Indie and alternative music has increasingly blurred. Once upon a time, these terms referred to bands that weren’t signed to major record labels or heard on mainstream radio stations. But today these categories mean more.
To keep this article focused on indie rock, we’ve left out bands which started before coining of the term. However, many artists on this list have found critical success and deserve mention here.
Jungle
Jungle rocked British dancefloors during the ’90s with frenetic breakbeats and soulful reggae samples, engaging b-boys and other dancers who welcomed its heavy basslines and hypnotic rhythms – as a new wave of freedom emerged within rave scene raver culture. However, its rise also brought with it an undercurrent of drug use and violence; its music often played at seedy clubs attended mostly by black people – leading to media narratives which linked this genre with race as well as drugs – giving birth to media narratives about its genre that often connotations associated with this genre with its rise.
Jungle music remained resilient despite all these obstacles and became an integral part of UK underground club scene. Unlike other EDM genres such as techno or house, jungle was distinct in that it could not be easily classified; rather it consisted of various styles including hip-hop, jazz and reggae influences that blended to create this hybrid form.
As UK rave culture become more diverse, producers began modifying jungle sounds to suit new audiences. By the late ’90s, jungle had lost much of its original essence as heavy dub and reggae basslines doubled in tempo while producers employed looped tracks, vocal chops, and effects to produce an energy-packed sound that attracted raver from various backgrounds.
Dillinja, Roni Size, Die Hype Zinc and Alex Reece were influential producers who helped redefine and spread drum and bass among wider audiences. By the early ’00s it had outshone jungle but remained an underground genre.
Jungle is back with their second album release, Volcano. Following up from their critically-acclaimed debut record For Ever, Volcano features an innovative blend of jungle’s timeless rhythms with cutting edge production techniques and features guest vocalist Nia Archives with her powerhouse voice, who brings extra groove.
Volcano marks an ambitious effort from this underground powerhouse to follow up a record that was so well received, yet it’s evident from listening to Volcano that they have worked hard at not becoming another one-hit wonder. Their visual project also adds another level of appeal for this underground powerhouse.
Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice took their name from an Angela Carter fairy tale when they began in 2010. Starting off as singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie’s acoustic duo, before expanding into a full band with bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey they have since broken every rule of indie-rock by winning a Mercury Prize, number-one albums, main-stage festival performances as well as becoming one of our era’s most captivating rock bands.
At the core of their appeal lies their unique ability to seamlessly transition from pop songs and folk ballads to punk and psychedelic rock tracks – sometimes all within one track! Their debut album My Love Is Cool showcased their impressive musical range perfectly with tracks such as shoegaze anthem “Your Loves Whore,” featuring Rowsell’s incredible vocal range as she sang about teenage love affairs.
Visions of a Life was an early indicator of their broad influences, featuring darker, more experimental sounds than their earlier works. Their lead single ‘White Chalk’ from Visions demonstrated how easily they could transform their dark, ethereal sound into more accessible indie-pop songs with just the addition of some synths – something which still works perfectly today, thanks to Rowsell’s vocals soaring above mesmerising choir sounds and soft synths creating an entrancing backdrop for them both.
Wolf Alice are clearly inspired by PJ Harvey, and one song which showcases this is their 2017 album’s title track: an introspective ballad that showcases Rowsell’s impressive range while she sings of anxiety brought about by fame.
Though deeply introspective, the song doesn’t reflect depression or melancholia – rather, it serves as an empowering call for resilience and confidence that’s infectiously motivating. A song such as this demands to be heard; an excellent demonstration of the band’s knack for crafting atmospheric tunes with menacing edges – making for a dramatic way to end an album that has taken the world by storm!
The Strokes
The Strokes signaled a new era for alternative music with their debut album Is This It, marking a radical departure from the mundane nu-metal and indie rock of their time. Through one 36-minute record alone, The Strokes inspired people all over to take up alternative music once more and gave rise to bands such as The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, etc. that still gain fans today.
The band embodies authenticity with their lyrics that often explore introspective themes. Julian Casablancas’ inimitable vocal style inspired a generation of young songwriters and set the standard for how rock should be performed; whether an angry outburst or soothing ballad, their songs always manage to capture listeners.
Their music fuses together various genres, drawing influences from diverse eras and cultures. Their style is distinguished by a heavy use of distortion and rhythmic emphasis; lead guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has openly discussed his drug dependency, leading some critics to describe their music as “post-grunge for rich fuckups”.
After releasing their second album Room on Fire as somewhat of a disappointment, The Strokes found renewed success with Comedown Machine. This album showcases more of their distinctive sound while remaining one of their more accessible albums to date; also including some of their greatest songs including Call It Fate/Karma/Trying Your Luck etc.
Though this album contains many great songs, there are also a few duds. Take it or Leave It’s drumming is often dissonant and overpowered by guitars; additionally, some of The Strokes’ more experimental tracks such as Life is Simple in the Moonlight and Metabolism make an appearance here.
After their break, Future Present Past became their first album release since 2008. While none of the members are performing together anymore as a collective band, all have continued making music with individual projects.
The War on Drugs
The War on Drugs are something of a rare beast among modern music: an innovative guitar-driven outfit capable of drawing sold-out arena crowds. Led by Adam Granduciel in Philadelphia, their timeless mahogany sound could have come out any era and has taken inspiration from artists such as Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits – yet their own distinctive personality still comes through clearly on songs; Granduciel often exudes self-deprecating questioning rocker persona which Granduciel personifies. With newfound success comes opportunity: taking stage across massive stadiums worldwide to showcase themselves and showcase their newfound success to their fans around the globe.
Granduciel’s intention of merging standard rock instrumentation with modern technology can be heard right from the first beat of Up All Night, the opening track on his album. The song quickly moves through its tempos thanks to both programmed drumbeats and conventional rock drumming; while also including piano melodies and glockenspiel flourishes. All these elements combine for an upbeat pop sound while its lyrics address feelings of melancholy and loss.
Float On is an indie classic with its catchy melodies and sing-along chorus, made popular by Modest Mouse on their 2004 release Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Since its initial release on that album, this timeless track remains one of their most enduring tracks – it remains one of their most-played songs even today and remains one of their most-beloved works to this day! With such memorable qualities that leave its mark in music culture it is no wonder such songs remain fan favorites!
After an incredible year of touring, The War on Drugs are back with another full-length release this Fall: I Don’t Live Here Anymore is expected to deliver their signature blend of lustfulness and reflection that fans have become accustomed to from them. As with their previous albums, The War on Drugs sound is comprised of heartland rock, classic rock, synth-pop; creating their signature style. Their massively successful album and touring schedule will see them playing at some of the world’s most iconic arenas — they appear unstopping their winning streak!