The Best Indie Love Songs
I Love Indie Music!
It seems to me that some of the greatest songs written over the past couple of decades are done by "home-brewed" artists. They're goal isn't to be rich and famous, sellout stadiums and be the official spokesperson for Dr. Pepper. They write music for the love of it and many of the artists in this list bare their souls in the music they write. They love what they do as artists and we're just lucky enough that they share it with us.
Speaking of "love", when it comes to the same old "love" songs... many indie artists know how to mix it up and that's what I want to share with you here. Some of the best indie love songs ever written... at least from my point of view!
Our Own Indie
Everyone has their own idea of what "indie" is and the label has changed overtime. "Indie" to me is an artist that is rarely played on the radio. Artists you actually have to research like a scavenger hunt for musical gold. If they do make the radio, it was more of an anomaly compared to the rest of their material. They don't sell out stadiums or pump out albums. When their material has just enough quirk in it for the average listener to not understand, they're indie.
Sweet & Happy Indie Love Songs
I love this song! It's a perfect, "Let's forget about the world because it doesn't matter and let's just focus on you and me..." love song. The National continue to put out great albums time after time, many of which are songs about relationships; both good and bad.
Probably one of my favorite songs on this entire list. Maybe not for everyone, but it holds an extra special meaning for me personally. It's a beautifully done song; about no matter your path in life, that there's always someone that will stand by you and be there for you.
Not a powerful song, but very well done. Joshua Radin does a nice little love song ditty here that is sure to get stuck in your head and have you humming after a couple of listens.
Ray's voice makes every song he sings that much better. "Can I Stay" is no exception and is sung like an adult lullaby that will have the love you and your special someone share being rocked to sleep. Umm... I don't know if that's exactly how you should think of it, but just give the song a listen and you'll understand what I mean.
I love Ben Folds! This often jovial artist can have you at your highest highs and put you there with some of the lowest lows. This song is beautifully done and I'm sure one that is played at many a weddings.
This song was originally done by the postal service, but Iron & Wine's version I think does a good job of slowing the song down and letting the love story be empathized more than the beat was in the original. Both are great songs, I just put this version slightly ahead of the original.
Deep, Dark & Somber Indie Love Songs
I'd place a bet that any "Indie Love Songs" list has this song on it. Such a simple tune, yet so deep and Ben Gibbard does a wonderful job of dealing with a topic that many people worry about and let's his love know that it doesn't matter, he'll always be there.
Kevin Devine is one of my all time favorite indie artists. His songs almost always are filled with wonderful synonyms and "Tapdance" relates to many of us what we probably have at one time experience with somebody else.
This is definitely one of those darker love songs. The piano in this song is both beautiful and haunting at the same time. It tells a great story of two people, through their experiences, finding love through their common goals; but as they grow older things change and the singer wants to get back there.
Such a powerful song with such simple lyrics; Damien Rice makes repeating a simple line like, "I can't take my eyes off of you..." or "I can't take my mind off of you..." and let's you feel the deep inner feeling of struggling to let someone go.
I'm not sure if in this song he's singing about a love that died, or a love that has left that he didn't appreciate until she was gone. Either way, it's a beautiful and deep rainy day song. Damien Rice gets another one on this list because of the way he sucks his listeners in with his raw and emotional melodies.
Fairly new compared to the other artists on this list, but if Mumford & Sons can continue to put out albums like their first one, we're all going to be very lucky. Winter Winds is a wonderful little folk song about a persons tug of war on whether a relationship os really love or just something that is better than loneliness.
Probably in my top 5 favorite artists list, TV on the Radio blows your mind with this deep love song. Overflowing with synonyms and a progressive melodic beat, "Poppy" will make you think about how they envision true love in a relationship. Give it a few listens, you'll be happy you did. (please excuse the youtube visuals... it was the best I could find.)
I don't know if everyone would consider The Civil Wars indie; but they remind me of a folky cross between The White Stripes and Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova. So that makes them "indie" enough for me. I also love this song. It's similar to "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" in it's story, but it's unique enough and the singers have such wonderful voices that work well together.
The title is pretty mis-leading as pertaining to be a love song, but this is probably one of the best love songs melodically that's on this list. Band of Horses write an incredible song where the lyrics read like a dying love or relationship and the other person still trying to hang on.
More Deep, Dark & Somber Indie Love Songs
Hard to find a video for this one... but I found an MP3 of it at archive.org... It's being recorded in a bar, but it fits the song perfectly with all the people talking in the background and then you hear this beautiful song like he's thinking out loud.
Another The National song added to the list; but they write good stuff. I love this one because my interpretation of it is that the characters in the song realize all of their dreams in life are passing them by and that their day to day tasks aren't really as important as they once thought they were. They're content just being wrapped up in each other and focusing on what they want instead of what they think they need.
A great "I don't know what went wrong, but I miss you..." love song. Amos Lee has such a great voice and his music has a feel of "new school" soul about it.
Fun & Upbeat Indie Love Songs
Love'd this song ever since I listened to it many years ago. A super fun song and a little on the suggestive side; but nonetheless tells a story of how in a relationship... your special someone can drive you off the edge, but you still somehow can't bare to live without them.
A super hokey, upbeat indie love song! Cake is one of those great bands that never let you down with the songs they come up with. This song I believe was stuck in my head for a month the first time I heard it and my significant other heard me randomly belt it out that entire duration... lucky her!
This one's from a couple decades ago, and the artist hasn't produced much since; but it still gets my feet moving every time I hear it play. With such a great rhythm to this little jam, I don't know if it's the ultimate indie love song; but it's a great one to sing to.
Ryan Adams does a great job with this simple, folksy-blues upbeat ditty. Yeah... I guess that's how I would describe it. There's not much to this song other than the message of "I love you. I want to be with you. Be my Firecracker!"
Eels songs usually are simpler in words and melodies; but are so deep in their subject matter. This one is upbeat and reminds me of two people starting to fall in love. This one is a pretty easy one to get stuck in your head after a couple listens, just a warning.
Updates Coming!
This page will be updated as I discover new songs or if users like yourself share your discoveries with me! Don't forget to bookmark so you can check back often to see what's new or subscribe to the RSS feed ...Thanks!