This morning on punknews.org I saw a news item about a book in the works called "Indie Travel Guide". According to punknews, the book "promises to take readers through the best parts of cities as documented by touring bands". It features insight from bands like Sonic Youth, Ash, Art Brut, The Strokes, and many other artists. What do all of these aforementioned, and the majority of artists featured in "Indie Travel Guide" have in common? They're all on major labels. Independent implies that you don't depend on major labels, but the terms became so bastardized that a band like Sonic Youth, who's been on Geffen for almost 20 years, and who recently put out an album on Starbucks Records (that's right the coffee conglomerate has a record label) are still considered "Indie". Maybe in their section of the book Sonic Youth could guide us to some hip little underground coffee joint, how about Starbucks? Hell why not even Mcdonalds? It's about as independent as Sonic Youth are.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Sonic Youth's music, I just think it's stupid for people to label them under ths label when there's nothing independent about them.
Another thing I have a problem with is bands who preach the evilness of large corporations and then go off and sign to their record labels. There's a number of bands that fit into this category, most notably the "against" bands, Against Me, Rise Against, and Rage Against The Machine, as well as Anti-Flag and Chumbawamba (who signed to EMI after previously being featured on a compilation titled "Fuck EMI"). Some of these acts defend there decision by saying this will help expose their ideals to a wider audience? What ideals? You've just become part of a company, and are making money for a company, that you've always despised and preached against, is that the ideal you want to pass on?
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