Gimme indie!! e.g Modest, BSS, Valley of Giants (uplifting a +)

[nanahachi]

Paging Minya.....

**Disclaimer: I used the term "indie" very loosely. Don't flame me for not knowing what I'm talking about. Just gimme recommendations!!!

In part of my quest for some music to get me through this period of hell, i've come across some great new groups/albums:

Modest Mouse (wow!!)
Franz Ferdinand
Broken Social Scene
Valley of the Giants (ok, its not the most uplifting)
Elliot Smith
The Vines (not very indie, but I like what I've heard)
Steve Malkmus (dunno what to call him, other than awesome)

I'm looking for rock that is actually good. I dont really care what you call it, what subgenre it is. I'm just looking for some great music to just get into, something that isn't slow and depressing. I'm taking a break from Radiohead, Portishead, etc.

I have no real exposure to this stuff. I've heard the new Modest Mouse album (Good News for People Who Love Bad News), and will be buying a copy when I finally have some money (which sadly wont be for a while). I would love to hear what else you guys have to suggest. Of course, the more upbeat the better.

I could really use your help guys. Thanks for reading!!!
(and yes, I'm still paying attention to the recommendations in my other thread too!!

)

 

[aerius]

Hawksley Workman comes to mind. Click the "lover/fighter" link on his website for a few music samples. Pretty fun stuff.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

i posted this in the other thread but i highly reco keane "hopes and fears" and steve burns "songs for dustmites"

i think youll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[nanahachi]

searching for those as we speak...

thanks for the quick replies.

 

[lifeinabox]

Go out and buy Modest Mouse's previous stuff - Lonesome Crowded West and The Moon and Antartica. Far better than the new album, IMO.

Some other bands that come to mind - Built to Spill, Death Cab For Cutie, TV on the Radio, and My Morning Jacket.

 

[strohmie]

I have a couple websites for you:

http://www.noisefactoryrecords.com/
http://www.cstrecords.com/

The Canadian side of indie has been pretty impressive recently, including the aforementioned Broken Social Scene (check out their older Feel Good Lost if you haven't yet) and other related acts like Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Do Make Say Think, and A Silver Mt. Zion. These ones I've listed don't generally include vocals and aren't always uplifting, but have some great albums out.

 

[minya]

Hey Joey -- glad to hear you're enjoying some of my recommendations.

I can't say this enough: go out and buy Broken Social Scene's "You Forgot It In People" if you haven't already. IMO, the best record to come out of the whole Canadian indie-rock scene. And like Strohmie mentioned, there's lots of other Canadian stuff that's very good... Godspeed You Black Emperor (though they've gotten stagnant as of late, and their political overtones are childish, IMO), Do Make Say Think, Shalabi Effect, and then there's a whole Vancouver scene but I have no experience with it whatsoever (mainly centered around The New Pornographers and their sideprojects -- look into it perhaps).

My tastes in indie rock tend towards the more experimental, instrumental side of things. Some CDs I've enjoyed recently:

Volta do Mar - At the Speed of Light Or Day: great instrumental melodic complex indie/math-rock. Really cool stuff. Listen to the samples.

Everything on Ektro Records - perhaps calling this "indie rock" is a stretch, but everything on here (especially Circle and Pharaoh Overlord) is very different and very cool. There's great MP3 samples, so give them a try! If you enjoyed Valley of the Giants the stuff on this label is a good bet.

Kinski - Airs Above Your Station -- great spacy melodic beautiful indie rock with a progressive and psychedelic edge. Instrumental.

Oh, also -- I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you read the New Release List at Aquarius Records -- everything listed is reviewed by the brilliant staff (all of whom have great taste) and the variety is huge. Indie rock, metal, electronica, noise, avantgarde, jazz, classical, weird, creepy, cool, different, eclectic -- these are the realms in which Aquarius operate. Plus they're truly indepent and one of the last stores of their kind. Oh, and they have sound samples. Check it.

In general, if you're looking for something new and different, everything I put in my sig is a good bet to check out.

Let me know if you have any other questions...

- Chris

 

[silentperfection]

If you want happy rock then go with anything Elephant 6.

Beulah
The Apples in Stereo

Also, try the Shins. They are a great happy sounding rock band. Looks like you've only scratched the surface.

 

[Newbiez]

The Strokes - Is This It ; Room On Fire

Rooney - Rooney

British Sea Power - The Decline of British Sea Power

Hope of the States - The Lost Riots

The Coral - The Coral

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Delays - Faded Seaside Glamour

The Postal Service - Give Up

The Thrills - So Much For The City

The Streets - Original Pirate Material ; A Grand Don't Come For Free

Dizzee Rascal - Boy In The Corner


If any of this catches your ears, I'd provide more depending on which band you like.

 

[nanahachi]

Chris, as usual, you're a friggin encyclopedia. i need to drop by your place sometime to chat and borrow a load of CDs!

Thanks everyone for your ideas! Any ideas where I can listen to any of this stuff before buying? Feel free to PM or EM me with your ideas.

I can try to d/l some of it, but have a hard time finding a lot.

thanks! New music eases the pain, even if only a little...

 

[Newbiez]

Try around Amazon.com I guess..

You can also try this, http://xfm.co.uk/ ; It's an online radio but they do have some live session of good indie bands that are kept in their database.

 

[markl]

OK, if you are looking for "classic" "indie-rock" (whether or not it appeared on an indie label) from a veteran raised on this stuff... This is music guarnateed to pump you up. Here goes...

The pixies-- Wave Of Mutilation, brand new best of, it will blow your mind.

Morrissey-- Best of Morrissey, 2001 Rhino/Warner

Elvis Costello-- Very Best Of 2CD Rhino 2001

Geraldine Fibbers-- Caught Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home (1995)

Soul Coughing: Lust In Phase: Best of

Echo & the Bunnymen: Any of their recent remasters

I've got a million more where these came from...

 

[nanahachi]

markl, long time buddy!! (btw, as of yesterday, I found a true appreciation for R-10s)
I agree with you on James Brown, so I have no doubt I'll like your suggestions.
If you are feeling generous and want to send me more, maybe email me?

I have to set aside any references to the Smiths or Morrisey, due to connections to the unspoken one. But I do love them...sigh

I'll check out what you recommended, but I really wish I could demo those somewhere without buying blindly.

 

[Fenster]

Look into Brendan Benson. Really upbeat stuff, sort of singer/songwriter folkie mixed with power pop. His two albums are One Mississippi and Lapalco.

Also, speaking of New Pornographers (I think Minya mentioned them above), their principal songwriter (and a damn good one, at that) Carl Newman has released a new solo album under the title "A.C. Newman." It's called The Slow Wonder. I'm listening to it right now and it's, well, very New Pornographersy (i.e.= good).

 

[minya]

Fenster, what's a good New Pornographers album to start off with?

- Chris