I was listening to music on random while reading a book and something very strange came on. This song had smothered vocals, trumpets, strange percussion, experimental song structure, and a poppy but distant emotion. I thought to myself ‘Oh no, I have one of those retarded new indie songs’. Now let me explain – I listen to the radio quite often and usually not by choice, and I find there are quite a few artists out there who have this strange new style. When I finally find out who wrote the music, they were either influenced by some major indie band or they are an up and coming band on an independent label. Experimenting with music styles is usually not a bad thing but can bring some horrible results. Take any pop structure and toss in a strange against the grain harmony or forgotten instrument, but make sure it sounds more puzzling than musical. What you get is.. #@*$)&@) which is perfect for indie music. Next, you need some strange emotion. When you are ready, run to your nearest recording spot (basement?) and just go nuts! Nothing like ruining a comfortable pop song with a badly recorded distorted trumpet and squeaky dog toy.

I loathe a lot of indie bands today, but back in the last century, bands were working hard and creating imaginative and emotional drifting music (Broken Social Scene, Dears, Death Cab for Cutie.. etc) the music was good and somewhat different but vaguely familiar. Nothing seemed to be written to be the next big single or made to break charts, the music was raw, emotional, and to the point – flawed but incredibly pure and honest. Some of these indie bands created the most beautiful music I have ever heard, and they made it big their own way.

Now time-warping to 2009, some bands seem to feel that they can break into the indie market by throwing in shitty and annoying samples. Bleeps and droning hums, and other things that do not belong in pop structure, like the strangeness of the music is what made them popular. When I hear these songs on the radio I usually focus on the pop parts as I enjoy a good pop song, but the extreme weirdness beats the piss out of the whole thing.

So after thinking about this and getting mad I reach for my mouse and opened my music player. The song was Summer of ’68 by Pink Floyd.