Ashworth – we meet again…

A) Echoes is very nearly as good as HoB (I would even say more consistent as an entire album)
B) Antics is better than Bright Lights. This is an entirely objective statement.

Your move.

You’re right, it is pointless and pigeon-holing, but my point is less about my own opinion on the matter and more a general recognition of the reality of why bands are labeled as such.

I don’t really think there’s a debate – many major label bands (like Sonic Youth, Pavement, Arcade Fire, etc.) are understood to be ‘indie’ even though they’re not, because that term has shifted to represent authenticity and a certain aesthetic. In terms of this list, I only mentioned it because people were complaining that their favorite artists didn’t make the list (and that the ‘safe ones’ like Bon Iver did) while ignoring the fact that this isn’t really about how ‘independent’ a band is; that in any profitable ‘genre’ the most widely appealing will turn the most profit and have the most fans; and that, despite this assumption of mass appeal and the negative connotation it inherently has, the ‘indie genre’ still encompasses a much more eclectic and, dare I say better, collection of artists than any other.

I think it’s generally used as an umbrella term that encompasses a lot of subgenres/bands that are widely understood to still be ‘indie’, much like how the umbrella term of ‘rock’ encompasses all types of rock (garage, new wave, metal, etc.) that might be incredibly different.

Although it seems incredibly nebulous, because it encompasses acts from the umbrella genres of ‘rock’ and ‘hip hop’ and others, the bands that fall in this category are, for one reason or another, considered ‘indie bands’. Not sure why bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Roots and the like are still considered to be ‘indie’ since they’re big sellers signed to major labels – which seems to be contradictory to the entire idea of what ‘indie music’ is – or why some bands/artists are immediately placed under that umbrella, but I’d say it has to do with a universally understood aesthetic and a belief in their authenticity more than anything.

How did what’s-her-name from Wye Oak not make it?? Is it because we need to know names? Because I certainly voted for her.

Glad to see Wild Beasts and Arctic Monkeys finally getting some love.

Subjectively, this is the worst list of all time.

THANK YOU. I was afraid this was gonna be another lovefest (these things usually end up that way), but this album is mediocre. Some of the songs are awesomely cheesy and over the top, others are either just cheesy or flat-out boring. To be fair, I wasn’t as into Cross as a lot of people were, but at least it had balls. And before anyone jumps down my throat, I will reiterate that this is just my opinion – I’m not saying the album is boring, I’m saying I found it to be boring.

Dog, I’m not really sure you’re getting the point of this series. They are not “these are my favorite bands right now” articles – they’re “these are the bands that most heavily influenced the album you’re listening to” articles. If you don’t like CEG or you think their influences are too generic, well then gee, don’t listen to the album, but don’t fault them for being honest about their influences. I’d be more annoyed if they pointed to some obscure bands just to prove that they’re hip. If your point is that they’re citing Wilco and The Pixies to BE hip, then I think you’re just assuming that because you don’t like them – after all, no one ever says “we were influenced by this band Wilco, you probably wouldn’t know them, but they’re great.” Ok, I’m done.

I would argue that The Black Keys, The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys, and LCD Soundsystem are more successful bands that rock – or at least know how to have a good time. And yes, The Black Keys are a more well established group than Bon Iver and Sufjan, who may seem incredibly popular because of hype and the insular nature of indie-music, but really aren’t that widely known.

For clarification, it should be read “dad-rock in the autumn” sensibilities.

I’m as big an RA lover as the next guy, but I try not to confuse his “variance” with boundary pushing. I love the fact that he’s all over the place (especially when those places are the South), but his music always succeeds in its familiarity and the comfortable way he focuses on good songwriting and not doing new things just to do new things.

Cool story! No really, this is cool.

The fact that you’re a Eurepean who thinks Americans don’t know anything about other countries (and their TV stations?) makes you a cliche of Europeans. Also, 99.9% of us, including children and mentally handicapped individuals, are smarter than Sarah Palin, so there’s that.