp chat who just hasn’t read the room. Saying things for the sake of being controversial. ‘Houdini’ is a brilliant track which you’ve all probably heard. ‘Tobey’ is up there with his classic material.
What is interesting is a couple of the more sombre moments reflecting on his relationship with his daughter Hailie. ‘Temporary’ and ‘Somebody Save Me’ act almost as a cry for help that leaves as much of an impact as the offensive material that goes before it.
If this is the death of Slim Shady, the resurrection could be worth listening to. (Words by Neil Renton)
The Joy Hotel – Ceremony
Glaswegian septet The Joy Hotel has been building a steady reputation with their distinctive sound that recalls past artists but feels timely with stellar production and lyricism. Built around Emme Woods standout vocals. Having built momentum on the festival circuit and strong word of mouth, the group now celebrates the release of their debut LP ‘Ceremony’, recorded in eleven days at Rockfield, the legendary studio in Monmouth, Wales, recording live-to-tape.
The 13 tracks on this debut are highly eclectic and mark The Joy Hotel out as a must listen with an irresistible blend of indie/alternative, folk, blues and so much more. What’s most impressive is how well they bring all the disparate elements into a melting pot that celebrates their influences while bringing something fresh and unique to the table. (Words by Chris Connor)
Check out Chris’ full review of Ceremony on the Clash website.
Wand - Vertigo
Wand’s home-recorded latest contains eight multi-layered tracks crafted from jam sessions that are alluring from the off. Opener ‘Hangman’, with its buzzing guitar layers and ominous instrumentation, sets the standard high early doors.
Vertigo’ carries a strong Radiohead influence throughout and, at times, sounds like a purposely nostalgic Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood side project, even if its ambitious scope shakes off any caricaturist accusations. The best example of this is the third track ‘Mistletoe’. Its oppressive horns, disco beat and anxiety-laden orchestration wouldn’t sound out of place on the Oxford band’s left-field fourth record, Kid A.
Intent on pushing the boat out again, the noisy feedback on ‘High Tide’ offers a thunderous climax, contrasting to the blissful piano and strings on closer ‘Seaweed Head’. Vertigo is very easy to get lost in: 39 minutes of breathtaking quality from one of rock’s best kept secrets. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Check out my full review of Wand’s latest on the Stereoboard website.
Songs
Gurriers – ‘Approachable’
Irish fivepiece Gurriers have just released their latest single ‘Approachable’ – a post punk protest song written from the perspective of a right wing extremist and a comment on the rise of the movement itself in Ireland. Debut album Come and See arrives on 13th September and is described by the group as “a noisy, guitar driven odyssey of our disillusionment with the modern world”. Their latest single certainly carries a punch, an exhilarating four minutes of angst and unease. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Hamish Hawk - ‘Men Like Wire’
Hamish Hawk has been making a name for himself on the live circuit, both of a support act and a headliner in his own right. He’s got an album arriving very soon and this acts as a clear indication of what to expect. That big roaring indie guitar sound coupled with his voice that doesn’t lose its sincerity. With an epic scope on its observation on the modern male, there’s a lot to admire and look forward to. (Words by Neil Renton)
Fat Dog –‘ Wither’
If there’s one band the phrase “no half measures” applies to then it has to be London dance punk outfit Fat Dog. New single ‘Wither’ carries on the chaotic and encapsulating energy of their previous singles and has frontman Joe Love build to a crescendo of “You better wither baby before you die / The whole team withers / The whole team dies.” Their debut album WOOF arrives on 6 September via Domino Records and will likely be one of the most celebrated of the year come December. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Kim Deal – ‘Coast’
Former Pixies bassist and Breeders frontwoman Kim Deal has just dropped her new solo single ‘Coast’. The legendary rock musician’s latest single was produced by the late Steve Albini who died in May. It’s a breezy, upbeat coastal anthem inspired by a wedding band Deal she watched who possessed “revelatory levels of low self-esteem”. ‘Coast’ is her first solo work in ten years and even features a marching band. Delightful stuff this! (Words by Matthew McLister)
Wunderhorse - ‘Silver’
London based band Wunderhorse have just released ‘Silver’, the third preview single for new album Midas which is set for release on 30 August. Their moody new one is self described as being “about the ugly side of yourself that you try to keep a secret, but you know it’s there because it makes your skin crawl sometimes”. The “hush now baby / don’t you cry” chorus vocals from Jakob Slater create quite the earworm - raw, emotive and in your face. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Monobloc - Where Is My Garden
Channelling the spirit of New York City’s Lower East Side circa 2001, Big Apple five-piece Monobloc have released their second recorded single ‘Where Is My Garden’. The song itself is a gritty concoction of catchy riffs, Timothy Waldron’s nonchalant vocal delivery and indie sleaze era aesthetics. Meanwhile, amongst the post punk melodies and hooks lies Springsteen-inspired lyricism about city life disillusionment. “Where is my garden? Where are my friends? Will it always feel like the end?” questions Waldron within the melancholic yet earwormy chorus – an alluring DIY bop from one of NYC’s hotly tipped young bands. (Words by Matthew McLister)
Hifi Sean and David McAltmont - 'Sun Comes Up'
What happens when you cross a couple of musical mavericks? One, the singer of The Soup Dragons and the other responsible for one of the best songs of the nineties in the shape of ‘Yes’? You get this. A synth-pop singalong tune ideal for the summer we didn’t quite have. Don’t worry about Scotland being eliminated from the Euros before the handover kicked in. Or the fact that it’s always raining. This pair are bringing the sunshine and the optimism and the hope and the good times. (Words by Neil Renton)
For the best tunes of each month, listen to our Best indie songs of the month 2024 playlist below.
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