Top 10 Best Indie Rock Bands

Arctic Monkeys might have at first seemed like just another landfill indie group during the 2000s, but three main things set them apart from the rest: their everyman image, Matt Helders's excellent drumming, and Alex Turner's outstanding songwriting.

Firstly, the Monkeys were in their teens when they started the band, and this is reflected in their early (and by far best) albums. They didn't sound like rock stars. They sounded just like some slightly nerdy British kids who had got together in a garage and started playing songs - except they were really, really good at it. This adds a homegrown charm to their music and makes it very relatable to the younger generation.

Secondly, the Monkeys' Matt Helders is one of the best drummers in rock music today. Even on the first few songs, when the other band members could barely wield their guitars, Helders was always there in the background, pounding out complicated yet visceral drumlines as though he had been doing it since the day he was born. Over time, he's gotten even better, and he's very tasteful in his playing. Just like Ringo Starr before him, he gives the song just what it needs, even if that means drumming out mind-numbingly simple lines - although he is adept at playing more complicated pieces as well.

Thirdly, and most importantly, Alex Turner is perhaps the finest songwriter of the 2000s. He's not that great a singer, but he knows how to write hooks like no one else and has a great understanding of how to use the different instruments in his compositions. But what really sets him apart are his lyrics. Not counting the disappointingly awful lyrics of the completely terrible album AM, Turner uses imagery in his songs to convey his messages. And his songs are actually about things - boredom, love, lust, and just being a teenager. And even when they're not about something, Turner's weird sense of poetry allows him to create vivid, fantastic images in your mind.

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The Strokes are brilliant. I love their music more than anything, but I also love how real they are. After falling in love with their music, I wanted to know who was behind it, so I watched one of their interviews.

They said that fame wasn't what they cared about. It was all in the music. That's what I just love in a band. In the interview, Julian Casablancas talked about how bands are portrayed through false articles on the internet and in magazines, and how all the bull ruins their image. It's solely about the music to them, and I couldn't ask for more.

The Killers are my favorite band! I have so much respect for them, and their music inspires me more than anything else in my life at the moment. I respect the fact that Brandon is not afraid to sing about his religious views and his beliefs.

Although I am not a Mormon, I can relate so much to them. The Killers are my idea of perfection, and when Ronnie announced they are currently writing new music, my heart lifted! They may be number 8 on this website, but to me, they will always be number 1!

The Killers are one of my favorite bands! Or maybe my favorite after Sixpence None The Richer. They're absolutely amazing! I love all their albums. Each one has something magical and catchy, plus the lyrics you can dive into.

My dream is to be at one of their concerts. Go Killers, go!

My personal favorite indie band. I can definitely understand why groups like The Strokes or The Killers are higher up on this list, as their music is much more accessible and radio-friendly than a lot of Radiohead's music, but when it comes to being the most innovative and bringing the most to the table, Radiohead blows the rest of these groups out of the water.

Quite possibly my favorite band ever! I don't think that they are really indie, though... The clear winners of this list are The Strokes and Arcade Fire, but what is Imagine Dragons doing here? The fact that they are above practically all these bands just shows it really is a bit of a popularity contest in the end!

Considering more than half of what's on top is not indie rock, it isn't surprising. It's filled with overrated "famous" alternative bands. I was surprised to see the Hoosiers up there, though. I think they're a great band, but I didn't know they were considered in such high regard.

Really, up in the top ten, Arctic Monkeys shouldn't be close to where they are. Oasis isn't indie. The Killers aren't indie. Kings of Leon, for me, The Strokes are awesome, but they aren't really indie. All good bands (maybe except for Kings of Leon), but not indie.

I can't believe that Blur or The Script is even on this list. Also, why isn't Pavement higher? Why isn't Built to Spill on this list? There are plenty of indie bands that need to be on this list, that's for sure, but a lot of the best ones aren't in the higher spots they deserve, like Modest Mouse here.

Currently, my favorite band has been for the past 9 months. The album "The Suburbs" is a pure masterpiece, describing his childhood and evoking quite an emotional response.

"Reflektor" is much more upbeat but still conveys very important messages. In any album, the words flowing from Win Butler's lips are very poetic and meaningful.

There are few bands that I truly love. Aside from Modest Mouse, Radiohead, and Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire holds a special place in my heart.

Unlike most bands on this list, Arcade Fire is composed of artists in the truest sense of the word.

The first time I heard Step, I fell in love with them. They are unique. So I decided to purchase their latest album at the local disc shop, listened to it, and absolutely loved it. I found out they were touring the next month, begged my family to buy me tickets to the concert, and heard so many of their other songs and loved them even more. Now I own all their albums! In a span of 1 and a half months from hearing that one song on the radio.

Their third album, "Modern Vampires of the City," is probably one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. I'm not saying that they should be #1, but as good as Two Door Cinema Club, The Killers, The Strokes, etc., are, it really has to be between VW, Modest Mouse, and perhaps Arctic Monkeys.

I'm not sure if Radiohead qualifies as "indie." If they do, then there is no debating that they are #1. Forget indie. They are THE greatest band since the '90s and right up there in the debate for best ever.

Just listen to "Around The World" from their 1997 album "Be Here Now." It's one of the most epic songs I've ever listened to. It is a lengthy track, but that is one of the reasons it's epic.

The band broke up because the singer and the guitarist fought? FOR REAL? They are awesome, and they broke up because of a fight? They could have replaced one of the members.

I am literally in love with their music. Wonderwall makes me cry every time I hear those words. I love it so much. VOTE FOR OASIS!

It makes me laugh how Imagine Dragons haters criticize them while they stan washed-up dad rock acts who do any stupidity just to stay relevant. Imagine Dragons may not be perfect. They have their fair share of flaws, but at least remember where they come from, and their activism is honest.

Imagine Dragons has risen to fame, and rightly so. Their music easily connects to everyone listening. Take Demons, for example, just listen to the lyrics and watch their Demons music video.

I'm pretty sure Demons was a song influenced by their lead vocalist, Dan Reynolds, who went through depression before and during his musical career. This band will continue to rise, and unlike other artists, they don't objectify women, have sexual references, or use vulgar words in their music to attract fans. Imagine Dragons are one of the few bright spots in today's music industry.

NMK has an overwhelmingly unique sound and style. Their stylistic influences expand far beyond those of the bands that were previously mentioned. Jeff Mangum's voice is unique and is capable of striking a chord in your heart.

Listen to In the Aeroplane Over the Sea if you don't believe me. These guys are truly the definition of alternative and are unfortunately underrated. Their two albums have left an unarguable mark on the indie scene. Their contribution to music is so important, so please, please vote for them.

Heck, the Pixies are an incredible band. Their music is weird, imaginative, and often rude, I know, but it's groundbreaking as well. The Pixies are a major influence on so many of the really famous bands everyone knows, yet their contribution is shamefully overlooked. These guys deserve to be No. 1. They're way better than all those listed above (and I am a fan of some, too), especially better than the Arctic Monkeys. Just... yeah. Incredible.

This is one of the most important bands in rock history. Most bands on this list owe a lot to the Pixies, and somehow they are at 50.

The Pixies may not be the best band in the genre, but they still deserve to be WAY higher.

The obvious choice. Morrissey's lyrics have also exposed me to lots of brilliant art, such as Oscar Wilde's writing and films such as A Taste of Honey. In addition to that, the band introduced me to Modest Mouse, a band I always knew about but never delved into until I found out about Marr's work on We Were Dead.

I think opening my argument on why The Smiths are the definitive indie band with the obvious choice is probably the most token Smiths-fan thing I'll ever do, but I digress.

Brilliant artists! Joyce and Rourke are also vital to The Smiths, despite what Moz and Marr will try to tell you.

Way underrecognized on American radio, I don't know about their status in the UK, but they're way underrated in the US. I mean, it's so much more than Florence Welch. The band itself (the Machine) is some of the finest music I've heard from the 21st century.

I especially love the way they incorporate the harp in their music. So rarely do you hear a harp in popular music anymore. My favorite song is "What the Water Gave Me," but I also really like "Shake it Out," "Seven Devils," and their covers of "You've Got the Love" and "Addicted to Love." An extremely talented and unique band. I'm waiting anxiously for new music from them.

This band is completely amazing. (Listening to No You Girls right now.) Their music is always fresh and new! I never get tired of Franz Ferdinand. Their songs are the best.

Honestly, they should be up there with The White Stripes. They are completely amazing, my favorite band hands down.

Amazing band. How they are able to create such interesting music is beyond me. "Ulysses" is by far one of my favorite songs ever, so deliciously dark.

All their songs have something special about them - definitely worth checking out.

This band has truly changed the indie/alternative rock genre. When you look at today's indie rock bands, 80% of them are influenced by Coldplay. Melodically, lyrically, instrumentally, and emotionally, their music is just transcendent and matchless.

Coldplay is my favorite band, and I think it always will be. My "obsession" started in 2008 when I heard their song "Viva la Vida" playing on the radio. I later bought the CD "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends." I became hooked and now own every one of their CDs.

This is why I love Coldplay!

These guys should definitely be closer to the top. Alt-J was the number one touring band in the world last year. The vocalist, like many indie-rock artists, has a very unique sound, but even more so than the majority. The instrumental structure in their music paints imagery to almost every mood you could possibly imagine.

The second I heard Breezeblocks, my mood dramatically changed from stressed and busy to totally calm, and my mind was astounded by the beauty and sound of their music. Truly my favorite band, and they write so poetically.

If you haven't heard this band, you are missing out!

Muse were indie, but they became commercial after Black Holes and Revelations. Anyway, you can always find some of their good songs on the internet.

Happy search, and long live Muse.

Um, why is Muse down here and not in first? Some would say that they aren't in this genre, but Muse is so good that they should be at the top of lists for folk, country, classical, rock, heavy metal, and pop.

Why are they not higher up on this list? Maybe they're a bit more alternative and electro than indie, but still, they are one of the best bands. I'm shocked.

The Kings embody a dimension of indie rock music like no other. One of the very few bands that I have connected to and cherished for many years. Every piece that they produce has an identity that is so incredibly human.

I hope to see them for a third time in the upcoming future.

I love the Kings. They are such an amazing band because they have raw, natural talent. Caleb Followill has such a unique voice, and he can sing like no other. I love how they have their own sound, and they don't have to play a ton of instruments, yet their sound is still full.

Rarely do I find albums where I like every song. That is the case with both of Young the Giant's albums. I absolutely love them and can't believe they aren't more popular.

I just heard their newest single "Something to Believe in". Once again, it was amazing!

That band deserves to be much higher on this list. All their songs are wicked! It's beautiful, talented, and original.

If you don't know them, it's worth trying to spend some time listening to them. I guarantee you'll love it!

I don't know how these guys aren't more popular by now! They're better than 90% of the popular music today.

I think Foster the People should be #1 because of their innovative music. Their "Torches" album displays creativity in vocals and rhythms. Their new album "Supermodel" expands on that creativity in a variety of moods not found on the first album.

Watch this band's fan base grow.

I find this interesting because their first single, Pumped Up Kicks, hit the mainstream and hit it hard. However, by all means, their work afterwards is still indie. I've just always been unsure when it comes to including these guys on a best indie rock list.

This band is amazing, their sound was at least two decades ahead of their time, which is incredible! A really rare unique band. Listen to Teenage Riot and Goo and you will know what I mean. Sonic Youth is the definition of Indie-Rock.
The best alternative band ever.

This band is indie, they are everything indie should stand for rather than what it has come to stand for, I think it's cool that they're this underrepresented because that's the whole point, they're not making music for fame and recognition or to be called THE GREATEST BAND EVER, they're making it because they love making it, and all the poseurs (the 1975, Coldplay, etc) can enjoy the spotlight for now, we all know it won't last.