Indie Rock
tagStarted 1985Peak 2002-2012Last big hit still active
Located in 3 routes
Guitar rock defined as much by independent-label ethos and aesthetic as by sound. Favors clean or lightly fuzzed guitars, melodic interplay, conversational or literate vocals, and modest, human-scale production over gloss. Ranges from spry and jangly to introspective, prizing songwriting craft, idiosyncrasy and authenticity above commercial polish or instrumental flash.
History
Grew from 1980s US college rock and UK indie labels into a self-conscious genre in the 1990s. The 2000s indie boom, driven by blogs, festivals and labels like Merge and Matador, pushed bands such as Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs from clubs toward the mainstream, making 'indie' a sound and lifestyle as much as a distribution model.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_rock
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/indie-rock-ma0000004453
- https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-indie-rock-songs/