LITTLE LOVE AND THE FRIENDLY VIBES: The Same Only Worse — Melodic pop-punk that sounds good at low fidelity. They started at the Buzzcocks and Undertones (with some Lydonesque vocal stylings) and picked a good direction to go in. The songs are catchy, well-constructed and you can hear everything that’s going on. Also check their first album, Someone Call An Ambulance from 2015, which is name-your-price. Above: “Team Leader, “More Than You Can Stand,” “Two For One” and (from the first album) “Banter Enhancer.”
ALVVAYS: Antisocialites — Medium-paced indie guitar jangle pop, motorik beats and major chords. Relentlessly bright and cheerful. C86 (much as they apparently hate the comparison) and its descendants, but with muscle. Above: “In Undertow.”
Alvvays obviously hate the comparison so much that they feel the need to cover an Eighties indie band live. One featuring the Shop Assistants’ singer, no less.