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What the hell is "indie rock," anyway?

photo by Julie Schuchard

Is "indie rock" a genre, like "alternative rock?" What defines it? Is it a sound? Is it about what label a band or artist is on?

I used to tell people that indie rock, to me, had to do with the label. The band/artist had to be on an independent label such as Matador, Sub Pop, Barsuk, or one of the smaller indie labels, like Arts & Crafts, Minty Fresh or Bar None. Capitol, Island, BMG, and all their little pretend-small labels (where they try to make it look like the band is signed to an indie, but it's just a name that falls under the big label's umbrella) are not indie rock.

So, then, where does one put bands like Nada Surf, who used to be signed to a major, but lost their deal, and are now signed to an indie again? Are they indie rock? Or what about Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, or the Decemberists, who each put out several indie releases before signing with a major? Do you say that they used to be indie rock, but they aren't anymore? If they were to drop the major label tomorrow and return to their indie label without changing their sound or anything else, would they be indie rock again?

Some people get into hot debates about the label: I played a Weezer song on my radio station (Indie Pop Rocks! on SomaFM) one day for fun, and got several emails from listeners complaining heartily that Weezer IS NOT indie rock. I've also played a few songs off the new Death Cab For Cutie, but most people seem okay with that (I get far more requests than I do complaints).

Recently, I saw that iTunes had launched a new indie rock store front in their iTunes Music Store. Curious, I went and checked it out. Only about 10% to 20% of the bands featured on the main page of the storefront were on indie labels, which I found surprising, since I'm acquainted with some of the people at iTunes, and I know that they know their music better than that. Why do you think they'd say that the Strokes are indie?

Is indie rock a sound? I've definitely heard people say that to them, it's "depressing whiny-boy mellow guitar music" or some similar definition. Think Bright Eyes, American Analog Set, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, or John Vanderslice. That's fine — but where do Klee, Kiss Me Deadly, or Ladytron fit into that model (with their female vocals over electronic-y, '80s-influenced beats and melodies)? What about the more punk-sounding indie rock bands, like The Talk or The High Strung? Or poppier, upbeat male/female dual-vocalist bands, like Stars, Mates of State, or the New Pornographers?

Is indie rock defined by popularity? For some people, the more obscure a band is, the better. If more than a few other indie music snobs have heard of it, then it's obviously too mainstream. Whatever works for them, I suppose. There certainly are plenty of bands no one's heard of yet.

Or maybe indie rock is defined by the fans? For example, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are on a major label now, but I think most people still consider them indie because they're hipsters and their fans are hipsters. At the same time, Built to Spill is now on a major label, and while I consider them to be one of the founding bands of indie rock, I don't think they are really indie anymore, especially after going to see them play two nights ago and being surrounded by frat boys. Ew.

Elise interviewing Britt Daniel, photo by Julie Schuchard

Is there any real reason to care what defines indie rock? Is it going to end hunger, help world peace, or stop the depletion of the ozone? Of course not. Sometimes, though, it's nice to know that everyone defines a term in a similar way, so everyone understands what you're talking about. Or perhaps, as Britt Daniel from Spoon said to me in a recent "what is indie rock" interview, "Who
cares?"

What do you think defines indie rock?

Posted June 2006

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Comments are closed

patricks42 commented, on July 3, 2006 at 11:47 a.m.:

Indie Rock is to Alternative as Alternative was to Metal circa 1993. The alternative to the mainstream eventually replaces the mainstream and becomes mainstream itself. And then the boy bands come back.

-Patrick

walnut commented, on July 7, 2006 at 7:58 p.m.:

Just my opinion but some bands seem to change with the addition of a major label... The desire to make good music is muttled by the pressure to make $$$ for the label.

My music of choice is Indie for that reason. Not just indie rock, but jazz, hip-hop, folk, even ehh-gag country?!? The music doesn't need to have that "pop" but the lyrics and emotions can change your ideas on life.

I however, don't stop listening to a band just because they get signed, that's no way to support a group that you have thought highly of for so long. If they keep putting out the lyrics, and have emotion when they play I'll be a fan for life.

But watching a band fall back to indie can be just as interesting, I'm waiting for Cake's first album since leaving Sony...

Sorry long winded.

-Walnut.

hotchicken commented, on July 8, 2006 at 8:33 a.m.:

An indie band will sign with a company like Sony or BMG simply because they sell a lot of records. Some executive notices and says "Let's get in on that." Does that mean a band like Modest Mouse is no longer "indie"? Technically no, if you take "indie" to mean independent label. Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie started as indie rock bands, but they're not anymore.

But what about their sound? They don't sound any different. Just because they're making more money doesn't mean they're any less talented. So I say it's not about the sound. "Indie rock" is an economic term which says more about the person who uses it than about the band itself. Someone who listens to "indie rock" has a problem with the corporate nature of our society. They see themselves as taking a stand against the lowest-common-denominator by seeking out new and unspoiled artists.

tommyflake commented, on July 8, 2006 at 1:46 p.m.:

Maybe indie rock is a vibe more than an economic description? I sort of consider descriptions important for narrowing my choices from a massive selection and less a definition of a particular band.

To me, indie rock is quirky rock that is often raw and recorded in an interesting way.

By the way, I live in Indy (indianapolis), and am constantly being asked to explain what indie rock is, because people here (who have never heard of indie rock) assume that it means Indianapolis rock, which is hilariously ironic sue to the lack of indie rock here.

hotchicken commented, on July 8, 2006 at 7:57 p.m.:

You're right, Tommy. "Indie Rock" is becoming a subheading of Alternative in a lot of stores, next to Pop, Punk, Emo, etc., and it can narrow your choices to a certain sound, I guess. But like Elise mentioned, mainstream bands like the Strokes and the White Stripes are showing up in Indie Rock sections. I think some sellers don't understand the true spirit of the indie scene. Why not just call it Alternative Rock?

I dunno, maybe I'm just being a snob.

walnut commented, on July 9, 2006 at 2:59 p.m.:

All new style rock is Alternative Rock.. it's an alternative to what once was.

I think there is no true way to classify something. It will have to eventually fall to the status of 70's, 80's, 90's, etc...

I think "indie rock" has stayed with that title for so long because it's until recent that it's been adopted by the masses. It simply brings the "indie rock" title with it as it enters mainstream airwaves. So with that the title changes from indie rock in the independent label sense of the word to what it presently is, indie rock the style of music.

archiver commented, on July 10, 2006 at 10:25 a.m.:

"indie" is whatever plays on SomaFM-IndiePopRocks, my favourite radio station. Elise does all the thinking (debating whether Indie is about labels, sound, or obscurity) and I do all the listening.

The songs on IndiePopRocks end up echoing what I already have in my own "indie-oriented" music collection or fill the gaps and help me to decide on my next acquisitions.

For what it's worth though, the definition of "Indie" for me is about the sound and mood of the music rather than the legal status of the band's contract or their record sales.