Indie Bands Closer to Mainstream | The Next Death Cab

“Death Cab’s fifth album, “Plans,” has sold 128,000 copies in two weeks after debuting at No. 4. Modest Mouse’s “Good News for People Who Love Bad News” has gone platinum. Last November, singer-songwriter Connor Oberst’s band, Bright Eyes, had two songs top the Billboard singles chart — knocking out a duet by Usher and Alicia Keys and sending the indie rock world into a tailspin…..

…If there’s one band iconic of the scene, it’s Arcade Fire. Hailing from Montreal, a bastion of indiedom, their debut, “Funeral,” blew away critics and has sold over 200,000 discs.

“I think they’re like the best band, period,” says Carl Newman, frontman of the New Pornographers, echoing the feelings of many indie rockers….

…So are majors now trying to sign “the next Death Cab“?

“If all of a sudden, that becomes the flavor of the month and all the labels want to sign a band like Death Cab for Cutie, then we’re onto the next cycle of alternative rock and it’s dead as soon as they start it,” says radio host Harcourt. “So I hope not.” [Yahoo News]

“The buzz even persuaded producers of “The O.C.,” which is known for its indie rock soundtracks, to ask Clap Your Hands to perform on the show. The band turned it down. Too much popularity, after all, can diminish one’s credibility.” [NY Times] (via Kathrynyu)

Previously
Who will be “The Next Arcade Fire?”

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