Above image via Facebook: Cage The Elephant

By Josh McCann

The Alt Nation Monthly is back for another round! This month features a plethora of new songs and established acts (welcome back!). As always, this article is inspired by Alt Nation (Sirius XM) aka the best station everrrr! Grab the snacks—let’s get to the songs.

Bands Making Noise

There’s something about new music during the dead of winter that’s enthralling. It’s like we are driving around in “True Detective: Night Country“! Anyway, the music helps. One song making an impression is “In My Room” by Medium Build. The coming-of-age tune has all kinds of nostalgia. He talks about his room having a poster of the Matrix. When I was growing up, my room had posters of Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins and Jenny McCarthy. My cd collection was building up while my guitar leaned against my bed. But yeah, this song is really catching on.

Can we talk about “Weak In Your Light” by Nation of Language?! This song recently debuted on the Alt 18 countdown. The slow burner has a cool guitar groove and echoing vocals which lead to upbeat lyrics. It’s been gaining ground. Speaking of a unique sound, Lana Del Rey’s “Let The Light In” has been doing well. What a year she’s having. Green Day’s “Dilemma” has been on steady rotation, rightfully so. LoveJoy’s “Normal People Things” have established themselves as a solid alt nation act. And If you think Love Frame Tragedy sounds familiar, it’s because lead singer Matthew Murphy is also the lead singer of The Wombats. “Don’t You Want To Sleep With Someone Normal” is the lead single for their new album. This guy has a knack for creating irresistible alt jams.

The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, and Mumford & Sons are back! They all have strong singles. Whenever they release new music, it’s going to be big in the alt world. I was driving in my car when I heard “Neon Pill,” which made me want to turn it up! The Mumford track “Good People” is cool. The Black Keys “Beautiful People (Stay High) is a good sign for the new album. Finally, congrats to The Beaches. They will be performing on Jimmy Kimmel next week. That’s HUGE!! Their new single “Edge Of The Earth” is lighting up Alt Nation. Good stuff!

Advanced Placement

Okay this past month saw a nice batch of new songs. Advanced Placement is hosted each Wednesday by Regan. Let’s start with Alfie Templeman’s “Eyes Wide Shot.” It’ll make you want to dance! Up next we have some very cool collaborations. I was writing this very article when I heard this next one. I immediately grabbed my phone to look it up. It’s Royal Serpent and Gayle “Kinda Smacks.” And yes, it smacks! Your seasonal depression is cured. Reminds me of Wet Leg. Another good collaboration is Del Water Gap/Holly Humberstone “Cigarettes and Wine.” It was so great to hear! I listened while driving home with my heated car seat. Maybe that’s what made the song even better. Tatiana should interview Holly Humberstone! She has a new EP coming out soon! Noah Kahan/Sam Fender “Homesick” has a steady build up– when the saxophone hits you feel the passion.

Pearl Jam’s new single, “Dark Matter,” is their best single since “The Fixer.” Dexter and the Moonrocks‘ “She Likes Girls” would be cool to hear more. Other songs that stuck out to me over the past month: LOLO “2 of us” and Suki Waterhouse “OMG” are both so good that I had to text my friends about it. Along with Blu DeTiger “Dangerous Game” (she’s back with her bass, baby!) and d4vd‘s rocked out “Leave Here.” SHAED’s “Everybody Knows When I’m High”—um, someone had too many gummies. But it makes for a catchy song!

Alt 18

Each Saturday we get the Alt 18 countdown hosted by Madison. It was only a matter of time before Cage the Elephant hit number one with their fantastic new single, “Neon Pill.” They knocked The Struts out of the top spot. The past month has seen The Black Keys holding ground in the top 10. Nation of Language debuted; LoveJoy is moving up the charts. It’s been a steady dose of Green Day, Lana Del Rey, The Killers (one of my all time fav bands!), The Moss, and Sum 41. Willow Avalon’s “Stranger” (introduced by yours truly on the countdown) made some appearances too! Another thing: Future Islands have been holding solid in the top five. It would be cool to see them hit number one. “Tower” is their best since “Seasons.” For now, it looks like Cage the Elephant will be the favorite for number one.

Music Video Of The Month

If you like Legos and indie rock in the style of The Strokes; this video is all yours! Alex Sucks’ new single “What’re We Doing Here” is my featured video for this edition of the Alt Monthly. It’s just like the Legos movies, with the band members playing on stage to other Lego people. Very fun to watch.

See you in March with the next edition of the Alt Monthly!

Upcoming Releases:

Royal Otis 2/16

Holly Humberstone 3/15

Blu DeTiger 3/29

Love Fame Tragedy 3/29

Black Keys 4/5

Girl in Red 4/12

Pearl Jam 4/19