The difference, by ear
Jangle is the guitar sound; indie pop is what a particular scene did with it, adding deliberate amateurism and sweetness.
Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 110 to 160 bpm. To hear the difference, play Belle and Sebastian next to R.E.M. They share a root in rock, and jangle pop came first, by six years.
In figures
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 →Jangle pop
Where it sits
Rock › Folk rock › Jangle pop
In short
Clean, chiming Rickenbacker guitars and melody everywhere. The building block of indie rock.
How it sounds
- Compressed Rickenbacker guitar with no distortion - the jangle itself.
- Melodic bass with its own lines, often moving in counterpoint.
- Clear melodies, with vocals sometimes mixed lower than radio expected.
Key acts
- R.E.M.
- The Smiths
- The Go-Betweens
Start here
The pickR.E.M. - Murmur. Don't try to decipher the lyrics; the band didn't want you to.
Full page →