Best 2000s Alternative & Indie Songs

The best alternative songs of the 2000s (00s), ranked — each linking to the album it's from, on vinyl, CD or Amazon Music.

All song lists Alternative & Indie of the 1990s All 2000s songs

1

ST

Last Nite

The Strokes · from Is This It (2001)

Effortless garage-rock cool.

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2

WS

Seven Nation Army

The White Stripes · from Elephant (2003)

That riff became a global stadium chant.

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3

YY

Maps

Yeah Yeah Yeahs · from Fever to Tell (2003)

A raw, aching love song.

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4

AF

Wake Up

Arcade Fire · from Funeral (2004)

A communal, goosebump anthem.

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5

IN

Evil

Interpol · from Antics (2004)

Sleek, melodic post-punk revival.

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6

AM

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Arctic Monkeys · from Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)

A breathless debut single full of wit.

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7

MG

Kids

MGMT · from Oracular Spectacular (2007)

A synth hook that defined a festival era.

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8

LS

All My Friends

LCD Soundsystem · from Sound of Silver (2007)

A pulsing, emotional epic.

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9

VW

A-Punk

Vampire Weekend · from Vampire Weekend (2008)

Two minutes of bright, preppy energy.

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Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.