No one really knows where garage rock started, but here’s a theory: every punk band wants to be Iggy and the Stooges. (Hell, even Iggy and the Stooges want to be Iggy and the Stooges.) Their mark on the ’60s punk scene continues to haunt scenes today. Studio polish comes and goes, but the raw and honest spirit of that scene remains. From the Stooges to the Ramones to the Strokes, this is a movement that’s not going away.
We proudly present some of the latest (and greatest) garage rock gems to brace laptop speakers.
“Under Cover of Darkness” – The Strokes
Strokes fans were itching for a new Is This It? after the crushingly underwhelming First Impressions of Earth. Angles, the first record from the band in five years, finds the group at their most musically cohesive since their prolific debut. For the first time since, well ever, the Strokes are not here to “save rock and roll”—they are here to have fun. With “Under Cover of Darkness” they sound more confident than they’ve been in over a decade. Though the song may be a bit more unpolished than one might expect from Casablancas and co., it’s strikingly catchy. “Darkness” is a rejuvenated single for a rejuvenated band.
“Keep Me In Mind” – Little Joy
When Strokes members went on hiatus for their own projects, even Fab (Fabrizio Moretti, the drummer) retreated to the studio to make more music. With the help of Los Hermanos singer/guitarist Rodrigo Amarante, the two formed short-lived side project Little Joy. Though the record consists mostly of acoustic ballads and beach jams, “Keep Me in Mind” is the record’s rocking black sheep: reminding Strokes fans that even at his most relaxed, Fab still knows how to rock.
“Come Closer” – Miles Kane
Former frontman of England’s The Rascals, Miles Kane breaks big on his debut solo record. Echoing vocal styles and melodies strikingly similar to the UK’s counter-garage act, Arctic Monkeys, Kane revitalizes a sound that marries slick guitar hooks with powerful, primal vocals.
“When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” – Rooney
Pop-garage never sounded so good. Melding dancey guitar and jangly-pop, “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” marks an all-time high for the LA power-poppers. Despite his time spent on the big screen in The Princess Diaries, Robert Schwartzman still knows his way around pop-garage.
“If You Wanna” – The Vaccines
Give it a chance, this electrifying cut from The Vaccines’ debut record (aptly titled, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?) will tingle your ears with grooving power chords and a grounded rock ‘n’ roll sensibility. Drawing influences from notable surf-rock acts such as The Ventures and The Trashmen, “If You Wanna” kicks punk right into high gear.
“Salute Your Solution” – The Raconteurs
This skewered slice of southern rock ‘n’ roll heaven is chock full of raw, monster-sized guitar-riffs that could have been ripped from an early Aerosmith record. With Consolers of the Lonely, The Raconteurs rock in every sense of the word. Quick and blinding, Jack White and Brendan Benson play off each other with such expertise, one can’t help but be mesmerized.
“Modern Art” – The Black Lips
For their sixth LP, Arabia Mountain, the Black Lips teamed with producer Mark Ronson (whose production credits range from Amy Winehouse to Ghostface Killah), and the pairing did wonders. “Modern Art” sears with the Lips’ characteristic angst, pushing their garage roots in new, vibrant psychedelic directions. After the first listen, don’t be surprised if you find yourself digging up those old Seeds, Sonics and Count Five records that have been collecting dust in your father’s basement.
“Strange Times” – The Black Keys
“Strange Times” will attack your earbuds and rattle your soul (while also moving the soles of your shoes). This neo-garage stomper from The Black Keys’ 2008 LP, Attack & Release, documents the first time the duo nestled into their now-trademark brew of punk, garage, and soul. Dan Auerbach’s gritty howl and Patrick Carney’s frantic drumming elevates the listener to celestial heights. “Strange Times” finds the group in rare form: unpolished, unpredictable, and unapologetic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8EVNdbbYoA
