Thanks to the Internet Age, being an indie no longer means that small-but-dedicated acclaim and loyalty is the best that you can reasonably aspire to. With mp3s circulating over incredible physical distances at incredible speed, small upstarts could see glory come practically overnight. And the Billboard 200 offers further proof that being out of the mainstream doesn't automatically regulate you to independently-owned music shops and tapes circulating among friends and colleagues. Believe it or not, three warmly-received indie records made big splashes this week on the charts. And they were all considerable jumps compared to the last chart placing the groups had. So what's next? Getting signed to a major label? I can't fault them for that should the opportunity arise, but just remember: does anyone reminisce about R.E.M.'s 90s releases with the same fondness as they do for the IRS days?
Debuting at No. 12 is Andrew Bird's latest, Noble Beast. It's only the second Bird album to reach the Billboard 200, the other being Armchair Apocrypha which peaked at No. 76. Beast sold an impressive 25,000 copies in its first week. Right behind that is Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, which saw approximately the same number fly off the shelves to take a close No. 13. This was the first week for the CD version of the passionately-acclaimed album, but its vinyl edition, released earlier this month, has managed to track well among independent albums despite its limited press and “vintage” format. But perhaps most impressively, Bon Iver's four-track EP, Blood Bank, arrived at No. 16, selling 23,000 copies in its first week. For Emma, Forever Ago never even made it into the top fifty; in fact, its peak performance came just last week in anticipation of the new extended player, landing at No. 64. Although Blood Bank's low price undoubtedly helped shift units, it's a rarity to find an EP come this close to the top ten, especially one from such a new band.
Some might view it as something of a Pyrrhic victory considering that the top ten is still cluttered with inedible 2008 leftovers that should have already gone away. Trying to figure out how Nickelback and Britney Spears are still there is like explaining to a child why there is so much suffering in the world. But small steps are inspiring, and although next week promises to see Taylor Swift's crown handed over to a big-time Jersey rocker, I hope that these up-and-comers will stay strong. Who knows, maybe even Antony and the Johnsons will join the others near the top.
