Indie Band Names

~~flightlessthoughts~~ · 01-18-2008, 11:37 AM

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.

~~under~~ · 01-18-2008, 09:02 PM

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.

Crowe · 01-18-2008, 09:44 PM

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.

~~under~~ · 01-18-2008, 10:45 PM

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.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 06-08-2009, 09:42 AM

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.

TheBig3 · 06-08-2009, 10:13 AM

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.

simplephysics · 06-08-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonace

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 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.

Jaybird119 · 08-14-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy jack

I think indie gets too much crap for bad band names and I think other genres are just as guilty. I don't know why everyone picks on indie for it, I mean we have My Chemical Romance, Bullet For My Valentine, Matchbox 20, Mr. Mister, Goo Goo Dolls, Enuff Z'nuff, etc. Bad band names are common in every genre, people need to stop picking on indie for it just because the !!!'s get popular. Actually I'd say the worst genre for this is really that whole mtvmo scene because it's very rare they even have a good band name.

I try not to judge bands before listening to them especially because some bands with horrid band names are actually really good, take My Bloody Valentine for instance.

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.

Grotesque Head · 08-14-2009, 01:38 PM

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

Antonio · 08-14-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybird119

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.

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.

01-18-2008, 09:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Crowe Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 699	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. __________________

06-08-2009, 10:13 AM	#16 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	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've moved to a new address

08-14-2009, 01:38 PM	#19 (permalink)
Grotesque Head Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: England Posts: 121	I was a little put off listening to The Brian Jonestown Massacre because of their name. Got over it though. __________________ Last.FM

01-18-2008, 11:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
~~flightlessthoughts~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16	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.

01-18-2008, 09:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
~~under~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,056	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.

01-18-2008, 10:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
~~under~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,056	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.

06-08-2009, 09:42 AM	#15 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	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.