What's in a name?
When Madison's Top 40 radio station, Z104 FM, started playing Death Cab for Cutie's song Soul Meets Body,\ did the band lose Indie cred among its UW-Madison fanbase? Did it have any to begin with?
Technically, the band hasn't been ""indie"" since 2004. In practice, it doesn't matter.
Death Cab isn't the only band to dump an independent label for a major one while keeping, more or less, its signature sound. As The Shins and The Decemberists also forfeit their indie trophies, the meaning of ""indie rock"" becomes increasingly subjective.
""Initially [‘indie'] meant the way that the music was produced outside of the major labels. But that's not really the way people use the term anymore,"" said Barrett Kilmer, music buff and co-owner of Indie Coffee, 1225 Regent St. ""I think now whenever people use the term ‘indie music' they're describing the sound rather than anything about the business relationship that the band has with the label.""
But music journalists don't know exactly what to call the swelling genre of not-technically-indie-bands and the technically-indie-bands that copy them.
""We haven't been able to come up with anything honestly,"" allmusic.com journalist Heather Phares said. ""It's really hard to give names to these genres in the first place.""
Others have gotten creative.
""‘Indie–yuppie' is a phrase that's getting thrown around these days because there's lots of people who are into ‘indie' music who are upwardly mobile professionals,"" pitchforkmedia.com journalist Marc Hogan said with a reluctant chuckle, ""Exactly what ‘yuppie' used to mean.""
Kilmer dubs the genre ""O.C.-friendly"" after the soundtracks accompanying FOX's teen drama The O.C.
But this isn't the first time that the popularizing of a rebel genre has led to an ironic, if not inappropriate, title.
In the '80s and '90s, ""alternative"" and ""college rock,"" encompassed by R.E.M. and Pavement, hit the mainstream so hard that music fans had trouble finding anything alternative to ""alternative.""
Unlike bee-bop, R&B and soul, the problem with the titles ""indie,"" ""indie-pop,"" and ""alternative"" is that they don't describe the sound the bands produce, Hogan said.
But ""indie,"" like ""altnernative,"" is not an altogether empty word.
""[The genre names mean] it is some kind of special music for the different people, the sensitive people. It's trying to separate itself from the mainstream even when it's absorbed by the mainstream,"" Phares said.
Kilmer said the genre titles conveys that listeners can think for themselves, even if they don the ""indie uniform.""
The style
Enter B-Side Records, 436 State St., and choppy-haired girls, shaggy-haired guys, unisex thick framed glasses, girls' jeans for everyone and vintage T-shirts are more common than Wisconsin hoodies.
""In some ways I think it's more about the fashion than the music,"" Phares said of the ""indie"" trend. ""The ‘indie rock' look has become just as strict as say, the goth look.""
Like with other music-based fashion trends, people with ""indie"" style can perpetuate the music's popularity by reminding the world of their artistic allegiance. Phares said she thinks it takes as much time to hone the ""indie"" look as it does to look for the ""indie"" music.
Beyond the staples of ""indie"" fashion, Phares said a careful ""indie rocker"" will notice the fashion has changed a bit, and now incorporates '80s and ""nerdy '70s"" aspects as a result of ""indie"" icons such as Jenny Lewis.
The future
Indie's continued popularity doesn't mean it's a bare market for those looking for something new.
""A lot of kids are listening to underground rap,"" Phares said. ""It just feels like the rock-based music... is boxed.""
And at pitchforkmedia.com, Hogan said Guns n' Roses fans can get excited.
""I have a feeling that 2006 is going to be a year where you hear a lot about metal bands,"" Hogan said, referencing metal up-and-comers such as Early Man, Boris and the impending return of Axel Rose.
Madison retailers are realistic about any genre's staying power. B-Side Records employee Alex Fulton said the largely indie store has a solid clientele that buys jazz, international, reggae and folk music.
And at Indie Coffee, Kilmer said the store title can outlive the ""indie rock"" trend because it refers to the independent coffee house rather than the indie music he plays.
Yet, music journalists and Madison music retailers say ""indie rock"" isn't close to fizzling.
But it might not be evolving.
Certainly, Phares said, ""indie"" has already toyed with a variety of in-trends, including ""garage"" ""dance-punk"" and ""freak-folk.""
And while ""indie"" rockers can continue to incorporate world music and electronic beats into a rock beat, she said she hasn't seen much unique indie rock lately.
""It kind of makes me sad,"" Phares said. ""But it's not the end of the world as long as there's still good music out there.""
The playlist
The Flaming Lips: In rotation at Indie Coffee and WSUM student radio, the band has always been on a major label.
Rilo Kiley: Led by indie's best dressed, Jenny Lewis, the band signed with Warner Bros in 2005.
Pretty Girls Make Graves: On WSUM's list of Top 5 bands with a recently released album, it touts an independent label.
Death Cab for Cutie: Now the quintessential ""indie-pop"" or ""indie-yuppie"" band, it switched to a major label in 2004. The band is playing a sold-out show at Orpheum, 216 State St., April 21.
The Shins: Perhaps the runner-up for the ultimate ""indie-yuppie"" title, the band left its independent label and is slated to release an album with Sub Pop this summer. The band became a top sellers at B-Side Records after the movie ""Garden State"" came out.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Completely unsigned and self-promoting.
The Decemberists: Switched from independent label, Kill Rock Stars, to a major label in 2005. The band is slated to start recording with Capitol Records this month.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: No. 1 on WSUM's weekly list of most-played bands. The band is on a major label.
The Postal Service: A recent top seller at B-Side Records, The Postal Service is signed to now-major label, Sub Pop.
Smog: In the rotation at Indie Coffee, and touts an independent label.
Bonnie Prince Billy: Often heard at Indie Coffee. Kilmer calls the band ""indie by any definition.""
Arcade Fire: With independent label, Merge, the band blew up at B-Side Records after a stellar review on pitchforkmedia.com in 2004.
Band of Horses: A band resembling The Shins, Band of Horses is also signed to Sup Pop Records. The band gets considerable airtime on WSUM.
Hum: Favorite band of UW-Madison sophomore Kent Sklarow (photographed above). The band recorded its last album for RCA in 1998.
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