The Best Indie Rock Bands to Check Out Right Now

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

If you’re looking for some new music to check out, look no further than these great indie rock bands! From up-and-coming artists to established acts, there’s something for everyone on this list. So turn up the volume and get ready to rock out!

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The 1975

The 1975 is an English rock band that formed in 2002. The band’s members include lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, lead guitarist Adam Hann, and drummer George Daniel. The band’s debut album, released in 2013, topped the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum in the US. The band’s second album, released in 2016, also topped the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold in the US.

About the band

The 1975 are an English pop rock band from Manchester, England. The group consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, lead guitarist Adam Hann and drummer George Daniel. The band’s debut album, The 1975 (2013), reached number one in the UK and number 28 in the US. It was certified platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US.

The band’s second album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016), entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and the US Billboard 200 at number two. It won Best British Album at the 2017 Brit Awards. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. In May 2018, they released a single entitled “Give Yourself a Try”, followed by “Love It If We Made It” in July. Their third album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018), was released on 30 November 2018 and peaked at number four on both charts.

Their sound

The 1975 is an English indie rock band formed in 2002. The group consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew “Matty” Healy, drummer George Daniel, bassist Ross MacDonald, and keyboardist Adam Hann. They have released four studio albums: The 1975 (2013), I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it (2016), A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018), and Notes on a Conditional Form (2020).

The band’s origins trace to Healy and Daniel’s attendance at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire, where they formed the group Drive Like I Do. The duo shared a love of performing live, and began playing gigs around Manchester while still in school. Drive Like I Do broke up in 2009, but Healy and Daniel continued to work together. In late 2011, they recruited Hann and MacDonald as their new bandmates, adopted the name “The 1975”, and began working on new material.

The band released their debut single “Chocolate” in August 2012 to positive reviews from music critics. Their self-titled debut album followed in September 2013 and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. It was later certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album’s second single, “Sex”, peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart while its third single, “Robbers”, reached number nine. The band’s second album, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, was released in February 2016 to positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and became the fastest-selling album by a band since Blur’s 1997 self-titled album. Its lead single “Love Me” peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart while its second single “The Sound” reached number 17; both received widespread radio airplay in the United Kingdom.

Notable songs

The 1975 is an English pop rock band from Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald and George Daniel. The band’s debut album, titled The 1975, was released on 2 September 2013 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records. Their second album I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it was released on 26 February 2016 and debuted at number one in the UK and number five in the US.

The band has released a number of successful singles, such as “TheSound”, “Love Me”, “Somebody Else”, “Chocolate”, “Girls” and “Robbers”.

The National

The National is an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Aaron and Bryce are the twin brothers of the band. The National has released eight studio albums, two of which were on the list of “The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far” (2010 and 2013).

About the band

The National is an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Originally self-released in 2001, the band’s fourth album, Alligator (2005), brought them to the attention of a wider audience. Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), the band’s fifth and sixth albums respectively, were also highly praised by critics. A seventh album, Sleep Well Beast was released on September 8th, 2017 to critical acclaim.

Their sound

The National’s music has been called dark, sad, and even depressing by some. But that’s not an entirely accurate representation of their sound. Sure, their lyrics often deal with heavy subject matter like addiction, mental health, and mortality, but there’s also a good amount of hope, love, and humor woven into their songs.

And while The National might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying that they’re one of the most important indie rock bands of the last 20 years. They’ve released six studio albums, all of which have been met with critical acclaim, and their live shows are legendary. If you’re a fan of indie rock, or just good music in general, The National are definitely worth checking out.

Notable songs

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums).

The group’s eponymous debut album was released in 2001 on Brassland Records to critical acclaim. The National’s second album, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, was released in 2003 also to critical acclaim. Their third album, Alligator, was released in 2005 to wider commercial success and acclaim. Boxer followed in 2007 and High Violet arrived in 2010; both albums improved upon the commercial success of Alligator and were critically acclaimed. Trouble Will Find Me debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart and continued the band’s trend of increasing album sales and positive reviews from critics. The National’s seventh studio album Sleep Well Beast was released on September 8th 2017 to critical acclaim. Sleep Well Beast won “Best Alternative Album” at the 2018 Grammy Awards and “Best Rock Album” at the 2018 British Phonographic Industry Awards among numerous other accolades.

Throughout their career, The National has been nominated for various awards; they won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “I Need My Girl” from the soundtrack for All is Lost in 2013, a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album for Trouble Will Find Me in 2014, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song also for “I Need My Girl”.

Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band that was formed in 2001. The band consists of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury,Will Butler, and Jeremy Gara. The band’s debut album, Funeral, was released in 2004 and was nominated for the Juno Award for Album of the Year.

About the band

Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win’s younger brother William Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band’s eponymous debut album was released in March 2004 to critical acclaim and commercial success, winning the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year. Their second studio album, Neon Bible, was released in March 2007 and topped the charts in the United Kingdom. In 2010, Arcade Fire released their third studio album, The Suburbs, which received great reviews and won both the 2011 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year.

Their sound

Arcade Fire is an indie rock band that was formed in Montreal, Quebec in 2001. The band consists of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, Will Butler, and Jeremy Gara. The band’s sound has been described as a mix of indie rock, baroque pop, art rock, and post-punk.

Arcade Fire’s debut album, Funeral, was released in 2004 and received widespread critical acclaim. The album won the 2005 Polaris Music Prize and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The band’s second album, Neon Bible, was released in 2007 and also received critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

The band’s third album, The Suburbs, was released in 2010 and received even more critical acclaim than their previous two albums. The album won the 2011 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year.

The band’s fourth album, Reflektor, was released in 2013 and once again received critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

Arcade Fire is one of the most successful indie rock bands of all time and their sound is definitely unique. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, definitely check them out!

Notable songs

“Arcade Fire” is an indie rock band that was formed in Quebec, Canada in 2001. The band’s current lineup consists of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, Will Butler, and Jeremy Gara. The band is known for their anthemic sound and energetic live shows.

Arcade Fire’s debut album, “Funeral”, was released in 2004 and was met with critical acclaim. The album features the singles “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)”, “Neighborhood #2 (Laika)”, and “Rebellion (Lies)”. “Funeral” is considered to be one of the best indie rock albums of all time.

The band’s second album, “Neon Bible”, was released in 2007 and was also met with critical acclaim. The album features the singles “Keep the Car Running” and “Intervention”.

Arcade Fire’s third album, “The Suburbs”, was released in 2010 and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album features the singles “Ready to Start”, “We Used to Wait”, and “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”.

Arcade Fire’s fourth album, “Reflektor”, was released in 2013 and was met with mixed reviews. The album features the singles “Reflektor” and “Afterlife”.

Grizzly Bear

About the band

Grizzly Bear is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. The band consists of Edward Droste (vocals, guitar), Daniel Rossen (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Taylor (bass, backing vocals), and Christopher Bear (drums, backing vocals). Their sound has been categorized as psychedelic pop, folk rock, and experimental.

Their sound

Grizzly Bear’s sound has been described as ” downtempo “, ” ethereal “, and ” warm “, with influences including Brian Wilson, Neil Young, and the Beach Boys. In an interview with Glide , Droste said that the band’s song “Ready, Able” was written in the key of C major .

In March 2006, AllMusic wrote that Grizzly Bear’s “[…] overall sound is pastoral and downcast but also beautifully crafted”. The website later said that the band’s sound on Yellow House was “[…] slightly more accessible [/i] than on their debut”. The A.V. Club said that on […] Veckatimest [/i] , Grizzly Bear “[…] fill every inch of sonic space with fragile melodies and gorgeous waves of noise”.

Notable songs

“Ready Ain’t Gonna Happen”
“Heaven”
“While I’m Alive”
“What’s Wrong”
“Will Put A Smile On Your Face”

Grizzly Bear is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. The band consists of Ed Droste (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Daniel Rossen (vocals, guitar, banjo), Christopher Bear (drums, vocals) and Chris Taylor (bass, backing vocals). Their sound has been categorized as psychedelic pop, folk rock, and experimental..

Broken Social Scene

About the band

“Broken Social Scene is an indie rock band, formed in 1999 in Toronto. The band currently consists of Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, both of whom are also members of BSS founding member Charles Spearin’s side project, The Happiness Project. The rest of the current live lineup consists of frequent collaborators Lisa Lobsinger, Justin Peroff, Sam Goldberg, Andy Kim and Ariel Engle. Broken Social Scene’s sound combines often disparate musical elements (post-rock experimentalism, noise pop, electronica) into complex pop songs.”

-Wikipedia

Their sound

Broken Social Scene is a Canadian rock band, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. The band’s sound combines indie rock, alternative rock, and electronica. They have released five studio albums: Feel Good Lost, You Forgot It in People, Bee Hives, Broken Social Scene, and Forgiveness Rock Record.

The band’s 2003 album You Forgot It in People was nominated for the Juno Award for Album of the Year. In 2010, they were nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Alternative Music Album for their self-titled album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Forced to Love”. Both nominations were lost to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs.

Notable songs

Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, formed in 1999. They are noted for their unique sound, which draws from many genres including rock, electronic, and hip hop. The band has released six studio albums, the most recent of which, Hug of Thunder, was released in 2017.

Notable songs by Broken Social Scene include “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl”, “Cause = Time”, “7/4 (Shoreline)”, and “Stars and Sons”.

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