Indie pop/twee 2003

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So, what are the indie pop highlights of the past 12 months? I've been on a rock odyssey this year, so I've lost touch with the whole indie pop scene. Last things I liked were Juniper Moon, the Sinking Ships and Niza.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts

― southern lights (southern lights), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

All Girl Summer Fun Band - 2

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Club 8, Strangely Beautiful. Delightful Swedish indie-pop.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

casiotone for the painfully alone - twinkle echo is out this month and is my pick for album of the year. if you didn't pick up his album from 2001 (pocket symphonies for lonesome subway cars), i would highly recommend it.

also "baby it's you" (from his first album and his best song) was the closing track on this year's Colette of Paris annual compilation disc mixed by James Murphy/the DFA, it's a great way to end that mix.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

hidden cameras, "the smell of their own."

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

search: My Favorite's "The Happiest Days Of Our Lives"; The French "Local Information"; Patrick Wolf "Lycanthropy"; Trembling Blue Stars b-sides/singles compilation; Zea - "Today I Forgot To Complain"; Mister Pleasant - "Mister Pleasant"; Maximilian Hecker - "Rose"

destroy: The Postal Service, the excrutiatingly horrid forthcoming Her Space Holiday.

― david mc, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Club 8, Strangely Beautiful. Delightful Swedish indie-pop.

Ooh, I agree. Pure escapist loveliness.

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

i HATE her space holiday... someone yelled out "your dotcom dayjob" at one of his unfortunate opening slots at the bottom of the hill a couple years back, i laughed.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Club 8? I know nothing of this, links/interviews/recommendations?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Club 8? I know nothing of this

Bad Ned. Go here.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, I have the last Club 8 - spring came, rain fell - I will check out the new one. And must get that My favorite as they are on eof my favourites.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

dressy bessy?
bearsuit?

andy

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The Phoenix Foundation - The Drinker

― damian_nz (damian_nz), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Super Furry Animals is not only the indie pop highlight, but the highlight of the entire 2003 so far.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

also, dunno if these count as twee, but: Mountain Goats - "Tallahasse" (think this was 2003 in the uk? j0hn?); American Analog Set - "Promise Of Love"; Okkervil River - "Down The River Of Golden Dreams"; Aspera - "Oh Fantastica"; Manishevitz - "City Life"

― david mc, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

oh! and Saloon - "If We Meet In The Future" and Aislers Set "How I Learned To Write Backwards".. there must be loads more i'm forgetting.

― david mc, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

the "Ragazza Pop" compilation also.

― david mc, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I second the All-Girl Summer Fun Band. And I like the Postal Service, electro-emo tho it may be. But definitely the twee-pop highlight of the year is All Our Summer Songs by Saturday Looks Good to Me. Buy it now. (Or burn it from a friend, like I did. And, er, if you happen to be in Saturday Looks Good to Me, um, I'm gonna buy my own copy. Any day now.)

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

everything else already mentioned PLUS Camera Obscura. and the Shermans. and the entire Matinee roster (it's all cracking). and Girl With The Replaceable Head. and many more

Super furry animals, regardless of how good they might be, are not indie pop. sorry.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

oh and Folk Songs for the Afterlife. and Luma Lane.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

->hidden cameras, "the smell of their own."

i saw the hidden cameras on friggin mtv the other day and my head almost exploded. it was one of those 'you hear it first' segments during the early morning.. you know, the only time a day they actually play real videos. nevertheless I was shocked. Who picks those bands anyways? I always assumed it was the labels or however is currently doing someone favors at the network, but this changes my way of thinking...

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Bearsuit? LumaLane? Wow! Two Norwich bands on one thread! I feel so proud! Exclaimation marks!!! Make it three by mentioning KaitO's "Band Red" (not twee though,) but as yet only released in North America.

― Ben Dot, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i like kaito

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

(not as much as Cato though. who became Fixit Kid and not very indiepop)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

norwich is cool. the sickroom label is ace and i wonder whatever happened to crest?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Crest moved to Brighton and split up. Matt formed Coin-Op there, but couldn't afford to live there anymore, so is back in Norwich and I believe is recruiting people for a country-ish band.

And also a mention for Fiel Garvie's ace and atmospheric coming LP "Leave Me Out Of This" (Availible on approx 4638 labels acroos the world) That makes 4?/5?

PS: What's ILM etiquette when bigging up your friends?

― Ben Dot, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:22 (twenty-two years ago)

do it! do it!

Coin Op split up?!?!?! :( :( :(

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

was the Crest album ever available in any form? such as a CDR you could copy for a lone Australian fan?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

also a mention for Fiel Garvie's ace and atmospheric coming LP "Leave Me Out Of This"

Funny you should say this, I just got a copy in the mail. I reviewed the packaging with approval.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, is it good (I mean the record, not the packaging)? I ask 'cause my own copy ought to be arriving in the next few days. I've only heard a couple MP3s at their website, and I liked what I heard.

― David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

camera obscura!

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Jim, the Crest album came out about two and a half years ago, on the Noisebox label which promptly folded. I'm sure someone I know (i.e my landlady) will have it to copy, although it's not entirely impossible that I may even be able to track down an original CD for you.

― Ben Dot, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

really? because i was waiting for it to be released and it never seemed to happen. an original would be absolutely icebox

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

What's ILM etiquette when bigging up your friends?

make sure they're in the Poem-Cees. < /just terribly unnecessary snark, I am so ashamed>

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

beaumont 'tiara'(how I wish saint etienne sounded), saturday looks good to me 'all our summer songs', pearlfishers 'sky meadows', bitmap'alpha beta gamma', brunettes 'boyracer ep', i can see the bluebirds over my shoulder compilation(maybe my fave record of the year and super cheap), colin clary, florian 'florianopolis', ant 'floating on the breeze' ep, schwervon, pas/cal, radio dept 'lesser matters', swirlies, twin atlas

all are good to pretty great.
still coming? orange peels, bmx bandits, bats, postal blue, starlets, bristols

― keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

iran's second record ("moon boys", i think) has grown on me something fierce. but surprisingly enough, i'm going to agree with gygax and say that casiotone for the painfully alone gets the blue ribbon. "twinkle echo" is beautiful, intimate, epic, heartbreaking, essential.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

yes radio dept yes yes yes

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, is it good

Haven't heard it yet.

make sure they're in the Poem-Cees.

And deservedly so, sir!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread is going to cost me so much money.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:31 (twenty-two years ago)

lucksmiths. is the new 6 song one good?

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't heard it but marty's gf reckons it's ace and i trust her tastes :)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

have you heard the camera obscura album? i have the single and it sorta has that big echoey production like on eighties fan, makes me optimistic.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

there's a fonda 500 mini-lp with 17 songs coming out soon too.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

the CO album isn't out yet is it?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i think it is out in two weeks

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:23 (twenty-two years ago)

something like that.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i remember when lauren and i used to agree more... (record release party this monday at the hemlock).

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

pop polar has the camera obscura album now. canadian privileges.
anyone think a rocketship record will come out this year or even next?

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

mid 2004 is my guess

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 34 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

nice article on neutral milk hotel

― keith (keithmcl), Saturday, 6 September 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Does tweelectronica count? Cause Mum is the best record I've heard lately.

― kate (kate), Saturday, 6 September 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone think a rocketship record will come out this year or even next?

http://www.tonevendor.com/item/10062

Can anyone tell me about this? Not that anything will keep me from picking this up, but I'd be interested in hearing opinions before I click the button that sends my money.

― fffv (fffv), Saturday, 13 September 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

that's finally out? omnibus has been promising it for years.

― keith (keithmcl), Saturday, 13 September 2003 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

drive-in is threatening to release loads of rocketship stuff but who can be sure that they are telling the truth?

― keith (keithmcl), Saturday, 13 September 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of Drive-in, 7" lovers should head on over to Microindie's 7" sale page and order some. 10 singles for $5...or, do what I did and just order them all (33 singles for $16.50!). And buy those Cat's Miaow re-issues, while you're at it (and some Hydroplane...and the Shapiros CD...and...)

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Saturday, 13 September 2003 04:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Just picked up Beulah's Yoko today, and yeah, it's one damned fine pop album.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Saturday, 13 September 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

nice one Ernest! you just bought one of my records!

― the surface noise (electricsound), Saturday, 13 September 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

the adam green solo is great great great; what about the new spearmint album? and the new mojave 3? is it good?

― fernando, Sunday, 14 September 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

the surface noise wrote: nice one Ernest! you just bought one of my records!

Tugboat, right? Listening to it now, and it really hits the spot. I like the mood it sets, kinda like Buddha on the Moon or the Cat's Miaow. I'll have to pick up your full-length with my next order...

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Sunday, 14 September 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

the clips for the new bmx bandits record sound great. also ballboy is recording two albums this fall- one for 2003 and one for early 2004.

― keith (keithmcl), Sunday, 14 September 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

nice ripoff by My Favorite, release the eps separately and then compile them one cd with four extra songs and what surely are lame remixes since the originals aren't much to begine with. i suppose airiel will do the same.

― keith (keithmcl), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i agree about the ripoff aspect, but

since the originals aren't much to begine with

is definitely something i couldn't disagree with more :(

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 14 September 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i liked the first ep but not the 2nd or 3rd, i just think they had so much potential with the first few singles but they seem all gloss and sheen now and not much to chew on. plus he's insufferably pretentious.

― keith (keithmcl), Monday, 15 September 2003 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

well yeah but to be honest that's part of the appeal for me.

"burning hearts" from the fourth EP just slays me every time..

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 15 September 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

having not heard the ep's i think it hangs together quite nicely as an album, if a little long.

they could stand to lose a few of the 80s indieisms though, not to mention the twee-for-twee's-sake default delivery setting.

― david mc, Monday, 15 September 2003 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the 80s indieisms is kinda their schtick though, i feel it's an essential part of what they do. admittedly they are twee for its own sake sometimes but it doesn't detract from the impeccable quality of their tunes. frankly i think few others do it as well as them.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 15 September 2003 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i like having this subject on the front page. the secret shine cd is out now, has everything but the first sarah single? or that is what i gleaned from tonevendor's description. they shoudl have tacked on the dreamscape songs too.

― keith (keithmcl), Monday, 15 September 2003 01:56 (twenty-two years ago)

it's probably my favourite (agh) outright 'twee' album of the year.. i just wish they'd take a few more risks with their sound..

― david mc, Monday, 15 September 2003 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

my favorite is not all that twee. are they? it's more of a hopeless epic romance sort of thing, not cuddly and cute. i think they'd do themselves a favor if they had only the guy singing, maybe save the girl for backing vocals. he seems to mean it more than she does and does a better job of selling the melancholia.

― keith (keithmcl), Monday, 15 September 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

hmmm yes and no. her slight detachedness (?) is a positive rather than a negative for me.

the secret shine doesn't have the "unbearable" single on it either

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 15 September 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i guess secret shine want to hide their twee pop origins and be remembered as shoegazing fun. would all of it have even fit on one CD?

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 15 September 2003 06:26 (twenty-two years ago)

The new Hit Parade 45

― harveyw (harveyw), Monday, 15 September 2003 07:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the Harper Lee album but it transcends "twee" so much that perhaps it shouldn't be included. Oh, and it was released at the tailend of 2002.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Monday, 15 September 2003 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

there's a new hit parade 45? harper lee was my favorite album from last year.

― keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

New Hit Parade 45 is a few weeks away from release yet, but it's the best thing I've heard all year. Two dirgy ballads, the song (ie melody/lyric) is everything. As good as the JSH singles from the 80s, and obviously better than any of his 90s records. You'll love it.

― harveyw (harveyw), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i am glad julian henry is making his return and since i love the 90s records i will love the new single. someone had previously told me he had found happiness and could no longer write sad songs.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd heard the same thing

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Try Sugarpuppy - 'Sugar Girlfriend' and Warm Saucer's EP 'A Saucer Of Milk'. They're great!

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)

for a second there i thought you were serious. that's depressed me more than anything else today :(

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 06:19 (twenty-two years ago)

What, haven't you got these yet? Not out in Oz yet? You can get them by e-mailing emily@bibbertybobbertyboo.com. You get a free badge and some sweeties too.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 18 September 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

hey you're mean!

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 08:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Have you heard the "Sarah says no" ep by Katie Sunshine and the fizzikisses? The Sad Hedghogs album, "No milk left in the garden tonight", is also worth checking out for some lo fi jangly fun.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Thursday, 18 September 2003 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

don't order from bippityboppityboo! they ripped me off when i was requested 'bobby lesbian and the sad faces' by 'flowers for me'...!

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 09:18 (twenty-two years ago)

hey don't you start sonny. don't go thinkin twisted nerve stuff ain't twee

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 09:37 (twenty-two years ago)

hahahaah!!!

w..w..what. full disclosure: this morning's listening was neu!, the free design and alfie 'do you like to imagine things' and i ordered kingsbury manx off of the 'net.

i am twee. it is true.

still, stuff bippityboppityboo - see if i'm going to support 'bobby lesbian and the sad faces' even though the song - 'december in a brighton bedsit' is magic.

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

matt haynes died in vain. what, he's not dead? goddamn

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

no. matt haynes just released 'matty haynes and the daffodils' - 'if you don't stop this war i will cry because you no longer love me' - a protest song in these difficult times.

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:02 (twenty-two years ago)

if the dude made his own music we might not have had to suffer through the Shinkansen label

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:03 (twenty-two years ago)

mind you i can imagine if he was to write a song that would be an appropriate title

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:04 (twenty-two years ago)

hey - check out the mexican radio thread.

i'm worried on whether the new kingsbury manx will be any good. damn, i'm annoyed, a certain popular byrds band emailed me offering to fly me out to dublin if i got a live review. of course i already said to my editor 'nah, nothing is happening in LONDON' that i'm keen on. and the space filled up quickly. so when i reemailed - i'm like - WAIT and he is like 'sorry man'... sigh. never been to dublin!

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

and before anybody does the indie freak-stomp on me I LOVE THE BAND IN QUESTION...

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Jim, I've disovered that, contrary to my memory, the Crest album never actually got released. However, Matt says he's got a CDR somewhere that would have become all or part of said LP if they'd managed to put it out. He also says he'll do a copy of it so I'll let you know when it's done.

― Ben Dot, Thursday, 18 September 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

woo hoo!!!

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 18 September 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

From late last year: Pipas - A Cat Escaped (Anybody heard their new one, Golden Square, yet?), Oddfellows Casino - Yellow Bellied Wonderland, Vitesse - You Win Again Gravity. From this year: Faris Nourallah - I Love Faris, Other Peoples Children - Selective Memory 2000-2003, and Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress, absolutely.

Radio Dept., Saturday Looks Good to Me, Owl & The Pussycat all seconded.

The news that Kelly Slusher has a new album out makes me giddy with anticipation.

― Curt (cgould), Friday, 19 September 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

the new pipas is wonderful. i liked the other's people children cd but then i got the first one and it is much better. purple submarine orchestra is nice too. i wish i could be tough.

― keith (keithmcl), Friday, 19 September 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah i agree the first OPC is better. but i kinda have to say that don't i?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 19 September 2003 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

are you on it?

― keith (keithmcl), Friday, 19 September 2003 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

nah but he's a labelmate, it's like family

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 19 September 2003 04:33 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

The lead singer's voice is a bit annoying, but otherwise Spain's LA CASA AZUL is pop perfection.

― daavid (daavid), Friday, 5 March 2004 05:48 (twenty-one years ago)

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