B-sides are often considered the lesser songs when paired with A-sides, regardless of genre. However, through the years, a few B-sides have ended up being even better (and sometimes even more successful) than the A-sides they accompanied. In the world of indie rock, there are plenty of B-sides that fit this bill. Let’s look at just a few examples, shall we?
“Bigger Boys And Stolen Sweethearts” by Arctic Monkeys
“Bigger Boys And Stolen Sweethearts” by Arctic Monkeys was released as the B-side to “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” in 2005.
Videos by American Songwriter
The storytelling on this song is primo Arctic Monkeys, and the cleverness of the track might rival the more aggressive A-side it accompanies. However, they did play “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” at the 2012 Olympics. Clearly, people love the song. I think it’s fair to say that both are great pieces of work from Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.
“Sin-Eaters” by The National
“Sin-Eaters” by The National is one of many indie-rock B-sides that might just rival the A-sides. This song was released in 2010 as the B-side to “Bloodbuzz Ohio”.
“Sin-Eaters” is one of The National’s more brooding and introspective offerings. Honestly, it’s one of the most suitable songs for the whole High Violet era, complete with political undertones and slow-building instrumentation that makes it all the more compelling. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is amazing, but I think “Sin-Eaters” deserves more love.
“Ski Jump Nose” by Mansun
“Ski Jump Nose” was the B-side to the song “Egg Shaped Fred”, first released on the collector’s edition of the indie rock Britpop outfit Mansun’s debut album, Attack Of The Grey Lantern. Both songs are excellent little pieces of 90s neo-psychedelia. According to frontman Paul Draper, this song was almost released as its own single but didn’t quite make the cut.
“[The song was] recorded with drums by Carl Hibbert, with the immortal lyric ‘nick nack paddywack, Chad’s got an anorak,’” said Draper. “Dom Chad turned up at the studio that day in a parker coat. I was low on inspiration that day. An early contender for a single, and a homage to all girls with pointy up noses, I think?”
Since it was first released, “Ski Jump Nose” has been recorded by the band several times.
Photo by WireImage/Samir Hussein