A Brand New Indie/Alternative Playlist

This year saw the usual deluge of offerings in the indie/alternative rock category. Song after blessed indie song washed over the collective consciousness all year long, ebbing and flowing from the ever-nebulous mother lode of scenester genres.

Although my ears spent most of the year outside the indie/alternative musical categories, I did come across a few indie rock songs that stood out from the masses. Like particularly bright seashells on a crowded beach, these little "alternative punk" gems really caught the light.

And just as the terms indie, alternative, rock, and punk are not-so-slowly drained of any real musical or cultural meaning, so the diaphanous divisions that segregate the subcategories of pop music dissolve. In the end, these indie/alternative/punk/rock songs can (and probably should) be stripped of provenance and scene and simply enjoyed for the pleasant pop song stylings they bring.

Here are eleven new songs that were categorized as alternative punk or indie rock, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to the mixtape compilers among you. Being a straight rock aficionado, I've kept the melodies hook-filled, the tempos upbeat, and the themes relatively sunny. You'll have to get your fix of ambient moping somewhere else.

1. "Nothing Ever Happened"

Microcastle, Deerhunter

With its telltale atmospheric, reverberiffic guitars and ethereal, mumbling vocals, Deerhunter's Microcastle falls so firmly in the shoegazing category that I nearly passed it up altogether. Shoegazing may be a fine genre, but it lives outside the hooky, riffy, raucous rock & roll I call home. Still, the track "Nothing Ever Happened" represents the catchier side of the scene as guitars double the buried vocals. A luminous, extended middle eight hits the ear just right and leads into a sweetly buzzing guitar solo and long but varied instrumental section.

2. "Say Aha"

Santogold, Santogold

"Say Aha" from Santogold's eponymous album begs the question, "What if Siouxie Sioux had done 60s girl group pop?" It's an energetic, multilayered track with interesting synths and great vocals; the instrumentation and almost atonal chord progression in the middle eight are postmodern and fun. "I'm a Lady" from the same album is nice, too, but other tracks are uncomfortably reminiscent of M.I.A.

3. "I Could Never"

Spark Large, Marching Band

Sweet, soft indie that recalls Sufjan Stevens or Iron and Wine, Marching Band's Spark Large is really a gorgeous collection of songs. "I Could Never" features a rapid-fire but delicately executed vocal line, light electronic drums, and ice cream truck synths whirling in contrapuntal arpeggios. The track is carefully and tightly arranged to sound delightfully busy without being frenetic.

4. "Film Noir"

The 59 Sound, the Gaslight Anthem

The 59 Sound from the Gaslight Anthem sounds like Springsteen as styled by the Killers; it's almost infinitely comparable to other bands who did it better or made it bigger. Nevertheless, it's a charming, listenable record. "Film Noir" has lyrics that are a bit Tom Waits, a bit Misfits; the music and execution make for a good song that'll get stuck in your head in a good way.

5. "Cherry Tulips"

Some Racing, Some Stopping, Headlights

Headlights' Some Racing, Some Stopping is a pretty, poppy record with clear early 60s roots and an effective girl/guy vocal pairing. This sweet track brings delicate vocal harmonies in the second chorus, great work on the organ, and a simple, appealing song structure with a wistfully happy slide guitar motif in the coda. It's the kind of song that coaxes even the most cynical face into a quite natural smile.

6. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"

Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend's eponymous release is cute and collegiate, likeable and listenable, and breeds only the slightest resentment for the wasted, indolent lives of the overprivileged. The giddy "A-Punk" is a must-hear if you've magically managed to avoid it thus far, and "M79" is Billy Joel-flavored ska revival, which is joyous news indeed. But "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a truly different and remarkable track, its catchy world-pop simultaneously conjuring the Clash and Orchestra Baobab. They may be the preppiest, whitest band ever, but their impeccably influenced pop is the delight of the modern ear.

7. "Hugs & Kisses"

By the Sword, Free Diamonds

Stripped down and up-tempo, "Hugs and Kisses" is a standout song from the Free Diamonds' sophomore release, a Zappa- and Primus-influenced collection of quick ditties that bear a closer familial resemblance to punk than most other indie acts wearing the label. For this track, a simple blues riff gets a Pixies-esque, slightly rockabilly treatment with danceable results. It calls to mind the everybody-sing-along-ability of "Sugar Daddy" from rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

8. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here"

Volume One, She & Him

Catchy songwriting and unusual vocals characterize She & Him's Volume One. One can hear hints of June Carter, "Different Drum"-era Linda Rondstadt, and that chick from Moldy Peaches. The songs themselves have a feel-good, seventies/Beach Boys pop ambience with a couple direct girl group ("I Was Made for You") and wartime crooner ("Take It Back") throwbacks. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" is a cheery little ditty that represents the best of She & Him's offerings, showcasing impeccable pop song structure and a vintage recording feel (especially from the Spector-esque doubled vocals) for a kick-ass reminder of what pop music was meant to be before it got taken over by dancers with producers.

9. "Blue Sunshine"

Target Heart, Blue Giant

Blue Giant's EP Target Heart has fallen into the "Alt. Country/Folk" category; but with instrumentation that is something between Frank Black's Honeycomb and Bright Eyes' Wake Up It's Morning, it will be familiar and palatable to indie listeners. "Blue Sunshine" marries a Zeppelin stomp beat with gospel vocal harmonies. It's got slides! It's got harmonicas! It's classic-rock bonhomie that never stumbles into being sappy, thanks to a strong blues progression throughout.

10. "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight"

Electric Arguments, the Fireman

How can a former Beatle be thrown into the indie category? Nevertheless, there this album must lie. "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight" from The Fireman's Electric Arguments is a sick (in the best sense) and heavy blues track from a solid album by Sir Paul McCartney. It recalls the earliest classic rock reworkings of Mississippi delta blues; as such, it's deeply sexy in the tradition of hard rock and will likely alienate the anti-sexy, anti-blues camp of indie fans. The rest of the album is softer, subtler, and more fitting for the genre; but the first track just got me off, and that's what I'm here for.

11. "The Deathbridge in Lethbridge"

Hometowns, the Rural Alberta Advantage

The distinctive vocals of this indie group will have you dropping names for comparison well into next month. Jack White, Billy Corgan, the dude from Jane's Addiction, maybe even a little Mick Jagger... You'll notice you're naming wildly expressive and effective vocalists who were actually crap singers but great song stylists. Once you get over the vocals, you'll notice a great band with great songwriting abilities. The entire album is a pleasure to hear, each track distinctive; but "The Deathbridge in Lethbridge" has a particularly rock & roll urgency. Incidentally, I believe it's also the fastest song, metronomically speaking, on the record.

So there's a start for your indie rock, alternative punk playlist. Don't limit yourself to just these songs, though; most of the albums mentioned here are superb bets, especially if you need a good, long collection of songs for a social event soundtrack.

Another great, ready-made, completely free and downloadable alt/punk/indie/rock compilation is So Indie It Hurts, a fun, 11-track frolic available for the low, low price of free at eMusic.com.

Another less consistently awesome but equally free indie compilation offering is the Deep Elm Sampler No. 8, Bonfire of Trust, also available at eMusic.com.

Happy listening, everyone!