Two weeks ago, I began a segment I called “Intro to Indie Music” here at The Blah Blah. You can get a recap here if you missed it.
While that covered most of the characteristics that I believe need to be in indie music, today I offer to you “Intro to Indie Music – The Other List,” a tongue-in-cheek look at the indie side of music:
More Characteristics of Indie music
1. Depressing
2. Bizarre music
3. Annoying use of “alternative” sounds
4. Depressing
5. Questioning, doubt-filled lyrics
6. Depressing
7. Full beards for the guys
8. Fans are music snobs
9. Eccentric artists
10. Depressing
The Blah Blah 
11 comments
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October 11, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Just Pete
Hmmm, I loved the list right up to this point. It seems the tongue is most definitely out of the cheek!
October 12, 2007 at 6:53 am
jakestimp
Yeah, I definitely don’t mean this list to be serious in any way. These are just some of the most common complaints I’ve personally received from people about why they won’t listen to indie music. I think they’re dumb reasons, because only some indie music has any of these characteristics some of the time, but I can laugh about it.
… Well, nobody has ever complained to me that too many indie artists have beards, but I noticed that it seems more indie artists than major label artists have them. Weird.
Anyway, don’t take this list seriously. None of it was meant to reflect my opinion, just the random comments I’ve heard from people about indie music.
October 12, 2007 at 4:14 pm
jakestimp
It was a lot funnier when I first thought of it than it is now too.
October 17, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Just Pete
Naw, I think you actually did nail what a lot of people think about indie music. Anyway, love your blog … keep it up (it’s giving me great ideas).
October 17, 2007 at 10:10 pm
jessie
I used to always picture indie rock folks as super skinny! Then you put up pictures of these people, and I find them suprisingly “chunkier” than they were in my head.
Oh, yeah, and when I imagine the stereotypical indie rock girl singer, she sounds like the gal from Innocence Mission. There’s a lot of chick singers that sound very much like her…sort of cute/sweet/whimsical sounding. I kind of like it, though.
July 5, 2009 at 9:11 am
swoontune
I totally agree with most of your list!
Whenever I go to a show I definitely recognize the many pretentious fans.
I try very hard not to be a music snob but I thinks it’s in me indie blood.
Great post!
October 20, 2009 at 1:33 pm
PickFour
I truly laughed out lout when I saw this. Some of my friends who mostly listen to major label artists bring up these points when discussing music. Kudos on a funny piece.
-MAM
November 17, 2009 at 9:00 pm
kristinalys
darn it…when I got into Indie music, I started having the weird obsession with beards and I didn’t know why…
September 22, 2010 at 12:18 pm
bencasalino
great post! if ur looking for some indie music check out my blog : )
October 22, 2012 at 8:55 am
rishiranjan
hmm I interesting post but I disagree on the depression aspect!
check out http://musicpulp.wordpress.com/ and let me prove you wrong!
November 9, 2012 at 12:22 pm
imveryape
The truth is I have no idea what indie music is, and I have listened to what is considered “indie music” for ages. It used to mean lo-fi, now it just seems to mean if it doesn’t come from a big name and it wouldn’t fit on a top forty radio station. But even that isn’t true anymore. Indie music basically only means “not Hannah Montana or Lady Gaga”.
I do hate the ironic beards though.