
Although much of the music world is in shambles – I’m looking at you gangsta rappers and label reps – the alternative rock scene is very strong.
The following bands may not be getting rich from their art (because of pirating and contracts that rape them of well deserved royalties) but they sure do put out some incredible music.
Here are the 20 songs you should download RIGHT NOW. Mind you I said “Download” because who has $10 laying around to buy an overpriced album from Wal-Mart or Apple, even if the artist really does deserve the money? Not me!
Sure, I’m gonna get heat on the comment board for having two Eddie Vedder songs…blow me! If you can make a better list or disagree with any songs let me hear what you’ve got to say!
All these songs and many more are currently streaming on Slacker.com. If you want to find new music in very genre then Slacker is the way to go.
(I linked up the music video for each individual song – watch them by clicking the song name)
Jimmy Eat World – Big Casino
The Decemberists – O Valencia!
Cursive – At Conception
Pearl Jam – Betterman (Throwback)
My Morning Jacket – Gideon
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head
The Weakerthans – Night Windows
Spoon – The Underdog (Cool Video Warning)
The Starting Line – Island
The White Stripes – You Don’t Know What Love Is
The Kooks – Naive
Silversun Pickups – Well Thought Out Twinkles
Radiohead – Bodysnatchers
Say Anything – Baby Girl, I’m a Blur
Heavens – Patent Pending
Rooney – When Did Your heart Go Missing?
VHS or Beta – Can’t Believe a Single Word
Guster – Satellite
Editors – An End Has a Start
Mark Ronson – Stop Me
Eddie Vedder – Hard Sun
+ 1 for good luck: Rise Against – Prayer Of The Refugee



meshman says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 9:43 am
by far the best song on the list! —– Rise Against – Prayer Of The Refugee
Kevin says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:17 pm
I’d also like to add K-N-O-C-K-O-U-T by Kiddo (a great Detroit band).
Mister B says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:18 pm
Self-promotion: http://www.detholz.com, the sleeping beauty of alt-rock.
Sassmo says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:25 pm
Most of what you posted I don’t like or haven’t heard of, however, some of your selections are far inferior to their counterparts. For instance:
You chose “O, Valencia!” yet a majority of the tracks from “Her Majesty” blow it out of the water…
Also, you chose My Morning Jacket’s “Gideon”, however, “Mahgeeta” and “One Big Holiday” both force Gideon to suck their cocks…
elec says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:30 pm
tiny tron? http://www.tinytron.com
skjsdflkgjq says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:40 pm
by far the WORST song on the list! —– Rise Against – Prayer Of The Refugee
all of these songs are regularly played on XM ch 47 if people here have sat radio.
Jon Slamm says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 3:50 pm
Seriously, this is a Top 20 list? I’d hate to see the Bottom 20.
lordcanyon says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:05 pm
seriously these are some terrible songs and bands(pearl jam excluded).
pearl jam is even on the list?!?!
something is seriously wrong here.
Dude says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:12 pm
rise against prayer of the refuge is a terrible song
N says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:20 pm
why would you put Heavens on there when you should have put Alkaline Trio. The Starting Line are one of the worst Drive-Thru records leftover bands out there. Guster is insipid crap. The Cursive song should have been the Great Decay, The Jimmy Eat World song should have been lucky Denver Mint, Rise against should have been Snapcase or Strung Out. Weakerthans should be the get up kids. Why would you put Eddie Vedder on the same list as Pearl Jam? this list is pretty weak.
JM says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:22 pm
Haha Editors…I liked them better the first time I saw them….when they were called Interpol
flame says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:39 pm
The only song you got right on this list is the White Stripes! There are 2 entire CDs of better music from Jimmy Eat World! Betterman and Hard Sun? Honestly? THOSE are your Pearl Jam songs? Your story is getting BURIED on DIGG! Also, this website sucks – it doesn’t even load correctly in FIREFOX! Go Jump off a roof!
jonathan says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:42 pm
Why do you say the rap scene is in shambles? Just because a few of the famous ones are tools doesn’t mean the whole scene is bad. There are plenty of strong acts progressing hip-hop and they’re just as good or better than the alt-rock you’ve posted.
rick says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:49 pm
this list contains a bunch of singles played on ALTnation and a few extras from guitar hero III … do you really know ANYTHING about alternative music … ?
Bob Lo says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:50 pm
These songs are all terrible. “Better Man” is a marginal song at best (back in the mid 90s). The individual who compiled this list seriously needs to expand their horizons.
bart says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:56 pm
May I humbly suggest some 6ixty 8ights and Golden Dogs…
Tony the Lyger says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 4:57 pm
If this is Alt than Maroon 5 belongs on the death metal chart.
Tony
Obama!
strangesthings says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 5:21 pm
You just started listening to music, didn’t you?
callmevil says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 5:55 pm
The list u gave is sooo bad… goddd i know the bands u picked but the songs u chose out of them.. wow.. GG
lemme give u a real list..
The Decemberist – the crane wife 3
Brett Dennen – Aint no reason
Collin Hay – Overkill
Jon Mclaughlin – Human
Joseph Arthur – In the sun
Kings of Convenience – Misread
Lily Allen – Alfie
The Coral – Pass it On
The Fray – How to save a life
Richard Clayderman – Chariots of Fire !!!!!!!!
snafubarunltd.com says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 6:08 pm
music.
snafubarunltd.com
jesus christ says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 6:08 pm
I’ve always loved how “alt-rock” is the only kind of rock played on stations geared toward kids these days; where does the alternative part come in? What a shitty list, find some real alternative bands.
Adam says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 6:45 pm
betterman is not on the vote list or am i mad
btw best song
Joel says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 6:56 pm
you can’t even vote for say anything, i’m pretty sure this is not only the least credible list but one of the more poorly run sites around…shame
Traci says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 7:00 pm
Maybe a bit too hard to be called alt…but…MYSTYC (www.MYSTYC.net), AWAKE (www.WeAreAwake.us) and New Found Land (www.NewFoundLandPA.com). Some kick-ass songs that are definately different.
Bart says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 7:08 pm
let me help this list out a bit, below is the top 40 songs on SIRIUS Alt Nation
Rank Title Artist Spins
1 Is There A Ghost Band of Horses 51
2 Tick Tick Boom The Hives 47
3 The Pretender Foo Fighters 46
3 Can’t Stay the Same Saves The Day 46
5 Crushcrushcrush Paramore 45
6 You Don’t Know What The White Stripes 44
6 Big Casino Jimmy Eat World 44
8 Thrash Unreal Against Me! 41
8 Everything’s Magic Angels & Airwaves 41
8 Well Thought Out Twinkles Silversun Pickups 41
11 The Running Free Coheed And Cambria 30
11 1-2-3-4 Feist 30
13 3’s & 7’s Queens Of The Stone Age 28
13 Hard Sun Eddie Vedder 28
13 That’s The Way (My Smashing Pumpkins 28
16 Bodysnatchers Radiohead 27
16 Southern Weather The Almost 27
16 Island (Float Away) The Starting Line 27
19 The Good Left Undone Rise Against 25
19 The Underdog Spoon 25
19 Pretty Handsome Awkward The Used 25
22 Shadowplay The Killers 24
22 True Romance She Wants Revenge 24
24 Timebomb Beck 23
24 Straight Lines Silverchair 23
26 Believe The Bravery 22
27 Our Time Now Plain White T’s 21
28 I’ll Stick Around Arckid 20
28 Thick As Thieves Dashboard Confession 20
30 Living Is A Problem… Biffy Clyro 18
30 Lake Michigan Rogue Wave 18
30 Baby Girl, I’m A Blur Say Anything 18
30 Untouched And Int The Honorary Title 18
34 Plastic Surgery Hal Schoolyard Heroes 17
34 Let Me In Hot Hot Heat 17
34 Flathead The Fratellis 17
34 Situations Escape The Fate 17
34 This Is For Real Motion City Soundtr 17
34 We’ve Got Everything Modest Mouse 17
34 Rainy Monday Shiny Toy Guns 17
my name says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 8:23 pm
FYI, for those of you reading the comments, O Valencia is actually off of the Crane Wife, not Her majesty
Philly says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 8:35 pm
I’m suprised The New Pornographers didn’t make the list. Also, Satellite isn’t even Guster’s best song, instead try Amsterdam.
Editor says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 9:15 pm
—- EDITOR REPLY TO COMMENTS—–
Jon Slamm – Yeah i’d hate to see the bottom 20 too! prob pretty shitty
Lordcanyon – this is my list and i’ll cry (and include pearl jam) if I want to!!
N: I value your opinion.. thanks
JM: Editors>Interpol
Flame: I went with Jimmy Eat world because the lyric [there are many great ideas in books I’ve never read] is pretty solid. I was hoping to draw attention to their new work and in turn maybe get 1 or 2 people to by their album on itunes.
Jonathan: mainstream rap is in shambles I tried to imply that when I linked to a 50 cent video. but i do agree, maybe you can email me back with a follow up list of top alt rap songs or something. email me at: stevethegreat@gmail.com
Bob Lo: these songs are actually pretty good, that is why (in most cases) a lot of people have ‘discovered’ them through word of mouth and very little radio play or promotional money from the record labels. but i will certainly expand my horizons if you are willing to suggest something better.
bart: i’ll take a look
Tony the Lyger: damn dude, what club are you doin stand-up at tonight? with that level of wit you should join the def comedy jam in 2008.
strangesthings: you got it! just started listening to music on November 18, 2007 – first song I ever heard was Jagged Edge – Where the Party At?
callmevil: thanks for tellin me how shitty it is like everyone else… but thanks even more for bein nice enough to follow it up with ur own list. I really will check out every one of those songs so I can “expand my horizons” to appease Bob Lo.
jesus christ: like who?.. gimme an example.
Adam: no you’re right, i only had 20 spots on the poll and dropped it. since it was a throwback I figured it was clear that song was one of the best on the list.
Traci: stop spamming!!!!
Ashley says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 10:31 pm
Tegan and Sara!
Ryan says:
Mon, 19th Nov 2007 11:02 pm
Your list is boring and disjointed. There are some good songs here but, altogether, as a whole, this is a throwaway mix. Crumbly and dry.
I’m bored just reading the track listing.
marco says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 2:08 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Camilo says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 3:18 am
there’s nothing “alternative” about this list, it’s all mainstream crap you hear everyday on the radio. Its all very forgettable music. The only band I’ll agree with is Spoon but “The Underdog” is a far cry from their other much much better songs. The only reason you chose it is cuz it’s the song they have circling around right now… guy was right when he said you need to expand your horizons.
CHARLEMAGNEINSWEATPA says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 6:44 am
Hornets! Hornets! – The Hold Steady
Wang says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 12:23 pm
Where is the button for they all suck?
AMIRITE?
dasdasd says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 3:00 pm
hahahahhhahhahahhaaahhahahhhhahahahahhahahaha
jo says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 3:58 pm
haters need to chill…..
fo real
jo says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 4:00 pm
p.s.
Of Montreal?
:]
Roger Biltstein says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 6:57 pm
that girl in the decemberists video is smoking hot.
ChubRock says:
Tue, 20th Nov 2007 9:17 pm
i thought this was going to be ablog about 20 cool unsigned or indie bands with links to mo3 *downloads*instead its just some shitty youtube links.
Andrew says:
Wed, 21st Nov 2007 10:39 am
Betterman? You should’ve said Life Wasted for Pearl Jam and Far Behind for Ed Vedder.
Allen says:
Wed, 21st Nov 2007 11:05 am
What! No RayZyN! Sacrilege! That guy has the best alt songs on myspace. The songs he has up now are spotty but his free album rox my cox.
real indie rock guy says:
Sat, 24th Nov 2007 5:09 pm
This list sucks. Try a little harder and find some real indie bands that could use your support. I mean seriously, Pearl Jam?? White Stripes!?? Radiohead!? are you kidding???
what a waste of time
Neal says:
Sun, 25th Nov 2007 7:10 pm
Spoon has much better songs than The Underdog.
Crane Wife 3 > O Valencia
Interpol > Editors
Just my opinions, but they’re right
c4 says:
Mon, 26th Nov 2007 3:26 pm
expect a rebuttle.
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