New to indie
 

If someone knew nothing about indie and you had to pick 5 songs to introduce them to it what would they be?

Let's see... this is tough, because the genre is really really wide open.

1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

The best band in my opinion from the Elephant 6 Collective, these guys blended indie rock, pop, and the occasional bit of noise with healthy doses of experimentation and played with all sorts of instruments.

2. Pavement - Summer Babe (Winter Version) fromSlanted and Enchanted

This is the epitome of 90s indie rock, the lo-fi alternative sound was done perfectly on Pavement's first album.

3. Dinosaur Jr. - The Lung from You're Living All Over Me

Early indie rock from the 80's, this album is heavy noise rock done perfectly in J. Mascis' laid back, nothing else matters style.

4. Eels - Last Stop: This Town from Electro-Shock Blues

This should be a lot more accessible than the first 3 songs on the list, I realize if you're listening to more mainstream those first songs might be a bit much. This is more straightforward indie rock by the genius E, one of my favorites from the Eels.

5. Belle & Sebastian - Seeing Other People from If You're Feeling Sinister

This is probably my favorite indie pop album, and this is my favorite song from the album. Should be another pretty accessible song.

Really, don't base your opinion of indie off of these songs. The genre is hugely varied; these are 5 of my absolute favorites but there are so many different sounds in indie. I chose these because they're all pretty different and I feel these bands are the epitome of their respective sounds.

I would have to go with:
The Shins- Sleeping Lessons
Los Campesinos!- Death to Los Campesinos
Sufjan Stevens- For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Over and Over Again
Animal Collective- Grass

These are my picks for the more recent indie that has come out. You can reel newcomers in with the irresistible fun of The Shins and Los Campesinos!, show them the more soulful side with Sufjan Stevens, then move onto the bands that are more of an acquired taste, such as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Animal Collective (the less abrasive songs by them, at least).

In terms of explaining the genre
Orange Juice-Falling And Laughing
The Replacements-Unsatisfied
My Bloody Valentine-Sometimes
The National-All The Wine
Pavement-Gold Soundz

Pavement - Stop Breathing (showcases the superb songwriting of perhaps the most important Indie band ever)

Archers of Loath - Wrong (An impassioned highlight from one of Indie Rocks standout albums, Icky Mettle)

Frog Eyes - Fence Jumps the Post (one of the more experimental exponents of the Indie sound, this song is short, snappy and enchanting)

Sebadoh - Not Too Amused (Ironic detachment and disdain for humanity were prevalent lyrical themes in the early 90's lo-fi incarnation of Indie for sure, this song, in my opinion the highlight of one of my favourite albums ever, not only typifies the sound of this movement, but the lyrical themes too)

The Wrens - She Sends Kisses ( heres a gem from a band that specialises in beautiful, melodic Indie bordering at times on Folk and Pop, two subgenres of the 'Indie' genre)

Some classic indie to get you started. Then you should work your way into some modern bands.


The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (Crazy Rhythms, 1980)

"You remind me of a TV show; that's alright I'll watch it anyway"

(live, not great quality)

This song and the album of the same name invented indie music as we know it today. Lush, clean guitars, quirky lyrics, and an upbeat sound paved the way for groups like R.E.M., The Smiths, and today's modern indie folk scene. 14 years before Weezer brought geek rock to the public spectrum, the Feelies had already created a masterpiece in the genre.

R.E.M. - Harborcoat (Reckoning, 1984)

"They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts"



The opening track to R.E.M.'s sophomore album Reckoning was one of the first examples of mixing the Feelies' trademark arpeggiated riffs with pop sensibility. Harborcoat is thought provoking, catchy, and lyrically complex. Say what you want about Michael Stipe's mumbles; the man can write.

The Violent Femmes - Never Tell (Hallowed Ground, 1984)

"Hey sister, have you heard? Some people stand like trees, without a word. And what that means is that some people don't talk."



One of the scariest pieces of music ever written, the disturbing bass heavy murder ballad Never Tell, from the Femmes underrated second album set the stage for darker indie bands to come.

The Smiths - There Is A Light that Never Goes Out (The Queen is Dead, 1986)

"To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die"



Morrissey brought Romanticism to indie music, and with Johnny Marr created the best songwriting duo since Lennon/McCartney.

The Stone Roses - I Am the Resurrection (The Stone Roses, 1989)

"I am the Resurrection and I am the Light"



If there was ever an indie/alternative anthem, it would be this song. Clocking in at over 8 minutes, the closing track to the Stone Roses amazing debut album features a long, funk infected instrumental break, fantastic drumming, and something entirely alien to indie music: a guitar solo. How does it work? No idea. Believe it, it's a fantastic song.

I probably should have put this on mine. They were really probably the first "indie" band in terms of what you're thinking of (RWS). One of the best to. And if you ever get the chance to see them, go. They put on one hell of a live show. They extend the songs a lot to fit in some really cool experimental playing stuff, it's quite interesting.

As a matter of fact I'm seeing them next week with Sonic Youth in Boston. Should be a fantastic show. I'm so psyched.

Neutral Milk Hotel-Two Headed Boy
The Smiths-There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Pavement-Heaven Is A Truck
Sufjan Stevens-Casimir Pulaski Day
Elliott Smith-Coming Up Roses

Congrats on 4k posts fasho!