Indie Rock - Good/Bad?
 

Being in college, a lot of my friends listen to a lot of "indie" rock - stuff like Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Silver Jews, Spoon, Xiu Xiu, White Stripes, Arcade Fire, etc. Regardless of whether or not indie rock is really "indie" or not, what do you guys think about it?

As an art form, is it legit, or is it all just more derivative post-Cobain/Iggy Pop stuff?

Totally legit..

Indie rock technically just means it was written, performed, recorded, and produced by the artist without any executives making or suggesting changes. It's independant of the "system", but may rely on it for distribution.

As an art form I find it to be more legit than anything on the radio. A lot of it is derivative, but the gems out there are amazing.

That being said, listen to some of it and form your own damn opinion. Classical music may be considered an art form by most but I am rarely in the mood to appreciate it. When I am in the mood to listen to it, it can be incredible. When I'm not, it's can be annoying. Does it's "art-ness" have any bearing on whether it's good or bad? Fuck, no.

Like what you like, hate what you hate.... There's a time and place for every genre of music.

Art can be anything, but not everything can be art. As long at it is created as an extension of yourself, it's art. Fine arts don't have anything to do with it (which is what you're referring to). That being said, I like some indie rock, but am dismayed by the fact that it now has a distinct sound: light guitars and light voices backed by drums. Can't hard rock that is self-produced be indie??? That's why I don't like the genre game. Artists get put there and get limited in what they play and what gets played.

I think it is great, the artists are actually making great music. There aren't pressured to create a 'one hit wonder' and try to sell tons of records.

the idea of defined genres suck. To have loose genre definitions and like in fine art, have many people that are a mixture, or can't be defined exactly, is good.
I think indie rock is overall a good thing. They don't water down their "style" to adopt to the mainstream and they have complete control of the creative process.

Definitely legit. Although, I'll admit that there are some of those bands you just mentioned that I hate, and some that I love. But, it's awesome that they are doing it and enriching the generally stale music scene we have right now. Even when these bands in this "genre" get their popularity on MTV and Radio, hell, let it be!

Neutral Milk Hotel rocks.