Nov 14 2022
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Top 20 Best Indie Rock Bands Of All Time

By David Presley
Top 20 Best Indie Rock Bands Of All Time

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We list some of the best Indie Rock bands of all time. Ever since its popularity in the early 1980s, “indie” has been celebrated and denigrated, and used synonymously with music at odds with the genre’s origins, i.e. independent artists. In the mid-1980s, “indie” began to be used to describe the music produced on post-punk labels rather than the labels themselves. The indie rock scene in the US was prefigured by the college rock that dominated college radio playlists, which included key bands like R.E.M. from the US and The Smiths from the UK. In the 2000s, changes in the music industry and the growth of the internet enabled a new wave of indie rock bands to achieve mainstream success, leading to questions about its meaningfulness as a term.

1. Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Although the UK has definitely introduced formidable acts to the global arena such as The Bee Gees, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie, not many attained success quite as rapidly as Arctic Monkeys. Each of the band’s first five singles “I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor”, “When the Sun Goes Down”, “Leave Before The Lights Come On”, “Brianstorm” and “Fluorescent Adolescent” hit the UK Top Five. In the United Kingdom, the band became the first independent-label band to debut at number one in the UK with their first five albums.

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2. Nirvana

Nirvana was a popular and highly influential American grunge band. The band formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987, and it was part of the Seattle grunge scene of the late 80s, alongside bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. As their popularity rose, alternative rock became a dominant genre on American and Canadian radio and music television during the early-to-mid ’90s. Nirvana found unexpected mainstream success with “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, the first single from their landmark second album Nevermind (1991). Characterized by their punk aesthetic, Nirvana’s fusion of pop melodies with noise, combined with their themes of abjection and social alienation, brought them global popularity. Nirvana is one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. However, on the morning of March 4, Cobain’s wife, Courtney Love, found Cobain unconscious in their hotel room and he was rushed to the hospital. Cobain had reacted to a combination of prescribed Rohypnol and alcohol. In the ensuing weeks, Cobain’s heroin addiction resurfaced. Following an intervention, Cobain was persuaded to enter drug rehabilitation. After less than a week, he left the facility without informing anyone, then returned to Seattle. One week later, on April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound at his home in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood of the city.

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3. The Killers

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001, by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). With a mix of ’80s-styled synth pop and fashionista charm, the band’s multi-platinum 2004 debut, Hot Fuss, became one of the decade’s biggest releases, spawning four hit singles — including their most enduring hit, “Mr. Brightside” — and catapulting the group into the international spotlight. The Killers are considered one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century, and the most successful act to ever emerge from Nevada, selling more than 28 million albums, including 10.8 million in the US alone.

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4. Radiohead

Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitars, piano), Jonny Greenwood (guitars, keyboards, other instruments), Ed O’Brien (guitars, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass, synthesisers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). Radiohead released their first single, “Creep”, in 1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).Radiohead’s third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater international fame. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark record of the 1990s. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2019, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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5. Oasis

Oasis were an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums, percussion), who were soon joined by Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals). Their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? was released in 1995, which was an international success, and became one of the best selling albums of all time. In 1997, Oasis released their third album, Be Here Now, becoming the fastest selling album in UK chart history. They are among the most successful acts on the UK Singles Chart and Albums Chart, with eight UK number-one singles and eight UK number-one albums.

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6. R.E.M.

R.E.M. is arguably the most influential rock band of the 80s and 90s. The American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Buck’s ringing, arpeggiated guitar style, Stipe’s distinctive vocal quality and obscure lyrics, Mills’s melodic basslines and backing vocals, and Berry’s tight, economical style of drumming. The band broke up amicably in 2011 with members devoting time to solo projects after having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide and becoming one of the world’s best-selling music acts.

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7. The Cure

The Cure is a band which formed in 1976 in Crawley, England, United Kingdom. The band originally consisted of Robert Smith (vocals, guitar), Porl Thompson (guitar), Michael Dempsey (bass) and Lol Tolhurst (drums). Though more of a post-punk band in the early years, The Cure exploded onto international fame in the late ’80s with more pop-friendly hits like “Just Like Heaven” and “Friday I’m in Love.” At the outset, the Cure played jagged, edgy pop songs before slowly evolving into a more textured outfit. As one of the bands that laid the seeds for goth rock, the group created towering layers of guitars and synthesizers, but by the time goth caught on in the mid-’80s, the Cure had moved away from the genre. By the end of the ’80s, the band had crossed over into the mainstream not only in its native England, but also in the United States. The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

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8. The White Stripes

The White Stripes were an alternative rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. They disbanded in 2011. The group consisted of songwriter Jack White (vocals, piano/keyboards, guitar) and Meg White (drums, vocals). The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002 after releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit music scene. Two of their albums, White Blood Cells and Elephant, were particularly popular. They were called “the greatest live act since Jimi Hendrix” by the British Guardian newspaper, earning them fans overseas. Their single “Seven Nation Army,” and its unique guitar riff, brought the band further acclaim. They grew from a pair of Detroit kids on 1999’s The White Stripes to international rock stars responsible for a trio of Grammy-winning albums (2003’s Elephant, 2005’s Get Behind Me Satan, and 2007’s Icky Thump).  In 2015, Rolling Stone named them the sixth greatest duo of all time.

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9. Kings Of Leon

Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band’s early music was a blend of Southern rock and blues influences, but it has gradually evolved throughout the years to include a variety of genres and a more alternative, arena rock sound. Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band’s albums at the time peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album, Because of the Times, also reached the number one spot.

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10. Muse

Muse is an alternative rock band from Teignmouth, England, United Kingdom. The band consists of Matthew Bellamy on lead vocals, piano, keyboard and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme on backing vocals and bass guitar, and Dominic Howard on drums and percussion. Muse are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances and their fusion of many music genres, including space rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, classical music and electronica. Muse have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards and eight NME Awards. In 2012 they received the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. As of June 2016, they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

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11. MGMT

MGMT is an American psychedelic rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson, and Will Berman joined the core band in the studio. Formed at Wesleyan University and originally with Cantora Records, they signed with Columbia Records and Red Ink in 2006. For their full-length debut, the duo partnered with producer Dave Fridmann and recorded Oracular Spectacular, a far more musically expansive album that was released digitally in late 2007. A traditional CD release followed in January 2008, and Oracular Spectacular ultimately enjoyed both critical approval and commercial success, with the album selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.. At the 51st Grammy Awards, the Justice remix of “Electric Feel” won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.

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12. The Strokes

The Strokes are an American rock band formed in 1998 in New York City. Upon the release of their debut album Is This It in 2001, the group met much critical acclaim. By bringing style, fun, and catchy songwriting back to rock music, the Strokes became one of the most influential bands of the early 21st century. In 2020, they released their first studio album in seven years, The New Abnormal, produced by Rick Rubin and released through Cult and RCA. Critics considered the album a return to form. It went on to win Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

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13. The Smiths

The Smiths were a British alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey (vocals) and Johnny Marr (guitar), the band also included Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). The Smiths were the definitive British indie rock band of the ’80s, marking the end of synth-driven new wave and the beginning of the guitar rock that dominated English rock into the ’90s. Internal tensions led to the Smiths’ breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe.

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14. Talking Heads

Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City. The band only began to break through further with the landmark Brian Eno-produced, 1978 album More Songs About Buildings And Food. While some of their music can seem too self-consciously experimental, clever, and intellectual for its own good, at their best Talking Heads represent everything good about art-school punks. In 2002, Talking Heads were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of their albums appear in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,

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15. Pixies

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band that formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1986. While the Pixies found only modest success in their home country, they were significantly more successful in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, although never achieving prolonged mainstream success with their studio albums. The group disbanded in 1993 in acrimonious circumstances but reunited in 2004. The band’s style of alternative rock music is heavily influenced by punk and indie rock, and while highly melodic, is often abrasive at the same time.

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16. Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol are a Northern Irish rock band formed in 1993. Initially an indie rock band, the band rose to prominence in the early-mid 2000s as part of the post-Britpop movement. The band became wildly successful both in the U.K. and U.S., of their fourth album, 2006’s Eyes Open and the ballad “Chasing Cars” – a song that has spent a near-record breaking 90 weeks on the UK Top 75. Some of their other well known songs are “Run”, “Spitting Games”, “You’re All I Have”, “Hands Open” and “Take Back the City”. During the course of their career, Snow Patrol have won seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six Brit Awards and one Grammy.

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17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock/post-punk band formed in New York City, New York in the late summer of 2000.  The group’s music melds genres ranging from art punk and garage rock to electronic and new wave. Band member Karen O is known for her screaming, bluesy vocals and energetic stage presence, complemented by her outrageously colorful costumes. Their first three albums earned the band Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Music Album.

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18. Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand are a rock band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band first experienced chart success when their second single “Take Me Out” reached No. 3 in the UK Charts, followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand which debuted on the UK album chart at No. 3. The band has been notable for being one of the more popular post-punk revival bands, garnering multiple UK top 20 hits. They have been nominated for several Grammy Awards and have received two Brit Awards – winning one for Best British Group – as well as one NME Award.

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19. The Kooks

The Kooks are an English indie pop band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2004. A self-described “pop” band, their music is primarily influenced by the 1960s British Invasion movement and post-punk revival of the new millennium. With songs described as “catchy as hell”, The Kooks have experimented in several genres including rock, Britpop, pop, reggae, and ska, at times being described as “a less severe Arctic Monkeys”.

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20. Joy Division

Joy Division was a post-punk band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. The band rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences, to develop a sound and style that pioneered the post-punk movement of the late 1970s. The definitive post-punk band’s vocalist Ian Curtis sang of despair and isolation until his tragic suicide in 1980. Joy Division’s posthumously released second album, Closer (1980), and the single “Love Will Tear Us Apart” became the band’s highest charting release.

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Honorable mentions

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