The difference, by ear
Shares the amateur singing and the clean guitars, and differs in the harmonic language - the open-tuning ringing is specific to this genre.
Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 100 to 150 bpm. To hear the difference, play American Football next to Pavement. They share a root in rock, and indie rock came first, by nine years.
In figures
Midwest emo
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Hardcore punk › Post-hardcore › Emo › Midwest emo
In short
Open tunings and interlocking arpeggios, odd meters and lyrics about autumn and empty rooms.
How it sounds
- Open tunings and two guitars playing separate, interlocking lines.
- Odd meters used discreetly, with no display of technique.
- The occasional trumpet, slow tempos, and lyrics about places and seasons.
Key acts
- American Football
- Cap'n Jazz
- The Promise Ring
Start here
The pickAmerican Football - Never Meant. That opening guitar figure is a whole genre.
Full page →Indie rock
Where it sits
Rock › Alternative rock › Indie rock
In short
Originally an economic description - independent labels - that hardened into an aesthetic: modest production and total freedom.
How it sounds
- Modest production, with a small budget treated as an aesthetic choice.
- Clean or lightly saturated guitars; solos are rare.
- Untrained, natural vocals, often deliberately vulnerable.
Key acts
- Pavement
- Sonic Youth
- Arcade Fire
- The National
Start here
The pickPavement - Slanted and Enchanted. Studied indifference, excellent songs.
Full page →