10 Indie Songs From the 90s That You May Have Forgotten

If you love 90s songs and indie music, we’ve got a treat for you. These 10 indie songs from the 1990s were quite popular when they first came out, but have since been partly forgotten in favor of newer indie rock acts. You might just add a few of these killer tracks to your 90s playlist by the end of this list.

1. “I’m Your No. 1 Fan” by The Beautiful South

This 1992 song is the perfect blend of humor and indie-pop excellence. Nobody could make melodic tunes quite like The Beautiful South in the 1990s.

2. “Here’s Where The Story Ends” by The Sundays

You can hear a lot of The Smiths in The Sundays, not only in their indie-pop sound but also in their melancholy-soaked lyrics. Still, The Sundays stood out on their own and not as a cheap imitation of someone else. “Here’s Where The Story Ends” from 1990 is a great example of what they could do.

3. “Autumn Sweater” by Yo La Tengo

Who doesn’t love indie songs from the 90s that capture the essence of young love? This 1997 track from Yo La Tengo is still a go-to smoochin’ tune for now-grown indie kids today.

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4. “Your Woman” by White Town

This stellar lo-fi indie song features an old jazz song at the beginning, which has since been sampled in other, newer songs. However, White Town’s “Your Woman” is unique on its own and has an almost Prince-like vibe.

5. “36 Degrees” by Placebo

If you were a teenage girl in the 1990s, you were probably obsessed with Placebo. And for good reason. They made tantalizing indie-rock music, and “36 Degrees” from 1997 was just one example of some of their best songs from the decade.

6. “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage

We could have put any 90s Garbage song on our list of the best indie songs of the time. However, we think “Only Happy When It Rains” from 1995 is a bit underrated.

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7. “This Is Fake D.I.Y” by Bis

If you enjoy Scottish indie pop and early pop punk, this 1996 track by Bis is worth a spin.

8. “Hermann Loves Pauline” by Super Furry Animals

Super Furry Animals fell through the cracks to some degree after the 1990s, and we’re not sure why. Their 1997 hit “Hermann Loves Pauline” was a stellar release with a pretty iconic and surreal music video that fits the song perfectly.

9. “Ladykillers” by Lush

This 1996 song by Lush was considered a relatable feminist anthem at the time. However, it came out when riot grrrl was waning in popularity, so few might even remember hearing it in the States. In the UK, though, Lovelife is still an indie Britpop staple album.

10. “When I Argue I See Shapes” by Idlewild

The late 1990s was a great time for indie rock and alt-rock bands. Idlewild doesn’t get enough love in conversations about the genre which usually just involve Radiohead and Foo Fighters. “When I Argue I See Shapes” is a real jam.

Photo by Kevin Winter

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