Top 15 Indie Songs [In My Opinion]

[hersheykiss606]

The Kooks?

[interpolAnonimo]

And Interpol? and Phoenix? and The Klaxons? and White Lies?

[lolkailolen]

@TheEddyf1 the title says indie



[hyphentated]

hey guys check out my song rendezvous

[DrummerRidley101]

1. Arctic monkeys

2. The strokes

3. Kaiser chiefs

Thats my top 3

[Klemons12]

Thank you for including Elliott.

[TeKSystemDubstep]

For me the Libertines would be first :p

[TheComfortDoctor]

NUMBER 12 FTW

[OrwellianFear]

Get one thing straight: Ellliott Smith is the definition of INDEPENDENT, signed to indie labels, including Caroline/Virgin. But for the most part yeah, agreed.

[Fantasticrealms]

good list

[YaBoysFresh]

Band of Horses anyone!?

[theskimdude]

@YaBoysFresh YES YES YES YES I LOOVE THAT BAND!!!!!!!!!! :D

[DannyMc1309]

Key Misses:

- Stone Roses

- Joy Division

- Smiths

[mobeans03]

we were promised jetpacks - quite little voices

[Radiohead4121]

Neutral Milk Hotel and Arcade Fire are the good ones of this list.

[Qdoticus]

Yep, I do realize Elliott smith isn't a band. Its funny when you post one thing on the Internet and people roast you so hard because they " know more". This is the last time I comment on anything.

[nomogorcio]

There's like 4 bands that do indie rock there...

[MsPiff4life]

In my opinion your taste in "indie" music blowsssssss.

[skaterboi0066]

Neutral Milk Hotel isn't on an independant label? This is news to me. Also is there no consideration to the fact that some of these artists started out on independant labels. It isn't like these songs or artists are new, they have had some time to find success. srsly you guys srsly

[sisman4132]

The Strokes Number 1 ... Fuck yeah it is...!!!

[AFSTLF]

i belive the best indie music is never played on the radio, and all of these bands are played on the radio

[DerylW77]

so glad elliot smith is in here.

[rossmat707]

Y Control is a great song... maybe the best yeah yeah yeah song

[brownisatwat]

Does anyone realize indie means independent, yes some of these bands are under the class of indie jesus i can actually picture you one of the indies who just wants to be fucking different then everyone else man up you moaning bitch its a good list

[dextroxity19]

the strokes have better songs than 12:51

[HeyPhantom4]

@dextroxity19 What song do you think is better than 12:51?

[dextroxity19]

@HeyPhantom4 personally i think there are a few but last nite and trying your luck in particular

[HeyPhantom4]

@dextroxity19 Take it or leave it. You only live once. Undercover of darkness and Reptilia also. Last night is pretty good too

[dextroxity19]

@HeyPhantom4 those are the other ones i was thinking of. and juicebox is probably the best they have played musically

[TinyTeaza2k7]

the strokes are number one. i approve.

[CookieDough711]

nice!

[KailiLJHardman]

Don't apologize about it being mainstream, indie doesn't mean obscure it means independent production meaning they paid for it themselves. Hipsters don't own the term indie.

[hollywoodundeadruish]

MGMT is the best band out of these. Kids!

[Valkodu]

@hollywoodundeadruish Fuck that, Elliott Smith.

[HeyPhantom4]

@Valkodu Elliot Smith is very very good. too bad he is dead.

[Valkodu]

@HeyPhantom4 It's a real shame... Probably the biggest loss to music in decades. 

[HeyPhantom4]

@Valkodu true. but, sadly I bet micheal jackson topped his death...

[Richy14332]

@Qdoticus You're clearly a hipster idiot. If you can't comprehend that music has developed from its origins you have no brains, 'indie' no longer refers to solely independent bands but has evolved into a genre of music in itself. Quite a few bands on this list are part of the newer post-punk revival scene, but would you call any of them punk? None of these bands are independent, but yes, they are all indie.

[cureme07]

i miss all the curly crops of hair that used to be sported by the strokes!<3

[preceeding]

Let me just get one thing straight:

If indie sucks, music sucks. Done. Already said.

Oh, need more explanation. Mainstream. Not that bad, but most mainstream is just people looking for attention because they're releasing music in the right era.

This isn't a competition of who's most popular. It's not which songs in the right era and that. It's not about who's got the most number of fans and that.

This is about music. And so it fucking should be.

[liesl4444]

there is a disturbing lack of vampire weekend and the foals on this list

[borochick1032]

Thank you. Im sure you heard this music on the radio or saw the killers band tshirt at hot topic and then you thought you were indie...

[Qdoticus]

Does anyone realize that "indie" means independent? None of these bands are independent

[ThisSaturatedMind]

@Qdoticus

At some point, there was a schism between indie music as a style, and music releases independent from certain labels. Some music can apparently be defined as sounding not corporate by including evocative lyrics and jangly guitars. It confuses me as well.

[paulinaz87]

@Qdoticus so which are they?

[crujones27]

@Qdoticus do you realize Elliot Smith isn't a band right?

[gdjoseph1]

@Qdoticus Do you know what an independent band is? The songs on this list by Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines and The Arcade Fire were all released by independent labels. Independent doesn't mean unsigned!!

[israh12345]

@Qdoticus i thought "indie" meant individual

[ThemeUrself]

@Qdoticus indie is more than being independent, its a genre man

[loveesTokioHotel]

@Qdoticus THANK YOU CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!

[BlueVangaCovers]

@Qdoticus by now is a musical style too!

[oxfordye]

@Qdoticus

It's a subgenre as well though, you can get Indie Rock.

[Qdoticus]

arctic monkeys blowww



[xxKYLExGxx]

Didn't care for much on this list, but the Strokes are a top band, and for that I commend you good sir.

[cowboydanisoutofgas]

classifying music as "indie" would mean it is from an independent label. the bands on this list are from post punk to folk to experimental. this classification of "indie" really needs to stop

[GDub180]

@cowboydanisoutofgas i was just about to post the exact comment

[IAmCaptainPlastic]

If you want to love music, listen to Why?

[heliofortalezaceara]

Tnx for introduce me Arcade Fire

[musicsmyreligion1023]

i love elliot smith <3



[TheVizzerdrix]

why no shins or spoon?

[alliosun]

@MRsmileyz1 I'm 15 and I love it!!!

[MRsmileyz1]

i hate it how no one my age likes indie rock, makes me sad.. im 13 by the way

[jenniferdarlton]

@MRsmileyz1 yes! oh my god they just don't get it, do they?

[toamund]

Good taste! only indie rock though.. miss fleet foxes, destroyer and iron & Wine..

[shredderchick23]

long live the strokes..

[darkainjul]

Say some good music.... Me like your style...echo...echo...

[satty5]

Libertines forever! Woo hoo!

[beverlysaywhaa]

this video made me miss what the Kings of Leon used to be. 

[asterik12]

So glad Franz Ferdinand is on here! I don't like Jacqueline as much as some of their others though. And for the We Are Scientists song, I would have picked After Hours...so obsessed with that song. I think Passion Pit's Sleepyhead could fit on here too...sorry, I'm being so critical; still a really great list over all! And YES, The Killers are somewhat indie even though they've become mainstream. They're still really amazing.

[chirky88]

Not bad at all... I would find it hard to do 15... I would chuck in The Format, The Hoosiers, The Fratellis and a few others, but a decent list anyways!

[sh0rty08]

no modest mouse/fail

[rw1993n64]

neutral milk hotel is pretty much the only "indie" band I like, any suggestions to similar bands?

[MomentumFreerunners]

@rw1993n64 dashboard confessional maybe

[Valkodu]

@rw1993n64 The Microphones reminds me a lot of NMH.

[bearinyourbedroom]

I love MGMT and Arcade Fire :)

[Dalissaed]

Where is Phoenix? Coconut records? The Shins? Phoenix.... Godd mix though

[baneBITN]

comments on this thread make me want to cry, its either ass holes saying that any band whose made any money is a sell out or mindless fanboy comments

[colocolowb1]

This lacks conor orberst

[javierl]

OMFG LISTEN TO 'DOVER' - 'DEVIL CAME TO ME'...

[kuhntpunt]

Needs more CocoRosie...

[terrordactoyl]

no pavement?!

they're THE indie band

[thefoamycherry]

is that Nicholas Hoult on the left at 2:12 ? lol

[cleonys]

Where are The Vines? or Jet?? They have a fucking great music! Better than most of the bands on the compilation ;D

[ofMilwaukee]

@cleonys hahaha. no

[TheStationable]

Nothing from The Smiths?

[ofMilwaukee]

@TheStationable i wouldn't necessarily call them indie

[TheStationable]

@ofMilwaukee Well they more or less invented the genre. (In my opinion)

[feruba1]

MGMT up!!!

[FoolisHeartxx]

i loved all the songs :D

[Nrdrummer89]

What, no Interpol? Or Portugal. The Man?

[IronyTheOh]

quite a bit of this stuff isn't really indie now..

[littlejellyfish2]

12:51 <3

[lambovsatan225]

The Kills, Animal Collective, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Last Shadow Puppets, Peter Bjorn & John, Mumford & Sons.. COMEON!

[ofMilwaukee]

@lambovsatan225 yeah... NO

[lambovsatan225]

@ofMilwaukee What, douchebag? are they too mainstream or some shit? 'cause they fit perfectly into the indie scene.

[ofMilwaukee]

@lambovsatan225 they're all bands that try to give you the sense that they're indie, but they're not. Mumford signed to island before their debut, the kills signed to domino for their first ep, animal collective is an incredibly accessible gateway band, airborne is signed to island, puppets is arctic monkeys (which definitely excludes them), and pb&j falls under the same category that the strokes do, which i shouldn't have to explain. these bands are all cash cows for labels, not real substance

[lambovsatan225]

@ofMilwaukee Oh and you think don't think none of the bands above do the same?. I honestly don't give a fuck if they are in it for they money. Everyone considered Charlie Chaplin to be a master of his craft but he always said he was in it just for the money. And it doens't matter because he was STILL very talented so what does it matter if they are in it for the money too?. You can't be that stupid and judgemental.

[lexaforeve]

killers aint indie suck as kings.. anyway teh rest are ok :)

[MrHyper12345678910]

yeah mate you left out armistice, 1901 or litzomania of this list :/

[joshep901]

Undercover of darkness is better than this of The strokees !!!1!

Crown of love ? neighborhood 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 are better than wake up of Arcade fire (THE BEST INDIE BAND)

and artic monkeys?

Franz ferdinand?

Ellion smith is not indie -.- this is folk !!

[danny211123]

@joshep901 Umm if you can't see when this was posted Undercover of darkness wasn't even released or even made as a matter of fact.

[joshep901]

MGMT IS NOT INDIE ROCK !!! THIS IS NEW RAVE ...... MORE ELECTRONIC .... !! INDIE ROCK IS ONLY INSTRUMENTAL

[mandasaurus8]

HAHAHAHAH. Kings of Leon.

yuck.

[daedley]

I agree with some of the songs on here but some of the songs aren't that good imo. You should start by changing that awful We Are Scientists song with 'I am A Scientist' by Guided by Voices. That's one of the greatest songs written in the 90s.

[ParamoreHeart10]

Everyone, The Killers are indie/rock and why the FUCK isn't Snow Patrol on that list..?

[Spoonface370]

@ParamoreHeart10 Because they're crap?

[ParamoreHeart10]

@Spoonface370 They're fucking amazing. I'm going to see them in 2 weeks today :D For freee!!!! MTV EMA's much? :D

[ofMilwaukee]

@ParamoreHeart10 i think your username describes your naivety with music.

[PeterL571]

@ofMilwaukee Was about to say. Looked at the top comment and wondered who he was talking about then I looked at the username lol.

[tyadindaa]

Franz Ferdinand? Hmm. 

[LUCAPREVI1]

where are Kasabian?

[MrBaebel]

Fucken hell!!!

Your music taste is WORLDCLASS!!

It's mine....

Maybe you replace "The Killers" by "The Kills".

And I still can't get warm with "The Strokes" and I don't know why....

[jollybison]

Wow

[jollybison]

the killers are not indie

[sycomonk456]

majority of this list is mainstream...

[VirtVet]

@sycomonk456 

let me guess.....mainstream automatically means bad? god damn hipsters.....

[ShadowwFF]

the killers are indie . . . xD

[kanelow100]

i agree with you but you forgot the best indie rock band "phoenix"

[ALEXSTROKES1]

xDD 12 :51 numero 1 exelente n_n

[PattyGreendale]

I would say old Kings Of Leon is indie... but not The Killers. That doesnt mean there bad though. I am really diggin that The Strokes are number 1!!!

[mburdzy125]

Since when are the Killers indie? liking the Elliott Smith and Neutral Milk Hotel though...

[Aaron9581]

The Killers are classed as an Indie band...so yeh their songs can be here.

[Twankiez1019]

YER A FAGGOT :3

[MrJjclark1]

to mainstream

[kanesabian]

The fact that the arctic monkeys are here makes me sad!

[numstuck]

take the killers off plz

[klnx3016]

I clicked the 12:51 when the video started.. 'Cause you know, all the cool things happen when somebody posts a time-stamp. All it did was end the video =[

[Radiohead17321]

love y control

[Barno00]

Dear lord, this list looks like it's been made by me ! Weird.

[yellow1871]

So funny, I was expecting to see all these songs I never heard of before, and then I was like...oh, haha...I do think these are definelty in the top 15--although yes, does need some Modest Mouse :)

[MrJowilson9]

Needs some modest mouse

[mattymewmew]

Arcade Fire as well!

[mattymewmew]

the Shout Out Louds are AMAZBALLS! everything is good, not just that song. :)

[InnocenceLovePeace]

hell yeah!! <3 The Killers - Franz Ferdinand - Arcade Fire - The strokes <3

[1814Man]

Arctic Monkeys should be Number 1 in my opinion, They just sound so good!

[ShaneRepz]

killers are mainstream :L

[Pezreh]

@ShaneRepz Shut up hipster cunt.

[ShaneRepz]

@Pezreh run at a wall

[VegaGus]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!! About indie music...you should ask me....

[felipe200794]

yeah yeah yeahs brings me bad memories

[felipe200794]

MGMT ROCKS

[joseypussycat]

The Fences by Paper Airplanes!

[BuzzL0ve]

Great List man!!

[shizzlemonks96]

Neutral Milk Hotel my personal favorite that iI thought no one wouldve heard of

[lucasgelati]

Great music, but I highly doubt that The Killers or Kings Of Leon are indie.

[19Supernaut72]

@lucasgelati Yeah the killers have their own classification of 'pretentious shit'

[ronancorrigan]

@lucasgelati kings of leon and the killers are indie just because they happen to make it big doesn't take that away

[lucasgelati]

@ronancorrigan I don't think so, they are more Alternative than Indie.

[anonymousman555]

@lucasgelati Indie is not a genre, it is a statement about the fact that the band is on an independent label, it has just grown the illusion of being a genre and a culture.

[habsfan12325]

@lucasgelati yes they are

[nondairydreamer]

@lucasgelati Kings of Leon used to be, then six years later their publicist woke up I guess.

[JaredM91]

@lucasgelati kings of leon's first album was unquestionably indie you hack

[AnGeLWiNgS93]

@lucasgelati KoL & The Killers are indie... They were independent but made it out well... they're still indie

[ofMilwaukee]

@AnGeLWiNgS93 kings of leon sold out. so that doesn't put them in this genre anymore! they used to be a gritty southern band, but now... just shitty pop music

[AnGeLWiNgS93]

@ofMilwaukee I have to agree though that their music today is terrible. This is why i hate it when they try to please the mainstream. But their first few albums were definitely Indie.

[sk8rchickkk123]

i like how # 1 was the strokes <3

[nicdj08]

I agree, like, totally!

[FLAMMABLEturkey]

i love neutral milk hotel so much<3

[sumayacoldplay]

i started dancing when arcade fire came up!

[pastafarianpirate09]

this would be a bullshit list if NMH wans't in the top 2

[angelgu323]

thank you haha i forgot mando diao name i was like fuck who sings this song lol

[beardedspock]

no modest mouse? otherwise amazing list

[lubusamongus16]

fuck the killers

[IvyNirvana]

@lubusamongus16 fuck your mother.

[lubusamongus16]

@IvyNirvana fuck your taste in music asshole go drown yourself in more mainstream top 40 shit. let me guess youre a huge lady gaga fan too? fuck off fagget and until you get a real taste in music, dont comment back

[IvyNirvana]

@lubusamongus16 lmao? If you don't want me to comment back, then don't comment back. Stop being such a little fag hipster ok? I hate pop music, but I don't listen to indie to act cool *cough* you *cough*. Stop trying to act original and listen to bands no one hears, and listen to music cause it's good. You fucking poser.

[lubusamongus16]

@IvyNirvana a fucking hipster? alright just because i have a good taste in music doesnt mean im a fag hipster. i dont like the killers so fucking what? i love all kinds of music and dont listen cuz its cool. i listen to appreciate. i know you feel cool going around and talkin shit and making yourself look like a music know it all but sadly this is youtube and no one gives a fuck about your opinion. and you shouldnt have given a fuck about mine either. sooooooooo fuck off? :D

@lubusamongus16 Lol, you act like you can judge everyone's taste, I don't go around making fun of peoples taste and say "Fuck" to other bands like you do. Lol you probably are a egotistical bastard who thinks you know everything about music? I just said I don't act cool listening to that music, though your ignorant soul say