Indie! Yay!

[Storm]

Indie. A genre with many different bands who do their own differnt thing. Each have a different approach to music, songwriting, instruments... everything. There is such a huge variety of bands and music styles within what is categorised as "indie", which is why I love it so much.

Some bands, such as The Fratellis, Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park and Kaiser Chiefs, take the fun approach, making music that you can dance to, and get their messages across through fun. Maximo Park in particular, have really deeply lyriced songs.

Some bands, such as The Arctic Monkeys and The Futureheads, take things from experiences and day-to-day life, and people they know, to produce music to relate to. Franz Ferdinand to this to some extent too.

Some bands, such as The Arcade Fire, take a more serious approach, with songs mainly about death, but keep them from being miserable.

Theres much more, but I don't want to bore anyone!


So, whats your perspective on Indie music, and also Alternative Rock, which is often linked in. What bands do you like? Why?

[Sir Kenneth]

Indie is not a genre, it just means that you are signed to an independent label. Thus making Franz Ferdinand for instance about as indie as Britney Spears.

[Asheis]

Originally Posted by Sir Kenneth

Indie is not a genre, it just means that you are signed to an independent label. Thus making Franz Ferdinand for instance about as indie as Britney Spears.

This is true...

there's metal indie, reggae indie, rock indie, folk indie.. and well.. you get the picture..

but! in each of their respective genres, it's easy to tell the indie group, from the major label group. Indie bands can experiment in their genre, and have a looser chain than those that are signed to the major labels.

In that respect, I generally like indie bands/groups better than major label groups, but they can both be good.

Although, anymore, indie has ceased being multi-genre, and has become more of a codeword for "indie-rock/alt/folk". At least in my experience.

One of my favorite indie bands (well.. they were indie) are a bit more popular.. The decemberists. I like them because they've got something I haven't heard before, and I really like their folksy sound. Though with their album coming out october 3rd of this year, they'll not be on an indie label anymore.

Another of the bands I like.. Built to spill.. yes, I know are both more "pop" indie bands.. but I enjoy both.. !

[Angantyr]

Does it have a specific sound or is it just random alt rock?

Anyway it seems to be a big thing these days, one of those things that kind of came out of nowhere like the Emo trend. But from what I know about it, they are better than all the techno rap kiddies, there is no conformist values or anything is there? If not, then even though I am not into it I respect it.

[Georg Prime]

Yea the word "indie" has definitely took on a new meaning lately. In the past indie simply refferred to bands that were signed on independent labels, now that indy is the new thing though, people are using it to describe the type of music.

I myself am a musician and thus heavily into music (ALMOST more so than gaming, its a really close tie) I enjoy indie rock a lot more than most of the mainstream artists on major labels. There are a lot of band indie as well though, just as their are a lot of good major label bands. Just depends on your preference i guess.

I too am a Decemberists fan and I'm going to see them in concert soon. I own all three of their studio releases I can't wait for their new album, Crane Wife to be released and also a fan of Built To Spill, I can't get enough of Doug Martsch's epic guitar riffs. He is truely an amazing muscician.

[Zedian]

Yeah indie is more of a stand on indepedent record labels...you can have indepedent hip hop for instance like MF Doom and Madvillain or metal that is not on a major label.

Hell all those bands who endlessly promote on Myspace are on indepedently-owned labels.

You can have bands that people perceive to be 'indie' like Death Cab, Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads and Kasabian who are all on major labels.

What you are referring to is alternative rock.

As for the Decemberist, that new album "The Crane's Wife" is beautiful and I can easily see that being one of my top ten faves of the year.

[Storm]

Ok... I may have to flush my head down the toilet the next time somebody says "indie isnt a genre, it means "independant labels" etc. It's where the name came from, however as time changes, so does the meanings of stuff. A lot of music media call the portrayed bands/styles "indie". This includes TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, internet and chordbooks. It is not me simply being a music n00b.

Also, in reply to Wintermetal, it is not a random scene like EMO. There are many bands considered to be "indie" or in a similer "alternative rock" category to today's bands. Stuff like The Cure, The Smiths, and 90s Britpop bands like Blur and Oasis.

Ok, back on topic, I don't think I have heard The Decemberists, so I shall probably give them a listen later.

[Sir Kenneth]

Originally Posted by valentine89

Ok... I may have to flush my head down the toilet the next time somebody says "indie isnt a genre, it means "independant labels" etc. It's where the name came from, however as time changes, so does the meanings of stuff. A lot of music media call the portrayed bands/styles "indie". This includes TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, internet and chordbooks. It is not me simply being a music n00b.

Also, in reply to Wintermetal, it is not a random scene like EMO. There are many bands considered to be "indie" or in a similer "alternative rock" category to today's bands. Stuff like The Cure, The Smiths, and 90s Britpop bands like Blur and Oasis.

Ok, back on topic, I don't think I have heard The Decemberists, so I shall probably give them a listen later.

People also say that Holland is a country, but that doesn't make it true. The thing is that in major media outlets independent music has most often been used in connection with alternative rock bands, creating some confusion and misuse of the term "indie".

If you pick up a magazine such as NME who has a big focus on independent alternative rock, and which is most definitely a major music media, one could easily be lead to believe that "indie" is a genre, but it still isn't.

Just like Holland isn't a country

[Georg Prime]

Yup, i've listened to the album now, i like it a lot

And yes..indie ISN"T a genre despite that magazines, etc use it as one. I wasn't calling/thinking you were a Noob..i know that everyone uses the word indie this way. I just think that "indie" has become the new it music and people like to throw around the word.

I'm a big fan of a lot of the music people consider "indie." I'm always trying to find and listen to new bands..i'm not just stuck on that kind of music though. I listen to a lot of classic rock, reggae, instrumental, blues, folk, classical, some hip hop and funk too.

Seems like a fad more than anything..maybe a good one at that though? I wouldn't compare it to Emo though..i hate emo

[Novacrash]

They have a new "Uber Indie" Station on launchcast and that's what I listen too now.
It pretty much makes Mystation look horrible.
I hardly EVER have to skip songs.
Music in that genre is pretty good to me.
I don't really have a specific favorite band in it or anything, but I still love it.

[midgarmako]

I'm not a huge fan of Indie but I do actually enjoy some of the bands out there such as Razorlight, Snow Patrol(they are Indie right?), The Subways and The Kooks, but in general Indie isnt "my" kind of music. The Subways are an incredible band with great songs that are a mix between indie/garage rock and punk in my opinion.

[Beast]

i listen to death metal.
job for a cowboy.
elysia.
waking the cadaver.
good stuff.
but when it comes to indie.
i choose circa survive.