The difference, by ear
Indie pop keeps the jangle and drops the ambivalence - sweeter, faster, and unembarrassed about writing a hook.
Both are sung cleanly, but indie pop / twee is a little faster: 120 to 160 bpm against 100 to 140. To hear the difference, play Pavement next to Belle and Sebastian. Indie pop / twee grew out of indie rock, a year later. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Indie rock
Where it sits
Rock › Alternative rock › Indie rock
In short
Originally an economic description - independent labels - that hardened into an aesthetic: modest production and total freedom.
How it sounds
- Modest production, with a small budget treated as an aesthetic choice.
- Clean or lightly saturated guitars; solos are rare.
- Untrained, natural vocals, often deliberately vulnerable.
Key acts
- Pavement
- Sonic Youth
- Arcade Fire
- The National
Start here
The pickPavement - Slanted and Enchanted. Studied indifference, excellent songs.
Full page →Indie pop / twee
Where it sits
Rock › Alternative rock › Indie rock › Indie pop / twee
In short
Sweet melodies, shy vocals, clean guitars. The gentle reaction to rock machismo.
How it sounds
- Sweet melodies with major progressions and simple arrangements.
- Clean guitar, sometimes with glockenspiel, trumpet or discreet strings.
- Shy, thin vocals sung without any effort to impress.
Key acts
- Belle and Sebastian
- The Field Mice
- Camera Obscura
Start here
The pickBelle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister. Recorded in three days on a student budget.
Full page →