BSS are easily the best band mentioned in this thread, and the thought of people taking Spoon or the White Stripes over them gives me hysterics. Everything and the kitchen sink indie with a healthy pool of collaborators has way more in its tank than the bunch of has-been songwriterly faff it's (mainly) set against here

Album Rating: 4.5

The Libertines is clearly the stinkiest egg in that nest.

the white stripes are dreadful

Album Rating: 5.0

The White Stripes are just a 'singles band' at heart , always said by far their best album will end up their 'best of' compilation.



Rare I say that about any band.

Album Rating: 2.5

if they're a 'singles band' I'd hate to hear the deeper cuts from the albums I'm yet to hear, blimey ;-)

Album Rating: 4.0

BSS are pretty sweet but I rarely put them on. Quality band though

Album Rating: 5.0

Demon, the White Stripes not surprisingly 'get bluesy' a lot of the time on the later album material, they do have the occasional 'deep cut'...but also 'Best Ofs' tend to include the occasional deep cut.



He's a writer of riffs really, that's it, he riffs. If they're catchy they tend to be popular, but he ran out of his best ones a while ago. There's not a lot more to it really, bit of a throwback act with a sense of style/strong aesthetic. He's not the worst singer you could say, also.



It depends how offensive you find 'inoffensive' to be ;)

Album Rating: 5.0

With BSS I definitely like You Forgot a lot more than the rest of their stuff.



The popular critique Drew's song writing largely became 'indie U2' after that point was a little unfair...but also there's something there.



Also they are more a collective and not a band - I don't get 'band energy', or 'gang energy' as zak said, from them (not that every band need that but I doubt I'll really 'connect' with them the same way if they don't)

Album Rating: 4.5

every indie band putrifies eventually, nobody is safe

Album Rating: 4.0

"And yeah, Arcade Fire clears the lot quite easily"



If one looks at the initial 3 album run, then maybe, but AF do have an absolutely terrible second half

Album Rating: 5.0

True, but some of the best bands of all time only had an initial great three or four (is Reflektor that bad?) album run then a load of 'patchy to dross' output. Think The Clash. Think Sabbath. Think Radiohead (I jest, don't kill me sputulace)

Album Rating: 4.0

"With BSS I definitely like the self titled a lot more than the rest of their stuff."



Yep that's the only one I return to

Album Rating: 2.5

I wasn't taking that drop-off into consideration. Most of those bands barely had one decent album, let alone 3 and a bit

Album Rating: 5.0

Ok I've dropped a clanger - I meant 'You Forgot it in People', I don't know why I always think that's the self titled

Album Rating: 2.0

I respect arcade fire's first album although I don't enjoy it



neon bible and reflektor though... fuck. unbearable.

Album Rating: 5.0

Pika - for some reason I've always found Neon Bible and Reflektor a bit underwhelming, but I do accept they're critically acclaimed

Album Rating: 4.0

"is Reflektor that bad?"



I think AF managed to transcend their annoying character as a band on the first three albums, but on Reflektor it's like everything on the record just irritates me

Album Rating: 5.0

fogza, I would struggle to listen to that one in its entirety I have to confess, was super overblown and a little pompous



I remember loving the t/t when it came out but later finding that too drawn out and repetitive

Album Rating: 2.5

even a light whiff of modern indie has Pika running for the hills

he's even more sensitive than I am



and yeah Reflektor is a slog overall but there are some decent cuts. It doesn't compare to any of the first three but seems like a blessing in the context of what followed

Album Rating: 2.0

pretty much, demon



maybe it's the radio indie they used to play everywhere when I was a teen, because that shit annoyed the f out of me - stuff like klaxons, kasabian, arctic monkeys, kaiser chiefs, the killers, etc.