The 50 best indie tracks of the 2010s

15 June 2024, 18:00

The Best Tracks Of The 2010s
The Best Tracks Of The 2010s. Picture: Press

Here's 50 of the greatest songs from the last decade - from Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Noel Gallagher, Florence + The Machine, Catfish & The Bottlemen and more...

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Radio X

By Radio X

  1. Alt-J - Left Hand Free

    The unique sound of Alt-J gave us this massive tune.

    alt-J - Left Hand Free (Official Video) 1

  2. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

    Win Butler gets in a very special guest for this disco classic... David Bowie!

    Arcade Fire - Reflektor

  3. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know

    Alex Turner digs deep within for this AM classic.

  4. Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine

    "I'm a puppet on a string, Tracy Island, time-traveling" - what a way to start a lyric.

    Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?

  5. Richard Ashcroft - They Don't Own Me

    The former Verve man sets the record straight with another anthem.

    Richard Ashcroft - They Don't Own Me (Official Music Video)

  6. Bastille - Pompeii

    One of the biggest talents of the decade, Dan Smith quickly became pop royalty.

    Bastille - Pompeii (Official Music Video)

  7. Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier

    The Biff went from strength to strength in the 2010s - this was an instant classic.

    Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier (Official Music Video)

  8. Jade Bird - Uh-Huh

    One of Britain's best new talents of the past few years.

  9. The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling

    The duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney proved that blues rock will never die.

    The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling [Official Music Video]

  10. Blossoms - Charlemagne

    Glittering synth pop from the acclaimed Stockport band.

  11. Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna

    Rae Morris on vocals for this ethereal track from the So Long See You Tomorrow album.

    Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna

  12. Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt

    Nottingham-born Bugg was a blossoming talent this decade - this is his best-known song.

    Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt (Official Video)

  13. Catfish & The Bottlemen - 7

    Van McCann proved himself to be one of the best new songwriters of the decade.

    Catfish and the Bottlemen - 7 (From the Studio)

  14. Catfish & The Bottlemen - Pacifier

    "She said 'It's you i detest!', I said she looked underslept...She deffo didn't like that no..."

    Catfish and the Bottlemen - Pacifier

  15. CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share

    Sparkling synth pop from Glasgow's CHVRCHES, featuring the talented Lauren Mayberry.

    CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share

  16. Daft Punk - Get Lucky

    Daft Punk + Nile Rodgers + Pharrell = pure bliss.

    Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Official Audio) ft. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers

  17. Lana Del Rey - Video Games

    Moody and magnificient, the former Lizzy Grant cut a striking figure throughout the 2010s.

    Lana Del Rey - Video Games (Official Music Video)

  18. Elbow - Lippy Kids

    Another swooning ballad from the eternally wonderful Guy Garvey.

    elbow - 'Lippy Kids' (Live at Blueprint Studios)

  19. Everything Everything - Distant Past

    Complex math rock from the Manchester mavericks.

    Everything Everything - Distant Past

  20. Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles

    A stellar vocal talent nails the state of the nation in 2019.

  21. Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck

    Florence Welch: drama, emotion and an incredible voice.

    Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck (The Odyssey – Chapter 4)

  22. Foals - My Number

    The 2010s saw Foals become one of Britain's biggest and best bands with this solid banger.

    Foals - My Number

  23. Foo Fighters - Walk

    The decade saw Dave Grohl ascend to true rock royalty as his band got more popular than ever.

    Foo Fighters. Walk.

  24. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

    Dark-tinged sprightly pop song that was everywhere in 2011

    Foster The People - Pumped up Kicks (Official Music Video)

  25. Liam Gallagher - Wall Of Glass

    Liam crashed back into our lives with this stunning solo outing.

  26. Liam Gallagher - Shockwave

    "All your darkness has come back to you in time / Brace yourself world, it's about to blow your mind..."

    Liam Gallagher - Shockwave (Official Video)

  27. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - AKA... What A Life!

    Noel's solo career is accomplished, progressive and assuredly brilliant.

    Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - AKA... What A Life! (Official Music Video)

  28. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - If I Had A Gun

    "If I had a gun I'd shoot a hole into the sun ./ And love would burn this city down for you..."

    Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - If I Had A Gun… (Official Music Video)

  29. Tom Grennan - Found What I've Been Looking For

    Another fresh new talent from Britain, and what a voice.

  30. Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up

    The introspective Ben Howard with his most-loved single.

    Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up (Official Music Video)

  31. Hozier - Take Me To Church

    Rousing, gospel-inspired blues from Ireland.

    Hozier - Take Me To Church (Official Video)

  32. Jamie T - Zombie

    Mr Jamie Treays made a comeback with this infectious tune in 2014.

    Jamie T - Zombie

  33. Vance Joy - Riptide

    Joyous acoustic folk from this Australian singer-songwriter.

    Vance Joy - 'Riptide' Official Video

  34. Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten

    The 2010s were the decade Kasabian made it to the big leagues. Here's why.

    Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten (Official Music Video)

  35. The Killers - The Man

    Brandon Flowers struts his stuff in this excellent indie anthem.

    The Killers - The Man

  36. Kings Of Leon - Waste A Moment

    The Followills get emotional in one of their top tunes of the decade.

    Kings Of Leon - Chapter 1, Waste a Moment (Official Music Video)

  37. The Maccabees - Pelican

    Rousing stuff with a sense of urgency from the much-loved British band.

    The Maccabees - Pelican

  38. Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait

    Electrifying, uplifting, the Mumfords were one of THE bands of the decade.

    Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait (Official Music Video)

  39. Muse - Dead Inside

    Matt Bellamy gets conceptual as Muse continue to expand their universe.

    Muse - Dead Inside [Official Music Video]

  40. Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky

    The Scottish singer creates an impassioned plea to humanity.

    Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky [Short Film]

  41. Portugal The Man - Feel It Still

    High-stepping big tune from the US indie band.

    Portugal. The Man - "Feel It Still" (Official Video)

  42. Royal Blood - Figure It Out

    Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher demonstrated that stipped back sounds were best.

    Royal Blood - Figure It Out [Official Video]

  43. Stereophonics - C'est La Vie

    Rabble-rousing foot stomper from Kelly Jones.

    Stereophonics - C'est La Vie

  44. Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work

    Exciting new indie pop was the order of the day from this Nortehrn Irish trio.

    TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB | SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK

  45. The Vaccines - If You Wanna

    The perfect indie quarter for their generation: killer chorus, non-stop hooks, the lot.

    The Vaccines - If You Wanna

  46. Vampire Weekend - Cousins

    Genre-straddling rock from Ezra Koenig.

    Vampire Weekend - 'Cousins' (Official Music Video)

  47. Viola Beach - Boys That Sing

    A tragic story - the British indie band that left us before they could fulfill their promise.

    Viola Beach - Boys That Sing (Official Music Video)

  48. Jack White - Sixteen Saltines

    The former White Stripes man hasn't lost any of his fire when going solo.

    Jack White - Sixteen Saltines (Video)

  49. The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)

    Murph and his bandmates make wry lyrics and anthemic choruses a fine art.

    The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)

  50. Wolf Alice - Don't Delete The Kisses

    Introverted, yet powerful - the new wave of ambitious guitar rock.

    Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses (Official Video)