By Jenell Taylor, Contributor

The Moldy Peaches were a beloved indie “anti-folk” band active from 1994 to 2002. While they have not released new music in over 20 years, the band performed several European shows together in 2023. They gained widespread popularity after their song “Anyone Else But You” was featured in the 2007 dramedy Juno directed by Jason Reitman. Sung by the film’s stars Michael Cera and Elliot Page, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks. The nostalgic affection that The Moldy Peaches exuded cannot ever be replicated, but taking a glimpse at this list will be more than worth your while. 

1.) “Scissorhands” by The Uncluded

In 2013, Moldy Peaches member Kimya Dawson collaborated with New York-based rapper Aesop Rock on a folk/rap album titled Hokey Fright. “Scissorhands” is the ninth track with a run time of just under three minutes. This song’s title yields the surname of the treasured and fantastical Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands, and it’s just as bittersweet. If you find yourself missing The Moldy Peaches, The Uncluded has the familiar eccentric flair of Dawson, with Rock providing a contrast that makes for quite the pleasant listening experience.

2.) “Elementary School Dropout” by Yucky Duster

Yucky Duster is an indie group from Brooklyn, NY. Their relatable and angsty lyrics in tune with their wacky chords evokes the same whimsy that The Moldy Peaches did. The track comes from their 2017 EP, Duster’s Lament. The group’s lead singer and drummer, Madeline Babuka Black, sings of low grades, breaking the rules, fried brains and taking life easy set against the backdrop of increasingly silly instrumentals.

3.) “Pollen” by Mirah

Mirah is no stranger to the folksy indie genre, with a lengthy discography of 15 albums under her belt starting in the year 2000. She hails from Brooklyn, NY and was a former member of The Microphones, mainly known for their 2001 album, The Glow, Pt. 2. “Pollen” is a sweet song about wanting to be loved and seen. It is ukulele heavy with jangly bells toward the end of the track, reminiscent of the charming Twee genre. Mirah’s gentle voice carries the tune, beckoning the listener to stay and listen for a while. 

4.) “Alcohol” by Saturday Looks Good To Me

Formed in Ann Arbour, MI, in 1999, Saturday Looks Good To Me is an experimental pop band led by multi-instrumentalist Fred Thomas. “Alcohol” is the ninth track on their 2003 album, All Your Summer Songs. With lyrics describing the all-too-familiar gripes of romantic interest, “Alcohol” has the “it” factor that made The Moldy Peaches’ music a household name for indie lovers everywhere. If trumpets, bells, soft vocals and yearning sounds like you, give them a listen.

5.) “Let’s Get Breakfast” by Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra

To get acoustic, “Let’s Get Breakfast” describes the tender feeling of a fresh love or an equally fresh heartache. With a short track coming at just under two minutes, frontman Dustin Cole Hayes’ vocals deliver exactly what a dispirited Moldy Peaches fan is longing for when it comes to a song you can sulk to. Formed in Southern California when Hayes was in high school, Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra broke out onto the DIY scene in 2009 with their album Every Town Needs A Cowboy.  

6.) “Do What I Want” by Birdcloud

Birdcloud is a duo from Nashville, TN, consisting of Jasmin Kaset and Makenzie Green. Their brash lyricism and Southern twang provides an interesting contrast to the prim lifestyle of the South. “Do What I Want” encompasses the nagging feeling of wanting to break free from your confinements and societal expectations. Kimya Dawson is known for her lyrics about finding your personal freedom and living unabashedly, all the while shattering the false perceptions others might have had of you. Birdcloud embodies this through their sound as well, with “Do What I Want” imploring listeners to follow suit.

7.) “Slutmouth” by Girlpool    

On the topic of subverting societal expectations, “Slutmouth” achieves just that. Girlpool is a Los Angeles-based indie rock band formed by Avery Tucker and Harmony Tividad in 2013. “Slutmouth” comes from their debut self-titled album, released in 2014. The lyrics center around identity, fitting into an “in” group and fighting against age-old patriarchal expectations of women. Fans of The Moldy Peaches are sure to fall in love with this track’s relatability and retrospective quality.

8.) “Eisenhower Is the Father” by Best Friends Forever

Best Friends Forever is an indie pop duo based in Minneapolis, MN, consisting of real-life best friends Jessica Seamans and Briana Smith. “Eisenhower Is the Father” is a funky tune of appreciation, thanking the 34th president for his contribution to the interstate highway system. Best Friends Forever closes out our list on a lighthearted and upbeat note that The Moldy Peaches listeners will find quite amusing.

Listen here: Listen if You Miss: The Moldy Peaches