Alternative/Indie Music of the '70s and '80s

Indie music didn’t truly pick up until around the ‘70s and ‘80s, when the underground industry truly began to flourish. The “roots of modern indie music” are said to have begun with The Velvet Underground’s self-titled album. This album has influenced many current indie and alternative artists, even to this day. Also, the “do it yourself” technique involved with punk music has influenced alternative/indie music, even from its beginnings. The following are examples of alternative/indie music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Most of it is more powerful and overlaps more with punk rock than alternative/indie music from later in time, but it is still retained within this genre.

1. “After Hours.” The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground. Universal Japan, 0554594, 1969. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE8KBWgUZxw (4/4/10).

The Velvet Underground formed in 1964 in New York, NY. Despite not being completely appreciated by the mainstream audience, they did have a rather large cult following. “After Hours” pairs an acoustic guitar with the voice of Maureen Tucker, the group’s drummer. The song has a solitary, lonely feel to it based on the instrumental quality. The lyrics also give the song a feeling of hopelessness. “If you close the door, the night could last forever, leave the sunshine out, and say hello to never.” It gives a feeling of one closing oneself off from the rest of the world and giving up on life.

2. “Killing an Arab.” The Cure, Staring at the Sea: The Singles. Elektra, 60477-2, 1986. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh01Pil7vj4&feature=PlayList&p=AF6E321D090476B5&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=70 (4/4/10).

The Cure formed in 1976 in Crawley, England, and are one of the most “enduring and powerful” rock bands of those that emerged in the late ‘70s (allmusic.com). “Killing an Arab” relates to a book called “The Stranger” by Albert Camus which deals with existentialism (not with actually killing an Arab). The powerful driving of the electric guitar (including some powerful riffs at certain points in the song) and the beating of the drum indicates power and strength within the song, and creates an angry mood.

3. “Big Takeover.” Bad Brains, Rock for Light. Caroline Distribution, CAROL-1613-2, 1983. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPjX8QWSjg (4/4/10).

Bad Brains was formed in 1979 in Washington D.C. The lyrics of “Big Takeover” are fairly straightforward – Bad Brains claims that the United States is headed the same way that Nazi Germany was, “a big takeover” and a Nazi quest. The powerful riffs of the electric guitar, the angry beating of the drums, and the raspy, strong vocals indicate an intense, hostile mood.

4. “She Said.” The Cramps, Smell of Female. Vengeance Records, 670, 1983. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT7FSzdIDno&feature=related (4/4/10).

The Cramps were formed in 1976 in Sacramento, California. “She Said” technically qualifies as indie/alternative, but it seems that there are hints of rockabilly and southern flavor within the music as a result of the banjo and guitar in the song. The harsh beating of the tom toms and the Neanderthal-like quality of the vocals are extremely rudimentary and primal. The vocals are essentially sounds such as “ooh ee ah ah”, so it’s hard to discern any sort of words or story behind the songs.

5. “Into the Heart.” U2, Boy. Island, 842296, 1980.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJGwDUrk7E (4/4/10).

U2 formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland, and became one of the most popular rock bands of the ‘80s. “Into the Heart” from their 1980 album “Boy” is one of their earlier hits. The wailing of the electric guitar which wanes back and forth in pitch as well as the raspy vocals of Bono provide a soulful, poignant mood for this musical selection. The lyrics of this song allude to a strong longing for childhood and the innocence it holds.

6. “Sex Beat.” Gun Club, Fire of Love. Rhino/WEA, 79945, 1981. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCFgVf6bAc (4/4/10).

Gun Club was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. “Sex Beat” was on their 1981 album “Fire of Love”, and a listener would find that this song not only falls under the alternative/indie genre, but also carries elements of punk rock. The driving, steady tone of the electric guitar and the powerful beating of the drum brings forth a fiery, commanding mood. A listener, upon hearing this song, could hear a message warning that the element of desire makes people crazy.

7. “Cherry Tree.” 10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe, Elektra Asylum, 60738, 1987. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7rikO0nsHA (4/4/10).

10,000 Maniacs was formed in 1981 in Jamestown, NY. “Cherry Tree”, from their 1987 album “In My Tribe”, alludes to the saga of an illiterate person who is trying to teach himself how to read. They are scared and embarrassed and ashamed, and they are trying to overcome final obstacles in order to finally learn. The strumming of the acoustic guitar and the happy, uplifting voice of Natalie Merchant provides an intimate, uplifting mood for the song.

8. “In My Town.” The Afghan Whigs, Big Top Halloween. Ultra Suede, 213078, 1988. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApEI0aaR06U (4/4/10).

The Afghan Whigs formed in 1986 in Cincinnati, Ohio. “In My Town”, from their 1988 album “Ultra Suede”, has a sort of punk feel to it based on the wailing of the electric guitar, harsh drumming technique, and raspy, whiny voice of the vocalist.

9. “Creep in the Cellar.” Butthole Surfers, Rembrandt Pussyhorse. Touch & Go, 08, 1986. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3aGFH7XuEE (4/4/10).

The Butthole Surfers were founded in 1982 in San Antonio, Texas, and are one of the most famous bands to arise from the music underground. “Creep in the Cellar”, from their 1986 album “Rembrandt Pussyhorse”, The style of this song gets a big experimental – the fiddle within the song sounds jangly and shaken, giving a sort of haunted effect, and the vocals sound like something straight out of a horror movie. These sonic elements combined with the lyrical element of the story (which, plainly enough, tells the story of a creep in the cellar) almost makes me feel like I’m hearing a scary story read aloud to me, complete with special effects.

10. “She is Death.” The Flaming Lips, Hear it Is. Restless, 72173-2, 1986. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZel7KBpky0 (4/4/10).

The Flaming Lips were founded in 1986 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Overall, their music can more or less be described as “surreal” or “bizarre”. The song “She is Death” from the 1986 album “Hear it Is” contains extremely hypnotic lyrics, both in terms of words and the way in which they are sung. “She is death, all of the time, she is death, al of the days” is said in an extremely spellbinding way, and it seems to flow and wane back and forth  amidst the song. The wailing of the electric guitar and steady, slow beat of the drum also contributes to this absorbing effect.

11. “Hate Your Friends.” Lemonheads, Hate Your Friends. Taang! Records, T-15-2, 1987. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-mugW_eWNA&feature=related (4/4/10).

The Lemonheads were formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, and started out as a punk-pop trio, later evolving into a more alternative/indie rock band. Their song “Hate Your Friends” from the 1987 album “Hate Your Friends” is filled with angry, angsty lyrics about how sometimes, for various reasons, “don’t you know? You hate your friends.” The raspy, harsh voice of the vocalist and the thrashing electric guitar and drums that accompany him add to the whole angry, fiery effect of the song as a whole.

12. “Reward.” Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets. Meat Puppets Partnership, 12804, 1982. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZk1duA7dA (4/4/10).                                                                                            The Meat Puppets were formed in the 1980s, and are one of the greatest forces of the underground music world. The song “Reward” from the album “Meat Puppets” is an intriguing song sonically, because of the quality of the guitar playing/guitar riffs within the song and the texture and pitch of the vocals. This song appears to contain some garage band elements which give it an appealing raw quality.

13. “Caribou.” Pixies, Come on Pilgrim [EP]. 4AD, 70709, 1987. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPRX6jyu_xY (4/4/10).

The Pixies formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, and are one of the most influential alternative rock bands of that generation. “Caribou” from the EP “Come on Pilgrim” has a sort of thrashy electric guitar drum element that is reminiscent of a punk or garage band, and howly, unrefined vocals that add a certain raw, fresh element to the song. Based on the lyrical content, one can maybe ascertain that “Caribou” is some sort of God or other revered figure.

14. “Radio Free Europe.” R.E.M, Murmur. IRS, 44797-0014-2, 1983. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU3fBfY9cyU (4/4/10).

REM formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, and was one of the first bands to bridge the crossover between post-punk and alternative rock. “Radio Free Europe”, from their album Murmur, discusses all of the radio propaganda that took place during the Cold War era in the United States. The song is extremely catchy in terms of sonic elements based on the soothing voice of the vocalist, twanging of the electric guitar, and steady beat of the drum.

15. “Big Sky.” Yo La Tengo, Ride the Tiger. Matador, 205, 1986. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhrb_HG-EDc (4/4/10).

Yo La Tengo was formed in 1984 in Hoboken, New Jersey, and is a band so similar to the Velvet Underground that they are often compared to them (and even portrayed them in the movie “I Shot Andy Warhol”). The vocals, steady and smooth beat of the drum, and the soft strumming of the guitar provide a soothing, placid element to the song that is quite appealing. The lyrics contribute to this element, with words such as “big sky too high to see people like you and me, one day we will be free, we won’t care, just you see.”