# Best Indie Singles, July 2013, Vol. I – Robert Pollard, Editors, Whirr, Twin Peaks

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/best-singles-albums-july-2013-vol-i-robert-pollard-editors-whirr-twin-peaks-the-march-divide-thundercat/
- Published: 2013-07-30T00:48:04-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

New and impressive indie singles dropped in July with more from the DIY and under-
the-radar artists.

For starters, please see the separate [BNMR post for July 2nd to July 8th](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/best-new-music-releases-july-2-2013-agwnn-the-fall-zomby/),
that includes selected singles from new releases by A Grave With No Name, The Fall,
Zomby, The Garifuna Collective, TRAAMS, and many others .

Normally, we try to have a post with a playlist each week representing our favorite
singles of the week, whether or not we had time to indulge (often not) the entire
album the single came from. But during the summer months, especially in July, when
new releases are more scarce (as they have been especially this summer), it’s easier
to review the month in music than to put together a weekly post.

This also allows more time to focus on posting terrific DIY and small label artists
that most people have never heard of, but that we’ve been listening to in the cafe
over and over – songs that are usually sent in and that we would have otherwise 
never known about. That’s the part of the excitement of being a blog that posts 
so much great music from artists that otherwise go unnoticed in the ‘indie rock 
blogosphere.’

In this two-part series focused on July, we’ll highlight the top ‘popular’ indie
songs and more widely known artists and bands, as well as streams of songs from 
the DIY, obscure, little-known, under-the-radar and small label artists and bands
that deserve their three or four minutes in the spotlight. If the identity of IRC
is anything, it’s highlighting the obscure artists that people need to hear.

#### Top Singles Playlist, Week of July 9th to July 15th

The second week of July releases delivered a good number of pleasant surprises from
mainly new-to-us artists and bands like **Robert Pollard** (read Devin William Daniels’
[album review](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/07/album-review-robert-pollards-honey-locust-honky-tonk/))**
The March Divide, Thundercat, Maps, Gregory Alan Isakov**, and **The Octopus Project**,
among many others. They all add something special in their own unique ways to the
new releases dropped for the week of July 9th through July 15th, and therefore a
slice of the history of indie rock music in 2013. First, the top singles from new
albums out this week from more well-known and signed indie bands and artists.

Related Post:  Best Indie Rock of October, Vol. II - CAVE, Polica, Best Coast, Active
Child, Cults

“A.M.A.” – **Maps** from _Vicissitude_ on Mute

[“Circus Green Machine” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Robert-Pollard-Circus-Green-Machine.mp3)–**
Robert Pollard** from _Honey Locust Honky Tonk_ on Rockathon Records

![Gregory-Alan-Isakov-The-Weatherman](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/
2013/07/Gregory-Alan-Isakov-The-Weatherman.jpg "Gregory-Alan-Isakov-The-Weatherman")

[“Saint Valentine”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Gregory-Alan-Isakov-Saint-Valentine.mp3)–**
Gregory Alan Isakov** from _The Weatherman_ on Suitcase Town Music

[“Sharpteeth”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Octopus-Project-Sharpteeth.mp3)–**
The Octopus Project** from _Fever Forms_ on Peek-A-Boo Records

[“Oh Sheit It’s X”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Thundercat-Oh-Sheit-It39s-X.mp3)–**
Thundercat** from _Apocalypse_ on Brainfeeder

![sensualharassment](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sensualharassment3-
480x480.jpg "sensualharassment")

Album cover for Escape From Alpha Draconis by Sensual Harassment

#### Sneak Peak at the Newest Edition of the 7 Bands Series

There are a number of bands with new releases dropped in the second week of July
who impressed us so much that we decided to just mention them in this post and explore
their music in more detail for an upcoming installment of the popular [7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear](https://indierockcafe.com/category/indie-rock-mixtapes/7-bands-you-gotta-hear/)
profile and playlist series. They include **Chicago** indie garage pop band, **Twin
Peaks**; the fascinating **San Francisco Bay Area** shoegaze band, **Whirr;** and
the eccentric experimentalists **Royal Forest** from **Austin**, followed by **Sensual
Harassment** thanks to addictive advanced singles, like “Capri Suntan” and “Make
Me Human Again,” from the band’s sophomore album release, _Escape From Alpha Draconis_.

[“Irene”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Twin-Peaks-Irene.mp3) – **
Twin Peaks** from _Sunken_ on Autumn Tone Records

[“Swoon”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Whirr-Swoon.mp3) – **Whirr**
from _Around_ on Graveface Records

[“Ambulance”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Ambulance_RoyalForest.mp3)–**
Royal Forest** from _Spillways_

Don’t forget to check back in a few days to read a profile of each of these bands
and to listen to more of their music. If you haven’t explored the 7 Bands playlist
series yet, or missed the most recent installments, we promise you that you’ll be
remiss to miss out on some of the amazing bands and songs that you’ve never heard
before.

![littlelegendband](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/nowayout-
littlelegend-480x480.jpg "nowayout-littlelegend")

####  Little Legend and FLASH/LIGHTS Drop New Releases

So, let’s jump into it; there were a number of worthy releases from under-the-radar
bands in the first couple of weeks of July that pretty much got little to no coverage
anywhere else in the blogosphere among indie bloggers. First up is the **Montana**
garage rock band **Little Legend** who dropped their latest EP, _No Way Out_, on
July 2nd via the small indie label, **The Record Machine**. The lead single, “Bailout,”
is a gritty story of the band’s lead singer,** Brandy Tudor**, and the time his 
girlfriend bailed him out of jail in **Laramie**, Wyoming. Little Legend, formed
in 2010, have opened for bands like **JEFF The Brotherhood** and **Iceage.**.

Related Post:  Best Singles & Albums, August 2013, Vol. II - Washed Out, Bloc Party,
Moondoggies, Don Cavalli, Franz, The Dodos, Ghost Wave

“Bailout” – **Little Legend** from _No Way Out_ – July 2nd

⌊flashlights⌉⌊flashlights⌉
 Next up is **Denver** electro-pop outfit **FLASH/LIGHTS**,
who’ve previously opened for bands like **Passion Pit, New Order** and **Toro Y 
Moi**. F/L, who were forced by a cease & desist order to change from ‘Flashlights,’
to the new spelling, dropped their new EP, _All My Love_ on July 1st, featuring 
the following title track single.

#### A Quarter Century In, Bud Collins Trio Still Stepping It Up

The **Connecticut**-based **Bud Collins Trio**, in operation since 1989, has a built
a reputation during the past nearly quarter century as a formidable band of northeast
DIY scene, even though they made it onto MTV a number of times with their funky,
melodic pop. In the past, BCT has opened and toured with artists such as **Blues
Traveler, Bob Mould, Monks of Doom, Spin Doctors,** and **Maceo Parker**, all of
which helped to elevate the band’s profile even more, and yet all that time they
remained staunchly, and proudly, DIY.

At the start of this month, the trio released their new album, _State Vector Collapse_,
featuring the singles, “Jeff Lynne” and “Soapy Waters.”

“Jeff Lynne” – **Bud Collins Trio** from _State Vector Collapse_ – July 1st

![futurist-doubleknots](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/futurist-
doubleknots.jpg "futurist-doubleknots")

#### Futurist, Stephen Wheel, Drops, Drift Wood Miracle, Matt Script & Others

The following is a series of standout singles from a flood of new releases from 
DIY and small label artists and bands that most people, even indie enthusiasts, 
have never heard before. This terrific playlist covers the first half of under-the-
radar releases for the month of July. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself letting
this playlist loop in its entirety. Please share this special post and playlist 
on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, G+ buttons above.

The spirit of the DIY, rarely heard, obscure, under-the-radar musician, whether 
it’s a dude recording fantastic demos in this bedroom or a band that has been playing
the low-pay, often thankless bar and small venue scene (yet who shows great talent
and potential) has always been, and will always be, the heart of this blog.

Related Post:  Album of the Week: Youth Lagoon's 'Wondrous Bughouse'

The singles continue with the next playlist of amazing songs for July featuring **
Cardiff**, England musician and **Chasing Magpies**‘ recording artist **Stephen 
Wheel**‘s latest effort, followed by **Portland** DIY electro pop chillwave duo **
Drops**; experimental rock **Nashville** DIY band **Lions For Real**; blues rock
of **Durham**, North Carolina’s own **Drift Wood Miracle**; soda pop music from **
Virginia Beach** band **Ladada**; DIY jam rock from **Seattle** DIY band **Animals
in Cars**; from **Brooklyn**, indie art rock band **Futurist** with a single-only
release “Double Knots”; plus singles from bands like **Sans Gras, Of Gentlemen &
Cowards**, **Latka**, **Horsha On The Moon,**, and ** Sweetmeat** .

![grids-grids-albumart](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/grids-
grids-albumart-584x584.jpg "grids-grids-albumart")

#### Band to Watch: Grids

Firstly, though, let’s kick-off this DIY and small indie label singles list for 
the first two weeks of July with a 2013 Band to Watch, **Grids**, a **Toronto** 
indie band that caught our attention with two singles they sent in for review, and
which we’ve listened to over and over again before then hearing the rest of the 
album. It’s also one of the best DIY debut albums of 2013. There will be more about
Grids in an upcoming second installment for the Best DIY & Small Label Debut Albums
of 2013. The following playlist serves kind of like a sampler of songs from talented
bands that most people, even hardcore indie followers, have never heard of. Each
of the singles comes from a new LP or EP dropped in the first half of July. We’ll
definitely be watching which of these songs get the most listens and downloads for
the Top 10 Song page playlists for July. We’ll also be using those stats to determine
which of the bands below should be featured in separate posts on IRC in the coming
months. It’s crazy that August starts in a few days.

“Station” – **Stephen Wheel** from _Station_ – July 5th

⌊driftwood-miracle⌉⌊driftwood-miracle⌉
 [“Juggernaught” ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Juggernaught.mp3)–**
Drift Wood Miracle** from _The 21st_ – July 10th

“Song For You” – **Of Gentlemen & Cowards** from _Little Cracks, Little Light_ –
July 9th

⌊sweetmeatband⌉⌊sweetmeatband⌉
 [“Bees”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Bees-Sweetmeat.mp3)–**
Sweetmeat** from _Rancho Victoria_ – July 13th