The difference, by ear
The revival was indie's commercially successful wing in the 2000s, and shares its labels entirely.
Both are sung cleanly, but indie rock is a little slower: 100 to 140 bpm against 120 to 160. To hear the difference, play Interpol next to Pavement. They share a root in rock, and indie rock came first, by sixteen years. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Post-punk revival
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Post-punk › Post-punk revival
In short
The same basslines and the same chill, revived every ten years with contemporary production.
How it sounds
- Melodic basslines up front with sharp, dry guitars.
- Dry drums, often with tribal toms and closed hi-hats.
- Cold production with large-room reverb on the vocals.
Key acts
- Interpol
- Editors
- Fontaines D.C.
- IDLES
Start here
The pickInterpol - Turn On the Bright Lights. Post-2001 New York, in sound.
Full page →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.
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