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Posted on 30/03/09 at 07:17:24 pm
Most bloggers so far (Stereogum, for example) have been pretty kind about Amazon's 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums list – but that's surely because most of the big music blogs are written by 30-something American Pavement fans, and this is a decidedly 30-something American Pavement fan kind of list.
100 indie-rock albums and nothing by The Smiths, The Libertines or My Bloody Valentine? The list is also hamstrung by the classic music snob's aversion to mainstream bands. Nothing by R.E.M.? Not even 'Murmur'? It's an impeccable list in many ways - but it all just feels a bit joyless, a bit worthy. But you may disagree. Amazon's Top 100 after the jump.
100 Dangerous Magical Noise - The Dirtbombs
99 Passover - The Black Angels
98 To Survive - Joan As Police Woman
97 Ultimate Alternative Wavers - Built To Spill
96 Trans Am - Trans Am
95 The Discovery Of A World Inside... - The Apples In Stereo
94 Waiter: 'You Vultures!' - Portugal The Man
93 Alligator - The National
92 Horses In The Sky - Silver Mt. Zion
91 Gallowsbird's Bark - The Fiery Furnaces
90 Louden Up Now - (!!! Chk Chik Chick)
89 The Milk-Eyed Mender - Joanna Newsom
88 The Power Out - Electrelane
87 Cure For Pain - Morphine
86 Worn Copy - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
85 Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
84 Hearts Of Oak - Ted Leo/Pharmacists
83 Save Yourself - Make Up
82 The Last Match - The Aislers Set
81 The Sea and the Bells - Rachel's
80 The Ugly Organ - Cursive
79 De Stijl - The White Stripes
78 Nothing Feels Good - The Promise Ring
77 The Smell Of Our Own - The Hidden Cameras
76 Jane From Occupied Europe - Swell Maps
75 Furnace Room Lullaby - Neko Case
74 The Curtain Hits The Cast - Low
73 The R&B Of Membership - The Delta 72
72 II & III - Camper Van Beethoven
71 Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating... - Spiritualized
70 The Fawn - The Sea And Cake
69 Feast of Wire - Calexico
68 Oh, Inverted World - The Shins
67 Will You Find Me - Ida
66 Milk Man - Deerhoof
65 Coquelicot Asleep In The Poppies... - Of Montreal
64 Rejoicing in The Hands - Devendra Banhart
63 Destroyer's Rubies - Destroyer
62 TNT - Tortoise
61 Neon Golden - The Notwist
60 Daddy's Highway - The Bats
59 Set Yourself On Fire - Stars
58 Fabulous Muscles - Xiu Xiu
57 Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes - TV On The Radio
56 The Decline And Fall Of Heavenly - Heavenly
55 The Mysterious Production of Eggs - Andrew Bird
54 Pussy-Whipped - Bikini Kill
53 Sing No Evil - Half Japanese
52 Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express - The Go Betweens
51 Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Stereolab
50 And Don't The Kids Just Love It - Television Personalities
49 Wild Love - Smog
48 Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros
47 Red House Painters I - Red House Painters
46 Advisory Committee - Mirah
45 How Memory Works - Joan Of Arc
44 On Fire - Galaxie 500
43 On - Imperial Teen
42 Mass Romantic [Remastered] - The New Pornographers
41 Gulag Orkestar - Beirut
40 This Nation's Saving Grace - The Fall
39 You Forgot It In People - Broken Social Scene
38 I Am A Bird Now - Antony & The Johnsons
37 When Your Heartstrings Break - Beulah
36 Our Endless Numbered Days - Iron & Wine
35 Person Pitch - Panda Bear
34 Let's Get Out of This Country - Camera Obscura
33 Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
32 Let It Be [Expanded Edition] - The Replacements
31 Repeater + 3 Songs - Fugazi
30 Zen Arcade - Hüsker Dü
29 24 Hour Revenge Therapy - Jawbreaker
28 Lift Your Skinny Fists... - godspeed you black emperor!
27 Yellow House - Grizzly Bear
26 The Glow Pt. 2 - The Microphones
25 Black Candy - Beat Happening
24 Funeral - Arcade Fire
23 Moon Pix - Cat Power
22 Diary - Sunny Day Real Estate
21 Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil... - Bright Eyes
20 I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One - Yo La Tengo
19 Kill the Moonlight - Spoon
18 Give Up - The Postal Service
17 Dig Me Out - Sleater-Kinney
16 No Pocky for Kitty - Superchunk
15 I See A Darkness - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
14 We Have The Facts and We're Voting Yes - Death Cab For Cutie
13 Michigan - Sufjan Stevens
12 Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
11 69 Love Songs Volume 1 - The Magnetic Fields
10 Bakesale - Sebadoh
09 Either/Or - Elliott Smith
08 Surfer Rosa - Pixies
07 If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle & Sebastian
06 Slanted & Enchanted - Pavement
05 Imperial f.f.r.r. (Deluxe Edition) - Unrest
04 Exile In Guyville - Liz Phair
03 Spiderland - Slint
02 In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
01 Bee Thousand - Guided by Voices
Permalink
joe [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 21:14
did you seriously expect the libertines??
seems a very very solid and comprehensive list, nice to see the replacements in there and the amazing guided by voices at number one.
and i'm 18, from the uk and not too big on pavement.
[Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 21:36
No Smiths or Joy Division/New Order is just...insulting. They basically invented indie. I can't claim to have heard most of these, but something tells me there's a dozen bands who deserve to be in it over most of these most-likely-mediocre albums. Terrible list but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
jam [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 21:42
where is jamc
Cláudia Ribeiro [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 22:01
crappy list!
Tom [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 22:36
Does the fact i dont no the majority of these mean i no nothing about music, or this is a shit list??
[Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 22:50
Well, it's a bit focused on America, but you can't argue with Elliot Smith, the Pixies, Belle & Sebastian, Pavement, Neutral Milk Hotel and Guided By Voices.
Just add Doolittle, The Queen is Dead and OK Computer (if you consider Radiohead indie. They were on a major label most of the time, but they do/did share the aesthetic) and you have a pretty good top ten.
Adrian [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 23:11
No Smiths, yes (a travesty), but any list with Slanted And Enchanted in the top 10 is alright by me. Has given me a few ideas as to what I'll buy next.
thedude [Visitor] //March 30 2009 at 23:26
nice to see Spoon in there, but where the fuck is Pinkerton!
steve [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 00:26
no Pixies either, thats just a stupid meaningless rubbish, crap list of bands nobody cares about.
When I see a list I expect it afferm I listen to good music not just their their a subculture even more snobby in their tastes than me.
No Smiths FAIL
Matthew Copson [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 00:28
Its certainly an interesting list. But the actual album choices are odd- they seem to have chosen lesser albums by great artists...maybe to be 'out there' 'n all...
Examples- Bright Eyes (Most would say 'Im wide awake...' although I'd go for Cassadaga), Death Cab (personally Plans or Transatlanticism....certainly not 'We have the facts...') , TV on the radio (Dear Science- probably too 'easy listening'), Beirut (The Flying Cup Club- surely?)...
Dr Fraud [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 00:33
Orwellian Wankers. Indie = Independent. This list should be titled, "College Rock for Wimpy White People". My number one indie rock album is "Staight out of Compton"!!
Pluto [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 06:04
No libertines because they suck.. Nme is the only magazine that considers pete doherty as a musician and not a clown.
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 06:10
Not the greatest list, but there are some incredible albums there.
john [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 07:49
worst list ever, they are retards and think that the smiths are mainstream and cant be on the list. indie doesnt mean underground or new please dont post this crap
Mick [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 09:17
Strange list of records really. Full marks for stuff like Bikini Kill.
I can only it's from a US perspective.
From my point of UK perspective it misses jst about everything!
Cali [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 09:30
R.E.M. Was always on a major...yes, even during the I.R.S. years...as that was funded by a Major. My Bloody Valentine, The Libertines, and The Smiths were all released by Majors in America...I think Amazon were being sticklers about the term "indie"
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 10:20
Coming from an American perspective, this is a pretty disenchanting list. Typical "Indie" criterion in that nothing slightly well know or mainstream is included. Few good albums on here, though. I agree completely with Matthew Copson, weird album picks, certainly not the best. Maybe the most indie?? Whatever, I know my music, and all the good indie [basically any British indie] is better off not being put on this shit list.
shearer [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 10:57
hehe i got elliot smith confused woth that awful elliot minor that were around a couple of years ago and nearly had a stroke
PeteDhrty1 [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:21
What? I can't believe there's not busted! This is just ridiculous. Surely Razorlight should be number one?
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:27
Aeroplane By The Sea is awful. I don't get the appeal. The guys voice is grating.
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:33
Good call on Morphine!
Reginald [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:35
Stephen Malkmus is the greatest vocal melodist ever.
luca [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:38
camera obscura? and no smiths? no MBV . ridiculous
James B [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 12:40
It's a hipsters list! Admitedly it was great to see bands that are usulally overlooked in these kind of things but this just reeks of musical snobbery!
Rachel [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 13:17
Quite franky that's a bag of shite.
Lester Square [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 13:25
Wot no Monochrome Set?
Visitor [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 13:25
If every list had The Queen is Dead at number 1 there wouldnt be a point having any lists. Huzzah for Amazon.
Jonny [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:07
Lets be honest though. That list has more 'indie bands' than you will ever see in the NME.
Visitor [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:29
No Blur
Infinite Jester [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:45
It does seem very much a niche proper rock snob's list, doesn't it? I guess they must be really being quite strict with their criteria for indie. Still, any list with Replacements/Pavement/Pixies/Sonic Youth/Slint/Husker Du is good.
zacc [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:45
You have Sebadoh's "Bakesale" but not Dinosaur Jr.'s "You're Living All Over Me"? Weird...
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:49
This list represents the nice side of 'indie' as opposed to the uninspired, derivative version of it produced by bands like The Enemy, Libertines, Razorlight etc. Basically anything which stirs the loins of the NME. It's not about "snobbery" at all, it's just good music.
Jimmy [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 14:56
Who are My Bloody Valentine?
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:02
AWESOME to see Beat Happening so high. that's the real deal. yeah this is weighted in america's favour, but it certainly knows what it's talking about.
Infinite Jester [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:05
Its's a kind of "Hight Fidelity"-esque list. Some better known stuff alongside worthy obscurities.
I do agree with [Visitor] r.e. alot of the stuff that the NME has been raving over recently, it all seems quite samey. Maybe its just because I'm getting older and am losing touch, but a lot of current stuff just doesnt seem anywhere near as inspired as older stuff. They need to send reporters out of London to the provinces and crap rock clubs of the U.K. as opposed to Camden or wherever the Shoreditch and Hoxton trendies want to quaff their expensive wines.
Nazr [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:11
American hipsters-elitist indie list
James B [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:11
This is just a way of Amazon shifting a load of stock. Bung it in a list then sell it off!
Dave [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:29
Crikey - a top one hundred list that actually shows some imagination for a change! If NME was half as brave in the choice of music it promotes I would start buying it again.
g [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 15:32
why would you expect to see The Libertines if there's not even the fuckings Strokes in it?
laika288 [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 16:05
incredibly self righteous list. not to be taken too seriously, but not to say that its all rubbish. Anthony and The J's LP very worthy.
Crustymongo [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 16:37
My Bloody Valentine Invented shoegaze which has since inspired bands ranging from whitest boy alive, fight like apes and bat for lashes
Wallace [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 16:40
As an American I would like to apologize to every English band that should have been featured on the list. No Smiths? no Libs? No Bloc? This is definitely an indie elitist list (pitchfork probably had something to do with it) WOW what a horrible list!
Kramer [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 16:50
What an ugly geeky Pitchfork American blogger paedophile list, makes me want to headbut the wall just reading it, where's the f**king joy in this list, taking all the fun and sex out of music, f**k off, middle class college yank wank. Haha, my god I'm funny.
[Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 17:14
Lists eh? Any list where i haven't heard of any of the top 5 can only be described as a load of horseshit. Any of the smiths albums are obviously better than some on this one - that is undeniable no matter how pompous you are
Miranda [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 18:15
Wow, I pretty much didn't recognize anyone on that list.. I hope it's because I live in Sweden and was born in the nineties, not because I know nothing about music. Probably a bit of both. Hm.
caleb [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 18:23
good artists but not the best albums. Illinois is by far Sufjan Stevens best album and Twin Cinema trumps Mass Romantic as far as the New Pornographers go. Return to Cookie Mountain and Dear Science, are much better than Desperate Youth... by TVOR
Funeral should be higher
TamTheThird [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 18:35
Alrite this is utter bullshit. No Jesus and Mary Chain, no Echo & The Bunnymen, no McCarthy, no Jasmine Minks, no Flaming Lips, no Super Furry Animals, no FUCKING JOY DIVISON? What the hell?
James [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 18:45
A stupid list really. Where's The Pastels, JAMC, Primal Scream? It must just be that these albums were released on majors in the US. Nevertheless, in that case there should be a british and American list if Amazon are going to be so picky....... Actually, hold on, since when did Amazon become an authorititive voice when it came to list making. And NME can't talk. Just look at their Greatest British Albums list a few years ago. Arctic Monkeys number 5! hahahahahahahahah!
Lou T [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 19:31
Echo thoughts of those who are wondering if music knowledge escapes them! Clearly we're not all going to agree exactly on what should be on there, but Indie is a sound - a vibe, a sense of pushing something different and interesting. Not a reflection of what headed paper you grace with your ink.
Stone Roses first album, Screamadelica, The Las, the list goes on.
Lou T [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 19:32
Echo thoughts of those who are wondering if music knowledge escapes them! Clearly we're not all going to agree exactly on what should be on there, but Indie is a sound - a vibe, a sense of pushing something different and interesting. Not a reflection of what headed paper you grace with your ink.
Stone Roses first album, Screamadelica, The Las, the list goes on.
beast [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 19:45
what a fucking joke!
Matt [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 20:06
'Amazons top 100 list of a load of shit nobody's ever heard of.' Great.
Ross [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 20:21
Did Seth Cohen write this list?!
Aaron [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 20:43
It's "different" for the sake of being different. To look like it's "out there maaaaaaan".
Leandro [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 20:58
Someone can tell me where is Super Furry Animals?
John [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 21:13
This is 4 the poor...!
Fergal Kinney [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 21:26
Though I respect the audacity of this list and not going with the obvious choices, a list of the Greatest Indie-Rock Albums of All Time without the Smiths is WRONG
X
brock [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 21:58
Why is there no Smiths, Libs, or Joy division?!?!?!?!
Mooseknuckle [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 22:33
Pixie's should be #1. And, no Dinosaur Jr. or Flaming Lips? Dig a little deeper boys.
HeartattackandVine [Visitor] //March 31 2009 at 22:41
Its gotta be 1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, 2. The Smiths - The Smiths/The Queen is Dead, 3. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures, 4. The Libertines - Up the Bracket, 5. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless/The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses/Turns Into Stone with a little Pixies, Babyshambles and Elliot Smith (Rip City Baby!) thrown in there, and I'd say the smiths tie for number 1 with NMH
Band missing [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 00:36
Where are The Toronto Drug Bust ... ???
Check:
www.myspace.com/torontodrugbust
Lux [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 05:27
Stop complaining about the lack of British bands, in terms of "indie" they meant it literally, Amazon.com is an American company and most of those iconic British releases were released on major labels in the U.S. At least they The Fall's This Nations Saving Grace. Anyways I'm glad they have Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith and Beat Happening so high up.
ellie [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 05:49
i'd imagine its hard to compile a list of 100 top albums that everyone can actually agree on...i'm just glad to see elliott in the top ten! :]
Joeri [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 06:39
I actually like they were being strict about the term "indie" I mean The Flaming Lips, sure Clouds Taste Metallic and The Soft Bulletin are amazing but they were released on Warner Brothers. Ok Computer? Capitol is obviously not an indie label. The only thing I don't like about this list? Aeroplane should've been number 1.
J Bizzle [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 09:45
Ultimate Alternative Wavers at 90 something? IMO a country mile better than anything in that top 10 and i adore NMH, Guided by voices, Pixies etc....
I am glad that chose Surfer Rosa over Doolittle.
All i would add is, Black Wire, Shop Assistants, and the one that seem glaringly obvious to me is Modest Mouse - Build Something Out Of Nothing...
sarah [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 10:52
brilliant list. lovely to see plenty of bands who aren't pretty/corporate/shit enough to be in the nme on it. just because you guys haven't heard of half of it, doesn't make it bad or elitist. open your ears!
Jon [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 11:25
This is extremely wanky
Arf [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 11:33
Shit list
josh [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 12:42
i thinks it's a good list, obviously people will disagree and thats good because it's all about opinions. really glad to see Elliott Smith on there as well!
Lucy [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 14:33
Despite having 100s of indie CDs, I only have about 10 on this list. Delighted to see Heavenly included though.
Dagreat [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 16:25
The Shins at #68? Michigan over illinois? We have the facts... over Plans/Transantlanticism? No Smiths? Seriously WTF
sophie [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 16:52
no libertines... and No Gary Powell in your greatest drummer vote....thats your errror!
[Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 17:00
boo
Berlin [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 17:01
Excellent list! I cannot believe the people who dismiss it due to the fact they haven't heard of it; stop being so narrow minded and insular.
ps The Stone Roses were shit; dull meandering bollocks.
James Barnett [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 18:12
Modest Mouse??? Should be 3 albums on there but not even 1?
[Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 18:30
I won't even bother starting to list missing bands...
Matt [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 19:37
I love sufjan, but i dont get how michigan can be anywhere on the list if illinois isnt
the smiths are wank, im glad they're not in [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 19:42
the smiths are wank, im glad they're not in
tapewormer [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 19:47
Are they 12 years old or something? The list seems a tad too current and a tad too USA. The bands are all great but where is all the great indie stuff of the past! Where are all the bands that the bands in the list have ripped off (sorry, been influenced by)
Metal Fan [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 20:22
Seeing as this is a list made by a music retailer, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. They are not going to list all the famous albums that everyone already ownes and loves (smiths, REM, Radiohead etc), because that would not help increase their sales.
[Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 20:38
Well I love the libertiness and the smiths but I also love about a quarter or sooo of the bands on that list, people who are complaining should have a listen to some of those bands and stop being so narrow minded!!
Nice to see something truelly different being tabled as it's something the NME doesn't do enough of these days
iain ferguson [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 20:53
what a crap list.
Tinymike [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 21:02
Great List! Not surprised to see the average NME reader hasnt heard of most of this stuff.. You guys should try opening your eyes to music that isnt just mainstream indie..
Bruce [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 21:24
The Smiths. Meh, they do very little for me. As do musical lists.
Dani [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 21:36
is this an April Fool's joke?
pop lie [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 22:54
INTERPOL - Turn On The Bright Lights?
Department Of Eagles? Cold War Kids? The Walkmen? The Decemberists? cmon now
Tamu [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 23:05
Its better than anything NME would/have of done. Your top 10 would consist of "the libertines",The tings tings and other mediocre so called indie bands. Tbh your magazine needs to listen to better music
myself [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 23:13
Guided by Voices # 1?! are you joking?
and cat power # 23!???
tom [Visitor] //April 1 2009 at 23:48
probably the worst list of indie music possible
Jack Fitt [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 00:54
Amazon are clearly trying to make a statement! Well Frankly Mr Shankly your wrong!
Nicolas [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 04:12
Love a bit of esoteric nonsense! On a serious note, Sigur Ros deserve to be in this list's Top 10 - it is a seminal album!
SteelersFan_UK06 [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 08:29
Hate to say it, but was missing the Monkeys. Something by them. "Amazon's 100 Greatest Albums Under a Fiver"
Antony Powell and Michael Flynn [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 11:41
Fuck off! Where the fuck is The Queen is Dead you wankers!!!!!!!
Antony Powell and Michael Flynn [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 11:42
THE SMITHS!!!
Paul [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 12:12
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea should be number one no doubt
good to see Diary in there aswell
Basin [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 12:57
I agree it's shocking REM and the smiths have missed out. What about Suede? They helped the indie scene no end in the 90's.
theo [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 13:24
Fugazi are too good for indie. Post-hardcore surely.
As are Sonic Youth. Alt-rock.
However, Arctic monkeys aren't on there, or any other modern Brindie bands. This is definitely a good thing.
Chris [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 14:51
Jesus, people here are dense. In this list 'indie' means both a) indie as a genre of alt-rock and b) released on an independent label or minor label. Obviously otherwise you'd have The Smiths, Radiohead etc. That's bloody obvious. Why are you all so stupid? And why have none of you heard of these bands? What's wrong with your brains /senses?!
Chris [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 14:55
Saying that, whilst most of these artists deserve to be up there, the albums themselves are oddly chosen. Destroyer's 'Rubies' over 'Your Blues' for instance, is plain bonkers.
Andy [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 16:10
i literaly have never heard of any of these bands
theo [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 16:21
Thought Bright Eyes were on a major? :S
[Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 16:45
That's a great list. They are clearly using the American instead of the British definition of 'indie rock'.
However, no SFA = no fun.
Stefi [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 17:47
Considering the sorts of artists on this list i would say that to put a band such as The Libertines on it would be a bit out of place. (im not at all saying they arent a credible band but not really in the same 'genre' perhaps as the others.) i think for what it is attempting to show, it is a very extensive and accesible list for indie fans wanting to see something different than the usual lists. For bands such as Xiu Xiu, A Silver Mt. Zion and The Microphones, to name a few. to be mentioned in such a list is refreshing to see, and why shouldnt they be recognised for being influential to indie music, they do have large fan bases and belong to notable record labels, such as K Records for The Microphones. For example,a band such as Beat Happening has been incredibly influential for indie music today and are hardly ever given the recognition they deserve, Calvin Johnson did after all co-found K Records. Everyone knows how amazing and influential bands like The Smiths were, why continue to add them to these sorts of lists? why not, as has been done, in my opinion extremely well here, show some other bands that indie fans may not come across as easily. the top 20 is particularly wonderful, though would have been lovely too see The Magnetic Fields on the top spot! good work i say!
Jared [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 17:48
I don't see why there's such negativity.
listen to some of those bands.
they're spectacular.
pamela [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 18:14
I'm not american, I'm chilean...I'm not 30 something...I'm 20 something...And I'm most influenced by UK 90's music...But... I Think Pavement is the most importante indie band of 90's!!!
Joe Mangle [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 18:55
What a load of pretentious fucking toss!
Every single record there, without one exception, is complete GUNT!
I'm sure whoever compiled this shitlist is busy lying in his piss-soaked bed whilst weeping along to some turgid, listless drivel and masturbating folornly.
Grow some bollocks and get a life.
George-O [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 19:34
WTF? No Radiohead? I think that's ridiculous. The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A and Hail To The Thief are some of the best indie albums of all time in my opinion.
Jaaaason [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 20:18
i havnt heard most of these bands... but i suspect the people that compiled the list think that if a band has more than 30,000 bands then their not worthy of being in it.
Rob [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 20:21
Leaving out the Stone Roses and The Smiths is like leaving The Sex Pistols out of a top 100 punk bands of all time. Makes no sense. To be quite honest this selection just looks like someone's personal favourites rather than a calculated neutral approach. In other words "Bullshit"
why [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 20:39
why are you all dumb. Indie means "on an independent label" that means the Smiths and radiohead are NOT INDIE
Eoin Scully [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 20:43
That is the worst list i've ever seen,i mean seriously, guided voices,slint and neutral milk hotel????who the f*** are they???
Joeri [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 20:58
How many times do people have to say this. Radiohead are not indie! Capitol? You idiots really think that's an indie label?
Sterling [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 22:19
If you don't know who Neutral Milk Hotel, Slint, or Guided By Voices then don't freaking complain about indie list if you don't anything about influential indie bands.
Fuzzy Dunlop [Visitor] //April 2 2009 at 23:25
The US interpretation of 'Indie' is markedly different to the UK one.
It's not a bad list. Though I bet the compiler has a secret love of Fleetwood Mac but to hide it rates Moon Pix by Cat Power in public (which is rather on the dull side)
DJ Dave [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 00:28
So they've er, ignored/forgotten to mention ALL the important "indie" albums. Why there's no Stone Roses, Smiths, Oasis, Joy Division or REM is freakin' unbelievably shameful.
I've not even heard of half these acts, it just seems the voters/compilers wanna seem "cool" and vote for whatever bull floats their boats. I hate elitist views. Mainstream is better than pretence. This list is pretty pointless and pathetically poor. It sucks. It sucks.
Adrian [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 00:33
Why don't some of you people whinging about the albums on this list maybe, y'know, listen to them first?
Adrian [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 00:33
Why don't some of you people whinging about the albums on this list maybe, y'know, listen to them first?
John D [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 01:47
How can you even compile such a list? There are well into the 4 digits of records I love and "ranking them" is irrelevant. I just love em. Is this "the people's choice awards" for people that have to let you know what bands they love? Love the music. Lose the pretension. Charts are for posers. You might as well be an accountant.
bosque [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 01:59
the postal service at 18? its a good album in parts admittedly, but as good as the queen is dead?
Minami [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 06:27
All The Smiths albums were released under Rough Trade u fucking moron.
LET'S FACE IT THE LIBERTINES ARE OVERRATED AND DON'T BELONG ON ANY TOP 100 LIST. wait yeah Up The Bracket was WAY better than Surfer Rosa put it on!
LOVELESS IS A MUST. REM IS A MUST. DEATH CAB AT # 14 GTFO!
DAYDREAM NATION IS BETTER THAN BEE THOUSAND.
[Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 06:38
Who gives a damn about the list? The comments left here are far more "interesting" than amazon.com's point-of-view!
Emily [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 08:34
this isn't a list of indie bands, this is a list of mostly obscure bands that amazon has compiled to try and sound 'cool'. but if this is really all they could have come up with, Bikini Kill should have been much higher.
[Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 10:37
On the whole its not a bad list. People haven't heard of these bands because they are ignorant and self rightous. These bands are the equivilant to British indie bands in terms of size in America. Its just that youre all 14 year old NME readers who havent opened your to the vast stream of music from America and probably a lot of Britain. I bet most people here don't know who A Certain Ratio are or even who Ride are, or dont have a clue what Sarah Records is. And that is why you know fuck all about music.
[Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 11:51
Castaways and Cutouts seems to be missing? Am I the only one that thinks so? Or is it uncool to like The Decemberists now that they've signed to a major lable and released an admittedly-pretty-silly album?
bob [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 11:57
so... i LIKE this list. Refreshing to see GBV, neutral milk hotel, aislers set, microphones, magnetic fields, yo la tengo, and beulah (yay!) getting their dues. Far better than the usual dross of 'canonical' (ie boring and over-rated) albums that everyone's complaining are missing...
But why pick Wild Love by Smog? And that Built to Spill LP? And why no Lonesome Crowded West? ah well, can't have everything
Vitor [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 13:17
Where is Muse on that list? (because I think we can consider Muse as an indie band in this case)
g [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 13:18
wut no foals?!!!
omg u americans no nothing this is a joke go listen 2 proper music lol idiots lol
[Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 16:09
it's a YES to Bee Thousand
punkneverdie [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 16:27
No Strokes?????????????
[Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 16:53
i read somewhere that Oasis are an indie band (lol). I love oasis but i mean cmon.
Ryan [Visitor] //April 3 2009 at 20:01
Neutral Milk Hotel- Yes.
Slint- Yes.
But nothing by Guided By Voices will ever be better than these two. It just ain't doable. Additionally, why is Daydream Nation not higher up and if they're going for the whole niche, American, musician's-musicians thing, where the hell are Mission of Burma?
Tod [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 01:09
Neutral Milk Hotel desrerve no.1 Dont agree with many choices in this list but im glad to see that the same old shit hasnt come up again
james [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 02:06
good list, elliott smith is in a nice spot a number 9...
to be honest I don't know about a third of them -- and the disregard for british music ent nice, but hey! elliott smith so all is firgiven
Emilie [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 10:50
This is slightly ridiculous. No 'Disintegration' or 'Hatful of Hollow'.
Geoff bonsen [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 12:19
Was this compiled on April 1st?
Tom [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 13:27
To be honest I havn't heard of about half of these bands, but instead of whinging over the lack of bands such as the Smiths or JAMC who I already know and love I think its a great opportunity to find some new records even if there only 2 or 3 that I actually end up enjoying.
Although in the context of the list I can't really believe that they havn't included mclusky do dallas.
thornydevil [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 14:12
Obsessive, pointless list making. NME OCD.
Joshua [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 15:45
Wow, its a shame theres so many morons posting messages here. can I just quote: "wut no foals?!!! omg u americans no nothing this is a joke go listen 2 proper music lol idiots lol " - Is this whats representing my generation? I'm ashamed and appauled. Its an alright list but I think there needed to be MORE Fall in there and wheres Dinosaur Jr?!
the boy with the thorn in his side [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 16:03
What no Oasis? no Smiths? no Stone Roses? no La's? no Joy Division? no Blur? no Manics? no Ride? Epic, epic fail. Typical yank "indie fans"
f [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 16:48
seems like they have just written a list of not well known bands. there is none of the typical bands which you would excpet, which is good I suppose. but whoever composed this list just wants to seem like they know a thing about unknown music or just love american indie bands which are awful.
Bilko [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 17:21
What? No guns n roses? No Metallica, Rolling Stones and no he freaking Beatles? What a rubbish list
captain pasty [Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 17:32
whats with Fugazi getting lumped into the indie genre all the time !!! They are a f*cking punk band, always have been so should always be
[Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 18:33
So, The Strokes and Kings of Leon are not Indie? fucking hipsters
[Visitor] //April 4 2009 at 19:58
There's different, and then there's trying to hard to be different..a.nd this list is a definate tryer. What's the point putting this shit list up to show you know unheard of bands...if they're ALL basically unheard of and shit...also..WHERE THE FUCK IS JOY DIVISION??!! RAGEEE
joe [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 01:08
my eyes are bleeding. this is truly bollocks. sonic youth = shit
Kate [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 07:35
no need to insult people... 'that's why you know nothing about music....' whatever! mostly good choices, though very american slanted. VERY pleased to see either/or elliott smith, deserves ti be number one though. love neutral milk hotel too. don't know half of the bands though!
Tres shit. [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 11:43
Belle & Sebastian? Bright Eyes? Death Cab? Are you fucking kidding me??
This persons mix of musical ignorance and pretension is almost tangible...
[Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 14:47
The strokes - is this it?
London James [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 16:36
This is a really refreshing list of bands/albums most of the younger NME readers may not have heard of, so stop moaning about it! Listen to a few of these albums and you might find some classics! Glad to see Neutral Milk hotel getting some recognition.
[Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 17:05
Who are you to comment if you haven't even heard of most of the albums on this list, never mind heard them. Seriously though, you cant claim to know everything there is to know about indie when you havent even heard of bands like Sonic Youth, Neutral Milk Hotel, Destroyer, Animal Collective and the Replacements. Just because it's not the mainsteam type of indie that NME promotes it doesn't mean it can't be good.
[Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 17:18
Good list. It's people like the commenters here who keep the British music scene boring and derivative. If you buy NME and believe yourself "indie" you are sadly mistaken.
pamela [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 18:27
I guess there's a lot of people who have a problem with the "indie" word... The Smiths indie?... Radiohead indie?...yeah right...
They're just great... but trust me... they're not indie bands...
zach [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 20:17
where's PJ HARVEY.
Joel [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 22:21
Great list, obviusly a few emissions (Joy Division, Smiths, Strokes) but any list with Neutral Milk Hotel in the top 5 is fine by me. Great top ten.
Beto [Visitor] //April 5 2009 at 23:52
Where's Ride-Nowhere, JMC - Psychcandy, House of Love 1st album, Charlatans UK-Some Friendly on that list??????
A.Bucci [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 07:00
Glad to see The Shins and Fugazi getting a mention
graeme [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 09:24
brian jonestown massacre?
fran [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 11:17
its all the uber cool us indie bands hense the lack of many uk acts...im sure if it was done by a brit there would be less built to spill and more stone roses
montelvis [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 12:56
LOL, they used the literely meaning of indie, which is "on an INDEPENDENT label".
it's a cool list, maybe too different just to be different but there are many good albuns there
Ben [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 14:46
This is a great list and the fact that most people are arguing over the picks shows that the people who read NME are clueless on good 'indie' music. Jesus, what is wrong with some people! PAVEMENT ARE BETTER THAN THE LIBERTINES YOU THICK SHEEP. FUCKING HELL
Ben [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 14:47
Oh boo hoo where are my beloved arctic douchebags and nmes bitches kings of leon... oh my god what the hell is guided by voices oh no neutral milk hotel i havnt heard nme talk about them before so its immediately crap. NME YOU SUCK SO MUCH COCK ITS UNBELEIVABLE FUCK FUCK NME YOU PIECE OF SHIT PUBLICATION YOU ARE BREEDING AN ARMY OF IGNORANT MUSICAL RETARDS.
Luke Lewis [Member] //April 6 2009 at 14:48
Thanks for that Ben.
Rubbish Yanks! [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 15:46
Rubbish! I'd rather listen to Busted than a third of these!
[Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 18:32
Better than most top 100 lists (who takes any notice of these anyway!?) Where's the Arab on Radar and Lightning Bolt ;-)
Lyndsey [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 18:48
How were the smiths not indie??
As far as Im aware, they were on an independent label, Rough Trade?
And Im sorry, but visually/audibly they pretty much sum indie up to me.
Mr Baxter [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 22:07
Where the fuck are milburn?
jamie [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 23:38
The strokes?
Barney [Visitor] //April 6 2009 at 23:48
Fantastic list. Every single album I know in there I agree with. Nice to see Kill The Moonlight getting some love too, people rabbit on about Gimme Fiction too much.
Peter 15 [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 01:37
Hi, yeah there's a really angry guy named Ben who said some mean things about our beloved NME that brought up somthing about the Libertines and Pavement which are like my two favourite bands (in fact I'm listening to pavement right now) but if I had to chose between both of 'em I'd chose the Libertines because Pavement are just a little boring compared to bands like the Libertines and the Smiths. Oh yeah and Sonic Youth before Husker Du and the Replacements?
Peter 15 [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 01:56
And you know what else I'm not afraid to say that I don't think 'Summer Babe' is that good a song
Tamir [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 02:44
hey, whre is dinosaur jr.'s albuns?
Zico [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 03:05
De Stijl is on there as it's named after an art movement, no other White Stripes entries. Enough said.
[Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 03:53
Lista de mierda!!!
Maria [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 12:16
The list is just... bad. It was made to surprise the readers I guess.
No Libertines or Babyshambles... and no the Smiths... Though some creepy bands are mentioned. Stupid.
georgeo [Visitor] //April 7 2009 at 12:19
"Aeroplane By The Sea is awful. I don't get the appeal. The guys voice is grating." - Whoever you are you're an idiot on many levels.
Gilly-bear1991 [Visitor] //April 9 2009 at 15:38
Neutral milk hotel 2nd HELLS YEAH!
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