The Gaslight Anthem land "The '59 Sound" like they own the radio dial . It sounds brand new but somehow already familiar, the kind of track that makes you want to roll the windows down before the chorus hits.
Indie Rock
Kings of Leon make “Use Somebody” feel huge like the song everyone somehow already knows by heart. It sounds like a summer radio takeover waiting to happen, and it lands with the kind of chorus that sticks on first pass.
Frightened Rabbit and “Old Old Fashioned” land like a confessional you overhear at the bar and immediately trust. this feels less like a deep cut and more like the song everyone should already be arguing about.
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour hit "The Sun Ain't Shining No More" like it already owns . It sounds fresh, loud, and just weird enough to feel inevitable, the kind of track that makes a normal afternoon look underdressed.
Passion Pit and “Little Secrets” land like a neon shot of summer . If you want one track that feels instantly bigger than the room, this is it.
The Black Ghosts’ Repetition Kills You lands like a fresh midnight single : sleek, wired, and impossible to ignore. It feels built for anyone hunting the next thing before everyone else catches on.
Phoenix hits “Lisztomania” like a confetti cannon : bright, fast, and impossible to ignore. It feels brand-new, but it already sounds like the song blasting from every sunburned car window and basement stereo this month.
Miike Snow and “Animal” feel like the kind of track that sneaks out of nowhere and then owns the week. this is the glossy, slyly feral pop song that makes every other chorus sound underdressed.
My favorite Indie Rock songs from the past year.
Paid-only
My favorite Indie Rock songs from the past year.
Paid-only
Montt Mardié drops “Set Sail Tomorrow” like it already owns this month, and suddenly feels a little brighter. It sounds new, sharp, and strangely urgent, the kind of track that sneaks into your head and refuses to leave.
Vandaveer’s Crooked Mast feels like the kind of late-December find that makes a mixtape worth finishing. this track sounds fresh, sly, and a little weather-beaten, like it already knows the winter wind.
Iron & Wine lands “Boy With a Coin” like a sudden weather front, and it feels brand-new, even if it has been waiting patiently on the album shelf. This is the kind of track that sneaks past the noise and makes the month quieter in a good way.
Born Ruffians make "Little Garçon" feel like the kind of indie anthem everyone is passing around this December. It lands with enough bite and bounce to sound like a breakout single before the year even cools down.
Andrew Bird’s Imitosis feels like the smart record you stumble into this week and then pretend you found first. it lands with enough sly detail and hooky nerve to sound like the kind of song everybody should be talking about right now.
Oh, Atoms drop "Sugar Mouse" like it just landed on a winter mixtape and immediately stole the better track slot. that matters: it feels fresh, a little sly, and exactly the kind of tune that makes a gray afternoon look upgraded.
Anya Marina's “Move You (SSSPII)” lands like a clever little surprise the kind of track that feels too sharp to stay hidden for long. It sounds like a fresh favorite already, the sort of song that sneaks into winter playlists and refuses to leave.
Sam Sparro turns Black & Gold into a shiny new obsession . It sounds like a chart-topper already, all nerve, gloss, and midnight swagger.
Elliott BROOD’s “Write It All Down for You” feels like the kind of tune needs right now: direct, road-worn, and impossible to shake after one spin. It sounds brand-new, like a sleeper hit slipping out of the cold and straight onto your year-end playlist.
The Verve return with “Love Is Noise”, and it lands like a cold December streetlight suddenly buzzing to life. In 2008, this feels immediate, big, and a little reckless—the kind of comeback single that makes you check the volume twice.
Okkervil River’s “Lost Coastlines” lands like a late-December signal flare: bright, bruised, and impossible to ignore. it feels brand new and strangely urgent, the kind of track that makes you stop pretending holiday playlists are enough.
Mates of State make "Now" feel like the right song : bright enough to cut through the gray, and stubbornly upbeat when the calendar starts dragging. It sounds brand-new, like the kind of track that lands on a mix and immediately steals the top slot.
Noah And The Whale and “5 Years Time” feel like the kind of single needs: bright, hopeful, and just a little scruffy around the edges. It lands like a surprise hit, the sort of song that makes winter look less grim before the kettle even boils.
Snow Patrol’s “Shut Your Eyes” sounds like the kind of winter single that sneaks up and suddenly owns the month. it feels freshly dropped, perfectly timed for long drives, cold commutes, and every half-lit shop window in between.
