Annuals

Annuals sound like a celebration happening in a botanical garden that’s been wired for sound. Their music is a dizzying blend of organic textures and digital precision, where acoustic guitars and lap steel collide with glitchy synths and thunderous, complex drumming. It is high-definition indie rock that refuses to sit still, constantly shifting from intimate folk-tinged verses to towering, panoramic choruses that feel like they could fill a stadium.

What truly sets them apart is the sheer density of their arrangements. Led by Adam Baker, the band functions like a miniature orchestra, layering vocal harmonies and instrumental counter-melodies until the sound becomes a shimmering wall of noise. There is a restless, youthful curiosity in their songwriting, often incorporating unusual time signatures or sudden stylistic pivots that keep the listener in a state of constant discovery.

Start with their debut, Be He Me. It captures the band at their most feral and imaginative, particularly on tracks like 'Carry Around' and 'Brother', which showcase their ability to balance chaotic energy with genuine pop sensibility. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who misses the ambitious, kitchen-sink production style of the mid-2000s indie boom.