Greatest Indie Anthems Of The Millennium - Vote Now!

By Luke Lewis

Posted on 10/10/08 at 11:06:03 am

The problem with most "greatest song ever" polls is that the same suspects usually come out on top - 'Wonderwall', 'Creep', 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' etc.

arcade fire

That's why our latest poll takes 2000 as its Year Zero. So no Smiths, Sex Pistols or Stone Roses, and nothing from 'Blue Lines', 'Urban Hymns' or 'Parklife'. We're just after the best indie anthems of the last eight years.

For me, it's a toss-up between Arcade Fire's 'Rebellion (Lies) and Elbow's 'One Day Like This - although 'We Are Your Friends' would have to be up there as well. Who will get your vote?

The full shortlist of 100 tracks is listed below, in no particular order. Which songs have we overlooked? And who deserves to win?

[Vote Now]

continued...

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot
The Strokes – Last Nite
Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)
The Libertines – Time For Heroes
Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control
The Verve – Love Is Noise
The Killers – Mr Brightside
The Cribs – Men's Needs
Klaxons – Golden Skans
Kasabian – LSF
The Rapture – House Of Jealous Lovers
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
Bloc Party – Banquet
The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Queens Of The Stone Age – Feel Good Hit Of The Summer
Anthony & The Johnsons – Hope There's Someone
Razorlight – In The Morning
Razorlight – Golden Touch
Oasis – The Hindu Times
Oasis – Go Let It Out
The Killers – All These Things That I've Done
The Libertines – Don't Look Back Into The Sun
Babyshambles – Delivery
Dirty Pretty Things – Bang Bang You're Dead
Kings Of Leon – Molly's Chambers
We Are Scientists – Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
The Kooks – Naïve
Arcade Fire – No Cars Go
Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc
Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
Reverend And The Makers – Heavyweight Champion Of The World
Primal Scream – Country Girl
The Ting Tings – That's Not My Name
Franz Ferdinand – Do You Want To
Muse – Time Is Running Out
Muse – Plug In Baby
The Futureheads – Hounds Of Love
The Strokes – Juicebox
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends
The Rakes – 22 Grand Job
Maximo Park – Going Missing
Maximo Park – Our Velocity
The Cribs – Hey Scenesters!
Editors – Munich
Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down
Hot Chip – Over And Over
Jamie T – Sheila
Kasabian – Empire
The Enemy – Away From Here
The Automatic – Monster
The Streets – Weak Become Heroes
The View – Same Jeans
CSS – Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
Cold War Kids – Hang Me Out To Dry
Fall Out Boy – Sugar, We're Goin Down
My Chemical Romance – I'm Not Okay
Elbow – One Day Like This
Doves – There Goes The Fear
Radiohead – Knives Out
Radiohead – Reckoner
Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning
Glasvegas – Daddy's Gone
Crystal Castles – Alice Practice
Gallows – Abandon Ship
Simian Mobile Disco – Hustler
Foals – Mathletics
The Coral – Goodbye
Gallows – Abandon Ship
Outkast – Hey Ya
The White Stripes – Fell In Love With A Girl
The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize??
Interpol – Slow Hands
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
Dizzee Rascal – Fix Up, Look Sharp
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Ian Brown – F.E.A.R.
The Vines – Get Free
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Spread Your Love
Coldplay – Clocks
Graham Coxon – Freakin' Out
Morrissey – First Of The Gang To Die
Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God
TV On The Radio – Wolf Like Me
The Hives – Hate To Say I Told You
Hard-Fi – Cash Machine
MIA – Galang
Santogold – LES Artistes
The Magic Numbers – Love Me Like You
The Bravery – An Honest Mistake
Hot Hot Heat – Bandages
The Young Knives – She's Attracted To
The Killers – When You Were Young
Green Day – Holiday
MGMT – Time To Pretend
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
Justice Vs Simian – We Are Your Friends

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danny [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 15:38

and empire by kasabian,sorry last post!!

danny [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 15:38

plug in baby naturally makes the cut,what a tune

Danny [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 15:37

Milburn-what will you do when the money goes,cribs-your gonna lose us,strokes juicebox,you fucking love it DPT-libertines what a waster,twisted wheel-you stole the sun,lucio starts fires-joe lean&JJJ.arctic monkeys-still take you home are my top few wouldnt dare mention wombats,coldplay,reverend and the makers.dont know why they are in NME anyway just pop music with shit hair.

myles [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 14:20

WHy are their so many bands on the list that aren't independent bands. MGMT's album wasn't released on an indie. Somebody botched that definition. It's not how you sound but who you're signed to that makes you an indie band, kids.

Umair [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 16:12

Some of the songs included in the list deserve to be up there, but others not so much. They are too dull/boring to be considered indie anthem.

James [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 21:27

to thornie, i shouldn't really have played the "posh" card, but vampire weekend deliberately play upon it and i don't care if their posh or working class, Interpol, MGMT, arcade fire are all great bands vampire weekend however are not, that song which has that constantly repeating Cape something or another is truly dreadful unimaginative crap. Also on my list there would be more Muse, QOTSA and sonic youth!!!!

Douggie [Visitor] //October 14 2008 at 16:00

Brianstorm should be on there easy one of the best, but i think got to be liberteens cant stand me now

Boy from Albion [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 14:37

Time for heroes - the libertines Kilamangiro - Babyshambles

ed2005 [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 14:19

List should include M.I.A. 'Paper Planes' LCD Soundsystem 'Losing My Edge' and the Delgados' No Danger.' The Rapture's 'House Of jealous Lovers', White Stripes' '7 Nation Army' and Bloc Party's 'Banquet' certainly have earned their place there though.

Lila [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 13:01

WHY ISN'T THERE MORE BLOC PARTY ON THAT LIST? Banquet, yeah, but Helicopter, Two More Years, Halo, Talons... They defo need to be on that list.

the boy [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 12:55

Any Oasis Track from there first two albums. in particular Live Forever. Any Libertines Song from there first album. Any Arctic Monkeys song from there first album. Pick of them boys you can be far off!

fred [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 12:53

where is arctic monkeys - when the sun goes down?

thornie [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 12:51

walcott - vampire weekend?

[Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 12:08

Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers Biffy Clyro - Who's Got a Match Beck - Girl Wombats - Moving to New York

[Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 10:33

What about Black Kids - I don't wanna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you and, Interpol - Evil, Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (yes it says indie anthem, but FOB is up there so I guess it's open for anything then...), and the Strokes - Reptilia should definitely be included!

Joshua [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 09:20

Pixies - Bam Thwok, Be Your Own PET - Adventure, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control, THE CRIBS - WHAT ABOUT ME, The Fall - Blindness

Harry [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 08:27

'Stella' by Jamie T Wasn't aware that was the name of the song !?!

squiggle [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 21:45

Les Cowboys Fringants - L'hiver approche Dumas - J'erre

Lux [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 06:57

Err, that Jamie T song is called "Sheila" not "Stella"

squiggle [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 21:42

Benjamin Biolay - Los Angeles Keren Ann - Seule Dirty Pretty Things - Truth Begins

Lo-Baller [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 04:46

Moldy Peaches "Who's Got the Crack"

Riccardo Coni [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 02:25

The Libertines - Time For Heroes, Bloc Party - Helicopter, The Strokes - Last Nite, Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down are absolute indie anthems of the 2000s. Unfortunately no Oasis songs can appear in the list, in my opinion. Maybe some from Dig Out Your soul will! Cheers

Batman. [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 00:29

Ok tbh the list is'nt too bad tbh u have to think of it appealing to the masses and not just your tastes i ok Cant Stand Me Now a great song most ppl i know havent herd of the song nvm the band only the smack head lead. and their is some total tunes their i dont think anyone will say their is'nt you just moan about the ones u dont like and tbh lke me if u dont like the ting tings but u do have to say their is no one at all like them at the mo. same with the other people are moaning about.

Jessica [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 00:16

Not the best of lists really is it?!Get the subways - you got me. Beltin tune, good live aswell. Dizzee rascal?? pfffft.

Bernard [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 23:55

Most of the songs on that (quite incomplete) list have been good for a decent thrill, but honestly, is there really anything that could possibly top the White Stripes? Seven Nation Army, hands down, as the most immediately recognizable, primal riff of them all. Litterally stadium material, as anthems go, and a visceral song, really.

TerrorPoet [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 23:46

The Libertines-Dont' look back into the Sun

Leah [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 23:13

snaps for putting in arcade fire, because obviously they should win, but where are wake up and intervention? I cannot draw to mind anything that is more of an anthem!

ewan [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 20:52

love is noise? i dont think so, no way.

Andy [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 22:01

I think clearly you have to look at the list and make a couple of conclusions. The Strokes "Is This It" was the beginning of a huge movement. Obv. the Libs influence in the UK is profound, but I feel like they were an albums band. In terms of sheer mass popularity you've got Hey Ya, Mr. Brightside, and Feel Good, Inc. I think I've gotta go with "Last Nite", personally.

Julian [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 21:28

I don't know who Britt is but YOU ARE SPOT ON KID!!!

thornie [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 20:54

who would james want on the list then considering he finds so many bands unbearable? also your dig at pretentious posh boys vampire weekend is funny considering a lot of bands on the list are from wealthy background including MGMT, Foals, Interpol, Arcade Fire and mr doherty himself. after all it shouldn't be about where you come from, more to do with where your at and what you believe in, and more importantly producing great music. my open message to you mr james dinosaur?

[Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 19:55

the killers most definitely

britt [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 18:45

whoa, sorry, no karma police. sorry. forgot.

britt [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 18:38

whoa. I miss some very important songs. the libertines - can't stand me now kings of leon - the bucket, the strokes - reptilia !!!!!!!! the strokes - the modern age radiohead - karma police oh please, ting tings.. fall out boy.. that's not indie.

James [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 18:37

Fucking shocking list! babyshambles,libertines.DPT,ting tings, killers et al are balls! oh and to the person who said oxford coma you need your ears examining Ive never heard such a bunch of pretentious posh boys in my life.

Lukahart [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 17:09

Th postal service¡¡¡Such a ....

Luke Lewis [Member] //October 10 2008 at 13:18

Hi Mariana, the songs are not in any order, it's just a shortlist. You can click through to the poll to see who's winning (currently The Libertines).

Andrew [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 13:29

Bloc Party - helicopter needs to be on that list

Mariana [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 13:18

Bunch of crappy songs, anthems should be Get Free and All These Things That I've Done, and those are under trashy crap such as MGMT or Klaxons? No way.

Fabio_radio_rossi_raboys [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 12:59

Ok Luke, i'll name a few: Strokes - someday, babyshambles - fuck forever, gorilaz - clint eastwood, the coral - goodbye, libertines - can't stand me now... most of the good songs of the 2000's are probably from the early years, but i wouldn't say the past 8 years have shite. It's just shit now.

[Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 12:11

It quite clearly has to be Mr Brightside or Time To Pretend. Clearly.

Justin [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 12:04

Nice one Tom, Oasis have been great over the last 8 years haven't they mate???....do me a favour.

Luke Lewis [Member] //October 10 2008 at 11:50

Hi Fabio... I take your point but the voting mechanic requires there to be a shortlist. To nominate songs that aren't on the shortlist, you can post a comment here.

Fabio_radio_rossi_raboys [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 11:47

This is good, since it makes sense to do a poll starting from 2000, but you should let the people write what their favourite song is instead of making this list. It just seems to me that many songs have been left out. Anyways, "Time for heroes" definetly is the best millenium indie anthem!

Tom [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 11:42

That list just shows how rubbish music has been the last 8 years, with the odd exception of oasis, killers and Kings of Leon. The Ting Tings????????? Please...

dodo [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 18:16

Knights of Cydonia - best, most epic song ever.

Warnesy [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 18:24

Oi britt Karma police was on Ok Computer released in 1997 God call yourself a fan?

Thiago [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 18:45

Gotta be Last Nite - where it all started

thornie [Visitor] //October 10 2008 at 14:37

these should be on the list =babyshambles - albion, Wolfman Ft Pete Doherty - For Lovers, arctic monkeys - do me a favour, Vampire Weekend - Oxford Coma.

James [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 15:29

I'd probably say Mr. Brightside by the killers but it's shocking to see that the coral are not on the list easily one of the best bands of the century and where on the list is Apply Some Pressure by Maximo Park. And why oh why are the enemy on the list, they should win most dull, boring and pointless band of the millenium

Roxy [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 16:27

WTF- why are Razorlight songs like America on this list yet songs as good as KOL "The Bucket" aren't!!!! The Strokes- What Ever Happened Arctic Monkeys- Fake Tales Of San Franciso Elbow- Grounds For Divorce The Killers- All These Things I've Done Justice vs SMD- We Are Your Friends Arcade Fire- No Cars No Go Coldplay- Yellow Oasis- Champagne Supernova Muse- Plug In Baby The Libertines- Up The Bracket All these songs brilliant. Yet half of them aren't on the list- but crap like Ting Tings, Crystal Castles, Kooks and Razorlight are! WTF!!!

teri [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 16:26

the killers all the way mr brightside nd all these things that ive done are awsome songs :D

John [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 16:28

Where are Fistful of Love by Antony and the Johnsons, How to Disappear Completely/2+2=5/There There/Nude/Weird Fishes/Bodysnatchers/Videotape and even more by Radiohead? Reckoner isn't even the best song on In Rainbows!

Roxy [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 16:39

Have just realised Champagne Supernova was released in the 90's- not the millenium...

Lindeishon [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 16:44

I bet you look good on the dance floor !!!! 'because I stll ain't got that out of my head and probably won't 'till the 2010's anthem is found hehe .. however you missed the stroke's someday and the libertine's can't stand me now as well as the wombat's let's dance to joy division

josh [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 17:09

when the sun goes down, grounds for divorce, helecopter, fuck forever, somebody told me, mollys chambers, kids. SURELY?

[Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 18:14

Foals - Cassius Delays - Valentine Bloc Party - Helicopter MGMT - Kids Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood Manic Street Preachers - The Masses Against The Classes (I believe it's technically the end of 1999, but charted at number 1 at the beginning of 2000, and then appeared on their best of). Late Of The Pier - Focker Muse - Knights Of Cydonia (not their best song, but the biggest anthem). Stck down another vote from me for Time For Heroes, Freakin' Out, and Last Nite too. We Are Scientists - The Great Escape............ Gotta be summat by Blink-182? Kings Of Leon - Charmer Blur - Out Of Time That'll do me for now.

claire [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 18:24

got to be bloc party - banquet

Simon Diamond [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 19:23

Where's The Notwist??? Pilot, Pick Up the Phone, This Room, Solitare, One With the Freaks, Off the Rail, Consequence, they should all be on the list! Oh, and I completely agree with Lukahart about The Postal Service.

jake [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 20:15

A Certain Romance by Arctic Monkeys

gwen [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 20:29

the strokes should be the winners, is clear as water, really they've changed modern music

Ronneeeeh [Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 22:14

Great list! pretty much 70% of the songs here are on my iPod's "indie faves" playlist :D

[Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 23:52

Where is The Strokes - Reptilia?!?!?

[Visitor] //October 11 2008 at 23:53

Arcade Fire - neighborhood #3

lollypop [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 08:22

The ting things?? oh...c'moooon...

djbee [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 09:52

crazy crazy choices... I have voted for 20 minutes and had about five options for franz and killers and none for Coldplay. So basically the biggest bAnd of the decade has not done any good songs I do agree with the top two tho and also hardly amy arctic monkeys .. Strange. I think glasvegas will be there in a year.

Pete [Visitor] //October 12 2008 at 14:53

kings of leon- the bucket should be on the list, best song theyv done but flaming lips- do you realize is the best song this century

wayne [Visitor] //October 13 2008 at 09:07

pigeon detectives--take her back. yes please. wombats--kill the director. yep :) babyshambles? no taaaaar

Mr Sifter [Visitor] //October 13 2008 at 18:29

list should include: the others - this is for the poor (yes, really) willy mason - oxygen babyshambles - killamangiro manic street preachers - there by the grace of god any song off the fleet foxes album... sort it ahht!

Fergal Kinney [Visitor] //October 15 2008 at 14:15

Why are we ignoring The Courteeners? Arguably the most important (and unrecognised) band in the UK today

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