Genres: Indie: Indie Rock

Soundtrack your rooftop, outdoor patio, or backyard party with these new, energetic indie rock songs.

Songs that have been recently designated "Best New Music: by Pitchfork.com

Rowdy three-chord rock from both the latest buzz bands and the stalwarts of the indie scene. Crack a tall boy.

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

Some of today's sunniest indie rock is heavily influenced by the classic sounds of '50s and '60s pop and surf rock. Listen to songs by new artists who put their own twist on those vintage sounds.

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

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.

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

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

Updated weekly, these are the most recent songs posted on the tastemaking music blog, gorillavsbear.net

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

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.

The best songs from every band performing at the eclectic, three-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. http://coachella.com

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

Most of the bands playing this March at Austin's annual South by Southwest music and arts festival. Listen to songs from your favorite acts and discover up-and-coming indie bands from Austin and around the world.

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.

With her debut album, Grimes, aka musician and visual artist Claire Boucher, emerged with an aesthetic fully formed -- singing girlish, ethereal r&b vocals over moody electronica. Listen to her best tracks and eclectic influences. Created by KnowPhase.com

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 hit, from all the key figures in the scene that celebrated itself.

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.

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.

Some call it chillwave, others call it glo-fi. Whatever the name, this laid-back blend of modern lo-fi recording techniques and vintage synth noises is one of today's most addictive sounds.

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

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 current setlist.

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-grrl playlist.

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

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.

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.

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

Not all electro acts aim for the dance floor. Explore the low-key, laid-back side of the style though these well-known names and under-the-radar indie acts.

A collection of ethereal, melodic, and ambient songs to help you unwind after work. From current indie to forgotten gems from the past, everything reverberates with the same dreamy aesthetics. Brought to you from KnowPhase.com

A panorama of rock & roll artists that came into the spotlight in the emerging 21st Century.

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

Fill your apartment with friends, neighbors and strangers; pour some drinks and dim the lights; start this playlist of new, cool and stylish songs; play it loud.

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

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.

Hazy, soothing pop songs that'll make you feel like you're having the best dream ever.

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.

Listen to studio versions of songs performed on La Blogotheque's experimental video series of "Take-Away Shows."

Highlights from the Domino Recording Company catalog. Founded in 1993, Domino has gained a reputation for consistently releasing influential, critically-acclaimed and accessible independent music.

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.

Go deeper into the chilly beauty, imagination and melancholy that's at the heart of Justin Vernon's music. Explore his influences, contemporaries and several of the artists Vernon (aka Bon Iver) has collaborated with.

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 onto of the Motorik rhythm.

This brooding set of synth-pop features acts ranging from Tubeway Army to LCD Soundsystem.

Bouncy, upbeat songs from classic soul to '80s alternative and today's indie rock. Let this eclectic mix help you get through the mid-afternoon lul.

4AD Records is known for breaking some of today's most critically-acclaimed independent artists, including Bon Iver, St. Vincent, The National, and Deerhunter. This playlist features songs released on the label since 2000.

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.

As the Grunge Age petered out, many expected Sub Pop Records to disappear as well. But the label has thrived with a less noisy aesthetic incorporating dream pop, alt-folk, electronic and even country influences into its indie rock.

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

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

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

Enjoy these predominantly acoustic, unplugged songs with a distinctly wintry feel. Imagine yourself snowed-in on a winter day, sitting by the fireplace with little to do but reflect.

These cute, warm and fuzzy tracks are perfect for a Valentine's Day date. Romance that twee girl or hipster boy you met in the used vinyl section at your indie record store with these heartfelt tunes.