The Indie Thread

[blackwasp]

The music charts seem to be full of indie kids, but there is a lack of indie threads. This is a thread to discuss anything indie; post your favorite artists, albums, songs, reviews, tour information, latest news, or anything you care to discuss.

 

[ladylike]

Ok, name some bands because I like some Australian indie/alternative bands and I am not sure if my version of indie would be the same as yours? They may have a little rock, electronica and experimental in there too...

The Arcade Fire
The Bank Holidays (Australian)
The Bees
The Coral (UK)
The Boat People (I think Australian)
The Charlatans (Australian)
Gelbison (Australian)
The Sleepy Jackson (Australian)
The Fiery Furnaces (American)
The Killers
The Music (UK)
The Shins (Australian?)
The Thrills (Ireland)
End Of Fashion (Australian)
Simian (UK)
Spoon (UK?)

 

[antiarte]

Wow. A lot of 'the's there.

And The Shins are great. I'm still pretty much into "Oh, Inverted World".

Anyone heard of Joan of Arc. Or The Microphones. Some people told me they were really good, but I haven't checked them out yet. Been too lazy lately.

 

[blackwasp]

I am not sure if my version of indie would be the same as yours?

No troubles. I was thinking about that earlier, and how I'd classify certain bands as indie because they are progressive, so I use the term loosely.

The Arcade Fire
The Fiery Furnaces (American)
The Killers
The Shins (Australian?)

I'm planning on looking into the Arcade Fire sometime soon, but I really really dig the Fiery Furnaces. "Blueberry Boat" is a great cd. I have a burnt copy of the Killers cd, but I haven't been able to get into it, although "Somebody Told Me" is a pretty catchy song. I just bought "Chutes Too Narrow" by the Shins a couple days ago, and I like what I hear.

 

[nadroj1985]

I'm listening to Neutral Milk Hotel right now; I still see them as the fathers of indie, or at least the quintessential indie band.

 

[hls]

I just went and saw Iron and Wine last week and it was a great show. I really like them. I like the shins as well.

 

[theFijian]

The Charlatans (Australian)

Is that the Charlatans with the singer Tim Burgess ? Cos they're english, not australian.

And just what is Indie anyway?

 

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

My fave indie groups:

Copeland
Lovedrug
Iron and Wine
The Shins
The Killers
Anberlin
Armor For Sleep

I'm not sure if Further Seems Forever and The Get-Up Kids would count at all...they're kinda borderline...but anyway, those are my fave artists.

My current fave album is Copeland's new release, "In Motion". My overall fave is...also Copeland, lol - their first full album, called "Beneath The Medicine Tree".

 

[philN]

Anyone heard of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc is really good, if you can get into them. It took me a little while and lots of listens through So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness to see the genius of Tim Kinsella. The lyrics are really inspired by alot of e.e. cummings and T.S. Eliot, so some of the imagery is a little cryptic, some of it a little explicit. If that isn't detrimental to you and you appreciate music that sounds somewhat simplistic, but has alot going on (I believe the Gap had over 100 layers going at once at some points), then they are really good. I think So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness is the best place to start as it is one of their most accessible albums.

 

[philN]

I like all kinds of indie stuff. I listen to most of what Pitchfork tells me I should like, and probably about 90% of the time I am pretty happy with it.

I guess some of my current favorites (I'm including indie pop and rock and other stuff too) are:

Animal Collective
The Fiery Furnaces
Sufjan Stevens
Half-Handed Cloud
(Brother) Danielson
The Decemberists
Broken Social Scene
Devendra Banhart
Joanna Newsom
Ted Leo
The Unicorns
The Shins
Pedro The Lion
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Godspeed You! Black Emporer
Pavement
Dizzee Rascal
The Streets
DJ Dangermouse

I'm not really sure if some of those count. The line between indie and mainstream is getting pretty thin as there have been some crossover bands and albums lately. There are probably alot that I'm forgetting, since I'm doing this off the top of my head.

 

[Ceccia]

Decemberists!

I also enjoy Belle and Sebastian, Death cab for cutie, Neutral milk hotel and Bright Eyes...

...as the poster above stated, I think that what's classified as "indie" varies a bit from person to person, though.

 

[Z500]

if i see another "The" i will shoot myself

 

[antiarte]

Sufjan Stevens
Half-Handed Cloud
Joanna Newsom
The Shins
Dizzee Rascal
The Streets
DJ Dangermouse

DJ Dangermouse's "The Grey Album" is great.

(Brother) Danielson

I couldn't get into it. The guy's voice is a bit hard to get used to. I found it annoying. And this is coming from someone who thinks Nico's and The Slits' lead singer's voice are beautiful.

 

[blackwasp]

I'm listening to Neutral Milk Hotel right now; I still see them as the fathers of indie, or at least the quintessential indie band.

Is "On Avery Island" worth getting?

I just went and saw Iron and Wine last week and it was a great show. I really like them.

I wanted to see them last month, but it was a 21+ show. Hopefully I'll get the chance to see them at the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee this summer.

And just what is Indie anyway?

Hell if I know...I abuse genres.

There are probably alot that I'm forgetting, since I'm doing this off the top of my head.

Ahem...Modest Mouse? Good list though.

DJ Dangermouse's "The Grey Album" is great.

Can you buy that anywhere, or is it just all over the web?

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

if i see another "The" i will shoot myself

not worth it. there have been "the" bands for a long time. it's not like it's a current trend, or anything.

any of you guys have audioscrobbler pages? it's kind of a neat website. you can download a plugin for whatever music player you use on your computer, and it will gather statistics about what bands and songs you listen to, so then your page can tell you your top bands and songs of the week as well as the ones you listen to the most in general.

 

[philN]

I couldn't get into it. The guy's voice is a bit hard to get used to. I found it annoying. And this is coming from someone who thinks Nico's and The Slits' lead singer's voice are beautiful.

That's the most common complaint I hear about Dan Smith. To each his own I guess, I think his voice matches the music pretty well. I don't really think the vocals are what make Danielson though. Especially with "Brother:Son", his last album, I think that was one of the few cds I've bought recently that challenged me or made me think spiritually. With all the shallow lyrics and songs out there being made by Christians, it is somewhat refreshing to hear something that is good art and good theology.

 

[philN]

Ahem...Modest Mouse?

Ugh...I knew I was going to forget some bands that I like. I was just listening to "Good News..." earlier today too.

Can you buy that anywhere, or is it just all over the web?

I got it online. I thought I heard talk about it being released with artwork, but I don't know if that was just a rumor. I think in order to release it he would probably have to have permission from Jay-Z and Apple Records, or maybe there's some way around that.

Either way, I recommend getting it. It's a great album.

 

[philN]

Oh, and I have an audioscrobbler page, but I rarely listen to music on my computer and was too confused by the ipod plug-in for windows, so it isn't really all that current or anything.

 

[blackwasp]

not worth it. there have been "the" bands for a long time. it's not like it's a current trend, or anything.

any of you guys have audioscrobbler pages? it's kind of a neat website. you can download a plugin for whatever music player you use on your computer, and it will gather statistics about what bands and songs you listen to, so then your page can tell you your top bands and songs of the week as well as the ones you listen to the most in general.

Sounds interesting.

Ugh...I knew I was going to forget some bands that I like. I was just listening to "Good News..." earlier today too.

What do you think of that album? What's your favorite Mouse album?

I got it online. I thought I heard talk about it being released with artwork, but I don't know if that was just a rumor. I think in order to release it he would probably have to have permission from Jay-Z and Apple Records, or maybe there's some way around that.

Either way, I recommend getting it. It's a great album.

I'll probably have a friend get it for me.

 

[philN]

What do you think of that album? What's your favorite Mouse album?

It was one of my favorite albums of last year. I think most of the songs are good in and of themselves and they are even better in the context of the album as a whole. That said, it's not my favorite Modest Mouse album. I'm not really sure what my favorite album is, as I haven't heard all of their early stuff. But I guess if I had to choose, I'd say Moon & Antartica.