does anyone else not get indie music?

soulsinging · February 2007

yield2me wrote:

*bah! All those bands are sooooo slow and whiny! I don't understand why people are so crazy about bands like the Decemberists??? I'd rather watch grass grow than listen to that boring shit.

iron and wine is boring, and neutral milk hotel is ok but nothing special. i do like the decemberists, however, becos they make me feel like im sitting in an irish pub on the coast listening to somebody sing songs about being lost at sea. it's fun.

pjfan020 · February 2007

one of my biggest problems is the vocal approach that a lot of these acts have. I understand that their lyrics are very emotional and from the heart, but it seems like they just through their words out there and don't even try to put together some sort of vocal pattern. It just irks me that a lot of these acts are hailed as being some of the greatest bands around right now and aside from their lyrical content i don't see much in them....and i'm not trying to rip on bands or anything i'm just speaking my view. I could've titled the thread indie music sucks!!! but i'm just trying to see how the other side thinks.

AmentsChick · February 2007

I think "indie" has become "trendy".

soclose · February 2007

pjfan020 wrote:

one of my biggest problems is the vocal approach that a lot of these acts have. I understand that their lyrics are very emotional and from the heart, but it seems like they just through their words out there and don't even try to put together some sort of vocal pattern. It just irks me that a lot of these acts are hailed as being some of the greatest bands around right now and aside from their lyrical content i don't see much in them....and i'm not trying to rip on bands or anything i'm just speaking my view. I could've titled the thread indie music sucks!!! but i'm just trying to see how the other side thinks.

I respect what you're saying here, but isn't musical taste just that -- taste? I don't think anyone can talk you into enjoying Conor Oberst's vocals anymore than someone can convince me that Thom Yorke is a great singer, and I'm sure neither of us want anyone preaching about why we're wrong in our opinions.

If you want to know why I like the Shins I'll tell you; They make interesting, catchy, quirky pop music (and I happen to think the vocals are often quite beautiful). It's just that simple. Really.

Maybe you're looking for something that isn't there? I don't think it's that you can't "get" indie music. It sounds like the bands you've mentioned simply do not appeal to you. There's nothing wrong with that.:)

thelowlightargentina · February 2007

pearljam_addiction wrote:

hope this helps in understanding

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_(music)

thanks for the link. Now I´m understanding what this is all about

see you

supernova9 · April 2007

Who really throws on a Modest Mouse album to chill out to? I don't know anyone, and I've worked in 5 record stores over the past 9 years. Great lyrics, sure, but that band is not easy to love. I'd be interested to know how many people who own Modest Mouse albums listen to them, or how many use them as decoration in their CD collection.

"Indie" music can be awesome, and lord knows my music collection reflects a support for bands who have not been in the limelight. However, I wonder where the songs have gone these days. I mean, if a band like Nickelback can get album after derivatively bad album in the top 10, why can't someone come and steal their crown with ease? How about a few well-crafted songs that reach out to everyone? It seems like the bands who've held the torch for a while are having no trouble holding onto it simply because there are so few new bands that are relevant to a wider audience. For example, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2 are still as relevant and successful today as they were nearly 20 years ago. What gives? Pearl Jam is the last "grunge era" band standing, for example.

It seems that the move away from terrestrial radio and to the personalized world of the iPod has made "eras" nearly obsolete in the traditional sense. It's definitely odd being in-between the Gen X and Gen Y sensibilities. I'm pulled to the both the beauty of vinyl and the portability of mp3's. The grand statements of bands like Pearl Jam and the subtle message of bands like The Beauty Shop or Headlights. Hearing a mindblowing song on the radio or having a friend of mine email me an mp3. The times have been and will continue to be a changin'. I'm curious to know what's next.

boroff89 · April 2007

supernova9 wrote:

Who really throws on a Modest Mouse album to chill out to? I don't know anyone, and I've worked in 5 record stores over the past 9 years. Great lyrics, sure, but that band is not easy to love. I'd be interested to know how many people who own Modest Mouse albums listen to them, or how many use them as decoration in their CD collection.

I listen to my Modest Mouse albums about as much as anything else I own. They are one of my top 10 most listened to bands, anyway. Especially The Moon and Antarctica.

Alex_Coe · April 2007

BetterManningNYG wrote:

also, i just decided that "mark lanegan" is a genre of music. i'm not sure what this has to do with anything but i'm kinda wasted so there you go...

Industrial soul blues, maybe?

Alex_Coe · April 2007

Nobody else here likes the white stripes, blech.

*cries*

See ya bitches, I'm off to listen to De Stijl in its entirety 20 times in a row.

supernova9 · April 2007

boroff89 wrote:

I listen to my Modest Mouse albums about as much as anything else I own. They are one of my top 10 most listened to bands, anyway. Especially The Moon and Antarctica.

Which is funny, because I picked that album up eons ago and just cannot get into it. I even gave their last album a shot, and "Ocean Breathes Salty" or whatever it is was the only track that really did much for me besides "Float On," and even that track doesn't have much of a shelf life to me. Whatevs.

As my dad says, "To each their own." :-)

supernova9 · April 2007

Alex_Coe wrote:

Nobody else here likes the white stripes, blech.

*cries*

See ya bitches, I'm off to listen to De Stijl in its entirety 20 times in a row.

If you've not listened to the Black Keys "Thickfreakness," I highly recommend it.

Dirty Lost Dog · April 2007

i listen to a lot of indie bands... but i'm not one of those people who go around trying to be "indie"... i cant stand those people

Dirty Lost Dog · April 2007

supernova9 wrote:

If you've not listened to the Black Keys "Thickfreakness," I highly recommend it.

YESSS!!!

I am in love with the black keys... have been telling people about them for a few years now, it's pretty cool that theyre gaining some recognition now.

Tonight I heard 10 am automatic on a commercial with snowboarder shawn white and Ive also heard girl is on my mind on a victoria secret commercial...so thats strange

LikeAnOcean · April 2007

pjfan020 wrote:

Bands like the shins, modest mouse, bright eyes etc.. are vastly overrated to me. I was just curious as to what the big deal is with a lot of these artists. A lot of them have the same whiney out of key vocal approach that irritates the hell out of me. I mean i'm a huge dylan and neil young fan but some of these guys can't sing at all. Musically speaking a lot of them don't seem to have much talent either and it seems odd that some of these bands are so popular but aren't really that great at the instruments they play. My gf listens to a lot of the stuff so i hear it all the time and to be quite honest a lot of it sounds the same to me. If you listen to the stuff I'm not bashing you or anything, i'm just curious.

How are those bands Indie if they are signed to record labels?

Azwethinkweiz · April 2007

Love it.

The Shins
Modest Mouse
Death Cab for Cutie
Nada Surf
Arcade Fire
The Decemberists
Cursive
Sufjan Stevens
Band of Horses

Etc.

evenflow82 · April 2007

yield2me wrote:

*bah! All those bands are sooooo slow and whiny! I don't understand why people are so crazy about bands like the Decemberists??? I'd rather watch grass grow than listen to that boring shit.

I agree with you 100%, my friend.

The Pen Is Mightier · April 2007

I do. I listen to Modest Mouse to chill out. It is good music. Listen to the Lonesome Crowded West, I love it, and still play it very regularly. (It has never been removed from my cars 6 CD changer, while all other albums will be rotated)

I particularly love listening to it in the morning, after a night of heavy drinking and debauchery.

supernova9 wrote:

Who really throws on a Modest Mouse album to chill out to? I don't know anyone, and I've worked in 5 record stores over the past 9 years. Great lyrics, sure, but that band is not easy to love. I'd be interested to know how many people who own Modest Mouse albums listen to them, or how many use them as decoration in their CD collection.

"Indie" music can be awesome, and lord knows my music collection reflects a support for bands who have not been in the limelight. However, I wonder where the songs have gone these days. I mean, if a band like Nickelback can get album after derivatively bad album in the top 10, why can't someone come and steal their crown with ease? How about a few well-crafted songs that reach out to everyone? It seems like the bands who've held the torch for a while are having no trouble holding onto it simply because there are so few new bands that are relevant to a wider audience. For example, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2 are still as relevant and successful today as they were nearly 20 years ago. What gives? Pearl Jam is the last "grunge era" band standing, for example.

It seems that the move away from terrestrial radio and to the personalized world of the iPod has made "eras" nearly obsolete in the traditional sense. It's definitely odd being in-between the Gen X and Gen Y sensibilities. I'm pulled to the both the beauty of vinyl and the portability of mp3's. The grand statements of bands like Pearl Jam and the subtle message of bands like The Beauty Shop or Headlights. Hearing a mindblowing song on the radio or having a friend of mine email me an mp3. The times have been and will continue to be a changin'. I'm curious to know what's next.

augustwest · April 2007

pjfan020 wrote:

Bands like the shins, modest mouse, bright eyes etc.. are vastly overrated to me. I was just curious as to what the big deal is with a lot of these artists. A lot of them have the same whiney out of key vocal approach that irritates the hell out of me. I mean i'm a huge dylan and neil young fan but some of these guys can't sing at all. Musically speaking a lot of them don't seem to have much talent either and it seems odd that some of these bands are so popular but aren't really that great at the instruments they play. My gf listens to a lot of the stuff so i hear it all the time and to be quite honest a lot of it sounds the same to me. If you listen to the stuff I'm not bashing you or anything, i'm just curious.

It's really hard for me to form a completely validated opinion of a band's music without having seen them live. It's not like I need to see every band live to know whether they are good or not...it basically comes down to some bands don't sound that awesome on cd but when you see them live it can change your opinion vastly.

I've been blown away by some live shows, and then, dug backwards into the vault of recorded music only to try to understand how their studio music relates to the overall vibe...it's kinda backwards but it does prove to me that don't count any band out until you've seen them play.

Live music is better

boroff89 · April 2007

LikeAnOcean wrote:

How are those bands Indie if they are signed to record labels?

Many of them are signed to "independent" record labels. They aren't part of the major group of labels (EMI, Sony, Universal, Warner) and have less resources, and typically, they exert less control over what their artists do. These labels include Subpop, Barsuk, Epitaph, Artemis, Vagrant, Saddle Creek, Side One Dummy, Merge. . .

Modest Mouse, The Decemberists, and Death Cab for Cutie have signed major label records deals. Bright Eyes, The Shins, Arcade Fire, and Dashboard Confessional remain on indie labels.

FinsburyParkCarrots · April 2007

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ox61mppd9f1o

does anyone else not get indie music?

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