Indie Snobbery | A Look at Future Album Releases by Mainstream and Hype Indie Bands

I found this pic when I searched for indie snob.

You read that title and you say “Sanita, that doesn’t make sense. Indie stands for independent and how could it ever be mainstream?” Well, I say because of the likes of Zach Braff and The OC (the television show), there ARE mainstream indie bands. I will admit that I do enjoy mainstream indie bands such as Weezer, The Shins, and for main topic of discussion Death Cab for Cutie. While I’m here, I’ll talk about last year’s hype band, Tokyo Police Club.

Death Cab for Cutie is exactly what an angst teenager needs in high school.

I love The Postal Service and I had no idea that the side project of Ben Gibbard would ever be so good. But I totally heard about them before The OC ever made it cool.

Ok, I’m lying I got The OC soundtrack as a birthday gift and heard Death Cab for Cutie way before I even delved into The Postal Service. Like any indie snob I’m going to say that Transatlanticism was their best album and nothing Death Cab ever makes will compare to it. But I’m still going to go out and buy their new album, Narrow Stairs. The latest single from their 2008 release is titled, “I Will Possess Your Heart,” and is about a stalker that waits for a girl to discover that they were meant to be together. It has a 4 minute buildup that is quite unimpressive. BUT it has all the makings of a Death Cab for Cutie song. Ben Gibbard is singing over a bass driven line and Chris Walla is rocking on the planned yet sporadic piano chords. The chorus is catchy and if edited down, it will be played on mainstream radio and television.

Another thing I will admit is that I fall for hype bands so easily. I’m not a band wagoner, but I truly believe that those bands are good and will go far. Five months later, I’m usually loathing that same band and the fact that they have gotten popular. Tokyo Police Club was my favorite hype band last year. Their EP, A Lesson In Crime, was constantly on repeat. Then I saw them at Lollapalooza, last summer, and my heart was broken into pieces. My favorite hype band was abysmal in concert and highly disappointing. But the boys are finally putting out a full length titled Elephant Shell. The first single is “In a Cave” and sounds exactly like Tokyo Police Club. I believe they are basically releasing a full length of songs similar to their EP.

What’s my point? What I’m saying is that I’ll never be impressed with future Death Cab for Cutie album releases. They are doomed because regardless if they change their sound or don’t change they will still be making Death Cab for Cutie music. Tokyo Police Club will always be making their spastic clapping with overlaying synth driven rock music. But what am I expecting? I don’t know, probably anything but. I still can’t be too quick to judge. I have yet to hear either of these albums. I’m an indie snob and I’m already judging albums on singles alone. But check out tracks below and judge for yourself. Albums of the year or simply making albums to please the crowd?

Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart (streaming via [Myspace] ) [BUY]

Tokyo Police Club – In A Cave (streaming via [Myspace] ) [BUY]