I put this in Indie because we "indie" fans are ravenous fanboy/girl monsters and it just makes sense to put this topic here. Plus, all the bands I'm going to list are at least associated with the genre, whether they started out indie and left the scene or otherwise.

You know the bands I'm talking about here, those band who, despite logic and reason, we follow regardless of how second-tier their work becomes. Or, those bands that release a universally panned album, but we're just too brazen to admit that anything we love so dearly could ever do any wrong. These are the artists/bands that we would follow into the depths of hell, those bands that we cherish even when they release an "Evil Urges" or "Summer Songs" or, to a lesser extent, a trail of less inspired material ala Modest Mouse.

So, which bands/artists will you continue to fight for even in the face of the rational realization that the band may have inevitably lost some steam? They may be bands that have released a "return to form," or they may be those bands that seem hopelessly lost in middle-of-the-road noodling.

Here's my list, and explanations about each:

Clinic - it's pretty much been a downward slope since Internal Wrangler, but I constantly hold out hope for these brits, because that album was such a maniacal mess of lacerated psych-punk. I think this burgeoning garage re-revival [revival of this decade's previous revival] owes a lot to these guys.

My Morning Jacket - Sadly, these guys seem to have fallen off the deep end, but there's always hope for another "It Still Moves" or "Z". Just listen to "It Still Moves," and note how these guys have influenced some of the top-tier indie of the decade, from Fleet Foxes to Band of Horses [if you deny the sound connection, you might be deaf]. "Golden" essentially predicted Fleet Foxes 5 years before the fact, and BoH is essentially a more anthemic MMJ.

The Shins - though their quality hasn't dropped off significantly, my personal connection to their first two pop gems was much greater than "Wincing the Night Away," a feeling that I think this band evoked greater than most any other this decade. No band of this size since R.E.M. [though they were much bigger] has made its fans seem like the band is their own little musical secret.

Sonic Youth - Some people claim "The Eternal" was a significant step down from the amazing second wind [or is it third or fourth] this band experienced this decade. So they've written the same album four times this decade, what's your point?

Flaming Lips - Let's be honest, "Mystics" was a disappointment by any measure, but here's hoping Embryonic is a mind-blowing experience. Based on the EP alone, Embryonic will reinstate the Flaming Lips as psychedelic pop gods, and this is the band that made me even start this topic. "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," might be a joke, but if I had to choose one band's discography to take with me on a desert island, surely the Lips' catalogue would keep the greatest of company.

There's many more I can think of, but I'm curious to see what other people think.

Definitely confused by the wording used and represented here.

"Regardless of how second-tier their work becomes"? According to what standards?

A lot of the stuff you spout mimics some sort of truth. If you're a fan of My Morning Jacket that will "follow them into the depths of hell" then what exactly is the problem? I'm not sure where all the hating comes from for Evil Urges, it was one of the best albums of 2008!

For me, it's probably The Hold Steady, Conor Oberst, and Jack White. I don't think those three artists could release an album that I won't like.

I don't think I'd follow anyone into the depths of hell but I get what this is about: unquestioning loyalty in the face of occasional or repeated less than inspiring efforts.

In that case Jack White is a case in point - I genuinely found Get Behind Me Satan half assed and uninspired and I didn't enjoy the second raconteurs effort much - solid but too stodgy for me. But this in no way affected my respect and love for the guy's work and it in no way affected my open and easy willingness to enjoy whatever comes next. In the case of Icky Thump and the Dead Weather project, turns out I love the stuff but even if I didn't I wouldn't lose any faith.

Ditto re Flaming Lips - can't wait for Embryonic regardless of the patchy last effort.

As for the Shins - I loved Wincing, not as much as Chutes but only just a little less, so no need for loyalty yet.

MMJ - not loyal in the first place - enjoyed most of Z but not overly - the bits of Evil Urges I heard sounded either dull or irritating - but hey, I'm not on the wagon in the first place, so what do I know!

I was going to say that I would never do this. I was going to point out lots of band that I was infatuated with that I have left behind over the years (Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, U2).

And then I caught myself this afternoon listening to and really enjoying this years Cracker release.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

"Regardless of how second-tier their work becomes"? According to what standards?

A lot of the stuff you spout mimics some sort of truth.

Them's fightin' words!!!

You and your blasted "standards." To answer your question: our own standards. This is obviously a subjective question, but apparently it's going to turn into a, "nuh uh, that album was by far their most amazing one," and now I sort of regret starting the topic because now people will just bicker about which album is and isn't second-tier.

I may have poorly worded my initial post, but mevolume pretty much said what I wanted to say, but much more succinctly.

U2 is a fantastic example, and so are Smashing Pumpkins. I know several people that still buy everything the Smashing Pumpkins do despite the fact that they haven't released anything that rivals their greatest work in over a decade.

I suppose I am a little bothered by the thread's aim. And yeah, I'm pretty tired of you mentioning that Evil Urges sucks at every possible juncture and then backing it up with, "but I love MMJ!"

I'll contribute a band that I will always stay loyal to, probably forever and ever: Okkervil River.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
I'll contribute a band that I will always stay loyal to, probably forever and ever: Okkervil River.

I agree. I think I'm a stage in my life where there are bands I'm really excited about, that I will follow for the rest of their careers. I will be the equivalent of the old lady going nuts at the Rolling Stones reunion concert, type of thing.

Okkervil River being one of those. Others being Sufjan, Andrew Bird, Josh Ritter, The National. They are in their prime now, and I can't imagine any of them becoming second tier, but it's always possible. And when it happens, my love for these bands will completely blind me to the fact that it's not very good.

In 2012 Sufjan will release The Dumptruck Load: Even More Illinois Outakes!, and it will be at the top of my year end list.

As a side note, conversation on this site has been fairly sparse. I'm game for talking about anything. Let's not be too aggresive about each others opinions.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:

In 2012 Sufjan will release The Dumptruck Load: Even More Illinois Outakes!, and it will be at the top of my year end list.

Haha, definitely man. I'm with you on that one.

I think Beck fits this topic pretty well. Some major review sites have dumped on his last 3 records and I've stood up to all 3, thinking they're all solid efforts. I wish everyone would give The Information a close listen on some good headphones and listen to all the intracacies on that album, because there's a lot of great little musical moments on that record that could be missed if not given full attention. Not to mention he's a great lyrcist. Never boring to just listen to him rap about epileptic battery men.

Hahaha....Autolux would be my prime example. I'm still holding out that they'd release ANYTHING. It was the sole reason I made a myspace, just to keep up with the updates for their new album which has never materialized, but I'm still waiting.

Definitely Okkervil River, Andrew Bird, and Sufjan Stevens, like Shad.

Also Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective and Deerhunter. Oh, and Radiohead.

Great topic clevername. Like Shadrach, I would initially say that my love isn't boundless even for bands that seemingly only I am devoted to - ie. Nada Surf, and this year has provided me with plenty more lackluster examples to avert me away from bands I formerly adored: Decemberists, Doves, and Cursive. But, I agree with most of the ones listed even if they haven't really tested my patients with a dud (how can you not want to stick with the National or Radiohead right now?).

I'm absolutely with joy on Beck, I was disappointed with The Information but still listened to it about 100 times, Guero is one of my favorite from the decade, and Modern Guilt was enjoyable enough.

As for my own:

-Bloc Party: I will publicly disown their latest works but, behind closed doors, we get intimate.

-Spoon: They will be hard for me to let go when they surpass their peak (if they haven't already) since they are one of the few 'indie' bands I've 'grown up with'. It would likely provoke a preemptive middle age crisis if I ever came to the realization that it is over for them.

-Death Cab for Cutie: I'll admit, I was wholly bored and perturbed with Narrow Stairs... at first. In the year since it's release though I've grown to appreciate most of the album, even finding some of the songs to be my favorite in their catalog. I can't wait for whats next...

-Jimmy Eat World: Yup.

-Queens of the Stone Age: Similar situation with Death Cab, their latest took some time to acclimate but has survived and thrived repeated listens.

quote:

Originally posted by Where Is My Pixies?:
-Jimmy Eat World: Yup.

I'll appreciate this. I was just listening to World is Static just this past week.

I would be more inclined to say The Get Up Kids though. I still even buy all of Matt Pryor's New Amsterdam albums even thought they aren't especially good. Also, just this spring I was just inches away from buying tickets to go to a Brand New concert, simply because The Get Up Kids were their opening band. It was canceled because of a volcano eruption. I surrounded by crushed teenage girls crying like their best friend had just died in a car accident. Kindof embarrassing.

It's interesting though. There are some bands that I was once totally infatuated with that are still making really good music by everyone elses opinion, that I just am not that into anymore. Radiohead is the big one for me. I was a Huge Radiohead fan, but I have sort of moved on from them for some reason.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
It's interesting though. There are some bands that I was once totally infatuated with that are still making really good music by everyone elses opinion, that I just am not that into anymore. Radiohead is the big one for me. I was a Huge Radiohead fan, but I have sort of moved on from them for some reason.

Was there a particular time when the enthusiasm started to fade, or, alternatively, when was your enthusiasm at its height for RH?

I was never that interested in them pre OKC but since then my love for them has only increased, so I am curious to see what caused the honeymoon to end for you...

Definitely Sonic Youth, although I hope they venture into some weird new territory for their next album. "The Eternal" sounds like an excellent summation of their career so far, and I would recommend it to Sonic n00bs, but for hardcore followers, it feels pretty safe (albeit still awesome - to the depths, my beloved Youth!)

Peter Gabriel - assuming he ever releases anything again. Up was gorgeous.

Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters - Kozelek has essentially made the same album over and over again and I love them all.

Nick Cave - duh.

Radiohead - see above.

I know some of these artists aren't indie and I know I don't care.

Also Evil Urges forever! My favorite MMJ album and I've heard Z and It Still Moves many a time.

Definitely Beck for me, too. I really liked Guero; liked enough of The Information to stay on board; and really liked Modern Guilt. So for me his recent albums have been 7 to 8/10's. Not Odelay/Mutations awesome, but cool. I think even if a Beck album came out with really bad buzz I would still rush to the store/download it.
And at this point, after Yellow House, the Friend E.P., and Veckatimest (and Department of Eagles' In Ear Park) I would fall over myself in the rush to buy/download anything Grizzly Bear do.

Its easy to list a bunch of modern bands still making pretty good music. I'm curious how devoted we will be in 10+ years if they're still releasing new music and its horrible. (I wonder how the devoted Liz Phair fans feel)

I was going to say Yo La Tengo but they haven't let me down yet, so its also a pretty safe answer. Here's hoping all of our current favorites keep releasing great music long into their careers like Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr.

quote:

Originally posted by hophead:
Here's hoping all of our current favorites keep releasing great music long into their careers like Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr.

I'll drink to that.

quote:

Originally posted by crob3888:

quote:

Originally posted by hophead:
Here's hoping all of our current favorites keep releasing great music long into their careers like Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr.

I'll drink to that.

Amen, brother. Time for another trip to the fridge. Hell of a Saturday night: New YLT playing, a few beers, and fucking off on the internet.