In-depth Indies: You might hate broccoli, but you will definitely love Broccoli, You Too?

Indie bands always carry with them a signature music style that is like no other. They find the most mundane, take it close and shape into something so profound that sometimes even you might feel, ‘Hey, maybe it is time I am over this issue of mine already.” 

K-indie bands are still an acquired taste for many. It won’t be wrong to say it is like trying broccoli for the first time ever and deciding if you like it or not. Most of us don’t like the grassy bitter taste, but some of us decide to give it another chance. Maybe grill it, stir fry it, or make a soup out of it. If you fall in either category for broccoli, I hope you like the choice you have made. But when it comes to K-indie bands, I would suggest giving it another try if you are not fully aware of the wonders of the K-indie world. 

Broccoli might not be a favorite vegetable, but Broccoli, You Too? might just become your favorite K-indie band. The group was formed in 2005 and soon shot to fame in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The group also appeared on Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook that brought a new wave of success for it. Broccoli, You Too? finds its name from the famous line “Et Tu, Brute?” from William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The reason behind the name was that the members wanted people to remember the band for a long, long time just like they remember Julius Caesar.

 

 

Broccoli, You Too? Finds its voice in the indie rock, alt rock, indie pop and ballad genres. The band has released a few studio albums and EPs since its debut over two decades ago. Recently, the band released its fourth studio album We All Know We Will Fail with the lead single “I Don’t Want To Try Too Hard.” This album incorporates the rock and pop genres and also delves into hearty ballad, jazz and RnB renditions. The album contains twelve tracks in all, showcasing a versatile palette of music and lyrics. The song “A band that used to be young” is a nice humorous take on the age of the band (twenty years is no joke!).

 

 

Throughout the album, you will find that there is a sense of isolated familiarity in the songs. While the members sing about a daily routine that has more or less exhausted a person, there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. The album does not dwell on any idea longer than necessary creating a lasting impact on the listener. There is joy, sadness, frustration in the songs but listening to each feels like a conflict was introduced and resolved within those few minutes. It is not everyday that we come across songs of this caliber. Broccoli, You Too? Is one of those few K-indie bands who have managed to rise above the strong and strenuous competition in the indie music world. Staying relevant and mindful even after two decades in the industry is a challenge indeed, and if I might add, Broccoli, You Too? have done a great job at it.