I generally prefer artists that push the boundaries from inside. Underwater Getdown are this type of band.
The band never strays too far from the “indie rock” template(except for the occasional few seconds of noise experimentation), but their willingness to use sounds from outside (French horn, video game noises) shows a band as restless with the genre as they are in love with it.
The band’s boy/girl vocals add another dimension to the music. At times gibes their songs an energy similar to Los Campesinos’ darker moments.
Other times, a song will start out sounding like Bright Eyes, only to be torn down and re-made into a certified rocker. It is a testament to the band’s musicianship that these shifts are truly a thrill to listen to, and seem in no way forced.
Listening to an Underwater Getdown tune is hearing the thoughts of a baby bird preparing to leave the nest. Melancholic and a little bit scared to leave, but this band will fly into uncharted musical territory and find something truly masterful.
While I’ve always had respect for the avant garde, it comes with a disclaimer. Those artists that dance outside of the boundaries, musical or otherwise, deserve respect for their willingness to defy convention. However, to me, that kind of art is more respectable than enjoyable.
