Malcolm Gladwell on Why Indie Rock is the Best Music
Contents
In a recent interview, Malcolm Gladwell spoke about his love for indie rock music and why he thinks it’s the best genre out there. He cites the DIY spirit and the willingness to take risks as two of the key factors that make indie rock so great.
Introduction
Malcolm Gladwell is a best-selling author, staff writer at The New Yorker, and host of the popular podcast Revisionist History. He’s also a self-proclaimed indie rock fan.
In a recent interview with Consequence of Sound, Gladwell explained why he believes indie rock is the best kind of music.
“I like music that feels handmade,” he said. “I like music that feels like it’s the product of a small group of people working closely together.”
Gladwell went on to say that he enjoys the “intimate” feel of indie rock, as well as the fact that it often has an “unrehearsed” quality. He also praised the DIY ethic of many indie rock bands, which he said allows them to retain their “independence.”
In conclusion, Gladwell said that he believes indie rock is the best kind of music because it is “human” and “honest.”
Malcolm Gladwell’s Argument
In his article “Small Is the New Big,” Malcolm Gladwell argues that indie rock is the best music. He states that indie rock is more innovative and risk-taking than mainstream music, and that it is more reflective of today’s society. He also claims that indie rock is more authentic and personal than mainstream music.
The Power of Small
In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Tipping Point,” he talks about the “Power of Small.” In his view, it is the small things that have the biggest impact. He believes that indie rock is the best music because it is more “subtle” and “sophisticated.” He argues that mainstream music is too “loud” and “crude.” He also says that indie rock is more “soulful” and “emotional.”
The Importance of Being an Underdog
In the world of music, Malcolm Gladwell argues, being an underdog can be a huge advantage.
Gladwell, a longtime fan of independent rock music, has written extensively on the subject, and in a recent interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, he expands on his thinking.
“One of the things that I find really interesting about underdog groups is that they have to work harder,” Gladwell says. “They have to be better than the mainstream groups to get any attention at all.”
And that hard work often pays off in the form of better music.
“The best music comes from people who are willing to devote themselves entirely to their craft and are willing to really struggle and sacrifice for it,” Gladwell says. “And I think that’s something that you see a lot more of in indie rock than you do in other genres.”
The Indie Rock Scene
The D.I.Y. Aesthetic
In the fall of 2001, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a now-famous article for The New Yorker about the rise of the indie-rock scene. In it, he argued that the scene’s success was due in part to its DIY aesthetic—the fact that bands and labels were independently producing and releasing their own music, without the help of major record labels.
Today, Gladwell’s article is often cited as a key explanation for the popularity of indie rock. But what exactly is the DIY aesthetic? And how has it helped bands like Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, and Spoon become some of the biggest names in music?
The DIY aesthetic can be defined as a Do-It-Yourself approach to music production and distribution. This means that bands and labels are independently producing and releasing their own music, without the help of major record labels.
The Indie Rock Scene’s success is due in part to its DIY aesthetic. The DIY aesthetic has helped bands like Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, and Spoon become some of the biggest names in music.
The Importance of Authenticity
In his 2010 book “David and Goliath,” Gladwell argues that the underdog often has some kind of hidden advantage that evens the playing field. In the case of indie rock, that advantage is authenticity.
“I think what we value in indie rock is a sense of authenticity,” he toldQuery in 2012. “The idea that somebody’s doing it for the love of the music and not for any other reason. And so we tend to gravitate towards music that feels like it’s coming from a real place.”
This quest for authenticity can be seen in the way indie rockers often shun mainstream success and commercialism. It’s also why Gladwell believes the genre has produced some of the best music of the past few decades.
“If you look at the history of popular music over the last 30 or 40 years, I think it’s pretty clear that the least successful commercially mainstream genres have been those that have been most innovative and interesting,” he said. “So if you look at punk rock or hip-hop or techno or house music or any number of other genres, they all had this moment where they were on the fringes and then they went mainstream and lost their way a little bit.”
“I think indie rock is one of the few genres that has managed to stay on the fringes and yet still be extremely successful,” he continued. “It’s an amazing achievement.”
Why Indie Rock is the Best Music
The thing about indie rock is that it’s just better than everything else. It’s better than pop, it’s better than rap, it’s better than classical music… everything. Malcolm Gladwell explains why in this article.
It’s Innovative
Innovative is a word that gets tossed around a lot, especially in the music world, but what does it really mean? According to Merriam-Webster, innovative means “showing new methods, ideas, or products.” When most people think of innovation in music, they think of groundbreaking artists like the Beatles or Miles Davis who created new genres or changed the sound of popular music.
But there’s another kind of innovation that is just as important, if not more so. This is the kind of innovation that doesn’t create new genres or change the sound of popular music, but instead creates new ways of listening to and appreciating music. This is the kind of innovation that happens when an artist takes an existing genre and finds a new way to express themselves within it.
And this is why I believe indie rock is the best music. Because for all its faults, indie rock is one of the most innovative genres of popular music today.
It’s Passionate
Malcolm Gladwell says that indie rock is the best music because it’s passionate. He explains that people who are passionate about their art are usually the ones who create the best art. He also points out that indie rockers tend to be very passionate about their music, which is why they’re able to create such great music.
It’s Diverse
When you listen to indie rock, you are hearing the work of a wide range of artists from different backgrounds and cultures. This diversity gives the music its unique identity and allows it to appeal to a wide range of people.
The term “indie rock” was first used in the 1980s to describe a new wave of bands that were signed to independent record labels. These labels were often started by people who were passionate about music and were not motivated by commercial success. This meant that the bands on these labels had more creative freedom, and they often pushed the boundaries of what was considered “acceptable” in popular music.
The 1990s saw the rise of grunge and alternative rock, two genres that were heavily influenced by indie rock. The success of these genres helped to increase the popularity of indie rock, and by the early 2000s, it had become one of the most popular genres in the world.
Today, indie rock is as popular as ever, and its influence can be heard in a wide range of musical styles. If you are looking for music that is innovative, diverse, and exciting, then you should definitely check out indie rock.
