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These are the 20 most revered indie rock albums of the past 25 years. I determined this list by aggregating years of research, perusing blogs, and reading music literature. This list is based on popularity, influence, innovation, critical opinion, and general notoriety. Feel free to contribute/discuss.
Tier 1: The immortals- These are really genre defining albums. Most hipsters can whip these five albums off the top of their heads in seconds and laugh at you for asking. Four out of five songs are justifiably from indie’s golden era, between 1988-1992. As you can imagine choosing the order was akin to ranking the top five saints. I’ve gotta say I used personal taste a little as a tiebreaker, because each one of these albums builds a strong case for #1.
1. Doolittle- The Pixies (1989)- Controlled chaos vs. pop sensibility. 
2. Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (1991)- It’s what heaven sounds like.
3. Slanted and Enchanted- Pavement (1992)- It’s not slanted to call it enchanted.
4. In the Aeroplane over the Sea- Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)- Deep, innocent, gorgeous.
5. Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (1988)- Most indie sounding album out there.
Tier 2: Still pretty fuckin’ amazing- There is a clear distinction between these five albums, and the top five. There tends to be a handful of people who can’t connect with the albums (I’m not a fan of two of them), and critical appraisal is not quite unanimous. Other than that, they really are nearly perfect. You’ll be hard pressed finding any current indie rockers whose music wasn’t affected by these albums.
6. Murmur- R.E.M. (1983) 
7. Let it be- The Replacements (1984)
8. The Soft Bulletin- The Flaming Lips (1999)
9. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (2002)
10. Funeral- Arcade Fire (2004)
Tier 3: Couldn’t live without ‘em- These five albums serve two main purposes. First they remind you about the leading bands of the indie rock movement (Pixies and Pavement). Striking this type of pay dirt twice in your career is confirmation of their sheer genius. The three remaining albums tend to be considerably influenced by pop, showing the growing accessibility of indie rock.
11. Surfer Rosa- The Pixies (1988) 
12. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain- Pavement (1994)
13. Bee Thousand- Guided by Voices (1994)
14. If You’re Feeling Sinister- Belle & Sebastian (1996)
15. Is this it?- The Strokes (2001)
Tier 4: The worst of the best seems a bit harsh- What’s interesting about most of these selections is that they come from landmark bands that are remarkably consistent. These are artists that have to be on this list, but choosing one album of theirs is tough. I mean why not The Moon and Antarctica, There is Nothing Wrong with Love, XO, or I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One? Your guess is as good as mine.
16. Lonesome Crowded West- Modest Mouse (1997) 
17. Perfect from now on- Built to Spill (1997)
18. Either/Or- Elliott Smith (1997)
19. Painful- Yo La Tengo (1994)
20. Turn on the Bright Lights- Interpol (2002)
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