The 20 Greatest Indie Rock Songs of All Time

From basement-show cult favorites to the anthems that spilled onto festival main stages, these are the songs that define indie rock — all jangle, swagger, and heartbreak from guitar music's most beloved corner. Vote for the track that means the most to you and see where the crowd lands.

1

Mr. Brightside

The Killers' 2004 breakout single, an enduring indie-rock anthem of jealousy.

2

Last Nite

The Strokes' garage-revival cornerstone from their 2001 debut Is This It.

3

Take Me Out

Franz Ferdinand's 2004 art-rock hit built around a shifting, angular riff.

4

Where Is My Mind?

Pixies' quiet-loud 1988 classic from Surfer Rosa.

5

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Joy Division's 1980 post-punk masterpiece, one of the genre's defining singles.

6

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

The Smiths' beloved 1986 track from The Queen Is Dead.

7

Maps

Yeah Yeah Yeahs' tender 2003 breakout, a highlight of Fever to Tell.

8

Float On

Modest Mouse's optimistic 2004 crossover hit from Good News for People Who Love Bad News.

9

New Slang

The Shins' hushed 2001 gem from Oh, Inverted World.

10

Wake Up

Arcade Fire's soaring 2004 anthem from Funeral.

11

Do I Wanna Know?

Arctic Monkeys' slow-burning 2013 hit from AM.

12

Time to Pretend

MGMT's psychedelic 2007 anthem from Oracular Spectacular.

13

A-Punk

Vampire Weekend's bright, breezy 2008 debut single.

14

Skinny Love

Bon Iver's aching 2007 indie-folk standout from For Emma, Forever Ago.

15

1901

Phoenix's shimmering 2009 hit from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

16

Two Weeks

Grizzly Bear's lush, harmony-rich 2009 single from Veckatimest.

17

The Rat

The Walkmen's frantic, cathartic 2004 highlight from Bows + Arrows.

18

Young Folks

Peter Bjorn and John's whistled 2006 indie-pop hit.

19

My Girls

Animal Collective's euphoric 2009 single from Merriweather Post Pavilion.

20

I Will Follow You into the Dark

Death Cab for Cutie's stark 2005 acoustic ballad.