The Best Indie Rock Music of 2015
A list of the best indie rock albums of 2015 according to Pitchfork, NME, Spin, and more.
Best Indie Rock Songs of 2015
It’s no secret that 2015 was a great year for music, and indie rock was no exception. From huge indie anthems to more under-the-radar tracks, there was a lot of great music to choose from. Here are our picks for the best indie rock songs of 2015.
“Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
This song is from the album “Sound & Color” released in 2015. It was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.
“Bury Me” by Angel Olsen
“Bury Me” is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Angel Olsen, from her 2015 album My Woman. The song was released as a single on August 18, 2016.
“Bury Me” is a slow-burning track that builds to a powerful crescendo, with Olsen’s powerhouse vocals leading the way. The song is an ode to heartbreak and loss, and features some of Olsen’s most stunning vocal work to date. “Bury Me” is a standout track from an already incredible album, and is one of the best indie rock songs of 2015.
“Expectations” by Beach Slang
Beach Slang’s lead singer and guitarist James Alex is no stranger to the ups and downs of life in a rock band. He was a member of Weston, Pennsylvania’s most successful punk outfit of the ’90s, The Gates of Hell. But when that band broke up, Alex retreated from music altogether, working odd jobs and struggling with addiction. In 2013, he decided to give it another shot, forming Beach Slang with former Hella bassist Ed McNulty and drummer JP Flexner.
“Expectations” is the first single from Beach Slang’s debut album, The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us. The song is an anthemic ode to the power of rock & roll to save us from our mundane lives. It’s also a reminder that, no matter how old we get, we’re still kids at heart who need something to believe in.
“No Cities to Love” by Sleater-Kinney
The indie rock trio’s first album in 10 years is a return to the band’s punk roots, with an anthemic sound that’s sure to get you pumped. The song is a rallying cry for misfits and outcasts everywhere, with its shouted chorus of “There are no cities to love!”
“I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem
“I Can Change” is a song by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, American Dream, on May 17, 2017.
The song received positive reviews from critics, who praised its anthemic sound and LCD Soundsystem’s return to form. It peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Best Indie Rock Albums of 2015
The year 2015 was a strong one for indie rock music. A lot of great albums were released and it was hard to narrowed it down to just a few. However, we managed to do it and here are our picks for the best indie rock albums of 2015.
To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar is one of the best indie rock albums of 2015. It is a concept album that tells the story of Lamar’s life, and his struggles with race, identity, and fame. The album is sonically adventurous, and features many guest musicians, including George Clinton, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat.
Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes
If there was ever any doubt that Brittany Howard was one of the greatest front-persons of her generation, Sound & Color should dispel it. The Alabama Shakes’ sophomore album is a masterclass in modern rock ‘n’ roll, fusing classic sounds with modern production to create a sound that is at once vintage and completely new. It’s a record that is both muscular and intimate, with Howard’s powerhouse vocals anchoring songs that touch on everything from love and loss to politics and race. With Sound & Color, the Alabama Shakes have cemented their place as one of the best rock bands of our time.
My Beauty by Beach House
Beach House’s fifth album, “Depression Cherry,” released in August 2015, is the follow-up to the band’s highly acclaimed 2012 release, “Bloom.” “Depression Cherry” was recorded at legendary sound engineer/producer Bob Ezrin’s (Pink Floyd, Lou Reed) home studio in Ontario, Canada.
On “Depression Cherry,” Beach House expands on the sound that they have become known for and takes it in new directions. The result is an album that is both beautiful and haunting.
“My Beauty” is the lead track on “Depression Cherry.” It is a slow, dreamy song with ethereal vocals by Victoria Legrand. The lyrics are cryptic and enigmatic, but they seem to be about the duality of beauty and ugly:
You’re my beauty
you’re my beast
you’re my demon
you’re my angel
you’re my disease
you’re my cure
you’re my poison
you’re my remedy
Viet Cong by Viet Cong
One of the most anticipated indie rock albums of 2015, Viet Cong’s self-titled debut is an atmospheric, murky collection of post-punk that’s as much owed to ’80s college rock as it is to contemporary artists like Deerhunter, Iceage, and the War on Drugs. The Canadian group – which features members of Women and Chad VanGaalen – made a significant splash with the singles “Bunker Buster” and “Continental Shelf,” and though their shadowy sound may not be for everyone, Viet Cong is a unique and enigmatic record that reveals more with each listen.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett
If you’re looking for a collection of perfectly crafted pop songs that also happens to be one of the best albums of the year, look no further than Courtney Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. The album is chock full of catchy hooks and Barnett’s wry, deadpan lyrics, which are delivered in her signature Australian drawl. It’s an irresistible combination that earned Barnett comparisons to Nirvana front-man Kurt Cobain.
But Barnett is very much her own artist, and she quickly established herself as one of the most exciting new voices in indie rock with this debut album. Standout tracks like “Elevator Operator” and “Pedestrian at Best” are sure to become Alternative radio staples, but the whole album is worth a listen. If you’re looking for something new to get into this year, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit should definitely be at the top of your list.
