IRIS BLUE - Unfamiliar to ME

With catchy pop rock coming straight out of Chicago that sounds equally indebted to the dramatic bombast of bands like Arctic Monkeys and The Backseat Lovers, as well as a groove that feels like a later-period Red Hot Chili Peppers song, the new track from midwest indie rockers Iris Blue, “Unfamiliar to Me,” recalls the intimate atmosphere of small house parties to create a truly charming piece of music. Recorded in the Windy City itself, “Unfamiliar to Me” more than makes up for its rawness and slackercore aesthetic off of being some of the most pure music released this year. There really are no pretensions here, no distractors to get in the way of any element of the song, be it instrumentally, lyrically, or vocally. This is a band simply playing to their strengths and making a great success out of it.

Ironic, then, that the song itself is about transitioning between aspirations and relationships, very deep and thoughtful topics brought up in a very meat-and-potatoes kind of song. Although they have a sound and charm that can appeal to a wide audience, it really feels made for small clubs and house parties, atmospheres that are very rare to replicate and draw from on a professional recording. If you haven’t already guessed, though, Iris Blue has all the talent in the world to accomplish that, making “Unfamiliar to Me” one of the most unique musical achievements this year in indie rock.

Catch 'Unfamiliar to ME' on Spotify: