Author Archives: Kite

The internet, and particularly websites like this, have revolutionized the music industry. Before the days of internet blogging, iTunes, Pandora, and even Napster, the only way that an artist could really get noticed was by getting signed with a well-known record label that would market and push their content into mainstream media. Fortunately, those days are starting to come to an end thanks to the breakthrough that the internet world has made as a medium in allowing users to freely share and research information. It is a glorious time to be alive!

Thanks to internet music sites, artists like Foster the People – a group that would otherwise be unheard of today – are able to freely market their own music content to the world. If they are tactical in placing their content in the World Wide Web, the internet audience will reward them for their good work. And thus, songs like “Pumped Up Kicks” begin spreading like wildfire until it finally breaks into the Billboard Top 100. In other words, musicians are in more control of their own destiny than ever before thanks to the internet and the revolution of free and unrestricted content sharing.

However, I dare say that were it not for the song “Pumped Up Kicks,” the remainder of Foster the People’s self-titled album would go unnoticed. Because, let’s be honest, none of their other songs sound anything like “Pumped Up Kicks.” The steady beat, catchy lyrics, and overall aura of the song fit the status quo of summer 2011. This combination, in turn, propelled the group and its album into the limelight.

Unfortunately, there are still many artists still struggling for their share of the fame, even though they offer just as much talent as artists like Foster the People, less that one breakthrough song.

So, now that I have drawn you in by leading you to believe that I am going to reveal something astounding about Foster the People, let me reveal the real purpose of this article: to piggyback some similar, but not-so-famous artists on the same path to success that Foster the People used.

Let me start you off with a warm-up. The following song, brought to you by the group Oregon Bike Trails, probably relates more to the song “Pumped Up Kicks” than any of the others that I am going to show you. It offers the same steady beat, summer sound, and catchy chorus that, I believe, catapulted “Pumped Up Kicks” into the mainstream.

Oregon Bike Trails – “Cayucas”

So, how did you like it? Not too shabby, right?! And yet, it’s still missing some key element that is keeping it from launching ahead in the charts. What it is, I’m not sure. But, with the help of blogs like this and its readers, maybe it’s only a matter of time before we hear this group on every channel of the radio.

From here, I am going to be showing you groups that have similar sounds to the rest of Foster the People’s album. I’m talking about songs like “Houdini,” “Don’t Stop,” “Helena Beat,” etc.

The next song that I want to show you is from a group called Two Door Cinema Club. To me, it would compare to the likes of the song “I Would Do Anything For You” from Foster the People.

Two Door Cinema Club – “Something Good Can Work”

Again, why groups like this haven’t broken the stereotype of a “hit” song, we may never know. Because, as far as I’m concerned they offer the same great style that Foster the People do!

Alright, I’m going to calm down a little now and refocus. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me go on and on about Foster the People. Or, maybe you’re not…but, regardless, I’m going to get back to the purpose of this article, which is to hopefully introduce you to some new great artists that maybe you haven’t heard before.

Next up, allow me to introduce you to (or not) the band Bombay Bicycle Club. This group, I think, has some real potential. I don’t know what it is about this song, but I just can’t seem to get enough of it!

Bombay Bicycle Club – “Shuffle”

Now, don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that!

Moving on…if you’ve heard of groups like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Shiny Toy Guns, and haven’t heard of Phantogram, well, I think you’re really missing out on something truly amazing.

Phantogram – “Don’t Move”

Alright, I still have a lot of ground to cover, so I’m not going to waste any more time. Next on the list is The Naked and Famous. They remind me a lot of Passion Pit. If you haven’t heard of Passion Pit, you can leave now and return again once you’ve fully enriched your life with his magic.

The Naked and Famous -  “Young Blood”

So…there you have it! Now, I really hope that I was able to tune you into some great songs with this article. Maybe if you share some of these artists with your friends, family and loved ones we can, collectively, afford them the same opportunities that artists the likes of Foster the People couldn’t have received were it not for similar efforts.

Now, there were a lot of songs that I didn’t get to write about. But, for the sake of time and space, I’m just going to list a few other songs that you might be interested in. And, if I introduced you to zero artists that you haven’t already heard about, then congratulations! You truly are an indie music connoisseur and you should join the blogging team.

Remember! If you like what you’re hearing on this blog, why not consider giving a little back to the artists themselves by visiting http://humanfankind.com/donate/?

Other Songs:

Wolf Gang – “Lions in Cages”

Urban Cone – “Freak”

Goldroom – “Morgan’s Bay”

The Wombats – “Jump Into the Fog”

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