Most music blogs aren’t written for everybody, they’re written for people like me. These blogs are like A&R people scouting their local scenes to discover new acts and introduce them to their readers, many of whom are also bloggers. Consequently, the music blogs, and in turn the indie rock world, tend to revolve around “flavor of the month” artists. Occasionally there might be an Arcade Fire or Vampire Weekend that comes along, but in general, most of these artists aren’t a must listen for most music fans.
L.A.’s Local Natives was a popular flavor last year, and as it turns out, the hype was justified. Their first full-length album Gorilla Manor, released in the UK late last year, finally came out here in February and it’s one of the better debuts I’ve heard in awhile. It even earned the coveted Best New Music blessing from Pitchfork. It’s almost too good, like you could easily see it being played ad nauseum in Gossip Girl or at Starbucks. One song, “Airplanes,” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Maroon 5 album, or at least what I imagine a Maroon 5 album would sound like.
These guys could easily be this year’s Grizzly Bear or Dirty Projectors, two acts they’ve been accused of ripping off, and while I see what some of their critics are saying, their talent is undeniable and their songwriting abilities are more than just the sum of their influences. Unlike other new artists to recently make a splash (The xx, Surfer Blood, Real Estate), their sound is less raw and much further developed. A great example is “Sun Hands,” which was released to the web last summer, and is one of the best songs on the album. You can download it free below courtesy of NME (the last minute and a half rips BTW).
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