The New Sound of Indie

Today, rock music comes in all shapes and sizes. If you’re into the less mainstream, this is definitely the album for you. It’s 2016 and the rock music scene no longer consists of punk rock boy bands. Instead, indie rock has taken their place as the new tastemakers of the genre. The band Cage The Elephant, known for “Shake Me Down” and “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked,” has really set the standard with their latest album Tell Me I’m Pretty. Produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auberach, the album manages to perfectly capture the power of detail when it comes to making music.

If you’re familiar with The Black Keys, you’ll definitely recognize the gritty texture of each track. Auberach’s influence is very audible and, while this has led to criticism from some, I believe this influence has really paid off in creating a quality sound. Muffled drum beats are amplified by only the intensity of the bass and guitars. Auberach’s shrill backup vocals are audible throughout the record, adding an impeccable finishing sound to each song. It’s incredible how well lead singer Matt Shulz’s voice fits with his. The lead singer himself sings with raw passion in every line. When you listen to him sing, you know exactly what he’s feeling in that moment. Very rarely is music this expressive these days.

The songs themselves each tell a honest, carefully wound story. “With this record, we wanted to be more transparent,” explains Schulz. “We wanted to capture the sentiment of each song, and whatever emotional response it provoked, to be really honest to that.” The band achieves this musically as well as lyrically, from the melodic “Trouble” to the nostalgic “How Are You True.” He is often quite clever, with parallels like “will I come to pass, or will I pass the test?” Other times, the sincerity of his voice feels like it’s declaring a universal truth: “Still all these words I've spoken don't mean anything at all without love.”

Even if you’re not into indie rock, Tell Me I’m Pretty is worth a listen. Its edgy, alternative influences make it unlike any of the acoustic ballads you’re picturing. Here is an album that is truly keeping up with the ever-changing music scene beyond what’s heard on the radio.

Ana Ghiban