Steve Hyden is a go-to music writer for me, and this Grantland piece analyzing Haim (not related to Corey… unfortunately) nails the current dilemma. As a bunch of my snobby music friends agree, groups like Haim and CHVRCHES are basically bubblegum pop (I’ve seen more than one snarky Shania Twain comparison for the former). As far as pop goes, both seem to be pretty good, but it’s marketed and criticized as… indie, which is still supposed to mean “alternative to mainstream.” So the alternative to mainstream (which I fully admit is disturbing) is… Bubblegum pop? OK, once again we’re looking for the alternative to the alternative – it really is like 1998 all over again!

This is a chief reason we’re forgoing the indie tag… It means less than it ever has before…