Many people are tired of the same old formulaic pop music, but do not know where to turn for a more mature fulfilling body of music. This is a list of 20 albums that will help the transition from pop prison to Indie freedom come easily.
Some listeners are turned off when they hear Indie music because it is so vastly different from what they are used to and their brains don’t know how to re-act. This list is to ensure that curious listeners are guided in the proper direction instead of scared off back to the land of powerhouse corporate pop music.
This list, by no means, represents Indie music in its entirety. It is merely a sampling of artists and albums to ease listeners into the genre.
“Hello Good Friend” by The Rocket Summer (This is a pop addled album with incredibly catchy songs that are sure to keep the head bobbing. This low-key mix of Indie and pop music is the perfect starter album for those interested in Indie music.)
“Plans” by Deathcab For Cutie (Deathcab jumped labels for this one and it is more poppy than their usual work, though it still maintains the emotional/experimental nature of the band.)
“Sam’s Town” by The Killers (The Killers’ first album was a very pop rock driven force while this album takes it down a notch and offers a personal account of the band’s history and driving force. It has the perfect injection of Indie flair for any Indie newbie!)
“Give Up” by The Postal Service (The Postal Service is an Indie supergroup, it is a side project that delivers poppy synth music to bounce your head to while maintaining the emotion of a traditional Indie album. It’s depressing music with a great beat… and excellent combination for the ears and mind alike.)
“So Jealous” by Tegan and Sara (Tegan and Sara have been a strong force in the Indie world for quite some time now, the identical twin Canadian sisters have produced many wonderful Indie albums, this is their most poppy effort. It is perfect for the heartbroken.)
“Under The Blacklight” by Rilo Kiley(Jenny Lewis has great staying power in the Indie genre, her previous Rilo Kiley albums were great pop laden Indie efforts and this album does not disappoint.)
“Help Wanted Nights” by The Good Life (“Help Wanted Nights” is the newest album from Omaha natives, The Good Life. Frontman and songwriter Tim Kasher has penned some of the genres most influential tunes and this album does not dissapoint.)
“Good News For People Who Love Bad News” by Modest Mouse (Modest Mouse has existed to defy the rules of songwriting for some time now, this is the most tame album in the bands discography. It has simpler lyrics and a less harsh sound but the bands vigor lives on.)
“The Hate Yourself Change” by Neva Dinova (Another Omaha native, Neva Dinova does not let the town’s reputation suffer. Front man bellows writes richly textured lyrics that flow like liquid poetry.)
“Album of The Year” by The Good Life (Kasher’s style is very evident in this album, it has a more raw and harsh sound to it than “Help Wanted Nights.” This album is drunken love affairs gone wrong; this album is Bukowski. It doesn’t simply embody his spirit, it is him.)
“More Adventurous” by Rilo Kiley (This album is full of beautiful alternative vocals as well as well written Indie rock anthems.)
“Transatlanticism” by Deathcab For Cutie (Every track of this modern Indie classic is executed with perfect subtlety and Ben Gibbards voice brings these lyrics to life.)
“The Business of Art” by Tegan and Sara (This is a less poppy effort from the Tegan and Sara vaults, it is full of feeling and female empowerment.)
“From a Basement on a Hill” by Elliot Smith (Smith is quite arguably the biggest contributor to the Indie genre, his fondness for simple melody and complex guitar work paid off on this album. It was release posthumous and is the perfect goodbye to an incredibly emotional and powerful artist.)
“The Beginning Stages Of…” by The Polyphonic Spree (The Polyphonic Spree is a very unusual group, composed of a 10-piece choice and a 13-piece band, their music is complicated and multi-tonal while still being as simple as a summer day. A delight for any Indie enthusiast.)
“Wild Like Children” by Tilly and The Wall (Tilly and The Wall is not meant for everyone, it is full of twists and turns that the less trained ear would not understand. Simply put it is a marriage between shiny pop rock and dark cynical songwriting….oh and tap dancing.)
“One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels” by Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova (This is a split album created by two Omaha native’s. It is a meeting of two similar but vastly different musicians that creates a magical blend of the two Indie powerhouses’ styles.)
“Black Out” by The Good Life (This album is brilliant, it is complete in that it has a story to tell and is able to convey that story. It is dark and emotional, critics agree that it is the best album Kasher has ever created.)
“Not A Pretty Girl” by Ani DiFranco (Ani has been doing the Indie thing for well over a decade now and has never once desired the notoriety that pop artist so desperately crave. This album is an excellent example of her growth as an artist; it is full of sarcastic self-effacement and her trademark complex acoustic sound.)
“Either/Or” by Elliot Smith (Smith’s angelic voice completes these bittersweet laments. This album is not transparent and not pretentious like many people believe. It is enticing and perfect; it is the sort of album that makes people feel alive.)
There are, of course many more Indie musicians out there…. many wonderful musicians worth checking out. This is just a starter kit for the curious listener to enjoy.
