Is James Morrison "indie rock" ?

[jdhogg]

Got a return from this listing

S100423SS

SINGER-SONGWRITER-type INSTRUMENTALS a la the range of Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor, James Morrison, etc., wanted by a successful Music Production House with major commercial and television credits. Top-notch performances are necessary! Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine.) Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Friday, April 23, 2010. TAXI #S100423SS

reason being

"I like the vibe of the music, however, I felt the stylistic approach seemed to lean more towards an Adult Contemporary sound rather than the indie rock style described in this listing. "


I dont have a problem with this being rejected because its not good enough, or maybe because it is more AC, it also runs too long as I have since found out 2mins is the length for library pieces SO i was expecting a return.

BUT how are these artists especially James Morrison "indie rock"? If I knew Taxi wanted "indie Rock" I would NOT of wasted my time and sent this.

How is anyone meant to work out that you want an "indie rock" vibe from these artists?

"indie pop" maybe but then why Morrison?.....seems to me the most common thread is the electric piano.

I did this as a small project as I needed a break from my main focus (country) so its not a big deal.

Just would like some pointers on how to extract "indie rock" from the listing.

[sportmac]

Don't worry about it too much. It would have been something else then. I've had similar things, they conveniently add something to the listing that wasn't there.
Hail, I've submitted the same song to several different listings over the years and each reviewer thought it was significant that they point out to me that there already was a famous song with title, that I should check those things before hand, even went so far as to provide me a link where I could find that information.
You know, because, although titles can't be copyrighted, and the song in question is nowhere near the same category as mine, it was apparently enough of a concern that it was a negative. Of course, maybe I'm just being negative and should be duly impressed with their musical knowledge.
Basically, it's nitpicking at it's most obvious level. Grain of salt, only way to take this nonsense.
Just for grins (a sampling, nowhere near complete):
All I Want - Bobby McFerrin
All I Want - Queensryche
All I Want - The Pursuit of Happiness
All I Want Is You - Bryan Adams
All I Want Is You - Carly Simon
All I Want Is You - U2
All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
All Night Long - Billy Squier *
All Night Long - SWV (Sisters with voices)
All Or Nothing At All - Bruce Springsteen
All Or Nothing At All - Frank Sinatra
Alright - Jamiroquai
Alright - Janet Jackson
Always - Bon Jovi
Always - Corey Hart
Always - Ella Fitzgerald
Always - Stanley Clarke / George Duke
America - Leonard Bernstein
America - Neil Diamond
America - Paul Simon
Angel - Aerosmith
Angel - Eurythmics
Angel - Jimi Hendrix
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
Animal - Def Leppard
Animal - Pearl Jam
Animal - Toto
Another Day - James Taylor
Another Day - Paul McCartney
Ask The Lonely - Journey
Ask The Lonely - The Four Tops
Beautiful - Carole King
Beautiful - The Smashing Pumpkins
Best Of Both Worlds - Robert Palmer *
Best Of Both Worlds - Van Halen
Better Days - Bruce Springsteen
Better Days - Colin James *
Better Days - Supertramp
Black & White - Sarah McLachlan
Black & White - Three Dog Night
Body - Bush
Body - The Presidents of The United States of America
Breezin' - B-52's
Breezin' - George Benson
Can't Stand Losing You - Corey Hart
Can't Stand Losing You - The Police
Candy - Manhattan Transfer
Candy - The Astors *
Candy - The Presidents of The United States of America
Car Wash - Bruce Springsteen
Car Wash - Rose Royce
Cathedral - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Cathedral - Van Halen
Change Partners - Crosby, Stills & Nash *
Change Partners - Ella Fitzgerald
Cherry Bomb - Joan Jett and The Runaways *
Cherry Bomb - John Mellencamp (John Cougar)
Cocaine - Eric Clapton
Cocaine - Jackson Browne
Come As You Are - Nirvana
Come As You Are - The Tubes *
Come Back To Me - Brave Combo
Come Back To Me - Janet Jackson
Come To Me - Bobby McFerrin
Come To Me - France Joli
Come To Me - Otis Redding *
Crazy - Aerosmith
Crazy - Barenaked Ladies
Crazy - Joe Satriani *
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Crazy - Seal
Crazy - Supertramp
Creep - Stone Temple Pilots
Creep - TLC
Cross My Heart - Bruce Springsteen
Cross My Heart - Colin James
Cryin' - Aerosmith
Cryin' - Joe Satriani
Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa
Dancin' Fool - Guess Who
Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing In The Dark - Frank Sinatra
Dangerous - Michael Jackson
Dangerous - The Doobie Brothers
Daybreak - Harry Nilsson
Daybreak - Stone Roses
Daybreak - Tony Bennett
Desire - En Vogue
Desire - U2
Don't Ask Me Why - Billy Joel
Don't Ask Me Why - Eurythmics
Don't Be Cruel - Bobby Brown
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Burt Bacharach
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John
Don't Leave Me This Way - Otis Redding
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Don't Let Go - George Duke
Don't Let Go - Wang Chung
Don't Look Back - Bruce Springsteen
Don't Look Back - Fine Young Cannibals
Don't Look Back - Van Morrison
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
Don't Stop Me Now - Toto
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Dreams - Van Halen
Drive - Bobby McFerrin
Drive - R.E.M.
Drive - The Cars
Drive - Todd Rundgren
Drive My Car - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Drive My Car - The Beatles
Dumb - Garbage
Dumb - Nirvana
Empty - Janet Jackson
Empty - The Cranberries
Fantasy - Earth, Wind & Fire
Fantasy - Mariah Carey
Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Company
Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
Flower - Liz Phair
Flower - Soundgarden
For the Love of You - Earth, Wind & Fire
For the Love of You - Whitney Houston
Forever - C&C Music Factory
Forever - Kenny Loggins
Free - George Michael
Free - Stevie Wonder
Freedom - Blues Traveler
Freedom - Colin James
Friends - Elton John
Friends - Led Zeppelin
From Now On - Basia (Trzetrzelewska)
From Now On - Supertramp
Garden - Bobby McFerrin
Garden - Pearl Jam
Get A Grip - Aerosmith
Get A Grip - Tom Scott
Give It Up - Colin James
Give It Up - ZZ Top
Gloria - Felix Mendelssohn
Gloria - Manhattan Transfer
Gloria - Van Morrison
Good Enough - Bobby Brown
Good Enough - Van Halen
Good Times - Sam Cooke
Good Times - Stone Roses
Goodbye - Goodness
Goodbye - Hootie and the Blowfish
Grind - Alice in Chains
Grind - Tangerine Dream
Harmony - Elton John
Harmony - Take 6
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar (Geraldo)
Heartbreaker - Rolling Stones
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Heaven - Talking Heads
Helpless - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Helpless - Manhattan Transfer
Helpless - Metallica
Hero - Mariah Carey
Hero - Queensryche
Hey You - Bachman Turner Overdrive
Hey You - No Doubt
Hey You - Pink Floyd
High Hopes - Frank Sinatra
High Hopes - Pink Floyd
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground - UB40
Hold On - Kansas
Hold On - Sounds of Blackness
Hold On - Yes
Hollywood - Dog's Eye View
Hollywood - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hollywood - The Cranberries
I Don't Know - Celine Dion
I Don't Know - The Blues Brothers
I Know - Barenaked Ladies
I Know - Dionne Farris
I Love You - Barenaked Ladies
I Love You - Celine Dion
I Love You - Frank Sinatra
I Love You - Sarah McLachlan
I Need You - Paul Carrack *
I Need You - Paula Abdul
I Need You - The Beatles
I Need You - True Image
I Want You - Bob Dylan
I Want You - Elvis Costello
I Want You - Marvin Gaye
I Will Follow - James Taylor
I Will Follow - U2
I'll Be Around - Frank Sinatra
I'll Be Around - The Spinners
I'll Be Good To You - Bobby Brown *
I'll Be Good To You - Ray Charles
I'll Be There - Jackson 5
I'll Be There - Kenny Loggins
I'm In Love - Earth, Wind & Fire
I'm In Love - Wilson Pickett *
If I Can't Have You - Etta James *
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
Immortality - Celine Dion
Immortality - Pearl Jam
In My Dreams - Crosby, Stills & Nash
In My Dreams - Linda Perry *
In Your Eyes - Aaron Neville *
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Indifference - Pearl Jam
Indifference - Spin Doctors *
It's Only Love - Bryan Adams
It's Only Love - The Beatles
It's Only Love - ZZ Top
It's Over - Boz Scaggs
It's Over - Filter *
It's Too Late - Carole King
It's Too Late - Chuck Willis *
It's Your Life - Lenny Kravitz
It's Your Life - Loverboy
Jump - Loverboy
Jump - Van Halen
Keep The Faith - Bon Jovi
Keep The Faith - Michael Jackson
Lady - George Benson *
Lady - Little River Band
Lady - Stanley Clarke / George Duke *
Lady - Styx
Lady - Supertramp
Lady Luck - David Lee Roth *
Lady Luck - Kenny Loggins *
Last Dance - Donna Summer
Last Dance - Sarah McLachlan
Lately - INXS
Lately - Stevie Wonder
Laughing - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Laughing - Guess Who
Learning To Fly - Pink Floyd
Learning To Fly - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Leave - Barenaked Ladies
Leave - R.E.M.
Leave Me Alone - Extreme *
Leave Me Alone - Michael Jackson
Let's Go - The Cars
Let's Go - Wang Chung
Lights - Journey
Lights - Styx
Limelight - Alan Parsons Project
Limelight - Rush
Limelight - Spyro Gyra
Lisa - David Sanborn *
Lisa - Morphine *
Little Things - Boyz 2 Men
Little Things - Bush
Look Away - Chicago
Look Away - Hootie and the Blowfish
Love - Kenny Loggins
Love - The Smashing Pumpkins
Love at First Sight - Average White Band *
Love at First Sight - Styx
Love For Sale - Bon Jovi
Love For Sale - Ella Fitzgerald
Love For Sale - Talking Heads
Love Me Tomorrow - Boz Scaggs *
Love Me Tomorrow - Chicago
Lucky - Greg Kihn *
Lucky - Radiohead
Magic - Pilot
Magic - The Cars
Man In The Mirror - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
Mary Jane - Alanis Morissette
Mary Jane - Spin Doctors *
Mean To Me - Crowded House *
Mean To Me - Ruby Braff
Miles Away - Basia (Trzetrzelewska)
Miles Away - Queensryche
Mississippi - Paula Cole
Mississippi - Sheryl Crow
Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
Money - Michael Jackson
Money - Pink Floyd
Monkey - Bush
Monkey - George Michael
Movin' On - Bad Company
Movin' On - George Duke *
Movin' On - Tremaine Hawkins *
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
Mr. Jones - Talking Heads
My Girl - Aerosmith
My Girl - The Temptations
My Love - Lenny Kravitz
My Love - Paul McCartney
Neighbor, Neighbor - Jimmy Hughes *
Neighbor, Neighbor - ZZ Top
Never - Heart
Never - Moving Pictures *
Not Guilty - Bryan Adams
Not Guilty - The Beatles *
Notorious - Duran Duran
Notorious - Loverboy
Once - Pearl Jam
Once - Van Halen
One - Alanis Morissette
One - Harry Nilsson
One - Metallica
One - U2
One More Night - Bobby Brown *
One More Night - Phil Collins
Out Of Control - Rolling Stones
Out Of Control - U2
Pride (in the name of love) - U2
Pride - Earth, Wind & Fire
Pride - Robert Palmer *
Pride and Joy - Marvin Gaye
Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Promises - Basia (Trzetrzelewska)
Promises - Eric Clapton
Reach - Collective Soul
Reach - Queensryche
Real Man - Bonnie Raitt *
Real Man - Bruce Springsteen
Real Man - Todd Rundgren
Refugee - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Refugee - U2
Remember - Ella Fitzgerald
Remember - Greg Kihn *
Rendezvous - Bruce Springsteen
Rendezvous - Greg Kihn *
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
Rescue Me - Madonna
Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
Rock Steady - Sting
Run To You - Bryan Adams
Run To You - Whitney Houston
Runaround - Blues Traveler
Runaround - Goodness
Runaround - Van Halen
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Runaway - Bonnie Raitt
Runaway - Janet Jackson
Sally - Grand Funk
Sally - Sade
Satellite - Colin James *
Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
Save Me - k. d. Lang
Save Me - Queen
Saved - LaVern Baker
Saved - Queensryche
School - Nirvana
School - Supertramp
Scream - Collective Soul
Scream - Michael Jackson
Scream - US3 *
Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen
Secret Garden - Quincy Jones *
She - Green Day
She - Those Who Dig *
She's Gone - Eric Clapton
She's Gone - Hall & Oates
She's Gone - The Isley Brothers *
Shine - Collective Soul
Shine - Dog's Eye View
Shine - Stephane Grappelli
Shock The Monkey - Peter Gabriel
Shock The Monkey - TLC *
Show Me - Colin James *
Show Me - Joe Tex
Show Me - Seal
Show Me - The Pretenders
Slip Away - Clarence Carter
Slip Away - The Presidents of The United States of America *
Smile - Nat King Cole
Smile - Pearl Jam
So Far Away - Alan Parsons
So Far Away - Carole King
So Long - Ruth Brown
So Long - Talk Show
Social Disease - Bon Jovi
Social Disease - Elton John
Someday - Greg Kihn *
Someday - Mariah Carey
Something About You - Boston
Something About You - Level 42
Something's Gotta Give - Aerosmith
Something's Gotta Give - Ella Fitzgerald
Sometimes - Midnight Oil
Sometimes - Pearl Jam
Somewhere - Aretha Franklin
Somewhere - Soundgarden
Soon - Ella Fitzgerald
Soon - Yes
Sorry - Greg Kihn *
Sorry - Stevie Wonder
Spaceman - Four Non-Blondes
Spaceman - Harry Nilsson
Special - Garbage
Special - Janet Jackson
Stand - Blues Traveler
Stand - Sly And The Family Stone
State of Grace - Billy Joel
State of Grace - Seal *
Sunshine - Alice in Chains
Sunshine - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sunshine - The Presidents of The United States of America *
Superstar - Murray Head
Superstar - Sheryl Crow
Superstar - Sonic Youth
Surrender - Cheap Trick
Surrender - U2
Survival - The Pursuit of Happiness
Survival - Yes
Tangerine - Led Zeppelin
Tangerine - Tony Bennett
Tell The Truth - David Lee Roth *
Tell The Truth - Ray Charles
Thank You - Boyz 2 Men
Thank You - Led Zeppelin
The Entertainer - Billy Joel
The Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch
The Entertainer - Tony Clarke
The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
The Ocean - U2
The Only One - Bryan Adams
The Only One - Morphine *
The Other Side - Aerosmith
The Other Side - Morphine *
Them Bones - Alice in Chains
Them Bones - Eddie Kirkland *
These Dreams - Heart
These Dreams - Jim Croce
Think - Aretha Franklin
Think - Colin James *
Think - James Brown *
Thinking of You - Earth, Wind & Fire
Thinking of You - Joe Satriani
Thinking Of You - Lenny Kravitz
This Time - Bryan Adams
This Time - Janet Jackson
Tightrope - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Tightrope - Stone Roses
Time - Alan Parsons Project
Time - Hootie and the Blowfish
Time - Pink Floyd
Together Again - Janet Jackson
Together Again - Ray Charles
Tonight - Elton John
Tonight - Leonard Bernstein
Too Much - Dave Matthews Band
Too Much - Elvis Presley
Top Of The World - Shonen Knife
Top Of The World - Van Halen
Treat Her Like A Lady - Celine Dion
Treat Her Like A Lady - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Treat Her Like A Lady - The Temptations *
Trouble In Paradise - Bruce Springsteen
Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis & The News
True Love - Patsy Cline
True Love - Wang Chung *
Turn The Page - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Turn The Page - Rush
Twilight - Squirrel Nut Zippers
Twilight - U2
Two of Us - Supertramp
Two Of Us - The Beatles
Under Pressure - Boyz 2 Men *
Under Pressure - Queen
Underground - Ben Folds Five
Underground - Men At Work
Understanding - Candlebox
Understanding - Ray Charles *
UR - Alanis Morissette
Ur - David Byrne *
Vanishing - Bryan Adams
Vanishing - Mariah Carey
Volcano - Jimmy Buffett
Volcano - The Presidents of The United States of America
Wait - The Beatles
Wait - Wang Chung *
Wake Up - Alanis Morissette
Wake Up - Mad Season
Walk On Water - Aerosmith
Walk On Water - Eddie Money *
Watch Your Step - Anita Baker *
Watch Your Step - Elvis Costello
Water - Dionne Farris
Water - Richard Warner *
When Tomorrow Comes - Carla Thomas *
When Tomorrow Comes - Eurythmics
Wild Child - Heart *
Wild Child - W.A.S.P. *
Without You - Harry Nilsson
Without You - The Doobie Brothers *
Without You - Van Halen
Without Your Love - Corey Hart
Without Your Love - Toto
Witness - Neville Brothers *
Witness - Sarah McLachlan
Witness - Screaming Trees
You - Bonnie Raitt
You - Candlebox
You - Janet Jackson
You - Queensryche
You - R.E.M.

[jdhogg]

Don't worry about it too much. It would have been something else then.

My point remains I would like to learn how to read these listings.

Taxi................. Any word of wisdom to guide me next time.

[jdhogg]

TAXI Review Station

Liked your review? Rave about it! Hated it, let us know!

?

How indie rock?

Well this has taken the wind out of my sails.
Im going to avoid any library listing for a while.

[2lane]

Hey jd, did a little research for you...very little. So Ingrid's wiki page says she's indie-pop. Her myspace page says she's indie/pop/folk rock
Regina Spektor's wiki says she came out of the anti-folk scene in NYC....whatever anti-folk means? Her myspace page says she's acoustic/alternative/pop
James Morrison's wiki says he's singer-songwriter. His myspace page says he's soul/rock/alternative.
So I guess the answer to your main question is ?! It's all the same stuff I guess. Is there a difference between indie-rock and rock? Pop or indie pop? The industry would say yes I think, but the listing is vague IMHO
I sometimes woder if some of these listings aren't a freak on us. I mean they clearly put a folk person in with an anti-folk standard-bearer, then topped it off with some soul rockin' alternative.
Yea, this can take the wind outta your sails, or put a grenade in your gut.
Sorry for the return man, but it's a crapshoot on these things anyways
Take care
Steve

[jdhogg]

Hi 2lane

I just find it very annoying that if they know they want to push the listing in a direction that requires a mindreader to workout they should say it, its not very hard .

If they cant be bothered to write them properly knowing that we waste our time and money submitting then I cant be bothered.
Its not the rejection its the realization that the fool that wrote that submission wasted my time because my track was never going to get through if they wanted it "indie".

Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_rock
"indie rock" is not a style but

Indie rock is a commonly used tag for rock music that is produced either by small, independent record labels, or by the artists themselves. The idea of rock music made independent of the major label establishment first started to gain prominence in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Although it is often thought of as a genre of music, it is in fact not; it is merely a term used to describe the means of production and distribution of independent underground music. [1]

Well taxi I know you read the forums , James morrison "indie rock" ?
Your comment please.

Im not going to waste anymore time on this.
I thought taxi were better than this.

Goodbye

[sportmac]

I'm with ya jd. This is why it bothers me when I read that someone has taken a reviewers comments to heart and runs off and starts redoing the song based on it. Some folks even spend money to go back in the studio.

It's ONE person's view kids. Nothing more. And we don't even know who that person is.

Personally I think they should do away with them completely.

[matto]

Hi 2lane

I just find it very annoying that if they know they want to push the listing in a direction that requires a mindreader to workout they should say it, its not very hard .

If they cant be bothered to write them properly knowing that we waste our time and money submitting then I cant be bothered.
Its not the rejection its the realization that the fool that wrote that submission wasted my time because my track was never going to get through if they wanted it "indie".

(....)

Im not going to waste anymore time on this.
I thought taxi were better than this.

Goodbye

jd,

I read this listing and what jumps out at me immediately is "indie". All the three mentionaed artists have an indie vibe and sound. AC is almost the exact opposite of that as it has a very "corporate" major label sound. So there is a BIG difference there.
Now without hearing your track I can't say whether it was really AC sounding but if it was then it would be way off target for this listing.

As far as reading listings, this one seems pretty straightforward. I always check out ALL the a la bands and find the common denominator between them, which tells me where the "center" of the listing is. Then I aim in that direction.

The mistake a lot of people make is that they think ANY song by ANY of the mentioned artists would be a good submission for a listing. Instead you should listen to the BEST KNOWN songs of ALL the artists mentioned which will give you a pretty good idea of where the range is.

Btw, this type of "research" is not something that's unique to Taxi listings, it is common to all aspects of pitching music for outside projects, whether it be music libraries, film/tv underscore or pitching songs to artists to record.
I'm dealing with this type of thing every day in my work.
So if you wish to be in the line of work of providing/pitching music to third parties for use in their business, whatever that may be, then you need to learn how to interpret their requests. If you find that too burdensome or stifling then this would not be a good line of work for you.

Peace,

matto

[jdhogg]

I read this listing and what jumps out at me immediately is "indie". All the three mentionaed artists have an indie vibe and sound. AC is almost the exact opposite of that as it has a very "corporate" major label sound. So there is a BIG difference there.
Now without hearing your track I can't say whether it was really AC sounding but if it was then it would be way off target for this listing.

As far as reading listings, this one seems pretty straightforward. I always check out ALL the a la bands and find the common denominator between them, which tells me where the "center" of the listing is. Then I aim in that direction.

The mistake a lot of people make is that they think ANY song by ANY of the mentioned artists would be a good submission for a listing. Instead you should listen to the BEST KNOWN songs of ALL the artists mentioned which will give you a pretty good idea of where the range is.

Btw, this type of "research" is not something that's unique to Taxi listings, it is common to all aspects of pitching music for outside projects, whether it be music libraries, film/tv underscore or pitching songs to artists to record.
I'm dealing with this type of thing every day in my work.
So if you wish to be in the line of work of providing/pitching music to third parties for use in their business, whatever that may be, then you need to learn how to interpret their requests. If you find that too burdensome or stifling then this would not be a good line of work for you.

Peace,

matto

Hi matto thanks for your thoughts.
I did research them and to my mind james morrison is very different to the others....they have quirky arrangements morrison has very vanilla ones.

I guess the thing I can take from this is the vagueness of the term "range"......

"The mistake a lot of people make is that they think ANY song by ANY of the mentioned artists would be a good submission for a listing."

My track did not include much from the first two artists and was more a james morrison backing track.

If there is a next time I will choose a listings that has a very clear and unambiguious list of ala's.

Thanks again matto..I only replied to thank you as this is water under the bridge now.

[taxirobin]

Hi jd - I spoke with the screener who tells me that he used "indie rock" in error and meant to write "indie pop." There was nothing about the listing that was anything other than indie pop. He wasn't returning your submission on the basis of it not being "indie rock" - he simply misspoke. Sorry for the confusion. It doesn't happen very often but even the screeners are human - mistakes sometimes happen.