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Top Ten Indie Rock Bands

Arctic ​Monkeys​
Arctic ​Monkeys​

The Arctic Monkeys, otherwise known as the Death Ramps, are a British indie rock band formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocalist, songwriter, electric and rhythm guitarist), Jamie Cook (electric and rhythm guitarist, songwriter), Matt Helders (percussionist, ...read more.

The Strokes​
The Strokes​

The Strokes personally restored something original and got closer to the spirit of Indie-Rock without even ruining it (They didn't obviously). One of the best bands ever. Nothing left to say.

Arcade Fire​
Arcade Fire​

Disagree? Place your vote on the list of Top Ten Best Indie Rock Bands. ... 5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, ...

The Smiths​
The Smiths​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

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Radiohead​
Radiohead​

3 Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwoood (bass guitar), Phil Selway (drums), and Ed O'Brien (guitar).

Modest ​Mouse​
Modest ​Mouse​

Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. Comments Top Popular Newest The fact that Modest Mouse is 23rd currently is surprising since they're regarded as Indie legends -.

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Pavement​
Pavement​

Pavement was an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. The group mainly consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich (percussion and vocals).

Pixies​
Pixies​

For this list, we’ve loosely defined the genre as “guitar music made by people who came out of the rock underground and aren’t afraid to seem brainy or challenging”—indie-rock bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sleater-Kinney and Pavement.

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Sonic Youth​
Sonic Youth​

Sonic Youth was the coolest band when it emerged out of the noisy New York art-rock scene in the early ’80s—and it still was when the group broke up three decades later. In between the band engineered the ’90s alternative rock boom, inspired Kurt Cobain and recorded a vast body of music that touched on hardcore punk and psychedelic folk and elevated guitar abuse to an art form.

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The Killers​
The Killers​

4 The Killers The Killers is an American indie rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001, by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. The Killers are my favourite band! I have so much respect for them and their music inspires me more than any other thing in my life at the moment.

Bon Iver​
Bon Iver​

On December 15, 2011, Pitchfork.com awarded Bon Iver, Bon Iver the number one album of 2011. On November 30, 2011, the band earned four nominations for the 54th Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Best Alternative Music Album for their album Bon Iver, Bon Iver, and both Song of the Year and Record of the Year for Holocene.

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Neutral Milk ​Hotel​
Neutral Milk ​Hotel​

Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed in Ruston, Louisiana by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the late 1980s. The band is noted for its experimental sound, abstract lyrics and eclectic instrumentation.

Franz ​Ferdinand​
Franz ​Ferdinand​

Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish indie rock band, formed in 2002 and based in Glasgow. The band's original lineup was composed of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals and guitar, keyboard), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), Bob Hardy (bass guitar), and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion and backing vocals).

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The Kooks​
The Kooks​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

Coldplay​
Coldplay​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

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Vampire ​Weekend​
Vampire ​Weekend​

Vampire Weekend is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, drummer and percussionist Chris Tomson and bassist and backing vocalist Chris Baio.

The White ​Stripes​
The White ​Stripes​

The White Stripes were an American rock duo formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of Jack White (songwriter, vocals, guitar, piano, and mandolin) and Meg White (drums and vocals). After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit music scene, The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene.

Oasis​
Oasis​

8 Oasis Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll.

Bright Eyes​
Bright Eyes​

Our selection of the 50 most influential bands on the indie rock scene. ... The years of Bright Eyes adoration have retrospectively come to an end for most of their ...

Interpol​
Interpol​

Interpol is an American rock band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks (vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel Kessler (lead guitar, vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass guitar, keyboards) and Greg Drudy (drums, percussion).

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MGMT​
MGMT​

1 The Arctic Monkeys, otherwise known as the Death Ramps, are a British indie rock band formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocalist, songwriter, electric and rhythm guitarist), Jamie Cook (electric and rhythm guitarist, songwriter), Matt Helders (percussionist, ...read more.

The Shins​
The Shins​

Place your vote on the list of Top Ten Best Indie Rock Bands. ... The Shins are pure art. Shins are top 5 INDIE, no doubt. All the bands on this lists are, ...

Blur​
Blur​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

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Florence + the ​Machine​
Florence + the ​Machine​

In a time where Ed Sheeran songs become Snapchat sensations, Indie Bands carve their own niche: Florence and The Machine is a perfect example. In a time where Ed Sheeran songs become Snapchat sensations, Indie Bands carve their own niche: Florence and The Machine is a perfect example.

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Mumford & ​Sons​
Mumford & ​Sons​

Mumford. Mumford is a 1999 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. It is set in a small town where a new psychologist gives offbeat advice to the neurotic residents. Both the psychologist and the town are named Mumford, a coincidence that eventually figures in the plot.

The Black ​Keys​
The Black ​Keys​

Disagree? Place your vote on the list of Top Ten Best Indie Rock Bands. ... 7 The Black Keys The Black Keys is an American indie rock and blues rock duo, ...

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The xx​
The xx​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

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The National​
The National​

Indie rock has transmogrified into one of the hardest genres on earth to define. Bands trying to break through love to title themselves as “indie rock” as though it were a specific sound, while critics love to point back to scions of the underground scene in an attempt to pinpoint when the genre began.

Two Door ​Cinema Club​
Two Door ​Cinema Club​

Two Door Cinema Club are an indie rock band from Bangor and Donaghadee in County Down, Northern Ireland. The band formed in 2007 and is composed of three members: Alex Trimble (vocals, rhythm guitar, beats, synths), Sam Halliday (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Kevin Baird (bass, synths, backing vocals).

R.E.M.​
R.E.M.​

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.

Death Cab for ​Cutie​
Death Cab for ​Cutie​

Death Cab for Cutie. Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band, formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997.[6] The band comprises Ben Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano), Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Zac Rae (keyboards, guitar), and Jason McGerr (drums).

Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr

Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984, originally simply called Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name. The band was founded by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlow (bass, vocals), and Murph (drums).

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Spoon​
Spoon​

Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band comprises Britt Daniel (vocals, guitar), Jim Eno (drums), Rob Pope (bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and Alex Fischel (keyboard, guitar). Critics have described the band's musical style as indie rock, indie pop, art rock, and experimental rock.

Wilco​
Wilco​

Wilco's music is typically categorized as alternative rock and alternative country. Despite their career-long association with a major record label, they are generally associated with indie rock. Wilco draws influence from bands from a variety of musical genres, but primarily from music created between 1966 and 1974.

Belle and ​Sebastian​
Belle and ​Sebastian​

Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released 9 albums to date. Much of their work had been released on Jeepster Records, but they are now signed to Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States.

Bloc Party​
Bloc Party​

Bloc Party are an English indie rock band, currently composed of Kele Okereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sampler), Russell Lissack (lead guitar, keyboards), Justin Harris (bass guitar, keyboards, saxophones, backing vocals) and Louise Bartle (drums, percussion).

The ​Decemberists​
The ​Decemberists​

The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon. The band consists of Colin Meloy (lead vocals, guitar, principal songwriter), Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (keyboards, piano, Hammond organ, accordion), Nate Query (bass), and John Moen (drums).

Sleater-​Kinney​
Sleater-​Kinney​

Crediting Bikini Kill for much of their inspiration, the girl power trio of Sleater-Kinney brought feministing back into the forefront of indie rock with Carrie Brownstein's thunderous guitars and Corin Tucker's impossible-to-ignore vocals.

Built to Spill​
Built to Spill​

Built To Spill has a rather unique sound. They're one of the more rare guitar driven indie acts that still produces the indie sound without veering too far into traditional rock. If you're looking for other 90's classics in the same vein, check out Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, early Flaming Lips, early Modest Mouse, Archers of Loaf, Sleater-Kinney.

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Nirvana​
Nirvana​

The terms "alternative rock" and "indie rock" were used interchangeably in the 1980s, but after many alternative bands followed Nirvana into the mainstream in the early 1990s, "indie rock" began to be used to describe those bands, working in a variety of styles, that did not pursue or achieve commercial success.

The Stone ​Roses​
The Stone ​Roses​

The indie rock bands and artists below have played their music all over the world, but they all were formed in England. If you think the best English indie rock band is missing from the list, then feel free to add it at the bottom so it's included with these other great acts. List features bands like Coldplay and PJ Harvey.

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LCD ​Soundsystem​
LCD ​Soundsystem​

LCD Soundsystem is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. The band is fronted by musician James Murphy, co-founder of DFA Records. They are signed to both DFA and Columbia Records.

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Yeah Yeah ​Yeahs​
Yeah Yeah ​Yeahs​

Our selection of the 50 most influential bands on the indie rock scene. ... When he Yeah Yeah Yeahs blazed onto the New York City music scene with their electro-punk ...

The Libertines​
The Libertines​

The members of the Libertines went on to form new bands with varying degrees of success. In August 2010, the four members of the Libertines reunited to play a series of shows, including slots at the 2010 Reading and Leeds Festivals. The reunion shows received a highly positive response from the press and fans.

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alt-J​
alt-J​

Alt-J was the #1 touring band in the world last year, the vocalist, like many indie-rock artists, has a very unique sound but even more so than the majority. The Instrumental structure in their music paints imagery to most every mood you could possibly imagine.

Foster The ​People​
Foster The ​People​

Foster the People is an American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2009. It currently consists of lead vocalist Mark Foster, lead guitarist Sean Cimino, keyboardist Isom Innis, and drummer Mark Pontius.

Gorillaz​
Gorillaz​

This is a list of notable indie rock artists. Individual musicians are listed alphabetically by their last name.

Foals​
Foals​

Foals are a rock band from Oxford, England formed in 2005, consisting of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Yannis Philippakis, drummer and percussionist Jack Bevan, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Smith, and keyboardist Edwin Congreave.

Guided by ​Voices​
Guided by ​Voices​

Guided by Voices, The Social, May 16 Though they've calmed down quite a bit, Guided by Voices’ Orlando shows in particular are the stuff of legend, as this 2004 article by the Sentinel’s former music critic Jim Abbott details wonderfully.

Imagine ​Dragons​
Imagine ​Dragons​

View all comments about Imagine Dragons in our top ten list of Top Ten Best Indie Rock Bands or add a new comment about Imagine Dragons

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The Wombats​
The Wombats​

5 Arcade Fire Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. There are few bands that I truly love.

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