Swish
10-02-2005, 06:02 AM
I was checking out the local rag's "entertainment" section and read a nice AP article titled "Indie bands' songs hit mainstream". I was trying to find a link to share with you, but could only find the attachment that I'll paste to the end (Watch out for these bands).
While it's no surprise to many of us on Rave Recs, it was good to see many of our favorites getting attention. Featured at the top of the page is a picture of the four members of Death Cab for Cutie, and Jake Coyle, the AP writer of the article, goes on to say "With the success of Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes, indie rock is seeping into the maintstream - a mixed blessing for a genre that prides itself on being underground". I couldn't have said it better myself. I find it gratifying when people ask me "who is that you're playing" and, when I tell them the name, they shrug their shoulders or shoot me a goofy expression to let me know they don't have a clue who I'm talking about. It's a lot of fun, and I'd hate to see it end, if you know what I mean.
"There's been a real zeitgeist in the last couple of years with kids and shy, quiet indie rock bands who are connecting with people en masse," says Deat Cab guitaris Chris Walla. "The entire independent scene has come the the fore", said Bobby Haber, found and CEO of CMH, or College Media Journal. "I think it's a watershed moment".
You could just see this coming with shows like Six Feet Under, Rescue, and even the Sopranos using indie rock for their shows. Then there are movies liek "Garden State", in which Natalie Portman says of the Shins, "They'll change your life".
My favorite line in the article: "It's not that [indie rock] is strange, it's not that bizarre - it's simply a little ahead of its time", Haber said. "In late 1978, the Police sounded pretty strange ... but six months later, it was on Top 40 radio with 'Roxanne'".
Anyway, it was a very nice article that went on to quote Stephen Malkmus, Carl Newman of the New Pornographers, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, My Morning Jacket, Aqueduct, and Arcade Fire, among others.
Swish Dadd
Indie bands to watch …
The Arcade Fire: Husband-and-wife team Win Butler and Regine Chassagne lead a troupe of exuberant, talented musicians. Wearing suits the way Wes Anderson might, they sing about adolescent memories with sweeping oooh's and ahhh's. The search continues for someone who doesn't like Arcade Fire.
The Flaming Lips: They've been around more than a decade, and their appearance on ''90210'' helped give Death Cab for Cutie the rationale for doing ''The O.C.'' But since their experimental ''Zaireeka'' (which is four separate discs meant to be played at once), the Lips have made two classic concept albums: ''The Soft Bulletin'' and ''Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.'' Their next album, expected early next year, will test how big a band that sings ''Happy Birthday'' at concerts can get.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: They already had an MTV hit with ''Maps,'' which may have laid the groundwork for still greater success. Karen O is also one of the only truly captivating singers today.
Antony and the Johnsons: Antony, who recently won Britain's Mercury Prize, is an androgynous cabaret singer whose siren voice has drawn the attention of collaborators like Lou Reed and Boy George.
Spoon: After trying out a major label with ''Girls Can Tell,'' the Austin, Texas, band decided their home was in indieland. But frontman Britt Daniel still sees no reason his groove-based piano and guitar band can't be as big as the Kinks.
Sufjan Stevens: Press has been building for this banjo-playing bandleader. After an album devoted to Michigan, he continued his ambitious and ridiculous tour of the 50 states with ''Illinois.'' His band fills the stage with horns, strings and backup singers. Everyone, needless to say, is in costume.
John Vanderslice: A singer-songwriter not unlike Connor Oberst of Bright Eyes, but without the bangs or pushy, exaggerated pronunciation. His current disc, ''Pixel Revolt,'' is proving that there's life after Death Cab for indie label Barsuk. (Ditto for labelmates Viva Voce! and Aqueduct.)
Jake Coyle
While it's no surprise to many of us on Rave Recs, it was good to see many of our favorites getting attention. Featured at the top of the page is a picture of the four members of Death Cab for Cutie, and Jake Coyle, the AP writer of the article, goes on to say "With the success of Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes, indie rock is seeping into the maintstream - a mixed blessing for a genre that prides itself on being underground". I couldn't have said it better myself. I find it gratifying when people ask me "who is that you're playing" and, when I tell them the name, they shrug their shoulders or shoot me a goofy expression to let me know they don't have a clue who I'm talking about. It's a lot of fun, and I'd hate to see it end, if you know what I mean.
"There's been a real zeitgeist in the last couple of years with kids and shy, quiet indie rock bands who are connecting with people en masse," says Deat Cab guitaris Chris Walla. "The entire independent scene has come the the fore", said Bobby Haber, found and CEO of CMH, or College Media Journal. "I think it's a watershed moment".
You could just see this coming with shows like Six Feet Under, Rescue, and even the Sopranos using indie rock for their shows. Then there are movies liek "Garden State", in which Natalie Portman says of the Shins, "They'll change your life".
My favorite line in the article: "It's not that [indie rock] is strange, it's not that bizarre - it's simply a little ahead of its time", Haber said. "In late 1978, the Police sounded pretty strange ... but six months later, it was on Top 40 radio with 'Roxanne'".
Anyway, it was a very nice article that went on to quote Stephen Malkmus, Carl Newman of the New Pornographers, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, My Morning Jacket, Aqueduct, and Arcade Fire, among others.
Swish Dadd
Indie bands to watch …
The Arcade Fire: Husband-and-wife team Win Butler and Regine Chassagne lead a troupe of exuberant, talented musicians. Wearing suits the way Wes Anderson might, they sing about adolescent memories with sweeping oooh's and ahhh's. The search continues for someone who doesn't like Arcade Fire.
The Flaming Lips: They've been around more than a decade, and their appearance on ''90210'' helped give Death Cab for Cutie the rationale for doing ''The O.C.'' But since their experimental ''Zaireeka'' (which is four separate discs meant to be played at once), the Lips have made two classic concept albums: ''The Soft Bulletin'' and ''Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.'' Their next album, expected early next year, will test how big a band that sings ''Happy Birthday'' at concerts can get.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: They already had an MTV hit with ''Maps,'' which may have laid the groundwork for still greater success. Karen O is also one of the only truly captivating singers today.
Antony and the Johnsons: Antony, who recently won Britain's Mercury Prize, is an androgynous cabaret singer whose siren voice has drawn the attention of collaborators like Lou Reed and Boy George.
Spoon: After trying out a major label with ''Girls Can Tell,'' the Austin, Texas, band decided their home was in indieland. But frontman Britt Daniel still sees no reason his groove-based piano and guitar band can't be as big as the Kinks.
Sufjan Stevens: Press has been building for this banjo-playing bandleader. After an album devoted to Michigan, he continued his ambitious and ridiculous tour of the 50 states with ''Illinois.'' His band fills the stage with horns, strings and backup singers. Everyone, needless to say, is in costume.
John Vanderslice: A singer-songwriter not unlike Connor Oberst of Bright Eyes, but without the bangs or pushy, exaggerated pronunciation. His current disc, ''Pixel Revolt,'' is proving that there's life after Death Cab for indie label Barsuk. (Ditto for labelmates Viva Voce! and Aqueduct.)
Jake Coyle