The Best of 1980s Indie Rock Music

Looking for some new music to get into? Check out our list of the best 1980s indie rock tracks! From classic hits to hidden gems, there’s something for everyone.

Introduction

The 1980s saw the rise of indie rock, a genre that was defined by its DIY ethos and independent mindset. Indie rock bands were often signed to small, independent labels and eschewed the mainstream music industry. This approach to music-making helped to create a unique sound that was often raw and unpolished. Indie rock bands of the 1980s were also known for their use of unusual instrumentation and unorthodox song structures.

Some of the most iconic indie rock bands of the 1980s include The Smiths, Pixies, The Replacements, R.E.M., Hüsker Dü, and Sonic Youth. These bands helped to define the sound of indie rock and influenced many subsequent generations of musicians.

The Smiths

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of lead vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Called “one of the most influential bands of the 1980s”,[1][2] The Smiths had several singles reach the UK top twenty and all four of their studio albums reached the UK top five, including one which topped the charts.

In 1985 Marr left to pursue his own musical career; he was replaced by Craig Gannon. The remaining members continued as a trio until they finally disbanded in 1987.Internal conflict over personal, musical and ideological differences and Marr’s exhaustion after years of non-stop touring led to the group’s dissolution.

The group were widely considered one of the most important alternative rock bands of the 1980s.[3] They are also credited with being one of the first bands to bring independent record labels to prominence with their DIY attitude, spending very little money on marketing themselves or their records. The band produced several critically acclaimed studio albums, most notably Meat Is Murder (1985), and despite having a relatively short active lifespan, The Smiths gained a large posthumous cult following.[4][5]

The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. After signing to independent label Creation Records, they released their first single “Upside Down” in 1984. Their debut album Psychocandy was released to critical acclaim in 1985, and the band embarked on a successful UK tour.

My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine is one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. They helped to pioneer the sound of shoegazing, a subgenre of indie rock characterized by dreamy, ethereal soundscapes and heavy use of guitar effects. The band’s classic album Loveless is often cited as one of the best albums of the decade, and its influence can still be heard in the work of contemporary artists.

Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The band members are Thurston Moore (vocals, guitar), Kim Gordon (vocals, bass guitar, keyboards), Lee Ranaldo (vocals, guitar), Steve Shelley (drums) and Jim O’Rourke (guitar).

Sonic Youth became one of the most influential bands of their generation. They were instrumental in the development of the alternative rock scene in the 1980s and 90s. They released their debut album, Confusion is Sex, in 1983 to critical acclaim. The album helped to establish them as a leading force in the American underground music scene.

The band’s subsequent releases, including EVOL (1986), Sister (1987) and Daydream Nation (1988), cemented their place as one of the most important indie rock bands of the 1980s. Their experimental approach to music and innovative use of noise and feedback set them apart from their contemporaries.

Sonic Youth remained a vital and influential force in independent music throughout their career. They continued to release new music until their break-up in 2011.

The Pixies

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The group disbanded in 1993 under acrimonious circumstances but reunited in 2004. Their music incorporates elements of pop, surf rock, and punk rock. They are considered one of the most influential bands of the early 1990s, helping to pave the way for the alternative rock boom of the mid-1990s.

The band’s debut album, Surfer Rosa, was released in 1988 to critical acclaim and commercial success. The album’s popularity was increased by the success of the single “Gigantic”, which was included in many college radio and MTV playlists. Following the release of Surfer Rosa, the band embarked on a lengthy world tour culminating in a headlining slot at the Reading Festival in England.

The band’s second album, Doolittle, was released in 1989 and features the singles “Debaser” and “Wave of Mutilation”. The album was a commercial success and helped to cement the band’s reputation as one of the leading lights of the indie rock scene.

Following their breakthrough albums, the Pixies went on to release a further three albums: Bossanova (1990), Trompe le Monde (1991), and Indie Cindy (2014). They have also released a number of EPs and live albums over the years.

Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984 by J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph. The band was originally known as Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name to Dinosaur Jr.

Mascis and Barlow had been playing together in a band called Deep Wound from 1982 to 1984. Mascis recruited Murph, who he had played with in Mod’s and Flipper Rule, to play drums. The trio began playing live shows in the summer of 1984. They were soon joined by guitarist Charlie Nakajima, who played with Mascis in existential funk outfit Everyone.

Dinosaur Jr.’s first album, Dino Demo (1984), was a collection of demos recorded by Mascis on a four-track reel-to-reel recorder. The tapes were sent to various record labels, but no one expressed interest in the band. In 1985, the group released their first single, “Repulsion,” on the small independent label Homestead Records. The single sold out its initial pressing of 1,000 copies.

After the release of “Repulsion,” Dinosaur Jr. began to receive attention from the underground press and college radio stations. Their debut album, You’re Living All Over Me (1987), was released on Homestead Records to positive reviews from the music press. The album performed well on college radio charts and helpedestablish Dinosaur Jr.’s reputation as an important new voice in rock music.

Hüsker Dü

Hüsker Dü was an American rock band that was active from 1979 to 1987. The band was formed in Minnesota by Bob Mould, Grant Hart, and Greg Norton. Hüsker Dü became one of the leading bands of the American punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s.

The band’s breakthrough album, Zen Arcade, was a double album released in 1984. It is considered one of the landmark records of the 1980s underground rock scene. The album’s success helped to sign the band to their first major label, Warner Bros. Records, which would release their next three albums.

The band’s third album, New Day Rising, was released in 1985 and is considered one of their best works. The album includes the singles “I Apologize” and “Makes No Sense at All”, both of which received heavy airplay on MTV and college radio.

In 1986, Hüsker Dü released their fourth album, Candy Apple Grey. The album’s first single, “Statues”, received moderate attention from college and alternative radio stations. The album’s second single, “Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely”, received more attention and became the band’s highest-charting single, reaching number 24 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart.

R.E.M.

In 1980, R.E.M. released their first single, “Radio Free Europe,” on the independent label Hib-Tone. The song was an instant college radio hit, and helped launch the band’s career. R.E.M. went on to become one of the most successful indie rock bands of all time, releasing a string of classic albums in the 1980s and ’90s including Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984), Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Document (1987), and Out of Time (1991).

Conclusion

As we come to the end of our list, we want to thank you for taking the time to read it. We hope you’ve found some new music to love, and that you’ll continue to support independent artists in the future. Thank you!