Indie Rock: Post-punk vs. Post-rock
How to Tell the Difference Between Post-Punk and Post-Rock
Apr 30, 2009
Some critics and music columnists do use Post-rock and Post-punk interchangeably, and there is no steadfast rule in indie music that defines these two genres as being completely and inarguably separate. However, for cultured indie music buffs, those with specific stylistic taste, or a sensitive, trained ear, there are distinguishable differences. The when, who, where, and what has everything to do with the kind of artistry they've delivered to our ears.
The History of Post-punk
Post-punk is the older of these two genres of the indie/underground music scene. Most people accredit Sonic Youth as being the first major Post-punk band, who were a noise band that gained popularity with an independent lable in the mid to late 80's. The previous punk music movement of the 60's and 70's stapled a reputation and notoriety for rebellion, attitude, and messy, simple three-chord progressions. Post-punk was a response to original punk rock, and sought to include a depth and a committment to serious artistic expression.
Post-punk focuses on more idealistic notions: a phlegmatic approach to popularity, emphasis on artistic pursuits, a middle finger to corporate music institutions, and political protest. Other early Post-punk bands include Folk Implosion, The Flaming Lips, and Nirvana, who were the first to break heavily into the mainstream.
The Indie Post-punk Sound
While a lot of Post-punk bands are also called "noise bands," there is not a complete lack of structure as is implied by the sub-genre name, but there is a paradoxical element of "structured noise." One of the qualities of Post-punk is that it can have all-inclusive elements of psychedelic, experimental, folk, and even blues/jazz styles. The Flaming Lips are well-known for having many songs with varied stylistic sounds, differing greatly from one to the next.
Along Came Post-rock
It would not be presumptuous to say that Post-rock was influenced by Post-punk, at least in a few ways. Post-rock mostly began in the mid-90's, with Mogwai and Godspeed!You Black Emperor being two of the first. It could be just as easy to say that Godspeed is a combination of Post-punk and Post-rock, given their heavy political and social protest. Post-rock followed extremely close on the heels of Post-punk, and with the exception of Sonic Youth, many bands in these two genres popped into the scene around the same time. Some other major Post-rock bands would be Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, and Mono.
Post-rock Cacophanies
One of the most self-evident differences between these two indie music genres is that Post-rock bands do not typically have vocalists, save for one or two. Most include symphonic percussion, stringed, brass, or wind instruments in their ensembles. Also, the songs are much longer, very epic, and very un-radio-friendly. While Post-punk can be erratically versatile and artistic, yet loosely structured, Post-rock is very structured; often orchestrated with tense builds and exploding crescendos of violins, cellos, horns, flutes, and yet still all the bass, drums, guitar distortion and flanger effects of rock.
Post-punk and Post-rock may be the two coolest genres of indie/underground music, and include phenomenal bands who have broken the typical and redundant molds of mainstream productions in bold and magnificent ways. Both have contributed heart and innovation to the underground music world, and continue to produce albums with an increasing display of creativity, emotive genius, and the ability to raise the bar of artistic standards.
