These lists aren’t final until they are up on the site to give a chance to those November and December releases that often get forgotten. That said, a basic list usually gets drafted quite far in advance as a guide. This list however is the exception. It took a long time to narrow down to a top ten, and even longer to decide on the final order. It’s been an impressively consistent year for EPs across the board, but after much deliberation I’ve settled on my final rankings. Continue reading
overjoyed
Spotlight!: Overjoyed
A short while ago I made myself a playlist of my favourite submissions I’ve received while running this blog. It was only after I finished and took a step back to admire it that I noticed something; there were more songs from Swedish acts than anywhere else in the world. Listening to the debut EP from Gothenburg based indie trio Overjoyed just further fuels the thought that there must be something in the water over there. A Look of Fear, a Lack of Feeling seems to just appear out of nowhere to steal the show as one of the finest indie releases of 2018. The bright riffs and exceptional bass on ‘Downer’ duck and weave around each other like they’re locked in some high stakes race, while the bittersweet ‘Taxi Driver’ feels like an energetic ode to The Cure. The piano balladry of ‘Love Me Louder’ offers a more sombre and stripped back feel, before launching straight into the upbeat and ephemeral ‘Lights’. ‘Sweetheart’ takes a darker approach with it’s menacing opening riff and ‘Skin’ builds from a sparse opening to a thunderous climax complete with raw, impassioned vocals and emphatic drums. Overjoyed’s brand of “sadpop” offers infectious melodies, deeper meanings, and above all the need to just have more of it in your life.
Fans of The Cure, Vampire Weekend, The Smiths and The Vaccines should check out their debut EP A Look of Fear, a Lack of Feeling out 3rd August
Top Tracks: Overjoyed – Taxi Driver
Though they don’t often make an appearance on the site, I listen to a lot of long songs. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone I know has been baffled as to how someone can come up with enough ideas to fill a song that’s ten, even twenty minutes long. In a bizarre twist of fate however, Swedish band Overjoyed have given me a taste of my own medicine, and have left me wondering just how they can pack so much content into a mere two minutes. ‘Taxi Driver’ takes everything you need for a compelling indie hit – bright uplifting riffs, relatable lyrics, oodles of energy and an infectious chorus – trims it all down and refines it, leaving us with this pure and concentrated indie anthem. This diamond of a track is a real crowd-pleaser in the making, and I doubt you’ll hear a more engaging two minutes of music all year.
Belwood Music 