Top Indie Rock Records of All Time

How Do You Define Indie Rock?

What is “indie music” or “indie rock”? It’s a term people either seem to love or hate, and it probably depends on how you define it. For some it is music that is produced and released by independent record labels, which further begs the question of how you define “independent” record labels.

Others see “indie music” as that which is found at low key, off the beaten path, semi-underground music venues across the world. Still others will see it as a musical recording style, marked by low-fi, seemingly “under- produced” recordings and the “more indie” of these are done using classic second equipment and recording devices.

And I guess lastly, you could define “indie” in terms of the people that created the music, their insights into the world, their attitudes, and how their music and lyrics express their emotions.

RecordNote.com assembled this list of what we thought were the top independent rock records produced in the last 20 or so years based on an aggregate definition of the terms that really encompasses all of the above mentioned interpretations. But really we wanted to identify those albums whose originality, sound, approach and style have stood the test of time, and those which have grown to become major influences on all types of music that followed it. Here is that list, and I should say in no particular order, with some brief captions.

The List Part 1: Neutral Milk Hotel to Pavement
The List Part 2: The Pixies to Elliott Smith
The List Part 3: Sufjan Stevens to Sunny Day Real Estate

Posted by Editor at 11/10/2010 6:59 PM | Add Comment

Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: Neutral Milk Hotel to Pavement

	In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel Jeff Mangum assembles one of the most quintessential albums we think of all time here; then he quickly sees the pain of stardom, and recluses with just an occasional appearance here and there on stage with friends. An interesting guy, a true music story, an original piece of art and one of our favorite albums ever created.
	Bleach by Nirvana Bleach is so unnervingly raw and so much fun to listen to even right now that it’s amazing this isn’t the one that truly launched them to super stardom. Everything that made Cobain such a brilliant songwriter and Nirvana such a great band is here to be heard.
	Bee Thousand by Guided by Voices GBV are perhaps the epitome of indie rock, having built an incredibly loyal following of fans, and working their butt off to create a library of albums, and killer live shows.
	Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth Another band with an amazing discography but Daydream Nation really hit on all cylinders and is flawless from start to finish.
	Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement Pavement launched an entire movement with this record, introducing a style of songwriting that expertly combined musical talent with slacker mentality, and these songs with their hodgepodge of melodies have remained as important now as when they were created.

Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: The Pixies to Elliott Smith
Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: Sufjan Stevens to Sunny Day Real Estate

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How Do You Define Indie Rock?

Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: Neutral Milk Hotel to Pavement

Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: The Pixies to Elliott Smith

Top Indie Rock Albums of All Time: Sufjan Stevens to Sunny Day Real Estate

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