In this thread I will attempt to establish myself as an independent music and alternative music expert for the sake of this thread: (http://www.tribalwar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=472327) Feel free to ask me anything you all want to know about indie music scenes both current and from the past 15 years. I will educate as well as provide good recommendations to those seeking more knowledge.
First and foremost: Subscribe to Magnet MAGNET Magazine
Why?
Spend $15 (or so) and receive the only relevant musical publication still in circulation. The issues come out every two months, and it is a one year subscription. You can also pick a CD from a list of about 10. They include EPs and LPs. With each issue you receive a CD sampler of about 20-22 songs from various artists. (Where else can you read an article where Eddie Vedder interviews Sleater Kinney?)
Aside from that, the magazine is well-written and covers all genres, from indie music, to hip-hop, to jazz, folk, and even punk. It is definitely well-worth it.
(Useless trivia: It was started by the shoegazers of Starflyer59.)
No, I don't work for Magnet.
Musical scenes:
Athens, GA: What? Only REM can emerge from a town like this? RIP Elephant 6 folks. I, for one, am glad the collective is dead, because they finally figured out how to use the damned horns in the proper places. Elf Power and Of Montreal are 2 fantastic bands to come out of this scene.
(Useless info: Elf Power is fucking great live. I once saw them in a small bar in Lexington in 2002.)
Other band recommendations:
I think one of the most influential bands of the past 10 years has to be The Shins (formerly Flake Music). Their newest release is actually old material, but exposure is great, isn't it? "Phantom Limb," by my observation, could be considered typical Shins material. It is a damn good album overall, and I highly recommend it.
Decemberists: "The Crane Wife" marks a departure from their earlier material, but it is a great album in its own right. They use a wide range of instruments in their music, and do it effectively (not like some of the Violent Femmes symphony orgies). "The Mariners Revenge Song" is a good example, and it also points to the lyrical style of their songs. to put it simply: They tell stories with their songs. They're a great band if you want something different, and can appreciate arrangements that are different from your typical bass/guitar/drums. Sure, they're no symphony, but I love them. I can't point to a typical Decemberists song, because, musically, they rarely sound alike. The only consistent part of their songs is Colin Meloy. He has an awesomely different voice, and it totally fits with their sound (or lack thereof).
Band of Horses: Holy fucking shit I fell in love with My Morning Jacket when I first heard them on Lexington radio back in 2001. "Tennessee Fire" blew my fucking mind and never left my CD player for a solid 3 months. Band of Horses reminds me of early My Morning Jacket, but with more focus and less jamming. Their debut album is great and mellow. It is a sonic delight.
Neko Case: So angry! So sad! Such a wonderfully haunting voice! "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" is her latest endeavor, and it is directly in line with her previous works. She is another great in the history of the songstress.
My brain ist kaput
More bands:
Iron and Wine: One guy with many collaborations. Good mellow voice and a multitudes of sounds. Who would have thought a good band could come from Florida?
Crooked Fingers: RIP Archers of Loaf. Eric Bachmann (whatup Neil Diamond) offers great lyrics and vocals to his new/old group. Checkout his cover of Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" Great stuff.
NO CLIFFS YOU FUCKERS.
First and foremost: Subscribe to Magnet MAGNET Magazine
Why?
Spend $15 (or so) and receive the only relevant musical publication still in circulation. The issues come out every two months, and it is a one year subscription. You can also pick a CD from a list of about 10. They include EPs and LPs. With each issue you receive a CD sampler of about 20-22 songs from various artists. (Where else can you read an article where Eddie Vedder interviews Sleater Kinney?)
Aside from that, the magazine is well-written and covers all genres, from indie music, to hip-hop, to jazz, folk, and even punk. It is definitely well-worth it.
(Useless trivia: It was started by the shoegazers of Starflyer59.)
No, I don't work for Magnet.
Musical scenes:
Athens, GA: What? Only REM can emerge from a town like this? RIP Elephant 6 folks. I, for one, am glad the collective is dead, because they finally figured out how to use the damned horns in the proper places. Elf Power and Of Montreal are 2 fantastic bands to come out of this scene.
(Useless info: Elf Power is fucking great live. I once saw them in a small bar in Lexington in 2002.)
Other band recommendations:
I think one of the most influential bands of the past 10 years has to be The Shins (formerly Flake Music). Their newest release is actually old material, but exposure is great, isn't it? "Phantom Limb," by my observation, could be considered typical Shins material. It is a damn good album overall, and I highly recommend it.
Decemberists: "The Crane Wife" marks a departure from their earlier material, but it is a great album in its own right. They use a wide range of instruments in their music, and do it effectively (not like some of the Violent Femmes symphony orgies). "The Mariners Revenge Song" is a good example, and it also points to the lyrical style of their songs. to put it simply: They tell stories with their songs. They're a great band if you want something different, and can appreciate arrangements that are different from your typical bass/guitar/drums. Sure, they're no symphony, but I love them. I can't point to a typical Decemberists song, because, musically, they rarely sound alike. The only consistent part of their songs is Colin Meloy. He has an awesomely different voice, and it totally fits with their sound (or lack thereof).
Band of Horses: Holy fucking shit I fell in love with My Morning Jacket when I first heard them on Lexington radio back in 2001. "Tennessee Fire" blew my fucking mind and never left my CD player for a solid 3 months. Band of Horses reminds me of early My Morning Jacket, but with more focus and less jamming. Their debut album is great and mellow. It is a sonic delight.
Neko Case: So angry! So sad! Such a wonderfully haunting voice! "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" is her latest endeavor, and it is directly in line with her previous works. She is another great in the history of the songstress.
My brain ist kaput
More bands:
Iron and Wine: One guy with many collaborations. Good mellow voice and a multitudes of sounds. Who would have thought a good band could come from Florida?
Crooked Fingers: RIP Archers of Loaf. Eric Bachmann (whatup Neil Diamond) offers great lyrics and vocals to his new/old group. Checkout his cover of Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" Great stuff.
NO CLIFFS YOU FUCKERS.
Last edited: