Two Door Cinema Club Live
As I usually do on a Sunday afternoon, i spent a short while glancing over the latest singles and UK album charts, and to my surprise; who else is in there, other than the proud indie boppers Two Door Cinema Club! I looked further into this, and found not only James Blake (the latest “new big thing” according to NME), the indie-folkers Mumford And Sons and if you go back further you can find The XX gaining chart success as well!
Now, i’m all for integrating my favourite indie bands into the charts, and them getting the money they deserve for the work they put in, yet isn’t it a well known fact that when the money calls and chart fame arises, the sound changes? Not long ago, Kings Of Leon arrived on British shores and they took us by storm with their gritty charm and indie-rock, a year or two later, we welcome the release of “Come Around Sundown” a no doubt more “mainstream” sounding record, not only pushing all the right buttons with the public, but pushing the right buttons on the public’s wallet. I am an avid fan of Two Door Cinema Club, yes, but i do feel that maybe this shot in to fame will affect their music somehow? Wasn’t the point of indie bands, to be on an indie label and to shove the idea of chart music where the sun doesn’t shine? Just because you’re in a band, wear skinny jeans and cite inspiration from the Arctic Monkeys doesn’t mean you’re an “indie” band… Especially not when you’re signed to EMI. So, look at it this way, you’re a brilliant indie band, upcoming, fresh, exciting and incredibly appealing to the audience; your first album is an indie gem, you gain success, you decide that maybe it’s time to move onto greener pastures, but then your sound dramatically changes, hoping to appeal to the Katy Perry followers. You no longer sound like an indie band. You have lost some of your first fans. If you haven’t already heard of Brother, you will soon, their Brit-Pop tunes are hard to avoid and their brash quotes are ones to even rustle the tamest of beasts. Their sound has already changed once, from pop-punk to indie, will it infact change again?
P.S. Two Door Cinema Club have been in the charts for 44 weeks! Well done guys!
Picture Courtesy of Magnus D
Mont
February 15, 2011
Yes! just look at The Horrors…
nette kosit
February 15, 2011
they are really AWESOME!! love you guys very much!! <3 TDCC <3
Fake Polystyrene Man
February 16, 2011
I can see your concern that the sounds of these bands will change, but honestly, I don’t think you should worry. I’m of the opinion that any band with musical integrity won’t change their music, no matter how well it sells. Personally, I’m hoping Two Door Cinema Club are one of these bands. Assuming they don’t get picked up by a major label, they should continue to make music that they and their fans enjoy, and not music for the general public. I wouldn’t give up hope on indie artists’ music as soon as they enter the charts. Look at Arcade Fire (one of my favourite bands); they’ve been independent since they first formed. Their second album, ‘Neon Bible,’ reached Number 2 in the UK Album Chart, and yet their most recent album, ‘The Suburbs,’ was also released independently, and contained music which certainly still appeals to their original fan base; in fact, I think it might be their best yet. They certainly haven’t ‘sold out,’ but they still seem to be getting a lot of mainstream acclaim, ‘The Suburbs’ reaching Number 1 in the UK, the USA, and Canada, and winning a Grammy and two Brits this week. I don’t think many people who buy the kind of singles which top the chart (Rihanna, Katy Perry, et cetera) buy albums, which is why the independent market occasionally does very well on the album market. I wouldn’t worry that your favourite indie bands will ‘sell out’ or start producing worse music for more money; if they truly enjoy making the music they make now, they’d never stop doing so for a better record deal…
Fake Polystyrene Man
February 16, 2011
(Oh, and by the way, good article!)
SpiceyChilli
February 16, 2011
You are such a brilliant writer! I look forward to reading more of your articles over time!