If it ain’t Indie, it ain’t hot

Two words have revolutionized the music industry over the past few years: indie rock. The major labels are now nervously looking over their shoulders, the big-name pop stars aren’t the only sources of good music any more, and change is slowly but surely creeping in.

Wait. What IS this genre that has revamped the way people look at music? Indie rock – or independent rock, for the grammar Nazi – was originally the type of music produced by artists (usually bands) who were either unsigned or had signed with an independent record label (take that, Universal!). However, today, indie rock is used more as a phrase that describes a certain style of music. Abrasive, meaningfully worded songs with a magical guitar riff (and some screechy moments) thrown into the middle – that’s my definition of indie rock.

So the music’s great, we’ve got that bit covered. But indie rock has always been about a lot more than just the music; it has always signified a rebellious, stick-it-to-the-man attitude. Indie rock artists are risk takers who dare to be different. No indie rock band (in its right mind) can consider success a guarantee – they start off with Saturday night gigs at the dingy little club down the road; if they’re lucky, a scout for some tiny record label spots them, and you know how it goes…

Indie rock isn’t for everyone – let me get that straight. Overly conservative people (somtimes the songs have extremely opinionated lyrics), haters of guitars, drums and big vocals, and stuck-up snobs (what, you expect me to listen to something that isn’t big? Ewww!), among others, won’t like indie rock. But it never hurts to try, does it? Some indie rock bands which have wowed many include Death Cab for Cutie, The Plain White T’s, Oasis, Soundgarden, The Shins, The Arcade Fire, The Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, and Modest Mouse (among others). So if you haven’t given indie rock a shot yet, don’t hesitate to sample it! It’s sort of like wine – you either love it or hate it, there’s no middle ground. Chances are that you’ll love it.

~ by leelasn on March 27, 2008.