the alternative music scene has grown to the point where it’s no longer the alternative anymore; it has in fact become part of the mainstream.
Which is both good and bad. No, rock isn’t dead–if it were, there wouldn’t be much point in this magazine-but it is, as Paul Westerberg said in our Soul of Rock’n’Roll issue, going underground. True innovation is being pushed farther and farther from the mainstream, while the mainstream itself expands to encompass fringes it once scarcely noticed. Five years ago the thought of Sonic Youth being on a major label would have been as unthink. able as it would have been undesirable; today it would seem a gross injustice if they weren’t. And hell, why not- seems like the majors these days are buying up anything that moves, or at least moves noisily, as long as the band in question has some sort of independent credibility and/ or following. This is good for the bands in the short run, and for some even in the long run, but the overall effect is hardly salutary, especially as it concerns the health of the independent system, which until now has developed and nurtured these bands.
Most likely, this mainstream bloat will deflate somewhat in the next couple of years as the majors realize that it’s probably not a good idea to sign every half assed jangly guitar rock band that comes their way.
I’m only a casual observer of Screaming Trees, so I only really know this, their best known song, off the top of my head. It’s a good one though. I have also listened to some of Mark Lanegan’s (RIP) solo stuff....
2017’s Masseducation ,from the enigmatic St. Vincent, was released to universal acclaim. Annie Clark’s credentials include, being a member of Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ touring band, as well as other bands, after graduating from the Berklee school of music....
“What ever happened to Brent, the drummer in The Dandy Warhols?”, I hear you ask. He met a woman, moved to Australia, had kids and also started a band called Immigrant Union....
This is pretty much the only Tune-yards song I could list off the top of my head…it’s pretty good. A quick search tells me that they are an Oakland, California–based music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner...
When this US band popped up on my radar in 2009, having already been immersed in bands like Belle And Sebastian, Aberfeldy, Camera Obscura (all Scottish!) and other “twee” indie bands for some time, they probably didn’t make as much of an impact as they could have done. Nevertheless, I like some of their tunes and dip into...
Recently I’ve been catching up on tv and some of the more mature/adult shows, which I’ve been…Enjoying? Seems like the wrong word, but they’ve all generally been cynical or dark....
Sydney’s The Welcome Mat were active for much of the 90s and knew how to write a catchy power-pop song. One for you if you like Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and lawn bowls....
After I posted Lemonhead’s version of Luka, I wondered whether Ben Deily had made any more music after leaving the band. It turns out that he pursued a career as an advertising copywriter, but did indeed have a band called Varsity Drag....
This cover of Suzanne Vega’s hit song ‘Luka’ was on Lemonheads’ third album, Lick, that came out on the indie label, Taang! A couple of albums later, after signing to the major label, Atlantic Records they hit the big time with another cover…Simon and Garfunkel’s, ‘Mrs Robinson’ (1992)....
Dick Diver were lumped into a “scene”, perpetuated by a now defunct music website, known as “Dolewave”, after the unemployment benefits colloquially known as “the dole”. They were characterized by a DIY, jangly, sometimes laconic, sometimes insistent, guitar sound. Courtney Barnett was also sometimes mentioned as...
I’m lucky that I live in Melbourne and got to see Courtney Barnett gigs in the early days, as well as a fair few times since then. I first clapped eyes on her when she was guitarist in Brent De Boer’s band, Immigrant Union, and then several times during the early EP days when Jen Cloher and Dan Luscombe from The Drones were in her band. When Sometimes… was released, it was a great continuation of those first couple of records. In the great indie snob cliché, I probably do think her old stuff is better than her new stuff. Maybe.
Looking at the track listing, here are a few random observations:
Elevator Operator - I think I remember that the video was actually shot in the Nicholas Building, which is mentioned in the song. It’s a well known, old-ish building in the Central Business District of Melbourne. The kind of building that was one of the last holdouts to have someone working the lift/elevator. You would indeed take the 96 tram from the northern suburbs to get to this building.
Pedestrian At Best - This video was shot at a small “adventure” theme park on the outskirts of Melbourne. It used to be called Alpine Toboggan Park, I forget what it is called now. I drove past it a few weeks ago and commented on its notoriety. The song is so droll about the whims of taste and opinion, as is the video
Aqua Profunda! - There is a sign painted on the wall at the deep end of the Fitzroy open-air swimming pool that reads, “Danger. Deep Water. Aqua Profonda” and there is also a mural on the outside wall that also reads “Aqua Profonda”. The spelling is slightly different, but I choose to believe that there is a connection given the lyrics…which The Guardian confirms…see #2
Depreston - I used to live not too far from Preston and I have a couple of friends who live there. You need more than a spare half a million to buy a fixer upper there, even back then. The other thing I also always pondered was, "What combination of coffees were not purchased to save "23 dollars a week?"
Dead Fox - This references driving on the Hume Freeway between Melbourne and Sydney. Some of the freight trucks on that road are operated by the Linfox company. They often say “You are passing another Fox” on the back of them, as well as “If you can’t see me, I can’t see you”, referring to the safety mirrors of the trucks.
Although references to places in songs can sometimes be clichés, I do get a kick out of the ones that I pick up in Courtney Barnett’s music as they are usually quite subtle and she has a great knack of making the mundane, unusual, while also avoiding sentimentality.
King Stingray are from the Miwatj region of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory with an auspicious lineage; two of the the founding members’ close relatives were themselves founders of the seminal, Yothu YIndi....
Adelaide’s, The Superjesus were one of the late nineties Australian bands who followed the North American commercial Alternative Rock template, at least IMO. Like a lot of bands, they would have started in the dingy pub scene, getting picked up by community radio and having some appeal to the goth/metal/hard rock indie-head,...
The Dentists originated in Kent in southern England. This track just dripping in jangle with a splash of 60’s psychedelia. I missed them when they were an active band, only coming to know them later on....
I never thought I would type the words, “One of Asia’s up and coming shoegaze bands is Bangkok’s, Death of Heather”, but here we are. With this video that appears to be set in Japan, they appear to be tapping into a similar Asian shoegaze revival that Tokyo’s For Tracy Hyde were leading lights of until their demise,...
Edinburgh’s Aberfeldy (which is also a place in Scotland) made some delightful chamber pop records in the 2000s. They bear a resemblance to other Scottish bands like Belle and Sebastian, and Camera Obscura. You may also have heard their music in a Diet Coke TV commercial....
I tossed up posting a song called The Crying Scene, from their next album, instead of this one. However, I decided to go with their most well known track. Either way, Roddy Frame, knew how to write a good tune. There are many dotted through their discography....
Seeing as this hasn’t been posted yet, I feel it’s my duty to do so. A song that was meant to be a prank on the record company that became, arguably, their best known song....
San Diego’s aMiniature (the “a” is not pronounced) is a super obscure band to me. Back in the 90s, I would sometimes hang out with a bass player who professed to loving them, but I could never find any of their records. On the streaming service I use, there is one album from 2022, which isn’t listed on Discogs. None of...
Steph Catley & Jen Beattie: Aussie teammates, neighbours, friends. (youtu.be)
From about 10 days ago
Hide Read?
Is there an easy way to hide read posts? Ideally something like the feature in Thunder that lets you auto filter out any of the read posts....
Every print issue of Spin magazine from 1985 to 2012 is on Google Books. (books.google.com.au)
I’ve singled out an issue that I definitely once owned, March 1994, with Juliana Hatfield on the cover. I must have thrown it away, at some point....
Regurgitator - I Sucked a Lot of Cock to Get Where I Am [1996] (invidious.io.lol)
Regurgitator are from Brisbane, Australia. Another track from their first album to go alongside an earlier post....
Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You [1992] (yewtu.be)
I’m only a casual observer of Screaming Trees, so I only really know this, their best known song, off the top of my head. It’s a good one though. I have also listened to some of Mark Lanegan’s (RIP) solo stuff....
[Article] 20 albums that only get better with age (www.yardbarker.com)
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/2c491717-e6b5-4f4c-8729-ba56c7612f03.png...
St. Vincent - New York [2017] (yewtu.be)
2017’s Masseducation ,from the enigmatic St. Vincent, was released to universal acclaim. Annie Clark’s credentials include, being a member of Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ touring band, as well as other bands, after graduating from the Berklee school of music....
Sugar Kane - Dancing with a fire (i.imgur.com)
youtu.be/G2NHt6JAsi4?si=5I9pae99g4wMeGEt
Immigrant Union - In Time circa-[2013] (yewtu.be)
“What ever happened to Brent, the drummer in The Dandy Warhols?”, I hear you ask. He met a woman, moved to Australia, had kids and also started a band called Immigrant Union....
tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain [2014] (yewtu.be)
This is pretty much the only Tune-yards song I could list off the top of my head…it’s pretty good. A quick search tells me that they are an Oakland, California–based music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner...
Warpaint - Disco//Very - Keep It Healthy [2014] (yewtu.be)
Two songs for the price of one in this video. Disco//Very and Keep It Healthy come from Warpaint’s 2014, self-titled album. I like the video....
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction [2009] (yewtu.be)
When this US band popped up on my radar in 2009, having already been immersed in bands like Belle And Sebastian, Aberfeldy, Camera Obscura (all Scottish!) and other “twee” indie bands for some time, they probably didn’t make as much of an impact as they could have done. Nevertheless, I like some of their tunes and dip into...
Swervedriver - Sandblasted [1991] (yewtu.be)
An epic track from Swervedriver’s debut album....
Billy Bragg – Sexuality [1991] (yewtu.be)
Some good lines in the lyrics for this, IMO....
Lighthearted, upbeat shows for adults?
Recently I’ve been catching up on tv and some of the more mature/adult shows, which I’ve been…Enjoying? Seems like the wrong word, but they’ve all generally been cynical or dark....
Blue Platform Mural - Per Olof Ultvedt (i2.wp.com)
The blue murals cover T-Centralen the hub of the Stockholm metro.
The Welcome Mat – Play Me [1993] (yewtu.be)
Sydney’s The Welcome Mat were active for much of the 90s and knew how to write a catchy power-pop song. One for you if you like Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and lawn bowls....
Garlic Nun - Dear Tracey [2021] (yewtu.be)
I don’t know much about this Melbourne band, but I do like a good pun and a riotous music video....
Varsity Drag - Summertime [2006] (yewtu.be)
After I posted Lemonhead’s version of Luka, I wondered whether Ben Deily had made any more music after leaving the band. It turns out that he pursued a career as an advertising copywriter, but did indeed have a band called Varsity Drag....
The Moldy Peaches - Steak For Chicken (youtu.be)
youtu.be/wPlIw5lP49A?si=r9lWrf-ocLlIrz9c
Off-season fun - guess the riders, year and race! (feddit.dk)
Lemonheads - Luka [1989] (yewtu.be)
This cover of Suzanne Vega’s hit song ‘Luka’ was on Lemonheads’ third album, Lick, that came out on the indie label, Taang! A couple of albums later, after signing to the major label, Atlantic Records they hit the big time with another cover…Simon and Garfunkel’s, ‘Mrs Robinson’ (1992)....
The Chills – Brave Words (Spoken Bravely: The Remix) [2023] [1987] (aussie.zone)
Also known as Brave Words (2023 Expanded and Remastered) on streaming platforms…Songwhip link....
Jarvis Cocker - Running the World [2006] (yewtu.be)
Contains swears, which French TV didn’t seem to mind....
Dick Diver - Calendar Days [2013] (yewtu.be)
Dick Diver were lumped into a “scene”, perpetuated by a now defunct music website, known as “Dolewave”, after the unemployment benefits colloquially known as “the dole”. They were characterized by a DIY, jangly, sometimes laconic, sometimes insistent, guitar sound. Courtney Barnett was also sometimes mentioned as...
[DISCUSSION: WEEKLY ALBUM CLUB] Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (2015) (songwhip.com)
Hey everyone! Welcome to album club week 5!...
King Stingray - Lookin' Out [2023] (yewtu.be)
King Stingray are from the Miwatj region of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory with an auspicious lineage; two of the the founding members’ close relatives were themselves founders of the seminal, Yothu YIndi....
The Superjesus - Down Again [1997] (yewtu.be)
Adelaide’s, The Superjesus were one of the late nineties Australian bands who followed the North American commercial Alternative Rock template, at least IMO. Like a lot of bands, they would have started in the dingy pub scene, getting picked up by community radio and having some appeal to the goth/metal/hard rock indie-head,...
The Replacements - Alex Chilton [1987] (yewtu.be)
Having spotted a couple of Alex Chilton related posts here, I thought I’d post this song from The Replacements....
Arsenal Women on Instagram: "More evidence that Katie McCabe only scores bangers” (www.instagram.com)
The Dentists - I Had An Excellent Dream [1985] (yewtu.be)
The Dentists originated in Kent in southern England. This track just dripping in jangle with a splash of 60’s psychedelia. I missed them when they were an active band, only coming to know them later on....
Ducks Ltd. - The Main Thing [2023] (yewtu.be)
Toronto based band with links to Geelong, Australia (I heard), with a recently released track....
Death Of Heather - Gaze At The Ceiling [2023] (yewtu.be)
I never thought I would type the words, “One of Asia’s up and coming shoegaze bands is Bangkok’s, Death of Heather”, but here we are. With this video that appears to be set in Japan, they appear to be tapping into a similar Asian shoegaze revival that Tokyo’s For Tracy Hyde were leading lights of until their demise,...
Aberfeldy - Hypnotised [2006] (yewtu.be)
Edinburgh’s Aberfeldy (which is also a place in Scotland) made some delightful chamber pop records in the 2000s. They bear a resemblance to other Scottish bands like Belle and Sebastian, and Camera Obscura. You may also have heard their music in a Diet Coke TV commercial....
Aztec Camera - Somewhere In My Heart [1987] (yewtu.be)
I tossed up posting a song called The Crying Scene, from their next album, instead of this one. However, I decided to go with their most well known track. Either way, Roddy Frame, knew how to write a good tune. There are many dotted through their discography....
Blur - Song 2 [1997] (yewtu.be)
Seeing as this hasn’t been posted yet, I feel it’s my duty to do so. A song that was meant to be a prank on the record company that became, arguably, their best known song....
Guillemots - Made-Up Lovesong #43 [2006] (yewtu.be)
This is a single from Guillemots’ debut album Through The Windowpane, which was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize....
The Gun Club - Sex Beat [1982] (youtu.be)
I don’t think there is an official MV for this song from The Gun Club’s debut album, so here is a fan made one....
Custard - Music Is Crap [1998] (yewtu.be)
This band has one of the the funnest of fun facts. Dave McCormack, their vocalist, is also the voice of Bluey’s dad, Bandit....
aMiniature - Physical Climber [1994] (yewtu.be)
San Diego’s aMiniature (the “a” is not pronounced) is a super obscure band to me. Back in the 90s, I would sometimes hang out with a bass player who professed to loving them, but I could never find any of their records. On the streaming service I use, there is one album from 2022, which isn’t listed on Discogs. None of...