The Indie Thread

[philN]

For the record: the new Stephen Malkmus record is really good. I think I like it as much as some of his Pavement material -- and that's saying something because I really like his Pavement material.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

My initial reaction was similar. I thought it basically sounded like Cathedral: Part II. But I'm starting to pick up on little things that do distinguish it from Cathedral.

If I'm not mistaken What Kind of Cure is actually a re-issue of Raymond Raposa's first album that was just distributed to friends via CDR. I could be wrong, but I thought I remembered reading that.

You're right.

 

[Blanched Almond]

oooo...several good "indie" bands would be "Early november", "Jupiter Sunrise" and "The Killers" and there's lots more......

 

[nadroj1985]

What Kind of Cure is the new one. I got it from philN offa Soulseek.

I've listened to it several times through now, and I can safely say it's practically the same as Cathedral. Not as dark, and a little longer though (not hard considering the other one was just 33min). I really liked how murky and claustrophobic Cathedral was, but this is just as enjoyable IMO.

Sounds great. 2005 needs some more good albums; it's been a rather slow year so far. It's been more of a year of discovering the great albums of 2004 for me, what with Joanna Newsom, Castanets, and the Go! Team.

Speaking of which: good lord the Go! Team is good. Have any of you heard "Thunder, Lightning, Strike"?

 

[philN]

Thunder, Lightning, Strike was one of my favorite albums of last year. I listened to it the weeks after I got it pretty much non-stop and then I put it away for a while; I recently pulled it out again and I still love it. I've found some of their other songs on Soulseek that weren't on the record and some of those are fantastic as well ("The Ice Storm" comes to mind).

 

[philN]

I think there have been some pretty decent records released this year:

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth
The Fiery Furnaces - EP
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Half-Handed Cloud - We Haven't Just Been Told We Have Been Loved
Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die
The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever
Castanets - What Kind of Cure
M.I.A. - Arular
The Hold Steady - Seperation Sunday
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness

and (my guilty pleasure of the year) Alkaline Trio - Crimson

and I'm sure there are others that I can't think of and/or that I haven't heard (I know the Andrew Bird record is supposed to be pretty great).

 

[nadroj1985]

The Decemberists - Picaresque
The Fiery Furnaces - EP
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die
The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Meh. None of these are really that great, IMO. Picaresque is not too bad, but still a disappointment compared with their earlier work.

Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth
Half-Handed Cloud - We Haven't Just Been Told We Have Been Loved
Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
Castanets - What Kind of Cure
M.I.A. - Arular
The Hold Steady - Seperation Sunday
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

I haven't heard any of these, though I've heard bits of Hold Steady and A&J's (neither of which I cared much for). I am quite looking forward to Castanets, though, and I've heard good things about HHC.

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness

These two are legitimately good records; I agree with you here I might also add Andrew Bird and Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Those four are far and away the best records of the year for me, although Magnolia Electric Co.'s "What Comes After the Blues" is growing on me.

 

[philN]

Half-Handed Cloud - We Haven't Just Been Told We Have Been Loved

Whoops. That's his old album. His new one is Thy Is A Word & Feet Need Lamps.


I forgot about Bonnie "Prince" Billy. I really like Superwolf. I haven't really been able to get into What Comes After the Blues. I feel like their best days are behind them, as I don't think they'll be able to top Didn't It Rain.

Do you like Pavement? If you like Stephen Malkmus' past stuff, you will probably like Face the Truth. It's different, but I think it is one of the best albums I have heard this year. And if you like dancey stuff, M.I.A. is worth checking out; if not the whole album at least the single, "Galang".

 

[rebel_conservative]

The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever

I've got a pretty good 7" by them, I'd never heard of them before, but I figured they were Moz fans it was good... I must dig that out...

 

[charmtrap]

I've got a pretty good 7" by them, I'd never heard of them before, but I figured they were Moz fans it was good... I must dig that out...

Their full-length is great fun. The 'Apple Cart' (I forget the full title) song is my favorite. Bouncy indiepop...and I love bouncy indiepop.

 

[philN]

Yeah, the Morrissey reference sort of made me wonder if they were going to be another Smiths-wannabe band, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think fun is the best way to describe the full-length. It is just fun to listen to.

I feel the same way about the new Architecture in Helsinki, though I think I like their last album more.

And I stand by my love for Picaresque.

*Queues up "Sixteen Military Wives" on iTunes*

 

[nadroj1985]

I haven't really been able to get into What Comes After the Blues. I feel like their best days are behind them, as I don't think they'll be able to top Didn't It Rain.

Well, this is coming from someone who just heard Didn't It Rain for the first time a few weeks ago, but I think I agree with you. DIR is a masterpiece that he probably won't match, but he's onto something different now. It's still interesting, as far as I'm concerned, and the songwriting is as solid as ever.

Do you like Pavement? If you like Stephen Malkmus' past stuff, you will probably like Face the Truth. It's different, but I think it is one of the best albums I have heard this year.

I might have to check that out; I haven't heard Malkmus' other solo stuff.

I still need to get Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy and Four Tet's Everything Ecstatic as well. I love OR's "For Real" and FT's "Smile Around the Face." 2005 still has some potential.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I didn't get into Arular at first, but one day I just found myself humming it (and whatever words I could make out). So I guess it's a pretty good record after all.

 

[philN]

Arular took some time to grow on me, but I like it. And there are a few songs that consistently get stuck in my head. It's a damn catchy album.

 

[blackwasp]

Does anyone listen to Anathollo?

 

[philN]

Anathallo is pretty good.

I've only heard a few of their songs and I saw them live at Cornerstone (I was pretty impressed), but I think they are good at what they do. I've been meaning to pick up some of thier stuff. I've heard Sparrows is a good place to start, but I don't know if that's true or not.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

yes. i listened to them today, actually! phil, sparrows would definitely be the best place to start. especially since their other full-length is out of print. anathallo is probably my favorite band to see live (if i had seen more bands live, that might change, but i'm not sure, 'cause anathallo is amazing live).

i'm really excited about the new album they're working on. last i've heard, it should be out sometime this winter. from what i recall, it's a concept album about the prodigal son. it should be coooool.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

i've been listening to the notwist's neon golden for the past couple days, and it's such a good album. any of you guys own shrink? i've been thinking of buying it sometime (it came before neon golden and has the same sort of sound from what i've heard, but i think it's a bit more intense).

 

[live4G0D]

indie is amazing. i must admit to being a complete indie child. some bands to check out (that i like at least) are bands like the arcade fire (though i know theyve been mentioned already) death from above 1979, six letter word, goodbyetomorrow, terminal, fourth score, transistor radio (actually a christian indie band) thursday, kids in the way, the bravery...
a lot of the bands i just listed are unsigned, but a great way to check them out is on purevolume.com

 

[philN]

Okay because I am lazy and poor and have soulseek, I now own Anathallo's Sparrows, Holiday At Sea EP, and about half (soon to be all of) Luminous... . I haven't listened to them yet, but I'm excited.

I don't think I've ever heard notwist. What kind of music are they?

A friend of mine lent me the new Comets On Fire and Califone albums -- another two albums to add to the list of great records from 2004. I also found my copies of Starflyer59's Old and the Promise Ring's Nothing Feels Good, which I am pretty excited about.