# The indie music recommendation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476 "2003-12-07T02:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/1 "2003-12-07T02:02:30Z")
I’m a fan of independent music, so I was pretty horrified by some of the posts in [the indie music Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=226839). Later, however, the thread got hijacked into recommendations for music. Rather than continuing that hijack, I thought I’d start another thread for more recommendations. I’ll list some independent (or at least non-mainstream) music that I’m fond of, and I’d appreciate it if other folks could suggest other stuff. The items below are in no particular order. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds–Start with the _Best of_ and the _Live Seeds_ albums, then work in reverse chronological order from _The Boatman’s Call_. If you get the European version of the _Best of_ album, there’s a bonus CD with live tracks. Crooked Fingers–The new project from Eric Bachman of Archers of Loaf. Sounds vaguely like Nick Cave. Start with _Red Devil Dawn_. Dead Can Dance–I have no good way of describing what this sounds like. Start with _Toward the Within_. Also check out Lisa Gerrard’s solo work (I think she did the soundtrack to _Gladiator_). This Mortal Coil–Light some candles, pour some wine, and hide the razor blades. Heather Duby–Electro-chanteuse. Get _Post to Wire_ and _Come Across the River_. She has one other CD (the name of which escapes me at the moment), but it’s not very good. The Walkabouts–The best band from Seattle that nobody’s heard of; they’re more popular in Europe than in America. Try starting with _Trail of Stars_, then go on to their more recent work (I like it better than their older stuff). Transmissionary Six–Quiet and moody. Arab Strap–Mostly quiet and moody, with a thick Scottish accent. A Midnite Choir–Imagine the unholy offspring of Tom Waits and Spike Jones. Their one CD (_You Have Been Warned_) may be out of print, but is well worth seeking out. See also Circus Contraption. The Standard–Intellectual power pop. For some reason, they remind me of Rush, even though they don’t sound like Rush. I think their first (self-titled) cd is out of print, but is worth seeking out. Their second CD (_August_) is also good. Visqueen–More power pop. Their bassist was in the Fastbacks. Alejandro Escovedo–Start with _Bourbonitis Blues_, then seek out a CD that includes a live version of “Five Hearts Breaking”. Chrome–Acid industrial sci-fi paranoia. The sonic equivalent of having an ice pick slowly driven into your skull. See also Helios Creed’s solo work. The Dusty 45s–Rockabilly etc. Diamond-Fist Werny–_Long View to the Sky_ is Northwest rock tinged with Tuvan throat singing. Yes, it works. Pressurehed et al.–Okay, this gets complicated. Pressurehed was IMO the best space-rock group in America (try _Explaining the Unexplained_). But the members have also been involved in umpteen other projects. You may be familiar with the old rock group Hawkwind. I think they’re more interesting than they’re generally made out to be. They’ve put out a huge amount of material of varying quality. _Space Ritual_ is _the_ definitive space-rock album, and you should also try _Love in Space_. One of the members of Hawkwind, Nik Turner, split off to form his own group, which performed Hawkwind’s music; the boys from Pressurehed were part of his backing band. For this body of work, try _Space Ritual 2001_ and _Past or Future?_. \Nik is getting a little too old for rock, so he’s now living in Wales playing big-band jazz with a group called Nik Turner’s Fantastic Allstars. Try _Kubano Kickasso_\ Various members of the guys from Pressurehed also formed groups called The Brain (analog keyboards; try _Access and Amplify_), Zero Gravity (electronica; _Space Does Not Care_), Farflung (space-rock; _25000 Feet Per Second_), and Anubian Lights (middle-eastern-influenced electronica; all of their albums are good). The Farflung lineup also backed up Damo Suzuki (from Can; _Metaphysical Transfer_). There’s actually more, but I think it may best best to stop for now. Banco de Gaia–Asian-influenced electronica. Northern State–White female Ivy League rap. Fun, fun live show. Psychic TV–I’m not even gonna _try_ to explain this group. Try the first release in the _Origin of the Species_ series, or _Trip Reset_. See also Throbbing Gristle, Coil, and Chris & Cosey. Mum–Very mellow stuff from Iceland. Kultur Shock–Yugoslavian refugees come to Seattle and start a rock band. Great stuff. The Shins–Straightforward indie pop. Well, I guess that’s enough for a first installment. I’d like to see what other recommend. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/2 "2003-12-07T02:26:18Z")
I’ll lift a glass for **The Fire Theft** Jeremy Enigk and company re-emerge from the flames of Sunny Day Real Estate. They’re generally credited with starting ‘emo’ whatever that may be / have been… Enigk’s distinctive high voice still carries wrenching melodies over dense musical pieces which bring to mind a mix of '70s prog and modern rythm/alt rock. Great stuff, a free listen to 1 track can be had at [www.thefiretheft.com](http://www.thefiretheft.com) ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/3 "2003-12-07T03:02:44Z")
Well, I’ll repeat my recommendation of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Seriously. Just go listen to “The High Party” or “Timorous Me.” Right now! You will be hooked. How can you resist a man who wrote the lines “I never believed in T.E. Lawrence, so how the hell could I believe in Beau Gest?” You just can’t. I don’t know if these others really count as indie, but I definitely can’t find them in my local record store… Thought Riot - political punk/hardcore that you will almost certainly hate if you’re not a flaming liberal. Honestly, I’m not that big on heir political statements, but they have a little more substance than say, Anti-Flag, and their music is awesome. Iris and Assemblage 23 - Not related at all, except in that they’re both extremely danceable synth-pop with excellent singers. Assemblage 23 is pretty Gotheriffic, if that bugs you. So, three bands from very different ends of the “indie” spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/4 "2003-12-07T04:12:38Z")
I don’t pay attention to whether a band is “indie” or not, but here are some favorites that probably are: Neutral Milk Hotel Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Aphex Twin Rasputina Slint Cat Power Tindersticks Lisa Germano Luna Can Dinosaur Jr. Amon Tobin ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/5 "2003-12-07T09:01:28Z")
The Fall. The Durutti Column. Moose. Felt. Scarlet’s Well. The Clientele. Broadcast. Vitesse. Talk Talk. Sugar Plant. Club 8. Kendra Smith. Heidi Berry. Would-Be-Goods. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/6 "2003-12-07T09:14:21Z")
Broken Social Scene Spoon The Pernice Brothers Elbow Doves Cat Power The Delgados Clientele ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/7 "2003-12-07T09:28:30Z")
Modest Mouse - has this wild rock/country/whatever sound that I can’t even try to describe… their music sounds like nothing I’ve heard… _The Moon and Antarctica_ is classic Wilco’s _Yankee Hotel Foxtrot_ is an instant classic, combining straightforward rock with spots of noise here and there resulting in numbers that just make you want to get up and groove Elliot Smith’s _XO_ has some of the most detailed composition I’ve ever heard on an album… combining piano with guitar in a way that’s just amazing… The Mountain Goats’ _Tallahassee_ - really happening folk rock with some crazily quirky lyrics ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/8 "2003-12-08T07:35:35Z")
How bout some of the fundamentals for people just wanting to get into this stuff: _US_ Sonic Youth – Dirty Pixies – Doolittle and Bossanova Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is my favorite, but I absolutely adore this band. Everything they have done is incredible. Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville Yo La Tengo – Electr-o-pura or I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One Wilco – A.M. (fundamental, although owning Yankee Foxtrot Hotel should be mandated by law). Son Volt – Trace (my favorite alt-country) _UK_ Stone Roses – Stone Roses Charlatans UK – Some Friendly Pulp – His 'n Hers Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Everything they have done is genius, IMHO. Blur – Modern Life is Rubbish Jesus and Mary Chain – Psycho Candy (but I like Stoned & Dethroned) Portishead – Dummy Tricky – Maxinquaye (with Dummy, the two trip-hop albums that you must own) Older stuff that I really like that I don’t think gets enough credit: The Wedding Present – Seamonsters is a great album. The Boo Radleys – Giant Steps is excellent. Bedhead – Dallas/Austin group that truly defines mellow-fuzzy. Like Yo La Tengo but mellower. High Llamas – Snowbug, featuring many of the Stereolab people. Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of the Bewilderbeest Also Teenage Fanclub, Modest Mouse, Spoon, Laika, Mono, Pizzicato Five, Beta Band – all good (and different). Newer stuff that is great: Steven Malkmus and the Jicks – Pavement’s lead man has two wonderful solo albums. The song “The Hook” is the best song about pirates ever. The Postal Service – Collaboration project between the Death Cab for Cutie guy and someone else. Happy techo-y music. Tortoise/Isotope 247/Sea&Cake and the whole Chicago klangfarben scene. Royksopp – Scandanavian bouncy dance music with brains. Bright Eyes – Lifted Of course the White Stripes, everyone who beats on them should just go see a show and see the sound that Jack White can get out of his guitar. They blow the roof off the dump. Also, for rap/hiphop fans, try to go and get everything Del the Funky Homosapien has ever done, from Deltron to Gorillaz to his solo stuff. IMHO he is a genius. Lastly, if you guys don’t know about it already, I hate to hawk other websites, but a really great way to listen to all of these bands is [emusic.com](http://emusic.com). $10 a month for 40 MP3s without DRM (as well as a 50 MP3 signup bonus). All independent labels. I have wasted many an hour… ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/9 "2003-12-08T07:38:39Z")
Oh, let me also say that the Breeders have a newer album out (The TK), and it is very Pixies-esque. Departure from their brilliant Last Splash album (maybe a regression of sorts), but good in a new sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![cherrysoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cab0a1/32.png) [@cherrysoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherrysoda)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/10 "2003-12-09T22:30:11Z")
Anything that Ben Gibbard touches is pure gold–Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, All Time Quaterback, his solo tracks, everything. By the way, the other guy on the Postal service is Jimmy Tamborello from DNTEL, which is also great. I’m also a big fan of independent/alternative country-esque music such as Damien Jurado, Gillian Welch, Iron and Wine, and Mojave 3. Other good stuff: Mirah The Wrens (The Meadowlands is quite possibly one of the best cds ever) The Stills Azure Ray Cursive Bright Eyes M83 ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/11 "2003-12-09T23:05:58Z")
Amon Tobin The Shins Cat Power - She should be required to go last at any show, though. Hearing her play in person was so deeply sad that I walked out during Spoon’s set and missed Yo La Tengo entirely. I just wasn’t at all up for rockin’ any more right then. Modest Mouse Death Cab For Cutie (Possible band slogan: because _someone_ had to do good emo) Neutral Milk Hotel The Distillers (the first 2 albums) Rasputina ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/12 "2003-12-09T23:06:05Z")
Amon Tobin The Shins Cat Power - She should be required to go last at any show, though. Hearing her play in person was so deeply sad that I walked out during Spoon’s set and missed Yo La Tengo entirely. I just wasn’t at all up for rockin’ any more right then. Modest Mouse Death Cab For Cutie (Possible band slogan: because _someone_ had to do good emo) Neutral Milk Hotel The Distillers (the first 2 albums) Rasputina ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/13 "2003-12-09T23:08:01Z")
Gah. I clicked stop within 1 second of hitting submit. Ever notice that the boards run fast whenever you need them not to? ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/14 "2003-12-10T01:00:22Z")
The Decemberists Sun KIl Moon ---
**Author:** ![msLeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@msLeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msLeo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/15 "2003-12-10T16:43:07Z")
Older fav’s: Mudhoney, Dinosaur Jr, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Sun Volt, Butthole Surfers, Supersuckers; etc. (could go on forever) You can also look for Sub Pop labels and Sub Pop spin-off labels to find some good older music (and new). Newer fav’s: David Garza, Yo la Tengo, Breeder’s, Modest Mouse, Wilco (by the way Mermaid Ave I&II are great), and I have to agree with -edwino- the White Stripes (and you can not fully appreciate them until you see them live). ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/16 "2003-12-10T17:39:30Z")
[Buck 65](http://www.buck65.com/) [Kathleen Edwards](http://www.kathleenedwards.com/) [Weakerthans](http://www.theweakerthans.org/) [Enter the Haggis](http://www.enterthehaggis.com/index.php) And I’ll second the above suggestions of [Broken Social Scene](http://www.arts-crafts.ca/bss/) and [Arab Strap](http://www.arabstrap.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/17 "2003-12-10T22:09:06Z")
Not sure if they are indie, but I discovered a band with a very indie sound: Deathray. I’ve had their CD on permanent play at home for a week now. Just slow enough to not be power-pop, just major-key enough to not be punk…and not jangly enough to be r.e.m. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThePyroWeasel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@ThePyroWeasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePyroWeasel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/18 "2003-12-11T03:24:46Z")
Speaking of power pop (if that’s your thing), your life is incomplete without The Grays. The Grays was a band from the early 90’s comprised of Jon Brion, Jason Falkner, Buddy Judge, and Dan McCarroll. After the band dissolved, Brion and Falkner went on to separate solo efforts, including Brion’s work with director P.T. Anderson. Anyway, they do some pretty amazing work (mostly seen in the songs by Jon and Jason, not so much by Buddy Judge). Vital albums: Jon Brion - Meaningless Jason Falkner - Author Unknown, Can You Still Feel The Grays - Ro Sham Bo Rhett Miller - The Instigator Old 97’s - Satellite Rides, Fight Songs And funny, msLeo, that you mention David Garza. Seeing him play at Largo in Hollywood with Jon Brion one night made me pick up This Euphoria even though he didn’t even play any of his own songs that night. Another point I have to make - THE TV EYES. Imagine if Duran Duran came out of L.A. in the present time instead of in the late 70’s in Britain. Roger Manning from Beck’s band is the keyboardist. And Jason Falkner is the lead singer. They don’t have an actual album out, but they play shows every few months, and those shows are pure awesome. I second the support for Elliott Smith (R.I.P), and also XO in particular. “Oh Well Okay” is the song that got me hooked. Another band I can’t sing enough praise of - L.A’s very own The Negro Problem. Unique as hell. You’ve never heard anything quite like it. Check out Welcome Black and you’l never go back. Stew (the frontman)'s solo records are masterpieces as well. ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/19 "2003-12-11T03:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shana \* > \*\*Broken Social Scene > Doves > \*\* I don’t know the others you mentioned **Shana** but I totally reccomend these two!! I’m listening to Broken Social Scene right now, a teacher at my school reccomended it to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kimfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@kimfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimfair)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476/20 "2003-12-11T03:44:00Z")
My picks\The Beat Farmers\mekons\The Bevis Frond\THe Real Kids\Game Theory\Graham Parker\Kevin Salem\Willie Loco Alexander (can anyone give me the trivia question that Willie Loco is the answer for?)\alt-country\Todd Snider\The Bottle Rockets\The Blood Oranges\The Handsome Family\Bap kennedy\Six String Drag\Waco Brothers [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indie-music-recommendation-thread/217476.md?page=2)