I went back and started checking all the bands I listened to in early high school (shout out to Limewire!), and there are definitely a lot of masterpieces from 2005, but I actually think 2006 might have it beat. That being said, here is a list of mine (sort of in order from the most influential to my teen self):
WHY? - Elephant Eyelash
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
The Decemberists - Picaresque
LCD Soundsystem - Self titled
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Self titled
The National - Alligator
Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (I remember thinking that they sold out with this album and being pissed lol but it was catchy nonetheless)
Feb 23, 2024
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Thursday - War All The Time
AFI - Sing The Sorrow
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be
I think I had more feelings in 2004 than in all the years before that combined.
May 27, 2024
such a tender and fun time... could just be looped in with that era of indie rock but there was something so distinct about it (twee? sparkly? childlike? maybe that's my own perception of its influence on me at the time?) someone still loves you boris yeltsin, freelance whales, clap your hands say yeah, midlake, islands, rogue wave, throw me the statue ETC!!!! i feel like i'm puking at homecoming bc my ex bf is grinding with my best friend and i am going home to burn a CD about it!!!!!
Dec 4, 2024
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It’s a nice trip down memory lane. Mine include of Montreal, new pornographers, sufjan, the shins (garden state was big, ok?), and the soundtrack to spring awakening.
Jan 26, 2024
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I don't know how well this actually answers your initial question, I think it's more of a counterpoint to some of the stuff people have already said, but here it goes.
In the past (prior to social media or search engines) specific styles, specialized knowledge, and niche awareness actually took effort. You had to go out into the world and find a scene, be accepted, participate in it, contribute to it, and learn from others with specific knowledge within the specific sub- or counter-cultural scene. It took time, effort, and experience to craft an identity. Nowadays people cycle through various identities and trends like commodities because it takes no effort (they're sold to them by social media algorithms, influencers, brand accounts, etc.). It comes to you in your phone without you ever even having to leave the house or put in the time to discover it or participate in it (you just follow specific people or subscribe). You can be a passive observer or consumer, not an active contributor. As a result, you're not invested or tied down and committed to that core identity. You can cosplay depending on your mood or who you want to momentarily convey yourself as, because it's easy. Essentially, being a poser has become normalized. An identity is now something to be momentarily consumed and affected, rather than grown, built, and developed over time.
Granted, it's always been different in regards to "mass" culture and popular trends (both in the past and now). Those are impossible to miss and were always monopolized by specific trend setting institutions, but always by the time it gets to that point, the actual initial counter- or sub-culture that inspired it has already been coopted and has started to disintegrate under the weight and attention of mass consumption.
Feb 18, 2024
It's an action deserving of its own nickname. My cat's name is Gomez, but when he crosses his paws like this, he turns into Hodgkins Plumpersocks.
Feb 2, 2024
Oatmeal raisin cookies don't get enough love. As a kid, my palate couldn't appreciate their subtle flavor, but thankfully oatmeal raisin cookies we're rehabilitated for me later in life. I now see the error of my ways, and am trying to evangelize about them, and rehabilitate them for others, by making this recipe.
They're great cause they're not too sweet, so they feel appropriate for both dessert and breakfast. They're also like a blank canvas of oaty brown sugar goodness that you can then imbue with whatever add-ins you want (thus turning one recipe into a plethora of variations). My personal favorites are semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and roasted cashews.
Feb 26, 2024