Infinite Shuffle

Fret not, riot grrl fans, there are still plenty of new acts out there to feed your need. But nowadays they often come with a twist.

The latest entrant in the race for your affections is Speedy Ortiz, a four-piece outfit from Northampton, Mass.

Started in 2011 as a solo project by former guitarist Sadie Dupuis, it had expanded into a full-fledged indie band by 2012 and churned out an EP and a couple of singles before dropping a proper full-length, Major Arcana, this past July.

If the music doesn’t scream it, that video should have tipped you off — this band is heavily influenced by the ’90s. There’s the halting guitars and lyrics, the lo-fi quality and the ever-present slacker vibe emanating from every track.

So, it’s not exactly riot grrl, but it’s definitely from that era.

If you want to see the entire 12-minute performance on KEXP, go here.

Everyone wants to discover the next ground-breaking band that totally changes the music landscape for years to come. Unfortunately, those acts don’t pop up very often.

Instead, you usually come across bands that are putting out music that sounds a lot like the rest of your iTunes library. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as said band brings a slightly different vibe to the table, it has a shot at making it into your rotation.

So, if you’re a fan of indie-rock/folk/pop — and you probably are if you’re reading this blog — one such band that might pique your interest is The Sun Parade.

Treading on ground already covered by bands such as The Lumineers, Wilco and Rural Alberta Advantage, this duo/quartet from Northampton, Mass., still manages to grab listeners with an eclectic mix of tunes.

On Yossis, their debut full-length release from earlier this year, the tandem of Chris Jennings and Jefferson Lewis — they’re often joined by bassist Jacob Rosazza and drummer Colin Jalbert — use a range of instruments to produce plenty of catchy beats, but it’s the vocals that reel you in.

The song, “Nothing Lasts Forever” sounds like Wilco attempting to channel The Beatles. Another track, “Chicago”, calls to mind Jeff Tweedy’s crew, but that might be because of the title more than anything.

“Pickin My Pockets” and “Lies” both sound like they could have been found on The Lumineers’ recent album. Other strong tracks include  “Need You By My Side”, “Bottom of the Sea” and “Oh No”.