being on an independant record label is indie. indie isn't a sound. dance records as well as guitar rock and pop and hip hop were styles of music released on indie labels
a guitar band that sounds like the smiths but on a major label isn't indie
Indie was used to describe the sound of certain guitar/piano-based acts, whether you agree with it or not, be it rock or pop. As another poster said, the term alternative was prevalent too.
I know the term Indie was coined for artists on independent record labels, but the term is now widely accepted to relate to a sound (although there are so many sub genre's of Indie that's kind of irrelevant now as well.) And yes I know there are still many indie labels around today, but it feels wrong to dismiss an album because it was released on a major label
Also there are many independent record labels around today which produce only dance music, so again the term indie has pretty much lost it's original meaning.
Anyway
Drugstore - Drugstore
The La's - The La's
Both Go! Discs, which I believe was an indie label before being bought by Polydor in the mid 90's
Not indie record labels
Eels - Electroshock Blues (Dreamworks)
Fountains of Wayne - Fountains Of Wayne (Atlantic)
Indie was used to describe the sound of certain guitar/piano-based acts, whether you agree with it or not, be it rock or pop. As another poster said, the term alternative was prevalent too.
indie may have been used to describe certain types of music, but wrongly. indie was short for independent, and didn't describe a type of music at all. all sorts of music were indie
I know the term Indie was coined for artists on independent record labels, but the term is now widely accepted to relate to a sound (although there are so many sub genre's of Indie that's kind of irrelevant now as well.) And yes I know there are still many indie labels around today, but it feels wrong to dismiss an album because it was released on a major label
Also there are many independent record labels around today which produce only dance music, so again the term indie has pretty much lost it's original meaning.
Anyway
Drugstore - Drugstore
The La's - The La's
Both Go! Discs, which I believe was an indie label before being bought by Polydor in the mid 90's
Not indie record labels
Eels - Electroshock Blues (Dreamworks)
Fountains of Wayne - Fountains Of Wayne (Atlantic)
why would it feel wrong to dismiss an album from being considered an indie album if it wasn't an indie album because it was on a major label? what difference does it make?
you may as well ask what's the best rock album and let people pick albums by herbie hancock and kylie. it just defeats the whole purpose of asking such a question. albums like ok computer and a different class were on major labels so benefitted from a specific type of distribution and promotion that most true indie records didn't have. a good chunk of records mentioned are really britpop records on major labels, not indie
indie may have been used to describe certain types of music, but wrongly. indie was short for independent, and didn't describe a type of music at all. all sorts of music were indie
why would it feel wrong to dismiss an album from being considered an indie album if it wasn't an indie album because it was on a major label? what difference does it make?
you may as well ask what's the best rock album and let people pick albums by herbie hancock and kylie. it just defeats the whole purpose of asking such a question. albums like ok computer and a different class were on major labels so benefitted from a specific type of distribution and promotion that most true indie records didn't have. a good chunk of records mentioned are really britpop records on major labels, not indie
You seem to be dismissing a hell of a lot of influential albums just because they were lucky enough to be spotted by a major label. Just because the definition started one way, it doesn't mean things don't evolve. Pop was originally short for popular music, however there is now a sub genre of indie called indie pop, yet it is not particularly popular.
Here is a question for you.
The first album by the Presidents of the USA was released by PopLama records, an indie record label yet they are a rock band.
To further complicate matters the album was then re-released by Columbia records.
How would you describe this album?
Things arn't as black and white as you like to think
I don't think we should get too bogged down in semantics here. Yes, indie is obviously a contraction of the word independent but over time it has also come to symbolise the general "alternative" label of bands who are outside of the mainstream, so i think both definitions apply.
The big problem is that many artists that fit the "alternative" description signed to major labels or subsidiaries thereof. The Cure are certainly alternative but have pretty much always been on a major label (Polydor / Fiction). Both Sonic Youth and Nirvana signed to Geffen. Radiohead - Parlophone, Manic Street Preachers - Sony / Columbia etc. etc.
I don't think we should get too bogged down in semantics here. Yes, indie is obviously a contraction of the word independent but over time it has also come to symbolise the general "alternative" label of bands who are outside of the mainstream, so i think both definitions apply.
The big problem is that many artists that fit the "alternative" description signed to major labels or subsidiaries thereof. The Cure are certainly alternative but have pretty much always been on a major label (Polydor / Fiction). Both Sonic Youth and Nirvana signed to Geffen. Radiohead - Parlophone, Manic Street Preachers - Sony / Columbia etc. etc.
It's not just that bands signed to independent labels, many independent labels were bought by the majors, meaning some bands went from indie to not indie overnight (according to the original definition of the genre anyway)
Indie became popular in the 80's, the majors saw this and bought labels to get the bands. But hang on, the bands were popular, therefore they must be pop...........
It's not just that bands signed to independent labels, many independent labels were bought by the majors, meaning some bands went from indie to not indie overnight (according to the original definition of the genre anyway)
Indie became popular in the 80's, the majors saw this and bought labels to get the bands. But hang on, the bands were popular, therefore they must be pop...........
Haha...and around and around we go
Actually, if was often the other way around - the indies sought out deals with the majors because as their artists got bigger they couldn't handle the increase in cost and in marketing, distribution and physically pressing / packaging the records etc.
The indies were often victims of their own success in a way. When they had artists selling handfuls of records the indie label bosses could practically do everything themselves, including packaging the record sleeves. Not so easy to do when your artist is selling half a million copies!
Of course the major labels did want to jump on the "indie" bandwagon, in some cases as far back as punk (as we all know with the Sex Pistols being touted to all and sundry) and several of them created offshoot subsidiary labels specifically for the purpose of signing independently-minded artists, so Polydor had Fiction, Warners had Blanco Y Negro etc.
indie may have been used to describe certain types of music, but wrongly. indie was short for independent, and didn't describe a type of music at all. all sorts of music were indie
why would it feel wrong to dismiss an album from being considered an indie album if it wasn't an indie album because it was on a major label? what difference does it make?
you may as well ask what's the best rock album and let people pick albums by herbie hancock and kylie. it just defeats the whole purpose of asking such a question. albums like ok computer and a different class were on major labels so benefitted from a specific type of distribution and promotion that most true indie records didn't have. a good chunk of records mentioned are really britpop records on major labels, not indie
I would agree that the term 'indie music' generally refers to indie labels. And indie (or true indie labels as you say) is best defined by the label carrying out all the production processes; signing artists, recording, publishing, distributing and marketing their works. Some indie labels signed contracts with majors for distribution! So presumably they don't count?
But Indie rock and indie pop are equally legitimate terms referring to a type of music usually but not exclusively associated with artists on indie labels.
The question actually was what was the best 90s indie music album? The indie bit simply limits the number of albums we can choose from. More interesting than the semantics is why people think their particular choice is the best.
Again. I picked Slint's 'Spiderland' because of it's musical innovation, it's use of complex rhythms, atmospheric sounds, its poetics, imagery and it's influence on other artists (Mogwai, Explosions in the sky). Musically, I would describe it as indie rock and/or post-rock, I don't believe genres are rigid categories. I only wish I had heard it when it came out, it was some years later.
You seem to be dismissing a hell of a lot of influential albums just because they were lucky enough to be spotted by a major label.
well it might seem like that to you, but i don't know why. i'm certainly not dismissing them. all i'm saying is if they aren't released on an indie label they shouldn't be considered an indie album. it doesn't matter the music any better or worse or the music any more or less influential.
Just because the definition started one way, it doesn't mean things don't evolve. Pop was originally short for popular music, however there is now a sub genre of indie called indie pop, yet it is not particularly popular.
but you are talking about genres of music. indie music has no genre. you get dance, rock, pop and hip hop music as indie releases, and all of those genres are also released on major labels too
Here is a question for you.
The first album by the Presidents of the USA was released by PopLama records, an indie record label yet they are a rock band.
To further complicate matters the album was then re-released by Columbia records.
How would you describe this album?
Things arn't as black and white as you like to think
i presume you mean their second album, which was their second independant release, as their first album froggystyle which was an independant release hasn't been reissued on a major label. if an album is released on an indie label it's an indie album, even if it's subsequently reissued or distributed by a major label. it's the original release that counts. pretty simple in black and white really. it's just like singles that have the original release on an indie label and get picked up for distribution on a major label, such as commonly happened with dance music. dj's buy the import 12" and it gets popular in clubs and labels like sony would license it for release in the uk
well it might seem like that to you, but i don't know why. i'm certainly not dismissing them. all i'm saying is if they aren't released on an indie label they shouldn't be considered an indie album. it doesn't matter the music any better or worse or the music any more or less influential.
but you are talking about genres of music. indie music has no genre. you get dance, rock, pop and hip hop music as indie releases, and all of those genres are also released on major labels too
i presume you mean their second album, which was their second independant release, as their first album froggystyle which was an independant release hasn't been reissued on a major label. if an album is released on an indie label it's an indie album, even if it's subsequently reissued or distributed by a major label. it's the original release that counts. pretty simple in black and white really. it's just like singles that have the original release on an indie label and get picked up for distribution on a major label, such as commonly happened with dance music. dj's buy the import 12" and it gets popular in clubs and labels like sony would license it for release in the uk
but you are talking about genres of music. indie music has no genre. you get dance, rock, pop and hip hop music as indie releases, and all of those genres are also released on major labels too
Actually indie music has every sort of genre, including indie rock, indie pop and even indie dance are definable genres of music through their association with indie labels. Some of those genres also exist on major labels or indie labels owned by majors.
What was a possibly an interesting thread about the indie ethos and the music that emerges from that has been spoilt by a semantic argument…
i presume you mean their second album, which was their second independant release, as their first album froggystyle which was an independant release hasn't been reissued on a major label. if an album is released on an indie label it's an indie album, even if it's subsequently reissued or distributed by a major label. it's the original release that counts. pretty simple in black and white really. it's just like singles that have the original release on an indie label and get picked up for distribution on a major label, such as commonly happened with dance music. dj's buy the import 12" and it gets popular in clubs and labels like sony would license it for release in the uk
No froggystyle was a 10 track demo tape that was sold at gigs and never officially released. Most of the tracks were remastered and used on their first two albums or as b sides, and then some released on the special tenth anniversary edition of their first album.
Comments
and prince has been a true indie artist, releasing a number of albums and singles either directly or on other indie labels
You will hear the terms Indie Rock or Indie Pop because the various genres get associated with the independent labels which produced the music.
Alternative rock would be a better term I guess than Indie Rock
Indie pop was a whole scene in itself in the 80s which led to some many good things in UK music.
I think it's more about the DIY attitude of the labels and the bands involved.
Stereolab - Dots and Loops
The Auteurs - After Murder Park
There was a lot of good indie music in the 90's but how people pick the 80's over it I dunno.
But all people have different tastes 80's or late 70's was more the true indie years and 2002 and now is shite.
Just remember that god awful song mum has gone to Iceland's and Rosie and Jim.
The album that really catches the Heart of the 90's Holy bible by the Manics.
2. Godfodder - Neds Automic Dustbin
I totally agree, just like punk.
Anyway, I go for "Dummy" by Portishead.
So many great albums... can't decide...
Indie was used to describe the sound of certain guitar/piano-based acts, whether you agree with it or not, be it rock or pop. As another poster said, the term alternative was prevalent too.
Also there are many independent record labels around today which produce only dance music, so again the term indie has pretty much lost it's original meaning.
Anyway
Drugstore - Drugstore
The La's - The La's
Both Go! Discs, which I believe was an indie label before being bought by Polydor in the mid 90's
Not indie record labels
Eels - Electroshock Blues (Dreamworks)
Fountains of Wayne - Fountains Of Wayne (Atlantic)
indie may have been used to describe certain types of music, but wrongly. indie was short for independent, and didn't describe a type of music at all. all sorts of music were indie
why would it feel wrong to dismiss an album from being considered an indie album if it wasn't an indie album because it was on a major label? what difference does it make?
you may as well ask what's the best rock album and let people pick albums by herbie hancock and kylie. it just defeats the whole purpose of asking such a question. albums like ok computer and a different class were on major labels so benefitted from a specific type of distribution and promotion that most true indie records didn't have. a good chunk of records mentioned are really britpop records on major labels, not indie
You seem to be dismissing a hell of a lot of influential albums just because they were lucky enough to be spotted by a major label. Just because the definition started one way, it doesn't mean things don't evolve. Pop was originally short for popular music, however there is now a sub genre of indie called indie pop, yet it is not particularly popular.
Here is a question for you.
The first album by the Presidents of the USA was released by PopLama records, an indie record label yet they are a rock band.
To further complicate matters the album was then re-released by Columbia records.
How would you describe this album?
Things arn't as black and white as you like to think
The big problem is that many artists that fit the "alternative" description signed to major labels or subsidiaries thereof. The Cure are certainly alternative but have pretty much always been on a major label (Polydor / Fiction). Both Sonic Youth and Nirvana signed to Geffen. Radiohead - Parlophone, Manic Street Preachers - Sony / Columbia etc. etc.
Indie pop is still alive and well!
It's not just that bands signed to independent labels, many independent labels were bought by the majors, meaning some bands went from indie to not indie overnight (according to the original definition of the genre anyway)
Indie became popular in the 80's, the majors saw this and bought labels to get the bands. But hang on, the bands were popular, therefore they must be pop...........
Haha...and around and around we go
Actually, if was often the other way around - the indies sought out deals with the majors because as their artists got bigger they couldn't handle the increase in cost and in marketing, distribution and physically pressing / packaging the records etc.
The indies were often victims of their own success in a way. When they had artists selling handfuls of records the indie label bosses could practically do everything themselves, including packaging the record sleeves. Not so easy to do when your artist is selling half a million copies!
Of course the major labels did want to jump on the "indie" bandwagon, in some cases as far back as punk (as we all know with the Sex Pistols being touted to all and sundry) and several of them created offshoot subsidiary labels specifically for the purpose of signing independently-minded artists, so Polydor had Fiction, Warners had Blanco Y Negro etc.
I would agree that the term 'indie music' generally refers to indie labels. And indie (or true indie labels as you say) is best defined by the label carrying out all the production processes; signing artists, recording, publishing, distributing and marketing their works. Some indie labels signed contracts with majors for distribution! So presumably they don't count?
But Indie rock and indie pop are equally legitimate terms referring to a type of music usually but not exclusively associated with artists on indie labels.
The question actually was what was the best 90s indie music album? The indie bit simply limits the number of albums we can choose from. More interesting than the semantics is why people think their particular choice is the best.
Again. I picked Slint's 'Spiderland' because of it's musical innovation, it's use of complex rhythms, atmospheric sounds, its poetics, imagery and it's influence on other artists (Mogwai, Explosions in the sky). Musically, I would describe it as indie rock and/or post-rock, I don't believe genres are rigid categories. I only wish I had heard it when it came out, it was some years later.
Llama Farmers-Dead Letter Chorus.
Idlewild-Hope is important.
Seafood-Messager in the camp.
It would be nice for someone to leave me comment.
I could say Snow Patrol Songs For Polarbears since it was on Jeepster.
Blur
- Modern Life is Rubbish
- Parklife
- Blur
Morrissey
- Your Arsenal
- Vauxhall and I
- Southpaw Grammar
Depeche Mode
- Violator
- Songs of Faith and Devotion
- Ultra
Suede
- Suede
- Dog Man Star
Pixies
- Bossa Nova
- Trompe le Monde
Supergrass
- I Should Coco
- In It for the Money
Super Furry Animals
- Fuzzy Logic
- Radiator
- Guerrilla
... though I rarely listen to any of these albums now with the exception of Morrissey and Depeche Mode's stuff
but you are talking about genres of music. indie music has no genre. you get dance, rock, pop and hip hop music as indie releases, and all of those genres are also released on major labels too i presume you mean their second album, which was their second independant release, as their first album froggystyle which was an independant release hasn't been reissued on a major label. if an album is released on an indie label it's an indie album, even if it's subsequently reissued or distributed by a major label. it's the original release that counts. pretty simple in black and white really. it's just like singles that have the original release on an indie label and get picked up for distribution on a major label, such as commonly happened with dance music. dj's buy the import 12" and it gets popular in clubs and labels like sony would license it for release in the uk
You know, you're really being quite boring now!
Thanks for spoiling an interesting thread.
Actually indie music has every sort of genre, including indie rock, indie pop and even indie dance are definable genres of music through their association with indie labels. Some of those genres also exist on major labels or indie labels owned by majors.
What was a possibly an interesting thread about the indie ethos and the music that emerges from that has been spoilt by a semantic argument…
No froggystyle was a 10 track demo tape that was sold at gigs and never officially released. Most of the tracks were remastered and used on their first two albums or as b sides, and then some released on the special tenth anniversary edition of their first album.