The greatest indie rock albums of all time all have a few things in common. They contain great, usually off-kilter songs. They’re made following the muse, often to dark corners, not trailing commercial expectations. And, all, without exception, have caused a few other musicians to purchase the album and exclaim: “I must do something like this!”
Rob Sheffield, a music reviewer and a man who never interacted with an album in any genre that he didn’t enjoy, once said that bands who couldn’t cut it in punk-rock got another chance in the new wave. Indie-rock, after the 90s, can be a bit like that in relation to alternative rock. There is a good deal of cross-correlation.
Some groups are better as indie-rock bands than they are as alternative-rock acts. Few are one thing or the other, although this, too, is not unheard of.
We’ve thus trimmed the fat off our Top 100 and eliminated some of the groups more commonly associated with alternative rock as well as punk, industrial rock, grunge, Britpop, classic rock etc.
For the most part, indie-rock is more adventurous. It involves fewer requirements of adhering to a standard sound. Bands don’t cling to a fashion code, either.
Yes, indie-rock stands for “independent music.” This was a perfectly good description until the early 1990s. Bands like Dinosaur Jr. or Sonic Youth released albums independently. And, while the music was bizarre, through hard-work and perseverance, it found a small, albeit dedicated audience.
After Nirvana’s breakthrough success, the distinction between alternative and indie was usually made by the level of testosterone-fueled aggression injected into alt-rock. Indie bands, instead, had more freedom, were often more emotional and, since the early 2000s, dressed to impress.
With this in mind, this is Alt77’s Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All-Time, all of them masterworks of this music genre.
Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All-Time
1. ”Doolittle” (1989) – Pixies
“Doolittle” by Pixies didn’t take over the world… immediately. What it did do was signal to those interested in independent rock music that the best band of the period had reached its peak. As for changing the world, “Doolittle” went about it one band at a time and continues to influence.
Pixies may have, practically invited the soft-loud-soft dynamics that grunge built a fanbase on. But, even now, nothing on “Doolittle” sounds predictable. Perhaps its Frank Black’s extraordinary melodies, the jagged guitar lines of Joey Santiago or the backing vocals of Kim Deal. Or, perhaps, nobody wrote better songs death, sex, mutilation and the Catholic Church quite like Pixies.
2. “The Queen is Dead” (1986) – The Smiths
“The Queen is Dead” by The Smiths, ironically, helped to anoint the Manchester group as the finest in the British Isles. It was a mighty good thing, too, since for this album, singer Morrissey had the British way of life firmly in his sights. Wickedly funny, taking aim at the Royal Crown, vicars, and evil bosses, “The Queen is Dead” seemed to speak directly to everyone who bought a copy of the album. Years later, the beauty of the guitar arrangements designed by Johnny Marr remains unmatched, as do greatness-proving songs like “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” or “Bigmouth Strikes Again.”
3. “Slanted & Enchanted” (1992) – Pavement
“Slanted & Enchanted” sounded like an independent rock band that had just discovered a new sound out of thin air. Listening to it closer, it was apparent that Pavement, led by singer-guitarist Stephen Malkmus, wasn’t searching with any great ambition. Regardless, the band went on to become something of a hipster’s choice but never sounded as fresh and inspired as they did on “Slanted & Enchanted,” truly one of the greatest albums of all time in indie-rock.
4. “Tim” (1985) – The Replacements
“Tim” by The Replacements proved that the band’s hard-earned image as tough boozing punk-rockers was a bit of a lie. A little bit… In fact, Paul Westerberg’s great songs reveal great sensitivity. And the playing shows a band that could rock out and lean back when needed. College radio made this into a classic. Like most of the greatest indie-rock albums, those who were on board all felt part of a secret. The Replacements was better than The Beatles, and only they knew it.
5. “You’re Living All Over Me” (1987) – Dinosaur Jr.
“You’re Living All Over Me” by Dinosaur Jr. is one of the definitive albums of 1980s independent music. It wasn’t merely the fact that this was an excellent record heavily promoted through DYI means. Significant was also the fact that J. Mascis was a full-blown guitar hero who could’ve easily chosen to pivot his band toward radio-friendly music. He didn’t, and, in turn, Dinosaur Jr. continues to be viewed as one of the most important bands in indie-rock.
6. “Elephant” (2003) – The White Stripes
“Elephant” by The White Stripes was the album that Meg and Jack White had been working toward making for a few years. The dynamic duo was, of course, one of the most critically acclaimed groups of the early 2000s. “Elephant” confirmed the hype. The White Stripes was as weird and mysterious as the critics had suggested. But Jack White also had some incredible songs in his back pocket and he knew it too. “Seven Nation Army” became an unlikely sports anthem. But from “Ball and Biscuit” to “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine”, this is one of the greatest indie-rock collections of songs of all time.
7. “Odelay” (1996) – Beck
“Odelay” by Beck made listeners and musicians need to rethink just what they were allowed to do and like. Beck felt no loyalty to a single genre or even to his chart-topping hit “Loser.” Instead, he was interested in cutting-edge recording and production techniques and in blending them with a myriad of retro or futuristic music styles. This may have been revolutionary, but the public and critics got it right away. “Odelay” is a monumental album and one of the best indie-rock records of all time.
8. “The Stone Roses” (1989) – The Stone Roses
“The Stone Roses” caught the band at its very best. Had this been recorded a little earlier, The Manchester band wouldn’t have been ready. Had it been recorded later, they would not longer have had the right energy. But, as things stood, in 1989, nobody could outplay and outparty The Stone Roses, a band equal parts 1960s good vibe and late 80s dance music. “The Stone Roses” confirmed the suspicion that rock and dance music did go together. Since few have managed to do it better, I conclude that this debut is one of the best indie-rock albums of all time.
9. “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” (2006) – Arctic Monkeys
“Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” by Arctic Monkeys was received by the British music press with the excitement that they usually reserve for the birth of a new addition to The Royal Family. Was it all hype? No! In 2006, nobody was lighter or faster on their feet than Alex Turner and his brilliantly witty lyrics about Sheffield. And the band, all absolute beginner musicians, were on fire here. “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” stood the test of time. In fact, it still sounds fresh, which is an important factor in its being considered to be one of the greatest indie-rock albums.
10. “Is This It” (2001) – The Strokes
“Is This It” by The Strokes changed the rock music scene at the start of the 2000s and launched more copycats than a New York karaoke party. But it was only fitting. The Strokes came prepared. The band was influenced by fellow NYC bands from the 70s, like Television and The Velvet Underground. They had the tunes, they had the haircuts, and, just as importantly, they had the skinny jeans. Like Arctic Monkeys’ debut, the hype hasn’t died down. The image wasn’t what made The Strokes. It was an excellent collection of songs. This is the most influential indie-rock album of the early 2000s.
11. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” (1998) – Neutral Milk Hotel
“In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” could’ve been lost to time and enjoyed exclusively by a small community of freak folk enthusiasts were it not for the internet. Now, in more innocent times, people shared their preferences across the web, and Neutral Milk Hotel entered something of a beatification process. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” touched a chord with nearly everyone who heard it. Unlike “Is This It”, it hasn’t been copied often. Not successfully. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” is one of the best indie-rock albums of all time because it is a one-off.
12. “Surfer Rosa” (1988) – Pixies
“Surfer Rosa” by Pixies describes a violent world in which God punished humans, and the humans rebelled with terrible acts. But it sounded absolutely beautiful. As harmonious-sounding as The Beach Boys and as psychotic as a sociopaths’ convention, Pixies was hard to pin down. What was clear was that few bands had made a debut studio album as good as “Surfer Rosa.” Most of the musicians who heard it took something from it. This is one of the foundations for the indie-rock genre.
13. “If You’re Feeling Sinister” (1996) – Belle & Sebastian
“If You’re Feeling Sinister” by Belle & Sebastian was everything that clamorous mid-90s alternative rock couldn’t be – tenderly poetic. Belle & Sebastian’s music, like that of The Smiths, before them sounded as if it was made by bookworms glancing at a Summer’s day from their dark bedroom. The Scottish group showed a greater interest in old-fashioned folk music than in distortion pedals. Many people felt exactly the same way. This helped turn “If You’re Feeling Sinister” into something of an underground sensation, and the band continues to be popular today.
14. “Violent Femmes” (1983) – Violent Femmes
“Violent Femmes,” like the work of Pixies, seemed to be made by degenerates with the greatest ears for melodies. But this was no shock rock in the vein of Ozzy Osbourne or Alice Cooper. This…seemed to be the real thing. Quirkiness aside, “Violent Femmes” was loaded with great songs like “Blister in the Sun” or “Gone Daddy Gone.” This manic, acoustic-based indie-rock is a stone-cold classic, and all the more special since Violent Femmes never came close to repeating it.
15. “Daydream Nation” (1988) – Sonic Youth
“Daydream Nation” by Sonic Youth was the underground group’s most inventive, daring release and, coincidentally, the moment when mainstream listeners became partly receptive. This is quite an incredible achievement and speaks to the overwhelming quality of the album. “Daydream Nation” is no easy listen. It features feedback, wild dissonance, and strangely tuned guitars played in unorthodox ways. Sonic Youth had always dreamed of themselves as dadaist rockers and came closest to their goal here.
16. ”The Holy Bible” (1994) – Manic Street Preachers
”The Holy Bible” is an unrelenting piece of indie-rock nihilism, the kind that even Friedrich Nietzsche might feel uncomfortable with. Having succeeded with the initial phase for chart success, Manic Street Preachers was to take out its dissatisfaction with their new-found status and the world at large in these songs. The collection reflects Richey Edwards‘ frail state of mind. But it also captures an uncompromising, angry, young band making one of the best indie-rock albums of all time.
17. “Up the Bracket” (2002) – The Libertines
“Up the Bracket” by The Libertines was as much a great album about the British way of life as “The Queen is Dead” or “Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).” The fact that it had been the band’s love with New York’s The Strokes that had launched this didn’t matter. Neither did Peter Doherty and Carl Barat’s predilection to prioritize Camden Street parties over recording. The Libertines had the songs and the look. “Time for Heroes” or “Boys in the Band” were exceptional. It was some of the best indie-rock that happened in The U.K. in the 2000s.
18. “Pyschocandy” (1985) – The Jesus and Mary Chain
“Pyschocandy” by The Jesus and Mary Chain sounds like a great plan that could only work on paper. But it did, and it was a group of extremely cool-looking Scottish musicians who brought Beach Boys-like melodies and song structure together with colossal levels of feedback that only The Velvet Underground would have sanctioned. “Just Like Candy” and “You Trip Me Up” are indicative of the time, and “Psychocandy” has to be considered one of the best indie-rock albums ever.
19. “Loveless” (1991) – My Bloody Valentine
“Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine has a story that is nearly as famous as the music found on the album. My Bloody Valentine, like Primal Scream or The Jesus and Mary Chain, was under the patronage of Creation Records’ Alan McGee. But the never-ending recording sessions for this album nearly bankrupted the label. Once it was finally over, all of the effort was rewarded instantly. Nothing sounded like “Loveless”, and it’s hard to imagine that anything truly ever will.
20. “Unknown Pleasures” (1979) – Joy Division
“Unknown Pleasures” by Joy Division is responsible for all of the modern post-punk bands that you may or may not like and all of the T-shirts being worn by would-be hipsters. It’s odd, however, since this is a beautiful, sincere and, at times, hard-to-listen-to the album. Joy Division remade English punk rock their way, substituting speed for moodiness, and created one of the greatest albums ever in the process.
21. “Spiderland” (1991) – Slint
22. “The Smiths” (1984) – The Smiths
23. “Screamadelica” (1991) – Primal Scream
24. “AM” (2013) – Arctic Monkeys
25. “Let It Be” (1984) – The Replacements
26. “White Blood Cells” (2001) – The White Stripes
27. “Turn on the Bright Lights” (2002) – Interpol
28. “Either/Or” (1997) – Elliott Smith
29. “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain” (1994) – Pavement
30. “Bug” (1988) – Dinosaur Jr.
31. “Rid of Me” (1993) – PJ Harvey
32. “On Fire” (1989) – Galaxie 500
33. “Favourite Worst Nightmare” (2007) – Arctic Monkeys
34. “American Water” (1998) – Silver Jews
35. “De Stijl” (2000) – The White Stripes
36. “Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia” (2000) – The Dandy Warhols
37. “Veni Vidi Vicious” (2000) – The Hives
38. “Exile in Guyville” (1993) – Liz Phair
39. “Dry” (1992) – PJ Harvey
40. “Franz Ferdinand” (2004) – Franz Ferdinand
41. “Salad Days” (2014) – Mac DeMarco
42. “The Moon and Antarctica” (2000) – Modest Mouse
43. “Green Mind” (1991) – Dinosaur Jr.
44. “III” (1991) – Sebadoh
45. “Funeral” (2004) – Arcade Fire
46. “Bossanova” (1990) – Pixies
47. “13” (1999) – Blur
48. “Zen Arcade” (1984) – Husker Du
49. “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (2002) – Wilco
50. “Yoshimi Battles the Big Pink Robots” (2002) – The Flaming Lips
51. “Repeater” (1990) – Fugazi
52. “Vampire Weekend” (2008) – Vampire Weekend
53. “New Day Rising” (1985) – Husker Du
54. “Closer” (1980) – Joy Division
55. “Double Nickels on the Dime” (1984) – Minutemen
56. “Let England Shake” (2011) – PJ Harvey
57. “Bakesale” (1994) – Sebadoh
58. “I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One” (1997) – Yo La Tengo
59. “Last Splash” (1993) – The Breeders
60. “Moon Safari” (1998) – Air
61. “Highly Evolved” (2002) – The Hives
62. “LCD Soundsystem” (2005) – LCD Soundsystem
63. “Songs About Fucking” (1987) – Big Black
64. “Before Today” (2010) – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
65. “It’s Blitz” (2009) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
66. “Tyrrannosaurus Hives” (2004) – The Hives
67. “Modern Guilt” (2008) – Beck
68. “Light Up Gold” (2013) – Parquet Courts
69. “The Lonesome Crowded West” (1997) – Modest Mouse
70. “Starlite Walker” (1994) – Silver Jews
71. “Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request” (1996) – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
72. “Costello Music” (2006) – The Fratellis
73. “Good News for People Who Love Bad News” (2004) – Modest Mouse
74. “FIDLAR” (2013) – FIDLAR
75. “Franz Ferdinand” (2004) – Franz Ferdinand
76. “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning” (2005) – Bright Eyes
77. “Dear Science” (2008) – TV on the Radio
78. “The Suburbs” (2010) – Arcade Fire
79. “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” (2009) – Phoenix
80. “The Hour of Bewilderbeast” (2000) – Badly Drawn Boy
81. “In Our Heads” (2012) – Hot Chip
82. “Smoke Ring for My Halo” (2011) – Kurt Vile
83. “Moon Pix” (1998) – Cat Power
84. “Dirty” (1992) – Sonic Youth
85. “Beyond” (2007) – Dinosaur Jr.
86. “Lonerism” (2012) – Tame Impala
87. “Neon Bible” (2007) – Arcade Fire
88. “What the Toll Tells” (2006) – Two Gallants
89. “Twins” (2012) – Ty Segall
90. “Red Apple Falls” (1997) – Smog
91. “One Chord to Another” (1996) – Sloan
92. “Gentlemen” (1993) – Afghan Whigs
93. “You Forgot It In People” (2002) – Broken Social Scene
94. “On Avery Island” (1996) – Neutral Milk Hotel
95. “Terrible Human Beings” (2017) – The Orwells
96. “Was Dead” (2008) – King Tuff
97. “Crazy Rhythms” (1980) – The Feelies
98. “Bee Thousand” (1994) – Guided By Voices
99. “Illinois” (2005) – Sufjan Stevens
100. “Flood” (1990) – They Might Be Giants
Need a refresher on what these bands and artists sound like? Make sure to check out our dedicated Best Indie Albums of All-Time Playlist.
Looking for a deeper dive? You should definitely head over to our 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Bands and Artists, Greatest Alternative Bands, Greatest Alternative Albums, or, of course, The Greatest 100 Alternative Rock Songs of the 90s.
Honorable Mentions
101. “Oracular Spectacular” (2007) – MGMT
102. “XO” (1998) – Elliott Smith
103. “Moseley Shoals” (1996) – Ocean Colour Scene
104. “Bass Drum of Death” (2013) – Bass Drum of Death
105. “Capture/Release” (2005) – The Rakes
106. “No Need to Argue” (1994) – The Cranberries
107. “It’s a Shame About Ray” (1992) – The Lemonheads
108. “Inside In/Inside Out” (2006) – The Kooks
109. “For Respect” (1993) – Don Caballero
110. “Deserter’s Songs” (1998) – Mercury Rev
111. “Pawn Shoppe Heart” (2004) – The Von Bondies
112. “Gimme Fiction” (2005) – Spoon
113. “London 0 Hull 4” (1986) – The Housemartins
114. “Beautiful Freak” (1996) – Eels
115. “Fakebook” (2001) – Yo La Tengo
116. “The Body, The Blood, The Machine” (2006) – The Thermals
117. “Chutes Too Narrow” (2003) – The Shins
118. “Plans” (2005) – Death Cab For Cutie
119. “More Adventurous” (2004) – Rilo Kiley
120. “Boys and Girls in America” (2006) – The Hold Steady
121. “Give Up” (2003) – The Postal Service
122. “Broken Bells” (2010) – Broken Bells
123. “You Are Free” (2003) – Cat Power
124. “Dig Me Out” (1997) – Sleater-Kinney
125. “Picaresque” (2005) – The Decemberists
126. “Suck It and See” (2011) – Arctic Monkeys
127. “Walking on a Pretty Daze” (2013) – Kurt Vile
128. “Mass Romantic” (2000) – The New Pornographers
129. “Antics” (2004) – Interpol
130. “To Bring You My Love” (1995) – PJ Harvey
131. “Goo” (1990) – Sonic Youth
132. “Where You Been” (1993) – Dinosaur Jr.
133. “Call The Doctor” (1996) – Sleater-Kinney
134. “Humbug” (2009) – Arctic Monkeys
135. “Keep It Like a Secret” (1999) – Built to Spill
136. “Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle” (1996) – The Olivia Tremor Control
137. “Copper Blue” (1992) – Sugar
138. “Ride The Tiger” (1986) – Yo La Tengo
139. “Thank You Happy Birthday” (2011) – Cage the Elephant
140. “Oh, Inverted World” (2001) – The Shins
141. “Take It from the Man” (1996) – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
142. “The Monitor” (2010) – Titus Andronicus
143. “Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action” (2013) – Franz Ferdinand
144. “Almost Killed Me” (2004) – The Hold Steady
145. “My Head is an Animal” (2011) – Of Monsters and Men
146. “Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?” (1997) – Harvey Danger
147. “Too” (2015) – FIDLAR
148. “Fashion Nugget” (1996) – CAKE
149. “In the Mountain in the Cloud” (2011) – Portugal. The Man
150. “The Balcony” (2014) – Catfish & The Bottlemen
