Ultimate Gift Guide for the Indie Music Lover
December 12, 2009 · Print This Article
What do you get for that hipster on your Christmas list that only loves to revel in indie tunes on their iPod, hang out at the local coffee shop, sporting skinny jeans and unkempt hair?
Maybe the hard-to-buy-for indie music lover on your list doesn’t follow the hipster trend, but holds eclectic tastes and a hatred for name brands or anything else commercial or mainstream. Either way, I’ve perused the internet to find Christmas gifts to fulfill the needs of just such a person on your list this season.
MUSIC:
The Audio Muffin Indie Christmas Songs 2009:
This music enthusiast website offers a bundle of the best Christmas music compiled from the bands covered by Audio Muffin. You can download each song on their website, and they even provide you with cover artwork for the CD-R you make from the music downloads. The list of artists is quite wonderful and includes songs from Chris Garneau, Owl City, Band of Horses, The Raveonettes, Feist, and others. What a perfect, totally free, and creative way to say Merry Christmas!
MXPX – Punk Rawk Christmas:
This old-school punk band isn’t afraid of recording some Christmas tunes! You can find this album at Amazon.com or Itunes, and it includes 14 rockin’ original Christmas-themed songs.
Sufjan Steven’s Songs for Christmas Boxset:
This collection of classic Christmas songs get a new psychedelic, folky spin, with the creative interpretation of Sufjan. The album was released in 2006, but it’s still a worthwhile addition to any indie music fan’s Christmas song collection. You can find it for purchase on Asthmatic Kitty Records’ website or at amazon.com.
An Indiecator Christmas 2009:
The non-traditional record label, Indiecator has put together an album of 13 Christmas-themed songs, mostly recorded especially for the compilation. Some of the artists featured on An Indiecator Christmas ‘09 include Sunset, I Hate You Just Kidding, The Garlands, Boca Chica, and Oldfolks Home. You can find it for purchase at Indiecator Records’ website.
BOOKS:
“Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991”
This book, written by Michael Azerrad in 2002, is now available in paperback and discusses the indie underground scene pre-Nirvana. The book explores the under-the-radar bands that existed 15 years before Nirvana ever hit the scene and that actually contributed to the “new” sound for which Nirvana’s Nevermind has been credited. Bands such as Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Minor Threat, and The Replacements are presented, including the choices these bands made that prevented their mainstream success. The book is available at amazon.com.
“Perfect from Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life”
A bit dramatic, but still an interesting memoir of author John Seller’s journey through the non-mainstream music arena of indie rock. In the book, written in 2008, Seller bares his soul and explores what he finds valuable in indie rock and in life. He includes an evaluation of alternative rock in comparison to indie rock and other observations in a blog-like style. The book is available at amazon.com.
MISC STOCKING STUFFERS:
Ticket Stub Diary:
Uncommongoods.com offers this nifty little number to keep all the ticket stubs from your favorite concerts in one organized place. So, if your boyfriend’s sock drawer is full of old ticket stubs, this is the solution to that problem and a unique gift idea all at once! And how cool will it be years from now when you look back at those tickets with your grandchildren and reflect back on the music of days past? OK, let’s not think about ourselves as little old grannies and gramps’. Moving on.
The Indie Rock Coloring Book:
Yes, a coloring book for adults! This neat little gift is available through the Montreal-based non-profit Yellow Bird Project. The book includes some truly awesome stuff, such as a Broken Social Scene maze, a colorful carnival of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, a Bon Iver enchanted water supply that you can color, and even a MGMT psychedelic playground. Also enjoy coloring within outlines of The Shins, Rilo Kiley, The National and many more! How awesome is that? And best of all, the profits go toward charity.
Accessories That Rock:
If the indie music lovers on your list has all the music and books you can imagine, then perhaps you’d like to help them accessorize! At accessoriesthatrock.com, you can find an array of belts, wristbands, buckles, watches, hats, and shoes. The items are all extremely affordable and absolutely fun!
Hopefully, these gift ideas get your gears moving in the direction of original and unique gifts for the indie music lover in your life.
Nadia Lelutiu, Indie Music Editor
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Great piece Nadia. I think I want that coloring book.
~SiN~
That coloring book would be awesome! And not to mention a great collectors item!
Hey: I have a sock drawer full of ticket stubs! I want the organizer…that would rock!
Great article!
Very interesting article. Keep writing dude !!