Hot Indie Bands!

[Sensfan67]

Well one I know of from my hometown is The Michetons. These guys just released an EP on iTunes which is definately worth checking out. Feel free to comment and list your own favorites!

[psychofreak]

Maximo park, The Subways, The Fratellis...worth listening to!

[Dunepilot]

The Young Knives
Popular Workshop
Blood Red Shoes

That's about it for me, as far as indie is concerned

[Legolamb]

Live, from Montreal: Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, The Stills, The Dears....

[OwlsAndApples]

Blood Red Shoes are quality!
Just read NME for a couple of months :)

I like:
The Maccabees
Metric
Hot Club De Paris
Tokyo Police Club

also the Horrors released their debut album today...all though I'm not much of a fan :(

[calculus]

Blood Red Shoes are quality!
Just read NME for a couple of months :)



Blood Red Shoes are certainly my favourite 'new band' currently. I'm also loving Cold War Kids.

Good advice re. NME too

[psychofreak]

I like:

Hot Club De Paris


Saw them the other day at a Maximo Park concert...AWESOME...not so great recorded though IMO

[bartelby]

NME is utter crap!

I'm sure they're paid by labels to push ****** bands into the limelight!

[BoyBach]

Just read NME for a couple of months :)



I thought (or maybe hoped) that the NME had gone out of business a long time ago?

[acircularmotive]

NME is utter crap!

I'm sure they're paid by labels to push ****** bands into the limelight!

Isn't that just how all media seems to work? :rolleyes:
Unfortunate really.

[bartelby]

Isn't that just how all media seems to work? :rolleyes:
Unfortunate really.

Yep.
That's why I pay no attention to the media, especially the music press!

[RugoseCone]

The Black Keys
Elliott Brood
Heartless Bastards
Moros Eros
The Blood Brothers

All bands on independent labels and available on iTunes or DRM free at eMusic.com

[psycoswimmer]

Maximo park, The Subways, The Fratellis...worth listening to!

I've been hooked on The Fratellis since I found the song Flathead from the iTunes commercial.

[SpookTheHamster]

Portugal. The Man are a great band. Their album; 'Waiter: "you Vultures"' is one of my favourite from last year. Also, 'Peregrine' by the Appleseed Cast, or indeed any of their albums.

"indie" is a stupid term, though. How many of the bigger indie bands are actually independent?

[mac 2005]

Portugal. The Man are a great band. Their album; 'Waiter: "you Vultures"' is one of my favourite from last year. Also, 'Peregrine' by the Appleseed Cast, or indeed any of their albums.

"indie" is a stupid term, though. How many of the bigger indie bands are actually independent?

My only problem with the word "independent" is the implication that the musicians are somehow more "pure" than their contract-with-a-major-label counterparts. Good music is good music, regardless of the band's status, in my humble opinion.

That said, I think any number of bands might be better served by innovating and creating a "new sound" vs. what strikes me as a misguided sense of originality by writing music that grates and lyrics that amount to nonsense.

[LeeTom]

I like this band from Seattle called The Hands. They're on iTunes as well.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=208311099

http://www.myspace.com/handshandshands

[A-Dog]

Also, 'Peregrine' by the Appleseed Cast, or indeed any of their albums.



Great record..

http://www.kludgemagazine.com/images/daily_news/Appleseed_Cast_Peregrine.gif

Also digging on Riddle Of Steel, Dead Meadow, 90 Day Men, Ataxia, The Makers..

[Dunepilot]

Blood Red Shoes are certainly my favourite 'new band' currently. I'm also loving Cold War Kids.

Good advice re. NME too

I was using 'indie' in terms of the NME-friendly definition, admittedly. I personally hate NME and think it does nothing to uncover genuinely good music, but I like all of Steve Ansell's bands, including Blood Red Shoes.

However, I strongly recommend that people check out his other current band (Projections (http://www.myspace.com/projectionsmyspace)) and his old hardcore band, Cat On Form. Both of these bands are really in a different league to Blood Red Shoes.

[devilot]

I'm not sure I understand the definition of 'indie' bands, but I do love me some of The 88 (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=81048506&s=143441).

[iGav]

NME is utter crap!

I'm sure they're paid by labels to push ****** bands into the limelight!

It never used to be, it all went tits up when it changed formats into a quasi-glossy. :(

[bartelby]

It never used to be, it all went tits up when it changed formats into a quasi-glossy. :(

When it absorbed Melody Maker it went crap!
They got the good journo's from either paper and sacked them!

[Kernow]

When it absorbed Melody Maker it went crap!
They got the good journo's from either paper and sacked them!

Absolutely. I always thought the Melody Maker was far superior, and everything went down hill after the 'merger'

[OwlsAndApples]

Yikes! Severe anti-NME opinions here...My main problem with it is that it hooks itself on certain bands which it then swears by for months...just seems fickle...also it always gives albums 8/10...why do I read it then? Simply because of the photos and that I was once in it :)

Since I've been reading it I've gone to lots more concerts, and am now quite familiar with the London 'Indie' scene.

[artalliance]

...but that doesn't make the new CD from Peter Bjorn and John less awesome!

[deliccato]

http://www.cavedoll.com

CAVEDOLL!!!

[DJMastaWes]

Live, from Montreal: Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, The Stills, The Dears....

Montreal is where it's at.

To add to the list...
Stars, the Islands.

I love living here.
Arcade Fire has done 8 concerts here in the last 2-3 months. All of which has were sold out in 5 minutes.

[mannix87]

Montreal is where it's at.

To add to the list...
Stars, the Islands.

I love living here.
Arcade Fire has done 8 concerts here in the last 2-3 months. All of which has were sold out in 5 minutes.

lucky you! lots of great indie bands up there in Canada. not to mention, Feist, Broken Social Scene, new Pornographers etc.

[Shaduu]

I'm surprised The View haven't been mentioned here. Their debut album Hats Off To The Buskers is fantastic.

[disconap]

Minmae

---> link (http://www.minmae.com)

[milan123]

The new 'Emilie Simon' cd is coming out called march of the empress.. Have you guys heard about it at all?

[G5Unit]

Bonobo
The Shins
Paramore

[szark]

I'll have to check out some of these when I get home tonight.

My contribution: Jak Paris

[rockthecasbah]

...but that doesn't make the new CD from Peter Bjorn and John less awesome!

I just got that CD today! It's quite good.

[epochblue]

I just got that CD today! It's quite good.

Another vote for the Peter Bjorn and John. I was listening to this again at work today. Great album!

[mekis]

I like Posh's new song Against The Grain, its driving and it has a hit song quality about it . I think it will be my fave for 2007. Check it out on iTunes.

[iamhammill]

I don't think they are too indie any more, but COLD WAR KIDS!!!

Woo, and for some indie rock.

The Colour
The Wildbirds
The Shys
Delta Spirit

[epochblue]

I don't think they are too indie any more, but COLD WAR KIDS!!!

Woo, and for some indie rock.

The Colour
The Wildbirds
The Shys
Delta Spirit

Not gonna plug your own band? I hear the Swinging Fingers are pretty sweet ;)

[BurtonCCC]

Not gonna plug your own band? I hear the Swinging Fingers are pretty sweet ;)

:) I hear Boone (http://www.myspace.com/mybandboone) is pretty great.

Daniel.

[OwlsAndApples]

I don't think they are too indie any more, but COLD WAR KIDS!!!


I love Cold War Kids! :) and CSS...and the 1990's .. :)

[iamhammill]

Not gonna plug your own band? I hear the Swinging Fingers are pretty sweet ;)

Hahaha. Well in that case


http://www.myspace.com/swingingfingers

[slu]

I came in this thread to mention:

Tokyo Police Club
Cold War Kids
The Black Keys

I am very happy that they have already been mentioned!

So, I'll also mention The Slip, M.Ward, and Spoon.

And if you wanted to get technical, Radiohead are currently an "indie" band :D

[epochblue]

I came in this thread to mention:

Tokyo Police Club
Cold War Kids
The Black Keys

I am very happy that they have already been mentioned!

So, I'll also mention The Slip, M.Ward, and Spoon.

And if you wanted to get technical, Radiohead are currently an "indie" band :D


The Black Keys are amazing, and even better in concert! It's a similar story with Spoon and M. Ward too.

[rockthecasbah]

I'd like to clarify my opinion of the PB&J album "Writer's Block." It is certainly a good album for sure and worth the money, but after listening to it again i was a little disappointing. That's not to say it isn't good, but rather i thought it would be a little more innovative. It has the same kind of "garage" feel that i hear in a lot of indie bands these days. It's good, but i wouldn't call it the album of the year, that's for sure.

Here are some of my favorite indie bands but far from all:

The Album Leaf - awesome ambient, chill out stuff

Apostle Of Hustle - I don't have their new album, but their first release "Folkloric Feel" is rather interesting. Pretty cool approach to the whole indie scene without completely redefining the genre.

Beulah - just great overall catchy indie pop songs

The Decemberists - They've gotten rather popular but i've been into them for years and still cannot get enough.. each album is such a monumental improvement over the last.

Kings Of Convenience - cool duo consisting of Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, great example of diversity.. they can switch from Simon and Garfunkel-esk songs to electronic remixes...

Momus - I don't know if this technically counts for the list because Momus is just one man (an extremely strange and perverted one at that), but he deserves a bit of credit. His music is very juvenile and simple but it's really just a means of getting his pretty creative lyrics out there. They have a cheesy old man feel with crappy synths and stuff, but his silly and quite perverse lyrics just make you giggle or gasp. (i only have the album ping pong but give it a sample, might not be worth a buy as a whole..)

Sigur Rós - you cannot mention amazing indie with Sigur Rós. They have the most beautiful and serene music around today. Truly stunning at times with the gradual progression and melodies they have.

The Stills - Their debut album "Logic Will Break Your Heart" was amazing, a great mix of Interpol style emptiness and indie pop tracks. So at the tower records clearance i blindly picked up their sophomore album "Without Feathers." At first it was quite disheartening, they had completely thrown aside their previous style in favor of a much more common and commercial 'New Pornographers style.' As i listened more and more i got into it. It's simple and different, definitely worth a glance but it won't change you at all...

Tarkio - Colin Meloy's (lead vocals of The Decemberists) first band signed to Kill Rock Stars. Give the 2006 retrospective album a listen. It's about 27 tracks, many of which i consider to be on par or better than earlier and even current Decemberists music. It is of that genre but at points is more folk, and then others is more pain alternative jams.

The Whitest Boy Alive - again i acknowledge a band of Erlend Øye. WTBA is simply a great indie band. Combining electronic music and indie they have a simple yet melodic sound and clarity that is welcoming in an age characterized largely by plain "walls of sound."

........
I'll add some more bands later, but this is a healthy start to some good indie tunes :)

EDIT: G5Unit i too, quite cool electronic stuff :D

[mike dunx]

I think i've listened to the new shins album about 20 times in the past week.

[rockthecasbah]

I think i've listened to the new shins album about 20 times in the past week.

is that because you love it so much or that you dont have anything else :p

[jordygreen]

I love Cold War Kids! :) and CSS...and the 1990's .. :)

wooo CSS i saw them when they wer eon tour in UK very good live im seeing them again aswell as klaxons and lcd soundsystem at leeds festival :D. bloc party are pretty good also a UK band not too big but forward russia. I would recommend them all.

[slu]

The Black Keys are amazing, and even better in concert! It's a similar story with Spoon and M. Ward too.

Agreed, I have seen The Black Keys at least 5 times and will go again at the drop of a hat.

I have seen Spoon and Cold War Kids once each. I thought Spoon was great, but I did not think they were that much better live than on CD...but that being said, I am going to see them again next month.

The reason I like Cold War Kids is because I saw them live. My buddy had the CD and I didn't like it that much at first, but the live set was awesome and I have been into the CD ever since. And the show was FREE!

Still need to see M.Ward live...I think this year's Bonaroo might be my only shot though.

[spicyapple]

Mates of State out of San Francisco. They are so indie even by indie standards. It's a husband/wife team. Really catchy tunes.

http://www.matesofstate.com/video/fraud.mov

[epochblue]

...I think this year's Bonaroo might be my only shot though.

Not sure what I think about huge festivals like that. I've never been to one, but I tend to prefer seeing artists I like in more intimate settings (small clubs, etc). The Hi-Tone in Memphis, TN is a great example (if you've ever been there). I feel like the artist's music wouldn't really come through the same way at a festival. Festivals seem like they're more about the festival and less about the music...but perhaps I'm just being jaded.

Oh, and sorry for the quasi-hijack. My bad.

[2pac]

http://www.cavedoll.com

CAVEDOLL!!!

interesting music... but not my type of it :) but I liked the www :p

[Daveway]

Young Love
Eisley
PlayRadioPlay
The Rocket Summer

Just a few I've been listening to.

[nnick]

Burbank Cartel

www.myspace.com/burbankcartel

[rikers_mailbox]

Young Love
Eisley
PlayRadioPlay
The Rocket Summer

Just a few I've been listening to.

Eisley is great. Sweet harmonies and easy on the eyes. ;) Seen them 3-4 times now.

But you gotta check out Tally Hall (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=121984323&s=143441). If you like music, then you will like TH. Frickin' amazing.

[urista]

the ponys
i'm from barcelona
stephen malkmus

[Markleshark]

Arctic Monkeys!!

New album out yesterday, bloody fantastic!

[davidjearly]

1. Imogen Heap (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=189964745&s=143444)/Frou Frou (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=14927545&s=143444),
2. Goldspot (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=251134446&s=143444),
3. Belle & Sebastian (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=78608706&s=143444),
4. Captain (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=171418090&s=143444)

[maxrobertson]

Two of the indie bands I really like are Lost in Tokyo and Noe Venable

I really like the shins too

[josepho]

I'd have to further the suggestions of:
Tokyo Police Club
Broken Social Scene
Stars

(At least two of which I believe are Canadian... At the moment I'm very disillusioned with British music in general. I think bands like The Fratellis, The Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fray are all hyped far too much and really do nothing for me -- particularly the Arctic Monkeys... what's so popular about the whole "chav" scene anyway?)

[catmarigold]

School for the Dead (http://www.schoolforthedead.com)
The Fawns (http://www.thefawns.com)
Henning Ohlenbusch (http://rockumentary.net)
Winterpills (http://www.winterpills.com)
Of Montreal (http://www.ofmontreal.com)
Casper and The Cookies (http://www.casperandthecookies.com)
Mark Mulcahy (http://www.markmulcahy.com)

[almightyshoe]

Eisley is great. Sweet harmonies and easy on the eyes. ;) Seen them 3-4 times now.

The girls of Eisley are so cute it's not even funny.

Belle and Sebastian are a must for everyone; check out "The Boy with the Arab Strap" and if you don't love it, I'll give you a prize.*

For mellow stuff, check out El Ten Eleven, and of course, Album Leaf and Mogwai. I'm a fan of El Ten Eleven, but sometimes I keep it on loop and never notice that the album has been repeating itself for 3 hours.

I'm a fan of Minus the Bear, and recently picked up The Jealous Sound, which is pretty similar.








* Prize may or may not refer to actual prize. Must be 18 or older to enter. Offer void where prohibited.

[dallasuo]

I'm not sure I understand the definition of 'indie' bands, but I do love me some of The 88 (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=81048506&s=143441).

indie = independent

usually more underground kinda stuff

[maxrobertson]

I'm a big fan of Noe Venable
Lost in Tokyo is also pretty good, but they're so indie you can only find them on myspace.

[roughtenator]

I love the Fratellis!!

[coconn06]

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists = win

Check out the album Shake the Sheets...amazing!

[Killyp]

Bloc Party addict atm :) Silent Alarm is in the beogram at the moment...

[psychofreak]

Bloc Party addict atm :) Silent Alarm is in the beogram at the moment...

They're great live as well, seeing 'em again at Reading...

[jordygreen]

Well indie music is my speciliaty :p along with new rave .

Well im liking art brut (saw them on monday in leeds)
Young Love
Bloc Party
CSS
New Young Pony Club (love them at the moment)
Mum-Rahs
LCD Soundsystem
The Whip
Cajun Dance Party
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
Shiny Toy Guns

[psychofreak]

Well indie music is my speciliaty :p along with new rave .
[/snip]
Mum-Rahs
Mumm-Ra...as in the guy from Thundercats :)

[jordygreen]

oops i spelt it wrong but yea them, really is it? Ther enot actually too bad lol.

[DJMastaWes]

Bloc Party addict atm :) Silent Alarm is in the beogram at the moment...

I saw them Live in March. They were amazing. I'm gonna see them again in September at the Montreal Osheaga Festival.

[almightyshoe]

Yesterday I dug out a CD by The National called Boxer. Easily the best indie album of 2007. Mogwai came out with a new CD though, so I have to check that out. Suburban Legends: Tokyo Nights was a huge disappointment, so all you SL fans out there. You're not missing a thing.

[cleanup]

Yesterday I dug out a CD by The National called Boxer. Easily the best indie album of 2007. Mogwai came out with a new CD though, so I have to check that out. Suburban Legends: Tokyo Nights was a huge disappointment, so all you SL fans out there. You're not missing a thing.

Nice, you listen to some real indie.

The problem with indie is when it becomes too popular. I hate all those kids who are like "I like indie because I heard it on the O.C." Bahhh.

Current favorites:
Calvin Harris (http://www.last.fm/music/Calvin+Harris)
The New Young Pony Club (http://www.last.fm/music/The+New+Young+Pony+Club)
Broken Social Scene (http://www.last.fm/music/Broken+Social+Scene)
Feist (http://www.last.fm/music/Feist) (most amazing female vocals ever)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (http://www.last.fm/music/Clap+Your+Hands+Say+Yeah)

[TheFuzz]

i'll add Push! (http://myspace.com/ournameispush) to the list. The Pretenders meets Echo & the Bunnymen with a little New Order on the side. I'm finishing up a music vid for them, will post when it's finished.

[drewzy]

Ooh i see a lot of Canadian indie bands being represented. May I throw in Emily Haines and Soft Skeleton. And I totally vote along with Tokyo Police Club.

For some trippy portland-based weirdness, try menomena.

[MIDI_EVIL]

Grizzly Bear

Wolf Parade

My Latest Novel

The Besnard Lakes

Panda Bear


Rich.

[matt311rocks]

Deerhoof
Loose Fur (Side project of Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche along with Jim O'Rourke)
Ex Models
Explosions in the Sky
The Unicorns
Tapes n' Tapes

[adn rcd dly]

i love autolux (http://www.myspace.com/autolux)
and modwheelmood (http://www.myspace.com/modwheelmood)

[fingers]

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_music) defines "Indie" as: "refers to an artist or band that is not part of the mainstream culture and/or making music outside its influence. Though the sound of these bands may differ greatly, the "Indie" definition comes from the do-it-yourself attitude and ability to work outside large corporations."

I am a big fan of Arcade Fire, who were absolutely electric at a small London uni show a while back, and also great at Glastonbury.

I like Art Brut, Misty's Big Adventure, CSS and I think the mighty The Killers, allthough have reached global super-star status are a mighty fine Indie band, even though Wikipedia might disagree.

If you wanna listen to some Mac made indie music, check out this lot (http://www.macidol.com/music/alternative/indie/). I can recommend any track by slumbering, Paul Brazier (aka Bottled), Maggie Osterberg, Frogmorton, Gumbo, B&Massa, Mary Carradine and search for Sp3ccylad.

[killerrobot]

My friend is into Tv on the Radio, but it not for me, but still a good band.

As of lately I'm into The Shout Out Louds, and Arcade Fire as well. Can't get enough of either one of them.

I've got to agree though about this whole "indie" debate. A good band is still a good band even if they've signed onto a big contract. The problem is the "masses" of people that will buy into it all just because its pushed onto them without even really deciding if it's good music or not.

[fingers]

A good band is still a good band even if they've signed onto a big contract.
Word. It's all about the music really.

[tkidBOSTON]

I get lost as to what's still considered Indie and whats not, but heres what I'm currently listening to which I haven't heard on the radio yet and my friends tend to go "huh?" to:

Annuals
Band of Horses
Bright Eyes
Feist
Frou Frou
The Magic Numbers
Metric
The Mountain Goats
The Notwist
Okkervil River
Portugal. The Man
Spoon

:)

[barr08]

Do you guys have the Garden State soundtrack? I hear it's indie-tastic...

[RoadieJodie]

The Blood Brothers


Oh, hell yes! :D

[rockosmodurnlif]

What? Page 4 before someone mentions The Hold Steady? The best indie rock band out there. And I'm not just saying that because I like them, I'm saying that because it's the truth. Great music (Positive Jam, Hornets! Hornets!, Chillout Tent), great lyrics ("I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere").

Belle and Sebastian are great too. Breezy, easy music. Though I've only heard Life Pursuit and Catastrophe Waitress. Listened to Tigermilk, didn't like it.

Or are they not 'indie' anymore? Usually when I start to like bands or groups they're no longer underground.

[Veritas&Equitas]

Nightmare of You
The Decemberists
Andrew Bird
Laura Veirs
Tegan & Sara
Rilo Kiley
The Sounds
Sufjan Stevens
Frou Frou
Tilly and The Wall
The Shins
Feist
The Stills
Okkervil River
Spoon
Boys Like Girls
Joanna Newsom
Shiny Toy Guns
Jeremy Fisher

Those are just off the top of my head that I enjoy...if you can't tell, I'm an indie fan :D

Sure, I could also throw out Belle & Sebastian, Anthony and The Johnsons, Architecture in Helsinki, Battles, Bright Eyes, Of Montreal, etc. but I'm not really big fans of theirs. However, many indie folks love them.

[Michelsparrow]

Hi all
The Indie band that I like most is The Young Knives. I have seen this band live. I like all stuff from this band.

[disconap]

Currently in the office cd changer:

Unwound

Thee More Shallows

The Blackheart Procession

Lullaby for the Working Class

Wolf Parade

Azure Ray

Southerly

[Moral Orel]

I really like Bear on Bear, no one I talk to has ever heard of them, but I think they got some good music going on. I am eagerly awaiting a full length album from them instead of just an EP.

http://www.myspace.com/bearonbear

[Shaduu]

1990s
Jack Peñate
Kate Nash (kinda)
controller.controller
The Hoosiers
Friendly Fires
The Dykeenies
The Enemy
The Wombats
Hot Chip

EDIT: Dammit, forgot about Hadouken!. They're on the bleeding edge of British indie.

[sicasaire]

Liam And Me

Jonzetta

As Tall As Lions

Andrew Bird

The Arcade Fire

Between The Trees

Melee

Brazil

Circa Survive

Eisley

The Fair

The Fire Theft

The Format

The Hush Sound

Kiss Kiss

Moneen

The Myriad

Pierce The Veil

Before Today

The Sleeping

Sleeping At Last

Trophy Scars

Vanna

Sunny Day Real Estate

Desaparecidos

All Awesome Musicians!!!

[JPhilippy]

regina spektor, bright eyes, damien rice, cold war kids, and a bunch more but thats just to name a few..:)

[spencers]

Love Arcade

[kyle brosnan]

Hi music fans

Im a massive fan of the coral and have just come across a band signed to the same 'deltasonic' label. The band are doing a few gigs around different venues. The Rascals are sweet.
Anyone else heard of them?

[GnarleyMarley87]

!!!
LCD Soundsystem
of Montreal
Blonde Redhead
Deerhoof
Broken Social Scene
Feist
CSS
Bloc Party
PB&J
Rogue Wave
Tokyo Police Club
The Stills
Psuedosix