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indie band?

KellerKeller Posts: 177
edited May 2006 in Other Music
Can someone explain to me what exactly classifys a band as being an "indie" band. I hear the term alot and don't really understand. Also what are some of your favorite "indie bands/artist"?

Thanks
"Be what you want to be, see what you came to see"
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  • MilestoneMilestone Posts: 1,140
    Keller wrote:
    Can someone explain to me what exactly classifys a band as being an "indie" band. I hear the term alot and don't really understand. Also what are some of your favorite "indie bands/artist"?

    Thanks


    Indie comes from 'independant'....as in any band on a small independant label instead of a major record label.
    11-2-2000 Portland. 12-8-2002 Seattle. 4-18-2003 Nashville. 5-30-2003 Vancouver. 10-25-2003 Bridge School. 9-2-2005 Vancouver.
    7-6-2006 Las Vegas. 7-20-2006 Portland. 7-22-2006 Gorge. 9-21-2009 Seattle. 9-22-2009 Seattle. 9-26-2009 Ridgefield. 9-25-2011 Vancouver.
    11-29-2013 Portland. 10-16-2014 Detroit. 8-8-2018 Seattle. 8-10-2018 Seattle. 8-13-2018 Missoula.  5-10-2024 Portland.  5-30-2024 Seattle.
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Yes I said the same about the label thing, but there were a lot of people who disagreed with me. They seemed to think Radiohead was indie as well. I understand why they said so, however I don't think the same.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
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    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • CM1847CM1847 Posts: 577
    I think "indie" is becoming more of a genre rather than a category for what label a band is signed to. Some "indie" labels have huge distribution now and a lot of bands most would define as indie are signed to one of the major labels.

    To me I think The Shins pretty much define indie rock music, lo-fi, mellow, pop stuff. Of course it doesn't have to be that way, but that is the type of band I most often hear being described as indie.
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    CM1847 wrote:
    I think "indie" is becoming more of a genre rather than a category for what label a band is signed to. Some "indie" labels have huge distribution now and a lot of bands most would define as indie are signed to one of the major labels.

    To me I think The Shins pretty much define indie rock music, lo-fi, mellow, pop stuff. Of course it doesn't have to be that way, but that is the type of band I most often hear being described as indie.


    I would discribe The Shins as indie, however I wouldn't discribe indie as The Shins. Lo-Fi is something that does in my book.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • CM1847CM1847 Posts: 577
    karma defect wrote:
    I would discribe The Shins as indie, however I wouldn't discribe indie as The Shins. Lo-Fi is something that does in my book.
    When I think of indie as a genre I think of lo-fi, they go together hand-in-hand in my book. The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Cat Power, etc are all indie darlings. Of course you have up-tempo pop bands like The New Pornograhers who are considered indie as well. So go figure, I guess there really isn't a very good way to describe indie as a genre. I think it is a very wide ranging genre based more on radio play and popular success than anything else. Which would go nicely with dividing bands up into what record label they are on, but then you leave out some bands who definitely fit the indie bill, but got lucky enough to score a major label deal(My Morning Jacket, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, etc).

    Interesting topic, there are obviously a lot of different ways you can define the term.
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    CM1847 wrote:
    When I think of indie as a genre I think of lo-fi, they go together hand-in-hand in my book. The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Cat Power, etc are all indie darlings. Of course you have up-tempo pop bands like The New Pornograhers who are considered indie as well. So go figure, I guess there really isn't a very good way to describe indie as a genre. I think it is a very wide ranging genre based more on radio play and popular success than anything else. Which would go nicely with dividing bands up into what record label they are on, but then you leave out some bands who definitely fit the indie bill, but got lucky enough to score a major label deal(My Morning Jacket, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, etc).

    Interesting topic, there are obviously a lot of different ways you can define the term.


    You don't even name bands like Godspeed you black emperor.
    I think they are really what indie is all about. Do you know them?
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • CM1847CM1847 Posts: 577
    karma defect wrote:
    You don't even name bands like Godspeed you black emperor.
    I think they are really what indie is all about. Do you know them?
    I know of them and I have listened to them before, but I'm not huge on instrumental bands. Just not really my thing, but I know a few people who really, really like them.
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    CM1847 wrote:
    I know of them and I have listened to them before, but I'm not huge on instrumental bands. Just not really my thing, but I know a few people who really, really like them.


    OK. But I meant they are absolutly nothing like The Shins, but they are indie.
    Just to add to the confusion.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • CM1847CM1847 Posts: 577
    karma defect wrote:
    OK. But I meant they are absolutly nothing like The Shins, but they are indie.
    Just to add to the confusion.
    Yeah, good point. There are so many styles that can be considered indie, but at the same time it goes beyond what label a band is signed to.
  • adam42381adam42381 Posts: 2,505
    I'm still a bit confused. Help me and everyone else figure out genres here: http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=189247
    I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.
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  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    Indie is more of an ethic/philosophy than it is a genre. I do my best to not refer to indie as a genre in and of its own accord. Most people use it to refer to low fi pop/rock with less than pitch perfect vocals(or "whiny" as it is invariably put).

    In reality, anything can be indie
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Echoes wrote:
    Indie is more of an ethic/philosophy than it is a genre. I do my best to not refer to indie as a genre in and of its own accord. Most people use it to refer to low fi pop/rock with less than pitch perfect vocals(or "whiny" as it is invariably put).

    In reality, anything can be indie


    I don't see indie as The discibtion you gave. And I don't think most people do. Lo-fi yes, but poprock no. It might tough into indie but that is not the core of it. At least not in my book. But it is a bit shakey as a genre. A lot will fit. I could even understand the Radiohead view. Basically everything that isn't mainstream is indie.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    karma defect wrote:
    I don't see indie as The discibtion you gave. And I don't think most people do. Lo-fi yes, but poprock no. It might tough into indie but that is not the core of it. At least not in my book. But it is a bit shakey as a genre. A lot will fit. I could even understand the Radiohead view. Basically everything that isn't mainstream is indie.

    well, not necessarily pop rock, but usually I hear indie being used to describe bands like THe New Pornographers, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab For Cutie, Pavement, GBV, etc etc etc.
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Echoes wrote:
    well, not necessarily pop rock, but usually I hear indie being used to describe bands like THe New Pornographers, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab For Cutie, Pavement, GBV, etc etc etc.


    Pavement and Guided by voices yes absolutly.
    Franz Ferdinad is just poprock just like The Strokes. Or the Presidents of the U.S.A. or Lenny Kravitz.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    well see why can't we just call GBV/Pavement Pop rock or just plain rock? It is what they are, aside from a lo-fi recording quality
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Echoes wrote:
    well see why can't we just call GBV/Pavement Pop rock or just plain rock? It is what they are, aside from a lo-fi recording quality


    No what I heard wasn't pop. Pop is for populair and these bands would be hard to get into for most. And it isn't straight forward rock either.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • MilestoneMilestone Posts: 1,140
    Keller wrote:
    Can someone explain to me what exactly classifys a band as being an "indie" band. I hear the term alot and don't really understand. Also what are some of your favorite "indie bands/artist"?

    Thanks


    I used to work in a small independant record store here in Portland, Oregon 10 years ago when the term 'indie' started flying around. I don't care what 'indie' means now.....but I'm here to tell you that the term originated when describing bands on small independant labels. The term then morphed to describe the Elliot Smith type people that were into those bands.
    11-2-2000 Portland. 12-8-2002 Seattle. 4-18-2003 Nashville. 5-30-2003 Vancouver. 10-25-2003 Bridge School. 9-2-2005 Vancouver.
    7-6-2006 Las Vegas. 7-20-2006 Portland. 7-22-2006 Gorge. 9-21-2009 Seattle. 9-22-2009 Seattle. 9-26-2009 Ridgefield. 9-25-2011 Vancouver.
    11-29-2013 Portland. 10-16-2014 Detroit. 8-8-2018 Seattle. 8-10-2018 Seattle. 8-13-2018 Missoula.  5-10-2024 Portland.  5-30-2024 Seattle.
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    karma defect wrote:
    No what I heard wasn't pop. Pop is for populair and these bands would be hard to get into for most. And it isn't straight forward rock either.


    Pop is for popular yes, but generally anything light and melodic is considered pop, like Of Montreal, Olivia Tremor Control, Wolf Parade, etc. etc. It is hardly popular but it istill pop music
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • KellerKeller Posts: 177
    Would you throw an artist like Ryan Adams into the whole indie mix? He is probaly my favorite artist and i never could put a finger on exactly where he fit in but thats probaly why i think hes soo good.
    "Be what you want to be, see what you came to see"
  • MilestoneMilestone Posts: 1,140
    Keller wrote:
    Would you throw an artist like Ryan Adams into the whole indie mix? He is probaly my favorite artist and i never could put a finger on exactly where he fit in but thats probaly why i think hes soo good.


    I don't think Ryan Adams is indie...because his face is plastered all over Rolling Stone magazine every month. He's on Lost Highway label, which is pretty major.
    11-2-2000 Portland. 12-8-2002 Seattle. 4-18-2003 Nashville. 5-30-2003 Vancouver. 10-25-2003 Bridge School. 9-2-2005 Vancouver.
    7-6-2006 Las Vegas. 7-20-2006 Portland. 7-22-2006 Gorge. 9-21-2009 Seattle. 9-22-2009 Seattle. 9-26-2009 Ridgefield. 9-25-2011 Vancouver.
    11-29-2013 Portland. 10-16-2014 Detroit. 8-8-2018 Seattle. 8-10-2018 Seattle. 8-13-2018 Missoula.  5-10-2024 Portland.  5-30-2024 Seattle.
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Keller wrote:
    Would you throw an artist like Ryan Adams into the whole indie mix? He is probaly my favorite artist and i never could put a finger on exactly where he fit in but thats probaly why i think hes soo good.


    I don't have any album off his, but off what I come to understand of him I'd say singer/songwriter.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • KellerKeller Posts: 177
    karma defect wrote:
    I don't have any album off his, but off what I come to understand of him I'd say singer/songwriter.

    but isn't anyone who writes songs and sings them considered a singer/songwriter?

    granted he writes some of the best lyrics out there today but i don't see "singer/songwriter" as a type of music
    "Be what you want to be, see what you came to see"
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    I'd go with alt-country, since he's usually backed by a band
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Milestone wrote:
    I used to work in a small independant record store here in Portland, Oregon 10 years ago when the term 'indie' started flying around. I don't care what 'indie' means now.....but I'm here to tell you that the term originated when describing bands on small independant labels. The term then morphed to describe the Elliot Smith type people that were into those bands.

    exactly. you can not be signed to a major and be independent. bands started as independent cause the majors wouldn't release their work. they had to do it themselves. and independent inprints owned by majors does not qualify as being independent.
    radiohead are in no way independent.
    just cause you're not "mainstream" doesn't make you independent.
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  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Echoes wrote:
    Pop is for popular yes, but generally anything light and melodic is considered pop, like Of Montreal, Olivia Tremor Control, Wolf Parade, etc. etc. It is hardly popular but it istill pop music


    I don't know these bands, but I get your meaning. There is a Micheal Jackson album out that no one bought. I still consider it pop.
    I wouldn't call Pavement light as in easy listening. Sorry I don't even think they are poppy, but hey I only have Wowee zowee and a copy of an album of which I don't know the title.
    I would call it post-rockish, but much rather I'd just listen to it. The name doesn't really matter that much, I'm sure you would agree.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Keller wrote:
    but isn't anyone who writes songs and sings them considered a singer/songwriter?

    granted he writes some of the best lyrics out there today but i don't see "singer/songwriter" as a type of music


    Oh it is though, but I leave it up yo you, whatever you want.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    Echoes wrote:
    I'd go with alt-country, since he's usually backed by a band


    OK. I have a few that are using a backing band, I still regard them as singer/songwriter though. They aren't a real band they just back it up. I am very happy about that quit often because just acoustic guitar gets dull sometimes.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    catefrances wrote:
    exactly. you can not be signed to a major and be independent. bands started as independent cause the majors wouldn't release their work. they had to do it themselves. and independent inprints owned by majors does not qualify as being independent.
    radiohead are in no way independent.
    just cause you're not "mainstream" doesn't make you independent.


    If Radiohead isn't mainstream, then I think maybe we should open up a discussion on what mainstream is. I don't feel it is just Puff daddy, Rick Martin, Eminem type shit. For me Radiohead is as mainstream rock as you can get.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • Hitch-HikerHitch-Hiker Posts: 2,873
    Indie is definitely more of a genre now than anything to do with labels. And I can describe it in one boring, overrated word - Interpol.
    I'll Ride The Wave Where It Takes Me
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