10 Best Debut Albums From Indie Bands

Indie music was popularised in the late 1980s, with under the radar bands rejecting the mainstream synth sound of the time in favour for a more authentic guitar sound. Indie music really hit its stride during the 1990s. Originally being used to describe music produced outside of commercial record labels, the term indie music became synonymous with guitar bands playing melodic tunes with poetic lyrics.

Indie music manages to transcend multiple different genres, from indie rock to indie pop, there really is something for everyone. Whilst indie music may have fallen out of favour with more mainstream music charts, legendary indie music bands still have legions of devoted fans blasting their favourite albums patiently waiting for the next releases (or praying that there favourite 1990s band will finally reform).

There are so many truly talented indie bands out there that gave us full discographies of great music. Whilst some bands hit the mark in their later albums there are those great bands that hit the nail on the head right off the bat. This list is going to take a look at those indie bands that had those big hit debut albums which propelled them into fame and the CD collections of indie fans everywhere.

Forming in 2009 Foster The People began in Los Angeles releasing their debut album Torches in 2011. The album contains the hit song Pumped Up Kicks which gained the band international notoriety. Other songs on the album can also be found in video games and TV commercials meaning even if you don't think you've heard some of this albums songs, you probably have.

It's an album full of catchy, upbeat, electronic sounds perfect for dancing to. Its not got that typical indie sound from the 1990s its more a combination of indie-pop and synth-pop, bringing that 1980s vibe and mixing it with the 21st century. The songs keep a similar music style throughout the album so they all blend into each other seamlessly, making the album flow beautifully. Tourches is arguably Foster The People's best received album gaining all-round good reviews, even being nominated for a Grammy in 2012. It's an album that even music lovers outside of the indie genre can enjoy.

It's not too hard for a band to make one good song, but for a band to make an entire debut album with the pressure of living up to that one beloved song is not so easy. Foster The People, however, managed to pull it off with this truly fantastic debut album, with each song holding their own even against Pumped Up Kicks.