I think it's a general dislike of today's music, combined with perceived genius and refusal to listen to oldies (which it seems many later gravitate to, as they learn that their bands like old music).

I think it's the kind of cult that you can form around these bands, possessing them and asking "Oh, do you like such and such?" whenever you find a new flavor of the month. But as I said, I'm trying to figure out a way to get some of my friends off indiemo and onto the older (and far better) stuff that influenced it. They're always looking for "genius", also. Part of it is the perception that you're of a club that's better than some perceived mainstream...and, as you said, a resistance to go "oldies" like I went, realizing I really don't like much of what's out there today.

- Lack of original or meaningful music on the radio/TV.
- To broaden your musical tate.

I'm sure some of the others (Andrew, Beth etc) will be able to answer this better.  :)

I think it's the kind of cult that you can form around these bands, possessing them and asking "Oh, do you like such and such?" whenever you find a new flavor of the month. But as I said, I'm trying to figure out a way to get some of my friends off indiemo and onto the older (and far better) stuff that influenced it. They're always looking for "genius", also. Part of it is the perception that you're of a club that's better than some perceived mainstream...and, as you said, a resistance to go "oldies" like I went, realizing I really don't like much of what's out there today.


Yeah, I forgot that part ... the "hip" factor.  That is, liking something nobody else likes.  Being "anti-trendy".

You mean to listen to 'Indie' music?

I can relate my own experience. Prior to about 3-4 years ago I knew jack squat about music. Seriously, my fave bands were Smashmouth, Blink 182, Greenday, Grinspoon, Vengaboys, alot of pop.etc. Then I went to my first musical festival (pretty big things down here), and that sort of got me on the road.

I think it was when I bought a 20GB mp3 player that encouraged me to feverishly fill up the space with music I lived. At first I mainly preferred 'alternative' music (still do) because I loved the way artists experimented with sound, rhythm, melody to create the overall texture and soundscape of a song. Though not proficient in any musical instruments, I always have an instrinsic love for these types of music because of their artistic richness and emotional depth.

I'm not automatically 'anti-mainstream', I prefer 'Indie' because its fresh, exciting (but as you point out, there is also alot of bad 'Indie' out there), and has a wider scope that top-40. Alot of 'Indie' is really no different to Top-40, the difference being the Indie prerogative and philosophy.

I, for one, am no snob. I don't listen to Indie cos' I think it's hip. The only reason I listen to music is because it conveys emotion, as a work of art, and the communal experience of watching a live concert. All I really know about music (which is almost nothing) I've probably learnt in the past two years. So my introduction to music as a whole has been relatively late.

You mean to listen to 'Indie' music?

I can relate my own experience. Prior to about 3-4 years ago I knew jack squat about music. Seriously, my fave bands were Smashmouth, Blink 182, Greenday, Grinspoon, Vengaboys, alot of pop.etc. Then I went to my first musical festival (pretty big things down here), and that sort of got me on the road.

I think it was when I bought a 20GB mp3 player that encouraged me to feverishly fill up the space with music I lived. At first I mainly preferred 'alternative' music (still do) because I loved the way artists experimented with sound, rhythm, melody to create the overall texture and soundscape of a song. Though not proficient in any musical instruments, I always have an instrinsic love for these types of music because of their artistic richness and emotional depth.

I'm not automatically 'anti-mainstream', I prefer 'Indie' because its fresh, exciting (but as you point out, there is also alot of bad 'Indie' out there), and has a wider scope that top-40. Alot of 'Indie' is really no different to Top-40, the difference being the Indie prerogative and philosophy.

I, for one, am no snob. I don't listen to Indie cos' I think it's hip. The only reason I listen to music is because it conveys emotion, as a work of art, and the communal experience of watching a live concert. All I really know about music (which is almost nothing) I've probably learnt in the past two years. So my introduction to music as a whole has been relatively late.


I agree. Actually, I like a lot of indie music.  Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, the Pixies, are all very, very good bands.  I even make indie music that I advertise on the Internet.

But I'm not "indie".  I don't listen to music, or watch a film, etc. because nobody does.  And I certainly don't think I'm smarter if I do so, I just think I'm smarter because I am ;)

I agree. Actually, I like a lot of indie music.  Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, the Pixies, are all very, very good bands.  I even make indie music that I advertise on the Internet.

But I'm not "indie".  I don't listen to music, or watch a film, etc. because nobody does.  And I certainly don't think I'm smarter if I do so, I just think I'm smarter because I am ;)


I agree with those last two...but there are so many people out there who think some music is good because it's "indie", and show they have no musical differentiation skills or tastes of their own. Also, alot of current indie music is extremely cliched and trite, and shows little differentiation from every other band out there...or is blindly imitative of, not just influenced by older things.

I agree. Actually, I like a lot of indie music.  Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, the Pixies, are all very, very good bands.  I even make indie music that I advertise on the Internet.

But I'm not "indie".  I don't listen to music, or watch a film, etc. because nobody does.  And I certainly don't think I'm smarter if I do so, I just think I'm smarter because I am ;)


Indeed, I've been disappointed by many Indie releases I've purchased (I won't mention them)...well maybe Arcade Fire's 'Funeral', which I thought was perhaps over-ambitious. The Aussie Indie seen is burgeoing though...'Architecture in Helsinki' (while not fantastic) is merely the tip of the ice-berg. I suppose the 'art-college' movement has never really grown in super-commercialised US of A, whereas arts is very important to a segment of the population.

Indeed, I've been disappointed by many Indie releases I've purchased (I won't mention them)...well maybe Arcade Fire's 'Funeral', which I thought was perhaps over-ambitious. The Aussie Indie seen is burgeoing though...'Architecture in Helsinki' (while not fantastic) is merely the tip of the ice-berg. I suppose the 'art-college' movement has never really grown in super-commercialised US of A, whereas arts is very important to a segment of the population.


Well, in the big cities, every other person wants to go to arts college...I do think so much of the indie rock today just assumes it's so smart and so excellent without proving it. This is my case against Bright Eyes (to bandy them about again), and to a lesser degree Arcade Fire and Architecture in Helsinki, though they're not that bad.

Well, in the big cities, every other person wants to go to arts college...I do think so much of the indie rock today just assumes it's so smart and so excellent without proving it. This is my case against Bright Eyes (to bandy them about again), and to a lesser degree Arcade Fire and Architecture in Helsinki, though they're not that bad.


Indie bands can get a bit pretentious when they become 'darlings' of the Indie scene. It's the raw, young musos which need to take the torch to the next generation of Indie artists.

Indie bands can get a bit pretentious when they become 'darlings' of the Indie scene. It's the raw, young musos which need to take the torch to the next generation of Indie artists.


...exactly. I just think since like 1998 or so, the indie rock scene needs to take a rocket ship back to the real place it was when the Pixies and R.E.M and Nirvana were the best thing out there.

there are so many people out there who think some music is good because it's "indie"Yes I agree with that. It's just ignorance really, as there is still alot of good mainstream music as well as terrible indie music. I have to laugh when people say they no longer like a certain band because they have "sold out"  ::)

Just because something is 'mainstream' does not make it bad. Just as bad as people who dislike all music made before a certain year or after a certain year. Or people who will not go near a particular genre because of a few terrible artists (eg: rap).

Yes I agree with that. It's just ignorance really, as there is still alot of good mainstream music as well as terrible indie music. I have to laugh when people say they no longer like a certain band because they have "sold out"  ::)

Just because something is 'mainstream' does not make it bad. Just as bad as people who dislike all music made before a certain year or after a certain year. Or people who will not go near a particular genre because of a few terrible artists (eg: rap).


I have nothing against mainstream if it's good. It's ironic many of these new-gen indie musos proudly admit they take their influences from the Beatles and other bands...you can't GET any more commercial than the Beatles. The Music Industry has always been commercial; it's just that people tend to look back through rose-tinted glasses.

Yes I agree with that. It's just ignorance really, as there is still alot of good mainstream music as well as terrible indie music. I have to laugh when people say they no longer like a certain band because they have "sold out"  ::)

Just because something is 'mainstream' does not make it bad. Just as bad as people who dislike all music made before a certain year or after a certain year. Or people who will not go near a particular genre because of a few terrible artists (eg: rap).


I agree with this. I myself used to shy away totally from rap (mainstream rap is terrible), but I've since discovered I like stuff like Salt N' Pepa.

rageing hormones........

Let's see.

Homosexuality.
Weakness.
Mild Retardation.
Poor Taste.
The desire to get beat up on a regular basis.
Poor genetic makeup.

Jesus, it's not a cult.. some people just happen to like that style of music.