Indie Rock Cred

Or: The Death of True Music Elitism


I was sitting in the Yeshiva College writing center the other week, when I overheard a few professors discussing how much easier academic research is, now that everything is on the internet. And it got me thinking about how Al Gore's invention affected not only one's ability to research more accurately and efficiently, but it also changed media as we know it.

Due in part to the fact that I'm currently reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, his magnum opus of a novel that explores (among many things) the addictive aspects of entertainment, media and entertainment have been on the mind.

Back in the day, in order to watch TV or movies or listen to music online- you needed to either stream them, or download them; both illegal. Movies and television have made bold steps in the right direction, with sites like Hulu that allow interneters to stream media along with commercial breaks. Music, however, doesn't seem willing to make that next step.

Yet, while those who make internet music laws don't seem to be budging, those sharing music on the internet are at the forefront of the industry, and seem to be the new critics that rock radio has desperately needed for the last ten years.

When I grew up, I got all of my music from the radio. The system worked well when 98 Rock and WHFS played Pearl Jam, Nirvana, STP, Weezer, and the Pumpkins. But when bands like Puddle of Mudd started getting absurd amounts of radio play, I was forced to settle for classic rock radio. Not to say there's anything wrong with classic rock, I just don't aspire to the belief that rock died in the late 60s or early 70s. I believe that great music continues to be made, and will continue to do so as long as creative and emotionally distressed people are out there to create it. The key is being able to find it.

Which brings to light the music blog world. In the past three years, I've probably been exposed to more music that I never would have heard of had I not begun perusing what the internet had to offer. I never would've known about Girl Talk, would never have given My Morning Jacket a second chance, and certainly wouldn't have discovered bands like Daft Punk, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, or The Arcade Fire.

But while this exposure is great for both bands and fans, it takes something away from the music. True music geeks used to be able to haughtily snub us radio folk, chiding us by saying that the music we were listening to was nothing compared to the stuff they liked. We never really knew where they got their music from- I myself can't imagine discovering this stuff withtout the internet. But somehow they found it and were able to throw it in our faces.

These ivory tower, greasy haired, Licorice Pizza loving, geeks would retreat to their musical nerderies and would revel in the fact that they listened to bands with true indie rock cred, and that somehow, because of that, they were better people. But today, in the day of sites like Stereogum and Pitchfork, where bands like Animal Collective are hailed, and radio starts like Miley Cyrus snubbed, what exactly does indie cred mean anymore?

In a word- it means nothing, just as it should. To asses somethings worth based on it's unpopularity is counterintuitive, and shows little faith in mankind's ability to assess good art. Art critics don't complain that Picasso is too famous, nor do literary nuts complain that Hawthorne sold too many novels.

So yes, while I understand that sometimes it sucks for the fans when bands start playing larger venues, try not to complain too much. Sometimes it's nice when good art is appreciated by the masses, and it's always cool to be able to claim that you saw The Beatles before they were famous. But tell anyone that spent their life listening to the radio that you saw Captain Beefheart before he was famous, and a blank look will register on their face- a look that says:
a. Who the hell is Captain Beefheart?
b. If he was famous, I'd probably have heard of him?
and c. Why are you telling me this?

And so, here are a few bands or songs that you've probably never heard before. Because isn't that the point of this whole blog thing? Oh, and if you have heard any of the songs before, let us all know about your musical awesomeness with a comment. Cause (sic) us writers love comments, and don't see nearly enough of them.

The Whipsaws- 60 Watt

TV on the Radio- DLZ

The Pixies- Monkey Gone To Heaven

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