This edition of LITM Rock Picks pulls from different genres, including psychedelic rock, folk, pop, classic, and more, featuring artists- Car287, ReeToxA, FloreJack, Kalligary, and Flywheel.
1. Car287 – Muddy Waters
CAR287 knocks it out of the park again with their latest track, ‘Muddy Waters’. The song is giving classic vintage meets modern polish. It takes the listener through a 90s rock landscape with heavy guitar riffs, a subtle, yet plucky set of keys, and grungy vocals that all together dig into your brain and set up camp. The composition is slow headbang material, feeding you with catchy instrumental bits and energetic vocal throws. There’s also a light, blink-and-you-miss-it layer of jazz with the piano flourishes that blend in seamlessly. And with all that, is definitely one of those songs you’d drive 5 hours to a rock concert for. Catch it here-
2. ReeToxA – You Deserve Better Than Me
Melbourne based band ReeToxA brings in the soothing, summery, sunset vibes, with earnest confessions and heartwarming lines like “I'll give you all the friendship you could need.” The music sits in soft rock territory with a mix of glassy and classic instrumentation. The arrangement layers gentle, acoustically leaning guitar strums alongside feathery electric guitar embellishments, while atop sits the vocals, which have a uniquely syrupy timbre. All-in-all it's one of those songs that gently drift around you, bringing down the cortisol levels and giving you good company at the same time.
3. FloreJack – Blindly
If you’re on the hunt for something more acoustic and folk-leaning, FloreJack’s track ‘Blindly’ has got you sorted. The song is vocally led, but followed by light and jangly instrumental flourishes lightly grazing past. The arrangement soaks in more instrumental layers as you go through the song, almost like the artist has a growing collective, first guitar and piano, then a light rhythm, along with a growing atmospheric kick. This grows into some soothing vocal harmonies and flowering synth buds gracefully tapping at the air. The instrumentation offers a great textural contrast to the vocals, which have a defined earthy quality and huskiness. The song is just shy of the 3-minute mark, but brings in the emotional impact within its runtime and beyond.
4. Kalligary – Only Fans
Kalligary lights up the virtual stage on fire with ‘Only Fans’, a song that’ll not just turn heads with the choice of title, but also with their playful overdrives and vintage-modern blend. The instrumentation feels very 90s with the vocal and instrumentational style choices, but the mix and airy synth feel add a fun spin on the overall soundscape, without overstating. The guitars organically mesh well, bringing in as much crunch and glide to the mix, surrounding the vocals with a soft cushiony buzz. If you’re looking for a good time + chill vibes, this would be a great pick from the indie rock scene.
5. Flywheel – Stop Looking at Her
On the other hand, if you’re going for a more psychedelic pop-rock infusion with an element of shoegaze, Ireland-based band Flywheel has a solid one for you. ‘Stop Looking at Her’ comes with all sorts of adjectives, including ethereal, hypnotic, electric, punchy, sizzling, all happening separately, and in a few places, coming in all at once. The song feels maximalist, but at the right times, when the emotion calls for it, flooding the senses with hazy textures almost cathartically, while knowing when to pull back, giving the arrangement plenty of room to breathe. The hypnotic side of the song draws you closer towards the song’s core, even bringing in long, singular notes that stare right back at you, unblinkingly, creating a sense of grounding and calmness within the chaos. Check it out here-
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