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Written by: Brandon Schug
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s plenty of good music that isn’t on the radio. Here are three bands with enough talent to make it big who are currently flying under the radar. Have a listen; there’s something here for everyone.
Skybox (Indie-Pop)
Throw David Bowie, MGMT, and The Flaming Lips into a food processor and blend. The resulting musical margarita is Chicago-based, indie-pop band Skybox. These comparisons are only a taste of what the eclectic yet talented group of young musicians has created with their latest album, Morning After Cuts. Each track dares the listener to classify the band to just one genre. Sepia-tone acoustic folk (Slipping), soaring electric pop (In A Dream), and calculated indie rock (Morning After Cuts) comprise this wonderful journey of musical schizophrenia.
The band is currently touring in support of Morning After Cuts. Since their last tour in 2006, Skybox’s concerts have become legendary, featuring confetti-cannons, chicken suits, and go-go dancers. Such spectacles should not distract from the charisma and talent each musician brings to the ensemble, however.
Lead guitarist Christian Fields and keyboardist Mike Holtz transform simple, likable chords into full-fledged, euphoric harmonies that will keep even the casual listeners bobbing their heads. Lead singer and chief songwriter Tim Ellis does not hold back, sounding out curious lyrics within his remarkably vast range. Ellis’ highly syncopated vocals are very instrumental, carrying a significant portion of the beat and melody.
Morning After Cuts is available now in music stores and online. If you’re intrigued by Skybox’s self-described “post-glam, electro-clash pop and roll,” introduce yourself with tracks such as Fences and Everyone Falls In. Also, check out my personal favorite, In A Dream, which is available for free download on their site: skyboxmusic.com.
Pretty Lights (Trip-Hop)
Make a political statement, talk about a failed relationship, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, autotune, rinse, and repeat. The appeal in mainstream music isn’t readily apparent until you turn up the bass. The basic form of “banging beats” is what keeps everyone coming back for more, and Pretty Lights is giving the people exactly what they want.
Dusty jazz, blues, and funk tracks from yesterday, once broadcasted on forgotten radio stations, now exist only as radiation in space, illuminating the empty night with constellations of Pretty Lights. While other electronic bands work feverishly to keep the dance floors moving, musician Derek Vincent Smith is much more thoughtful and deliberate. His tracks carry with them serious, heartfelt soul, something rarely found in this genre.
Pretty Lights as a whole can best be classified as trip-hop; it draws its influences from a variety of sources. The drums combine elements of jazz, hip-hop, and breakbeat, forming the backbone of each track. In many tracks, Smith sprinkles delicate melodies over the rhythm with pianos and strings. Tracks never sound cluttered, despite the many electronic elements and breaks used throughout. In fact, ambient sounds are utilized so masterfully, at points you might think you’re listening to something by Boards of Canada or DJ Shadow.
Pretty Lights has made a bold move offering all their music for free online. Derek Vincent Smith and his live drummer Cory Eberhard are currently touring the country in support of their brand new album Making Up a Changing Mind. Discover what you’ve been missing with tracks such as Finally Moving, Hot Like Sauce, and Short Line on prettylightsmusic.com.
Goldspot (Alternative)
The life of a rock star is full of fiery passion and emotion. Betrayal, hatred, commitment, and hopeless love swirl into Hollywood stories that rock stars can only summarize in 3-minute snippets. Well, that’s not entirely true… Much of the life of a rock star is spent in tour busses, recording studios, and at second jobs. If musicians were to be completely honest in their songs, they would sound a lot like Goldspot.
In one word, Goldspot is “real.” Their slightly melancholic yet optimistic lyrics share messages of unsteady love and simple dreams. The result is eerily relatable music that feels as though it’s playing from inside. Songs like The Moon is Too Far tell stories of heartbreak in such a truthful way that listeners cannot help but reflect on their own life. Not all music fans enjoy such highly personal music, but those who do are sure to find it here.
With only a few exceptions, the music itself is quite simple. Acoustic or light electric guitars play soft melodies over minimalistic drums. Goldspot is highly influenced by The Clash, Paul Simon, and strangely enough, 50s Indian playback singers. Lead singer Siddharta Khosla works Indian percussion instruments and melodies into many songs (Gopi Blues, Paper Boats) which give Goldspot a unique flavor you don’t normally hear in the states.
Goldspot has recently released its second album, And the Elephant Is Dancing, online. The physical release date has not yet been announced. A good place to start would be with The Grocery Store and Clap Clap. Be sure to check out Friday and Rewind off their first album, Tally of the Yes Men. Listen online at goldspot.net.
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