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The Weekly DiScussion: just what is a 'DiS band'?
With our end-of-year listing shenanigans in full swing, now seems a prime time to ask the DiS readership: just what is a ‘DiS band’ in your opinion?
Every music magazine across the ages has had its own acts, by which we’re talking about bands that feature strongly and regularly in that magazine or website over any other. Sure, many are covered elsewhere, but they’re not as loved, clutched so close to a virtual collective chest and hugged tight, warmth shared. They become synonymous with that publication, perhaps because of a symbiotic relationship, perhaps because said magazine has ‘broken’ the act in question. Perhaps it simply comes down to an editor’s preferences.
DiS has, over the past seven years, been influential in the emergence of a number of domestic acts, from Muse through Biffy Clyro to Foals and Youthmovies. Since its earliest days the site has focused on rock bands, playing to kids like those who wrote the words that filled DiS in its formative stages. Or indie acts, if you’d rather; where the line is, few are sure. Previous Albums of the Year lists have seen high entries from Radiohead, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Biffy and Muse: the usual suspects so far as particular perceptions would have it.
But are perceptions changing? That’s the question we’re dangling this week, awaiting DiScussion to enlighten the editorial eyes and ears at the DiSopolis. This year’s end-of-year list might feature a number of Big Expected Names, but are they residing in the top ten? Tomorrow and Friday, you’ll see. What’s a fact is that the acts up for inclusion in our 50 albums of the year are more varied than ever: the inclusion of the likes of Aesop Rock and Clipse, HEALTH and No Age, Panda Bear and Andrew Bird is something that more than likely wouldn’t have happened as recently as two years ago, when tastes at the site’s core were rather more… conservative. It’s refreshing, personally, to see such acts get the democratic nod of approval over Bright Eyes, Biffy Clyro, Queens Of The Stone Age, The White Stripes and Reuben this year… i.e. a slew of would-be ‘DiS bands’.
As we move into a new year, and set ourselves new challenges and objectives, it’s vital that DiS has an idea of what its readers are clicking their way here to read about: is coverage of acts outside the mainstream of particular appeal, or do the aforementioned heavyweights attract the most attention? Should we be looking at the US underground, plucking the likes of Abe Vigoda and Telepathe out from the mire for your listening pleasure, or are regular readers more interested in reading about bands playing their town before long? It’s interesting that recent message board comments suggested that ‘DiS bands’ could include the likes of Meet Me In St Louis, Rolo Tomassi and Yndi Halda – all UK acts of growing profiles, but hardly big news beyond a small handful of websites and magazines.
Is a ‘DiS band’ big, or is a ‘DiS band’ small? Do you think of The White Stripes, Battles, Muse, Radiohead, The Strokes, Daft Punk, Kings Of Leon, et cetera as ‘DiS bands’, or has the site’s highlighting of a select few smaller acts from time to time made them ‘DiS bands’ in the place of major label alternatives? What do you think of when you think of DiS? Indie rock, straight up, or something refreshing with a twist?
DiScuss, if you’d be so kind…
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I honestly don't know what a DiS band is.
I'm just enjoying the ride...
And the Sleeping Years should be a DiS band ! -
It's certainly not..
bad sandwich
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Difficult.
Not sure its about a big or small, so much as its about a varied scope of bands.
I like seeing bigger bands like Muse, Biffy etc getting deserved praise as well as the odd diamond in the rough being presented to us as readers and then supporting them to see what they can really achieve.
I think a 'DiS band' is a band with recognisable talent that stands apart from its compititon and gives us something different and special which we as a fan base can support. -
HAHAHAhahAHhAhAhHAaaa...
Quite, quite brilliantly only yesterday I got a message from a PR about a band JUST LIKE Bad Sandwich, but they're from California so OBVIOUSLY they're cool... sheeeesh...
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is it a new feature on the website?
Seriously though, I associate DiS with championing more obscure bands that I haven't yet heard of but want to. Ultimately it's a band with tangible talent, 'artistic integrity' and some damn good songs. Not often the sort of thing you can find in HMV...
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I could be cynical and say that
Indier-than-thou and worthyness is a factor, but I'll agree with MyPantsAreOnFire.
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anything for fanboys
and i include myself in that
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For me...
it's the opportunity to read about stuff a little bit left of the mainstream that I can't really get the chance to read about in many other publications.
The fact that interviews and reviews etc. are usually pretty objective as well, and not just a big arse-kissing event about the bands' haircuts as happens in some of the larger magazines.
And it's not TOO "indier-than-thou" either, which is nice.
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Bands on DIS label
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this is like my Advanced Analysis Exam
I don't understand the question so I cannot even hazzard a guess. So Turning to another paper on a course I didn't even attend (you may laugh):
The answer is 'Rolo Tomassi', I haven't even heard the music, I've already had a dream about them/him/it and I've got the tickets to see {him} live. £9.25 and I see IWACS are there as well.
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My opinion on DiS bands
Are bands that, not neccerily started out on here but developed a following and most of its fans from this website (ie Forward Russia, 65daysofstatic, Youthmovies, Charlottefield, Meet Me in St Louis, Rolo Tomassi etc etc)
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I tend to think of 'DiS bands'
as very 'indie'.
To a point, I think you are sometimes a little guilty of disowning bands as soon as they get a sniff of success. But it's also entirely possible it's due to differing staff opinions, rather any sort of over-arching editorial policy.There are times on here, though, where I find I've not heard of anything/anyone you mention for days on end.
Then another Radiohead story turns up somewhere...Generally, you seem to mostly big up those who are doing stuff a bit differently, and not going with the crowd. Which is fine by me.
I've discovered some top stuff through recommendations on here (most notably iForward, Russia! and Youthmovies), so I'm not complaining, just putting my opinion out there. -
Dis Band
artists or bands that are making music with true soul- music you can feel in your heart- music that sounds good now and in ten years from now- all too many bands make temporary sounds- I dig songs that have a life of their own- Thanks for your ears DIS crew- I'll keep reading & listening.
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I'm not sure I really get what you are asking
but I definitely wouldn't class the likes of The White Stripes or Muse as DiS bands; as you've alluded to yourself in the article bands like Meet Me In St Louis and Rolo Tomassi are not big news outside of websites like these. If I wanted to read about these bands, I'd have to come here (or somewhere similar). My options would not be so limited for a band who have reached the level of Muse.
Thats not to say that coverage of such bands should come to a halt or that people should cease listening to them, but they have definitely moved out of the underground, almost fanzine-esque sphere.
But then doesn't the idea of a DiS band just a bit self aggrandising and snobbish?
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"DiS bands" can mean
many things for many different reasons, surely?
For example, 3 years ago, The Kaiser Chiefs would have been considered a "DiS band" as they were the first signing to the label and DiS was the first publication to write about them.
Obviously each editor of the site has their own personal favourites (already mentioned elsewhere) as do most of the writers.
Similarly, bands such as Bloc Party, Youthmovies, Battles, MMISL, Lovvers, Foals, The Strange Death Of Liberal England, Rolo Tomassi, Los Campesinos, Kinesis, Miss Black America, Komakino, Blood Red Shoes and many others all got their first taste of widespread UK (and beyond) recognition via DiS.
Surely the real plus point here is that none of the aforementioned sound alike, come from the same scene or conform to any particular genre, unlike other artists with direct links to other publications? -
hmmmmm
a DiS band these days is more indie than rock I think. Early doors, stuff like Trial of Dead and At The Drive in were staples of the site.
Sometimes the reviewers need to get a hold of whether they're giving something a good score because it's different or if it's actually any good. Likewise, knocking marks off older bands due to their popularity is something that is creeping in slowly but surely.
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No just to the topic
in general.
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i have no idea
but i'd just like to mention that i don't listen to a single one of the associated artists listed at the top of this article. does that make me a dis freak? probably :(
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invaribly the shit ones that
have good PR, look skanky, skinny and have some wanky angle DIS can use as a STORY as the music is usually 'experimental' (this means SHIT), a version of something already done a decade back or some cute girl whose lyrics are sound like they might actually have depth, but actually don't.
BAM! -
^this...
...but with the odd good band thrown in the mix aswell, as 'experimental' doesn't always mean shit.
and the national are geniuses.
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More than anything else
this reminds me of the cringeworthy editorial when the first Bloc Party album came out... they were without question a DiS band then, but are they now?
I think compared to a lot of the DiS readership my tastes are fairly mainstream, and as (in my perception) the site has gotten more indie I visit much less than I used to.
That said, the massive enthusiasm for the likes of The National (and indeed Bloc Party at the time) have led me to great bands I would otherwise have heard of much later, or not at all.
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^^^
This.
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To clarify
There is nothing cringeworthy about this article, it just reminded me of back then...
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Les Savy Fav
are such a DIS band.
They're playing the NME shows in January so they probably won't be for much longer...
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Agree with DanielKelly
Besides, the average modern Muse fan won't be heading to DiS...
It might be snobbish, but it's a lot less irritating than when the NME pick up on some things that people have been listening to for an age, Les Savy Fav, as was mentioned down the page.
Then again, they gave Howling Bells 9/10 and there's nary a jot of news about them in there. Give it a year.
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DiS
Seems to be mostly championing avante garde punk-y things of late, or the edgier side of 'Alternative' as opposed to Indie. Nowt wrong with that, in the sense of being one long Peel Session. Fairly intellectual DiS at the mo, methinks.
I'd wish for mainstream genres to break out of their bubbles and cross fertilise again. 'Indie' thinks of punk the way England fans think of 1966, and simply has not ever contemplated moving on, and metal seems to find great difficulty in remembering that before Maiden and Sabbath there were The Kinks and the MC5.
If there were bands whose songs stuck in your mind like glue, but whose influences appeared a total mystery... that would be my kind of DiS band....I wonder if such a beast exists? -
^
too true
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I wouldn't really call anyone a DiS band
but i can list bands that I have got into as a result of DiS:
Les Savy Fav
Battles
Youthmovies
MMMISL
Johnny Foreigner - in their case i bought their ep as a result of the review here.DiS is doing a good job, keep it up.
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what is a band?
I'm a little out of touch, there's more music than ever before and i need someone to do some quality control and show me the good stuff. John Peel is no more so I need to read about what i might like so i can listen to it and see if i like it.
I want to hear about new music, (particularly groups i can see live) which is interesting and not coated in seven shades of hype. I don't care what they look like or how indie they are, but i guess there are like-minded people writing on here so i can find some stuff i like.
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