In the mood for love, indie kids? Released this week in the UK is It’s A Beautiful Thing: Indie Love Songs, a collection of, yep, Indie Love Songs. (We love explanatory album titles.) Here’s the tracklist:
01. “English Rose” – The Jam
02. “There She Goes” – The La’s
03. “She’s A Star” – James
04. “Chasing Rainbows” – Shed Seven
05. “Do You Remember The First Time” – Pulp
06. “Olympian” – Gene
07. “Caravan Of Love” – Housemartins
08. “Linger” – Cranberries
09. “It’s A Beautiful Thing” – Ocean Colour Scene
10. “Loving You Is Easy” – Charlatans
11. “You Do Something To Me” – Paul Weller
12. “Sleep Alone” – Wonder Stuff
13. “Someday We’ll Know” – New Radicals
14. “O Girlfriend” – Weezer
15. “Secret Smile” – Semisonic
16. “Pictures Of You” – The Cure
17. “Gorecki” – Lamb
18. “Tiny Tears” – Tindersticks
19. “Bonnie And Clyde” – Serge Gainsbourt & Brigette Bardot
Some questionably indie, others questionably “love songs” (we know that Paul Hemmings and John Power of The La’s have conflicting takes on it, but “There She Goes” is totally about heroin). Romantic-hipster curators, let us know what would make your NOW! compilation of all-time indie love songs. (Bonus points if they double as odes to smack.)
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The magnetic fields had a cd with 69 love songs, you think with that many they can choose at least one maybe papa was a rodeo
‘pictures of you’!? are they on CRACK? it’s hardly a love song — it’s a BREAK UP song. if you want a love song by the cure, try, oh, i don’t know … LOVE SONG (which robert smith, incidentally, wrote to his wife as a wedding present).
and even though it conjures up bad memories of grade 8 school dances, i’ll go with ‘somebody’ (DM).
my choice: ‘you look so fine’ (garbage)
those bands are about as indie as bonnie ‘prince’ billy.
those bands are about as indie as bonnie ‘prince’ billy.
Luna- Lovedust
No doubt, man.
Oh! Yo La Tengo- Our Way to Fall
Come on, weezer – o girlfriend? there are FAR better weezer love songs. FAR better!
International Small Arms Traffic Blues by the Mountain Goats.
Semisonic is indie? I’m sure they’re flattered that someone at least remembered them.
Nobody knows it, but you have a vertical smile… i mean secret.
“Joan Jett of Arc” by Clem Snide.
Actually, while I’m thinking about Eef… the CS cover of “I’ll Be Your Mirror” is wonderful.
I think there’s some confusion here: Most of these bands are on, like, Warner Brothers or Capitol or Atlantic. But it’s ok, they just have to change the name of the collection to, simply: “Huge Companies.” Easy!
i will follow you into the dark
-death cab for cutie
You guys have to stop suggesting love songs by Huge Company bands until they agree to switch the name of the collection! Unless you want to have the bands change their names instead–Death Company for Hugie, The Companyberries, Tinderhugecompanysticks–etc…
that is a crap list. it doesn’t even makes sense – why call it indie rock when it’s not really indie?
what about:
stars – your ex-lover is dead or elevator love letter
ben lee – begin
robyn hitchcock – one long pair of eyes
matthew sweet – sick of myself
afghan whigs – somethin’ hot
wheat – don’t i hold you
cinerama – love
i sometimes confuse love songs with anything that makes me emotional, so i could be completely off.
but, if i was to make a list – those would be on there for sure!
that is a crap list. it doesn’t even makes sense – why call it indie rock when it’s not really indie?
what about:
stars – your ex-lover is dead or elevator love letter
ben lee – begin
robyn hitchcock – one long pair of eyes
matthew sweet – sick of myself
afghan whigs – somethin’ hot
wheat – don’t i hold you
cinerama – love
i sometimes confuse love songs with anything that makes me emotional, so i could be completely off.
but, if i was to make a list – those would be on there for sure!
and, i personally think a band can still be “indie ROCK” and on a major label.
that is a crap list. it doesn’t even makes sense – why call it indie rock when it’s not really indie?
what about:
stars – your ex-lover is dead or elevator love letter
ben lee – begin
robyn hitchcock – one long pair of eyes
matthew sweet – sick of myself
afghan whigs – somethin’ hot
wheat – don’t i hold you
cinerama – love
i sometimes confuse love songs with anything that makes me emotional, so i could be completely off.
but, if i was to make a list – those would be on there for sure!
and, i personally think a band can still be “indie ROCK” and on a major label.
Bonus points if they double as odes to smack.
in that case…the obvious choice is to nominate any Spiritualized song, especially “I Think I’m in Love”
that is a crap list. it doesn’t even makes sense – why call it indie rock when it’s not really indie?
what about:
stars – your ex-lover is dead or elevator love letter
ben lee – begin
robyn hitchcock – one long pair of eyes
matthew sweet – sick of myself
afghan whigs – somethin’ hot
wheat – don’t i hold you
cinerama – love
i sometimes confuse love songs with anything that makes me emotional, so i could be completely off.
but, if i was to make a list – those would be on there for sure!
and, i personally think a band can still be “indie ROCK” and on a major label.
sorry for the multiple posts! how do i delete?
beetlebum – blur
totally about smack
and it’s kind of a love song too i guess
I’ll be Your mirror – The Velvet underground
jets to brazil :: sweet avenue
I believe the British definition of “indie” skews slightly from our colonial definition…
Anyway.
Tom Waits, “I Want You”
Pete Droge and the Sinners, “Beautiful Girl”
Flaming Lips, “When You Smile”
yeah, crap list. i second magnetic fields – a lot of shit on 69 love songs, not counting their other albums like charm of the highway strip that features ‘two characters in search of a country song,’ which is pretty ideal. stars of course is another great band for lovecrap.
also throw in autumn sweater by YLT (hello, fucking obvious to the point of cliche), almost anything by the field mice that isn’t too depressing or related to breaking up, this cloud we’re on by idaho… too many others that fit better. although that gainsbourg song is a pretty good choice.
love is stupid, anyway.
self – marathon shirt
Not Given Lightly – Chris Knox
Girl Inform Me – The Shins
Eleanor Put Your Boots On – Franz Ferdinand
hmmmmm….. love. shove it.
what about the joanna newsom cover of ‘i’ll make love to you’?
If We Can Land a Man On The Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart!
Also, Casimir Pulaski Day.
“The Engine Driver” by the Decemberists.
Colin and the bunch are on a major now but still retain every bit of indie cred they ever earned or were endowed with.
New Radicals and Semisonic?
(head melts)
i believe lua by bright eyes is both about drugs and love. win-win!
someone suggest the Afghan Whigs’ “Somethin’ Hot”. Despite what the lyrics say, that song (like many Whigs songs) is about
F-U-C-K-I-N-G.
“…and the way you make your ass shake / if that ain’t love, i guess i’ll never know…”
GENIUS!
i mean to say “suggested”.
i’ve been drinking….
I wouldn’t call Stars’ “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” a love song… considering it ends with the lines:
Live through this, and you won’t look back…
There’s one thing I want to say, so I’ll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I’m not sorry I met you
I’m not sorry it’s over
I’m not sorry there’s nothing to save
I would throw on there…
Benjy Davis Project – “Heaven Never Seemed So Small”
Bright Eyes – “First Day Of My Life”
The Submarines – “Clouds” and “This Conversation” (pretty much most of their album – even their depressing or sad songs – are great love songs)
Just my picks though, the ones that I listen to for a “love song” feel.
There are some questionable choices, of the ones that have already been mentioned, the New Radicals song is not a love song, it’s a good song and album, but not a love song.
I do like the choice of Gorecki by Lamb, if that song doesn’t get you laid, I don’t know what will.
Personally, I like Inara George’s cover of ‘Fool’s in Love’ and I just realized I think most of the songs I listen to are about heartbreak, how depressing.
There She Goes is f*cking NOT about heroin! Will everyone please stop saying that.
I don’t like this list.
Most everything by Jens Lekman, but especially ‘You Are the Light (By Which I Travel into This and That)’
Oh, yeah, and ‘Young Folks’ by Peter Bjorn and John, definitely.
i’ll make a good list for you who complain about the list. Wait for meee!:)
My personal list would be:
Major Label Debut-Broken Social Scene
Inside and Out-Feist
Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)-The Arcade Fire
Dudley-Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Calculation Theme-Metric
Skinny Boy-Amy Millan
Lover’s Spit-Broken Social Scene
Elevator Love Letter-Stars
Maps-Yeah Yeah Yeahs (I know this is an indie love cliche)
Anthems for a 17 Year Old Girl-Broken Social Scene
Poor Song-Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Also songs that I love that aren’t exactly love songs:
Let It Die-Feist
Calender Girl-Stars
Pittsfield-Sufjan Stevens
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood-Neko Case
The Wedding Present – Click Click. Or any other WP song that’s not about cheating on someone and breaking up.
Dead Milkmen – “Punk Rock Girl”
Also . . . Islands – “Jogging Gorgeous Summer”
Yo La Tengo – “The Whole of the Law” (The Only Ones cover) and “Our Way to Fall”
i know it’s about anne frank, but i still think neutral milk hotel’s “aeroplane over the sea” is a beautiful love song.
What about Wilco/Bill Braggs Guthrie cover “One by One” ? It was me and the wife’s wedding song. “one by one, I hope you say the words to marry…”
Yes I know, marriage does not always exactly equal love.
I suppose this won’t make the INDIE list either.
“Sour Times” – Portishead
“Pagan Poetry” – Bjork
“Car” – Built to Spill
“Magic in the Air” – Badly Drawn Boy
“Final Home” – DJ Krush featuring Esthero
and for the smack extra credit
“Fade into You” – Mazzy Star (can’t wait for that new Massive Attack cd featuring Hope)
Here are my fav smack/love songs…
Lou Reed- Perfect Day
The Sundays- Wild Horses
I don’t think this counts as a long song but it sure as shit is about heroin lol….
Placebo- My Sweet Prince
I just want the smack extra credit: “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers. (Alternative, not Indie, I know, but it goes with the list as others have added to it.)
I just want the smack extra credit: “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers. (Alternative, not Indie, I know, but it goes with the list as others have added to it.)
Your Ex-Lover is Dead is a love song if you consider that the subject no longer feels tethered to a past lover because they have found a new love. My ex-lover is most certainly dead to me, but my new lover… very much alive.
My personal list…
The Moldy Peaches – Anyone Else But You
Yo La Tengo – Center of Gravity
Animal Collective – Purple Bottle
The Divine Comedy – Your Daddy’s Car
Elliott Smith – Say Yes
The Magnetic Fields – The Way You Say Goodnight
Pavement – Spit On a Stranger
Ryan Adams – My Winding Wheel
The Silver Jews – How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down? (if a boy put this on a mix cd for me, we would definitely date)
The Zombies – either Care of Cell 44 or This Will Be Our Year
Iron and Wine – Love and Some Verses
Vashti Bunyan – I’d Like to Walk Around In Your Mind
Badly Drawn Boy – Magic In The Air
Of Montreal – Old Familiar Way
I’ve written too many already, so I will stop.
>Bonus points if they double as odes to smack
In that case, what about ‘My Sweet Prince’ by Placebo?
A few others…
Cerys Matthews – What kind of man
Melys – Chinese Whispers
JJ72 – Always and forever
Catatonia & John Cale – Whispering Room
Catatonia – Mulder & Scully (discuss…)
Garbage – #1 Crush
Snow Patrol – Run (most of their stuff come to think of it – especially the one with Martha Wainwright)
Stereophonics – Step on my old size nines
Microphones – I Felt Your Shape
NMH – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Decemberists – On The Bus Mall
Elliott Smith – Say Yes
Leonard Cohen – Chelsea Hotel #2
aye yai yai! what crap! not entirely all of them…but come on! weezer? ok, yes weezer does have some beautiful love songs (someone needs to release a bootleg heart shaped 10″ of the pinkerton single B-sides!!!…hell yeah i’d buy that.)
didn’t skim thru the comments slow enough to see if anyone listed quite possibly the best love comp EVER….”Ooh Do I Love You” from those Braid guys on the Core For Care label back in my “ever-so-gracious for indie rock” days when life was grand… and i was a typical depressed socially-unfit high school student who wore beat up chucks. god, i still wear those beat up chucks to this day. i try to avoid puddles as much as possible cause the canvas has pretty much separated itself completely from the rubber sole. go indie!
i personally consider cibo matto’s sugar water to be the most romantic song of all time. of course, people have heard of them, so it might be right out.
j-live – the 4th third
two songs that would have to be on a halfway decent indie love song compilation:
maps – YYY (obvious but essential)
postcard of a painting – maximo park
i think i’d have to go with “Yo Yo Bye Bye” by Why?, “Tinfoil Hats” by Rocky Votolato, definitely “Jogging Gorgeous Summer” by Islands, and Final Fantasy’s album, “Has A Good Home”, just reminds me of a love jam album for some reason. oh yeah, Damien Rice… definite love jams.
my friend always puts on Belle & Sebastian whenever he’s getting fresh with his girlfriend, and we make fun of him for it.
I thought 100,000 Fireflies is the classic of the genre… “you won’t be happy with me but give me one more chance; you won’t be happy anyway.”
how about an ode to a SONG about smack that doubles as a love song?
pixies-here comes your man
quadruple points please.
Calculation Theme by Metric
Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie (NOTE: when they were still indie)
This Modern Love by Bloc Party
Waiting to Know You by the Fiery Furnaces
Behind by Lacquer
Shake it Out by Tilly and the Wall
King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1 by Neutral Milk Hotel
Sorry, but if you need to put a Weezer song on there, it’s NO OTHER ONE or ACROSS THE SEA without a doubt.
in no way in hell was dcfc still indie then. are you high?
The Weakerthans- My Favorite Chords (intimate)
Badly Drawn Boy- You Were Right (reflective)
Magnetic Fields- Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits (joyful and wierd)
Travis- Flowers in the Window (sunshiney)
Low Millions- Nikki (take your clothes off)
Spread the love, kiddies.
The Eels- Fresh Feeling
I had an ex make me an indie love cd and i cried and took him back, it works so heres a few suggestions to the cause
the hush sound – you are the moon
built to spill – car
kate nash – merry happy
good luck x
Paul Weller – “You’re the best thing” has reeeeally cute lyrics!
i’m gay.
hey if anyone knows where Clem Snide – I’ll be your mirror (velvet underground cover) chords are. I would greatly apprectiate it. Email me!
great list of indie and alt rock love songs at http://indierockcafe.com/2008/02/valentines-day-indie-songs-of-love-and.html
i would put: “Sweets”- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Hmmm… not a very good list although i do like some of the posted lists
My personal list would be this (some are more just relationship songs)
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out- The Smiths
I Summon You- Spoon
Creep- Radiohead
Indian Moon- State Radio (technically they are indie but they are more of a jam band)
Such Great Heights- The Postal Service
I Will Follow You Into The Dark- Death Cab For Cutie
This Modern Love- Bloc Party
Moving Pictures- The Cribs
Love and Some Verses- Iron & Wine
Wonderwall- Oasis
First Day Of My Life- Bright Eyes
Wraith Pinned to The Mist (And Other Games)- Of Montreal
Say Yes- Elliott Smith
Young Folks- Peter Bjorn & John
Merry Happy- Kate Nash
I’m A Donkey For Your Love- Boat
Some tops songs, but a few rubbishy ones too. pictures of you is great, as is linger and do you remember the first time.
This modern love has been mentioned above and it is worthy of inclusion.
They don’t know by kirsty MacColl almost certianly doesnt count as indie. but it is a tune.
Great list of acousitc indie songs here
http://www.discjockeynyc.com/indie_wedding_music/
“You You You You You” by the 6ths. (A side project of the guy from Magnetic Fields.)
Umbrellas-Sleeping at last
No Smiths? Shocking. About the epitome of indie and of love songs.
The list seems more Britpop than Indie.
The 6ths – Just like a movie star
Pulp – I want you
I grew up in the indie scene and took loads of smack, and I’d say all the songs listed are indie apart from Semisonic…
You can get the lyrics here for all the songs if you need to confirm they’re love songs – http://www.thelyricvault.com