Black Friday is perhaps the most depressing display of “American-ness” disguised as a holiday. It channels all of the intoxicated bravado of the 4th of July into pure capitalistic id. While some of us mock the hypocritical post-Thanksgiving consumerism, we still have to come to terms with the fact that a person getting trampled to death at a Walmart is normal in this country. Luckily, some of Portland’s tenderest indie rock bands will spend Black Friday singing odes to self-care while the world is seemingly spiraling into the ground. Little Star’s debut full-length Being Close and bed.’s EP Klickitat were two bright spots in a dour year. Now, I’m no proponent of rock ’n’ roll saviorism, but I’ll be damned if Little Star’s “Calming Ritual” and bed.’s “Wayward” aren’t two of the most beautiful examples of introverted musical catharsis. CAMERON CROWELL