Topic: tweeeee (Read 21980 times)

iamiam · « **on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:10 »

i was hanging out with some kid and i let it slip that 'if i had to choose a favorite genre i guess it would be twee'.

so then he asked 'what the fuck is twee?'

i spent a few minutes stuttering something about 'a bluh calvin johnson... twee as fuck... punk rock for wimps' but when i noticed his blank stare i told him 'you know fuck it, let me just make you a mix & explain it that way'.

and that's when i realized oh shit i love twee but actually i know nothing about it and now this guy thinks i'm an expert and i'm totally not, my cover is blown!

so ummm... hey there music forum! i notice the last topic on twee was back in 2006 so why don't we have another one? let's talk about sarah/k records & what twee is/isn't & recommend some bands/songs & ...ok just blatantly help me build a mix.

appearing on the mix: beat happening, heavenly, all girl summer fun band, tullycraft, belle & sebastian, talulah gosh, the lucksmiths, math & physics club, the softies, cub, bunnygrunt, the field mice
debating whether to include: architecture in helsinki, boy least likely to, camera obscura, i'm from barcelona

i'm terrible at talking about music so i'll let you guys get started and then i'll try to jump in with more detailed descriptions and suggestions.

valley_parade · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:15 »

Eux Autres
Cars Can Be Blue
...that's all I got, man.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:16 »

Post/Sig

Also, Boy Least Likely To is a definite yes, if that gigantic pussy isn't twee then I do not know what is

Christophe · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:23 »

Any posts I make in this thread would essentially be pictures of Belle and Sebastian

I really hope I run into a member of Belle and Sebastian before I leave Glasgow so I can gush creepily about how much their music rules

Then we can drink Irn Bru together

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:31 »

Sons & Daughters
Those Dancing Days
Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Le Tigre? (maybe, not sure if they are twee but they sound pretty close)

and if you aren't including Camera Obscura on a Twee mix then you're doing it wrong.

20 jazz funk greats · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:34 »

tiger trap?

JD · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:36 »

Los Campesinos!

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 10:41 »

Tim and Sam's Tim and the Sam band featuring Tim and Sam!

michaelicious · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 11:22 »

Quote from: 20 jazz funk greats on 29 Nov 2009, 10:34

tiger trap?

This is a good one, this post.

Other than that, I think you have a pretty good list going. Maybe throw some Black Tambourine or like Shop Assistants or something on there?

The Popguns were a pretty awesome band!

KvP · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 11:47 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 29 Nov 2009, 10:16

Post/Sig

Also, Boy Least Likely To is a definite yes, if that gigantic pussy isn't twee then I do not know what is

You're my bro Dovey. I brought up Boy Least Likely To as twee some time ago in meebo and everybody was all naaaaah that's not twee at all you're crazy.

Those people are gay.

Anyway, BLLT (Bacon Lettuce and Likely Tomato?) is a band that I listen to, mainly because of this song, because it is rocking and Maiface should include it.

pilsner · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 11:58 »

Bet.e & Stef
Bishop Allen
Cake (sort of)
De-Phazz (sort of)
Envelopes
Feist
Islands
Kings of Convenience
Kite Flying Society
Kings of Convenience
Jens Lekman
The Lovely Feathers
Metric (& Emily Haines solo stuff)
The Postal Service
Rogue Wave
Wolf Parade
Stars (& Amy Millan solo stuff)
The Fucking Shins
Sufjan Stevens
Vampire Weekend

Listen to all these bands in the same day and die of diabetic shock. You've been warned.

Scarychips · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 12:09 »

The Bicycles.

Tom · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 12:19 »

Quote from: pilsner on 29 Nov 2009, 11:58

...
Wolf Parade
...

Wait, seriously?

Scarychips · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 12:39 »

Also, McCarthy. I totally forgot about that band. And Voxtrot. Voxtrot is great. Their first two EPs are gold.

Daft pun · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 13:40 »

Definitely Tiger Trap.

For lots of words on twee, this article is actually really insightful. Or just skip to the third page for the recommendations. Whatever takes your fancy.

And if you really like your twee you could probably find the One Two Twee compilations pretty easily. That's 2.5 hours of cuteness right there.

KvP · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 13:43 »

Right, so I think we need some disambiguation up in here. What I think of when I think of "twee" has very little to do with Bunnygrunt or the 80's british rock scene, or anything that might remotely be considered "rockin'". Twee in my estimation amounts to this - it's music in a folk / folk-pop vein that venerates and describes the (often highly idealized) experience of childhood. For example, a song about how exchanging friendship bracelets with someone is the height of love and passion would be quite twee. One popular band that writes a lot of songs in the twee vein is The Moldy Peaches. Another prime example would be this song asking what happens to pets when they die. There seem to be a lot of so-called twee acts that don't fit in to this mold.

For someone like me, who likes music to have some modicum of "sex" in it, whether through lyrics or a beat or a guitar lick, and likes irony and mystery, twee is hard to enjoy, because it is purposefully devoid of the very notion of sex, and it is earnest and obvious without fail. It tends to be super fucking boring. Keep that shit in youth group.

The p4k article's alright, though.

KvP · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 13:54 »

You can definitely tell by the way he moves.

michaelicious · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 13:57 »

Quote from: KvP on 29 Nov 2009, 13:43

this song asking what happens to pets when they die.

That is a children's song from a record of children's songs called Charlotte or Otis: Duets for Children, Their Parents, and Other People Too.

öde · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 14:19 »

Twee as heck

pilsner · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 14:32 »

Quote from: Ptommydski on 29 Nov 2009, 12:34

I think he took it to mean bands which he considers to sound twee, rather than bands that are commonly called Twee meaning the pre-established, loosely formed subgenre. I assume this because none of those bands really fall into the latter category.

If there is a conception of twee that excludes Jens Lekman... its wrong.

Yayniall · « **Reply #20 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 15:18 »

Mystery Jets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4F1WDW_hZ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s

Spinto Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFtXXR0yyLI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iC90gWLJ0w

Pipettes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy7SvZQfeBM&feature=channel

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvQ7OhClwwA&feature=related

Larrikin Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSm_xmWbOeI
that's all I got.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 18:00 »

Quote from: KvP on 29 Nov 2009, 13:54

You can definitely tell by the way he moves.

So wait, is Beat Happening a joke that the underground music scene is playing on the rest of the world?

Someone PM me the answer, I wouldn't want to give the secret away to anyone else.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 18:14 »

KharBevNor · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 19:17 »

Are Strawberry Switchblade and Kimya Dawson twee?

Scarychips · « **Reply #24 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 19:27 »

Not sure for Strawberry Switchblade, but Kimya Dawson is twee, yes.

iamiam · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 19:29 »

dang thanks for the heads up on the 'one two twee' compilation. that is pretty rad.

and yeah, i feel like 'twee' is pretty tough to explain because i guess there is a split between the original twee bands from the 80s/90s and the bands that are considered 'twee' today. correct me if i'm wrong but twee started off as more of an attitude and an aesthetic than a specific sound. twee bands tended to have a cutesy or wimpy sound, but that wasn't really the point. the factor that united them was that they were giving a big old 'fuck you' to the idea that you had to be an angry punk to be rebellious and nonconformist. if anything they were pointing out how the hardcore & punk kids, in their rejection of something different, were becoming conformist and close minded themselves.

as twee became more accepted it evolved into the broader genre of indie pop that we take for granted today. now when a band is called twee it's referring more to having the cutesy, happy & innocent elements that were were present in, although didn't define, the original twee bands.

i'm including both types in the mix, but i am trying to concentrate on those original twee bands (and of those, trying to stick to songs that do have cute/childlike themes and sounds so as not to make it too confusing). but i do want to include a few bands like the boy least likely to & architecture in helsinki which obviously retain that sweet & innocent vibe.

the reason i didn't originally include tiger trap on the mix is because i'm not super familiar with them and none of their songs stick out to me as something obvious to stick on there. any specific song suggestions?

David_Dovey · « **Reply #26 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 19:49 »

I wouldn't consider AiH twee simply because they are way too good at writing and arranging songs and then playing them on instruments (edit: I meant this to sound way less smug than it does)

Quote from: karl gambolputty... on 29 Nov 2009, 18:14

Nope

that went for nine and a half minutes

20 jazz funk greats · « **Reply #27 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 20:07 »

puzzle pieces is my favorite tiger trap song.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 20:09 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 29 Nov 2009, 19:49

that went for nine and a half minutes

But it's really really good for at least the first five

I can't think of any standout Tiger Trap songs, although Rose Melberg's other band, Go Sailor, did a few really great ones (like this)

michaelicious · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Nov 2009, 20:15 »

I don't think Rose Melberg has ever been involved in the creation of a bad song.

If you know of one, don't tell me about it!

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #30 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 05:17 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 29 Nov 2009, 19:49

that went for nine and a half minutes

But they can also write short songs that are supremely badass rock and roll and be basically a perfect band.

Tender Forever is unfortunately absent from this thread so far, and she's on K so it's fairly undeniably twee.

Inlander · « **Reply #31 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 05:27 »

This would be an opportune time for nickyandthefuture to make one of his all-too-rare returns to the forum.

In the meantime here's a very old thread on the same topic which I'm sure has all sorts of useful suggestions: http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,13701.0.html.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #32 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 05:47 »

Quote from: a pack of wolves on 30 Nov 2009, 05:17

But they can also write short songs that are supremely badass rock and roll and be basically a perfect band.

Not hearing it, sorry!

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #33 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 05:52 »

Fair enough, they are not everyone's cup of tea served with a cutely decorated cupcake.

Also, that old thread does have good advice. For example:

Quote from: BrittanyMarie on 27 Nov 2006, 08:34

Ballboy is really good!

Now that's what I call a useful suggestion. I'd forgotten just how brilliant Essential Wear For Future Trips To Space was.

öde · « **Reply #34 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 09:49 »

Dang, I just realised I don't have Black Candy.

More importantly.

smack that isaiah · « **Reply #35 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 11:34 »

Quote from: a pack of wolves on 30 Nov 2009, 05:17

Tender Forever is unfortunately absent from this thread so far, and she's on K so it's fairly undeniably twee.

I don't think I know what defines twee pop, but judging by this (^) artist, I think The Blow might be twee? I have described her as indie pop electronica. and, She's on K Records, so there's that.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #36 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 12:04 »

The Vaselines, Orange Juice,, Felt

You Are Brahman! · « **Reply #37 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 13:12 »

Jellybean! makes some very excellent twee gangster rap. She covers The Thong Song and Ignition (R. Kelly) with some good style.

And I'd really suggest Shelby Sifers, you can get a lot of her stuff for free on last.fm right quick.

Radical AC · « **Reply #38 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 04:06 »

Hello Hello Hi - From Bubblegum to Sky
Or his song Some Kind of Fantastic

Signal in the Sky - The Apples in Stereo
I know they have "real" songs on "real" albums, but it doesn't get much twee'r than the Power Puff Girls

Not the One for Me - All Girl Summer Fun Band

scarred · « **Reply #39 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 18:54 »

Quote from: You Are Brahman! on 30 Nov 2009, 13:12

Jellybean! makes some very excellent twee gangster rap. She covers The Thong Song and Ignition (R. Kelly) with some good style.

oh man why have I never heard of this before SO GOOD

Johnny C · « **Reply #40 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 20:29 »

oh man, massive post on ~international twee underground~

the Goat · « **Reply #41 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 22:01 »

You should check out Slumberland Records podcast. Lots of great indie pop.

http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/extras/podcast

Elk · « **Reply #42 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 23:45 »

Quote from: You Are Brahman! on 30 Nov 2009, 13:12

Jellybean! makes some very excellent twee gangster rap. She covers The Thong Song and Ignition (R. Kelly) with some good style.

And I'd really suggest Shelby Sifers, you can get a lot of her stuff for free on last.fm right quick.

Oh snap, small world. You know Kelly?

Watercolor Paintings = http://www.myspace.com/watercolorpaintings

Fragile Fawn = http://www.myspace.com/fragilefawn

Check 'em out.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #43 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 08:34 »

Quote from: Elk on 01 Dec 2009, 23:45

Oh snap, small world. You know Kelly?

Dude has sold like millions of records and is responsible for the best hip-hopera the world has or will ever see

Reed · « **Reply #44 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 09:09 »

Yayniall · « **Reply #45 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 10:16 »

Is R Kelly anything like Our Kid?

Elk · « **Reply #46 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 11:07 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 02 Dec 2009, 08:34

Quote from: Elk on 01 Dec 2009, 23:45
Oh snap, small world. You know Kelly?

Dude has sold like millions of records and is responsible for the best hip-hopera the world has or will ever see

Jellybean! Kelly.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #47 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 17:09 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RN09zYiQAc
this is my favorite song about twee! tullycraft-pop songs your new boyfriend is too stupid to know about
(okay woops obv you said you have this already, but i'll just say you should open with this song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwLOHPLCI-k
okay it is of montreal but it is OLD of montreal
the first lines are
"Will you kiss me again so I can pretend
We're kissing for the first time?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSd9q1OSPg
there's another OLD of montreal song that is adorable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2GF26fEcR8
he's right, i do give good advice and ballboy is awesome. this is "i lost you but i found country music"

iamiam · « **Reply #48 on:** 03 Dec 2009, 06:17 »

Quote from: BrittanyMarie on 02 Dec 2009, 17:09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RN09zYiQAc
this is my favorite song about twee! tullycraft-pop songs your new boyfriend is too stupid to know about
(okay woops obv you said you have this already, but i'll just say you should open with this song)

stop reading my mind

Quote from: BrittanyMarie on 02 Dec 2009, 17:09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSd9q1OSPg
there's another OLD of montreal song that is adorable

no really, stop reading my mind.

thanks for the ballboy suggestion, btw! i'd never heard of them before and i have been listening to them all morning.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #49 on:** 04 Dec 2009, 01:02 »

be my twee bff?

i forgot about this one which i don't even know if it's even that twee but it's a song about a leonard cohen song. and getting a crush on a stranger. also it's 7 minutes long so it's awesome but maybe not for the mix.

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