Ought - Habit 8.7/10

Ought is an indie art rock band from Montreal, Canada. This track is taken from their forthcoming debut album More Than Any Other Day which will be released April 29, 2014 on Constellation records. The song appears to take the Talking Heads as its main muse, with a vocal style which recalls David Byrne in the era of Remain in Light. That comparison should be taken as purely complimentary, since Ought take this track to spiritual heights which seem remarkable for a debut single. The rising cries of "I feel it, I habit" and "Cause I need to know I'm not alone" as strings and crashing cymbals build towards the song's conclusion come across as powerful and meaningful without any suggestion that the raw emotions feel forced or phony. This is one of the best singles of 2014 so far, and I can't wait to hear the full debut album.

The Lovely Feathers - Photocorners 8.6/10

The Lovely Feathers are an indie guitar pop band from Montreal, Canada. This track is taken from their album Hind Hind Legs released by Equator Records in 2006. The track is a fine example of the unusual song structures they employ on the album Hind Hind Legs. The tempo and timing of the melody often shifts abruptly; it begins slowly and then goes through sequences of rapidly speeding up the pace and then slowing down again. The style is more akin to jazz bands and jam bands, but they make it seem like a perfectly natural technique to use in an indie pop song. The lyrics offer snapshots of lost love and longing, though the group choruses of 'We'd laugh if we were younger' sound positively joyous. I consider this to be an overlooked gem of a track, and the full album Hind Hind Legs is also worthy of another listen to appreciate the unique tempo shifts the band makes use of.