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'Indie rock' is a music genre denoting rock artists signed to independent (indie) record labels, often equated with alternative rock. Reasons for remaining with indie labels as opposed to major labels varies from artist to artist, whether it be a desire to retain complete editorial control over one's work, a loyalty to the underground DIY culture from which independent labels grow, or an anti-corporate ideology espoused by the artist and a desires not to contribute to the financial interests of corporate-owned major labels. In recent years, however, the word "indie" has been appropriated as something of a marketing term used by major labels and music magazines to refer to any artists of the alternative rock genre. However, in the traditional sense of the word, indie rock is not a "genre", but rather a ''status'', indicating the rock artists of independent music.

Contents

History

U.K. 80s

U.S. 80s

U.S. 90s

Main indie rock genres of the 90s

After 2000

Main indie rock genres after 2000

References

See also

External links

History

U.K. 80s

In the United Kingdom, indie music charts have been compiled since the early 1980s. Initially, the charts featured bands that emerged with a form of guitar-based alternative rock that dominated the indie charts, particularly indie pop artists such as Aztec Camera and Orange Juice, the C86 jangle-pop movement and the twee pop of Sarah Records artists. Some definitive British indie rock bands of the 80s were The Smiths, The Stone Roses and The Jesus and Mary Chain, whose music directly influenced 1990s alternative movements such as shoegazing and Britpop. In fact, it is quite common in Britain for all alternative music to be referred to as "indie" instead of "alternative."

U.S. 80s

In the United States, the music commonly regarded as indie rock is descended from an alternative rock scene largely influenced by the movements of the 1970s and early 1980s and their DIY ethos. In the 80's the term "indie rock" was particularly associated with the abrasive, distortion-heavy sounds of Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr (who coincidently are often mentioned as an influence on the shoegazing movement, though they were hardcore punk bands), Sonic Youth, Big Black, and others that populated American indie labels, separating them from jangly college rock bands like R.E.M. and 10,000 Maniacs, who, by the end of the decade, were signed to major labels.

U.S. 90s

During the first half of the 1990s, alternative music, led by grunge bands such as Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, broke into the mainstream, achieving commercial chart success and widespread exposure. Shortly thereafter the alternative genre became commercialized as mainstream success attracted major-label investment and commercially-oriented or manufactured acts with a formulaic, conservative approach. With this, the meaning of the label "alternative" changed away from its original, more counter-cultural meaning to refer to alternative music that achieved mainstream success and the term "indie rock" was used to refer to the bands and genres that remained underground. One of the defining movements of 90s American indie rock was the lo-fi movement spearheaded by Guided by Voices, Pavement, Sebadoh, The Grifters, Liz Phair, The Elephant 6 Recording Co., and others, which placed a premium on rough recording techniques, ironic detachment, and disinterest in "selling out" to the mainstream alternative rock scene.

Main indie rock genres of the 90s

★ Lo fi, as already mentioned above

★ Noise rock, (continuing with Unwound, Shellac, Blonde Redhead)

★ Riot Grrl, (Bikini Kill, Bratmobile)

★ Math rock, (Chavez, Jesus Lizard, June of '44)

★ Post rock, (Slint, Mogwai)

★ Twee pop, (Belle & Sebastian)

After 2000

Indie rock of the second half of the nineties became increasingly introverted and calm (lofi and post rock). After 2000 many new indie bands came up with a much louder sound and more extroverted vocals (Dance punk, post punk). During the mid 1990s and until this day however, similar to what happened with alternative rock indie has become a marketing term for mainstream rock, its definition far from its original meaning and connotations. A less fashionable term for almost similar music is experimental rock.

Main indie rock genres after 2000

★ 'Post-Punk Revival:' Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Editors, Interpol, The Cribs

★ 'Garage Rock Revival:' The Strokes, Ikara Colt, The Libertines, Mclusky, The Vines, The Von Bondies

★ 'Noise Rock:' Melt-Banana, The Locust, Lightning Bolt, Neptune

★ 'Dance-punk:' !!!, The Rapture, Liars
Additional less clear defined genres such as:

★ 'Baroque Pop:' An updated take on the folk music of the 1960s, as well as the Beach Boys' pioneering Pet Sounds album. (See: Arcade Fire, Danielson Famile, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, John Vanderslice, Broken Social Scene, Islands, Stars)

★ 'New Prog:' Mew, Porcupine Tree

★ 'New Weird America ''or'' Freak Folk:' A more experimental take on New Folk that generally revolves around quirky, psych-inflected folk songs and ballads. (See: Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective, Six Organs of Admittance)

★ 'Psych-Folk:' The most heavily psych-influenced strain of New Folk, frequently consisting of avant-garde noise, drones, or dissonance, and often employing natural field recordings for added atmosphere. (See: No-Neck Blues Band, Brightblack Morning Light, Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice, Entrance)

References

★ Mathieson, Craig (2000), ''The Sell-In: How the Music Business Seduced Alternative Rock'', Sydney, Allen and Unwin

See also

★ Indie (music)

★ Indie (culture)

★ List of indie rock artists

★ List of DIY artists

★ Hipster (contemporary subculture)

External links

★ TheOuterPost.com - Indie networking site for artists, musicians, goldfish, fashionistas, and their fans

★ Pitchfork Media Reviews

★ Stereogum - blog

★ IndieHarbor.com - indie music/culture social network

★ Torontomusicscene.ca Promoting Toronto area indie rock

★ RockSites.com Promoting Indie Rock