How does one define the nebulous, elusive, idiosyncratic moniker of “indie”?
What differentiates radio-friendly fare from its more rarefied, less digestible indie counterpart?
Indie defies definition but I’ll wager one – it is a form of musical expression that rewards deep listening and sustained attention.
It is a style that reveals its secrets slowly and selectively, playing with references and flirting with eccentricities.
It may provoke, it may startle, but it never bores.
Indie rock is fertile ground for intransigent originality and restless charm and has been since the first bands worth the label started to make waves and challenge norms in the late eighties.
Below are the 58 best indie rock bands of all time, with a heavy focus on post-1985 releases.
1. The War On Drugs
The tempos and melodies of The War On Drugs soar to wild heights and confront listeners with jarring intimacy, serene diffusion, and a floodlit sense of eternity.
I wax lyrical, I know because it is hard to stay objective in the presence of sounds that so punctuate the infinite and lend such gentle credence to the human experience.
Saturated soundscapes and a vocabulary rich in memory and anecdotal fragments reduce the listener to an inner voyager; allowing them to access and reimagine their own fraught nostalgias.
2014’s Lost in the Dream is life-altering.
2. The Smiths
As gloomy and cheerfully miserable as a drizzling British afternoon, no one takes such dark joy in the nihilism and ennui than the iconic indie band The Smiths.
Morrisey et al played in the puddles of life, finding a resigned and cynical glee in the pointless travails and minor injustices of human existence.
Their songs also resonate with a potent tenderness and a painfully pointed beauty.
“Girlfriend in a Coma”, “I Won’t Share You”, “There is A Light That Never Goes Out”, and “How Soon is Now?” will have you pouring out your heart into a soggy old journal.
3. The Shins
With a lo-fi coziness and a cerebral playfulness, you would not be wrong in thinking The Shins came out of black-coffee-guzzling, navel-gazing ground zero, Portland.
But no, these indie-folk sleeper faves are out of sunny New Mexico, where their homespun, introspective philosophy contradicts the scorching summer afternoons.
But that’s what indie is all about, right?
Dissonance, incongruities, and uncommon origin stories that defy neat stratification.
Lead James Mercer has songwriting chops that invite envy and a pensive approach to chords, lyrics, and instrumental breaks.
4. The Magnetic Fields
You would be hard-pressed to find more droll, unconventional, completely peculiar lyrics than those you’ll encounter on a Magnetic Fields album.
Lead singer and songwriter Stephin Merritt is like a traveling bard or a vaudevillian laureate, and he delights in throwing up incoherent allusions and refreshing similes.
Their songs are infused with wit, cheek, and a dash of the subversive – all on top of rousing synthesizers and deep husky vocals.
How’s this for indie?
They released a three-volume concept album called 69 Love Songs– which featured, well, 69 love songs.
They end one of these endearing love songs with the plaintive query – “But who will pay the rent?” Indie bliss.
5. Bon Iver
Downtempo folksy dreamers Bon Iver helped usher in a distinctly cabin-esque ethos to the indie rock scene of the late noughties.
Simple, unadorned, and earthy, their sound evoked dense forests, landscapes shrouded in mist, and the coziness of a late autumn fire.
They honed their songs with meticulous craftsmanship and humble, serious focus.
Every chord, every serene melody, every poetic lyric feels intentional and tightly constructed, as though none of their essences of the original vision has been lost.
6. Fleet Foxes
Word association time. I say elusive, cozy, sweater-weather, cottage-core and you say…Fleet Foxes!
Seattle’s rainy-day poet laureates have monopolized an uncommonly tender, serene sound that fulfills the function of a modern fable with distinctly medieval flourishes.
Songs like “Should I Believe You” and “Mykonos” are out of a dusty, long-neglected fairy tale and open the mind’s eye to elusive creative possibilities.
Born storytellers, they are like humble minstrels who weave a yarn of fantasy tales, hypnotizing percussions, and delicate tapestries of instrumentals.
7. The Lumineers
Denver-bred indie-folk darlings The Lumineers are one of the most cerebral, approachable, flawless bands to come out of this chaotic century of ours.
Luminous is an apt descriptor and their cinematic anthems like “Ophelia”, “Angela”, and “Sleep On The Floor” luxuriate in sublime melodies and intrepid narratives.
Their magnum opus, Cleopatra is concept-album-lite with a decisive, meticulous focus and a generosity of spirit that warms the coldest of listeners.
If you like your indie with a side of folk-infused poetry and revelatory rhythms, I think you know what to do.
8. The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Glasgow sleeper hits, and originators of the shoegaze genre that took the introspective, ethereal underground by storm in the late eighties, none have made quite the impression on the alt-music scene.
Their arresting candor and unflinching intimacy can be overwhelming for a newcomer, but they will quickly embrace you in their reverent, melancholic arms.
They combine raw vocals with serene guitar and inviting melodies but like any shoegaze band worth their salt they blend in fuzzy feedback, dissonance, and a heady dose of surf-rock.
Their 1987 album Darklands is transcendental.
9. The Vaselines
The Vaselines are an insider-only affair – Kurt Cobain has cited them as influences, and Nirvana even covered two of their most laconic, discordant hits, “Son of a Gun” and “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.”
They have an eclectic, curiously off-kilter patina, but their songs are also abuzz with a nonplussed nonchalance.
There is never the slightest inkling of pretension or self-indulgence in their painterly canon and they curated a humble, camera-shy charm that only elevated their alt-credentials.
10. Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are Scottish multitaskers that defy logic with their constant, mesmerizing, shamelessly experimental offerings.
They penetrate the lows of the human psyche, charting lonesome and tender terrain but so too do they soar to melodic heights with heartening, earnest ballads that linger in the mind.
Their curious 1998 album The Boy with the Arab Strap is one of the most vital and enduring indie albums of the nineties.
You also need to give their enchanting anthem, “Another Sunny Day” a listen immediately.
Oh, and they have an album called If You’re Feeling Sinister – how’s that for ya?
11. The Stone Roses
Mad-Chester indie legends The Stone Roses are one of the most poignant, enigmatic, pensive alt-rock bands in the British canon.
They are street preachers, underground intellectuals, and rainy-day prophets – purveyors of a sound rich in nostalgia, pathos, and potency that they’ll put you on bed rest.
Oasis has cited Stone Roses as one of their most foundational inspirations and pointed to the band as expanding their understanding of what music could achieve.
Where to start on your luminous journey? “Going Down”, “Mersey Paradise”, “I Wanna Be Adored”, or “Song For My Sugar Spun.”
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Another crowd fave that rode in on the wave of the glittering and aesthetically eclectic NYC garage rock revival movement, Yeah Yeah Yeahs had a keen eye for breezy indifference.
Their flashy, American Apparel-esque brand of cool garnered them no small number of imitators and they were darlings of indie rag Nylon back in its heyday.
They had a raw, electronically-infused garage sound and they reached mainstream circulation with throbbing dark romance hits like “Maps” and eerie “Gold Lion.”
13. Milky Chance
German trendsetters Milky Chance achieved the unlikely in our cynical modern age – they captured the attention of the cultural zeitgeist for a brief moment in time with the release of their earnest anthem (and minimalist music video), “Stolen Dance” back in 2013.
Milky Chance has a sensual, careening, self-possessed candor and a stage presence that can only be described as amicably magnetic.
They are elusive, courting indie fanfare and mainstream cred without ever becoming crass or commercial.
14. Sticky Fingers
Australian beach-side legends Sticky Fingers might be a household name among the cool cats and sunsets down under, but they make for quality indie fare in the rest of the world.
Their music is a joyful, breezy blend of ska, funk, and reggae, proving that indie rock can take cues and cross-pollinate with a wide range of music genres.
Their lyrics pay homage to their hometown of Sydney and invite listeners to relax, lay back, and step outside of the corporate rat race for a while.
15. Dum Dum Girls
Los Angeles dream pop gal group Dum Dum Girls were sadly short-lived, but their arthouse aesthetic and unstudied allure made them darlings of the indie rock scene.
They explored a cerebral, serene side of alternative under conceptual founder and lead Kristin Gundred’s incisive hand.
Their luminous, haunting anthem “Coming Down” drips with decayed grandeur while their cover of The Smiths’ “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” feels like it was positively pre-ordained.
16. Cage The Elephant
Bowling Green, Kentucky’s own Cage The Elephant has had a lustrous, eclectic, uncanny career and they have a loyal following among the craft-beer, live-music-loving subset of millennials and Gen X’ers.
They are audacious yet charming, zany yet approachable, tangy yet emotive.
They are tireless chameleons, experimenting with quirky instrumentals, penetrating vocals, and idiosyncratic references.
You can taste a cheeky hit of Southern flair in their occasional drawls and lilting vocals, but they also achieve a sound more universal in its origins.
Give “Mess Around”, “Take It or Leave It”, “Cigarette Daydreams”, “Black Madonna”, and “Whole Wide World” a listen.
17. Kaiser Chiefs
How to describe the cheeky British rascals, Kaiser Chief?
Part juvenile delinquent, part populist street hustlers, their lyrics straddle the boundaries of good taste and they find delight in provocations and impolite social commentary.
Nothing is sacred where they’re concerned and a Dionysian hedonism is integral to their ethos, making for endlessly scintillating and fun-filled listening.
Start with “I Predict A Riot” and “Everyday I Love You Less and Less.”
18. James
Nineties indie rock icons James allowed the speculative, introspective, twee hipsters among us to encounter the full majesty of singer Tim Booth’s inimitable creative verve.
Their songs contain a plaintive beauty and a radically uplifting, whimsical genius that flirts, charms, and winks, but always leaves you wanting more.
I would put “Laid” into the running for the best indie rock song of the nineties, with its audacious lyrics and plucky brilliance.
Prove me wrong.
19. My Bloody Valentine
Downtempo shoegaze cult faves My Bloody Valentine are not for everyone, and in that alone, they embody the disruptive, polarizing ethos of indie rock.
They have been described as sweet and sour, fizzy and carbonated, harrowing and haunting and despite the incongruities between these descriptors, they somehow all apply.
Their melancholic songs sound like they are coming to us from another realm, or from a mysterious wonderland beyond the looking glass.
Their beats are strange, gothic, and mildly disconcerting – convinced yet?
20. Mumford & Sons
While London folk magnates Mumford & Sons have since gained international fame and renown they still embody a cozy, homespun quality that belies their indie, folksy roots.
They strode into the music scene with quiet confidence and preternatural self-possession, entrancing the sweater weather set and sparking 1001 moonlit autumn walks.
They are masters in their class, and it is hard to choose a point of departure.
You can’t go wrong with 2009’s Sigh No More or 2012’s Babel.
21. The Pixies
Twee as heck, and as plucky and precocious as a spoiled five-year-old, The Pixies are a zany, surrealist delight.
They thrive in creating an offbeat, idiosyncratic lyrical narrative and they color way outside of the lines with uncompromisingly strange fare.
When you listen to The Pixies you become a sojourner in their charming, mischievous sonic realm.
“Here Comes Your Man” is the jangly anthem of the early-indie scene and feels just as refreshing and charming thirty years later.
22. Sonic Youth
The OG cool cats of the eighties, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, and friends changed the garage rock landscape with fuzzy, high-dissonance feedback and inaudible vocals.
They had a distinctly post-punk New York underground silhouette and a sartorial self-assurance that garnered them countless loyal obsessives and imitators.
Sonic Youth made noise rock a genre worth respect and took a shamelessly experimental angle on youth culture, adolescent angst, and cultural ennui.
23. The Strokes
For a long time, The Strokes were the final word on the garage rock revival that intoxicated the sartorial and underground sets in the early noughties.
Their anthem “Last Nite” became a clarion call for the sophomoric self-indulgent kids, dancing queens, and nonchalantly hip Upper Eastside crowds for the better half of a decade.
Lead Julian Casablancas nailed the unstudied, flippant art school dropout thing, and cultivated a strange and persistent cult of personality around himself.
Go give yourself nostalgia for the early years of this tumultuous century with The Strokes.
24. Future Islands
Future Islands is eclectic, captivating, and possessed of deep, penetrating vocals that will send you to a surreal, introspective new place.
They deftly combine academic sovereignty with a melancholic, elusive vernacular but they still maintain a detached serenity that uplifts and enchants.
A peculiar grace, and a sense of restless transience, permeates their songs and allow listeners to access unknown modes of being.
Go get your discerning, recondite vibe on with their masterful tracks “Seasons (Waiting On You)”, “Like the Moon”, and “Haunted By You.”
25. The Naked And Famous
Soaring and infused with soaring, shimmering self-indulgence, The Naked And Famous are a New Zealand-bred electro-pop group that commands full attention.
They are not your garden-variety arthouse electro act either – they construct stirring, transcendental melodies with ascending vocals and jangly instrumental flourishes.
Anthems like “Punching In A Dream”, “Girls Like You”, and “Young Blood” are dance-ready, elusively alluring jewels that are the best early ‘10s that the indie-electro microgenre has to offer.
26. Cigarettes After Sex
Postmodern, post-pop surrealists Cigarettes After Sex blend lush soundscapes with off-kilter lyrics and hallucinatory melodies that will transport you to the far reaches of the known universe.
From the unlikely provenance of El Paso, Texas – a place not known for its dream pop – they have carved out a hauntingly doomed romantic niche for themselves.
Greg Gonzalez’s melancholic, poignant voice soars and broods, discussing matters of the heart with uncommon candor and intimacy.
Ambient pop staples like “Affection”, “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”, “I’m A Firefighter”, and “Keep On Loving You” will have you wanting an extended break from work.
27. Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star’s lead singer Hope Sandoval has the dreamiest, most ethereal voice known to humankind, and can best be experienced in their enduring anthem “Fade Into You” – the music video will give you chills, as well.
Their vision was romantically gothic, with a distinctly bewitching veneer and a delicate solemnity.
They adopted a Pacific Northwest silhouette with frayed flannel and a minimalist color palette, and their ethos is akin to a restrained alchemy.
Their textured, lyrical poetry is a modernist reimagining of a dark Victorian fairy tale and demands your full creative attention.
28. Alt-J
Leeds-based alt-indie sleeper faves Alt-J appeared on our collective radar with their controversial, mind-numbingly catchy hit “Breezeblocks”.
While they had the underground trendsetters as a captive audience they did a one-two punch with their drawling rollicking charmer “Left Hand Free.”
They have been described as forerunners of the “folktronica” microniche and they have a decidedly postmodern ethos and minimalist artistic vision.
If you want a whos-who of the literary, short-story, and cinematic output of the twentieth century, listen closely to their audacious, inventive referential lyrics.
29. DMA’s
Australian-bred dream rockers DMA’s have an expansive generosity of spirit and technical maturity that bleeds through their songs and elevates hearts and minds.
Their humble grace, serene vocals, and revelatory melodies are the closest an indie lover can get to a spiritual experience.
They create soundscapes and render a sonic palette out of the sheer elegance of their voices and the texture of their guitars.
Encounter them alone so you can truly appreciate the wizardry at hand; start with “Believe”, “Delete”, “Warsaw”, “Fading Like A Picture”, and “Lay Down.”
30. Wilco
Indie Chicago sleeper favorites Wilco has always had a patently earnest, homespun sound that is more redolent of poetry slam night than stadium Saturday nights.
They are well-worn like a knitted sweater and their sly wit rewards those who listen deeply and intently to their alt-country fare.
They’ve taken an even folksier turn as of late, but their best album (in this guy’s humble opinion) is Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, a languid, lazy afternoon dream.
Oh and how’s this for indie street cred?
In 2002 they released a black-and-white documentary about their creative differences with their former record label, Reprise.
31. Pale Saints
Leeds-bred Pale Saints were but a brief flame in the dark sky of the late eighties and early nineties introspective music scene, but they left a haunting impression.
“Sight Of You” is one of the most plaintive, emotive, and jarring indie shoegaze songs in the canon and is a lush point of entry into their elusive sound.
Pale Saints were downtempo and lo-fi, but they endowed their songs with punchy, arresting emotional impact.
Like the best indie bands, they made small but memorable waves before fading away, leaving keen listeners with their evocative history to cling onto.
Start with 1990’s The Comforts of Madness.
32. The Libertines
More British than a biscuit and a swill of tea, The Libertines are a dirty, unstudied group of ruffians that could only have originated in the urban tumult of London.
They have perfected a decayed, debauched profile and they remind one of the disinherited wild sons of old money aristocracy who discovered Trainspotting instead.
Their songs are not mere grit, however – they are also frank and poignant and allow us an intimate appraisal of the tortured artists as trope and as reality.
Start with “Can’t Stand Me Now”, “Up The Bracket”, and “What A Waster.”
33. MGMT
While some would wager that MGMT is an electronic rock commercial powerhouse, and therefore unworthy of the term “indie”, I would be apt to disagree.
While their songs have become anthems of a generation, they have retained an unvarnished spunkiness and a surly charisma that defies clear labeling and polite record executive-imposed norms.
Their fare is cheerfully transgressive, invigorating, and whimsical – all one could want from a Connectict-bred neo-psychedelic, synth-pop experience.
34. Dinosaur Jr
You asked for indie, you’re going to get indie – in the form of slacker grunge cult wonders Dinosaur Jr.
Haven’t heard of them?
Well, good – that’s the point.
Founded in Massachusetts in 1984 they excelled in a distinctly downtempo, non-plussed, grunge sound with an indifferent pluckiness that captured the alienated ethos of Gen X.
Their eclectic, lo-fi mood feels granular, but somehow diffuse, and produces a sense of faded nostalgia and past reveries.
35. The National
Let’s get their not-so-indie credentials out of the gates: their academic gem Sleep Well Beast (2017) won a Grammy, ensuring a degree of radio play and mainstream buzz.
But The National has never wavered in its thoughtful, pared-down philosophy and its measured, elegant storytelling.
The National is for the patient, the intuitive, and the restrained, and Matt Berninger’s gravelly, soothing voice will have you getting in touch with the deep side of yourself.
Go light a candle, grab War And Peace, and get their intellectual, stripped-down High Violet (2010) on the speakers.
36. Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys is a rock band formed in Sheffield in 2002.
The band consists of members Alex Turner (vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar), Nick O’Malley (bass), and Matt Helders (drums).
Arctic Monkeys’ music is known for its distinctive guitar riffs and Turner’s clever lyrics, which often explore themes of modern life, relationships, and societal issues.
Arctic Monkeys gained popularity through the internet, as their demo recordings were shared widely online, and they quickly became a sensation in the UK indie music scene.
Their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, was released in 2006 and became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history.
The album’s youth culture and nightlife themes, combined with Turner’s distinctive vocals and sharp lyrics, helped establish the band’s sound and identity.
37. Joy Division
Joy Division’s music was a fusion of post-punk and electronic music, characterized by its atmospheric sound, driving basslines, and Curtis’s haunting vocals.
The band consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion).
Joy Division released its debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979.
The album’s iconic cover, featuring a series of white pulsar waves on a black background, has become one of history’s most recognizable album covers.
The band’s second and final album, Closer, was released in 1980, shortly after Curtis’s suicide.
Joy Division disbanded following Curtis’s death, but their legacy has endured, and they have been cited as a significant influence on many subsequent bands.
38. Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse’s music is known for its raw and emotional sound, blending punk, indie rock, and folk elements.
Their lyrics often deal with social alienation, existentialism, and personal struggles.
The band released their first EP, Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect? in 1994 and their first full-length album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, in 1996.
In 2004, Modest Mouse released their breakthrough album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which included the hit single “Float On.”
The album earned the band critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart.
39. Spoon
Spoon is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Austin, Texas.
The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Britt Daniel, drummer Jim Eno, bassist Rob Pope, and keyboardist and guitarist Alex Fischel.
Spoon’s music is known for its stripped-down, minimalist style, characterized by catchy, angular guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and Daniel’s distinctive, raspy vocals.
Some of Spoon’s most popular songs include “The Way We Get By,” “I Turn My Camera On,” “Don’t You Evah,” and “Rent I Pay.”
The band’s music has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, and they have been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards throughout their career.
40. Talking Heads
Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1975.
They are considered one of the pioneering bands of the post-punk and new-wave movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Their music was known for its eclectic mix of genres, incorporating punk, funk, world music, and art rock elements.
Talking Heads released several critically acclaimed albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Talking Heads: 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, Remain in Light, and Speaking in Tongues.
Some of their most popular songs include “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” “Burning Down the House,” and “Road to Nowhere.”
Despite their success, Talking Heads disbanded in 1991, with members going on to pursue solo projects and other musical endeavors.
41. The Clash
The Clash was an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976.
While they are often associated with the punk rock movement, their music also incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, and other genres.
Some of The Clash’s most popular songs include “London Calling,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “Rock the Casbah,” and “Train in Vain.”
Their music often dealt with social and political issues, and they were known for their aggressive and rebellious attitude.
The Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, and their influence can still be heard in many bands today.
42. Oasis
Oasis rose to fame in the mid-1990s as part of the Britpop movement, characterized by a revival of British guitar-based rock music.
Oasis released their debut album, Definitely Maybe, in 1994, which became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.
They followed this up with the hugely successful album What’s the Story Morning Glory? in 1995, which featured the hit singles “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”
Oasis was known for their distinctive sound, which combined rock, pop, and British psychedelia elements, and its often contentious relationship with the media and other bands.
The Gallagher brothers, in particular, were known for their outspokenness and their frequent public feuds
43. Radiohead
Radiohead was formed in 1985 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK, and is known for its alternative and experimental style of rock music.
They were initially signed to Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI, but they later decided to release their music independently.
In 2007, Radiohead made headlines when they released their seventh studio album, In Rainbows, as a pay-what-you-want download on their website.
This move was a groundbreaking step for independent artists, allowing the band to control their music and distribution completely.
They have also experimented with new forms of distribution, such as releasing their ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool, through the online music platform, Tidal.
44. The White Stripes
The White Stripes were known for their stripped-down, garage rock sound and raw, energetic live performances.
They gained a loyal following in the early 2000s with their breakthrough album, White Blood Cells, which featured the hit single “Fell in Love with a Girl.”
The White Stripes released six studio albums throughout their career and won several Grammy Awards.
They also gained a reputation for their distinct aesthetic, which included their signature color scheme of red, white, and black.
Despite their success, The White Stripes disbanded in 2011, citing “many reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band.”
45. Nirvana
Nirvana is widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of rock music.
They instrumentalized the grunge sound, which blended punk, heavy metal, and alternative rock.
The band’s breakthrough album, Nevermind, released in 1991, featured the hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which became a cultural phenomenon and helped define a generation’s sound.
Despite their short career, Nirvana released three studio albums and won several awards, including a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
They were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
46. The Cure
The Cure’s original lineup consisted of Robert Smith (vocals, guitar), Michael Dempsey (bass), and Lol Tolhurst (drums).
Over the years, the band’s lineup has changed, with Robert Smith being the only constant member.
The Cure is known for their unique and diverse sound, incorporating post-punk, new wave, gothic, and alternative rock elements.
The band has released numerous albums throughout their career, including Three Imaginary Boys (1979), Disintegration (1989), and Bloodflowers (2000).
Some of the band’s most popular songs include “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Friday I’m in Love,” and “Lovesong.”
The Cure has also been recognized for their contributions to music, with multiple awards and nominations, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Despite their success, the band has remained independent and has never signed with a major record label.
47. Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is considered one of the most influential bands of the 1990s, and they are known for their distinctive sound, which blends elements of classic rock, punk, and heavy metal.
The band’s debut album, Ten, was released in 1991 and became a massive commercial success, eventually selling over 13 million copies in the United States alone.
Pearl Jam has released 11 studio albums, with their most recent album, Gigaton, released in 2020.
Throughout their career, Pearl Jam has been known for their activism and advocacy on various social and political issues, including environmentalism, gun control, and human rights.
The band has also been involved in various charitable causes, including the Vitalogy Foundation, founded in 2006 to support non-profit organizations working to improve the lives of communities in need.
48. R.E.M.
R.E.M. initially released their music on independent record labels before eventually signing with major label Warner Bros. Records in 1988 after achieving significant success on college radio and in the alternative music scene.
Despite signing with a major label, R.E.M. maintained a solid independent spirit throughout their career, often eschewing mainstream commercial success in favor of artistic integrity.
They were known for their unique sound, which blended elements of jangle pop, folk rock, and alternative rock.
R.E.M. released many critically acclaimed albums throughout their career, including Murmur, Reckoning, Document, and Automatic for the People.
They disbanded in 2011 after over 30 years of making music together, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential bands in alternative rock history.
49. Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) has been a famous rock band since the 1980s.
While they started as an independent band in the Los Angeles music scene, they eventually signed with a major label and achieved massive commercial success.
The band’s original lineup consisted of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), Hillel Slovak (guitar), and Jack Irons (drums).
They released their first album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in 1984, followed by Freaky Styley in 1985.
RHCP has won multiple Grammy Awards and has sold over 80 million records worldwide.
50. Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel is an indie rock band formed by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeff Mangum in Ruston, Louisiana, in the late 1980s.
Neutral Milk Hotel is known for its unique and experimental sound that blends elements of folk, psychedelic rock, and lo-fi aesthetics.
The band released its first album, On Avery Island, in 1996.
Their second and most famous album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, was released in 1998 and has become a cult classic.
Despite their critical acclaim and devoted fanbase, the band has remained independent and has not signed with a major record label.
51. Beck
Beck’s eclectic musical style incorporates rock, folk, hip-hop, and electronic music elements.
Beck has released numerous albums throughout his career, including Mellow Gold (1994), Odelay (1996), Sea Change (2002), and Morning Phase (2014), which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Beck’s band typically consists of musicians collaborating with him on his albums and live performances.
Some musicians who have played with Beck include guitarist Smokey Hormel, bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and drummer Joey Waronker.
However, Beck is known for frequently changing his backing band and experimenting with different lineups and musical styles.
52. Sebadoh
Sebadoh music is known for its lo-fi aesthetic and often introspective and confessional lyrics.
Over the years, the lineup of Sebadoh has changed frequently, with Barlow being the only constant member.
Sebadoh has released several critically acclaimed albums over the years, including III (1991), Bubble and Scrape (1993), and Bakesale (1994).
The band’s music is often associated with the early 90s indie rock scene, alongside bands like Pavement and Guided by Voices.
53. Pavement
Pavement is known for its eclectic, lo-fi sound and surreal, often nonsensical lyrics.
Pavement’s lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Stephen Malkmus, guitarist Scott Kannberg, bassist Mark Ibold, drummer Steve West, and percussionist Bob Nastanovich.
Pavement released five full-length albums and several EPs before disbanding in 1999.
Their most acclaimed album is Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994), which features the popular singles “Cut Your Hair” and “Gold Soundz.”
Pavement is often associated with the lo-fi indie rock scene of the early 1990s, alongside bands like Sebadoh and Guided by Voices.
54. Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü’s early music was heavily influenced by punk rock, but they later developed a more melodic and experimental sound.
They were known for their powerful, emotionally charged performances and politically and socially conscious lyrics.
The band released several albums throughout the 1980s, including Zen Arcade (1984), New Day Rising (1985), and Warehouse: Songs and Stories (1987).
Their music influenced the time’s alternative and indie rock scenes, and many bands that followed them have cited Hüsker Dü as an influence.
55. LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was formed in 2002 by James Murphy, the band’s lead vocalist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
While LCD Soundsystem incorporates elements of rock music in their sound, they are primarily known for their unique blend of post-punk, dance, and electronic music.
They have been associated with the indie music scene, as they started as an independent act, but they have since signed to major record labels and achieved mainstream success.
Some of LCD Soundsystem’s most popular songs include “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House,” “All My Friends,” “Someone Great,” and “Dance Yrself Clean.”
56. The Maccabees
The Maccabees were an English indie rock band formed in London in 2004.
The band was composed of Orlando Weeks (vocals), Hugo White (guitar), Felix White (guitar), Rupert Jarvis (bass), and Sam Doyle (drums).
Their sound was characterized by atmospheric guitars, soaring vocals, and intricate percussion, drawing influences from post-punk, art rock, and indie pop.
Some of their most well-known songs include “Pelican,” “Toothpaste Kisses,” “Marks to Prove It,” and “Something Like Happiness.”
The Maccabees released four studio albums throughout their career, starting with Colour It In in 2007 and ending with Marks to Prove It in 2015.
The band announced their split in 2016, with a farewell tour taking place in 2017.
57. Echo and the Bunnymen
Echo and the Bunnymen are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978.
The original members of the band were Ian McCulloch (vocals), Will Sergeant (guitar), Les Pattinson (bass), and Pete de Freitas (drums).
The band’s early music was characterized by McCulloch’s distinctive vocals, Sergeant’s jangly guitar, and atmospheric production values.
Their sound combined elements of post-punk, new wave, and psychedelia, and they were often compared to bands like Joy Division and The Doors.
Echo and the Bunnymen released their debut album, Crocodiles, in 1980, which included the hit single “Rescue.”
They released several successful albums throughout the 1980s, including Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, and Ocean Rain, considered by many to be their masterpiece.
58. The Cribs
The Cribs consist of twin brothers Gary and Ryan Jarman on guitar and vocals and their younger brother Ross Jarman on drums.
The band’s early music was characterized by its raw and energetic sound, which drew influences from punk, post-punk, and garage rock.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2004, and they quickly gained a reputation for their raucous live shows and DIY approach to making music.
Over the years, The Cribs have released several critically acclaimed albums, including Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever (2007), and In the Belly of the Brazen Bull (2012).
They have collaborated with several other musicians, including Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth.
Their lyrics are often characterized by wry wit and a sense of self-awareness, and their music has been described as both anthemic and intimate.
Best Indie Rock Bands of All Time – Final Thoughts
You have been summoned, although not everyone is brave enough to heed the call!
Turn off the radio, silence your social media, and encounter the best indie rock bands of all time.
Whether it is indie pop, indie folk, or indie electro, there is an uncommon sound waiting for you on this list.
Go take the road less traveled and light the weird and wild fire within.
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