Indie Rock Music Curation: The Best of the Best
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A weekly compilation of the best new indie rock music, hand-curated by music aficionados.
What is Indie Rock Music?
Indie rock is a genre of popular music that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1970s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produced and was initially used interchangeably with alternative rock or indie rock. In the 1980s, the use of the term “indie” began to shift from its reference to recording companies to describe style, particularly in the US, where it came to be used to describe a distinctive genre of guitar-based, melodic pop music with a post-punk sensibility. By 1985, indie had come to mean something broader: “a socio-cultural aesthetic”, according to writer John Robb.
The Best of the Best Indie Rock Bands
There are so many great indie rock bands out there, but who are the best of the best? In this article, we will count down the top 10 best indie rock bands of all time. From classic bands like Radiohead to modern up-and-comers like Vampire Weekend, there is something for everyone on this list.
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is an indie rock band that formed in Montreal, Quebec in 2001. The band’s original lineup included Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Josh Deu, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, and William Butler. The band came to prominence in 2004 with their critically acclaimed debut album Funeral. Their second album, Neon Bible, won them a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2007. Their third album, The Suburbs, was released in 2010 and was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. In 2013, they released their fourth album Reflektor.
The band has been praised for their energetic live shows and creative musical style. Pitchfork Media named them the seventh best band of the 2000s and they were included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American rock band from New York City. Formed in 1998, the group is composed of vocalist Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist Nick Valensi, rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. albums Is This It (2001) and Room on Fire (2003). Following the release of their fourth album, Angles (2011), keyboardist Nick Valensi departed from the band, reducing his role to occasional contributions; Moretti subsequently became the band’s sole drummer. Despite originally envisioning themselves as a punk rock group, they have appeared on numerous late-night talk shows and achieved mainstream success with singles such as “Someday”, “Last Nite”, and “You Only Live Once”.
The Strokes have been credited for helping to revive indie rock and garage rock. In 2002 NME named The Strokes Best New Band of the Year; VH1 similarly ranked them at number 19 out of 100 in their annual Best Live Bands countdown in 2009. In 2011 Rolling Stone readers voted The Strokes Best Indie Rock Band while in 2012 they were nominated for both Best International Group at the Brit Awards and Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards for Angles.
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is one of the best indie rock bands out there. They mix together styles like new wave, punk, and pop to create a unique and catchy sound. The band consists of four members: Ezra Koenig (vocals, guitar), Rostam Batmanglij (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), Chris Tomson (drums), and Erickarbis Feist (bass).
How to Find the Best Indie Rock Music
There are a few ways to go about finding the best indie rock music. You can either go through a music streaming service or do a simple Google search. Both of these methods have their pros and cons.
Spotify
If you’re looking for the best indie rock music, you can’t go wrong with Spotify. With over 50 million tracks and hundreds of playlists, there’s something for everyone.
To get started, simply search for “indie rock” in the Spotify app and browse through the results. You’ll find a mix of popular and lesser-known artists, as well as a variety of genres within indie rock.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out some of our favorite Spotify playlists:
-The Best Indie Rock of 2018
-The Best Indie Rock of 2017
-The Best Indie Rock of 2016
-The Best Indie Rock of 2015
Once you’ve found a playlist or artist you like, be sure to follow them on Spotify so you can stay up-to-date on new music releases.
Pandora
Pandora is one of the most popular streaming music services, and for good reason. It’s easy to use and has a massive catalog of songs. You can create custom stations based on your favorite artists, or you can browse genres and moods to find new music.
If you’re looking for the best indie rock music, Pandora is a great place to start. There are dozens of stations to choose from, so you can find the perfect mix of music for your mood. Plus, with Pandora’s throttling system, you’ll never have to worry about hearing the same song too many times in a row.
Apple Music
If you’re looking for the best indie rock music, your search should start with Apple Music. This is because Apple Music has a curated indie rock playlist that is updated on a regular basis. The playlist is called “Indie Rock Essentials,” and it features both classic and new indie rock hits. In addition to the Indie Rock Essentials playlist, Apple Music also has a number of other genre-specific playlist that could be of interest to fans of indie rock music. These playlists include “New Indie Mix,” “Best of the 2000s,” and “Ladies of Alternative.”
