Indie Rock is a genre that started in the 80s mostly in the UK, US, and New Zealand. Originally, the term meant the music was made through independent record labels. Due to this, there was an DIY attitude and a rejection towards big labels. By the 90s, the meaning had shifted to be about the sound.
Regionally, local scenes had various subgenres– “baggy” (dance) in Manchester or shoegaze in London. Britpop and grunge’s commercial success brought attention to Indie Rock, which caused the genre to split with some bands conforming to mainstream and others leaning into the experimental (= new subgenres).
In the 2000s, Indie Rock had a revival (Garage Rock Revival) and another revival in the 2010s. Bands like Wolf Alice and The 1975 are some of the most influential indie bands of the 2010s.

How Soon Is Now?- The Smiths
How to Fight Loneliness- Wilco
Kidnapping an Heiress- Black Box Recorder
Your Ghost- Kristin Hersh
Shiny Happy People- R.E.M.
Harness Your Hopes- Pavement
As We Go Up, We Go Down- Guided By Voices
Mildred Pierce- Sonic Youth
Sight of You- Pale Saints
Waltz #2 (XO)- Elliott Smith
The Thing- Pixies
The Vampires Of New York- Marcy Playground
Kool Thing- Sonic Youth
Out There- Blake Babies
Permanent Daylight- Radiohead
Sunday- The Cranberries
Goin’ Home- Dinosaur Jr.
Advice To The Graduate- Silver Jew
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want- The Smiths
Hole- The Jesus and Mary Chain
Marlene Dietrich’s Favourite Poem- Peter Murphy
O Stella- PJ Harvey
Shane- Liz Phair
Two Girls Kissing- Swirlies
When the Sun Hits- Slowdive
I Felt Your Shape- The Microphones
See You Later- Heatmiser
Game Of Pricks- Guided By Voices
Upside-Down- Yo La Tengo
Girls- The 1975
You’re a Germ- Wolf Alice