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May 3, 2007

NME's 50 Greatest "Indie Anthems"

XFM and NME have joined forces to bring you their user poll, counting down the 50 greatest anthems in indie rock (criteria? your guess is as good as ours). You could try and guess which band delivered the #1 single ... or you could take the over/under on the number of Oasis tracks to make the cut, which we've set at 5. Good luck!

50 My Bloody Valentine - 'You Made Me Realise'
49 The Rapture - 'House Of Jealous Lovers'
48 Sonic Youth - 'Bull In The Heather'
47 The Libertines - 'Up The Bracket'
46 Dinosaur Jr - 'Freak Scene'
45 The La's - 'There She Goes'
44 The Stone Roses - 'Love Spreads'
43 Suede - 'Animal Nitrate'
42 The Cribs - 'Hey Scenesters'
41 Blur - 'Parklife'
40 Klaxons - 'Golden Skans'

39 Oasis - 'Champagne Supernova'
38 Pixies - 'Gigantic'
37 Kasabian - 'LSF'
36 Kaiser Chiefs - 'I Predict A Riot'
35 Pixies - 'Monkey Gone To Heaven'
34 Radiohead - 'Just'
33 The Killers - 'Mr Brightside'
32 The Stone Roses - 'Fool's Gold'
31 Oasis - 'Cigarettes & Alcohol'
30 Manic Street Preachers - 'A Design For Life'
29 Arcade Fire - 'Rebellion (Lies)'
28 Pavement - 'Cut Your Hair'
27 Oasis -' Wonderwall'
26 Radiohead - 'Creep'
25 Oasis - 'Supersonic'
24 Babyshambles - 'Fuck Forever'
23 The Gossip - 'Standing In The Way Of Control'
22 The Breeders - 'Cannonball'
21 The Smiths - 'Panic'
20 Joy Division - 'Transmission'
19 Joy Divison - 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
18 The Verve - 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'
17 The Stone Roses - 'I Wanna Be Adored'
16 Franz Ferdinand - 'Take Me Out'
15 Blur - 'Song 2'
14 Oasis - 'Don't Look Back In Anger'
13 The Libertines - 'Can't Stand Me Now'
12 The Stone Roses - 'She Bangs The Drums'
11 The Smiths - 'This Charming Man'
10 Arctic Monkeys - 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'
09 The Strokes - 'Last Nite'
08 The Stone Roses - 'I Am The Resurrection'
07 The Smiths - 'How Soon Is Now?'
06 The Libertines - 'Time For Heroes'
05 The Libertines - 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun'
04 The Smiths - 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'
03 Pulp - 'Common People'
02 Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
01 Oasis - 'Live Forever'
The overs have it. Thank god we're not a casino.


Posted at 6:43 PM in
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123 Comments

wheres my k-fed cd?

Posted by: kristen at 05/03/07 6:50 PM | Reply
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In your car?

Posted by: Rich at 05/03/07 6:54 PM | Reply
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great list....i get most of the new indie stuff i hear from suggestions on stereogum and this indie show i listen to on the radio. http://orock1059.com/pages/79590.php

Posted by: Peter at 05/03/07 7:07 PM | Reply
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hahahahahaah.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

horrible list. but what did i expect?

Posted by: annie onymous at 05/03/07 7:08 PM | Reply
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I love how 20 songs or so has been from less than 6-7 years ago.

Posted by: Julie at 05/03/07 7:13 PM | Reply
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Take Klaxons off this list immediately!!

Posted by: Ron at 05/03/07 7:14 PM | Reply
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what a shitty list

Posted by: settledownbrown at 05/03/07 7:17 PM | Reply
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Two Pixies songs but no "Debaser"? Every time I hear the opening bass-line I want to run around, pump my fist, and scream. On a personal note, as of last weekend I have successfully grown up to be a debaser.

Posted by: James at 05/03/07 7:19 PM | Reply
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there's quite the many number of Oasis songs up on there.

Posted by: dabea at 05/03/07 7:27 PM | Reply
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Yep, "Debaser" should be in the top 3 easily.

Posted by: Iagree at 05/03/07 7:28 PM | Reply
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How UNBELIEVABLY out of place is Cut Your Hair on that list?! hahahahaha

Posted by: Bobby at 05/03/07 7:38 PM | Reply
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wtf - i love how indie is considered an aesthetic (a poorly defined one at that), rather than a mode of production.

Indie-pendence in a critical sense should be derived from a DIY, anti-consumerist ethos and devoid of commericial interests and corporate infrastructure.

Posted by: jessica at 05/03/07 7:42 PM | Reply
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What the bloody, puckering hemorhoid is up with all the damned Oasis?!

Jeez, it's like the carnival game where you shoot water in the clown's mouth and the balloon inflates and pops above it - only in this case, it's the juice the Brit Press keeps popping off in the mouth of the collective Gallagher.

Hey, maybe if their egos super-inflate, their heads will explode...

Hmm...

Keep up the good work, Brit Press!!

DwD

Posted by: Dw Dunphy at 05/03/07 7:42 PM | Reply
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To be honest, the NME hate Oasis. Have you read all their stuff lately - all they ever do is slag them off these days. But, however, they're being unbiased because Oasis in their day pissed all over every band in the 90s - even Nirvana.

Posted by: Matthew in reply to Dw Dunphy's comment at 01/22/09 9:24 AM | Reply
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british magazine puts too much substandard british music on best of list. news at ten.

Posted by: kyle at 05/03/07 7:59 PM | Reply
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Why don't they just throw every Libertines song ever on there.. Shit list.

Posted by: mike at 05/03/07 8:10 PM | Reply
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Just came to me, New Pornographers anyone?

Posted by: James at 05/03/07 8:35 PM | Reply
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NOT TO BE NEGATIVE. BUT.. 1 - NME, HALF OF THESE BARELY MAKE IT AS 'INDIE' AND,

2 - IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE TO PUT 1/2 THE LIST ON THE TEASER PAGE WHEN WE CAN ALL SEE THE TAGLINE RIGHT BELOW IT.. WHICH.. COINCIDENTALLY READS 'OASIS'. THAT IS ALL.////

Posted by: Rygun at 05/03/07 8:36 PM | Reply
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and how the fudge is 'i bet that you look good on the dance floor' a goddamn anthem????????

Posted by: Rygun at 05/03/07 8:37 PM | Reply
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But is not Oasis the greatest British band since the Beatles? Can we not vote on this?!

Isn't the point of making a list to have a good variety of bands and acts exhibited to prove that your musical taste is both broad and well developed?

Posted by: Dave at 05/03/07 8:39 PM | Reply
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no bloc party?

Posted by: ryan adams at 05/03/07 8:47 PM | Reply
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How is there only one Sonic Youth song on there? And how is Nirvana indie?

Posted by: Thimas at 05/03/07 8:57 PM | Reply
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i love klaxons. but they shouldn't be on this list, no no no.

Posted by: pearl at 05/03/07 8:59 PM | Reply
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Yeah yeah I understand the criticism, but first off indie is a term that has changed and outgrown its original definition (Like the whole english language!) second this is a list that emcumbers you're average filthy (I mean that in a good way) indie club from the last few years, being as it tends to be young people that are passionate about this kind of thing were your older person, though still nostalgically passionate does'nt really bother with "lists" and dark clubs were snakebite is omnipresent anymore! just to emphasise this point: it's a list made from NME & XFM, what did you expect? But like I said before, as far as small dark indie discos up and down england go this list is fairly accurate, apart from oasis!

Posted by: Will at 05/03/07 9:20 PM | Reply
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Thimas:
Yeah, I wondered how Nirvana made the indie list, too.

And yes, Dave, Oasis is a pretty cool band, even though five songs on this list is overkill. Indie used to have a small group of followers. Now it's totally cool to love indie, which kind of takes away the point. But I still love stuff on both sides of the line. And where's The Revs? If you want indie, there you go.

Posted by: Rochelle Nikita at 05/03/07 9:31 PM | Reply
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Ah, the English. Doncha just love 'em???

Posted by: tally-ho at 05/03/07 9:37 PM | Reply
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The Babyshambles over Pavement? Le sigh.

Posted by: dmarek at 05/03/07 9:58 PM | Reply
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When the fork did Oasis become Indie?

And no "Bastards of Young"?

Posted by: David at 05/03/07 10:16 PM | Reply
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I can't believe they got away with as few Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys songs as they did, judging from their other oh-so-strategically-chosen top picks.

Posted by: Rochelle Nikita at 05/03/07 10:20 PM | Reply
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They should re-name this list "Top 50 Oasis Songs"...seeing as there on the list like 15 f-ckin times.

Posted by: B-rad at 05/03/07 10:29 PM | Reply
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i hate the word "indie" it's so overused. The whole god damn hipster world is "indie". What does it all mean?? Nothing at all.

Posted by: Justin at 05/03/07 10:36 PM | Reply
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Two libertines songs ahead of "How Soon is Now"? are you kidding me? what a fucking joke. Melody Maker was always a better paper that that fucking shit rag.

Posted by: Mehdi at 05/03/07 10:38 PM | Reply
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God bless nirvana! the true pioneers of indie rock...

worst list ever

Posted by: Dave at 05/03/07 10:42 PM | Reply
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Teenage Riot should top this list at least be on it!

Posted by: Vyral at 05/03/07 10:59 PM | Reply
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While I don't agree with much on this list (at ALL), it is, in fact a legit 'INDIE' list. All of these records were released in the UK on 'indie' labels;

The Smiths and The Strokes on Rough Trade, Oasis on Creation, Blur on Food, Franz Ferdinand on Domino, Joy Division on Factory, Pixies and The Breeders on 4AD... anyway you get the idea.

Pretty much every popular UK 'indie' band gets snapped up by a major here in the US, which is why this looks decidedly non-indie.

It still sucks, though...

Posted by: mago at 05/03/07 11:21 PM | Reply
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I think they nailed it with certain songs, like "Fuck Forever", "Common People" and "Rebellion (Lies)" - some of the best songs to jiggle about to on obligatory "indie" nights at the student union. I don't care if they're not technically indie. They're just fucking good songs. I just want to know where "E-Pro" is on the list.

...the Oasis love *is* inexplicable, though.

Posted by: Sylvie at 05/03/07 11:46 PM | Reply
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ok now, what the @#$% is indie?

because oasis aint it.

Posted by: glenbruce at 05/04/07 12:11 AM | Reply
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If they have to put 3 Libertines (1 babyshambles that dude goes out with kate moss dudes! dudes!) songs, 2 oasis songs and other multiple repetitions then this list obviously sucks and NME should kill its own balls off. SUCK MY TITS NME SUCK MY FUCKIN TITS

Posted by: DuderScoots at 05/04/07 1:33 AM | Reply
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ot, that dungen ad is nearly making me vom.

Posted by: settledownbrown at 05/04/07 9:29 AM | Reply
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I swear the English are self-adored pre-madonnas.

Posted by: JayFlyer at 05/04/07 9:30 AM | Reply
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I think more pete dohety projects should be on this list.

Posted by: dannygutters at 05/04/07 9:39 AM | Reply
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I'm not saying I miss it, but can you really leave "Just Like Heaven" off this list. Seems like the Limeys would want a Cure song on there somewhere.

Posted by: the management at 05/04/07 9:39 AM | Reply
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Bloc Part = 0 Oasis = 5? Come on... And Nirvana? Fuck Off!

Posted by: Mikey T at 05/04/07 9:42 AM | Reply
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This is all so depressing. It's not even cool to say you like indie anymore. You might as well tell everybody you like the Backstreet Boys. And would it kill them to include lesser-known bands? That's the true indie stuff. One guy just told me about one - Nu-Matix. They're awesome.

Posted by: Rochelle Nikita at 05/04/07 9:50 AM | Reply
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My head just hurts reading all of these posts. The term INDIE is defined a little differently in the U.S. vs. the UK. I could explain this but I'm not that bothered.
Oasis have been on an indie label in the UK from day 1 (Creation and now Big Brother). So they basically went on to sell 50 million records as a UK indie band. And yet they will sell out the new Wembley 3, 4…7 times next summer when they choose to do so next. Not bad for a bunch of tossers…
The list is actually quite relevant if you are standing in a bar in Leeds, Liverpool, Brighton, Bournemouth or god for bid Birmingham. Most of the songs on this list are considered classics in the UK and rightfully so. They have created the musical landscape and shaped the culture for the past 15 + years. This is more that I can say for the production of US bands over this time.
The UK has ¼ of the population of the US and produces better tunes.
The NME also breaks bands and does not contain crap gossip columns or have shinny glossy pictures. It would be amazing to have a US equivalent.
Oh I’m American and Nickelback rules. And if you have not figured it out yet The National suck…

Posted by: Bonehead's Bank Holiday... at 05/04/07 9:55 AM | Reply
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"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was released on DGC/Geffen. It is, essentially, the definitive moment where Indie had been sold out on a popular level (other than, say, "Goo" from Sonic Youth). Anyway, it was never released on an indie label, even in the UK.

Genre speaking, it would have made more sense to include early Green Day from Outlook! than Nivana from DGC.

I'm thinking... "Knowledge" or "Welcome to Paradise".

Shit list. Hardly newsworthy. May as well have called it "Stone Roses vs. Smiths = Oasis".

Posted by: d. at 05/04/07 9:58 AM | Reply
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I think "Just Like Heaven" was left off to make room for another fucking Oasis song. I mean, I get it, I thought Oasis was pretty rockin' for a couple of months in 1995, but dayum I woke up and smelled the joke eventually.

Posted by: CD at 05/04/07 10:01 AM | Reply
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Eh. Saying Oasis are on an indie label are about as insightful as saying Nine Inch Nails or New Order are on indie labels, and for the same reason.

Posted by: d at 05/04/07 10:01 AM | Reply
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Nope, not this time. You're not gonna get me all riled up NME! Consider yourself shunned!

Posted by: Adam at 05/04/07 10:11 AM | Reply
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Hey Bonehead's Bank Holiday: Yeah, Nickelback does rule (oh I'm probably gonna really get it for that - they're kind of out of good graces right now for some strange reason. But I will always like their music no matter what.)

Posted by: Rochelle Nikita at 05/04/07 10:16 AM | Reply
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i love lists. they let me know who's the best, and also who's not quite so good.

Posted by: Ass Hat at 05/04/07 10:16 AM | Reply
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The Nme and Xfm bum lick Oasis, The Libertines, The Stone Roses and The Smiths. Look at how many times those bands have been on the cover of NME.

This List is lame.

Posted by: bread at 05/04/07 10:23 AM | Reply
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Gigantic is at least top 5 worthy. I'd also put U-Mass in consideration with Debaser.

I'd agree with the inclusion of Rebellion at 29, but Tunnels is the better song.

And as much as I adore The Smiths, I'd probably only leave Panic. It's the one that best fits what they're going for.

Crap list, though. And this is from someone who loved the last Oasis album.

Posted by: Nancy Boy at 05/04/07 10:30 AM | Reply
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Since when Nirvana is Indie?? Or Oasis??
Now i don't know what "grunge" or "brit POP" is!!

Posted by: izthizmusik at 05/04/07 10:55 AM | Reply
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Joy Division, sigh.

Posted by: Rev Dave at 05/04/07 10:57 AM | Reply
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Weezer is absent from this list. Completely absent. But that's ok. Babyshambles is on there.

(Awful.)

Posted by: Derekh at 05/04/07 11:23 AM | Reply
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To me the term "indie" has always sounded trite and trifling. You may as well say you like "pussie" music or "sweater-pop". This is exactly the kind of list I'd expect a bunch of affected British pop music writers to come up with. It's sad.

Posted by: iburl at 05/04/07 11:28 AM | Reply
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This list is expected from the NME.

No one who knows anything about the magazine would truthfully expect more or less. The magazine is all about hype, fads and trends, as well as a few token nods to a (mostly british) past. The list would have looked vastly different five years ago, and the five years before that, because the NME is all about staying 'hip' and 'current', which is fine if you're a teenager looking to learn more about pop music, but should be irrelevant to anyone older.

If you are over the age of 21 you should know better than to take the NME and this list seriously.

And as much as I respect other people's musical tastes, I have to get this out: Nickelback suck.

Posted by: Steve Sanders at 05/04/07 11:34 AM | Reply
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"The NME also breaks bands and does not contain crap gossip columns or have shinny glossy pictures. It would be amazing to have a US equivalent."

Uhhh, sorry? Maybe you haven't read the NME in say, the last 15 years. NME doesn't break bands, it creates trends. Trends it shoves so relentlessly down it's readers' throats that once they simply can't stomach them anymore the magazine itself turns on the trend it created.

Alan McGee just recently wrote an entire editorial in the Guardian about how US music magazines are vastly superior the their English counterparts. [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/03/why_ill_miss_arthur.html]
I'm not saying I completely agree because I think it's a grass-is-always-greener syndrome, but I know plenty of UK residents that would shiver with disdain at this list. Not because the artists are SO bad, but because even under the broader UK definition of indie as an aesthetic/attitude/sound rather than label some of these choices are still highly questionable and the presence of 6 Oasis songs is just ridiculous.

Posted by: Sean at 05/04/07 11:51 AM | Reply
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the people at NME have to realize that 1) there are more than 10 bands in the world, and 2) they have a pro-UK bias which makes this list seem quite silly.

Posted by: benj at 05/04/07 12:13 PM | Reply
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I understand most people here are scared of success/$/losing cred, but the songs on that NME list Mean Something. Live Forever came along during a time when the country was in the toilet and was legendary that a few kids who lived in the dying town of Manchester could become a cultural touchstone.

The best reviewed records of this year (Panda Bear, the Field, Eluvium(!)) will never define this space or time.

and Nickelback? Really? Nickelback is no different than throwing baby animals onto the third rail. You can't even argue that.

Posted by: Tony McCarrol at 05/04/07 12:22 PM | Reply
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funny, where are the anthemic indie songs on this list?

Posted by: jill at 05/04/07 12:26 PM | Reply
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Um...Built to Spill?

Posted by: Jewmanji at 05/04/07 12:55 PM | Reply
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What does "indie" mean to these people? Pavement's "Summer Babe" is, and will forever be, the ultimate indie anthem. CASE CLOSED!

Posted by: Ron Fuqua at 05/04/07 1:09 PM | Reply
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tony, 'live forever' is indeed a quality tune. but come on man, what does 'don't look back in anger' have to do with indie anthems? or 'champagne supernova'? they aren't bad songs, but under the criteria they're using they make no sense. plus, you of all people should realize how bad the albums got after you left. :)

Posted by: Sean at 05/04/07 1:10 PM | Reply
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HA! 18 of the top 20 are from the UK. What homers!

Posted by: James at 05/04/07 1:12 PM | Reply
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It's pointless to criticize, true, but here are some more oversights I just thought of:

The Undertones, "Teenage Kicks" (John Peel's favorite record, no less)
The Only Ones, "Another Girl Another Planet"
Many, many songs by the Jam
Teenage Fanclub, "The Concept"

Et cetera.


It's not really fair to complain about the lack of American indie bands on the list--the UK has always had a strange relationship to them--but there are some definite oversights that are totally in keeping with the breathless and bizarre attitude of the NME. Oh well.

Posted by: Susannah at 05/04/07 1:24 PM | Reply
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whatever...
i know what i know

i guess my first question is how is indie defined? As commerically successful?

Posted by: rowan nawor at 05/04/07 1:24 PM | Reply
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Did NME do this because a new Oasis album is being released soon or just because. Probably the latter.

Oasis . . . . . ok, if we're talking label-wise, then yeah, true, but almost everyone starts their career on an indie label. Sound-wise, uh, no, just . . . . no.

I understand Nirvana, but they should used one of their songs from Bleach, like "Sliver", or something. Nirvana was making the transition from Sub Pop to Geffen, or DCG, while recording Nevermind, plus wasn't it recorded in fucking Hollywood or something? In the same studio that Fleetwood Mac recorded "Rumors"?

Say what you will about The Strokes, but NME should gave them more love in this countdown. "The Modern Age" should've been in the Top 5. Again, say what you will, but if it wasn't for them, and this rag worshipping them, then every song on this list by bands that formed after The Strokes wouldn't be on here.

I agree with what someone said about Sonic Youth. Personally, I think either "BITH", or Teenage Riot should be in the Top 10. Blur . . . . Parklife, yeah, but Song 2, no. And why are The White Stripes and Coldplay, for that matter, NOT on this list? The Jesus & Mary Chain?

Posted by: b.LOUD at 05/04/07 2:22 PM | Reply
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the word 'indie' music in the uk and the us are completly different....

in the uk indie acts are usually working class/hip good looking kids making positive/fun/interesting pop music..... oasis/artic monkeys/kasabian/libertines/kaiser chiefs/blur/echo and the bunnymen/jamc/etc...

in the north america i found indie artist are usually awkward white collor loner kids making artsy fartsy avante garde pop music........
pavement/modest mouse/arcade fire/ween/weeer/pixies/bright eyes/

my opinion....
the nme editors seen to be the popular kids having a laugh whist the pitchfork nerds annoy the piss out of me....

indie uk is way better.
hands down.

interesting too is the different parts of indie music make in the uk from the northerners and the acts from the south.

where most north amercain indie acts to me sound like ween meats pavement with a little bit of the pixies.......

Posted by: jon. at 05/04/07 2:42 PM | Reply
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I'm sitting in my office, listening to The Kinks, and not even this ridiculous list can ruin my bliss.

Posted by: Mohaski at 05/04/07 2:49 PM | Reply
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Jon, you're an idiot... The English are still self-glorified bastards... We have our own (and many more) working class/hip good looking kids making positive/fun/interesting pop music right here in the states.

Posted by: JayFlyer at 05/04/07 4:16 PM | Reply
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the list wasn't put together by the NME, it was voted for by the general (read ) public.
the list's sponsored by XFM, a comercial radio station so the decent songs voted for by NME readers (the rapture and klaxons/ joy division and the breeders) were probably out voted by people who's only knowledge of music was "'aving it" to oasis songs.
also the term indie means practically nothing in the UK.
Anyway no one who cares about independant (rather than "indie") music takes the NME or XFM seriously. Plan B magazine is far better than the NME and 6music infinately better than XFM

Posted by: talulah Gosh at 05/04/07 5:29 PM | Reply
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where's loser? that was indie when it was first released.

Posted by: vinylrags at 05/04/07 6:48 PM | Reply
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ah, americans are hilarious. sure, the brits hype everything up and proclaim everything the second coming. But you american go too far in the other direction - you think everything is crap, nothing is impressive to you, and you're happy when bands fail. Unless the music is obtuse and unlistenable, in which case you proclaim it to be "brilliant"

Posted by: bart at 05/04/07 11:39 PM | Reply
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Wow, I'm glad The Cribs made the list. They changed my life, man.

Posted by: monkeygrump! at 05/05/07 8:47 AM | Reply
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Um, Klaxons and like 5 Oasis songs? Where are they living in?
Stupid stupid list, but of course lists like these only exist to be stupid, so...yeah. This was a waste of my time.

Posted by: alexis at 05/05/07 2:42 PM | Reply
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Down with NME! Long live Pitchfork!

Posted by: Tom at 05/05/07 4:47 PM | Reply
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Honestly, has there even BEEN any good Brit-rock after The Libertines?

And how does a 2, 3 year old band make a list of 50 greatest indie anthems?

Posted by: Allen at 05/06/07 4:41 AM | Reply
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Sincere thanks to talulah Gosh for your perspective. If this is a list generated by the British "public" then that is even scarier than it being the editors of a magazine. USA, don't be too distainful to see the whimpy whiney pretty-boy brit-pop underbelly of a nation, after all, here is what our "public" thinks is good music: Billboard hot 100: http://tinyurl.com/93a4f

Posted by: iburl at 05/06/07 10:17 PM | Reply
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Fugazi - Waiting Room

Posted by: papazano at 05/07/07 7:59 AM | Reply
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WTF? Oasis sucks...I mean really. How are they Indie? seriously this list is crazy...though Stone Roses, Pixies, and Blur are all good choices but really? Better list needed please.

Posted by: Bjorn at 05/08/07 2:37 PM | Reply
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will people stop copyin other peoples comments and sayin oasis are shit hu gives a fuck if they are on the list loads they deserve to be cuz there a great band, but i still agree with all the shit list comments.

Posted by: liney at 05/12/07 10:48 AM | Reply
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americans piss off im surprised you all havent eaten your PC's by know u bunch of fat, mardy sweaty, man breasted wasters stop sayin british music is crap and go and listen to your rap bull shit, or go and stare at the fridge and see how long it takes you before you dive on it eating all its contents and the fridge it self, then again that wont occupy you for long.

Posted by: 909 at 05/12/07 10:56 AM | Reply
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I gotta say, these comments are fascinating to me. Somewhere along the way, I forgot I was reading about the NME list, and got caught up in the comments left by (I'm assuming) British writers stereotyping Americans. It's interesting to see how other people stereotype you, particular a culture that is about as close as they come (save Canada, of course). It's funny to read, anyway (largely because the stereotypes are desperately inaccurate).

Posted by: An American at 05/16/07 4:34 AM | Reply
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Sure, they put other Libertines songs up there but leave out their definitive (and most anthemic) song ever?!

WHERE IS WHAT BECAME OF THE LIKELY LADS?!?!

Posted by: Steven S at 05/25/07 2:43 PM | Reply
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this list completely blows my mind..

where is my mind?

Posted by: joe at 05/29/07 3:48 AM | Reply
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It's a crazy situa-sheeeyuuun that there aren't better choices of Pavement and Pixies on here.

Posted by: Jeff at 06/07/07 11:07 AM | Reply
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at list the first song that comes to my mind if someone asked me what is the greatest indie anthem of all time is on the list. "Rebellion (Lies)" at 29.

thats about all i can say about the list. how they can come up with a list of the greatest indie anthems of all time with only 5 or so that actually deserve to be on such a list is incredible, even for NME.

i guess it goes to show that voting just doesn't work.

Posted by: michael at 07/25/07 3:18 PM | Reply
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worst list ever who the fuck works for you guys?

Posted by: Trek at 08/10/07 8:10 PM | Reply
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LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND NOT THERE!
Not a better feel good indie anthem ever as good as that.
PFFF DISGRACEFUL LIST

Posted by: Abs at 08/21/07 10:46 PM | Reply
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too many people commenting on what they know nothing about, very good list, not sure exactley about the order, but the right tunes none the less, very well done, keep up the good work.

As i say too many people gobbing off about what they dont know, youngens probs...

Posted by: Russ Webb at 08/23/07 9:16 PM | Reply
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"Only Shallow" is the greatest indie anthem. It should be New York City's anthem as Kevin Shields was born and raised there.

Posted by: Saif Mehdi at 09/11/07 11:27 PM | Reply
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According to Wikipedia, an "anthem" can be defined like this: "... The term has evolved to mean a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a certain group of people."

I find it hard to call something an anthem if it's less than just a few years old, however.

Posted by: Martin at 10/26/07 6:20 PM | Reply
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I'm not even sure what the definiton of Indie is, so I'm gonna go and look it up right now. However, all I do know is that it's good to see "Mr. Brightside" on a "Top # of All Time" list. I'll never get over how good it is. I guess that's all. No need to respond negatively to this comment, seeing as how I admit that I haven't a good clue on exactly Indie is.

Posted by: Ryan Sloan at 11/30/07 3:25 AM | Reply
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Where is the bloc party!!!

Posted by: Sachin Jani at 12/05/07 9:55 AM | Reply
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There are no Australian songs on this list. Major drawback. Not too sure as what counts as "indie", but you'd think that The Saints' classic punk song "Know your product" would top, or nearly top this list. Or perhaps Do Re Mi's classic "Man overboard"...a nomination for greatest song of all time, in my view. Joan Jet and the Blackhearts "I lover rock'n'roll" deserves to compete for top spot in this list too.

I think Oasis have only two great songs...Wonderwall, and Free. The latter did not make the list. They wrote a lot of rubbish too, some of which makes this list.

Really, no Aussie songs equals inferior, British centric compilation.

Posted by: dee at 01/30/08 3:01 AM | Reply
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Really just a crappy list, practically all British bands of the last 10 years. It's a Britpop list, not an indie anthem list. Whoever wondered why there's no Debaser is right on. Pixies? Beck? Pavement? Barely reperesented, if at all. I accept that indie in Britain means something different than in America and that a lot of the songs on this list aren't bad, but c'mon.

Posted by: Alex at 02/15/08 5:24 PM | Reply
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where r
belle and sebastian
antony and the johnsons

tits

Posted by: harry at 03/12/08 12:06 PM | Reply
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ur a peinis
americans have nothing to do with indie ur all a bunch or overcompensating loosers who cant write or make any decent music

u know nothing!
u will never know anything!
u narrow minded F****** up waste of life


u need to read up on the concept of indiependant music and then u will find that you being american and because of that fact probably more mainstream than Mcdonalds!

and then you will realise why u cant judge this publication

however i agree that this is a sh** list and NME now nothing but judge english press when you brig us such pooie press like AMP

get a life

and ur blatently fat!

Posted by: harry at 03/12/08 12:14 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

ur a peinis
americans have nothing to do with indie ur all a bunch or overcompensating loosers who cant write or make any decent music

u know nothing!
u will never know anything!
u narrow minded F****** up waste of life


u need to read up on the concept of indiependant music and then u will find that you being american and because of that fact probably more mainstream than Mcdonalds!

and then you will realise why u cant judge this publication

however i agree that this is a sh** list and NME now nothing but judge english press when you brig us such pooie press like AMP

get a life

and ur blatently fat!

Posted by: harry at 03/12/08 12:15 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

ur a peinis
americans have nothing to do with indie ur all a bunch or overcompensating loosers who cant write or make any decent music

u know nothing!
u will never know anything!
u narrow minded F****** up waste of life


u need to read up on the concept of indiependant music and then u will find that you being american and because of that fact probably more mainstream than Mcdonalds!

and then you will realise why u cant judge this publication

however i agree that this is a sh** list and NME now nothing but judge english press when you brig us such pooie press like AMP

get a life

and ur blatently fat!

Posted by: harry at 03/12/08 12:15 PM | Reply
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Nirvana are indie now are they? I didn't know that, I always thought THEY WERE GRUNGE! Hmmm, silly me. Indie music must really compensate for a broad range of music. Is it, indipendant or individual or what? What does indie even mean really? I mean, for Oasis, a britpop mega money commercial group to have no.1 and Nirvana, an American (although largely commercial) influential grunge group who were in it for the music to have no.2, hmmm, kind of strange if you ask me. And then at no.4 The Smiths, an almot non-commercial band in a sense. This list is very, very broad.

Ok, since when is 'I Bet You Look Good on the Danefloor" an anthem. It is a song about a girl looking good on a dancefloor! How narrow minded has NME, or the british public become these days. (How can Oasis have 6 songs but The Smiths only have 4 man, that sucks. But Oasis are technically a great band.) And it isnt just The Arctic Monkeys, how the hell are half these songs anthems! 'There She Goes' by The La's, 'Champagne Supernova' (about drugs obviously) by Oasis, 'Wonderwall'? (A LOVE SONG!) A love song is not an anthem. A LOVE SONG IS NOT AN ANTHEM! "This Charming Man", sure it has got fucking excellent guitar nd rhythm, sure it speaks to you and bites you in the face like all great songs do, sure its intro blows you away, sure its lyrics are fucking amazingly good, but is it really an anthem. It is just about being honest and helping those in need even if they are not as 'good looking' or "intelligent" as you are. I think NME needs to either re-think INDIE or not let the public vote.

Posted by: steve at 03/25/08 8:50 PM | Reply
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i bet you look good on the dancefloor is an anthem because everytime people hear it they go fuckin mental, and because its a good tune. subject matter doesn't affect whether something is an anthem

Posted by: gerard in reply to steve's comment at 12/15/08 11:14 PM | Reply
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"Unless the music is obtuse and unlistenable, in which case you proclaim it to be "brilliant"" haaha i found that funny because you are acting like you are quoting an american, but we would never use the word brilliant to describe anything but a smart person FYI(i think it is a really cool word though because i love english descriptions)! well i happen to think that england is amazing and am really upset at how mean all of the english people are being to americans on here! we are not all fat, and i have seen plenty of fat english people as well! it is even on both sides, so stop calling us fat please and we will stop saying that you all have bad teeth(which i know is not true because i have seen plenty of english people with perfect teeth).this list doesnt have to turn into an england vs america thing. by the way ,i thought the list was okay, but some of the songs seem really random. how can a country be "mainstream" anyway, because that makes no sense to me.
this comment was not friendly: "americans piss off im surprised you all havent eaten your PC's by know u bunch of fat, mardy sweaty, man breasted wasters stop sayin british music is crap and go and listen to your rap bull shit, or go and stare at the fridge and see how long it takes you before you dive on it eating all its contents and the fridge it self, then again that wont occupy you for long."

Posted by: jenny at 04/02/08 9:03 PM | Reply
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the music is obtuse and unlistenable, in which case you proclaim it to be "brilliant"" haaha i found that funny because you are acting like you are quoting an american, but we would never use the word brilliant to describe anything but a smart person FYI(i think it is a really cool word though because i love english descriptions)! well i happen to think that england is amazing and am really upset at how mean all of the english people are being to americans on here! we are not all fat, and i have seen plenty of fat english people as well! it is even on both sides, so stop calling us fat please and we will stop saying that you all have bad teeth(which i know is not true because i have seen plenty of english people with perfect teeth).this list doesnt have to turn into an england vs america thing. by the way ,i thought the list was okay, but some of the songs seem really random. how can a country be "mainstream" anyway, because that makes no sense to me.
this comment was not friendly: "americans piss off im surprised you all havent eaten your PC's by know u bunch of fat, mardy sweaty, man breasted wasters stop sayin british music is crap and go and listen to your rap bull shit, or go and stare at the fridge and see how long it takes you before you dive on it eating all its contents and the fridge it self, then again that wont occupy you for long."

Posted by: jenny at 04/02/08 9:04 PM | Reply
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Wow, I wonder if the NME have ever heard of a band called The Replacements? They were this influential band from the US. Anyway so I'm guessing that "indie" doesn't go back as far as 1983? That I do not understand. I'd love to know what/if at they can at all the NME define as "indie". It's pretty vague. Aside from it having to be a certain, undefined way.

It's come to this.

Posted by: Bill Wikstrom at 04/05/08 3:41 AM | Reply
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is this actually serious?
this is pathetic.
this is a list that you would expect like, sixteen magazine to put together after juno got big.

holy shit.

Posted by: eric at 04/05/08 6:54 PM | Reply
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Where are the Sultans of Ping FC, with 'Where's me Jumper?'
Best get-em-on-the-Dancefloor anthem ever made
Also Jesus & Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking
terrible bloody list. Klaxons? pile of crap
some snot-nosed Teenage journalist made this up.
And where are all the Nirvana songs? One track ain't enough.
If Oasis can cross-over into mainstream and stlll make this list, where are all the Cobain classics? I sometimes despair of English music journalism, I really do.

Posted by: Steven Anthony at 05/31/08 4:48 AM | Reply
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Where are the Sultans of Ping FC, with 'Where's me Jumper?'
Best get-em-on-the-Dancefloor anthem ever made
Also Jesus & Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking
terrible bloody list. Klaxons? pile of crap
some snot-nosed Teenage journalist made this up.
And where are all the Nirvana songs? One track ain't enough.
If Oasis can cross-over into mainstream and stlll make this list, where are all the Cobain classics? I sometimes despair of English music journalism, I really do.

Posted by: Steven Anthony at 05/31/08 4:49 AM | Reply
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poorly compiled list, yeah i agree with the general consensus in this discussion, how the fu is nirvana indie...

Posted by: sagnol david at 06/13/08 11:32 PM | Reply
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Where are the Cure? Surely they deserve to be on this list more than Kasabian or Klaxons? At least Mr. Brightside is on there - there's one I agree with.

Half of this stuff isn't really Indie but whatever... ._.

Posted by: Katie at 07/29/08 10:18 AM | Reply
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Pixies - Mr. Grieves/No. 13 Baby
Joy Division - Disorder

All three songs are easily the best ever...to name a few.

Posted by: Saif at 09/12/08 10:57 PM | Reply
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I can only see one Pixies song. Is this a list made for Libertines? Can understand Smiths but where is Sheila take a bow? You have Live Forever as no. 1. Totally unacceptable!!!

Posted by: Nimesh at 11/22/08 8:37 AM | Reply
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What? No Creep?

...Idiots

Posted by: Me at 12/04/08 11:07 PM | Reply
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This list like any list has people sucking about it, but at the end of the day all the bands except the Klaxons are pretty class. As for all the people bagging Oasis yes they are not what they used to be but all them songs on the list are S##T HOT!!!
As for the Yanks on here, why don't you all P#SS OFF and listen to the crap you make over there in good idea gone wrong land

Posted by: Goughy at 12/11/08 7:53 AM | Reply
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God. Seeing as this list was voted upon by the English public, it's hardly suprising to find so many Oasis songs on there.

Take off most Oasis, remove Klaxons, rearrange some of the tunes in numbers 21-32, swap the Pavement song for Summer Babe... oh yeah, and as much as I respect Nirvana, they really, really shouldn't be on there. It's almost like the Brits felt sorry and wanted to try to include an American "indie song". This list needs tons of work but has a couple of good picks.

Oh and not all rap sucks, just crap about shooting shit, getting high and smacking hoes... that stuff is garbage for my dog to piss on.

PS- I wouldn't advise you Brits making fun of America... or we'll sit on you!!

Posted by: Vicki at 12/28/08 12:30 AM | Reply
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Firstly where is 'Waterfall' by the Stone Roses? ...... WHERE IS IT??
Secondly why isn't 'This Charming Man' number 1? answers pleeeeezze

Posted by: Dave at 01/01/09 9:40 AM | Reply
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ahh dont agree with the number 1 ! agree with the libertines they deserve to be in there, not so much babyshambles! and wheres stone roses love spreads :S?

Posted by: arctic monkey at 01/13/09 4:38 PM | Reply
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Man, Live Forever totally pisses and shits all over Smells Like Teen Spirit. WHat's better? A song about some manic depressive growling, or a song about optimism and hope. I know which one I'd choose.

Posted by: Matt at 01/22/09 9:22 AM | Reply
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As an obvious self-cnfessed Killers fan I was gutted not to see more of their rockin' Indie floorfillers up there. Yu are telling me that in the Top 50 Indie anthems of al time you have Nivarna and obvious and in my opinion catastrophic rock band at No.2. Where is 'When You Were Young' and 'Smile Like you Mean It' Thes two are real crowd pleasers. Absolutly delighted to see Mr.Brightside up there but in my opinion is No.1 over them Manc, NME bumming wankers whos every song sounds the same.

Posted by: TheKillersRock! at 02/03/09 7:18 PM | Reply
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Nirvana in some ways is Indie aswell, but never #2 of course. I think its pretty normal that British NME making list of most UK bands nor US, cuz basically Indie cames from UK + magazine is British. So its ok. But apsalutely strange how Joy Division come to the list??? I wonder, where EDITORS, INTERPOL, COLDPLAY and other representatives of this direction?!

And YES, why Oasis repeats more than other bands as Smiths, Pixies, Stone Roses?! of course Oasis is a great band and yes, like 'Mr British' as The Beatles were now. But its not the case of repeating it nor to stick out as NME always do.

haha, I remember how public at NME Awards '09 react on announcement that Oasis is 'The Best British Band'. How Fraz Ferdinand shout about 'em 'Booooo'. Do you remember?! Huh funny.

So IMHO the list is pretty well. 30 points of 50 are really amazing Indie Bands, but the concept of creating such list should be another.

Posted by: Wish-man at 04/30/09 11:34 AM | Reply
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This list is crap... Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" should be top ten if not #1... and yet it isn't on here at all?!?! If you disagree go watch it at glastonbury on youtube. And possibly and even bigger disgrace considering this mans renown is much more widespread than Arcade Fire = How is John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" not on here ANYWHERE??
Once again this list is crap

Posted by: Daniel at 07/15/09 12:28 AM | Reply
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