Best Indie Bands??

24

Comments

  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    I've heard a few Vampire Weekend songs that I like, but I don't know how good they are as a whole. Need to check them out some more.
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  • pjtaperpjtaper Posts: 3,020
    mumford & sons
  • Kilgore_TroutKilgore_Trout Posts: 7,334
    Better Dan wrote:
    I've heard a few Vampire Weekend songs that I like, but I don't know how good they are as a whole. Need to check them out some more.
    just turn on the tv... after about a dozen car commercials you'll know their entire catalog
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  • twisted thoughtstwisted thoughts Posts: 4,377
    edited April 2011
    wow. I cant believe i forgot MGMT.
    and apparently... according to this wiki page(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indie_rock_musicians)...Beck and My Morning Jacket are indie too. did not know that they were still considered indie.
    Post edited by twisted thoughts on
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  • CAVSTARR313CAVSTARR313 Posts: 8,756
    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
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  • i'd suggest you RSS or visit these websites often-pitchfork, stereogum and brooklyn vegan. as well as gorilla vs bear.

    from there, id also suggest visiting pitchforks best new music list. the most popular new indie bands will always be the latest one that is listed there. Ive seen it first hand as well. The day after pitchfork deems an album as best new music, visit a torrent site like what.cd and its almost always the case that the most traffic'd torrent will always be that one.

    I'd also familiarize yourself with KCRW.com specifically the Morning Becomes Eclectic shows. as well as KEXP.org, a radiostation streaming for free online out of seattle.

    familiarize yourself with the coachella and sasquatch music festivals. Basically any band on the bill for either fest is indie.

    As far as indie bands im fond of, the national, tallest man on earth, death cab, modest mouse, imogen heap, all come to mind.
  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 42,387
    Arctic Monkeys
    Sleigh Bells
    Yuck
    The Big Pink
    Passion Pit
    Free Energy
    Kasabian
    Glasvegas
    Soft Pack
    Peter Bjorn & John
    Kaiser Chiefs
    Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
    Klaxons
    Vampire Weekend
    Surfer Blood
    The Drums
    MGMT
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • ive said it before, but indie is the most important genre and movement of music since grunge. Its also one of the most unique in music history. if you mark the beginning of indie, as when the "the" bands started getting big, like the vines, the strokes, the white stripes and others, and you follow it to 2003/2004 with the postal service releasing the classic Give up, and Death Cabs Transatlanticism, and Modest Mouse's Good News, as well as The Shins Chutes too narrow. Then you see The OC one of the most popular shows in 2003-2006, which featured indie music prominently in the shows, exposing these small bands to millions of tv viewers. Then you see Alex patsavas a music supervisor for tv, using indie bands to soundtrack Greys anatomy, and Chuck, again, exposing the music to millions of people. You then see watermark moments like Arcade Fire winning Best album.

    The fact that indie and hipster are the biggest things in music and in pop culture and have been for a decade, with increasing commercial success and awareness is unique and without precedent. No musical movement save hip hop has gained popularity to this extent, and still remained vibrant and critically and commercially successful.

    Additionally the fact that very few indie musicians have died in those years. Elliott Smith, and Jay Retard are two losses, but surprisingly, and luckily the scene has lost few major stars.

    For all I know, James Mercer could be a killer, and Issac Brock a womanizer, and Bright Eyes a cocaine user, but again, the scene seems to have major figures, and "leaders" who are remarkably clean living to an extent of course, and have few problems that have come to the surface.

    Indie rock changed my life.
  • Fleet Foxes
    Broken Bells

    I'm with you on these.

    Agree with:
    Decemberists (although I'm not a huge fan of the new album)
    TV on the Radio

    Can't go wrong with Spoon.

    I don't think Black Keys & Death Cab for Cutie are indie anymore, but I love them. (or are they always indie??? - I get confused about this stuff - I just want to hear some good music)

    I'm gonna have to check out Band of Skulls...


    any bands covered by p4k, stereogum or brooklyn vegan are indie. and all the bands you mentioned are covered, thus....
  • samjamsamjam New York Posts: 9,283
    Arctic Monkeys
    Sleigh Bells
    Yuck
    The Big Pink
    Passion Pit
    Free Energy
    Kasabian
    Glasvegas
    Soft Pack
    Peter Bjorn & John
    Kaiser Chiefs
    Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
    Klaxons
    Vampire Weekend
    Surfer Blood
    The Drums
    MGMT

    Great list!! Passion Pit, Surfer Blood & Yuck especially, all three are spectacular

    Another band worth mentioning- Yeasayer.
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
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  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 11,918
    any bands covered by p4k, stereogum or brooklyn vegan are indie. and all the bands you mentioned are covered, thus....

    Ok, glad I got a definition now...
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  • Jeff MurrayJeff Murray Posts: 1,259
    I agree with most bands listed here. I've seen Heartless Bastards - great band and looking forward to a new release.

    One that I might have missed being listed is The Silent Comedy. Their latest Common Faults is a more rocking Mumford & Sons so to speak. They have even opened for a bunch of the bands.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TB0bTF_BgA

    I would also recommend The Builders and The Butchers, another good Americana Folk rock band.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zto1E_gOOGo
    If there were no Angels would there be no sin?
  • Kilgore_TroutKilgore_Trout Posts: 7,334
    any bands covered by p4k, stereogum or brooklyn vegan are indie. and all the bands you mentioned are covered, thus....

    Ok, glad I got a definition now...
    seems odd to me that "indie" people are so willing to let media categorize and dictate their music

    indie certainly doesn't stand for independent thinkers

    the whole term has just gotten too nondescript and overblown IMO... when's this bubble gonna burst?

    (there are some good bands listed in here, but you gotta wonder if some would've made it on their own merit without this avid subculture... the turnover is so fast in the indie spotlight that it creates many more opportunities than in the past)
    "Senza speme vivemo in disio"

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  • LukinFanLukinFan Florida Posts: 29,069
    not really indie, but check out JJ Grey and Mofro
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  • Jeff MurrayJeff Murray Posts: 1,259
    LukinFan wrote:
    not really indie, but check out JJ Grey and Mofro

    2nd that recommendation.
    If there were no Angels would there be no sin?
  • LoulouLoulou Adelaide Posts: 6,247
    Hey folks,
    I know you guys might not be interested but I saw this thread and thought I would put it to you guys first. I found an extra copy of a Sydney band called The Vines. They are supposedly under the catergory of 'Indie Rock' and thought one of you would like a copy? It's free if you want it, just let me know. :D
    “ "Thank you Palestrina. It’s a wonderful evening, it’s great to be here and I wanna dedicate you a super sexy song." " (last words of Mark Sandman of Morphine)


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  • jshinjshin Posts: 1,759
    Loulou wrote:
    Hey folks,
    I know you guys might not be interested but I saw this thread and thought I would put it to you guys first. I found an extra copy of a Sydney band called The Vines. They are supposedly under the catergory of 'Indie Rock' and thought one of you would like a copy? It's free if you want it, just let me know. :D

    PM sent
    I ain't got no fly'n shoes..




  • LoulouLoulou Adelaide Posts: 6,247
    It's all yours Jshin. Enjoy! :D
    “ "Thank you Palestrina. It’s a wonderful evening, it’s great to be here and I wanna dedicate you a super sexy song." " (last words of Mark Sandman of Morphine)


    Adelaide 1998
    Adelaide 2003
    Adelaide 2006 night 1
    Adelaide 2006 night 2
    Adelaide 2009
    Melbourne 2009
    Christchurch NZ 2009
    Eddie Vedder, Adelaide 2011
    PJ20 USA 2011 night 1
    PJ20 USA 2011 night 2
    Adelaide BIG DAY OUT 2014
  • jshinjshin Posts: 1,759
    Thank you so much..
    I ain't got no fly'n shoes..




  • any bands covered by p4k, stereogum or brooklyn vegan are indie. and all the bands you mentioned are covered, thus....

    Ok, glad I got a definition now...
    seems odd to me that "indie" people are so willing to let media categorize and dictate their music

    indie certainly doesn't stand for independent thinkers

    the whole term has just gotten too nondescript and overblown IMO... when's this bubble gonna burst?

    (there are some good bands listed in here, but you gotta wonder if some would've made it on their own merit without this avid subculture... the turnover is so fast in the indie spotlight that it creates many more opportunities than in the past)

    i wouldnt hold my breath waiting for it to burst. its been a decade of indie dominance. if commercial widespread appeal and success cant burst it, then nothing can.

    as i said no other musical movement other than hip hop has remained cropped up and remained so dominant,

    grunge lasted 4 years. indie has remained for 10 years with increasing success and appeal. Arcade Fire just won album of the year, and then a few days ago wowed a crowed of tens of thousands in the desert in Coachella.
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Death By Milkfloat
  • lephtylephty Posts: 770
    Broken Social Scene! i can't believe they haven't been mentioned yet!
  • Jeff MurrayJeff Murray Posts: 1,259
    Just checked out Tune-Yards tonight... very strange, but there is a pull that keeps me listening. I may have to check them out when they play Philly.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa2s
    If there were no Angels would there be no sin?
  • SawyerSawyer Posts: 2,411
    Just checked out Tune-Yards tonight... very strange, but there is a pull that keeps me listening. I may have to check them out when they play Philly.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa2s


    that album is amazing
  • The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are brilliant. Very early/Pumpkins/My Bloody Valentine/Cure feel to them. Some really good hooks, fuzzed up guitars, and melodic keyboards. The second LP "Belong" was released earlier this year.
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  • LiftedLifted Posts: 1,836
    i wouldnt hold my breath waiting for it to burst. its been a decade of indie dominance. if commercial widespread appeal and success cant burst it, then nothing can.

    as i said no other musical movement other than hip hop has remained cropped up and remained so dominant,

    grunge lasted 4 years. indie has remained for 10 years with increasing success and appeal. Arcade Fire just won album of the year, and then a few days ago wowed a crowed of tens of thousands in the desert in Coachella.
    [/quote][/quote][/quote]

    it is not a new fucking musical movement! and it has not been around for only 10 years! i really can't understand some of the shit you spew on here sometimes. "grunge" referred to a small group of bands from seattle that broke through and ended the hair band era. you say anyone covered by pitchfork is indie and you speak of it as if it's a musical movement that started....oh well, about the same time you stopped listening to fucking creed in high school. pitchfork covers pearl jam, jay-z, arcade fire, janelle monae, wilco etc. these are all completely different artists. it's lazy to put them all under the same category.....and please don't try and explain your point, i've read way too much from you already. you are a fixie ridin, skinny jean wearin', pbr drinking poser who worships pitchfork and doesn't shave. i get it. sorry, but i find your posts to be extremely irritating for the most part and i had to let that out.


    that said. bright eyes is one of my favorites. an indie band in the truest sense.
  • it is not a new fucking musical movement! and it has not been around for only 10 years! i really can't understand some of the shit you spew on here sometimes. "grunge" referred to a small group of bands from seattle that broke through and ended the hair band era. you say anyone covered by pitchfork is indie and you speak of it as if it's a musical movement that started....oh well, about the same time you stopped listening to fucking creed in high school. pitchfork covers pearl jam, jay-z, arcade fire, janelle monae, wilco etc. these are all completely different artists. it's lazy to put them all under the same category.....and please don't try and explain your point, i've read way too much from you already. you are a fixie ridin, skinny jean wearin', pbr drinking poser who worships pitchfork and doesn't shave. i get it. sorry, but i find your posts to be extremely irritating for the most part and i had to let that out.


    definition of an idiot, me thinks. and you dont know a damn thing about me, and your post only confirms this. Personally, for someone who is a bright eyes fan its a shame he has followers who are as illiterate and uninformed as you.

    when did i ever dispute what grunge was? did i say it was a group of millions of bands out of minnesota who were involved in hair metal? what are you smoking?

    yes indie has been around for a long time. REM and sonic Youth and Pavement could be considered the forefathers.

    that said, the niche filled, cult status those bands experienced, where you had a select group of dedicated fans and you'd hear those bands exclusively on college radio. those days are done. i just saw The Conspirators. A major motion picture. Redford directed. And Ray Lamontagne is in the closing credits. Clearly things have changed. The bands that were once bands only the cool kids listened to, now are loved by your little sister and your mom. Everyone knows what a hipster is. Everyone knows what p4k is.

    all im arguing is, this is unique in music history. with the exception of hip hop no major movement or scene or genre has continued on and dominated this long.


    again, i'd lay off the drugs.

    and anyone covered by p4k is indie. why is this such a mindblowing idea? you say p4k and people get a mental image, good or bad, of bands that p4k has made famous arcade fire. broken social scene, tapes and tapes. yeah not all the bands they cover are stereotypically indie sounding, but lets face it, p4k is the indie bible. if you cant see that, you are blind.
  • ADogNamedPilateADogNamedPilate Texas, USA Posts: 291
    Here's a good chunk of the music I love to death and I'm sure I'll forget to mention a couple of bands or some will think a few aren't indie.

    Pinback
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98YUtwiuqaY

    Omar Rodriguez Lopez
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ZgytCOBw8 (watch out for the production beep at the very start of the video, kinda loud)

    Grizzly Bear
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ

    Nada Surf
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhhStKR7Lg

    The Anniversary (two albums each with very different sounds)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPO1OsaX6bU
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwlZ2dN7kJ0

    indie rock with a country feel
    Wintersleep (their first 3 records sound completely different than their newest, all are good)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFM1OZuB3Vo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_d7I93xZfU

    Calexico
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCA0_bNXAao

    Band of Horses (they toured with Pearl Jam)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPYIwZfga94

    My Morning Jacket (they toured with Pearl Jam)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z5gy94x450

    Fleet Foxes
    don't know enough about them to recommend a song


    female vocals:
    Mates of State
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxnSJKt51zk

    big Sir
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPIbuu39_j4

    Asobi Seksu
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buu5TTUlPtY

    My Brightest Diamond
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB-FLxglSOA

    Deradoorian
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLXkq96pu-M

    Mirah
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwEO_M6eB4

    Persephone's Bees
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIZIaeORb0k

    Solex
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7cOmBwUC_k


    has that definite indie feel to it (but they stand out from the rest), some of these are the big hitters:
    Mason Proper
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbz00duyLcw

    As Tall As Lions
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHkzRBCcssE

    Twin Shadow
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZypuUi_Ggc

    The Shins
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD7qIthSdkA

    Death Cab for Cutie
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubLY1E2dUmc

    The Decemberists
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml0VI8VZO2U

    Interpol
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_S2vy0qwc

    The Postal Service
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUIBnmdJJ50

    MGMT
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIEOZCcaXzE

    Silversun Pickups
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6jCdUaaE1Q

    Arcade Fire
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wq917ucGaE


    other
    Talkdemonic
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXv_I6_RyNI

    Page France
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbX1v2HZOmM

    Múm
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfQ_fm2CYXQ

    Sunny Day Real Estate (all their albums are different, I like 'em all, so shop around)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r9UfktYrK8

    Jets to Brazil
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2p00k_ZgU

    Idiot Pilot
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs3K7YulfVg

    Secret Machines
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ3W9CR0u9o

    School of Seven Bells
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wZ3cP-5EE


    midwest more rockin' feel
    Built to Spill
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MjBMhlMq3s

    Hum
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df_-0uORmSs

    Vitreous Humor
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmO9YvYFiew
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  • Kilgore_TroutKilgore_Trout Posts: 7,334
    arguing about what's indie is so lamestream :ugeek: (i had these frames imported from japan... you can't find them here... and if you could, they wouldn't be cool)
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  • dCowboyPJdCowboyPJ Posts: 479
    check out a band called Girls. Their EP Broken Dreams Club is really good.
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