While Ashlee Simpson and Miley Cyrus certainly have their place within the pop culture mainstream, it never hurts to look a little further afield for your musical guides.
Independent acts might not get the glossy magazine coverage of Simpson or Cyrus, but that’s only because they’re aiming for something more artistic and less generic. Do some research on these acts, discover the hidden talent, and set yourself apart from the pack.
To get you on your way into the world of indie music, here’s a little starter kit full of variety and cool sounds that might just make an indie convert of you yet.
Interpol – It’s the 80s again, kids! Their 2002 album Turn on the Bright Lights made them enough of a commercial success that they’re not entirely indie artists anymore, but New York’s Interpol falls nicely into the ultra-poppy sounding punk revival camp. Indie online bible Pitchfork voted Bright Lights album of the year. Check out their song Slow Hands from the hit album Antics.
Arcade Fire – Montreal band fronted by a husband and wife that is known for entering concerts with the bluster of a marching band. Check out albums Funeral and Neon Bible, which are both excellent releases, or simply go to YouTube and play No Cars Go, if you need more convincing of their supreme catchiness.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Another Montreal band but a lot more spacey and decidedly prog-rockish than anything considered pop. Art meets music with this one, and the band is a great introduction to avant garde music involving instrumentation and classical "movements." Post-rock pretension perhaps, but good stuff. Check out Flight (Storm) and Sleep to get the general idea.
The New Pornographers – If you love pop bands, then the New Pornographers is about as cool as it gets for indie power pop. Fronted by Carl Newman and some time singer Neko Case, the Vancouver band is known for big fat hooks. In terms of melody, they’re this generation’s Brian Wilson. Check out new song Myriad Harbour on Youtube, which features a cool animated video.
Elvis Perkins - He’s the young son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins, but without the edge. Perkins is a New York scarf-wearing folkie type who writes cool, melancholy songs with harmonica and squeeze box punctuating his acoustic guitar. Check out his songs While You Were Sleeping and All the Night Without Love.
Devendra Banhart – Yes, he looks like a hippie dude circa 1974, but give the guy a chance. Banhart is only 27 years old, a Venezuelan American who likes folk and Indian music. His stuff is strangely catchy and dance worthy, and the best example is his new video Carmensita, which features girlfriend Natalie Portman as an Indian princess. This is must-see Youtube viewing.
Cat Power – Her real name is Chan Marshall, and the American singer messes around with genres like soul, folk, blues, pop. She’s got a unique voice and used to be known for delivering drunken shows, but thankfully she’s turned over a leaf. One of her best gifts is reworking songs by Gnarls Barkley or the White Stripes and transforming them into something entirely strange and all her own.
