There’s something about great indie rock bands that makes you think of the underdog coming on top or something extraordinary occurring despite the odds. The best indie rock songs of all time are nearly all famous against tougher pop competitors vying for the same chart positions.
Considering the “independent” status applied to the genre’s label, this may appear to be an oxymoron. However, these bands found their fame while not adhering to mainstream trends and commercial pressures. These are the best indie rock songs of all time.
1. “Debaser” – Pixies
Pixies’ “Debaser” is everything that is good and, most importantly, bizarre about indie rock. It features crushing Hendrix-styled chords, verses referencing Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel movies, and the hookiest Kim Deal backing vocals imaginable. Pixies weren’t only weird but could write pop songs just like some sort of 1980s indie rock version of The Beatles.
Naturally, their sound was massively influential. “Debaser” was their 1989 proclamation. The band had reached its best, and few have managed to equal it since. It’s the greatest indie rock song of all time, if you care to ask me.
2. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986) – The Smiths
The Smiths were not of their time, and because of that, their music is ageless. In Stephen Morrissey, the band had a singer who felt out of place and possessed just the right romantic poetry to express that. In guitarist Johnny Marr, they had a composer on the level of Burt Bacharach. “
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” is the sweetest, most pleasing song from the monumental “The Queen is Dead” album. In many ways, it bottles down the essence of The Smiths to a near four minutes.
3. “Summer Babe – Winter Version” (1992) – Pavement
Pavement was an art-rock band of slackers who, when they wanted, could be as direct and memorable as any of the bands on the radio. “Summer Babe – Winter Version” was not just the opening song from the band’s debut, “Slanted & Enchanted.” It was also their most straightforward and pleasing indie rock composition.
It also told you a lot about the kind of laid-back weirdness Stephen Malkmus and his bandmates were out there seeking. There are plenty of copy-cat indie-rock bands like this, but none are quite Pavement.
4. “Freak Scene” (1988) – Dinosaur Jr.
Independent music in the 1980s, for the most part, was focused on hard work and simple power chords. But while Dinosaur Jr. created a colossally noisy sound, they were also an excellent three-piece combo. “Freak Scene” was a letter of intent, one of the best indie rock songs of the decade, and, with each passing year, proof of the early greatness of J. Mascis and Dinosaur Jr.
5. “Take Me Out” (2004) – Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand looked at 2000s indie rock like a mountain climber looking at the Himalayas. Here was their opportunity to make a name for themselves. They were going to inject their own artsy ideas into it while at it. “Take Me Out” is a forward-thinking song, for sure. But it’s built around a classic rock riff. The riff was undeniable. For a while, Franz Ferdinand was the premier band in indie-rock. You can still easily hear why “Take Me Out” was a hit.
6. “Seven Nation Army” (2003) – The White Stripes
One guitar riff could still change everything. Indie-rock songs of the 2000s weren’t above using this tool. This is what Jack White found out when he first played his blues-rock note sequence. Soon enough, crowds of thousands were chanting it at sports events. The passion for the song has never died down.
The White Stripes, Meg, and Jack, might just be the smartest band of the 2000s. The group achieved success singing the blues or playing garage rock. They made themselves loved by critics and general audiences alike.
7. “Last Nite” (2001) – The Strokes
Had The Strokes merely looked good in vintage t-shirts, it would’ve been enough. Had they only been bankrolled by rich parents, they wouldn’t be on a list celebrating the best indie songs of the 2000s.
Julian Casablancas knew a good tune when he heard it. Tom Petty’s “American Girl” was ripe for the taking (no pun intended). But it was the energy and charm of The Strokes that helped make “Last Nite” a colossal hit. It ushered in a new era of skinny jeans and anxious-sounding power chords.
8. “Bastards of Young” (1985) – The Replacements
The Replacements were kids who looked unlikely to go anywhere further than their hometown. And they knew plenty of other kids liked them. That was what “Bastards of Young,” off of “Tim,” was about. It was about putting yourself on the line to escape your fate.
Luckily, The Replacements had a great songwriter, Paul Westerberg, and an exuberant cast of punk-rock musicians. There isn’t much indie-rock that’s better than The Replacements.
9. “Loser” (1994) – Beck
The very best indie rock songs of all time are those that are surprising the first time you hear them and continue to sound fresh years after their release. To some, “Loser” was a great novelty song. To others willing to trust Beck, it was a vision of the musical future. These were images and sounds jumbled up and glued together in a postmodern world. “Loser” is still an earworm and one of the great indie rock songs.
10. “Fools Gold” (1989) – The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses brought dance music back into rock. In the years prior, rockers had given up on making anyone dance, relying mostly on force. Manchester’s finest, The Stone Roses, were coming straight out of the nightclub.
But they were finding ways of getting those positive vibes and dance grooves made using guitars, bass, and drums. “The Stone Roses” album is a monumental release. Led by Reni’s marvelous grooves, “Fools Gold” has its place in the indie rock bible.
11. “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” (2006) – Arctic Monkeys
The first time “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” was heard by rock critics in Britain, they knew they’d found their version of The Strokes. Arctic Monkeys wrote songs about nights out in Sheffield. Alex Turner’s words were witty and funny. And, like many of the best indie-rock bands, they could make the kids dance. “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” was immediate, catchy, and demanded to be placed on repeat. It’s one reason why “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” is a modern, stone-cold classic.
12. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” (1998) – Neutral Milk Hotel
“Where does this music come from?” That was the reaction of many young music listeners who discovered “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.” Likely, by the time of the discovery, Neutral Milk Hotel was no longer an active band. But the ghostly sounds of a band who had stumbled upon something truly special meant that the group had its place in the pantheon of indie rock greats.
13. “Blister in the Sun” (1983) – Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes like Pixies were genuinely bizarre and effortlessly melodic. They also made the decision of liking them or not quite easy. “Blister in the Sun” sounded like a punk band forced to play with their acoustic guitars on the sidewalk. The lyrics were unnerving. It was hard to assume the intentions of Violent Femmes. And the chorus was superb. The debut album by Violent Femmes is still a must-listen for anyone thinking of creating an alternative or indie-rock band.
14. “Can’t Stand Me Now” (2004) – The Libertines
The Libertines lived for drama and thrived off it. For a while. “Can’t Stand Me Now” chronicles the story of Peter Doherty and Carl Barat, once best friends embroiled in frequent bust-ups. But the tune is superb. It showed that the band could outdo its debut, “Up the Bracket,” but that longevity would be hard to achieve.
It’s The Libertines at their best. And while you get the sense that they lied about most of the things they’d sung about before, there’s a real earnestness about “Can’t Stand Me Now.” The prophecy turned out to be true. The Libertines broke up for the first time after this release. For a while, it was the perfect note to go out on.
15. “Electric Feel” (2007) – MGMT
The success of 2000s indie-rock erased genre distinctions. Most of Indie’s biggest songs sounded like dance numbers anyway. So, who could demand that the bands only play guitars and acoustic drums? MGMT were psychedelic-loving pranksters with time on their hands and the latest musical gear. “Electric Feel” turned them, overnight, into stars. Sure, they fought against making the same song or record twice. Instead, the duo was happy to have “Electric Feel” as one of the most emblematic indie disco tunes. MGMT was one of the greatest indie rock bands of the 2000s.
16. “A Design for Life” (1996) – Manic Street Preachers
By 1996, Manic Street Preachers were in a terrible state after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, but not yet defeated. The Welsh group managed to pour all of its disappointment and, indeed, the weight of their earliest work in “A Design for Life.” The result was an anthem against complacency or fatalism. It was the Manics’ biggest hit and a reason to keep going.
17. “Just Like Honey” (1985) – The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain had a dream. They wanted to write Phil Spector-like songs where the “wall of sound” was made up of feedback. Their songs contained great melodies and an aggressive, impenetrable noise behind them. “Just Like Honey” was the indie rock song on which this approach worked best. It is one of the best songs of the 1980s. It’s no wonder Sofia Copolla is so fond of using it in her movies.
18. “This Charming Man” (1984) – The Smiths
Never have two such different musicians managed to balance each other’s efforts better than The Smiths. “This Charming Man” is the best example. While Morrissey theatrically sings about being accused of stealing and not having a stitch to wear for the party, Johnny Marr bulldozers through the tune with his incredible folk-rock guitar lines. Mysterious, memorable, and arriving gloriously shaped seemingly out of nowhere, The Smiths’ debut must’ve been a revelation to anyone who heard it.
19. “New Slang” (2001) – The Shins
Indie-rock was certainly not the music of outright machismo as much of alternative rock had been. Its best songwriters were allowed to pour their feelings into their music without audiences striking in anger. Few songs were as affecting as “New Slang” by The Shins. And after being featured in the movie “Garden State,” The Shins had been given the largest platform to reach people who felt the same same. “New Slang” is one of the most famous indie songs of the 2000s.
20. “Mr. Brightside” (2004) – The Killers
Like all great indie-rock bands, The Killers wore their influences on their sleeve. “Mr. Brightside” recalled Blondie and great 80s pop-rock bands. But the music had an urgency to it, and the lyrics possessed a sense of melodrama that made it a near-instant hit. For the next decade or so, it was inescapable. Indie disco dancefloors practically made a living off The Killers. And the Las Vegas indie-rockers became a few brand new stadium-filling bands formed in the 2000s.
- Someday (2001) – The Strokes
- Le Vent Nous Portera (2001) – Noir Desir & Manu Chao
- Don’t Look Back Into the Sun (2004) – The Libertines
- Norgaard (2011) – Vaccines
- Bigmouth Strikes Again (1986) – The Smiths
- Where It’s At (1996) – Beck
- Miss Misery (1998) – Elliott Smith
- This Fire (2004) – Franz Ferdinand
- Do I Wanna Know? (2013) – Arctic Monkeys
- Loaded (1991) – Screamadelica
- Float On (2004) – Modest Mouse
- Wake Up (2004) – Arcade Fire
- Lisztomania (2009) – Phoenix
- I Know It’s Over (1986) – The Smiths
- Reptilia (2003) – The Strokes
- Add It Up (1983) – Violent Femmes
- Fell In Love With a Girl (2001) – The White Stripes
- Where Is My Mind? (1988) – Pixies
- Devils Haircut (1996) – Beck
- Panic (1987) – The Smiths
- Time to Pretend (2007) – MGMT
- Time for Heroes (2002) – The Libertines
- Feel the Pain (1994) – Dinosaur Jr.
- Monkey Gone to Heaven (1989) – Pixies
- Faster (1996) – Manic Street Preachers
- Movin’ On Up (1991) – Screamadelica
- 1901 (2009) – Phoenix
- Here Comes Your Man (1989) – Pixies
- When the Sun Goes Down (2006) – Arctic Monkeys
- Holland, 1945 (1998) – Neutral Milk Hotel
- Gold Soundz (1994) – Pavement
- The Boy With the Arab Strap (1998) – Belle and Sebastian
- I Wanna Be Adored (1989) – The Stone Roses
- Hey (1989) – Pixies
- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Pt. 1 (2002) – The Flaming Lips
- Maps (2003) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Cut Your Hair (1994) – Pavement
- I Wanna Be Yours (2013) – Arctic Monkeys
- Cannonball (1993) – The Breeders
- Zurich Is Stained (1992) – Pavement
- I Will Dare (1984) – The Replacements
- Rocks (1994) – Primal Scream
- Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked (2008) – Cage the Elephant
- A-Punk (2008) – Vampire Weekend
- Can’t Hardly Wait (1987) – The Replacements
- Get Me Away from Here, I’m Dying (1996) – Belle and Sebastian
- Hotel Yorba (2001) – The White Stripes
- I Am the Resurrection (1989) – The Stone Roses
- The Less I Know the Better (2015) – Tame Impala
- Start Choppin’ (1993) – Dinosaur Jr.
- Alex Chilton (1987) – The Replacements
- Apocalypse (2017) – Cigarettes After Sex
- Chicago (2005) – Sufjan Stevens
- Evil (2004) – Interpol
- Hardest Button to Button (2003) – The White Stripes
- Hard to Explain (2001) – The Strokes
- Cigarette Daydreams (2013) – Cage the Elephant
- Between the Bars (1997) – Elliott Smith
- Salad Days (2014) – Mac DeMarco
- Obstacle 1 (2004) – Interpol
- Clint Eastwood (2005) – Gorillaz
- Gone Daddy Gone (1983) – Violent Femmes
- Kids (2007) – MGMT
- Breezeblocks (2012) – alt-J
- PDA (2004) – Interpol
- Lonely Boy” (2011) – Black Keys
- “Spread Your Love” (2001) – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- “Wolf Like Me” (2006) – TV On the Radio
- “Hate to Say I Told You So” (2000) – The Hives
- “White Winter Hymnal” (2008) – Fleet Foxes
- “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” (2003) – Jet
- “Feel Like We Only Go Backwards” (2012) – Tame Impala
- “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” (2005) – Death Cab for Cutie
- “I Need My Girl” (2013) – The National
- “Get Free” (2002) – The Vines
- “First Day of My Life” (2005) – Bright Eyes
- “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” (2007) – The Wombats
- “Dashboard” (2007) – Modest Mouse
- “Tighten Up” (2010) – Black Keys
- “Main Offender” (2000) – The Hives
Notable Mentions Just Outside of Top 100 - “Autumn Sweater” (1997) – Yo La Tengo
- “Red Morning Light” (2003) – Kings of Leon
- “I Got Mine” (2008) – Black Keys
- “Pillar of Salt” (2006) – The Thermals
- “Plug In Baby” (2001) – Muse
- “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” (2010) – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (1985) – Camper Van Beethoven
- “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” (2011) – The Vaccines
- “Pumped Up Kicks” (2011) – Foster the People
- “Freaking out the Neighborhood” (2012) – Mac DeMarco
- “Come Closer” (2011) – Miles Kane
- “Novacaine For the Soul” (1996) – Eels
- “Sweater Weather” (2012) – The Neighbourhood
- “An Honest Mistake” (2005) – The Bravery
- “Money” (2011) – The Drums
- “I Know What I Am” (2009) – Band of Skulls
- “No You Girls” (2009) – Franz Ferdinand
- “Men’s Needs” (2007) – The Cribs
- “When You Were Young” (2006) – The Killers
- “Supermassive Black Hole” (2006) – Muse
- “Figure it Out” (2014) – Royal Blood
- “Chelsea Dagger” (2006) – The Fratellis
- “I Predict a Riot” (2005) – Kaiser Chiefs
- “Hang Me Up to Dry” (2007) – Cold War Kids
- “Munich” (2005) – Editors
- “Here it Goes Again” (2005) – OK Go
- “Mountain at My Gates” (2013) – Foals
- “Feel It Still” (2017) – Portugal. The Man
- “Stolen Dance” (2013) – Milky Chance
- “Sail” (2011) – AWOLNATION
