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Review: Jack Foley
IT'S fair to say that the indie-alternative music scene has undergone
something of a massive resurgence in recent times, thanks to the
success of bands like Keane, Razorlight, The Killers and Kasabian.
It's a welcome thing and something that has made listening to
the charts a little more bearable.
It was only a matter of time, therefore, before a compilation
album specialist seized on the opportunity of collating some of
the biggest hits of the day onto one double album for everyone
to enjoy.
Step forward New Indie 2005, a double CD packed with
some of the biggest anthems of the year, as well as those tunes
you may have heard and sung along to without necessarily knowing
who they were by.
Of the really obvious stuff to make the cut, Keane's Bend
and Break; Embrace's Ashes; Kaiser Chiefs' Oh
My God, and Kasabian's Cutt Off are excellent tracks
whenever they're played.
But they're not the highlights. And listening to some of the
other efforts provide welcome insights into some of the best-kept
secrets of the current revival.
Take Joy Zipper's delightfully psychedelic You're So Good,
for example. It's a former record of the week on Lauren Lavern's
Xfm Drivetime show that provides a mouthwatering indicator of
the delights that await you on their Heartlight
Set album (one of the records of the year).
Or Thirteen Senses' mighty Salt Wound Routine - another
fine track that's taken from one of the overlooked indie gems
of 2004 (namely, Invitation).
The Mooney Suzuki's Alive and Amplified is another rousing
epic that has been used as the bedding music for countless TV
montages, while Nine Black Alps' Over The Ocean provides
telling evidence of the quality of another of the emerging acts
of the moment (and will have you wanting to hear more from their
debut album, Everything
Is).
New York's The Bravery provide proof that the new indie sound
isn't just reserved for the UK, with the New York music scene
contributing its fair share of telling anthems (in this case,
An Honest Mistake).
While everyone's favourites, The Killers, contribute the upbeat
Mr Brightside from their Hot
Fuss long-player, that has also spawned the much-loved hits,
All These Things That I've Done and Smile Like You
Mean It.
There's even room for former indie stalwart, Morrissey (Irish
Blood, English Heart).
The list is endless and it's clear that a great deal of thought
has gone into making sure this is a damn-near definitive collection
that also provides a showcase for emerging acts (courtesy of the
bonus CD).
It's sure to grace many a CD player during the BBQ/party season,
given that the 22 tracks provide a suitably diverse mix of some
of the best indie tunes of the moment.
Want more tips? Then check out
IndieLondon's best albums of 2004
Joy Zipper: Find
out why we're raving about this New York duo
Keane: The biggest new act of
2004 reflect on their breakthrough year
Thirteen Senses: An
exclusive interview with one of the brightest new indie acts around
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