Indie Rock, Emo

Link to Spotify playlist: Mus115 - 20. Indie Rock, Emo

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Indie Rock

In the 90s, Indie rock became a bigger thing. "Indie" referred to music that, in some manner, placed itself opposite of the mainstream culture. It is also music that was released and managed by smaller, independent labels that didn't have the reach or influence of the majors. Some indie rock was about appearance - looking like you dressed in a thrift store. Other artists were about eschewing studio perfect vocals or other recording studio magic. A popular "counter" to the mainstream produced pop/rock was to proclaim "no autotune used" on an indie album. Certainly, the vocals on all the indie stuff should be a little bit more "live" sounding.

Weezer

Weezer is band that had some hits, then took some time off, and have had a resurgence in the 2010s. They tend a bit more to the geek friendly indie style, with lots of cultural references and homages and obscure humor. Some of their songs on their debut album "The Blue Album" were recorded in one take on a soundstage.

• Buddy Holly - video showing some old 60s sitcom references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4
• Say It Ain't So

Beck

These are two of Beck's biggest hits, not necessarily his best music. Because of these two,

• Where It's At
• Loser

Arguably better than the hits:

• Sunday Sun

The Strokes

Finally, a band that debuted in the 2000s! Although they formed in the late late 90s, their first full album "Is This It" spawned a few singles and was influential for the whole 2000s segment of the "Indie Rock" movement.

• Is This It
• Someday

The White Stripes

A married duo, The White Stripes were leaders in the late 90s and early 2000s indie movement, replete with lo-fi production, and had their biggest success with the album Elephant. Their story as told on wikipedia is actually pretty interesting, check it out here.

• Seven Nation Army
• There's No Home For You Here

The Killers

Probably the most successful rock band of the 21st century, founded in Las Vegas in 2001, they mix a bit of alternative with British pop with lo-fi indie styles. Wikipedia says:

The Killers have been grouped with various genres, including alternative rock, indie rock, post-punk revival, new wave, heartland rock, pop rock, synth-pop, pop, glam rock, dance-rock, dance-pop, arena rock, and electronic rock.

• Mr. Brightside
• Somebody Told Me

Emo Rock

Emo Rock is an offshoot of punk and indie styles, specifically "emotional hardcore", which became "emocore", and finally broke through to the mainstream in the early 2000s. Retaining some of the pop punk elements of simple chord progressions and rhythms, emocore generally is a bit more melodic, and has much more introspective and confessional lyrics, along with a few interesting instruments.

Jimmy Eat World

• The Middle

Dashboard Confessional

• Hands Down

My Chemical Romance

• Welcome to the Black Parade

This whole section needs many more examples and information.