I’ve compiled our top 70 tracks of 2016, including both unsigned/independent acts and the more well-known from the year. It’s a great combination of highlights from the year’s greatest albums and single
New Tracks
New Dakotas by New Dakotas Based in the Boston Area, New Dakotas is a catchy power-pop act with members attending Tufts and Harvard. Their first release – a four-track self-titled EP –
Seattle-based group Echo Texture have a very apt name — as their sound adds textural depths to a vein of alternative-rock that values trickling post-punk verses and emotive blasts of emotion in
This past December, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Christina Rubino’s “Godspeed and Guns” showed an artist capable of eclectic stylistic appeal and contemplative, philosophical themes. The track explored the concept of Jung’s “shadow self”, over
Obscure Sound is pleased to premiere a new track from the collaboration between friends/neighbors Mikael Ögren and Johan Agebjörn, previously featured here for his solo works as well as his dazzling work
POKAL is the DIY-project of Sweden-based Norwegian Arne Barlindhaug Ellingsen, who shows off hook-y melodic pulsations and soundscape that merges past/future on new track “Great Expectations”. There’s an ’80s vibe, especially reminiscent
Pekoe Cat is a new act bursting at the seams with creative energy, on new track “Test” reminding strongly of early Ariel Pink with the creative lo-fi vocal production and melodic development,
Verena von Horsten is an emotionally powerful Swiss singer/songwriter whose second solo album Alien Angel Super Death blends infectiously eclectic music with heartfelt lyrical content. Heavy synth-rock combines with a passionate vocal
New Albums
Blurring the lines between shoegaze, alternative, and indie rock, Burning Days is the debut album from Raleigh-based band dreamscent. Released on Blank
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Infusing post-garage and post-grunge flavors into a nostalgic indie rock sound, Kinda Wild II is the twelve-track sophomore album from Shaky. The
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There’s A Song In Every Story is the latest release from the Grammy-nominated education nonprofit Kid Pan Alley. Featuring legendary artists like
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Infusing soulful R&B sensibilities with alternative guitar-forward textures, Made For Cruising is a cohesive new album from Fort Lauderdale-based artist Silky Vibe.
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