Indie Rock Genre?

[Onslaught_fei]

Do you consider it more of an umbrella term or an actual genre of rock music?

[Alright_Computer]

I'd say it's a genre, but as with every genre, there are bands that are lumped in the genre that really shouldn't be.

[Lolicat]

Umbrella term, because the bands within it can be varied. I say can be because there is a huge amount of very samey indie that not even Pitchfork would touch at a prog rock convention.

[afterstasis]

i think it can be used either way...

as a genre i think indie rock is composed of bands like sebadoh, pavement, bright eyes, and so on... not stuff like the killers, the strokes, etc.

[Lolicat]

i think it can be used either way...

as a genre i think indie rock is composed of bands like sebadoh, pavement, bright eyes, and so on... not stuff like the killers, the strokes, etc.

No, those second types of band are post-punk revival or garage rock.

[afterstasis]

more like springsteen-revival...

[Lolicat]

more like springsteen-revival...

Not even that good. Lacks the moral conscience and storyteller's strength of Springsteen.

[afterstasis]

i like that "when you were young" song...

[ArmsAreLoud]

The Killers: World's Naughtiest Mormons.

Anyways, I consider Indie more of an umbrella term, but that's probably just because I consider a band "indie" if it is signed to an indie label.

[Lolicat]

i like that "when you were young" song...

Me too... but the rest of their career is disgusting, for the 'alt jock.'

[JukeBoxHero]

From my perspective it's a umbrella term, although they're probably bands that actually constitute the genre. What I do know despite being under the label of indie and alternative, Vanity Theft is best served under the rock label.

http://www.myspace.com/vanitytheft

[afterstasis]

Me too... but the rest of their career is disgusting, for the 'alt jock.'

i think a few more of their songs are decent (mr brightside immediately comes to mind), but for the most part i agree.

[neckermanncj]

i wonder what i think? ..... :rolleyes:

[JukeBoxHero]

i wonder what i think? ..... :rolleyes:

I dunno, maybe you could actually post it.

[neckermanncj]

I dunno, maybe you could actually post it.

its a genre.

i was being sarcastic, maybe you'd know from my sig

but i will agree that there are some "Rock", "Metal" & "Punk" (especially Punk) bands that are on independent labels that don't have that "Indie Rock" sound

[Parodygm]

The Killers often strike me as Robbie Williams doing Human League and Duran Duran covers.

[JukeBoxHero]

its a genre.

i was being sarcastic, maybe you'd know from my sig

but i will agree that there are some "Rock", "Metal" & "Punk" (especially Punk) bands that are on independent labels that don't have that "Indie Rock" sound

I was perfectly aware that you were being sarcastic.

[neckermanncj]

i don't know why you people think that The Killers are Indie Rock, they are so NOT! they are Alternative/Pop

EDIT: okay you guys were just bashing them, i bash them alongside you!

[timmay9]

Umbrella term.

And HMX failed with the Killers classification. A post-punk revival band signed to a major label? They must be indie! :rolleyes:

[Runesmith]

The Killers often strike me as Robbie Williams doing Human League and Duran Duran covers.

Is it wrong that I interpret that as a pretty big complement?

[Alright_Computer]

Umbrella term.

And HMX failed with the Killers classification. A post-punk revival band signed to a major label? They must be indie! :rolleyes:

Harmonix called the Killers alternative, not indie. Now if you're going to complain about Harmonix genre labels, you do have quite a few other instances to choose from... (all of the "emo" songs and quite a few of the "alternative" songs, anyone?)

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

I've seen 2 people claim that HMX labeled Dream Theater Metal, when anybody with eyes can see that is listed under Prog.

[40FootWolf]

It's sort of like "classic rock" in that it's more of an umbrella term than a descriptor for what the music actually sounds like.

[Alright_Computer]

I've seen 2 people claim that HMX labeled Dream Theater Metal, when anybody with eyes can see that is listed under Prog.

Really? (http://www.rockband.com/songs/constantmotion)

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

Really? (http://www.rockband.com/songs/constantmotion)

In my Rb2 it says Prog. for all DT songs. WTH???

[Alright_Computer]

In my Rb2 it says Prog. for all DT songs. WTH???

Inconsistency FTW!

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

Inconsistency FTW!

I'll post a picture

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

Really? (http://www.rockband.com/songs/constantmotion)

http://www.rockband.com/songs/panicattack

[Mystlyfe77]

Do you consider it more of an umbrella term or an actual genre of rock music?

Umbrella term. There's alternative, pop-rock, folk, folk-rock, baroque pop, chamber pop, post-punk, experimental, shoegaze, singer-songwriter, psychedelic, and about a dozen others genres that just kinda get thrown under there and called "indie" because they're not on a major label.

[timmay9]

Harmonix called the Killers alternative, not indie. Now if you're going to complain about Harmonix genre labels, you do have quite a few other instances to choose from... (all of the "emo" songs and quite a few of the "alternative" songs, anyone?)

Must have been a Wiki prank. The only time I saw the songs listed it was under indie.

[afterstasis]

i consider indie rock, indie pop, and indie folk genres that i can expect a general sound from if the person doing the labeling knows what they're talking about...

[Alright_Computer]

i consider indie rock, indie pop, and indie folk genres that i can expect a general sound from if the person doing the labeling knows what they're talking about...

I pretty much agree with this.

[Lolicat]

i consider indie rock, indie pop, and indie folk genres that i can expect a general sound from if the person doing the labeling knows what they're talking about...

This, yes. Also, I think twee is the only genre that I can expect consistency in form from in this sort of bracket.

[Gowienczyk]

It's an umbrella term for any independent rock band in reference to scene, aesthetic or label. Not a genre.

[defenestrater]

I tend to think of it like this ^ but more and more I see people using it to describe a certain type of sound.

[afterstasis]

I tend to think of it like this ^ but more and more I see people using it to describe a certain type of sound.

it's actually the opposite for me...
i remember when indie rock meant pavement, sebadoh, dinosaur jr, and so on, but now it seems to be reserved for either myspace bands or any modern rock band that doesn't sound like either nickelback or linkin park.

[Mystlyfe77]

it's actually the opposite for me...
i remember when indie rock meant pavement, sebadoh, dinosaur jr, and so on, but now it seems to be reserved for either myspace bands or any modern rock band that doesn't sound like either nickelback or linkin park.

This. Except a later on, so not quite exactly the same bands. Even still, the terms bastardization is growing, imo.

[onidragon]

As a genre, it's far too diverse, because indie refers to independent label. This means that early Mastodon, which was on an indie label, could be in the same genre as the Hold Steady or Blind Pilot.


As a culture, Pitchfork (http://pitchforkmedia.com)tells us that it's mainly a bunch of Radiohead loving jerks who hate mainstream rock and quite frankly need to be shot.

[Runesmith]

As a culture, Pitchfork (http://pitchforkmedia.com)tells us that it's mainly a bunch of Radiohead loving jerks who hate mainstream rock and quite frankly need to be shot.

The primary reason why I groan whenever I see the indie rock label tossed around.

[afterstasis]

i don't go to pitchfork, but last i heard they were all gooey over modern mainstream pop, hip-hop, and r&b.

[Mystlyfe77]

Pitchfork isn't that bad. They may suck off Thom Yorke a lot, but they're generally fairly accurate in their reviews (at least the ones I'm interested enough to read). I agree almost completely with their reviews of Death Magnetic, Static Tensions, Wavering Radiant, and some others.

[Lolicat]

Pitchfork isn't that bad. They may suck off Thom Yorke a lot, but they're generally fairly accurate in their reviews (at least the ones I'm interested enough to read). I agree almost completely with their reviews of Death Magnetic, Static Tensions, Wavering Radiant, and some others.

Yea, I actually use Pitchfork but I correllate their reviews against Christgau and then my own opinion. Can't stand Radiohead myself.

[Soror_YZBL]

It used to mean something, but not anymore.

[Alright_Computer]

i don't go to pitchfork, but last i heard they were all gooey over modern mainstream pop, hip-hop, and r&b.

This is true. I groan every time I see a terribad mainstream R&B singer in one of their "greatest album of ______" lists.

Obviously, I do read Pitchfork a fair amount, but they're not anywhere close to my primary source of information on music.

[bierfaht]

i don't go to pitchfork, but last i heard they were all gooey over modern mainstream pop, hip-hop, and r&b.

i "acquired" their top 100 songs of last year to muck around, get a taste of what's in.... tons of bad hip hop, electro revival, synth pop way-too-fey-twee music... annd The Hold Steady (who i love...)

they crap all over rock bands for lyricism and then worship at the altar of young jeezy and lil wayne... wow, a rhyme about dealing crack.... havent heard that one before.

i love many bands that could be described as "indie", but that friggin site does not deserve to be the arbiter of taste in the "indie" realm


...though there is nothing wrong with the thom yorke thing.... radiohead is one of the best and most interesting groups in the world

[Mystlyfe77]

...though there is nothing wrong with the thom yorke thing.... radiohead is one of the best and most interesting groups in the world

lolno

[neckermanncj]

lolno

whatever music you like sucks! see how far we got? you can bash peoples tastes all day, it wont get you anything

You Hate Radiohead. we get it!

[afterstasis]

...though there is nothing wrong with the thom yorke thing.... radiohead is one of the best and most interesting groups in the world

change that to only include mainstream groups and i'm in...

[Alright_Computer]

Yeah, I'd have to say that as far as recent mainstream groups go, Radiohead is one of the best, but there are far better groups that fly under the radar with much less success than Radiohead. Spiritualized anyone?