64 replies to this topic

[sonorama]

Well, personally I think these are the best indie bands EVER:

-Joy Division
-The Pixies
-Sonic Youth
-Belle And Sebastian
-Teenage Fan Club
-Franz Ferdinand
-The Flaming Lips
-Death Cab For Cutie
-Built To Spill
-Modest Mouse
-Yo La Tengo
-Pavement
-Stone Roses
-Grandaddy
-The Charlatans UK

wow! thats a lot

[Sprnknwn]

For me, this would be the order more or less...

Pixies (4 absolutely brilliant studio records)
Sonic Youth (The longest career. They are respected in almost all scenes)
Pavement (For two first awesome albums, and the rest that are still good)
Joy Division (I wouldn´t call them indie but great influencing band)
Yo La Tengo (These means underground in indie)
Stone Roses (Incredible debut, nice second... but unfortunately that´s all)
Teenage Fan Club (I Liked them when they used more electricity)
Death Cab For Cuttie (Sometimes a very teenage-like band. I love Transatlaticism)
Modest Mouse (Only have last record but it´s like mixig Pixies with The Clash. Very very good one)
Franz Ferdinand (Very refreshing but they still have to make a point in their second record)
The Charlatans UK (They are original but their music don´t say too much to me)
Belle And Sebastian (Too limp for me)


Built To Spill, Flaming Lips and Grandaddy: Only heard singles... so I can´t opine.

I´d add Dinosaur Jr., Weezer, Hüsker Dü, Blur (well, they have an indie side) and Pulp, for example. In fact, I like indie-rock with transgresive music or lyrics more than indie-pop.

[Caveman]

The only bands you guys listed that I'm familiar with are the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Franz Ferdinand, and Modest Mouse. Nothing of the first two really impressed me. FF had a pretty cool single in "Take Me Out," as did MM with "Float On." I don't think I'd buy either of their records, however.

Anyone know if Nirvana's 'Bleach' was released on an independent label? I believe it was Sub-Pop, but I'm not sure what kind of affiliates it had at the time. Thanks in advance.

[Sprnknwn]

Yes, Bleach was recorded in Sub Pop. Later, when Nirvana had a boom in Geffen I think they re-edited the album together with Sub Pop.

By the way... we haven´t mentioned Radiohead, Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine...

[Caveman]

Didn't realize Radiohead was on an indie label...good call with that, though.

[sonorama]

well, I don't think supernknown meant that Radiohead was signed on an indie label. It would be actually almost impossible for me to know these bands if that were the case. Anyway, the term indie mostly apply in those bands with a particular sound. for example, you said something about modest mouse, they were originally signed by an almost unknown label K-Punk, after a few years they met built to spill and then they attracted the band to sub-pop's division Up which is merely distributed by Warner Bros. which happens not to be a so indie label.

anyways, i think the indie term has to do with the sound more than with a simple description as independent.

greetings

p.s. dunno if my english is correct, hopefully you understand the whole idea

[Sprnknwn]

Yes, that exactly what I mean. There are two variants of the indie term.

But it´s not very common to call "indie" a band that makes classic heavy metal, for example. So people use it to talk about bands with an special sound... that commonly in late 80s early 90s was new and fresh (you know, all that explosion of rock and pop bands that came around Nirvana´s success). Kurt Cobain for example was a big fan of Sonic Youth and The Pixies and were the first ones, Sonic Youth the first to tell Geffen about a band in Seattle that sounded really good to sign with it.

Dunno... maybe there´s also some kind of attitude that makes that bands not to behave like old rock star stereotypes...

So it´s not about and specific sound and it´s not about releasing for an indie label or a major. Indie frontiers are not very clear and it´s like all styles... you can´t classify everything without a doubt.

[Caveman]

My apologies, I understand now. I always thought Radiohead to be more "alternative," but I guess I have a new way of classifying them now

[neveragainangel]

Radiohead is definitely not Indie. Modest Mouse, yeah, Franz Ferdinand, The Pixies, definitely, but Radiohead, no. You are correct Caveman, they are alternative.

As for other Indie bands I like besides those mentioned...
Armor for Sleep
Inspection 12
June
Lovedrug
Daphne Loves Derby (gods)
Faraway
As Tall as Lions
Lakota
Anatomy of a Ghost
Forever in Motion
Gratitude
Like Yesterday

[shotgun_sonata]

sonorama, on Apr 9 2005, 11:52 AM, said:

anyways, i think the indie term has to do with the sound more than with a simple description as independent.

the term originally came from the idea of a band being independent, selling their own records, etc. but most of these bands sounded the same and major labels weren't signing anyone who had their sound.

so eventually, indie bands grew large from touring and indie labels started popping up to help them out.
but they had a problem, seeing as how all these independent bands had a record label, they couldn't really be "independent" anymore and hence the term indie gradually became the name of their specific music genre instead of their economical status.

but who cares, if it sounds good, hell yeah, if it doesn't, screw it.

we'd all rather listen to what we like than get caught up in trying to label our music
correct?

ps. nice list

[intermission]

Caveman, on Apr 9 2005, 05:23 AM, said:

Didn't realize Radiohead was on an indie label...good call with that, though.

Hey guys. Somebody is going to have to explain to me what an indie band is because i have no earthly clue.

[luke]

Has anyone heard the band Summerbirds in the Cellar?
www.summerbirds.com
myspace.com/summerbirds

They are the best indie band ever!

[Sprnknwn]

Well, they really sund good. But not SO good to be better than that bunch of groups we have listed before. No way.

[denise RCPM fan]

Most definitely Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers from Tempe, AZ. If you ever liked other Tempe music, such as the Gin Blossoms, Dead Hot Workshop, The Pistoleros, you will love this band. Actually, all of those (excluding) the Gin Blossoms are on Indie labels. I have seen RCPM in concert 157 times. That's how good this band is. They will be having their biannual concert in Mexico on May 19th! Cross Canadian Ragweed will be opening the show. Another great indie band. Check out Ghetto Cowgirl, Violet Wild and Tramps and Thieves -- all notable Tempe bands on Indie labels. This music has more passion and depth than any music I have ever known before, and I have been a huge fan of music since I was about 5. I think The Who's Rock Opera - Tommy, made me that way. Please, check out Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers! They tour nationally and will be at a venue near you. If you want music with substance check them out. Tour dates are here: www.azpeacemakers.com

Thank you for your time, here's to life!

[bhavesh]

My best bands are the:
The Flaming Lips
Joy Division
Sonic Youth
Teenage Fan Club
Franz Ferdinand
They are the best bands for me and I love to listen their albums. I have a good collections of Joy Division and The Flaming Lips albums.

Edited by bhavesh, 27 April 2007 - 07:44 AM.

[Oh Murderer]

someone mentioned armor for sleep.. i wouldn't consider them indie.

just as an addition, i love metric and death cab for cutie.

[sonde]

Broken Social Scene
The Flaming Lips
Mannequins Breathe
Stars
The Dears

[DanI SantI]

so what do you guys think of the yeah yeah yeahs?

Edited by DanI SantI, 31 October 2007 - 01:07 AM.

[DanI SantI]

DanI SantI, on Oct 30 2007, 09:53 PM, said:

so what do you guys think of the yeah yeah yeahs?

humm ok, i gues nobody is gonna anwer my post!

[iGuest]

Lovely list
I definitely like most of the bands you listed
Also want to add: of Montreal (dunno how indie they are at this point), Metric, Stars, & Blonde Redhead

-Sally

[iGuest]

response to dani santi
Best Indie Band Ever

I love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Have you heard the Shout Out Louds?
They are very good!

Other Indie Bands:

Wilco
Of Montreal
The New Pornographers
Soundgarden
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
Moldy Peaches/Kimya Dawson
The Hives (I don't know if you would consider them indie, but they are still a very good band)
Beck
MAGNETIC FIELDS (Soooo good)
The Decemberists
The Shins
Ben Gibbard (Solo. Obviously he's indie considering hes the lead singer of death cab for cutie and postal service)
The Postal Service

Yes that is my list, tell me what you think

-reply by whitney

[iGuest]

Good indie bands
Best Indie Band Ever

Can any suggest any other good bands indie/alternative bands apart from the ones that listed below that I already know and like:

Yo La Tengo
Bright Eyes
Spoon
Decemberists
Interpol
The Finches
Arcade Fire
Magnetic Fields
The Shins
Sufjan Stevens
Wilco
Bell and Sebastian
Broken Social Scene
Death Cab
Postal Service
Artic Monkeys
Beck
Elliot Smith
The New Pornographers

Anyone familiar with Califone? They have a song on the Stranger then Ficiton sound track that I really like but I had'nt heard of them before.

Thanks



-reply by raheel abbasi

[iGuest]

Personally I think oasis are the best indie band ever

-reply by Liam

[iGuest]

is it worth mentioning.?.i think so
Best Indie Band Ever

Out of searching for good off the beaten path music found in the indie side of life, I have decided that tv on the radio is refreshing and great to dip an ear into. Better late than never!

-reply by junkymunky

[iGuest]

Indie, the only genre in music that really matters....
Best Indie Band Ever

Pavement and Pavement and Pavement...

You can try classics like The Fall, or Pere Ubu...Both extraordinary bands if you prefer rather artistic approach...

Sebadoh anyone...Lou Barlows (Dinasour jr. Former base player) band...Great for me...

Let's see...Flaming "genious" Lips, and the greatest Indie ever (don't listen to people who say it isn't) early Manic Street Preachers (The Holy Bible, in my top 10 best albums) after Richie James "left" nothing was ever same with MSP...

Others are pretty much mentioned (the ones I listen)

-reply by kresola