I have a weekly radio show with WGMU Promotions Director SamxRiot, and we have a few favorite topics we discuss fairly often. Her status as an indie snob is one of them, and it has come up fairly regularly recently because of the new Anberlin album.
Anberlin is a great band; they've got a solid sound and worthwhile lyrics to bring their music to life. They had been with the Christian label Tooth and Nail until 2007, when they announced their move to major label Universal Republic Records.
Sam is the kind of person to get nervous any time a small-scale band makes the leap to major, and when the latest Anberlin album dropped at the end of September, the accusations started to fly.
"They've sold out! They're too polished! Ugh, they completely ruined his voice!"
Like I said, Sam is an indie snob. I have to agree that the band sounds a lot more polished; the lead vocalist's voice no longer has that rough edge to it, though that can still be found in live performances. From there it's personal preference if you like the smoother, more well-produced sound over the natural, garage-band stylings of indie bands.
To me, it depends on the group: I'm all for the new Subways shine, but miss the old gravel of Los Campesinos! demos.
What do you think? Is being signed to a major the kiss of death for natural voices? Let me know in the comments!
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