Ok, so welcome to our new column, which will appear whenever we feel like writing it! It is lovingly entitled, You Think You’re Sooo Indie, and it will be featuring bands which you think make you indie because you are young and naive like that, but do not actually make you indie at all.
You Think You’re Sooo Indie… because you listen to She & Him
Paste magazine voted She & Him’s “Volume 1” as the best album of 2008. She & Him are Zooey Deschanel, who you know from Elf and possibly some other less interesting movies, and M. Ward, who doesn’t matter because no one really cares about his half of the collaboration anyway. Paste magazine’s coveted and highly esteemed seal of approval is probably the number 1 reason you think listening to this dynamic duo makes you indie. I can’t blame you, really. Paste has much knowledge…much more than I or Eric…and in the exact same issue, they feature The Welcome Wagon, which is decidedly indie and somewhat obscure simply because it’s Christian, so that deserves respect. However, I’m pretty sure another reason you think She & Him makes you indie is that their name is “She & Him”–how cheeky! How cute! How just plain indie! On top of that, what kind of album name is “Volume One” anyway? Everyone knows that cryptic = indie! Yeah, no.
Can we get back to Paste, though?
I flip through the December 08/January 09 issue of Paste magazine in awe. I mean, look at the bands on their top-25 list and tell me how Mates of State’s Rearrange Us, Okkervil River’s The Stand Ins, Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, and Sigur Ros’s Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust failed to take the number 1 spot over She & Him! Sigur Ros made it only one spot behind them, and I’m not even satisfied with that. I’m still unclear about how Dear & the Headlights and Envy & Other Sins failed to make the list. I suppose you could make an accessibility argument–but we aren’t voting on a The Most Accessible Album of 2008 award, are we? And if She & Him is accessible, I have to assert that 75% of the others on the top-25 list are too. Sigur Ros probably doesn’t fall into that percentage. Paste magazine, what happened???
“Maybe it’s just a sweet little folk record–
–a tiny, flawless, diamond. Or maybe it’s a pristine distillation of harmony and craft; 50 years of songwriting experience served up on a spinning silver platter. Either way, it’s our album of the year.” (Paste, Dec08Jan09) Well Paste, that’s ridiculous. First of all, maybe it is a tiny, flawless diamond. In fact, I think that’s a perfect description. The album is truly beautiful. Zooey Deschanel has a lovely voice, and when M. Ward does decide to show off his vocal talents, they are there. I wouldn’t call their style so much unique as timeless–a bit western, a lot folk, and just so much good clean fun. While their sound is simple, their songwriting and arranging are full of raw talent (“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today,” “I Should Have Known Better”).
My complaints are not so much about the band as they are about the publicity. They’re great, sure, but they’re not pee-your-pants-revolutionize-your-life great. Zooey has a unique and lovely voice, but it gets annoying sometimes (“Take It Back,” “I Was Made For You”). “This Is Not A Test” and “Got Me” get a bit repititious. I respect the musicians and their songwriting talent, but I simply don’t find them to be Best-Of worthy. Or indie-worthy, with all the ridiculous publicity. Best album of the year? Please. We know why they got best album of the year.
We all really do know why, don’t we?
Look at that precious face. That talented, artsy girl next door. She doesn’t need M. Ward to get all the attention in the world, because she could have
put out “Volume One Half” by “She” and been voted best best BEST! album of the year. Upon the first notes of “Sentimental Heart” you just want to squeeze her, and then you see the music video for “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” and you just collapse into a comatose state, probably related to all that sweet sugary goodness. And do you think that’s a self-portrait on the album cover? Oh my gosh probably…she’s so carefree and charming and wonderful…
Welcome back to reality, guys. Haven’t you ever seen High Fidelity?–even She (ha…ha…) is not always lovely! Also, contrary to popular (and sometimes Eric’s) belief, cuteness is not a good enough reason to call a collaboration incredible. Those bearded Fleet Foxes boys are good…but not because of their beards, and not as good as everyone seems to think. And She & Him are good, but not because Zooey Deschanel is adorable, and not as deserving as everyone seems to think. I know, I know, ranting about it is not going to change anything. But listen up boys and girls: I will I keep your indie points from you because of your mixed-up priorities and inability to compartmentalize squeezability from talent (especially when my male audience seems remarkably able to compartmentalize literally everything else in their lives!).
In conclusion, listening to She & Him does not make you indie because:
1. Paste magazine voted them #1 of 2008…for no good reason.
2. Their sound is timeless…but not incredibly creative.
3. They are mostly popular because everyone just dies when they hear Zooey sing…even though her voice sounds like 9/10 of the rest of the girl singer population.
4. She & Him? “Volume One”? They’re trying too hard.
And if we ever have the follow conversation…
me: “what kind of music do you like?”
you: “oh you know, indie music…”
me: “oh cool, like what bands?”
you: “um, well i’m really into she & him right now–”
me: “SHUT DOWN. NOT INDIE.”
…then you will be shut down. Because that is not indie.
The Indie Handbook 
OK, I like She & Him! I would not have put their album at #1, or even in the top 25 or even 50, most likely, but I still enjoy it. And I have to disagree with your subtle diss of Fleet Foxes…I may have put their album near the top of my 2008 list. But we can agree to disagree and I still love you and indie music 🙂
thought: instead of saying “SHUT DOWN” you should scream “DEAL-BREAKER” (thank you, liz lemon).
also, i love this phrase: “inability to compartmentalize squeezability from talent” – really, i love that thought. i’ve never thought about how people view entertainers in that way before, but yes, it’s very true. good work, TIB. keep it up.