Pop divas were the punks of 2013. Forget Miley Cyrus. Sky Ferreira’s topless album cover is easily music’s most cringe-worthy moment this year, but the sound it represented, well, I think even my mom would like pop sparklers like “24 Hours.” That’s been the trend for a while now. Quiet has become the new loud, and because I’m old and disagreeable, I find quiet, pretty things appealing.
Besides being gooey radio gold, I also feel indie music sounds pretty nostalgic right now. The cool bands of 2013 sounded a lot like the Best of 1986 — synthesized, feminine, glitzy and weirdly German. I wanted to recapture that old, but new sound on this compilation. Take the album’s opening act, Haerts, which might as well be ‘80s icon Berlin, noting that Berlin is a Los Angeles-based pop group, while Haerts is actually a pop duo from Germany. The rest of the album is similarly synthy and retro. The Shout Out Louds could be the Swedish Flock of Seagulls. Swiss/German duo Boy might just be a Suzanne Vega cover band. Christ, did I put any god-fearin’ Americans on this record?
You’ll have to find out below. Before the track listings, there are download links for the album — in both MP3 and FLAC formats — properly tagged and included with high resolution artwork (in case you’d like to print out and make an actual CD). Just be warned: Side effects include bouts of big hair, leg warmers, fish-net gloves, faux-gold earrings, side ponytails, parachute pants, ripped sweatshirts and a tendency to be overly bright and vivid in appearance and personality.
The Wilderness Within (MP3 download)
The Wilderness Within (FLAC download)
1. Wings – Haerts
2. Nuclear Seasons – Charli XCX
3. You’re Not the One – Sky Ferreira
4. Walking in Your Footsteps – Shout Out Louds
5. Go Back – LAKE
6. Tell Tale Signs – Frank Turner
7. Honest Wall – Ane Trolle
8. Waltz – The Naked and Famous
9. I’m Looking for a Hand – Sebastien Grainger
10. Skin – Boy
11. Change – Churchill
12. Dirty Laundry – Bitter:Sweet
13. Irene – Brazos
14. Different Days – Jason Isbell
15. Fade Away – Intergalactic Lovers
16. Her Beautiful Ideas – The Guggenheim Grotto
17. Baby I’m Crying – Best Coast
18. Memory Room – Crystal Stilts
19. Petition – Tennis
20. Paris – Magic Man
21. Set Me Free – Perquisite [Feat. Sanguita & Urita]
22. It All Feels Right – Washed Out
23. Eccojam A3 – Chuck Person
Nemo 