Modern indie alternative is just pop music yet to be discovered. With intentions pure and sounds one of a kind, this subgroup of artists and musical freethinkers are slowly bridging the gap between niche stardom and streaming saturation — whether they know it or not. Take Mac Demarco as an example; dubbed “the prince of indie rock” by The New York Times, Demarco’s music has gone from garnering underground notoriety in Vancouver, British Columbia to being played in the background of TikTok dance videos all around the world less than a decade later. 

Somewhere hidden in the timespan between artists turning heads and their songs turning into hits is the perfect balance of certified talent and a lowkey fan base, and it just so happens that another act from Vancouver is right there right now: Peach Pit.

This new wave indie rock outfit is led by singer and guitarist Neil Smith and has been prompting its listeners to look deeper into themselves since the 2016 release of their debut EP “Being So Normal.” When put together, Peach Pit’s slew of soft sounds and misty lyricism culminates into four unique tracks ranging all the way from woozy loops to beach rock jams. One song I highly recommend checking out is “Seventeen.”

Upon listening to Peach Pit’s new album on repeat during the last week and a half of quarantine, I am happy to say that “You and Your Friends” has definitely lived up to the hype that has surrounded it since “Feelin’ Low (F*ckboy Blues)” was released as its lead single in November. Contrary to what the title and the lyrics might portray, this song and its accompanying vocals are warped, colorful and exciting. Needless to say, my hopes were high from the jump.

One of my favorite tracks of this record is “Brian’s Movie.” Starting off strong with a startling twinge of a warped guitar wail, Peach Pit immediately creates a reserved psychedelic vibe that delightfully juxtaposes what the song is actually about. Despite being about the deterioration of a close friendship, “Brian’s Movie” sounds sweet and happy if you do not pay too much attention to the lyrics. 

The last single Peach Pit put out before releasing the album is “Black Licorice.” It is a song that  somehow makes the idea of self-deprecation a beat you can dance to. Such a solid presence of rhythm and drums, complemented by the stellar screeches of Christopher Vanderkooy on lead guitar, manipulates the saddest of lyrics into a steady bop. “I’m just black licorice / And all the people that I know / Would rather leave me in the bowl” — so simple, yet so depressing. It is definitely a strange combination of feelings, but they balance themselves out well.

The album should be generally well-received by fans of the indie genre. More specifically, “You and Your Friends” has enough solid content to provide nuance to the playlist of any social gathering. Put it on shuffle at a party, on the beach or with your significant other. Its energy is generic enough to be appreciated by people unfamiliar with the band, its lyricism is dynamic enough to reflect a variety of feelings and its instrumentals make for good music as a whole.

Give it a listen.