2007 - The year of Indie Music!

[nfotiu]

2007 is shaping up to be an awesome year for Indie releases. It seems that every indie band that's put out a great breakthrough record over the past few years has a follow up due in 2007, as well new releases from some of the established indie rockers are coming as well.

I'm pretty excited about new CDs from Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, The New Pornographers, Of Montreal, The Shins, and Interpol.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/12/0402.cfm

[troutman]

Happy New Year to me!

[Igottago]

Can't wait to see what Interpol has up their sleeves...its the pivotal 3rd record. Either they show a lot of growth and become a truly great band, or they take a step backwards towards mediocrity. Love their first 2 albums. Their first record is one of my all time faves.

Arcade Fire have A LOT of hype to live up to now. I'm not even sure their first record lived up to the hype, it was a good/very good record, but people are probably expecting the second coming of christ for this one.

As for the rest of them, I'm interested but don't expect to be blown away. They will probably make the expected indie fare, get good reviews on pitchfork and love from the hipsters, but won't be that memorable IMO.

[Sharpen 'Em]

The new Shins is really good. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy.

[RedHot25]

Ok, I don't know much about the split between non-indie and indie. And maybe this is a sign that either a) these bands are becoming more popular, or b) I know more about music then I think I do.

But the fact that I know all of them - I'm only a little unsure about 'Of Montreal' - but does that make them indie? E.g. I know that they aren't huge but I have been to cities (e.g. vancouver) where the shins received regular playtime - not on any fancy indy station or anything, but on a regular radio station (much like the ones in Calgary).

[Got Miikka?]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Ok, I don't know much about the split between non-indie and indie. And maybe this is a sign that either a) these bands are becoming more popular, or b) I know more about music then I think I do.

The way I see it, 'indie' is just a label bands get when their music isn't of the type to get much airplay on mainstream commercial radio; in terms of overall musical difference, perhaps a little less production value on 'indie' records. Truly independent artists aren't going to show up on very many people's musical radars. In terms of record labels, well, as far as I can tell a lot of the 'indie' labels are just subsidiaries, in one way or another, of the big name companies.

The Shins have benefitted from a lot of exposure, special thanks going to the film "Garden State" which made a point of not only playing several of the band's songs, but mentioning them by name throughout the film. Modest Mouse owes a fair bit of their amped notoriety to car commercials; Arcade Fire are probably the biggest indie band (what a paradox!) in recent memory. A slew of positive press and some ingenue in their own marketing (playing a busker-style set on the streets of New York) has made them almost a household name. Of the list provided by nfotiu, Of Montreal is probably the closest thing to an authentic 'indie' band, though I am sure their time in the sun is at hand. Going off the beaten track - in Calgary, I guess you could check out a store like Sloth or Megatunes - will help you find artists that fit appropriately enough under the heading, but if you want real, genuine indie sh-t you'll have to hit up a gig at a pub and buy some of the band's homemade audio merch.

Calgary sometimes emulates a decent 'indie' culture, but in my experience if you want to see or hear bands that aren't going to make the cut for CJAY02 or Vibe you need to head to Vancouver. Vancouver also gets the cream of the crop when it comes to artists who are somewhere in between garage bands and stadium rockers. With Bloc Party on the rise I could see them doing a show here to promote the new album, but prior to that Vancouver is the only city in western Canada I'd bet they'd ever play.

Oh yeah, and I agree - Interpol is fantastic. They'll never play Calgary.

[rubecube]

I wouldn't exaclty call Arcade Fire indie. I'm excited for the new Modest Mouse.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

In terms of record labels, well, as far as I can tell a lot of the 'indie' labels are just subsidiaries, in one way or another, of the big name companies.

There is not much truth to that.

All the bands listed in the first post, with the exception of Modest Mouse, are on "real" indie labels:
Arcade Fire - merge records
The Shins - sub pop
Bloc Party - Wichita Recordings
New Pornographers - Matador
Of Montreal - Polyvinyl
Interpol - Matador

I don't believe that any of those labels are in any way affiliated with any of the major labels. I believe none of them are members of the RIAA. So they don't get involved with suing their fans for sharing their music, and most make their drm-free mp3s available on sites like emusic, etc. The feasibility of a band being able to stay on a truly independent label even once they've become moderately popular is a really good thing, and shouldn't be dismissed with such skeptism. Indie labels pay their artists much better and treat their fans a whole lot better.

But yeah, Indie rock has just become another label. Really it just replaced what Alternative was 15-20 years ago, when it applied to bands like the Pixies, Jesus and Mary Chain, Robyn Hitchcock, etc. Whatever, they are both silly labels that don't serve much purpose, but they do help me find which radio stations (or satellite channel, or web radio) are likely to play music that I like.

I'm sure the Indie label is well on the way to being ruined as well as the bands get bigger and bigger, and someone will have to try to commercialize it.

[Got Miikka?]

Bah, I guess I shouldn't go shooting my mouth off about the politics and business of record labels when I really have no clue... although I am positive I have seen some indie labels operating under the umbrella of some bigger brands.

Anyhoo.

[nfotiu]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so harsh. (I edited my response a little)

I'm sure there are some major label subsidiaries our there masquarading as indie labels. Although, I think that was a lot more common a few years ago.

Just wanted to point out what a great development it is for artists, fans and music in general, that independent labels have really come into their own, and are putting out what is, IMO, the best music being made today.

[kermitology]

A lot of the indie record labels these days are run by the artists themselves.

Epitaph is run by Bad Religion members/former members.
Arts and Crafts is run by the main members of Broken Social Scene
Sufjan Stevens releases all his stuff on his own label Athsmatic Kitty, as does Imogen Heap.

There are a lot of true indie labels and I think that's more of what qualifies bands as being indie right now. DIY with no major label money to puch you up the chart. Sup pop is debateable in being indie, I think they get a lot of support from major labels. Kill Rock Stars on the other hand..

[kermitology]

I don't know if anyone has heard any of Sufjan's Christmas "collection" but holy crap is it good. You can stream the whole thing on his label's website.

[rubecube]

I believe Brushfire Records has their whole lineup coming out with new stuff in 2007 as well. Should be good.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Can't wait to see what Interpol has up their sleeves...its the pivotal 3rd record. Either they show a lot of growth and become a truly great band, or they take a step backwards towards mediocrity. Love their first 2 albums. Their first record is one of my all time faves.

Arcade Fire have A LOT of hype to live up to now. I'm not even sure their first record lived up to the hype, it was a good/very good record, but people are probably expecting the second coming of christ for this one.

As for the rest of them, I'm interested but don't expect to be blown away. They will probably make the expected indie fare, get good reviews on pitchfork and love from the hipsters, but won't be that memorable IMO.

Those that have heard bits of the new Arcade Fire are very impressed:

i run arcadefire.net, couple people i know who have heard an early/rough mix of the record have said nothing but amazing things... said there's 3-4 songs that blow away ANYTHING on Funeral

http://woxy.lala.com/boards/showthre...1&page=2&pp=20

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I don't know if anyone has heard any of Sufjan's Christmas "collection" but holy crap is it good. You can stream the whole thing on his label's website.

Sufjan is the most overrated wankster I have ever seen. Illinoize actually has a handful of decent songs, amidst all the stupid sound effects and filler tracks. I hate it when artists get overly wanky like that. If you're tunes are really good, they will stand up without having to cover them up with "artsy" production. Case in point..the acoustic version of the song "chicago" is stunningly good. The one on the album is ruined by his over-ambition.

[troutman]

Arcade Fire performs No Cars Go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRSG95-WEU&NR

This song will appear on Neon Bible. Release Date is March 6th.

http://www.neonbible.com/readme.html

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/n...e_More_S#40322

01 Black Mirror
02 Keep the Car Running
03 Neon Bible
04 Intervention
05 Black Wave/ Bad Vibrations
06 Ocean of Noise
07 The Well and the Lighthouse
08 (Antichrist Television Blues)
09 Windowsill
10 No Cars Go
11 My Body Is a Cage

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Sufjan is the most overrated wankster I have ever seen. Illinoize actually has a handful of decent songs, amidst all the stupid sound effects and filler tracks. I hate it when artists get overly wanky like that. If you're tunes are really good, they will stand up without having to cover them up with "artsy" production. Case in point..the acoustic version of the song "chicago" is stunningly good. The one on the album is ruined by his over-ambition.

I completely agree with you! I love some of the album, but then there is a lot of garbage thrown in there to obscure the good stuff. He is a great songwriter and artist in general, but just stick to playing the songs and leave the rest out.

[Phaneuf3]

well, rather than start a new thread for non-indie releases coming up in 2007, i'll post some of the ones i'm looking forward to here:

Woods of Ypres --II:The Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues
Moonsorrow -- V-Havitetty
Behemoth -- The Apostasy
Mayhem -- Ordo Ab Chao
Swallow the Sun -- Hope
Therion -- Gothic Kabbalah
Pelican -- ??????(no idea what the new disc is called - don't feel like looking it up)
Novembers Doom -- The Novella Reservoir
Down III

[Hakan]

The new Block Party album sucks.

The new Shins album, on the other hand, is quite good.