GLG Fresh Mp3 Friday: The Roots of Indie Music

Martin Luther King Day takes America back to one of the civil rights pioneers. Similarly, GLG would like to take you back to the roots of indie music by featuring free Mp3 downloads of our favorite indie tracks for the week.

The class of musicians known as “Indie” are pioneers as they are independent from major commercial record labels. For the most part, they do their own recordings, publishing and performances.

Traveling back into the 1960s, bands like “Velvet Underground,” who did everything on their own, can be considered a real “indie” band. Indie music emerged with songs inspired by peace, love and anti-war thoughts. The recipe for Indie Music: half cup of pop, mixed with a bit of rock and roll, and a hint of R&B.

The 1970s experimented with the originality of music. Garage bands grew in the 1980s, as “alternative music” grew. The 90s seemed to reshape its traditions of originality as they signed onto major record labels and became “a missing link between modern music.” In the late 1990s, indie music went back to basics, returning to the core values of indie music’s roots.

David Gergen, From The Nearer it was…The Farther it Became
Release Date: January 18, 2011
"Love Blues"
“The Streets I’m Walkin’”
Genre: Electroacoustic/Alternative/Indie
For fans of: Nick Drake, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen
Bio/hi-res photos

David Gergen- Love Blues by greenlightgo
David Gergen- The Streets I'm Walkin' by greenlightgo


Gwyneth & Monko, From Gwyneth & Monko
Release Date: February 15, 2011
"Get in the Sun"
Genre: Americana/Roots Music/Alternative
For fans of: Emmy Lou Harris, Patty Griffin, Jenny Lewis
Bio/hi-res photos
Gwyneth & Monko- Get in the Sun by greenlightgo

The Handsome Family, From Honey Moon
Now on Tour
"Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues"
“Family Drinking Beer on the Roof”
Genre: Folk/Americana
For fans of: You should already be their fan!
Bio/hi-res photos
The Handsome Family Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues by greenlightgo
The Handsome Family Drinking Beer On The Roof by greenlightgo

John Shipe, From Villain
Release Date: February 1, 2011
"Love Belongs to Everyone"
Genre: Acoustic/Indie/Rock
For fans of: Josh Ritter, Jonathan Rice and Elvis Costello
Bio/hi-res photos
John Shipe- Love Belongs to Everyone by greenlightgo

Neutral Uke Hotel (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)
"Holland 1945"
“King of Carrot Flowers pt.1”
Genre: Indie Rock/Cover Song
For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel
Bio/hi-res photos
Neutral Uke Hotel- Holland 1945 by greenlightgo
Neutral Uke Hotel-King of Carrot Flowers Pt 1 by greenlightgo

Listen to all the tracks here:
GLG Fresh Mp3: 1/20/11 by greenlightgo
To our fans, please feel free to post any of the approved songs on your blog or tweet to your friends. Check out our list of clients and available mp3s here: greenlightgopublicity.com. If you're not on our email list to receive these directly and want to be, please send an email over to info@glgpub.com.
Sources: http://www.indieupdate.com/indie-music-blog/history-of-indie-music/