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Apr 1, 2024 · Indie rock bands have long caused ripples in the music industry, paving their paths with a distinct blend of innovative sounds and soul-stirring lyrics. Reveling in their independence, these artists explore uncharted musical territory, crafting a unique style that diverges from the mainstream.
Mar 5, 2013 · Here at P&P we may not hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the indie universe, but we have selected what our 50 most influential bands on the indie rock scene and sound are.
- Harmonicait
- Buzzfeed Staff
- Arctic Monkeys
- The Strokes
- The Smiths
- Sonic Youth
- Pixies
- Oasis
- Radiohead
- The White Stripes
- Nirvana
- The Cure
Arctic Monkeys was founded in 2002 and became popular entirely due to the internet. It was one of the first times a band gained notoriety of that level outside of traditional marketing, waking people up to the potential for promoting new bands online. They eventually broke into mainstream success with their 2013 single Do I Wanna Know? which reache...
The Strokes formed in 1998 and ended up becoming a major part of the indie rock revival in the US. Their 2001 EP The Modern Age brought in a lot of interest from labels and they eventually signed with RCA Records. They’re still going strong with their 2020 album The New Abnormal, winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Overall, they have over...
The Smiths were always independent, from their formation in 1982 until their breakup in 1987. The band signed with an independent record label in 1983 and released a debut, self-titled album in 1984. All of their albums reached the top five of the UK charts, with Meat Is Murderreaching the number-one spot in 1985. Next: Greatest rock bands from the...
Sonic Youth remained independent for a good chunk of their career. They originally came out of the no-wave art scene in underground circles in New York during the late 70s. Eventually, they turned into a more mainstream rock band, especially after signing with a major label in 1990. One of the key elements of their music is unorthodox rock guitar s...
Pixies were originally formed as an alt-rock band that focused most of their music on punk and surf rock with a lot of loud-soft-loud shifts to their songs. They had a big influence on other bands like Nirvana, Radiohead, and Weezer. They were also more popular in Europe than in the US, though in recent years, they’ve found more mainstream success ...
Oasis formed in 1991 and went on to sign with the independent label Creation Records in 1993. Their third album, Be Here Now, was released in 1997 and became the fastest-selling record in UK history. They’ve become one of the most successful groups of all time, selling over 70 million records worldwidewhile remaining mostly independent. Over time, ...
Radiohead is an English rock band that was critical in making alternative rock what it is today. After signing with EMI in 1991, they released their debut single Creep, which would go on to become a worldwide hit and is still played today. In their history, they have sold over 30 million records worldwide, won six Grammy Awards, and have been named...
The White Stripes originated as part of the Detroit music scene and were responsible for part of the garage rock scene during the early 2000s. Before signing to a label, they had already released three albums. They’re best known for the low-fidelity quality approach of their music and indelible fashion sense. The White Stripes’ most recognizable si...
Nirvana established itself in Seattle in the 80s as part of the grunge scene, releasing its first album with an independent label before signing to DGC Records in 1991. Their music mixes some pop melodies with traditional noise rock to create a most unique sound. From humble beginnings, they would go on to become one of the best-selling groups of a...
The Cure experimented with a few different sounds throughout their album releases, originally starting out in the post-punk scene, before moving to darker music and then toward pop styles. Their 1986 singles compilation Standing On A Beach broke four million sales within three years. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fameafter 1...
- Names Without Numbers. I am so excited for this band’s new album/EP, you don’t even know. After the band released the single “Empire on Fire” in 2021 and new single, “You Do The Talking”, a month ago (2022), you know you are in for quite a surprise.
- The Interrupters. Whoa now, settle down, I know what you’re about to say. Hear me out, this is an absolutely stellar band led by a fiery female vocalist (Aimee) that is unlike any other playing right now in 2022.
- Light The Way. So Light The Way and Nate Parrish are virtually tied for this entry but I have separated them by one point nonetheless. I guess Nate gets a point taken off for ruining Indie Vision Music with his “single” release so there’s that 😉 Anyway, this band just dropped their full length “Long Story Short” and it’s everything you loved about the band’s prior releases but with even more diversity in sounds and the presence of Christian Moore’s dual vocals alongside frontman/guitarist – Andrew Carlin.
- Nate Parrish. Nate Parrish has appeared on a couple of these “lists” the past few years so I am regurgitating the same plot lines which is, you must check out the music of Nate Parrish!
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- Margaret Glaspy, ‘Echo the Diamond’ Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy’s songs have a rangy, improvisational feel that makes her best lines and sharpest epiphanies land with a unique offhanded power.
- Feeble Little Horse, ‘Girl With Fish’ This Pittsburg band creates sweet, violent little sound worlds on their second full-length LP, mixing bright noise and tense, tender twee pop to create a sense of comfort and dislocation that makes every song feel surprising.
- Lydia Loveless, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way’ “I want the rush of knowing that I did the right thing for once,” Lydia Loveless sings on “Do the Right Thing,” a standout from her sixth album.
- Greg Mendez, ‘Greg Mendez’ “I don’t mind if you stay tonight, it’s just another promise you never meant,” Greg Mendez sings on the opener of his self-titled album.
May 4, 2023 · In this article, we discuss the best indie rock bands of all time and their influence on the music industry. Indie rock infiltrated the music industry as early as the 1970s with its notorious DIY attitude, low-budget production, and its amalgamation of punk rock, psychedelia, post-punk, and country.
