Thread: Indie Jazz?

Radiohead.

Amnesiac is definitely I hybrid of the two and includes some ethnic drums. Floats just like jazz, and is played like jazz...it is jazz.

Kid A is more Electronic sounding, but spacey, but a little less "jazz" like, but still just as jazzy and off beat.

Hail To The Thief is a bit more punchy, but still manages to be very very spacey and really a strait up trip.

In Rainbows is probably their most jazz like album and the timing is really something to be marveled at, but a bit simpler and more constant sounding than Amnesiac, but still as organic as Amnesiac.

OK Computer, and The Bends are more rock n roll, but they still have an odd timing, but a bit more strait like rock music is played (these are their earlier albums)

I know Radiohead, I love Radiohead.

Radiohead is nothing like what I asked about.

yeah it is. Have you listened to Tom Yorke - The Eraser?

If you like Modest Mouse, you will most definitely like The Islands - Arms Way

I'm not buying Radiohead as jazz either. Improvisation is absolutely central to all forms of jazz, and Radiohead, while brilliant, is very light on improvisation.

I can sort of see some parallels between the two, namely the interesting rhythmic and harmonic aspects, but if this is going to be our criteria then we'd have to broaden our definition of jazz by quite a bit, indeed. The key distinction is that Radiohead strives to be unorthodox and experimental whereas jazz doesn't - complex rhythm and harmony are simply part of that style, and for the most part ("modal jazz" comes to mind) always have been. If anything, jazz tends to be the opposite of experimental. It may seem terribly clever and original to the uninitiated, but an experienced jazz fan will find little (if any) in modern jazz that hasn't been done decades ago. Jazz is comparable to Latin in that, while it would be questionable to label it "dead," there is little or no innovation in it these days; the only "innovation" jazz has seen in recent years (i.e., 20 years) has been for some musicians to merge jazz with various forms of electronica. Does this mean that it's not worth one's time to listen to or study jazz? Of course not; Latin seems to be doing okay.

I suppose I could see Radiohead being described as "jazzy" (although even that is a bit of a stretch in my mind), but I've never heard Radiohead described as "jazz" until now, and I have to say that I'm thoroughly unconvinced. Semantics? Perhaps, but if you try to sell Radiohead as jazz to a straight-ahead jazz cat, you're going to be in for it. (Those guys can be quite opinionated )

More on-topic now: I'm sorry, but I'm not personally aware of any artists like that.

Radiohead is Jazz, and they even replicate much of that "improvisation" within the the programing (their engineer mostly) or even with in their playing styles like in Amnesiac and In Rainbows. Its undeniably "Jazz". Its practically standing on it's fundamentals.

Modest Mouse is much more a strait shooter, but still has that unique timing which makes it great. again though...

check out The Islands

When I say jazz I mean 1930's+ Southern United States-esque Jazz





With a post 80's indie music backing sound.

Radiohead-Kid A-National Anthem (the last minute)

some of those videos sort of reminded me of The Flaming Lips though, but a little more layered. The Lips are a bit simple (4 band mates).

Its sad, I think jazz just does not fit into our cultures music anymore, which is a bunch of crap because its the best! People back then must have been smart if they were listening to Jazz. What the hell happened? Bunch of bitches happened is what I say.

thanks for the videos.

Check out some beirut. not really jazz but has some brass and a bit of woodwind in other songs. and not to mention he has one hell of a voice

I'm not sure why, but the above post made me think of an artist that you might enjoy: Sufjan Stevens. Once again, much closer to indie than jazz, but he does use a myriad of instruments in his songs, as well as making liberal use of unconventional time signatures (not to mention song titles). Here's a few samples:
Detroit, Lift up your weary head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
Say Yes! To Michigan!
Chicago (this one's my favorite - you may recognize it from "Little Miss Sunshine")
They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black (For the Homeless in Muskegon) (they cut this one short but you get the idea)
Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!
Come on! Feel the Illinoise!: Pt. 1: The World's Columbian Exposition
They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhhh! (this one's pretty good, too)

i just got a great idea for a band.


i just need to obtain a bunch of old brass instruments.

i guess some of Badly Drawn Boy's stuff is Jazz.
but i can't think of a band which is exactly what you're looking for.
i think if there was something like that they would be incredible.
so i'm going to get some brass instruments and have a go at this.

Originally Posted by DuB

I'm not sure why, but the above post made me think of an artist that you might enjoy: Sufjan Stevens. Once again, much closer to indie than jazz, but he does use a myriad of instruments in his songs, as well as making liberal use of unconventional time signatures (not to mention song titles). Here's a few samples:
Detroit, Lift up your weary head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
Say Yes! To Michigan!
Chicago (this one's my favorite - you may recognize it from "Little Miss Sunshine")
They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black (For the Homeless in Muskegon) (they cut this one short but you get the idea)
Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!
Come on! Feel the Illinoise!: Pt. 1: The World's Columbian Exposition
They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhhh! (this one's pretty good, too)

yeah man sufjan is great. i acctually have 2 of his albums on vinyl: seven swans and illinoise (fricken so hard to find). Right now im really into the indie folk for some reason.