On the Exotic

Casual Vice

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no thank you, no thanks

merci, mercy

Here’s an up and coming artist even your most hip music friends probably haven’t discovered yet. She goes by merci, mercy (pretty neat in itself), she’s only 19 years old (that’s def a fun fact) and hails from Australia (basically the coolest place ever). If you’re keeping track that’s like triple hipster points you’ve now earned while describing your new favorite “underground” artist to your audiophile friends. On the real, merci, mercy’s first project is awesome. It’s got the new age bedroom alt-pop sound down to a tee - ultra smooth ambiance, infectious lyrics, and chill vibes guaranteed to keep the mood relaxed. It also surprisingly vulnerable, as merci, mercy reflects on her own struggles with mental health, individuality, and relationships. 

Check out this article from Purple Sneakers breaking down her unique style and success in the Australian pop music scene.

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The Battle at Garden's Gate

Greta Van Fleet

An album made for driving just a little too fast down county highways, The Battle at Garden’s Gate is visceral in a way that hooks the listener right by their ribs. Hailing from Michigan, Greta Van Fleet has been dubbed by many as the Led Zeppelin of the current generation and they especially deserve the comparison for their newest album released earlier in 2021. Timeless lyrics about peaceful and wayfaring spirits, punchy electric guitar licks, and drums and bass that made for rocking out are all in the family for the band comprising of three brothers Jake, Josh, and Sam Kiska and their friend Danny Wagner. In case you think this Led Zepplin comparison is far-fetched, check out this interview with Robert Plant himself calls vocalist Josh Kiska a “beautiful little singer” and heaps praise onto the group. However, Greta Van Fleet is not just a copycat group and uses tracks like “Heat Above” and "The Weight of Dreams" to show they’ve found their own voice and place in the world of rock and roll.

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Eyes Open

Snow Patrol

This one is a tear jerker. You've been warned that if you've recently gone through a breakup, hell, if you've ever gone through a breakup, then you might want to listen to this one with a box of tissues, or a beach towel, next to you. With tracks titles like "You Could Be Happy" and "You're All I Have" you might awesome you're in for a breakup ballad and you'd be right. 

This 2006 era was an incredible year for soft-rock. My Chemical Romance, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Red Hot Chili Peppers all released in this year that had the same thematic approach that Eyes Open did. Building crescendos provided by simple guitar licks and powerful and strained vocals that have a special ability to hit an emotional chord were the recipe for success in this era. Check out this Pitchfork list of the best albums of 2006 for some others from this time period that you need to check out.

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Escapades

Gaspard Auge

Looking for an electronic album that’s both easy to listen but still packs a punch? Look no further than Gaspard Auge’s debut solo project, Escapades. No screechy computer noises here - this project is smooth sailing all the way through. Auge is best known as the quieter half of the legendary French duo, Justice. As such, this project has classic “electronica” undertones, with a healthy balance of old school house + disco sounds but a more progressive approach builds and drops. It’s jam packed with potent baselines, rockin’ synths, and cheery chord progressions that all contribute to cinematic other-worldly soundscapes. Indeed, Escapades is a trip and a half but it’s well worth the ride. 

Check out this article from SPIN.com breaking down Auge’s inspiration for venturing out on his own and creating the world of Escapades.

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