Michael Pankonien & Hubert Adjei-Kontoh
Staff Writers
So, you’re listening to the radio in the car and you’ve heard the same song three times in a row. And it doesn’t matter whether you like the band or not because you’ve heard the same song three times! This is the current predictability of pop radio in the United States. And though we aren’t saying that popular music in the United States can’t be great, we are saying original good pop music in the United States has been hard to find for a while. Therefore we at the Sidekick would like to introduce you to some music that we have found enjoyable from many different cultures. Spanning three continents and three countries, the music we selected is an remarkable mix of different cultures. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.
Canada
Broken Social Scene (1993-)
The definers of today’s Canadian indie scene, Broken Social Scene has continued to drop hit after hit, proving themselves the musical masters from Toronto. Nearly two decades old, Broken Social Scene has done it all: from smooth, drowsy sonatas to escalating, explosive jamborees. Sometimes classified as baroque pop, Broken Social Scene pulls it sound from guitars, horns, woodwinds, and violins and a variety of the Canadian indie scene’s hottest artist. Creative, artistic, definitive: Broken Social Scene wow’s and amazes with each new sound they produce.
Where to start: “KC Accidental” will blow you away with its recurring sense of freshness, despite only being composed of a few chords. With its running pace and beautiful vocalists, “Fired Eye’d Boy” will out the pep in even the gloomiest person. “Superconnected” is a great example of Broken Social Scene’s ability to jam pack their songs with sounds never before conceived by other bands and draw you in panting for more.
The Most Serene Republic (2003-)
Having distinguished themselves for their orchestral rock sound, The Most Serene Republic has blasted its way through the Canadian indie scene. With music varying serene melodies to barely contained rock ballads of joy, TMSR has mastered the art of blending, accompanying, and merging its sound into one cohesive, explosive force of music. With their early days solidifying their classic indie rock sound, TMSR has gone on to larger, grander schemes of music cohesion; perfect for those looking for an explosive musical ecstasy.
Where to start: If you want a rocky edginess more explosive than adolescence, then you’ll feel right at home with “You’re a Loose Cannon McArthur…But You Get the Job Done”. Need a more quite too to chill out with? “Stay Ups” will felicitate your needs. “Sherry and her Butterfly Net” will leave you pumped up and ready to go with its urgent, dramatic, musical intensity and heart longing strings.
France
Stereolab (1990-2009)
Featured recently on Wikipedia, Stereolab is comprised of many influences, from kraut rock such as Faust to ‘60s pop. The main members of the band were Tim Gane and Laetia Sadier, and together, along with back-up vocals from Mary Hansen, they made unique music that hinged on the border of drone and pop.
Where to start: “Cybele’s Reverie.” Its haunting strings and jangly feel is a great introduction to Stereolab’s more accessible sound. To get deeper into their oeuvre, Emperor Tomato Ketchup continues to enhance their sound, which means more moog synthesizers and girl harmonies.
M83 (2001-)
Named after the galaxy Messier 83, M83 has gone through a few member changes – coincidentally, their music is constantly changing, as well. From an ambient-sounding vibe in their debut Dead Cities, Dead Ghosts to the shoe-gaze influenced, bass-pounding route they took with Saturdays=Youth, M83 has shown they are a band that does not stick to one sound – which is good thing for them, because all the sounds they have made are wondrous.
Where to start: “Kim and Jessie” or “Graveyard Girl.” The former is a high frequency ode to youthfulness processed through drum-beats and squalls of guitar to make something ethereally beautiful. The latter is almost overwhelming, with a lingering melody and a jangly guitar thrown in for good measure.
Sweden
Peter Bjorn and John (1999-)
The brain child of high school friends Peter Morén and Björn Yttling, Peter Bjorn and John has grown to become a cult favorite in both Sweden and the United Kingdom. Discarding modern styles for a more robust, stripped-down technique, their use of a variety of percussion instruments, bass, synthesizers and Morén’s voice has led to a clear-cut sound that stuns with its delicate clarity.
Where to start: One of the band’s most successful songs also happens to be its most accessible; between a subtle bass line and commanding bongo beat, “Young Folks” easily captures the feeling of fascination in a new relationship. For those looking to get pumped, “It Don’t Move Me” will easily bring it with its rushing chorus, decisive lyrics and Morén’s voice to guide the way.
The Knife (1999-)
This Swedish electro-pop duo’s edge swipes past most other electro acts, focusing on the darker side of pop. Their dark synth stabs and vocal slices are used to make melodic creations that make one wonder whether to begin screaming or moving.
Where to start: “Silent Shout” is a hunk of ice somehow formed into music – however, it is sleekly cut with electronic claps and digital vocals. The volcanic eruption on the keyboard makes it explode.
Korea
Big Bang (2006-)
What do you get when you throw rap, hip-hop and pop in a blender? Big Bang. The band has been a power house in South Korea, constantly topping the charts. While the band has forayed into R&B and other genres, its hip shaking beats and pop lyrics are where this band really shines.
Where to start: If the Korean throws you off, don’t let it. The highlight of their music is the language becoming part of the beat, flowing along with it – plus, the songs have enough English in them that you won’t totally be in a fog. For that hard techno beat, look up “With U,” or listen to “Lies” for a more explosive, hip-hop sound.
2NE1 (2009-)
Although a newcomer to the K-Pop scene, 2NE1 has already set the standard for Korean girl bands, leaving a string of copy cats in their wake. Pumping you up with its tomboy sounds, these girls will keep you listening with their excellent use of synthesizers, funky beats and rhythmical lyrics; even their slow jams will leave you nodding your head along with the beat.
Where to start: The band’s first mini-album, 2NE1, has it all. Their debut remix with Big Bang, “Lollipop,” reaches stadium status and will have you jumping to the music. “I Don’t Care” is an amazing blend of clear vibrant vocals with a booming back-up synthesizer. With its driving chords and lyrics, “Stay Together” will shake your hips, tap your feet and nod your head for you. In all these songs, 2NE1’s synchronization of Korean with the beats reaches near-poetic heights.
Brazil
Os Mutantes (1966-1978)
This tropacali-pop-psych outfit has influenced David Byrne, Kevin Barnes and Kurt Cobain. Listening to their music it’s easy to see why this would happen. Os Mutante’s songs contain distortion glazed pop tracks backed by strong bossa nova beats along melodious boy-girl voices. After listening to something that great, who wouldn’t want to
replicate it?
Where to Start: “Bat Macumba” bangs a long at a fairly steady rate, a steady drum beat and bass line start out the song, followed by a distorted guitar riff that just keeps going. As this happens, the singer yells the nonsense lyric “Bat Macumba hey hey” over and over, challenging you to sing along.
Astrud Gilberto (1964-1986)
Famous for her cover of the “Girl From Ipanema” on the Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto album, Astrud Gilberto went “solo” and released her own eponymous album filled with lounge jazz pop music with a bossa nova influence. It is the definition of chill-out music.
Where to start: “Aqua De Beber” with it’s childish “be-de-boob-ba” chorus will instantly be caught in the head of anyone who listens to it. It’s careful arrangement with soft piano playing underlining the whole song gives it a slightly hazy tone.
