Discover Weekly: “Fool,” “The Funeral,” “Ophelia” and more

Arcade’s Discover Weekly is here again to offer alternatives to all your fave Indie jams.

If you like “Fool” by Fitz and the Tantrums, you’ll be a fool for “Used to Be in Love” by The Jungle Giants

With the same bubbly electric sound, “Used to Be in Love,” features a beat you can’t help but move to. This bop hails from the band’s third album, “Quiet Ferocity,” that debuted in 2017, the same year as “Fool.” While this song may be from a year ago, the band’s use of traditional instruments like guitar and percussion mix with a new wave synthetic sound to create a contagious song you can’t help but move around to.

If you haven’t yet found a replacement for the 2006 hit, “The Funeral” by Band of Horses, look to “Colourblind” by Feelds

Like “The Funeral,” a soft acoustic sound accompanied by smooth and slow vocals carries you through to the chorus that erupts into heavy guitar melody. The strung out vocals and soulful voice blend into the instrumental background, alternating between the levels of sound. This song is the perfect study jam within the sweet spot between a calm vibe and motivating anthem.

If you love “Ophelia” by The Lumineers, don’t be stupid and listen to “They Think We’re Stupid” by Ezra Bell

These piano-based songs rely on their bubbly melodies and strong vocals, a trope which Bell takes one step further with strings. The chorus makes you feel like you’re being serenaded in a gondola on the canals of Venice, which is then followed by a classical strung-out violin melody which carries the tune into the next verse. This ballad becomes even better when you pay attention to the lyrics, with gem lines like “Of all the ones who tried to tell me that was crazy / Darling, you’re the first one that I’ve believed” and the repeated verse “There’s no shame to say you’re scared / When we are all afraid.”

If you are jamming to “The Gold” by Manchester Orchestra, check out “Such Small Scenes” by Lewis Del Mar

Lead singers Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra and Danny Miller of Lewis Del Mar have both perfected how a raspy voice can go right by using electronic sounds that highlight the interesting nature of their tones. Lewis Del Mar introduces its song, with onslaught rambling electric percussion transitioned into a calmer tune by soft humming. As the song progresses, the band does a bit of math, adding and subtracting instruments, creating a variance of different tones and beats and eventually ending back where it started.

If you’re into “Wish I Knew You” by the Revivalists, you’ll wish you knew “Grave Digger” by Matt Maeson

These acoustic-based songs push the boundaries of the genres folk, indie and pop. Maeson fluctuates his voice amongst a background beat of handclaps and a warped guitar melody to create an uneven sound that matches together. The song’s climaxes at the repeated verses “I’ll be tryna suck all of the liquid out the dirt / Tryna catch a curve, digging my own grave.” Next time you’re in the car gazing outside the window, plug in your headphones, blast this song and introspectively watch the fleeting roadsides.

Leave a Comment