08-16-2011, 09:37 AM
Man, people say this all the time and I just don't get it. What, to you, is "Indie rock" exactly? Because there's nothing inherent about a sound played by bands that are on independent labels, or, a label that isn't one of the big four.
Rock and roll made by bands that aren't on major labels has always been big, it's just "Huge now" as you said. Sonic Youth anyone? Arcade Fire?
The Hip are incapable of making an "Indie rock" record as they're on a major label. I really don't think the band is trying to "Pitch" themselves to a certain demographic. In the past few years, I think the band has realized who their fans are, they've realized that these fans will show up to their shows no matter what they play, and as such, they're simply trying to push their boundaries, if ever so slightly, artistically.[/quote]
So basically your argument is that The Hip's music is no longer good because their past achievements are so monumental that what they write in 2011 doesn't really matter? Or are you saying that it is good, but just more boundary-pushing, which is why it's no longer to my taste? Because I listen to some pretty weird stuff dude. The record wasn't too boundary-pushing for me. It was too mediocre for me.
Yes, We Are the Same was not a typical rock record, and you could argue that the band was challenging themselves by writing different kinds of songs then we expect from them. The problem is that they weren't challenging themselves as musicians or craftsmen. That's what indie rock is at it's worst. All the sloppiness and DIY attitude (which can be glorious in the right hands ) and none of the hooks. We are talking about the band that wrote Bobcaygeon. They can make very pretty music when they set their minds to it. Yet We are the Same is bland as bland can be.
Also, you should know that it's entirely possible for an indie rock band to play on a major label. "Indie" is now used to describe a genre of music, and no longer strictly refers to band on independent labels. But more to the point, I never said The Hip were an indie band. They're not. They're a hard rock band in the style of The Stones, trying to move albums by pretending to be indie.
Rock and roll made by bands that aren't on major labels has always been big, it's just "Huge now" as you said. Sonic Youth anyone? Arcade Fire?
The Hip are incapable of making an "Indie rock" record as they're on a major label. I really don't think the band is trying to "Pitch" themselves to a certain demographic. In the past few years, I think the band has realized who their fans are, they've realized that these fans will show up to their shows no matter what they play, and as such, they're simply trying to push their boundaries, if ever so slightly, artistically.[/quote]
So basically your argument is that The Hip's music is no longer good because their past achievements are so monumental that what they write in 2011 doesn't really matter? Or are you saying that it is good, but just more boundary-pushing, which is why it's no longer to my taste? Because I listen to some pretty weird stuff dude. The record wasn't too boundary-pushing for me. It was too mediocre for me.
Yes, We Are the Same was not a typical rock record, and you could argue that the band was challenging themselves by writing different kinds of songs then we expect from them. The problem is that they weren't challenging themselves as musicians or craftsmen. That's what indie rock is at it's worst. All the sloppiness and DIY attitude (which can be glorious in the right hands ) and none of the hooks. We are talking about the band that wrote Bobcaygeon. They can make very pretty music when they set their minds to it. Yet We are the Same is bland as bland can be.
Also, you should know that it's entirely possible for an indie rock band to play on a major label. "Indie" is now used to describe a genre of music, and no longer strictly refers to band on independent labels. But more to the point, I never said The Hip were an indie band. They're not. They're a hard rock band in the style of The Stones, trying to move albums by pretending to be indie.
