Why do indie babes rock our world so much?

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