When it comes to rock music, the “indie” moniker is a confusing one. Originally used to refer to bands that operated with a DIY ethos, outside of the mainstream and away from the gaze of major labels, it has since come to refer to a certain sound – loosely defined by catchy lead guitars, energetic drum beats and wordy lyrics.
In our list of the very best bands from the indie rock spectrum, we’ve focused on the groups that define the sound rather than the mentality, though that’s not to say there aren’t some examples on our list who embody both.
