Indie Rock Love Songs

November 21, 2005 12:52 AM

IndieRockLoveSongFilter: What are some good indie rock love songs? I'm making a CD for a certain someone, yet...

I love all kinds of music, but especially indie stuff (more recent stuff). So does she. But the problem is that most of the music I like and listen to is usually depressing, especially the stuff about love. Like that song "Engine Driver" from the Decemberists, or anything by Wilco or Broken Social Scene or whoever; it just makes me want to lie face down on the floor and not move. Not exactly the music I'm looking for... I'm looking for the stuff that will make two sarcastic cynics feel sentimental and hopeful but not cheesy. So if you know of any good love songs that strike that middle ground between gut-wrenchingly depressing and saccharine indiepop, I would very much appreciate it. Better yet, if you had to make a CD for someone you loved, what would you put on it? Genre isn't really important in the end, but I had to pick a theme. Ok, I don't like country.

Some songs I have on my short list: "Digital Love" by Daft Punk; "Run Into Flowers" by M83; "Postcard of a Painting" by Maximo Park; "To Be Alone With You" by Sufjan Stevens (as you can see these songs don't necessarily flow together well, but the theme is overridingly digital because we first met online a few years back).

If any other information would help, she's multilingual, likes Shakespeare and we are both pretty young.

posted by tweak to Media & Arts (70 answers total)

Not to be too predictable, but surely there's something on Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs.
posted by I Love Tacos at 12:57 AM on November 21, 2005

"Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service
posted by gaspode at 1:16 AM on November 21, 2005

Well, speaking of the Decemberists, Oceanside is a good upbeat song about love/wanting to have sex on the beach.
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 1:18 AM on November 21, 2005

Bright Eyes might be a little too much on the depressing side.

Is David Gray too commercial/not indie enough? He's got some pretty great love songs.

How bout Ben Graves?
posted by stovenator at 1:42 AM on November 21, 2005

Maybe "Death to Death" by the Stars, although I'm not entirely sure of that song's meaning...

I consider "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" (pt. 1) by the Flaming Lips to be romantic, but that might just be me.

"Do You Realize?" by the Flaming Lips might fit as well.
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 1:45 AM on November 21, 2005

Soltero - Communist Love Song
Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
posted by mumble at 2:17 AM on November 21, 2005

Shellac - "Prayer To God"



OK, ok just kidding.

The most romantic "indie" song I can think of right now is "Commuter Love" by The Divine Comedy. It's certainly not exactly jolly, but it's definitely romantic.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 2:33 AM on November 21, 2005

Arcade Fire - Une Annee Sans Lumiere

There's this guy performs under the name "Adem" who I saw at an Explosions In The Sky show and he did some very sincere love (not even romance, just love) songs. Look for "Pillow," "There Will Always Be."

Off the top of my head, can't think of anything else not yet mentioned that doesn't temper the message.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 3:00 AM on November 21, 2005

80's love songs ...
"Another Girl, Another Planet" the Only Ones
"Trust" 7 Seconds
"Sex and Violins" To Damascus
"Nostalgia" Buzzcocks
"Break My Body" Pixies
"Speak Like a Child" Style Council
posted by Methylviolet at 3:02 AM on November 21, 2005

the last time I was in such a position was April, when I put a mix together which doesn't entirely meet your requirements, so I'm going to cull some of it and add some other stuff I've been listening to since then.

Spoon - Something To Look Forward To
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Kylie Minogue - Love at First Sight (remix optional)
Franz Ferdinand - Michael
Snow Patrol - Crazy in Love (Beyonce Cover)
Bloc Party - This Modern Love
The Futureheads - Hounds of Love
Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights
Hawksley Workman - Paper Shoes (especially if you dance a lot)
Iron and Wine / Calexico - 16, Maybe Less
Wolf Parade - You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Maps
Bjork - Bachelorette / Oh So Quiet
No Doubt - New
The Flaming Lips - One More Robot / Sympathy 3000-21
posted by heeeraldo at 3:03 AM on November 21, 2005

One More Robot is totally depressing! Don't use it.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 3:11 AM on November 21, 2005

Meredith Bragg - Carolina (?)
posted by Alt F4 at 3:39 AM on November 21, 2005

Harvey Danger - Happiness Writes White (!)
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Kings of Convenience - Gold In The Air Of Summer
Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me
Ben Folds - The Luckiest
The Microphones - I Felt Your Shape [self-link]
posted by mumble at 4:02 AM on November 21, 2005

I had a whole list prepared, but finally decided to leave that to better people than I. I will leave you with one option, though: "Words Cannot Describe" by Mirah. Admittedly quite cute, but if you're too cynical for this song, then I don't want to know you.
posted by chrominance at 4:10 AM on November 21, 2005

The Alkaline Trio - Blue Carolina. Probably too punky, but I like it.
posted by mullacc at 4:22 AM on November 21, 2005

The Spinanes - "Kid In Candy" or "Slide Your Ass" from Arches and Aisles
posted by grabbingsand at 4:51 AM on November 21, 2005

"Reasons" by Built to Spill is good.

Much more happy than Engine Driver, I'd definitely include "Red Right Ankle" by the Decemberists.

Doesn't quite seem to be part of the indie genre you're after, but you might nonetheless appreciate "Baby Love Child" by Pizzicato Five.

There are already plenty of other good suggestions. Some additional songs to think about:
"Deeper Than Beauty" by Sloan.
"Damn, Sam" by Ryan Adams.
"The Dream of Evan and Chan" by Dntel.
"Our Way to Fall" by Yo La Tengo.
"Do You Remember" by Jack Johnson.
posted by teem at 4:58 AM on November 21, 2005

That's such a cute post, it made me wanna be your gf, whoever you are :)


I know I know I know - Tegan and Sara
Two more years - Bloc party
Stella was a diver - Interpol
My boyfriend's back - the Raveonettes

good luck!
posted by Sijeka at 5:14 AM on November 21, 2005

if she speaks french, you SHOULD get 'la caravane' by Raphael

it's lovely and indie and french.
posted by Sijeka at 5:15 AM on November 21, 2005

"Bombs That Fall From Your Eyes" by Polvo
"Sleepwalking" by Modest Mouse

Also, pretty much any Shins song could fit this bill.
posted by saladin at 5:18 AM on November 21, 2005

"You and I" by Jason Mraz.
posted by jb at 5:19 AM on November 21, 2005

The song that sprung immediately to mind was "The Reasons" by the Weakerthans. The chorus consists of the lines "I know you might roll your eyes at this / But I'm so glad that you exist." Kinda sums up your description nicely.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:33 AM on November 21, 2005 [1 favorite]

I don't think Engine Driver is depressing. Clementine is another good one from The Decemberists.

69 Love Songs is a good suggestion - I was going to say The Book of Love specifically.
The Mountain Goats - International Small Arms Traffic Blues
NMH - Two Headed Boy Pt. II
The Lucksmiths - Great Lengths
Boy Least Likely To - I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to your Star
The Shins - The Past and Pending

Something from Camera Obscura, Belle and Sebastian, or AC Newman.
posted by ludwig_van at 5:45 AM on November 21, 2005

Just One Thing by My Morning Jacket...soooooo romantic and sexy.
posted by iconomy at 6:24 AM on November 21, 2005

Lowest of the Low may be a bit too pub-rocky, but their love songs, like Rosy & Grey(From an album titled 'Shakespeare My Butt') feature wryly romantic lyrics.

Ryan Adams' When the Stars Go Blue.

Feist's cover of Inside & Out.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:35 AM on November 21, 2005

I second Ben Folds - The Luckiest; the first time my SO and I heard it, (in the car), we both started bawling...in a good way. It's now "our" song, more or less.

Also worth consideration:

Ben Folds - Lullabye
The Wannadies - You and Me Song
Phish - Waste (not really indie, I know)

I also like "This Strange Effect" by Thievery Corporation, but I'm not sure if it would fit within the context of indie and/or love song. Give it a listen nonetheless.
posted by porntips guzzardo at 6:38 AM on November 21, 2005

What a fun thread! Here are my suggestions:

Half Light - Athlete
If You Find Yourself Caught In Love - B&S
With You - Flaming Lips
April Skies - J&M Chain
Anyway That You Want Me - Spiritualized (Troggs cover)
I'm Sticking With You - Velvet Underground


A lot of these are older songs, but well worth (re) discovering.
posted by justkevin at 6:39 AM on November 21, 2005

First off, you're adorable. I paraphrase the young lady above by saying that I wish that I was part of two young multilingual shakespeare loving indie rockers in love. Enjoy it.

Second, I must be somewhat adorable, because I just spent 30 minutes scrolling through my MP3 player looking for indie love songs. "Red Right Ankle" by The Decemberists is the most romantic indie song of all time, but someone already said that, and almost all of The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs would work, but I only chose two.

"All My Little Words" or "Busby Berkeley Dreams- The Magnetic Fields
"Elevator Love Letter" - Stars
"Hello Sunshine" - Super Furry Animals
"Fresh Feeling" - Eels
"Our Way to Fall" - Yo La Tengo
"Popular Mechanics for Lovers" - Beulah
"Portions for Foxes" - Rilo Kiley
"So Begins Our Alabee" - Of Montreal
"We Looked Like Giants" - Death Cab for Cutie
"Alternative to Love" - Brendan Benson
"If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" - Belle and Sebastian
"Love Me Like You" - The Magic Numbers
"Mellow Doubt" - Teenage Fanclub
"Jenny" - The Mountain Goats
"History of Lovers" - Iron and Wine
posted by ND¢ at 6:40 AM on November 21, 2005 [1 favorite]

"Good Weekend" - Art Brut

Perfectly sums up the first week of any relationship.
posted by hughbot at 6:57 AM on November 21, 2005 [1 favorite]

NDC - your list is pretty dope and adorable too.

God this thread made my day and i'm not even the girl who'll get an indie cd.

One more : la cienaga just smiled by ryan adams is a bit sad but such a good love song.

I support 'romantic rights' by death from above 1979.
posted by Sijeka at 7:07 AM on November 21, 2005

ok i cant stop had to take a look at my ipod

baby this night - hawklsey workman
damn - lewis taylor
song for the girl - matthew good
without you i'm nothing - placebo and david bowie
rem - you are the everything

the kills - i hate the way you love :)
rufus wainright - the one you love
dallas green - casey's song
posted by Sijeka at 7:18 AM on November 21, 2005

Get Up Kids - I'll Catch You
Deftones - No Ordinary Love (sade cover)
posted by FreezBoy at 7:20 AM on November 21, 2005

Please include If Everything Fell Quiet by Reindeer Section. This is the song I would marry if I could marry a song. Sigh.
posted by iconomy at 7:28 AM on November 21, 2005

Oh yeah, and a song of mine, To Jane Gallagher, sounds like it might be fitting. It's good for this sort of thing.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:34 AM on November 21, 2005

The Wannadies - You and Me Song
"Hello Sunshine" - Super Furry Animals
"If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" - Belle and Sebastian

I wholeheartedly second those three, they're lovely, even if the last one goes off in a bit of a funny direction, but I love that bit too.

Another one I'm fond of in a similar vein is Blur's Coffee and TV, but not sure it would fit plus there's a sort of marriage proposal in the middle so unless you're sure it's not going to be taken literally best avoid. (or if you think it's crap of course)

These may be too upbeat/melodramatic/obvious and fall under your definition of saccharine (indie?)pop but you never know... I still like them:
Ash - Shining Light
The Cardigans - Lovefool (I like The Cardigans' latest a lot more but it's a little bit less straightforward than that)
The Cure - Friday I'm In Love
posted by funambulist at 7:34 AM on November 21, 2005

I've decided that my Belle and Sebastian choice is "We Rule the School" from Tigermilk. Very pretty song.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:39 AM on November 21, 2005

Manything on Hefner's Dead Media album, though perhaps "Alan Bean" (about the 4th man on the moon, from his POV, addressed to his lady) is the most anticynical and lovely and sweet. And another Hefner song that's very cute and singable is "Hello Kitten", on Boxing Hefner.
posted by xueexueg at 7:54 AM on November 21, 2005

"emily kane" by art brut
"lowdown" by my morning jacket
"you can't hurry love" by the concretes
"station approach" by elbow (not really indie I guess but still a really striking love song)
"it's just so" by of montreal (hell, pretty much any of montreal song! except "I felt like smashing my face through a plate glass window")
"only so long" or "don't thank me" by the french kicks
"sugarcube" by yo la tengo (a classic!)
posted by mcsweetie at 8:04 AM on November 21, 2005

Some more suggestions:

Ambulence - TV On The Radio
Wishbone - Architecture on Helsinki
Babe, I'm On Fire - Nick Cave (probably not appropriate, but I thought I'd mention anyway)

Good luck!
posted by heresiarch at 8:23 AM on November 21, 2005

Bongwater "You Don't Love Me Yet"


so many more, but the list is already so long and hard to skim.
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 8:47 AM on November 21, 2005

Disclaimer - My picks are always old-school indie:

When You Smile - the Flaming Lips

Some may say it's saccarine, but they have no heart.

The New - Interpol

Ok, that's not really a "love song", but it is at the same time.
posted by muddgirl at 8:48 AM on November 21, 2005

Mountain Side by the Poison Suns (Flaming Lips) - captures, for me anyway, the great ecstatic rush of falling in love. The louder you play it, the more rewarding it is.
posted by theinsectsarewaiting at 9:01 AM on November 21, 2005

Nada Surf - Inside of Love
Love Will Come Through - Travis
Nearer Than Heaven - The Delays

Best ironic indie love song ever: Laid by James. It will make her laugh and love you even more.
posted by junkbox at 9:11 AM on November 21, 2005

."it's all about us" (possibly my favorite "hipster's humble love anthem" with lines like "i'll be the boy in the band just drifting/you'll be the belle of the ball/you know, the one wasting time not dancing/and be the best of them all"), "the only one," "punk as fuck," "aaron and maria," "the postman," a bunch of others - american analog set
."cactus" - the pixies
.it's not really a singleminded love song, nor happy, but iron and wine's "jezebel" off of woman king is about the rightness of loving women despite the contempt most religious dogma has for the idea, and it's pretty moving. my favorite line is "who's seen jezebel/she was gone before/i ever got to say/lay here my love/you're the only shape i'll pray to"
.oh! (and i'm sure many others) - sleater-kinney
.eau d'bedroom dancing - le tigre
.momus has a bunch of cheerful songs about sex sex sex
.just because it's dying - both franklin bruno's original and jenny toomey's cover. her cover of his "tempting" is also wonderfulwonderful "we are cynics, but damn, sometimes love is tempting" anthem
.crooked fingers has a bunch of saucy love songs
.spoon's cover of "me and the bean" (with the line "i am your shadow in the dark/i have your blood inside my heart") as well as "everything hits at once" ("i go to sleep and think that you're next to me...at night in traffic we become on the way back home part of something bigger than just on our own")
.take ecstasy with me and 100,000 fireflies (the latter's sad, sure, but it's also one of his very best lyrically) - magnetic fields
.joe pernice/pernice brothers has love songs for the cynical. what's that one that goes, "just a look/can make me think if might be worth.../death/keep loving me to death/i don't believe in love but i want to believe"?)
.bermuda highway - my morning jacket

more as i think of them...
posted by ifjuly at 9:17 AM on November 21, 2005

.oh, i always say it, but rebecca gates/spinanes has a ton of night music that basks in the rosy glow of loving and missing someone
.maybe too cheesy bar rock for the newer hipsters, but i still stand by the twilight singers/afghan whigs. yes.
posted by ifjuly at 9:18 AM on November 21, 2005

How well do you know her? Have you had sex yet? Not to be crass or anything, but there are plenty of songs that you can only really put on a mix tape after you've had a significant amount of relationship, otherwise it's too much.
That said, here are some that I didn't see advocated above and that I think are, well, better. Because I'm a jerk.

The first is one that I ysi'ed to MeChaFinds You Well by Dabenport.
88 Lines About 44 Women by The Nails
I Will Wait by Ed's Redeeming Qualities
The New Face of Zero and One by The New Pornographers
All About is Your Love by The Rants
All Brand New by Coax
Are You The One by The Presets
Back of my Mind by Cast
Could You Ever Love a Girl by Kelly Caldwell (twee folk, recommended for many of the thread participants)
Sugar by Superdrag
Brass in Pocket by Kelis (yeah, it's a Pretenders cover. You can go with that if you want, it's also great. I've just been listening to the cover lately).
Sailor by The Scars
Careful by Sebedoh (maybe. It's kinda creepy too).
Big Hush by Shriekback
Could You Be The One by Hüsker Du
Crazy 'Bout You by The Nasty Facts
Lust in Love by The Go-Gos
Easy by The Quails
I Want Need Love You by The Dirtbombs (cover)

I have more, but I'm getting kinda bored looking for just indie rock. Do you want soul, funk, jazz, rap, punk? Have the skills to mix it?
posted by klangklangston at 9:20 AM on November 21, 2005

Iron&Wine- Lion's Mane
Autumn Sweater- Yo La Tengo
Superwolf- Beast for Thee
posted by GilloD at 9:24 AM on November 21, 2005

Wow.. what a spectacular thread.

All of the songs I could think of have already been listed, but I must second a couple of them:

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Ben Folds - The Luckiest

Also, some not so indie, but great love songs that were not "major singles" (that I'm aware):
Incubus - I Miss You
Semisonic - Singing in my Sleep [incidentally, a song about mixtapes as an expression of affection]


Lots of songs in this thread I haven't heard of, and will now have to check out. Yay sap. :-)
posted by twiggy at 9:46 AM on November 21, 2005

Trial of the Century - French Kicks. And I just have to add that if someone made me a mixtape with Red Right Ankle on it, I'd probably swoon, sarcastic cynic though I am.
posted by Felicity Rilke at 10:23 AM on November 21, 2005

Iconomy mentioned a Reindeer Section song already, but if you don't mind having multiple songs by artists on your disc, I do have to throw a vote in for "You Are My Joy." It's just gorgeous.
posted by angeline at 10:51 AM on November 21, 2005

I just scanned the comments above, take any doubles as a hearty seconding of the song.

Ever Fallen In Love? - Buzzcocks.
The Love Cats - The Cure.
She's Supersonic (OR) Cosmic Allison - Hazel
La La Love You (OR) Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
The World Loves Us And Is Our Bitch - McLusky*
I Think I'm In Love - Spiritualized
Love->Building On Fire - Talking Heads
Prove My Love - Violent Femmes
Love (Via Satellite) - Six Finger Satellite
Love Buzz - Nirvana
Love Japanese Style - Ex Models
Love You To Death - 400 Blows*
Tarnished Angel (OR) Cotton Girl - Silkworm
Baby Stick Around - Joe Jackson
Freezer Burn / I Wanna Be Your Dog - Sonic Youth*
Cast a Shadow - Beat Happening
Sexy Results - Death From Above 1979 (for another DFA option).
Car - Built to Spill

* Depending on how playful the mix and relationship is some of these might not be quite the message you want to convey.
posted by safetyfork at 11:08 AM on November 21, 2005

'Ever Fallen In Love? - Buzzcocks'

Hell no, it says 'ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't fall in love with' if memory serves me right!
posted by Sijeka at 11:20 AM on November 21, 2005

D'oh, I think you might be right, and I mis-remembered that one. I remembered it as a good love song. Better put an asterisk after it.
posted by safetyfork at 11:33 AM on November 21, 2005

"Be Here to Love Me," "If I Needed You," "Lover's Lullaby" - Townes van Zandt
"I Got You" - Wilco
"Ain't Misbehavin'" - Leon Redbone
posted by BrandonAbell at 12:29 PM on November 21, 2005

"i will keep the bad things from you" - the damnwwells iTunes music store link here.
posted by inviolable at 12:44 PM on November 21, 2005

"How You Wanna Get There" by the Jungle Brothers
"Fascinating New Thing" by Semisonic
"Whole of the Moon" by the Waterboys
posted by BigLankyBastard at 1:29 PM on November 21, 2005

Engine Heart - Mirah
If We Can Land a Man on the Moon Then Surely I Can Win Your Heart - Beulah
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (kinda cliche maybe...or has it been said already....)
All is Full of Love - Bjork
posted by jetskiaccidents at 1:59 PM on November 21, 2005

My favorite on 69 Love Songs, for sure: The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
Also good:
Easy to Be Around - Diane Cluck
I Need You - The Stands (I don't know, maybe too country for your tastes)
Don't Ask Me to Explain - Of Montreal
Darkness Between the Fireflies - Mason Jennings
I'll Be Your Mirror - Velvet Underground
Sexy Results - Death from Above 1979
posted by 912 Greens at 3:49 PM on November 21, 2005

not exactly indie, but nonetheless belongs on your mix cd: "I'd Love Just Once To See You" by The Beach Boys. listen to it and you'll see what I mean!
posted by mcsweetie at 4:34 PM on November 21, 2005

I can contribute nothing. Wait - The Blue Nile. The Downtown Lights.

Moreover, this is the best AskMefi thread ever.
posted by docpops at 6:50 PM on November 21, 2005

off the top of my head

Matthew Sweet - Sick of Myself
Teenage Fanclub - Norman 3
Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
Ride - Like A Daydream
Doves - Pounding
Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights
Big Star - Thirteen
obv The Cure - Lovesong
Vaselines - Son of a Gun
obv The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
posted by mr.marx at 8:38 PM on November 21, 2005

See also Happy go lucky modern woo music, where we helped Stynxno put together a mix. I spent about a month buying looting finding about 80% of the tracks and there were some very fine ones there.

I'll probably do the same with this thread ...
posted by dhartung at 1:10 AM on November 22, 2005

I just thought of another one of my favourites: Supergrass - Late In The Day -- it's a bit melancholy but not at all in a depressing way.
posted by funambulist at 3:14 AM on November 22, 2005

Also:

Things You Should Be Knowing by the Cribs
Not Fire, Not Ice by Ben Harper
Hit by the Sugarcubes
I'm in Love with a Beautiful Girl by Robyn Hitchcock
Bewitched by Luna
In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
posted by 912 Greens at 6:43 AM on November 22, 2005

In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

You have chosen wisely.
posted by ludwig_van at 8:15 AM on November 22, 2005

spending the day in the shirt that you wore - poi dog pondering.
krush - stars
there's a great compilation out from hear music called "sweetheart - love songs" (amg review) that features "cool" bands/artists doing their favorite love songs. m. ward, rufus wainwright, neko case, old 97's, gary jules, calexico, jim white, joseph arthur, madeline peyroux, doing let my love open the door, my funny valentine, buckets of rain, she's got everything, how can I tell you, love will tear us apart, use me, there is a light that will never go out, and give your mama one big smile (respectively).
ilovetoloveyourlovemylove - self
promise - mirah
i'll be yr bird - m. ward
of course, the boy/girl love band stuff is gold--see above (belle & sebastian) but also mates of state, the rosebuds.
also, anything off of traci lords' album, 1000 fires.
posted by carsonb at 6:16 PM on November 22, 2005

ahem, um, kidding about that last one, of course. okie dokie doggie daddy?
posted by carsonb at 6:19 PM on November 22, 2005

also, riffing on the I'll be Your Mirror suggestion above, clem snide does an awesome cover on their "beautiful EP"
posted by carsonb at 6:22 PM on November 22, 2005

I just re-read your question, and I thought of one more that has to go on the mix if you're not finished with it already...

You're Only King Once - Beulah

It's the perfect romantic middle between melancholy and saccharine.
I love the 6 month rule
posted by carsonb at 1:19 PM on November 27, 2005

oh, I recommend the demo acoustic version if you can get it. the version off Yoko is damn fine, too.
posted by carsonb at 1:20 PM on November 27, 2005