This year, indie music has once again delivered a stunning mix of innovation, emotion, and boundary-pushing artistry. From introspective ballads to genre-defying experiments, these standout albums showcase the best of independent music’s creativity and depth. Here are our favourites!
Fontaines DC – Romance
Romance is a bold and transformative step forward for the Irish band Fontaines D.C., blending their post-punk roots with experimental and emotional soundscapes. The album explores love in its many forms—beautiful, messy, and chaotic. Songs like "Starburster" and "Death Kink" capture emotional intensity, with raw lyrics and powerful instrumentation, while tracks like "Favourite" bring a dreamy, melodic close, offering a moment of introspection and serenity amidst the chaos. Drawing from both their Irish identity and more global influences, Romance showcases the band's evolution as they push boundaries both lyrically and sonically. This captivating journey through love and identity solidifies Fontaines D.C. as one of the most dynamic bands in the modern rock scene, blending heartfelt emotion with a distinct edge that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
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The Smile - Wall Of Eyes / Cutouts
Lightning isn't supposed to strike twice, clearly no one told The Smile. Assisted by the dynamic drumming of Sons Of Kemet's Tom Skinner, the two Radiohead powerhouses Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood have quietly entered their most fertile creative streak since Kid A and Amnesiac. After welcoming the year with the rapturously acclaimed Wall Of Eyes, here comes the prestige, The Smile pulls the rabbit out of the hat and takes a bow. The self assured Cutouts, reveals its hand slowly. Unfurling to revealing more layers of inspired instrumentation as the album progresses. From the subdued opening ballad Foreign Spies to the incendiary guitars and frenetic pace of Zero Sum, to the majestically delicate orchestration of Tiptoe that manages to be Pyramid Song-esque without retreading old ground. The Smile surprise at every turn. It’s distinctly warmer album in contrast than Wall Of Eyes. Where the former delved into a deliciously dark jazzy prog, Cutouts favours ascendant synths, propulsive motortik rhythms and soaring strings. Yorke’s lyricism may be as maudlin as ever, but Cutouts is a curiously uplifting album nonetheless. With Wall Of Eyes and Cutouts, The Smile prove without a shadow of a doubt that The Smile are much more than just a Radiohead side project – but a vital creative force in their own right with an enviable track record to prove it.
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Beabadoobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves
Beabadoobee's This Is How Tomorrow Moves showcases her evolution, blending dreamy indie-folk with introspective lyrics. Produced by Rick Rubin, tracks like "Ever Seen" and "Take A Bite" highlight her melodic skills, while "Girl Song" explores piano-driven melodies and themes of self-growth.
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Clario – Charm
Charm is a masterful songwriter at her very best, confirming Clairo as one of the most celebrated artists of recent years. Co-produced with Leon Michels (Sharon Jones, The Black Keys), its warm, 70s-inspired grooves move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk and soul.
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Khruangbin - A La Sala
The Texan trio’s first album proper since 2020’s Mordechai, and they haven't weaned in delivering that which is perfectly silk smooth. Sailing through twelve through tracks of meandering psych-soul, easy listening has never been so engaging. Funk grooves, reverb laced guitars and tight, purposeful bass hooks, the middle-eastern inspired A La Sala exudes a skillful flair which demands repeat listens.
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English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
This Could Be Texas is a captivating debut, weaving clever lyrics with inventive soundscapes. Tracks like "The World’s Biggest Paving Slab" deliver sharp observations with punchy guitar riffs, while "Albert Road" offers a powerful, emotional close. The album balances playful tunes with thoughtful commentary, marking English Teacher as a standout act in the indie scene
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Cigarettes After Sex – X's
The band’s third studio album delivers exactly what you want; a melancholic, atmospheric record with androgynous vocals, moody guitar and heart wrenching lyrics. Put your headphones on, walk around in the rain and soon you'll feel like a heartbroken main character of a sombre movie. The album takes you on a journey, from falling in love to painful break-up, and all that falls in between. An intense and personal album which feels intimate. If dream pop is your thing this album will hit the spot.
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Kim Gordon - The Collective
Kim Gordon’s The Collective is a striking feat art rock. With haunting melodies and gritty textures, she explores themes of identity and relationships. Gordon’s distinctive voice cuts through the soundscape, making for an evocative, thought-provoking listen.
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Public Service Broadcasting - The Last Flight
Public Service Broadcasting’s The Last Flight is a captivating homage to the history of aviation, blending archival sound bites with lush, atmospheric instrumentation. The album immerses listeners in the thrill and melancholy of flight, as each track unfolds like a cinematic narrative. The story of Amelia Earhart's final, ill-fated journey isn't the subject matter for an album every day, and if there is one band up to the task of tackling it. It's got to be PBS. Ethereal melodies interlace with spoken word snippets, creating something new and unique out of the old.
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