Genres: Indie: Indie Rock

Highlights from the critically-acclaimed albums released in the winter of 2013. Updated weekly with brand new music that you won't hear on the radio.

The slacker spirit lives on in these contemporary indie kids who are deeply inspired by '90s shoegaze, lo-fi and grunge. Get ready to party like it's 1991.

We read all the music blogs so you don't have to. Updated weekly, these are the songs that indie music blogs love.

Driving the up the Pacific Coast Highway with the wind in your hair? Wish you were? Let this collection of bright and peppy indie pop songs be the soundtrack for your journey on California 1.

Today's new-school dream poppers, new wavers and synth-lovers are keeping the spirit of the '80s alive. Relive the neon decade for the first time.

This collection of melodic, jangly pop/rock from emerging artists and their inspirations evokes the early days of spring. Listen to this while you savor the season's sublime mixture of warm sun and cool air.

A low-key, atmospheric, and contemplative indie playlist, ideal for meditating on the icy days of winter -- a season that's alternately bleak, biting, and invigorating.

Rowdy three-chord rock from the latest buzz bands and the stalwarts of the indie scene. Crack two tall boys and go dance with that cute guy/girl.

Sometimes all you really need is an expansive indie soundtrack to provide some serious sonic uplift. This selection of indie pop, rock, and electro songs is ideal for making everything seem more important.

You sit down at your gate and are filled with nostalgia for the place and people you're leaving. This melancholy collection of songs was made for that bittersweet moment.

String the Christmas lights, fill the cooler, and watch the sun set behind the city while partying with your friends on an idyllic rooftop as these new -- and timeless -- pop/rock songs fill the air.

Cool, confident, sharp, and smart party music for punk divas and new wave dandies who wanna dance.

Following in the footsteps of their Marshall-stack-bearing forefathers, these contemporary artists embrace the riffs, fuzz, crunch, sweat, and sleaze of the '70s rock gods. \m/

Forget the corporate noise and superstar artists; the South by Southwest Music Festival has always been about introducing new bands to the world. Listen to the best songs by the artists to watch in Austin this year.

Let these emotional indie tunes bring you back to that perfect time of uncertainty, when your feelings (and music) couldn't matter more.

These quiet, pensive tunes are perfect for an overcast day, either curled up at home or settled in at a cozy cafe.

Highlights from the critically-acclaimed albums released in the fall of 2012. Updated weekly with brand new music that you won't hear on the radio.

Some of today's catchiest indie rock combines the sweet harmonies of '50s and '60s pop with the rough energy of early garage rock. Listen to songs by new artists who put their own twist on those vintage sounds.

Dance the night away to the stacked jukebox in a steamy dive bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Need some confidence-boosting songs to get your work done or score that job? These feel-good, fist-pumping rock songs are just what you need to get some of that swagger going.

When the best company you can find is yourself, these upbeat and off-kilter rock songs will get you sliding across the floor in your socks and underwear in no time.

Psychedelia is eternal. These contemporary indie artists explore altered states much like the lysergic explorers of the past.

The term "indie" may conjure up thoughts of a scrappy aesthetic, but as these exceptional acts prove, there's plenty of room for a more refined sound as well.

From the underground to your above ground; chill by the chlorine with your Ray Bans on and waste away the day with these sun-drenched indie tunes.

Fuzzy, noisy, primal rock where passion is paramount has existed almost as long as rock itself. Explore the history of lo-fi from the garage-psych '60s through the post-punk '70s and the DIY '90s until today.

A selection of new music curated by Critical Mob's writers and editors. Updated weekly with the best new releases.

Infuse your daily grind with suspenseful drama by letting the experimental sweep of these post-rock epics be your soundtrack.

Quitting your job is the ultimate DIY statement. Make your stand with these noisy, angsty lo-fi indie rock tunes.

Drive South without leaving your desk with this mix of playful rockabilly and modern blues rock inspired by our Resort 2012/13 Collection.

Songs by indie artists that are strongly influenced by traditional roots rock, bluegrass, and country. Rootsy and rough around the edges.

After a hot summer day in the city, seek refuge on a rooftop and welcome the evening air with these hazy indie cuts.

Boozy rock, cool synth pop, and some nocturnal melodrama for stumbling home at 4:00 a.m.

Can you imagine these films without these songs? Here's an eclectic and thoughtful mix of cool songs from stylistically memorable films directed by filmmakers who really know their music.

Light a fire under your ass and get moving with these propulsive, energetic songs from bands that have a keen sense of urgency.

Been done dirty by a no-good lover? Fixin' to do something rotten? Vent your frustrations with this sexy, cathartic mix of blues licks and whiskey-soaked rock from today's finest and the legends who inspired them.

Inspired by sunshine and over in a flash, nothing says summer like a fling that puts your head in the clouds and makes your heart skip a beat. Let these songs stir up memories of that brief summer romance you'll never forget.

Like the blues music they're grounded in, The Black Keys possess both timelessness and staying power. Listen to the greatest songs from their influences -- including band favorites -- as well as those from their contemporaries and side projects.

An eclectic playlist of songs about mortality and evil.

Surrounded by strip malls and cookie cutter houses, the 'burbs can be a real drag. Embrace the malaise with a mix of melancholy, ambient and washed out fuzz.

A panorama of indie rock bands that came into the spotlight in the emerging 21st Century.

These mid-tempo tunes by British indie and alt-rock artists of the last few decades is ideal for a walk through ol' London Town.

In the mid-'00s, Canada enjoyed an underground cultural renaissance. Immerse yourself in the music that flowered in Montreal and Toronto, as well as fellow countrymen that inspired -- and those that are still inspired by -- those scenes.

Explore the current wave of scuzzy, lo-fi rockers, with a smattering of old-school classics of the style.

It wasn't all peace and love; feel the bad vibes of the psychedelic void with artists from the 1960s to now.

Summery, fun, and jangly lo-fi pop. Grab some friends, pack some munchies, and lie on the grass and watch clouds for hours.

For two decades, the Pacific Northwest has been a hotbed for budding indie talent. From Elliott Smith to The Shins, here are the artists that emerged from the rain and the fog.

Armed with shimmering tambourines, twangy guitars, chanting vocals, and the occasional handclap, these nostalgic indie ensembles evoke memories of long nights under big skies.

You meet while reaching for the same vinyl copy of 'Loveless.' You fight your mutual attraction. You seek advice from your impossibly precocious younger sibling. You make out as the credits roll. Your bangs look perfect. This is your soundtrack.

As both a musician and a recording engineer (he refuses to use the word "producer"), Steve Albini's raw, aggressive sound has helped shape indie rock since the 1980s. Dive into the surprisingly varied set of artists Albini has recorded over the decades.

This lively and fun collection of indie and Americana music will keep you clapping, stomping and smiling.

If you're ready for some soothing sounds to lull you softly into slumberland, but your tastes run toward the alternative, here's a heaping helping of hushed tunes by indie favorites of yesterday and today.

From synth-pop to indie rock, listen to these of-the-moment songs to put the finishing touch on your fall look. http://www.thezoereport.com

Listen to female rockers from the punk era to today's indie girl-crushes who use smarts, speed and sex appeal to get their point across.

The members of Kings of Leon handpick their favorite songs and influences. Head over to http://facebook.com/KingsOfLeon to request songs!

Post-rock tracks ranging from the abstract (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) to the melodic (Stereolab) and everything in between.

Part of the BUST Magazine-reading, DIY crafty set? Looking to sit and chat with the girls and a couple bottles of wine? Put a bird on it with this indie-grrrl playlist.

Hendrix may have said "You'll never hear surf music again," but he was wrong. Surf's reverb and twang has been an essential influence on the punk, new wave and indie eras, not to mention those acts that took surf itself into modern times.

It wasn't all about grunge at the birth of The Alternative Era. Some artists took from the rich history of elegantly-constructed pop and made their own indie-minded version of sophistication.

If you're in for a night of alone-time, these mellow and melancholy indie songs will be all the company you need.

Sink into the gently serrated sound of shoegaze, that amorphous strain of British indie pop of the late '80s and early '90s. All the original shoegazer hits are here, from all the key figures in the scene that celebrated itself.

This playlist features artists who've managed to maintain their indie street-cred while being signed to a major label.

How do indie rockers fit into their skinny jeans? By hitting the treadmill with these uptempo, accessible indie jams.

Radiohead are always tinkering, restlessly, with their strange yet soulful fusion of rock and electronica. Listen to songs from cited influences and indebted followers while getting a taste of the band's most recent setlists.

An exploration of the Latin 'indie' scene through the songs of popular bands as well as emerging acts.

Starting in the mid '00s, the line between indie and mainstream pop started to get blurry. These are the songs that have helped bring "indie" music to the masses.

Let these uplifting songs help you rise from slumber and start your day in grand form. From big 1980s sounds to contemporary alt-rock and electronica, this mix will have you feeling like you can take on the world.

Songs about books, songs inspired by authors, songs about reading, and even a few songs about putting words to paper yourself. Indulge your inner bookworm with these songs about the literary life.

XL Recordings is one of the world's premier indie labels. Listen to highlights from their impressive roster, which includes Adele, Vampire Weekend, The xx, Sigur Ros and more.

During the 1990s, the unconventional indie side of the alt-rock boom thrived even as the fortunes of more accessible acts waxed and waned. Guitar-heavy, smart, and often slightly strange, this sound is exemplified by Pavement and its peers.

Motorik, German for "motor skill," is a propulsive 4/4 drum pattern popularized in 1970s Germany by acts like Neu that's perfect for cruising down the Autobahn. This playlist features modern and classic songs built on the Motorik rhythm.

Bouncy, jangly, and upbeat songs from classic soul to '80s alternative and today's indie rock. Break through the mid-afternoon lul.

Developed in the 1980s, Math rock is a guitar-based genre influenced by progressive and experimental rock known for using odd time signatures, interlocking rhythms and complex arrangements.

These true believers carried the prog torch into the post-punk era, from '80s trailblazers to 21st-century new seekers who have drawn on decades of progressive inspiration.

Elliott Smith is one of indie rock's most celebrated singer-songwriters. Listen to songs by Smith as well as his greatest influences, closest contemporaries, and indebted followers.