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there’s this band called Big Star that started releasing records in 1971 that capture an indie rock/folk sound i think more clearly than any artist had before, but had no real success while they were first active in the 70s.
their sound was so undeniable that we start to see a new generation of musicians that discover the band and create music inspired by it with much greater success, an inspiration that can be undoubtedly heard in these musicians’ writing.
my favorites of these Big Star Influenced artists:
Elliott Smith (and thru him, phoebe bridgers)
The Replacements
R.E.M
Wilco
Teenage Fanclub
Jeff Buckley
(and many more)
Related Recs
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This list reminded me of REM, the police (maybe?), Neil Young, Pearl jam, Soundgarden (specifically black hole sun), maybe even a They Might Be Giants song or two
Feb 8, 2025
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Bruce Springsteen - I always thought it was generic Dad music but then I discovered Nebraska.
Steely Dan - idk it’s a vibe once you dig in
The Replacements - I couldn’t get into them for the longest time but wanted to bc I know they inspired a lot of my favorite artists and then one day all the songs just started getting stuck in my head and i listen to them all of the time now
Sep 7, 2024
lol
not necessarily my all time faves or in order, but all are always in the mix for me…
Talking Heads - Remain In Light (Deluxe Version)
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
Radiohead - In Rainbows
My Bloody
Valentine
- Loveless
Alex G - God Save the Animals
Björk - Debut
Wednesday - Rat Saw God
Joni Mitchell - Blue
Judee Sill - Judee Sill
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating
as
One
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Elliott Smith - XO
The B-52's - Wild Planet
Grace Ives - Janky Star
Mulatu Astatke - New York - Addis - London: The Story Of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975
Can - Ege Bamyasi
(Remastered)
Water From Your Eyes
- Everyone's Crushed
Toro y Moi - Outer Peace
Grimes
- Art Angels
ScHoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
Portishead - Dummy
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See
Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand Grouper - A I A: Alien Observer feeble little horse - Girl With Fish
Feb 20, 2025
Top Recs from @hnyre
such a hauntingly beautiful record — will forever be associated with big life changes and with fall
Sep 30, 2024
just you try and tell me that this song doesn’t immediately transport you to a better place.
i’m seeing her on saturday at the roxy in LA and i’m very excited !
Oct 3, 2024
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hi there! funnily enough I also go to school for songwriting (kinda, I'm a music production major but I'm in songwriting class with all of the songwriting majors and have been writing for a long time as well). if there was one text I'd recommend for working on your songwriting and lyric building process it'd be the exercises in the book "How to Write One Song" by Jeff Tweedy. he basically just shows you how to jumble up your current way of thinking about writing and finding new ways to put words together that you never thought you could do.
P.S. your line about wanting to creating lyrics that move people is very relatable and I understand that want very much and know you probably already are moving people and that as much as we want to be able to write like our heroes as soon as possible, our own just as powerful sound will come eventually with slow and hard work. I'm sure you know this but I thought I would say.
feel free to message me if you'd like to talk songwriting more—happy writing!
Oct 1, 2024