There really is something special about a girl with a guitar who can knock out a song you would actually not be ashamed to own on your iPod.

But, why? Is it because, unlike their Hollywood counterparts, they actually have some kind of talent? Or is it because, unlike their Hollywood counterparts, they remind you of the smart girl at school who suddenly became really hot in later years?

Or could it be because, unlike their Hollywood counterparts, they are the kind of girls you might possibly, possibly, possibly have a chance with? That is, of course, if record sales are down and you are the only straight guy who actually goes backstage to tell them how much you like their music.

Now, we know what you are thinking – and we agree. The concept of an ‘indie’ music genre has become so blurred nowadays it’s become almost obsolete. But we needed an easy tag to stick all these sexy girls under, and this one seemed the most appropriate.

It could equally be called ‘The 28 Sexiest Women Who Can Knock Out A Tune [Usually Involving A Guitar] That we Would Not Be Ashamed To Have On Our iPods‘, but we thought it might be too long.

Besides, to show the age of some of our writers, we have even included some artists who were even around at a time when ‘indie music’ actually meant something.

As always, not that you need any encouragement you miserable bastards, please tell us your suggestions.

28. Lovefoxxx (CSS)


27. Neko Case (The New Pornographers)

26. Melissa Auf de Maur (Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins)

25. Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (Tegan and Sara)

24. Maura Davis (Denali, Ambulette)

23. Nicole Atkins (Nicole Atkins & the Sea)

22. Whitney McGraw (Page France)

21. Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies, The Juliana Hatfield Three)

20. Maria Taylor (Now It’s Overhead, Azure Ray, solo)

19. Hayley Williams (Paramore)

18. Maya Arulpragasam aka M.I.A.

17. Annie Clark aka St. Vincent (The Polyphonic Spree, Sufjan Stevens)

16. Charlotte Hatherley (Ash, Client)

15. Aimee Mann

14. Geike Arnaert (Hooverphonic)

13. Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead)

12. Liz Phair

11. Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses, The Breeders, Belly, Solo)

10. Emily Haines (Metric, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton and Broken Social Scene)

9. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, Harry Crews, Free Kitten)

8. Bjork (Sugarcubes, solo)


7. Alison Mosshart (The Kills)


6. Joanna Newsom


5. Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)

4. Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley, solo)

3. Leslie Feist (Feist, Broken Social Scene, By Divine Right)

2. Katrina Kerns (Sufjan Stevens)


1. Cat Power

But Tim Allen has worked out that only starring in films about Santa Claus won't win him an Oscar. Indie comedies are what'll win him an Oscar, which is why Tim Allen has signed up to make his directorial debut with the comedy Crazy On The Outside.

Don't worry, though, this isn't some guffy ego-puffing vanity project, because Tim Allen isn't even going to star in Crazy On The Outsi… what's that? He is going to star in Crazy On The Outside? OK, well in that case it is a guffy ego-puffing vanity project. Sorry about the mix up.

Tim Allen has given the world so much in his 54 years. He's highlighted the tragic plight of mulleted children with idiot fathers on Home Improvement. He's raised awareness of men who keep turning into Father Christmas with the Santa Clause movies. And he would have given the world 1.4 pounds of cocaine if he hadn't been arrested with it at Kalamazoo airport in 1978.

That alone should be enough for Tim Allen to take a step back, realise he's given the world enough and go on to do something else that's less public. But Tim Allen's not having a sniff of it – after a decade spent pretty much exclusively starring in children's films where he turns into stuff like Santa Claus, a shaggy dog or, in the case of Zoom!, a warmly nostalgic rocket-shaped ice lolly – Tim Allen has decided to strike out on his own.

That's right – Tim Allen is going to direct his very first movie, an indie comedy called Crazy On The Outside. EW reports:

Allen will also star in the movie, and Ray Liotta, Carrie-Anne Moss, Kelsey Grammer, and Julie Bowen are all in talks for roles. Allen plays a parolee who finds life outside a prison to be much crazier once he enters his quirky sister's world.

Hilarity ensues. Or, since this is an indie comedy, mild amusement that never actually makes you laugh out loud followed by a sad, soul-searching bit and then a song by Iron & Wine over the credits ensues. Or, since this in an indie comedy directed by Tim Allen, none of the above.

But perhaps we've got this all wrong. We literally don't know a thing about Crazy On The Outside. It could be a bawdy knockabout affair, or it might take the lead from Tim Allen's forthcoming turn in a David Mamet movie and show a more serious, considered side to him. Given the subject matter, Tim Allen might even make Crazy On The Outside slightly autobiographical.

In which case one thing's for certain – everyone is going have really crap facial hair.

Read more: 

Tim Allen Directing 'Crazy' – EW