Anyway, I also think Spearmint are dodgy at best. Screen Prints approach perfection. I haven't heard the new Saloon and Dressy Bessy yet.
I want to hear a song that's going to stick with me for years. A new classic. Like Edson "Sunday Bloody Sunday" which is only a couple of years old.
― Marianna, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dare, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― electric sound of jim, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
There are few people who I can trust if they recommend something. Generally, I buy loads of new stuff, listen once, and then file, and it makes me feel like i'm just getting loads of average stuff, when the reality is that i probably haven't listened enough (or bought the wrong thing).
I need someone to play DJ to me and tell me what the "hit" song is on each of these discs. From my experience on this list, there are a couple of people that seem to have the same taste in indiepop stuff as me - and unfortunately, electric sound of jim isn't one of them, i think keith is though.
I need a new band to get excited about. Bear in mind that I heard the Screen Prints and the Clientele way back in 1999. It's time for another one to get excited about.I sometimes dig up old stuff from the 80's that I haven't heard (LTM reissues etc), and I'm going to pick up a few Sarah things. I have heard some positive things about Florian and a few other Swedish bands, but can you trust the recommendations?, and what I've heard of Safe Home, I like OK. But it isn't enough, and I've found myself listening to Indierock and alt-country stuff in the meantime.
― harveyw, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― mark s, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Are there any other recent indiepop albums to get excited about? I love both the Aisler's Set and Boyracer records (the Boyracer would have made my year end list if it wasn't for the fact that I was convinced at the time that a record with that many covers on it couldn't be great - I was in denial). That said, I have no clue what else, if anything (as suggested in the 'racer review) is worth seeking out.
Also, since the indiest of indies has said it's OK to like indiepop, I think it's time for everyone to step up and profess their love.
Those who do not respond hate fun.
― Miranda, Friday, 21 February 2003 22:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Miranda, Friday, 21 February 2003 22:36 (twenty-one years ago) link
It's mostly standouts and things around the fringes that get me now, non-indiepop bands in the indiepop world: the Chicago expatriate axis, which I keep trying to track down (Toulouse, I think, are particularly fantastic), some of the indie-synth-pop stuff (My Favorite, Figurine, etc.).
I loved Wolfie like I love my own mother.
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
― mike a (mike a), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
(Re: Pitchfork -- I've been thinking over there that when indie rock enters a strongly "rock" phase, as it is now with post-punk grottiness, indiepop becomes more important. This is one reason I was very happy to big up Boyracer, who in my opinion have just made one of their first full recordings that people outside of the genre can prima facia love. Also the Marine Girls cover is ridiculously good.)
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
THEY CARRY IT AT FORCED EXPOSURE!!!!
(also: rocketship, rocketship, rocketship)
― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:52 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'm playing Wolfie now. Makes me want to jump up and down on my bed. (damn you, low celings!)
Finally, I'm going to check out the jel recommendations. The Poison love baffles me and intrigues me and makes me want to hear everything else suggested.
Too many people posted before my finally. The world needs another Rocketship record!
― Miranda, Friday, 21 February 2003 22:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Aaron A., Friday, 21 February 2003 22:58 (twenty-one years ago) link
ESOJ, have you heard of Sarah Sarah? Are they any good?
― jel -- (jel), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:58 (twenty-one years ago) link
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 22:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
Also, I like the idea of "kittens!" but I don't like kittens in reality. Does this have anything to do with my relationship with indiepop?
― Miranda (Miranda), Friday, 21 February 2003 23:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
That's not really an answer, I guess. I was trying to write to people who don't care about indiepop, in order to offer them some interesting new things to look into. A lot of people read Pitchfork, so I imagine a few of them will figure out how to order it. Plenty of them will find at least one copy in their local stores; maybe enough others will ask about it to get more store buyers to try and order copies. But yeah, a lot of them will just go through the next few years thinking "Boyracer ... I think I read a positive review once, but I've never seen their records anywhere."
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 23:28 (twenty-one years ago) link
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 21 February 2003 23:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
spam to thread!
http://www.pataphysics-lab.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?item_id=512&action=showitem
m.
― msp, Saturday, 22 February 2003 00:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Miranda (Miranda), Saturday, 22 February 2003 00:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 22 February 2003 00:38 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gygax!, Saturday, 22 February 2003 01:57 (twenty-one years ago) link
the boyracer album is just wonderful, something about the speed at which stewart strums his guitar is thrilling to no end. and the aislers set album is just incredible, amy linton is the smartest pop chick(oh no i said pop) on the block.
― keith (keithmcl), Saturday, 22 February 2003 02:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
Well i like FLorian a lot have done it for a few years now...
― Jens (brighter), Saturday, 22 February 2003 10:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― nabisco (nabisco), Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
The number one band in the indiepop list poll this year was the Funday Mornings, so me and a few others i know scrabled around to find their records. As Pete H. says on twee.net it's straightforward Fat Tulips esqe fun pop, and it's OK, but it's not mind boggling good. So I'm still waiting for a best new band to come along. And I've been signing on to the tape-swaps just waiting for them to jump out at me.
― marianna, Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:36 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Marianna, Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 22 February 2003 21:28 (twenty-one years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 22 February 2003 21:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 23 February 2003 04:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
*drools* what an amazing song that is
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 23 February 2003 04:01 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jack cole (jackcole), Sunday, 23 February 2003 04:24 (twenty-one years ago) link
― derrick (derrick), Sunday, 23 February 2003 07:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 23 February 2003 10:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
I do not care if braindead indiepop fans do that david (free jazz threads only ever get 5-20 replies anyway). I have heard indiepop and most of it has nothing going for it.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 23 February 2003 11:12 (twenty-one years ago) link
Doesn't that approach kind of miss the point? I should really stay out of this.
-fh
― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Sunday, 23 February 2003 11:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
I arranged their first live show, they are really nice 15 year oldsyou can get their 7" from www.benno.com or maybe www.normanrecords.comor maybe www.roughtrade.com
You´ll like it if you like the likes of Fat tulips, Talulah gosh, Twa toots...
― Jens (brighter), Sunday, 23 February 2003 11:47 (twenty-one years ago) link
(Plus i know one of their members so I'm loath to do my usual sight-unseen slagging)
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
I am curious about the Baskervilles.
It has been a quiet start of 2004 for indiepop.
― marianna, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 14:45 (twenty years ago) link
― LondonLee (LondonLee), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 15:14 (twenty years ago) link
The Architecture in Helsinki album is coming out in Europe and USA in April. It's really nice.
― phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 18:51 (twenty years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 18:55 (twenty years ago) link
― marianna (mariannapm), Friday, 4 November 2005 14:19 (eighteen years ago) link
[reads last post and sobs]
― Evan, Friday, 22 May 2020 21:56 (three years ago) link
lol
― devvvine, Friday, 22 May 2020 21:57 (three years ago) link
Rereading the Twee As Fuck piece from 2005 because I've been geeking on this stuff again (+ the American take on this that sometimes has a little Sonic Youth or Dino Jr mixed in the recipe. Like Versus). Wondering if anyone else that's still here loves it too?
― Evan, Saturday, 23 May 2020 18:17 (three years ago) link
I still love Versus - and their many side projects are all great, too.
The "Scared To Get Happy" and C86-C89 comps are full of gems and are a ton of fun in general.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 23 May 2020 19:29 (three years ago) link
Yes! Love that Saturnine tape in particular!
I think my favorite early/legendary comp for this kind of music is the Corrupt Postman tape if you're familiar.
― Evan, Saturday, 23 May 2020 20:20 (three years ago) link
Never heard of that tape, downloading it now, thanks for the tip!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 23 May 2020 20:27 (three years ago) link
You're welcome! Enjoy!
― Evan, Saturday, 23 May 2020 20:29 (three years ago) link
yeah, the Stars are Insane remains a great album
― avellano medio inglés (f. hazel), Saturday, 23 May 2020 20:46 (three years ago) link
It is! But imo I can't say they have a stand out album... all of their 90s material is top notch.
― Evan, Sunday, 24 May 2020 13:22 (three years ago) link
Hey Evan, have you checked this out?
https://acolourfulstorm.com/track/i-wont-have-to-think-about-you
Great indiepop from Australia!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 5 June 2020 18:55 (three years ago) link
i posted about that comp on another thread just the other day! v into it
― just sayin, Sunday, 7 June 2020 07:48 (three years ago) link
Oh wow I totally missed this!
Yes I LOVE that comp because Bart Cummings is a legend and I've recently been absolutely obsessed with all of his bands. I also love the Cannanes! They played in NYC a few years ago and it was a huge treat.
― Evan, Monday, 8 June 2020 19:12 (three years ago) link
What a label too! They actually reissued Unisex by Blueboy, how exciting!
Oh hey I hope you liked the Corrupt Postman tape, too.
― Evan, Monday, 8 June 2020 19:17 (three years ago) link
first two Blueboy albums + attendant singles are all timeless
― avellano medio inglés (f. hazel), Monday, 8 June 2020 21:13 (three years ago) link
Yeah I recently realized how much I love the songs Dirty Mags, Air France, and Sea Horses (latter which I fell back in love with because of the exciting live version on the Bikini 7" if you've heard that).
― Evan, Monday, 8 June 2020 22:32 (three years ago) link
And man as a early 90s shoegaze fan, Dirty Mags is just such an incredible song from a band that doesn't typically go there.
― Evan, Monday, 8 June 2020 22:36 (three years ago) link
yeah I remember how surprising that track was when it was released... good though. and I do have that Bikini 7"! printed in acid green ink on white cardstock
― avellano medio inglés (f. hazel), Monday, 8 June 2020 22:59 (three years ago) link
Then you know! Something about the energy in that version. Wish I could have seem them live so I could jump up and down during the chorus.
― Evan, Tuesday, 9 June 2020 04:32 (three years ago) link
Update: geek levels are off the charts
Where are the other classic-indie-pop geeks of ILM?
― Evan, Friday, 3 March 2023 15:38 (one year ago) link
Classic indie-pop as in stuff compiled on the "Scared To Get Happy" box? Count me in!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 3 March 2023 15:41 (one year ago) link
Yes, and American style stuff as well!
Since you mentioned that specifically, you'll really love this:
https://wilfullyobscure.blogspot.com/2013/06/va-scared-to-get-happy-addendum-aka.html
― Evan, Friday, 3 March 2023 15:45 (one year ago) link
Oh yes, there were other addendum lists that came out at the time, I compiled them all.
Whats your top 10 indie pop LPs?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 3 March 2023 17:31 (one year ago) link
There were? I thought this was just a singular fan exercise by that blog.
Dang, I'll need a minute to over-think that answer. There's so much overlap with shoegaze, american shoegaze, lo-fi, Dino Jr rock, slacker, general ameri-indie stylings...
Give me some guard rails maybe!
― Evan, Friday, 3 March 2023 19:43 (one year ago) link
I’m not listening to much of this kind of stuff at the moment but was surprised and pleased to see a song by the band I was in 35+ years ago crop up in that addendum list. Thanks for posting it, Evan.
― Tim, Friday, 3 March 2023 22:11 (one year ago) link
Of course! That is a fun surprise. And because you weren't forthcoming about it, I won't ask :)
― Evan, Friday, 3 March 2023 22:17 (one year ago) link
Haha sorry for being obtuse, you can hear me singing on “Goldmining” by The Visitors.
― Tim, Friday, 3 March 2023 22:22 (one year ago) link
Wow, top spot!
― Evan, Friday, 3 March 2023 22:33 (one year ago) link
Second Story - The Hang UpsSunlight In A Jar - The LucksmithsTrampoline - Greenberry WoodsPassion Play - Papas FritasTallulah - Allo DarlinMercury Girl - Cleaners From VenusLunar Sea - Camera ObscuraSprocket Dick - Tripmaster MonkeyBlack Cab - Jens LekmanThe Wild Ones - Push Kings
― enochroot, Saturday, 4 March 2023 01:23 (one year ago) link
I still have the Visitors flexidisc!
― everything, Saturday, 4 March 2023 02:12 (one year ago) link
!! A really tiny number of people seem to like it quite a lot.
― Tim, Saturday, 4 March 2023 11:24 (one year ago) link
Not sure if I quite grasp the thread revival, but FWIW I listen to late 1980s UK indie a great deal. In recent weeks I was playing the C87 CDs 2 and 3 over and over and over again.
I also enjoy Tim's old records, but he knows that already.
― the pinefox, Saturday, 4 March 2023 11:49 (one year ago) link
I found 3 great sources for addendum's to "Scared To Get Happy":
From Wilfully Obscure (http://wilfullyobscure.blogspot.com/2013/06/va-scared-to-get-happy-addendum-aka.html):01. Visitors - Goldmining02. Moss Poles - Go Down03. Remember Fun - Train Journeys04. Field Mice - I Thought Wrong (Run away) (demo)05. The Church Grims - Plaster Saint06. Candy Skins - She Blew Me Away07. Outskirts - Blue Line08. Various Artists (the band) - Original Mixed Up Kid09. North of Cornwallis - Billy Liar10. Hellfire Sermons - Rachel Clean11. Potting Sheds - Happy Again12. The Perfect Disaster - Call it a Day13. Hey Paulette - I Really Do Love Penelope14. Jane From Occupied Europe - Ocean Run Dry15. James Dean Driving Experience - Drop Dead Darling16. The Rose Of Avalanche - Always There17. Power of Dreams - The Jokes On Me (demo)18. Palisades - Knight in Gale19. This Scarlet Train - Picture Frame20. St. Christopher - Even The Sky Seems Blue21. Stray Trolleys - Secret Dreams Of A Kitchen Porter22. Sundays - Can't Be Sure (4-track demo)
From Facebook suggestions:Playthings - JuiceThe Times - My Andy Warhol PosterThe Cleaners From Venus - Julie ProfumoAtom Spies - Aliens In Your WardrobeThe Perfect Disaster - TV Girl On FireThe Passmore Sisters - Every Child In HeavenBarbel - InfernoJim Jiminee - I Wanna Work OR +Snap Me UpSt. James Infirmary - Terry MarriageheadEssential Bop - Eloquent Sounds OR +CroakedElectric Guitars - WorkThe Lilac Time - Return To YesterdaySnakes Of Shake - Southern CrossMemphis - You Supply The RosesDislocation Dance - You’ll Never, Never KnowThe Anyways - ConfessionThe Friendly Fires - ArkansasFat Tulips - Where’s Clare Grogan Now?Parachute Men - Leeds StationFizzbombs - SurfaroundMousefolk - Devil in the Deep Blue SeaBaby Lemonade - Real WorldMayfields - World of Your OwnMoss Poles - One SummerThe Bridewell Taxis - Just Good FriendsCandy Darlings - That’s Where Caroline LivesThe Big Paintings - My Minitrend FriendGifted Children - My Favourite FilmsHoneycrash - Kill Someone You Like (aka I Don't Blame You)Fontaines - I Want EverythingCity Giants - Little Next To NothingJazzateers - Wasted OR +Natural Progression (Part 1)
From https://pedaladasabuenritmo.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/scared-to-get-happy-addendum-i/Young Marble Giants - CakewalkingVic Godard - Stop That GirlDirect Hits -Modesty BlaiseEyeless In Gaza - New RisenRinging - CapriceMemphis - You Supply The RosesCocteau Twins - Aikea GuineaBeloved - A Hundred WordsEnormous Room - 100 Different WordsStars Of Heaven - Talk About It NowBridge - Shame Is A GirlWallflowers - Thank YouCleaners From Venus - Living With Victoria GreyJames Dean Driving Experience - World Weary & Wise (new version)Emily - Mad DogsReserve - A Perfect LieThe Man From Delmonte - (Will Nobody Save) LouiseThe Parachute Men - Sometimes In VainMarden Hill - Oh ConstanceRemember Fun - Cold InsidePo! - Appleseed AlleyThe Nivens - YesterdaySt. Christopher - All OF A TrembleThe Ogdens - Rachel Put Your Arms About MeDevine & Statton - Under The WeatherThe Love Parade - Under The WeatherTreebound Story - Swimming In The Heart Of JaneSt. James Infirmary - Terry Marriagehead
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 4 March 2023 19:10 (one year ago) link
Nice! Looks like wilfullyobscure inspired the third one (at least)
Not sure if I quite grasp the thread revival
Sorry, to clarify I was providing a personal status update given my previous revive here.
― Evan, Sunday, 5 March 2023 16:32 (one year ago) link
Well, to answer your previous revive -- yes, I am still very strongly into this music and listen to it frequently.
― the pinefox, Sunday, 5 March 2023 16:46 (one year ago) link
Awesome.
Boy I got so overwhelmed by the innocent top 10 indie pop question, I've been putting it off...
Going to pivot and mention some recent favorite 45s:
Majestic 12 - Lost & FoundMy Favorite - The Informers & UsTizzy - New JerseyMoped - Naked, Sharp & PlasticSnog 6 - Start All Over Again (CD EP)Sammy - Neptune Ave. (Ortho Hi Rise)The Someloves - Know You NowLenola - Oh Yes, Jeep Is Good! (more in the indie-noise-shoegaze camp)Number One Cup - Malcolm's X-Ray Picnic Bubby Girl - Coyote Spindle Solar Coaster - Zero Sum / KarmageddonHopper - WastedLKWRM - Thirty Years Of Concentrated Thought (CD EP)The Pennikurvers - The Pennikurvers Clag - Manufacturing ResentMadison Electric - Heavy Petal The Cherry Smash - West Coast Rip-Off New Sweet Breath - Silka Charlotte Hatherley - SummerBomb Pops – Girl Daredevil + Riverside
― Evan, Monday, 6 March 2023 16:03 (one year ago) link
Long shot - does anyone have digital rips of anything the label Bliss Aquamarine released?
― Evan, Monday, 6 March 2023 16:25 (one year ago) link
It's always seemed to me that there was an "indiepop revival" around say 2008, and indeed that much of the current / subsequent idea of "indiepop" was actually crystallised then, retrospectively streamlining much of what had happened originally.
The prevalence of "popfests" for several years (plus Indietracks) around that period would support this view.
I also have the sense that this then flowed into some kind of dreampop that was possibly 80s-revivalist viz. Wild Nothing (who when I saw them live were not very different from a guitar-based indie band - but this is as long ago as 2010).
Whether there has been yet another wave of indiepop revivalism I don't know - rather, I suspect that C21 culture has "kept everything in play", permanently available.
― the pinefox, Monday, 6 March 2023 18:31 (one year ago) link
Hey check out my stellar thread-relevant haul yesterday at the shop I used to manage (I am in the US):
Hood - I've Forgotten How To LiveJuno - Magnified And Reduced By Inches / Pablo Y ZeldaFertile Virgin - Lucky Day14 Iced Bears - World I LoveTompot Blenny - Thinking Of Ways Of Keeping You WarmTrembling Blue Stars - The RainbowSt. Christopher - All Of A TrembleThe Sweetest Ache - I Remember CarolineStrawberry Story - Small & Slightly Rounded EPVarious - Joe FridayThe Some Loves - It's My TimeThe Melons - Strictly Melonhead EPThe Melons - Fast LaneEye Pilgrims / Choo Choo Train - Wall Of Sand / Many Happy Returns
Not bad for ~$55 total, right?
― Evan, Wednesday, 15 March 2023 15:29 (one year ago) link
Anyway... anyone have any good leads for some obscure "classic" indie cassette compilation uploads? I've been hunting the web and it's tougher than I'd thought! Not to dismiss the great stuff I AM finding but just as often I'll learn of compilations that don't seem to exist digitally on soulseek or blogs or archive.org etc. yet. Or, I'll remain puzzled at the absence of any blogs dedicated to that "scene" of DIY and/or small label cassettes (with downloads). It would seem like one of those things a fan like myself with access would have done by now.
― Evan, Friday, 17 March 2023 16:01 (one year ago) link
Have a gander at the things on here that aren't the NME tapes (actually the NME tapes are largely excellent but they are mostly outside the rubric of this thread): https://pressplayandrecord.wordpress.com/
I found this by searching for two old tapes whose names stuck in my head: Abigail's Birthday Party and Plinky Plonky There's a Donkey. For shame.
― Tim, Friday, 17 March 2023 17:18 (one year ago) link
Ha! I can see why they stuck... thanks!
― Evan, Friday, 17 March 2023 17:24 (one year ago) link
You're welcome. There are some good things on those tapes but if you emerge from listening to them and find yourself agreeing with the thread title, you're made from stronger stuff than I am.
― Tim, Friday, 17 March 2023 17:25 (one year ago) link
I have a high tolerance for messy experimental throwaway if there's at least something to grab onto. Could just be atmosphere, or the extra-musical context of the tape aesthetic. The lows emphasize the highs along the journey, too. It all contributes to an audio ransom note of pop experiments with punk spirit.
― Evan, Friday, 17 March 2023 17:41 (one year ago) link
pinefox I'm sorry to have passed over your post above!
You're probably right. I remember 2004-06 the trend in indie circles was bombast and post-rock/emo melodrama with elaborate post-twee instrumentation. Classic indie-pop was all about the ingredients of punk with a pop approach, so it would make sense that this would come back when there was a need for the pendulum to swing back in the other direction. But the 80s revival was certainly extremely popular too so yeah that focus got mixed in.
― Evan, Friday, 24 March 2023 19:00 (one year ago) link