I didn't think "indie" existed before the 90's.

I actually had a dozen of those at various times, and at least two from each of the decades.


Jaboobinator

I didn't think "indie" existed before the 90's.

*Shakes head, sheds a solitary tear...*

oldebayer: *Shakes head, sheds a solitary tear...*

Don't worry, I have several of the records they listed from earlier decades. I'm just saying that it didn't exist as a category. No one called The Velvet Underground "indie" in 1967.

I was fully prepared to whine but then I saw Franz Zappa, Einsturzende Neubauten, Husker Du, and Dismemberment Plan on the list.

Oops, make that FranK Zappa.

Franz was Frank's much less talented heroin-addicted cousin who released a series of increasingly disappointing indie albums and ultimately ended up as the pyrotechnician for Great White.

Not a bad list. It seems a little incomplete without Galaxie 500 though

I was surprised by how much quality was on that list

*bookmarked*

Croooow!: I was surprised by how much quality was on that list

It's a reasonable list, for sure, but it's far from comprehensive.

Jaboobinator: It's a reasonable list, for sure, but it's far from comprehensive.

well sure, no list is going to be comprehensive, but i have enjoyed enough albums that are listed to make me want to check out the ones I have never heard. Also, it inspired me to bust Dismemberment Plan back out right now, so thats nice.

I have the two Zappas (like them), King Crimson (don't like it), and Townes Van Zandt (if it's the one I'm thinking of, he should stick to songwriting).

Jaboobinator: It's a reasonable list, for sure, but it's far from comprehensive.

Yeah, totally. Definitely worth some investigation.

Now I have a 13th Floor Elevators songs stuck in my head.

One thing I did notice, however, is that the list has no hip-hop.

What's the deal?

Approves

Approves

(now with pic goodness)

021. Funkadelic - Free Your Mind and your Ass Will Follow (Westbound Records Us, 1970)

By no stretch of the imagination was the Funkadelic "indie."

AzDownboy: (now with pic goodness)

Here's a picture of me and AzDownboy (I'm on the right).

anal brazil men: Here's a picture of me and AzDownboy (I'm on the right)

Your top 5 Friday afternoon songs.. go!

The Best Indie Albums

Creating any 'best of list' is always problematic, not only aesthetic judgement employed but also its effect.

They should be called Favorite, not best, because that'a all these lists are. The faves of whoever compiles them.

Jaboobinator: I didn't think "indie" existed before the 90's.

It's short for "independent." As in, not attached to a major label.

ZAZ: Townes Van Zandt (if it's the one I'm thinking of, he should stick to songwriting).

I don't think it matters which one it is. I know I'm a total heretic, but I can't get into his performances. Maybe if I were in attendance, I'd feel differently. I know people who describe his shows as religious experiences. I don't get it.

Also, the '90s part of the list goes a little off the rails.

I don't mean to brag but I know for a FACT that any and all of the 350+ Brap and the Huggabunch Kidz albums would blow any of that tripe out of the water.

(All on the Cassette Only Label)

I miss many faves here, but this list brings it.

/great list, bookmarked, thirded.

Jaboobinator: oldebayer: *Shakes head, sheds a solitary tear...*

Don't worry, I have several of the records they listed from earlier decades. I'm just saying that it didn't exist as a category. No one called The Velvet Underground "indie" in 1967.

Does Verve qualify as an indie label? If so, the VU is conspicuously absent from the list.

Someone call Dusk-you-n-me into this thread. He's a big Clap Your Hands Say Yeah fan.

palladiate: 021. Funkadelic - Free Your Mind and your Ass Will Follow (Westbound Records Us, 1970)

By no stretch of the imagination was the Funkadelic "indie."


By the "stretch" that they were on an independent label, they were; Imagination not required here.

Woohooo!


My favorite "Kraut" records are listed.

Ash Ra Tempel,Amon Duul,Faust,Can and Klaus Schulze.

I play in a band that borrows(steals) heavily from those guys.

Kosmische Musik.

Anyone who digs Pink Floyd "Pompeii era" music should check out krautrock.

cerote: Jaboobinator: oldebayer: *Shakes head, sheds a solitary tear...*

Don't worry, I have several of the records they listed from earlier decades. I'm just saying that it didn't exist as a category. No one called The Velvet Underground "indie" in 1967.


The Romans didn't refer to themselves and the Greeks as "Classical" era civilizations. That happens later, it's a natural function of time going forward; In the moment, you cannot be in a historical context.

Good list, but the lack of Sleater-Kinney is highly troubling.

Wow some nice jazz and prog albums on there. It still will not make me like indie.

No Melvins?


Funny and ironic.


They listed a band called Boris who took their name from a song by the Melvins.

Pretty much all stoner,doom,grunge,etc bands owe a hell of a lot to the Melvins.


Nirvana was to the Melvins what the Monkees were to the Beatles.

props for Captain Beefheart!!!

nice move on 65daysof static, godpseed, and do make say think

craigdamage: Nirvana was to the Melvins what the Monkees were to the Beatles.

Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl roadied for the Melvins and Cobain wrote songs with Buzzo. The Melvins recorded songs written in part by Cobain.

No Pixies?

Not bad actually,

Missing BUTTHOLE SURFERS ' "LOCUST ABORTION TECHNICIAN" (the 80s)

And

LOVE "FOREVER CHANGES" (60s)

From the '60s they should've included The Monks.

Oh and SKINNY PUPPY while we are at it

And THE CRAMPS


And DANIEL JOHNSTON
And
Of course SUICIDE first album

Also, what the hell is Vampire Rodents doing on there?

cerote: Does Verve qualify as an indie label? If so, the VU is conspicuously absent from the list.

yeah, I was wondering about that. Otherwise good list. Kind of surprised that My Bloody Valentine's Loveless was not included. Does their Warner Bros. distribution (which was US only) bar them from being included? I don't think Creation (their UK label) was that big until Oasis.


A big "fark Yeah!" for them including Roy Montgomery. I would advise Spacemen 3, MBV, Nick Drake, etc. fans to check him out. Nice psychedelic guitar-y stuff. Think: Nick Drake folk playing under layers of MBV noise.

Why are some of these indy? Many of the earlier ones were big releases from major labels.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

My favorite album, period. Just turned 10, too.

Damn, this is a good list. Not just rock/pop, throw in some Anthony Braxton and Art Ensemble of Chicago as well!

No Velvet Underground is surprising, but i dunno - is/was Verve a "major" label?

nobody thinks it is weird to have big black's songs aboutf*cking but not atomizer

and spacemen 3 recurring, but not ANY of their other stuff?

and shellac's rude gesture?

Pretty good list. I know they can't include everything, but I was expecting Guided by Voices (Bee Thousand, to be specific) to make an appearance.

Nice to see Dead Kennedys represented ... but c'mon, Fresh Fruit?

Gimme some Frankenchrist or Plastic Surgery Disasters any day over FF4RV.

nobody thinks it is weird to have big black's songs aboutf*cking but not atomizer

Well, I did. Hell, even Big Black would think it was weird (allegedly they put a sticker on some releases of SAF saying "Warning! Not as good as Atomizer!").

The Third Man: nobody thinks it is weird to have big black's songs aboutf*cking but not atomizer

Well, I did. Hell, even Big Black would think it was weird (allegedly they put a sticker on some releases of SAF saying "Warning! Not as good as Atomizer!").

forgot about that

Misunderstood - Before The Dream Faded

Buy this album!!!!! It is a lost classic. Even you kids will like it.

One of the great lost '60s albums. Side one includes all six of the tracks the Misunderstood recorded in England in 1966, with magnificent guitar work and nervy, ambitious (if a bit overtly cosmic) songwriting that combines some of the best aspects of the Jeff Beck-era Yardbirds and Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd. Remember that Pink Floyd and Hendrix had yet to record when these sides were waxed; they aren't derivations, but genuinely innovative and groundbreaking performances. Side two contains seven pre-psychedelic demos from their U.S. garage days in the mid-'60s that, while not nearly as important as their 1966 work, are solid, crunching R&B-soaked rock in the tradition of their chief British influences. (allmusic.com)

always lovely to see Low on a list anywhere--excellent record.

/where the fark are belle and sebastian?