22 More Indie Love Songs of 2013
You guys and gals asked for it, and you guys and gals have received. Here’s a brand new list of 22 amazing indie love songs of 2013 for your listening pleasure as a follow-up to this one here! As always, here’s a disclaimer– While you may recognize some of them, I’d wager that the greater majority of these artists will be completely new to your ears, and if you enjoy the song presented or any of the artist’s other works upon looking into them, make absolutely certain that you purchase their music over iTunes, Amazon, or whatever outlet they have set up for that as they are indie artists who work especially hard to get their music out there. They’re more like you and me than the average celebrity musician; they don’t make a lot of money, but they’ve got a lot of heart, and if you’d like to see that heart on full display with more songs released from them in the future, you’d look into the kindness of your heart to support them instead.
1. “Who Would’ve Known” by Lee DeWyze
“American Idol” 9 winner Lee DeWyze originally cut this heartwarming track for his wife on their wedding day. Now, thankfully, it has made the cut on his latest album and first indie release since his “Idol” win, “Frames”. Check out my official review of “Frames” here to see just why all of DeWyze’s work is well worth my attention.
2. “Hangin On” by The Reverb Junkie
A beautifully unsure lyric of love and insecurity mixed with some of the most individualized and inspiring arrangements that this multi-talented indie artist has to offer makes for a home-run in the technologic world this 2013. If you’re up for something truly unique, read my official review of “All I Want” by The Review Junkie, a.k.a. “The Voice” alum Michelle Chamuel, here.
3. “Ooooooh Baby” by Michael O.
The lead singer of “The Sing-Off” 3 runner-ups, the Dartmouth Aires, released his first indie solo EP this year to much applause. “Ooooooh Baby” from off of “In the Beginning” summons up everything fantastic about the era of oldschool soul and gives it a modern makeover in this infectiously catchy track concerning the ins and outs of complete affection.
4. “Valentine” by Pentatonix
Meanwhile, the ones who took the crown during “The Sing-Off” 3 have become Internet superstars since their win back in 2011. One of many fantastic tracks released by the five-part ensemble thus far, “Valentine” has to do with the purest type of indie love and features some of Mitch Grassi’s most gorgeous falsetto work yet.
5. “One Look” by Clara C
One of the most striking releases by YouTube artists Clara Chung comes from off of her latest release: the acoustic EP, “Organika”. “One Look” is one of two brand new indie love songs released by the singer-songwriter on her latest album in which Clara earnestly pleads to the subject piece of the track: “It’s me who you need to be happy.”
6. “Bad Without You” by Escondido
“Bad Without You” takes an unconventional spin on the indie love experience, being a rollicking rock number concerning all of the quite literal bad that has been committed without the subject’s other half to keep them in place. If you’re in for a bit of a classic desert rock with some genuine attitude, you can’t do better than Escondido in general.
7. “The Last Thing on My Mind” by Stark Sands and Punch Brothers
The “Inside Llewyn Davis” soundtrack is filled to the brim with amazing covers of classic folk songs, Stark Sands and the Punch Brothers’ take on Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing On My Mind” included. Sands also puts up a great performance alongside the likes of Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake, and Carey Mulligan in the actual movie set for release on December 10th, so you should watch out for that as well.
8. “All I Need” by AWOLNATION
One of the softer tracks on the “Sail” champions’ deluxe re-release of 2011’s “Megalithic Symphony” is “All I Need”, which summons up a sweet instrumental that rises in complexity as the song goes on. Accompanied by the simple and adorably relatable lyric and vocal delivery presented here, “All I Need” is very much the very definition of “great indie love song.”
9. “I’d Look Good On You” by Ernie Halter
The best-selling track on Ernie Halter’s latest, “Labor of Love”, is also one of his best to date. “I’d Look Good On You” is an insanely soulful, catchy track that captures not only what the definition of a great indie love song is, but what a great effort by a singular incredibly talented individual sounds like.
10. “Love In the Making” by Mishka
If you’re at all a fan of reggae or someone intrigued in giving an extremely unique and historically influential genre, you can’t do wrong with giving Bermudan indie artist Mishka a listen. “Love In the Making” is one of his most loved hits yet, and it’s not hard to hear why that is.
11. “Three Months” by Local Natives
Local Natives’ much-hailed indie cult hit “Hummingbird” was chockfull of amazing tracks, but “Three Months”, for its simultaneously vague and endlessly complex take on the subject of love and budding relationships is very much worthy of note.
12. “Hourglass” by Zedd and Jessica Sanchez
Given, DJ Zedd is a superstar in his own right nowadays, but it was his little-known “iTunes Session” that produced some of the greatest performances of his hits. Including “American Idol” 11 runner-up and Filipino American pop-singing sensation Jessica Sanchez onto a stunningly gorgeous live version of “Hourglass” was a good move if there ever was one, producing a potent indie performance of a popular song about needing a lost love back in one’s arms.
13. “Lovesick” by Peace
Like Escondido above, indie outfit Peace has been all about bringing back that classic sound that is so sadly missing from what is popular on the rock scene right now, and this early punky number has to do with all of the more� literal� things about love.
14. “Obvious Bicycle” by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend’s amazing “Modern Vampires of the City” was filled to the brim with great tracks, though among the best is opening track “Obvious Bicycle”, which redefines the term “indie love song” by fixing itself as a song more about loving all of the ins and outs of oneself to let in personal success above anything else.
15. “Mess” by Caroline Pennell
Caroline Pennell is currently known for her quirky voice and unique style on “The Voice” 5 as one of its Top 8 contestants, though January’s “The Race” EP proves that she’s had her hand in the realm of music for some time before the show. She’s a young though seasoned artist, delivering a great five-song experience from top to bottom. The EP’s closer, “Mess”, is an eternally gorgeous indie track about learning to loving oneself to keep loved ones around. A relatable lyric and natural and beautiful nuance make the song a true treat to listen to intently.
16. “Love They Say” by Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara have famously reinvented the term “indie” by this point, becoming world-acclaimed for their newly-minted throwback into the era of dance music. “Love They Say” doesn’t stray from continuing this trend, producing one of the most complex and ethereal arrangements present on this list whilst professing to the greatest truth of love-that it’s unbreakable.
17. “Let Her Go” by Andrew Garcia, Andy Lange, Joseph Vincent, and Josh Golden
“American Idol” vet Andrew Garcia and company become a quartet to produce a uniquely aural take on Passenger’s breakout hit “Let Her Go”. You can hear it in all of its greatness for yourself by skipping right on over to YouTube. By the time the final chorus kicks in and things get all advanced-Fun.-like, you’ll be grooving and crying at the same time.
18. “Upside Down” by GoldFord
My personal favorite from off of indie soulman Jeffrey David Goldford’s latest release, this song takes on love in a deeply personal way that only a Midwest heart can take on with complete sincerity.
19. “Half Angel Half Light” by The Men
Hot on the heels of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros’ super-massive success, The Men have been proving themselves in the indie circuit with some pure, radio-ready-yet-not-insubstantial rock and roll. “New Moon” is the perfect full showing of that yet, with “Half Angel Half Light” taking an ingenious route on the classic tale of love and all of its complexities.
20. “Call Me Maybe” by Postmodern Jukebox
Postmodern Jukebox has become an e-sensation for their genuine old-style takes on modern pop songs, their rendition “Call Me Maybe” perhaps being one of their best. You can check out the indie ragtime twist on Carly Rae Jepsen’s mega pop hit right here.
21. “Say It, Just Say It” by The Mowgli’s
The Mowgli’s are a band who has found success, delightfully, just by being as positive as humanly possible. When listening to their debut release, “Waiting For the Dawn”, it’s hard not to get up on your feet and dance right there (mentally or not). “Say It, Just Say It” is one of the bigger successes the band has had thus far (it was recently performed by the cast of “The Voice” 5!), and there’s really no wondering why with how sweet and catchy a proclamation of love it is.
22. “The Fox” by Ylvis
Just kidding.
22. “L-O-V-E” by Marco Caliz
One of this Suisun City indie singer-songwriter’s very first hometown hits came in the form of a ukulele-driven performance of a sugar-sweet love song on YouTube. Since then, he’s on his way to accumulating a local record deal and is sure to be producing some great hits in the future. Make sure to check out my exclusive Yahoo! interview with the potential breakout songwriter here, while you’re at it!
