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ESSENTIALS
sonic youth
They are often referred to as the godfathers of alternative music. Unlike many of the indie artists that rose to fame during the 80’s in American rock, Sonic Youth abandoned the conventional structures of rock and roll and redefined what the electric guitar could sound like. Their influence is heavily felt in the current alternative and indie rock scene. Their album Daydream Nation is considered one of the most important rock albums of all time, since it popularized their experimental noise sound that influenced artists such as Beck, My Bloody Valentine and even the infamous Nirvana, whose lead singer said that the band’s main goal was to “do as good as Sonic Youth”.
pixies
Pixies is one of the most influential bands of the alternative rock scene. They started back in the 80’s with a punk and surf rock inspired sound. What really set them apart from the rest of the noise rock bands was their lyrical originality, touching unusual and controversial themes such as aliens, biblical violence, suicides and even earthquakes. Their structure was also quite defining for the time, as most artists would copy their soft verses and explosive choruses. Their records didn’t become chart toppers, but they sure became very popular in the underground scene of the 90’s, especially with albums like Doolittle. Their music is often found in movie soundtracks too, specially their song Where Is My Mind, which has become a common choice for its use in the famous final scene of Fight Club.
the smiths
If you have a hipster friend, his favorite band is probably The Smiths. The amount of influence this band has had on both music and popular culture is immense. They’re the definitive British indie rock band and also one of the most unique in history, mostly due to the combination of Johnny Marr’s traditional and carefully constructed soft rock sound with Morrissey’s poetic lyrics and crooner voice. In the 80’s, they became a media sensation for both the eccentricities of their live performances (Morrissey often performed with gladioli stuffed in his pocket, for example) and the singer’s controversial opinions. Their albums gained some popularity during this time and they were praised for their lyrical and musical accomplishments. Later on, some of their songs got to the Top 100 charts and their albums also started to prove succesful with both critics and public. Many artists today consider the group a huge influence, often describing it as the band that founded the indie movement.
arcade fire
Arcade Fire is one of the most popular and beloved indie bands of the decade. This canadian group, led by Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, has positioned itself as a giant in the indie scene for its lyrics, that often deal with big themes such as coming of age, death, grief and loneliness. Their unique and exuberant onstage presence has got a lot of attention, as well as their ecclectic mix of punk rock, bossa nova and french chanson. Their originality and collected style has earned them a loyal fanbase and critical acclaim, making them standout as one of the most important and interesting acts of the last few years.
radiohead
Radiohead still stands as a one of the most inventive bands of all time. It gained popularity in the late 1990's and became an important name in music by the early 2000's. Their unique art-rock albums were big enough to be compared with progressive rock classics by Pink Floyd and David Bowie. Their album OK Computer was the first one to make an impression with a peculiar mix of rock and electronic and futuristic lyrics about technology and alienation that were well received by critics and fans alike. This album helped the band gain popularity and respect. This was enough to make it reach the mainstream media too. The group's influence nowadays is unmeasured. Popular bands like Muse and Coldplay owe a great deal to the group's creative and thematic blend of genres.
Sources:
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Sonic Youth: AllMusic, BBC, Pigeons & Planes; Pixies: BuenaMusica, AllMusic, Pigeons & Planes; The Smiths: AllMusic, Pigeons & Planes; Arcade Fire: AllMusic, Rolling Stone, The Guardian; Radiohead: AllMusic, Rolling Stone, El Mundo
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