David Kilgour - You Forget

First single release from David Kilgour's "Here Come The Cars" (1992) album. Tuneful, tranquil and spacious. A perfect slice of Kiwi indie pop. 

Red Riders - Slide in Next To Me

Upbeat and poppy guitar flavors from the Red Riders, with their track 'Slide in Next to Me'. Released in 2006, it was the band's first and arguably best effort.

The Front Lawn - Tomorrow Night.

'Tomorrow Night', a tuneful pop ballad celebrates the great Kiwi OE. Released in 1989, it features on the album 'Songs from the Front Lawn'. More Don McGlashan excellence.

Pavement - Cut Your Hair

Released in 1994 as a single from their 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' album, 'Cut Your Hair' would turn out to be Pavement's best known track. An indie classic from the American indie rockers. 

Garageland - Fingerpops

More Kiwi goodness from Garageland, with 'Fingerpops' featuring on the band's first album 'Last Exit to Garageland'. Released in 1996 the track is catchy pop at its best with a nice dark tinged finale to finish things off nicely.

The Killers - Mr Brightside

The Killers debut single 'Mr Brightside' can be considered completely anthemic. Released in 2003, the track propelled them to headline success. It was only a kiss...

The 3Ds - Outer Space

Another fantastic Dunedin band and a part of the legendary Flying Nun stable, the 3Ds had a crazy,energized mania all of their own. 'Outer Space' was released on the Hellzapoppin' album in 1992 and typified the melody infused wall of noise sound they liked to produce.

Modest Mouse - Float on

Released in 2004 - 'Float on' was the first Modest Mouse song to gain mainstream popularity. Cheery optimism and a killer riff make for a fun filled and upbeat treat.

The Strokes - Take it or Leave it

To be honest, I'm not a real fan of 'The Strokes' - their garage rock sound just didn't do it for me. The exception is this track, 'Take it or Leave it' which came out in 2001 on the 'Is This It' album. A pretty good live version below.

Howling Bells - Into the Chaos

I saw the Howling Bells several years back at a Peats Ridge Festival near Sydney. They absolutely nailed it with soaring tunes that had everyone toe tapping and nodding in appreciation. Released in 2008, 'Into the Chaos' reminds me of early Garbage tracks - tuneful, female vocal led pop goodness. 

Men Without Hats - Pop Goes the World

It's synthesizer city with Canadian new wave popsters 'Men Without Hats'. Best known for their global hit 'The Safety Dance', their track 'Pop Goes the World' is to my mind much better fun. Incredibly catchy it was released in 1987. 

God - My Pal

'My Pal' was the debut single from Melbourne rock band 'God' and was released in 1987. A classic Aussie rocker, the vocals may be fairly inaudible at times but its rawness is its beauty. A perfect backing track for the skate video below.

The Straitjacket Fits - She Speeds

Pure brilliance from one of Dunedin's best known musical exports,The Straitjacket Fits. A Fits classic, 'She Speeds' was released on their debut ep 'Life in One Chord' in 1987. Edgy, guitar driven, hook laden magnificence with soaring vocals, it gets no better than this.

The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode

'Ebeneezer Goode' became a number one hit for UK group 'The Shamen', in 1992, lasting four weeks at the top spot before being withdrawn as a single due to tabloid pressure. Its dance / rap style, and its clear reference to acid house and drug culture cemented its subversive popularity. A top tune!

Curve - Coast is Clear

Curve were critically acclaimed in the alternative music space of the early to late 1990s. Their early 'Frozen' ep released in 1991, featured the track 'Coast is Clear'- a hauntingly gothic infused soundscape of goodness. 

Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God

A toss up really, between this and 'I Predict a Riot' as personal fave Kaiser Chiefs track. Released in 2004, the band is probably more post-Britpop than indie but cest la vie etc etc. Loved by Leeds United football fans everywhere ....singing 'Oh my God I can't believe it, we've never been this good away from home.'

Throw - Honeyblonde

OK - a bit of reminiscing here. I remember seeing Throw perform one of their first live gigs at the Dux de Lux in Christchurch, NZ in 1991. They then released an EP 'All Different Things' in 1992. Honeyblonde is the pick of the tracks - Typical kiwi indie pop, full of melody and your 'jingle jangle' guitar lick.

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Billy Corgan thinking back to his youth - the freedom and urgency of his teenage years? Before the transition into the responsibility of adulthood arrives? Could be. 1979 was the second single released from the 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' album. A bit of rock, a bit of pop topped with a tinge of regret.

Belly - Dusted

I've always had a soft spot for Tanya Donnelly. Forming Belly post Breeders she had something to prove and prove it she certainly did with some great songs. 'Dusted' came out on the 'Slow Dust' EP in 1992. The demo mix is a particular favourite.

Suede - Trash

It doesn't get more Britpop than Suede. A glammed up, messed up, chemmed up band, led by lead singer Brett Anderson that delivered a vocal mix of bleak social seedy commentary of life in the 1990s UK. Built on a framework of near anthemic indie-disco, the single 'Trash',released in 1996 explores the band's view of being the outsider looking in...

The Verlaines - Death and the Maiden

The Verlaines - another great Dunedin band from the Flying Nun stable ably led by singer/songwriter Graeme Downes. 'Death and the Maiden' came out in 1983 and typifies the 'Dunedin Sound'. The type of track that gets you moshing at the front of a dingy pub and a video that reminds me of one too many dodgy student flats.

The Wombats - Let's Dance to Joy Division

Released in 2007 and referencing one of the most famous indie tracks of all time (Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'), this effort by the Wombats celebrates all that was good from Ian Curtis and that seminal Manchester band.

The Pixies - Hey

Quite possibly the best indie album ever produced, Doolittle by the Pixies was released in 1989 (the band’s second album). To pick just one track from this utterly fantastic album is almost impossible but edging out such classic tracks as Debaser, Monkey Gone to Heaven, There Goes My Gun and Wave of Mutilation is the simply titled 'Hey'. Almost a romantic ballad by Black Francis if you put the 'whore' references to one side.

Love of Diagrams - Forever

From Melbourne, Love of Diagrams have been around for a while (they formed in 2001). Their single 'Forever' from their third album 'Nowhere Forever' came out in 2009 and typifies their energetic, almost frenetic guitar/drumming 'wall of sound'. Best played quite loud.

Headless Chickens - Gaskrankinstation

A NZ band known for their experimental and electronic infused beats in the early 1990s, the Headless Chickens saw their track 'Gaskrankinstation' gain almost cult like status and success. With its industrial edged narrative and its bleak examination of life, work and domesticity while trying to make ends meet we all knew someone like Ivan. 

The Cure - In Between Days

Everyone has their favourite Cure song and this is mine. In Between Days was released as the first single from the band's 1985 album 'The Head on the Door'. Sure, the track is fairly poppy and upbeat especially when compared to their more gothic and sombre offerings but it's a winner.

The Prodigy - Outer Space

Released in 1992, this was the Prodigy's fifth single, incorporating Old Skool hardcore beats with real danceability. So so good :)

The Double Happys - I Don't Want to see you Again

A short-lived but extremely influential band based in Dunedin NZ, the Double Happys epitomized the 'Dunedin Sound' music genre of the 1980s. Lead singer Shayne Carter went on to form the Straitjacket Fits and his talent here is clear. The track is raw but the melodic punk infused angst makes it a classic.
  

The Breeders - Safari

Released on a 4-track EP in 1992, Safari features Kim Deal (of Pixies fame), Kelley Deal and Tanya Donelly (who later went on to form Belly). What an indie power trio! Quite simply, the best thing the Breeders ever did, and they did a lot of great stuff! Distortion, melody and offbeat lyrics combine to form perfection.