Top 100 Greatest Mellow Indie Songs of All Time
Updated: Feb 6
Pictured - Wilco (2011 Solid Sound Fest)
In our continuous quest to delve into the world of indie and alternative music, we wanted to take on the project of exploring the mellower side of indie music. With indie music seldom venturing down softer and more emotional paths prior to the new century—or at least venturing down those paths much less frequently—the majority of the songs on this list were released post-2000. With expanding recording technology increasingly accessible to many more artists than ever before, a new array of creativity has been injected into indie music, particularly with the rise of indie folk and the dream pop revival. Over the last 25 years or so, indie has become a more deeply emotional and frequently mellow style of music, aside from its more rock-forward side. For the purposes of this list, we are including any songs primarily considered indie pop, dream pop, indie folk, or soft indie rock. Songs on this list may be up-tempo, although most of them are on the slower side. The primary factor uniting them all is a general mellow and soft sound, with none of these songs being particularly "loud," although some may have their occasional moments. Alternative rock bands who are seldom considered indie (or were not considered indie for most of their careers), such as Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, R.E.M., or Radiohead, have been excluded. With that said, if our criteria were broader, songs like Nightswimming by R.E.M., or No Surprises by Radiohead would have been included, so fear not, alternative rock fans; the greatness of those bands is heavily noted but outside our current scope. For a broader look at indie rock as a whole, be sure to check out our ranking of the Top 100 Indie Rock Songs of All Time.
1. New Slang - The Shins
New Slang has been a frequent flyer on many of our 'best of' lists for indie and alternative music. It's not just us who hold this fantastic song in high regard, though, with the song scoring well in publications including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NPR, and The New York Times. James Mercer's heartfelt, emotional lyrics have resonated with millions of listeners in the 22 years since its release. The relatively minimalist, lo-fi track is as hypnotic as it is touching, frequently being considered one of the finest indie tracks of all time, and we can confidently call it the finest mellow indie track of all time. Released as the first single from the highly-acclaimed band's first record, Oh, Inverted World, New Slang found its place in indie music relatively quickly but has since created a unique legacy around it, alongside the growing legacy and impact of one of the finest indie rock bands of all time, The Shins.
2. Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian's whisper of a debut album, Tigermilk, was met with critical acclaim, but where the band truly left a mark was with their second album, If You're Feeling Sinister. In keeping with their underground indie charm, the band released no singles from the record, but there was one song that certainly shined the brightest: Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying. This gentle and emotional track exposed millions of first-time listeners to the gifted vocalist Stuart Murdoch, as the song gained traction on college radio, although never crossing over into the mainstream. Elegant and graceful vocals paired alongside soft guitar remain a treat for listeners. Belle & Sebastian's impact on a post-Smiths indie world in the '90s was nothing short of revolutionary. The band's second studio album has since become regarded as one of the finest indie albums of all time, introducing listeners to a new, encapsulating side of indie.
3. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips
Marking the comeback for the early indie rock pioneers, The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 tells an intriguing psychedelic tale wrapped together in a mellow indie bow. The slow-tempo, space-age track injected a lot of life back into the longtime reveered band, often being considered one of the most sonically progressive indie rock tracks. Although the track may not be quite as well-known as some of the other songs in the top ten, its legacy and its greatness are just as strong, if not stronger.
4. Cigarette Daydreams - Cage the Elephant
Cigarette Daydreams was released off of Cage the Elephant's 2013 masterpiece, Melophobia, from which we at Melophobe may or may not have gotten our name. Cigarette Daydreams has since become Cage the Elephant's most popular song for its uniquely emotional and refined sound. The track remains immensely popular on indie and alternative rock radio and playlists, being instantly recognizable to any fan of the genre. Although the band is primarily known for their trademark garage rock sound, Cigarette Daydreams exposed millions of listeners to a softer and more touching side of the band.
5. Between the Bars - Elliott Smith
Released from the critically acclaimed album Either/Or, Between the Bars remains Elliott Smith's most popular song following his tragic 2003 death. Composed solely of Elliott and his guitar, this dark tale of alcoholism resonated with millions of listeners, receiving an even stronger sense of meaning after his 2003 suicide. One of many emotional songs on this sentimental album, there is no doubt the track leaves a spine-chilling impact. The song has since been covered by countless artists, from Metric to Madonna.
6. Jesus, etc. - Wilco
This well-known indie-country hybrid has since become the most popular track by Wilco. The somber aura created by the band on Jesus, etc. incorporates traditional country elements, including pedal-steel guitar and fiddle-style violin, along with elements of indie and art rock. The poignant lyrics touch on themes of uncertainty, love, and existentialism, offering a raw and vulnerable look into the human condition. Jeff Tweedy's rock-solid vocal style serves as the perfect, comforting guide through the emotional song.
7. Anthems For a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene
Released from the 2002 critically lauded indie rock/progressive rock album You Forgot It in People, Anthems For a Seventeen Year Old Girl tells an emotional tale in the style of a poem. The powerful, repetitive lyrics leave a strong, relatable impression of youthful thinking. With the entire song being made up of just three lyrical phrases, this youthful tale of longing and love is incredibly impactful. In true Broken Social Scene style, an army of musicians backs up the vocalist with instruments ranging from banjos to guitars to violins.
8. I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
Making up the midpoint of Plans, what we would consider the finest Death Cab album, I Will Follow You Into the Dark was a one-take impromptu recording consisting of only frontman Ben Gibbard and his guitar. Although being the simplest and least produced song on the album, it has since become the most streamed song from the group, and by quite a bit. The song takes traditional emo-esque lyrics with a simple guitar melody to create one of the band's finest songs. As simple as this somber song is, it hits on a level of simplistic perfection that few indie artists have been able to achieve since.
9. Zürich Is Stained - Pavement
Zürich Is Stained was the sixth track on Pavement's revolutionary debut album, Slanted and Enchanted. This mellow, guitar-forward song has become a fan favorite among Pavement listeners, becoming the most streamed song from the band's debut album. The moody guitar playing over Stephen Malkmus's subdued and monotone vocal delivery creates a reflective and somber aura surrounding the track, making the song as timeless as any Pavement track. Once again, Pavement's catchy guitar playing, and unique vocal delivery showcase the brilliance of this band. As short as the song is, it's brilliance and infectiousness are known to many.
10. Oh Comely - Neutral Milk Hotel
Released from Neutral Milk Hotel's monumental 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, the eight-minute-long track Oh Comely has become the fan favorite from the album. Made up primarily of frontman Jeff Mangum and his guitar, the track shockingly produces more sound than almost any song on this list, yet he immediately counters it with soft and mellow indie gold. Jeff takes listeners on a hauntingly emotional journey, leaving much of the lyrical matter up to interpretation. Even in its simplicity, Mangum's vocal might still comes through before the beautiful, yet simple, guitar interlude.
11. This Is The Day - The The
12. First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
13. This Night Has Opened My Eyes - The Smiths
14. Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers
15. The Night We Met - Lord Huron
16. Streets of Your Town - The Go-Betweens
17. Autumn Sweater - Yo La Tengo
18. Brothers on a Hotel Bed - Death Cab For Cutie
19. The Boy With the Arab Strap - Belle & Sebastian
20. Once Around the Block - Badly Drawn Boy
21. When the Stars Go Blue - Ryan Adams
22. Fourth of July - Sufjan Stevens
23. I Wanna Be Yours - Arctic Monkeys
24. The Crane Wife 3 - The Decemberists
25. Mykonos - Fleet Foxes
26. All My Little Words - The Magnetic Fields
27. Piazza, New York Catcher - Belle & Sebastian
28. Gone For Good - The Shins
29. I Need My Girl - The National
30. When Company Comes - The Feelies
31. Never Meant - American Football
32. I Need Some Sleep - Eels
33. Darklands - The Jesus and Mary Chain
34. Chamber of Reflection - Mac Demarco
35. Sugar For the Pill - Slowdive
36. The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
37. Soulfight - The Revivalists
38. Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley
39. The Girl - City and Colour
40. Sea of Love - Cat Power
41. Gravity Rides Everything - Modest Mouse
42. Bloom - The Paper Kites
43. Tommy's Party - Peach Pit
44. My Silver Lining - First Aid Kit
45. Visions of Gideon - Sufjan Stevens
46. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine
47. Range Life - Pavement
48. We're Going to Be Friends - The White Stripes
49. Random Rules - Silver Jews
50. Inside Out - Spoon
51. More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
52. Love is All - The Tallest Man On Earth
53. California Stars - Wilco & Billy Bragg
54. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths
55. Wordless Chorus - My Morning Jacket
56. Angelina - Pinegrove
57. No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses
58. Emmylou - First Aid Kit
59. For the First Time - Mac Demarco
60. Androgynous - The Replacements
61. Suffering - The War on Drugs
62. Step - Vampire Weekend
63. Real Love Baby - Father John Misty
64. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
65. Kettering - The Antlers
66. Paul - Big Thief
67. Love Love Love - Of Monsters and Men
68. Paint - The Paper Kites
69. Mary - Alex G
70. Lua - Bright Eyes
71. Naked As We Came - Iron & Wine
72. Dagger - Slowdive
73. Katy Song - Red House Painters
74. That Look You Give That Guy - Eels
75. Dress Up In You - Belle & Sebastian
76. A Comet Appears - The Shins
77. Say Yes - Elliott Smith
78. Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens
79. Heart To Heart - Mac Demarco
80. The Absence of God - Rilo Kiley
81. Seaside - The Kooks
82. I Summon You - Spoon
83. Sleep - The Dandy Warhols
84. I Wish I Was the Moon - Neko Case
85. Only Ones Who Know - Arctic Monkeys
86. Trains Across the Sea - Silver Jews
87. Treehouse - Alex G & Emily Yacina
88. The Mall & Misery - Broken Bells
89. Across the Universe - Fiona Apple
90. Reel Around the Fountain - The Smiths
91. Ramshackle - Beck
92. Bukowski - Modest Mouse
93. The Gardener - The Tallest Man On Earth
94. You Don't Know How Lucky You Are - Keaton Henson
95. Should Have Known Better - Sufjan Stevens
96. Sleep The Clock Around - Belle & Sebastian
97. Loro - Pinback
98. Young Pilgrims - The Shins
99. The Voyager - Jenny Lewis
100. Angeles - Elliott Smith
Whether you agree with our picks or not, one thing that is undeniable is that these are 100 fantastic songs. All of the picks from this list have been compiled into a streamable Spotify Playlist below entitled Mellow Indie. For a broader look at indie be sure to check out The Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Songs of All Time.
