Hear Hear: Your next favorite band is in this email
Plus, playlists tracking the latest R&B and Punk
Okay, if I were to make the subject line a bit more honest, it would say hopefully, your next favorite band is in this email. I’m featuring four great artists from slightly different corners of the indie landscape (rock and roll // folky punk // psych-pop // power-pop) and betting that you’ll end up falling in love with at least one of them, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Follow the official Hear Hear playlist to hear all the songs and bands referenced here.
Born Ruffians
(Listen if you like: Shout-along choruses, hooky guitar riffs, Vampire Weekend, Dr. Dog, Tokyo Police Club)
This Canadian trio is probably one of today’s most underrated bands. Since 2008, they’ve built up a stellar catalog across five albums, not to mention an electric live show. If you’re a Vampire Weekend fan, I think you’ll find that Born Ruffians are a nice flip-side of the same coin. Both groups do the same thing at their core — tight, quirky songs with effortlessly catchy melodies — but the Ruffs are less polished (no string quartets here) and more, well…rough, stomping and shouting rather than wistfully crooning.
Their new album comes out in April and I dropped the lead single “I Fall In Love Every Night” on the Hear Hear playlist, along with a few older faves.
Ratboys
(Listen if you like: Punk and Folk mixed together, Charly Bliss, Forth Wanderers, Diet Cig)
The band name Ratboys might be a bit off-putting, but I promise you the music isn’t. A unique blend of punk-rock and twangy Americana, of soft vocals and punchy guitars, the band’s debut album GN was one of my favorites of 2017. This year, they’re back with songs that capture the essence of their loud and energetic concerts, starting with the hooky lead single “Alien With A Sleepmask On.” It’s in the playlist, along with some picks from GN.
Purr (formerly Jack and Eliza)
(Listen if you like: Harmonies, psychedelic pop, old-school sounds)
In 2015, this duo released their debut album as Jack and Eliza, an excellent batch of sticky summer anthems with strange, beautiful harmonies and memorable choruses. Now, they’re back with a new band called Purr — fortunately, with more beautiful harmonies in store. “Take You Back” is their best single, pure piano-pop bliss. It’s in the playlist, as well as some older Jack and Eliza songs so you can hear how cool their voices sound together. The album drops on 2/21.
The Format
(Listen if you like: Insanely catchy choruses, Ben Folds, Steel Train, Jack’s Mannequin)
This band admittedly isn’t as under-the-radar as the others, but I’m including in case you missed ‘em back in the ‘00s. If you don’t know The Format by name, you at least know the voice of lead singer Nate Ruess from his inescapable hits (“We Are Young” and “Some Nights”) in a band called fun. The Format’s sound is different (more pop-rock than pop) and their albums from ‘03 and ‘06 still have some of the catchiest choruses I’ve ever heard. You’ll hear a few of those stellar choruses in the playlist, including one song from their recorded-in-2007-but-just-added-to-Spotify live album. They’re reuniting for a surprise tour and I can’t wait — the last time I saw them was my first concert ever, in 2007 at School of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ. Thanks for taking me, dad!
Official websites for merch, tour info + more: Born Ruffians // Ratboys // Purr // The Format
3 Playlists to Follow
Heat Check is a frequently-updated playlist featuring “the world of experimental R&B, hip-hop and everything in between.” Curated by NPR Music’s Sid Madden, it’s always full of great songs and new sounds — the latest edition includes Raveena and Amber Mark, two of my favorite rising stars.
No Earbuds is a weekly-ish playlist highlighting “songs that are rad,” primarily from the punk and emo landscape. It’s curated by Jamie Coletta, a music lover who helps talented artists get their stuff heard. The playlist currently features up-and-coming artists like Rosie Tucker, Pool Kids and Oso Oso — it’s a must-follow if you want to stay on top of what’s next in the punk/emo/rock scene.
BONUS PLAYLIST: If you like what you hear from Born Ruffians, here’s a playlist with my 20 favorite songs from the band. Get into them!