Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent record labels, by the 1990s it became more widely associated with the music such bands produced.
Alternative rock is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge subgenre in the United States, and the Britpop and shoegaze subgenres in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During this period, many record labels were looking for "alternatives", as many corporate rock, hard rock, and glam metal acts from the 1980s were beginning to grow stale throughout the music industry. The emergence of Generation X as a cultural force in the 1990s also contributed greatly to the rise of alternative music.
Jangle or jingle-jangle is a sound typically characterized by undistorted, treble-heavy electric guitars played in a droning chordal style. The sound is mainly associated with pop music as well as 1960s guitar bands, folk rock, and 1980s indie music. It is sometimes classed as its own subgenre, jangle pop. Music critics use the term to suggest guitar pop that evokes a bright mood.
The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000. The band consists of Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query (bass), and John Moen (drums).
Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley and Gerard Love, all of whom shared lead vocals and songwriting duties until Love's departure in 2018. As of 2023, the band's lineup consists of Blake, McGinley, Francis Macdonald, Dave McGowan and Euros Childs.
Indie pop is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and subsequently generated a thriving fanzine, label, and club and gig circuit. Compared to its counterpart, indie rock, the genre is more melodic, less abrasive, and relatively angst-free. In later years, the definition of indie pop has bifurcated to also mean bands from unrelated DIY scenes/movements with pop leanings. Subgenres include chamber pop and twee pop.
An independent music scene is a localized independent music-oriented community of bands and their audiences. Local scenes can play a key role in musical history and lead to the development of influential genres; for example, no wave from New York City, United States; Madchester from Manchester, England; and grunge from Seattle.
Chamber pop is a music genre that combines rock music with the intricate use of strings, horns, piano, and vocal harmonies, and other components drawn from the orchestral and lounge pop of the 1960s, with an emphasis on melody and texture.
How Does It Feel to Be Loved? is a London-based nightclub which predominantly plays indie pop, Northern Soul and Motown music. On the club's website, founder Ian Watson explains: "We love pop, we love guitars that jangle, we love foot stomping melodies and huge choruses." The club's name is taken from the lyrics to The Velvet Underground song "Beginning to See the Light".
Alvvays is a Canadian indie pop band formed in 2011, originating from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and subsequently based in Toronto, Ontario. It consists of Molly Rankin, Kerri MacLellan (keyboards), Alec O'Hanley (guitars), and Sheridan Riley (drums). Their self-titled debut studio album, released in 2014, topped the US college charts. Their second studio album, Antisocialites, was released on September 8, 2017. Their third studio album, Blue Rev, was released on October 7, 2022.
Alvvays is the debut studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on July 22, 2014, by Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain and Transgressive. The album yielded four successful singles, the first two, "Adult Diversion" and "Archie, Marry Me" brought the group to prominence in indie pop. The album was met with critical acclaim, regarded as one of the best albums of the year and being shortlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.
Antisocialites is the second studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on September 8, 2017, through Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain, Transgressive and Inertia.
"In Undertow" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on June 6, 2017 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Antisocialites.
"Archie, Marry Me" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on April 6, 2013, as the lead single from the band's eponymous debut album (2014). "Archie, Marry Me" examines modern romance and traditional marriage, and touches on themes of commitment and financial stability. It was written by vocalist and guitarist Molly Rankin with guitarist Alec O'Hanley as a critique of the standard societal expectation that one is to marry upon entering adulthood.
"Adult Diversion" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. The song was released on October 28, 2013 as the second single from their eponymous debut album. Written by vocalist and guitarist Molly Rankin, guitarist Alec O'Hanley, and bassist Brian Murphy, it is sung from the perspective a lover who develops an "unhealthy fixation" on their partner.
Jangle pop is a subgenre of pop rock and college rock that emphasizes jangly guitars and 1960s-style pop melodies. The term is usually applied to late 1970s/early 1980s bands emerging from the post-punk scene, often influenced by 1960s groups such as the Byrds. Notable acts include R.E.M. and the Smiths.
Blue Rev is the third studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on October 7, 2022, via Polyvinyl, Transgressive, and Celsius Girls. The album expands on the shoegaze influences from their previous albums, and received universal acclaim from critics.
"Belinda Says" is a single by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on September 22, 2022 via Polyvinyl. The song is the third single from the band's 2022 album, Blue Rev.
Young Adult (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack to the 2011 film Young Adult, directed by Jason Reitman. Released by Rhino Records on December 6, 2011, the album consisted of 15 tracks that are mostly indie rock and alternative rock tracks. The soundtrack features artists such as Diana Ross, The Lemonheads, Cracker, 4 Non Blondes, The Replacements, Dinosaur Jr., Suicidal Tendencies and songs from the film's composer Rolfe Kent and Mateo Messina (who previously scored Reitman's directorial Juno). The soundtrack features instrumental renditions by Messina of a number of rock songs, including songs from Faith No More and Pearl Jam.
Wigwam are a Welsh indie rock band from Cardiff. Originally forming at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr in order to play one concert, they composed a musical for the 2018 Cardiff National Eisteddfod. They released their debut album, Coelcerth, in 2018, along with a follow-up single in 2019. After a four-year absence, they released three singles in 2023.
