The 1970s and 1980s saw the indie rock musical genre emerge, which expressed alternative and independent sounds and opinions. Independent rock bands frequently use do-it-yourself techniques and low-budget production, functioning outside of the conventional music industry. These bands incorporate elements of punk, psychedelic, post-punk, country, folk, and other broad and eclectic influences. A wide range of subgenres, including shoegaze, math rock, emo, and post-rock, have been inspired by indie rock acts.
The popularity, impact, creativity, and legacy of indie rock will be discussed in this article. We’ll also provide you with some examples of their albums and songs, which you should listen to. These are the bands that have influenced innumerable other musicians and fans as well as defined and developed the indie rock genre.
The White Stripes
Jack White and Meg White formed the legendary rock group The White Stripes, based in Detroit, Michigan. They were founded in 1997, and their raw, simple, and blues-inspired sound brought them prominence in the early 2000s. The White Stripes used the colors red, white, and black to create a visually striking look. Additionally, for their strange bond and appearance of being siblings when they were actually ex-spouses.
Six studio albums were released by The White Stripes, all of which were well-received by critics and fans alike. Seven Nation Army, Fell in Love with a Girl, Icky Thump, and We’re Going to Be Friends are a few of their more well-known tracks. Elephant and White Blood Cells are regarded as two of the greatest albums of the 2000s. Although the White Stripes broke up in 2011, their influence endures as one of the greatest indie rock groups of all time.
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys formed in 2002, and the internet was the only factor in their rise to fame. People became aware of the possibility of promoting new bands online because it was one of the first occasions a band achieved that degree of popularity without using typical marketing techniques. Do I Wanna Know?, their 2013 hit that went platinum in the US and topped four Billboard charts, was ultimately the song that launched them into popular success. They are the first indie band to debut at number one on the UK charts and were nominated for a Grammy in 2019 for Best Alternative Album.
The Smiths
Manchester, England-based The Smiths were an indie rock and jangle pop group. Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce were in it. They were among the most significant and influential bands of the 1980s after they were founded in 1982. The Smiths became well-known for their clever, lyrical, and frequently contentious songs. The catchy, guitar-driven music was composed by Marr’s genius, and Morrissey’s unique voice sang the lyrics.
The Smiths put out four studio albums, all of which are regarded as indie rock masterpieces. This Charming Man, How Soon Is Now?, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, and The Boy with the Thorn in His Side are a few of their most well-known songs. Considered their greatest are the albums Strangeways, Here We Come and The Queen Is Dead. Despite their 1987 breakup, The Smiths’ impact and appeal have only increased with time.
Pixies
The Pixies were originally an alt-rock group with a lot of loud-soft-loud shifts in their songs, mostly centered on punk and surf rock. They had a significant impact on Weezer, Radiohead, and Nirvana, among other acts. They were also more well-liked in Europe than in the US, despite experiencing greater mainstream popularity recently.
The Strokes
New York City-based The Strokes were an indie rock and post-punk revival group. Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Fabrizio Moretti, Nikolai Fraiture, and Albert Hammond Jr. were all part of it. They were among the most well-liked and significant bands of the early 2000s after they were created in 1998. The Strokes displayed a sound that was influenced by new wave, garage rock, and retro. In addition to their sophisticated, fashionable, and endearing character, their sound also included appealing riffs, hooks, and melodies.
Six studio albums by The Strokes were released, all of which achieved chart success and favorable reviews. You Only Live Once, Reptilia, Someday, and Last Nite are a few of their most well-known tracks. Is This It is their astounding debut album, regarded as one of the best albums of the 2000s and one of the best debut albums ever. The New Abnormal, The Strokes’ most recent album, was released in 2020. The band is still going strong.
Sonic Youth
New York City-based experimental music group Sonic Youth was founded in 1976. Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, Kim Gordon, and Thurston Moore were in it. They were among the most inventive and influential bands in the indie music scene when they began in 1981. With the help of feedback, distortion, noise, and alternate tunings, Sonic Youth produced a distinctive and avant-garde sound. The group collaborated with writers, filmmakers, and artists as part of its active participation in New York’s underground culture.
Sonic Youth published sixteen studio albums, several of which are regarded as indie rock classics. In addition, Kool Thing, Bull in the Heather, Schizophrenia, and Teen Age Riot are some of their best-known tracks. Most people consider their albums Daydream Nation and Goo to be their best creations. After Moore and Gordon got divorced in 2011, Sonic Youth broke up, yet their impact and legacy are still unmatched.
Joy Division
Manchester, England-based Joy Division was a post-punk and indie rock band. Ian Curtis, Stephen Morris, Peter Hook, and Bernard Sumner made up the group. They were among the most important and innovative bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s after they were formed in 1976. Joy Division became known for its eerie, moody, and atmospheric sound. Along with its melancholy, existential, and poetic words, it also had eerie vocals, a throbbing bass, and minimalist drums.
Joy Division put out two studio albums, both of which are regarded as indie rock masterpieces. Love Will Tear Us Apart, Transmission, Atmosphere, and Disorder are a few of their most well-known tracks. Unknown Pleasures and Closer stand out among their albums and are often considered to be their best efforts. After Curtis committed suicide in 1980, Joy Division came to an end, but not before leaving a lasting legacy. They are among the many popular indie rock groups of all time.
The Cure
Throughout the course of their record releases, The Cure experimented with a variety of sounds, initially originating in the post-punk scene before transitioning to darker music and eventually toward pop approaches. In just three years, their 1986 hits compilation Standing On A Beach achieved four million sales. Thirteen studio albums and more than 30 million record sales worldwide later, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Oasis
Oasis was a Manchester, England-based Britpop and indie rock group. Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan, Alan White, Liam Gallagher, and Noel Gallagher were in it. They were one of the most popular and significant bands of the 1990s after they were founded in 1991. Oasis created a sound with rock & roll and anthemic qualities that the Beatles influenced. Along with their aggressive, outspoken, and rivalry-filled persona, it included powerful vocals, guitar solos, and sing-along choruses.
Seven studio albums were released by Oasis. Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger, Live Forever, and Champagne Supernova are some of their most well-known songs. Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? are regarded as two of the greatest albums released in the nineties. After the Gallagher brothers’ quarrel in 2009, Oasis broke up, yet their fan base and legacy endure. They are among the numerous successful indie rock groups.
Radiohead
The English alternative music and indie rock group Radiohead was based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Thom Yorke, Phil Selway, Ed O’Brien, Jonny Greenwood, and Colin Greenwood were in it. They started as one of the most popular and significant bands of all time after forming in 1985. As they developed, explored, and reinvented continuously, Radiohead established their distinct musical identity. They also experimented with a variety of subjects, genres, and styles, and their intricate, multi-layered, and exquisite music. Yorke sang, Greenwood played guitar, and Selway played drums in their song.
Nine studio albums by Radiohead were released, and each one was met with critical and commercial success. Among their most well-known songs are Idioteque, Karma Police, Paranoid Android, and Creep. Both Kid A and OK Computer are regarded as some of the greatest albums ever made. In 2016, Radiohead’s most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool, was published. The band is still going strong.