Indie Rock from 2000 - present

[DandyFop]

So, hypothetically, let's say there's this chick that has to write a paper on this subject in order to pass a class to let her graduate.

The problem is, she doesn't listen to this kind of music generally. Sure, she's got some Pavement or other some such indie bands on her itunes, but overall she's pretty lost when it comes to this subject.

Want to help a girl out?

I really have no idea where to go with this paper. What's changed in indie rock over the past 6 years? Have any bands been particularly revolutionary? Do you have an idea of the future of this "genre"? Is the term "indie rock" kind of bullshit now anyway since many bands are signed to labels that are under the big labels anyway? Etc. etc.

Also I'm wondering what to look for as far as similiarities in sound. What bands/songs/albums should I listen to, why? Is there something distinctive that ties them together?

Any help would be SO appreciated, dahlings. Thanks.

[ToucanSpam]

I'll give you a hand, I got nothing better to do.

[DandyFop]

Alright...well....do you know any answers to any of those questions? You can't begin to believe how lost I am with this subject

[cosmo105]

um, i guess you could say it's gone more toward art bands like les savy fav and shit and the quiet stuff or even powerpop, moving away from grunge (obviously) and harder rock...i guess...fuck, choose a wider subject why don't you barb!

[DandyFop]

I didn't choose it!

[cosmo105]

wiki that shit!

if you go to independent music stores (virgin probably has 'em too) you'll find some great books on the subject, i'd be willing to bet.

[DandyFop]

I wiki'd it, I've got three books that sorta help from the library, but I'm still feckin lost. It would really help if I listened to this stuff at all!!!

But Sleater-Kinney will probably take at least a page in my paper since I got some "Girl indie rockers!" book.

There's a fantastic indie rock book but it only goes till fuckin 1990. Blargh!

[cosmo105]

i've heard of that book! bitchin'.

also have a section about the concept of "selling out" and shit and how commercialism has become accepted and seen as a sign of a worthy artist these days. if you hear someone's song in a commercial, then it's like, oooh, maybe i should check them out. not "fucker sold out to the man" like way back when.

how long does it have to be?

[DandyFop]

5 - 7 pages.

Now of course I'm seeing all these great books on amazon, but I don't have time to get any of them.

[cosmo105]

oh you can totally bs your way to 5-7 pages with that material. i think an indie record store would be your best resource - maybe find a local one with some people that have been working there a long time and interview them? ye old primary sources are the most fun.

[ToucanSpam]

Wow, this question(s) is much more difficult to answer with Canadian content at least...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_%28music%29 is all I can think of right now. I find that defining the subject of your paper first then analyzing it is a good approach. Defining Indie Rock should get you past at least page one...hopefully.

[Drederick Tatum]

ignore bands, concentrate on identifying trends and patterns. mention bands only as examples of one of your points.

[DandyFop]

Yes, but I don't even know any bands/trends/patterns to start with ! ARGH. I hate this paper.

[Drederick Tatum]

well, like cosmo said commercialisation one of the main ones and gets to the heart of what indie rock is. what actually makes a band indie these days? are they actually on an independent label? or is it rather a genre that relates merely to their sound? again, like cosmo said, the concept of 'selling out' is an important process.

you could look at the relationship between smaller 'indie' labels and the majors, eg. distribution agreements, etc. also mention a couple of times that the Rolling Stones rule.

ok thats enough. now you tell me everything you know about the role of conscience in the German resistance to the Third Reich.

[DandyFop]

I am focusing on all that, but can you give me an example of a band that has an "indie" sound that has perhaps "sold out" or that jazz?

Give me an analytical film essay any day over this stuff :/

[Drederick Tatum]

well it depends what you mean by 'sold out'. one person's definition is different than another's. I personally think that selling out is when a band notcieably changes its sound or even their image in order to become popular. getting popular alone is not enough to be classed a 'sell out'. AFI have changed alot. they used to be little poser skaters, now they're poser goths or gothhardcore or just plain suck.

you'll probably have to find some literature on that concept.

[ToucanSpam]

GOB is an example of a Canadian indie band that has had incredible sucess in Canada. Some would say they 'sold out', for whatever reason.

[DandyFop]

Yeah but AFI wasn't really "indie rock" ever, right?

Bah. Thanks for your help. I'll figger it out.

[Drederick Tatum]

mention Fugazi. eg, "Fugazi rule!"

[Los Para Noias]

look up bands like broken social scene, fiery furnaces, m83, go! team, architecture in helsinki, the arcade fire and sigur ros on www.allmusic.com.

[Drederick Tatum]

mention the indie/commercial 'binary' and how recent trends have blurred the lines between the two components. academics love the binaries.

[DandyFop]

What? I don't know what the fuck you're talking about! AH!

[franscar]

Originally Posted by DandyFop

I am focusing on all that, but can you give me an example of a band that has an "indie" sound that has perhaps "sold out" or that jazz?

You should start from Sigur Rós. Incredibly creative band that released several albums on small, independent labels, but have recently signed to EMI and released their most commercially successful album, and in the UK have had their music playing under narratives on TV Shows and even used in adverts for forthcoming programmes.

There was a small section of the "holier than thou" indie community that accused them of selling out, even though the actual sound of the new album was no different, other than a little more polish, to their previous efforts.

You can also take a look at Fugazi who have released every record they've ever made on their own label, along with documenting the changing sounds of the Washington DC scene throughout the last twenty five or so years.

Also it might be worth mentioning labels like Sub Pop, who first came to prominence when the Seattle scene of the late 80's-early 90's was blossoming (Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees) who have in the past few years, after many of their acts became more successful and moved onto major labels, discovered new bands with new sounds and have given them another slice of success (Shins, Rogue Wave, Iron & Wine, Album Leaf)

Also, labels like Arts & Crafts in Canada and Saddle Creek are springing up everywhere these days, where small groups of musicians in a local community are all getting together in order to create their own labels and very often appearing as guest slots on each others albums.

[Norcen]

Just go on about how the idea of "indie rock" is stupid and that Throbbing Gristle should be on constant rotation and played on intercoms in every town.

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by DandyFop

What? I don't know what the fuck you're talking about! AH!

i think every arts student in nz has been taught about binary oppositions.
but i don't get why you've been made to write an essay on a subject that you don't seem to have studied in class.

[cosmo105]

Originally Posted by Drederick Tatum

well, like cosmo said commercialisation one of the main ones and gets to the heart of what indie rock is. what actually makes a band indie these days? are they actually on an independent label? or is it rather a genre that relates merely to their sound? again, like cosmo said, the concept of 'selling out' is an important process.

see guys? he likes me best.

[DroppinScience]

I think it's worth mentioning The OC's impact on "indie rock" as they've played a big role in making small indie bands become hugely popular in recent years (Exhibit A... Death Cab For Cutie).

When it comes to indie in the '00s, it's kind of being used as a catch-all/buzz term by the media much in the same way that "alternative" was being thrown around for all the grunge, etc. bands in the '90s.

To me, "indie" was used to describe and differentiate the underground bands that were inaccessible to the mainstream, unlike their "alternative" counterparts.

But now what we're seeing in this decade is that these indie bands have now become a part of the mainstream.

I have no clue if this helps, but just thought I'd give a stab at it.

[thegoodmrbrodie!]

um. INTERNET!

[DandyFop]

Originally Posted by thegoodmrbrodie!

um. INTERNET!

Hey, thanks! I totally didn't even think about that. It's not like I tried to search for ANYTHING before coming here! God, what an idiot!

[Drederick Tatum]

what about the internet's effect on independent music? opening up new ways to get music out 'there', etc.