Audiophiles: Songs to make you feel cool

Elizabeth Phelan | Contributing Writer

I compiled a list of songs, from the trippy to the hip-hoppy to the grungy, that make me feel like an edgy, hipster teen. Without further ado, here are songs to make you feel cool as you walk across campus, so you can pretend you’re listening to the soundtrack of an indie movie about your break between classes.

“Low Dogg” by Micachu and the Shapes. With syncopated electronic accents and a soaring melody held together by a prominent bass, this is a quirky yet deeply satisfying song. I’ve also found that this is one of those rare tracks that gets better the more it’s played. Guaranteed to put a bounce in your step and maybe even a nod in your head, Micachu and the Shapes deliver a good-mood feeling with edgy and complex music.

“5ft7” by Tonstardtsbandht. Look at the name of that band! Anyone who knows how to pronounce it must be really hip! In all sincerity, this song is practically radioactive; it bleeds with musical genius. Carefully layered distortions create an ambient yet hip-hoppy sound that’s accentuated by the thrumming bass. Its garbled, borderline unintelligible lyrics notwithstanding, this song is a complex yet groovy musical concoction. (And by the way their name is pronounced ton-starts-bandit.)

“Toe Cutter, Thumb Buster” by Thee Oh Sees. Thee Oh Sees is one of the many projects of John Dwyer and, as such, carries Segall’s characteristic fuzzy, lo-fi sound throughout their songs. This song carries a brighter melody than some of the others on this list, with echoey, far-away-sounding vocals complementing the heavy bass. Equally at home in a hipster coffee shop and a party full of music kids from your high school, this song is definitely worth a listen or two.

“Life on a Grid” by Useless Eaters. Another lo-fi band, Useless Eaters combine synth-sounding instrumentals with a dynamic percussive background on this punchy, ambitious track. Creating a gritty, offbeat sound, this song speeds along at an almost visceral pace. Also, Useless Eaters is a relatively unknown band, with only one song having more than 100,000 plays on Spotify—the designated hallmark of hipster music.

“White’s Not My Color This Evening” by Cherry Glazerr. I am physically unable to fully express how incredible I find Cherry Glazerr’s music, and this is one of the songs that made me fall head-over-heels in love with them. Carrying a hefty dose of female anger, the unmistakable guitar hook exudes their characteristically gritty sound. Definitely one of the grungier songs on this list, it will bring out your inner unapologetic indie queen. Cherry Glazerr consistently brings groovy, crashy tunes, and this one is no exception.

“Pantyhose” by TV Girl. TV Girl’s usual innovative sound and unique, dark lyrics are exemplified in “Pantyhose.” Also in the vein of electronic music, this track carries a softer, almost beachy feeling, contrasting markedly with the poignant lyrics. Combining a beat that sounds almost like a hip hop track with bright, pulsing electronic instrumentals, “Pantyhose” is a song that is at once complex and beautiful and cool.

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