a lot of bands just use a long name, with out-of-the-ordinary comparisons and strange visuals to try to sound poetic and artistic. it may be an overcompensation for their lack of creativity. But granted that this is not only limited to indie bands. But when a band goes mainstream and gets signed to a big label, I'm sure that the label tells them if their name is stupidly long and makes them change it....dirty sell-outs.

i love the names for indie/folk bands because they aren't like anybody else. album titles i think are the same way especially with Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" although that album is amazing. I think the titles give more on about what the album would be like too. in some ways.

Yeah but how do you measure their creativity? The Beatles commissioned a renowned artist to design the white album cover - have you seen the white album cover? Is that creative? You have to be careful with that statement, boyo.

well ill say that most are creative. but the white album cover was also unique which is what i was getting at with indie names being so long but it suits who they are. The Beatles did have a unique but amazing sound which is what the album cover could reflect. Either way my opinion could mean anything. psh.

I was wondering this myself (sorry to bump a year old thread)...
I've come to the conclusion that the indi musicians, growing up in our generation, figure that a really long, obscure phrase for a band name ensures that when people google them, you get to their myspace.

Think about it, if I were to name a band "The Wasps", how many results would google pull up for that? A ton.

Now if my name was "One story in Cherryville", I'd get for or five google pages dedicated to me.

I can't believe I didn't write it at the time, but the name thats always bothered me is "Division of Laura Lee." I've never heard of them much after their arrival but everything about them pissed me off, especially the name.

I really don't think anyone would name their band based on google accessibility.. but I can see your point. I think it's more a case of making sure the name is something that's memorable.

I agree with you completley. Indie artists are bullied for making the same mistakes with naming their band as pop, rock, etc. artsists b/c indie is kind of the loner kid on the music scene, the only one with a real soul and meaning so they stand out. i honestly dont think that a bands name should really define anything about them, or even the titles of their songs. all it should really be about is the meaning and lyrics of a song and the bands music playing abillites. that way, sell out artist like green day (who have made millions of dollars by playing 3 riffs over and over in every song) would be the outcasts while all the real musicans could get the recognition they deserve without the fear of selling out and losing their soul in this dog eat dog business.

I was a little put off listening to The Brian Jonestown Massacre because of their name. Got over it though.

lolwut


you're talking about indie, right?




nah, just kidding, but there's other genres that can posess those qualities as well, you know. and with band names, i don't really care about how sh*tty a band's name is, and believe me, i've heard some sh*tastic ones, i'll give them a listen.