4 Albums That Prove a Nostalgic Indie Rock Revival Is Happening in the 2020s

Indie rock had an enormous revival movement in the 2000s. I think we’re overdue for another one. In fact, I can see it happening very soon. A few really stellar indie rock albums came out in the 2020s, and I could see them inspiring more artists to come out of the woodwork, armed with guitars and lacking a major label. Let’s take a look at a few albums that I think prove that an indie rock revival is on the horizon!

‘Romance’ by Fontaines D.C. (2024)

Fontaines D.C. have been steadily climbing to the top in the last couple of years. The release of Romance in 2024 was a big deal for the Irish band, and it’s one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2024. It’s a futuristic, almost dystopian album that is far too easy to relate to. These musicians know how to write music beautifully, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. Their 2022 album Skinty Fia is nothing to sneeze at, either.

‘The Record’ by boygenius (2023)

Boygenius has been taking over the indie rock scene over the last few years, and it’s not surprising. They’re a supergroup made up of powerhouse vocalists, composers, and songwriters. Honestly, the union of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus was a match made in heaven. The Record is stunning, as is the follow-up EP The Rest. Few are doing indie folk-rock quite like this trio.

‘Blue Weekend’ by Wolf Alice (2021)

Few pop-rock bands from the last decade are as underrated as Wolf Alice, in my opinion. It’s wild to me that they haven’t gotten bigger in the States. My Love Is Cool and Visions Of A Life from the 2010s didn’t even get close to the Top 40 stateside, though both albums did gloriously in the UK. Blue Weekend, shockingly, didn’t really chart in the US at all. It’s a brilliant dream pop, almost shoegazey album. The Clearing, Wolf Alice’s next album, is slated for release this year. I can’t wait!

‘In Waiting’ by Pillow Queens (2020)

This one’s on the underrated side, but I feel compelled to include it on our list of indie rock revival albums because it proves that bands across the pond will likely spearhead a true revival movement very soon. Another killer Irish band on this list, Pillow Queens released their debut album In Waiting back in 2020 to critical acclaim. It’s an emotional piece of work, and it’s my personal favorite from the band. They’ve since released Leave The Light On and Name Your Sorrow, both of which are amazing albums as well.

Photo by Shervin Lainez / Courtesy of The Oriel

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