The 50 best debut singles in indie rock history according to Radio X magazine

Some careers announce themselves within the first three minutes: a riff, a chorus, or a sound able to leave its mark on first listen. Radio X dedicates a selection of 50 tracks to debut singles that hit the mark straight away, bringing together under the indie-rock banner artists from different eras and styles, from Ramones to Wet Leg, via Oasis, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys.
The criterion is stated in the introduction: “Here are 50 great examples where the debut single did its job perfectly: setting the mood for an exceptional career, delivering a two- or three-minute adrenaline rush, and making you want to pick up the vinyl and play it again and again”. The selection only considers releases conceived as singles: “EPs, compilation tracks and the like are not included! We're interested in singles made specifically as such”.

Here are the 50 debut singles chosen by Radio X, presented in alphabetical order and without a ranking of merit (full feature here)

• Arctic Monkeys – “I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor” (2005)
• Bjork – “Human Behaviour” (1993)
• Bloc Party – “She's Hearing Voices” (2004)
• Blossoms – “Blow” (2014)
• Blur – “She's So High” (1990)
• Bon Iver – “Skinny Love” (2008)
• Catfish And The Bottlemen – “Homesick” (2013)
• The Charlatans – “Indian Rope” (1990)
• The Clash – “White Riot” (1977)
• Courteeners – “Cavorting” (2007)
• Editors – “Bullets” (2005)
• Elastica – “Stutter” (1993)
• Elbow – “Red” (2001)
• Embrace – “All You Good Good People” (1997)
• Sam Fender – “Play God” (2017)
• Florence + The Machine – “Kiss With A Fist” (2008)
• Foo Fighters – “This Is A Call” (1995)
• Franz Ferdinand – “Darts Of Pleasure” (2003)
• Gorillaz – “Clint Eastwood” (2001)
• The Jam – “In The City” (1977)
• Joy Division – “Transmission” (1979)
• Kaiser Chiefs – “Oh My God” (2004)
• The Killers – “Mr Brightside” (2003)
• LCD Soundsystem – “Losing My Edge” (2002)
• The Libertines – “What A Waster” (2002)
• MGMT – “Time To Pretend” (2005)
• New Order – “Ceremony” (1980)
• Nirvana – “Love Buzz” (1988)
• Oasis – “Supersonic” (date unspecified)
• Pearl Jam – “Alive” (1991)
• The Prodigy – “Charly” (date unspecified)
• Radiohead – “Creep” (1992)
• Rage Against The Machine – “Killing In The Name” (1992)
• Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976)
• Royal Blood – “Out Of The Black” (date unspecified)
• Saint Etienne – “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (date unspecified)
• Sex Pistols – “Anarchy In The UK” (1976)
• The Smiths – “Hand In Glove” (1983)
• Stereophonics – “Local Boy In The Photograph” (1997)
• The Streets – “Has It Come To This?” (date unspecified)
• Suede – “The Drowners” (1992)
• Supergrass – “Caught By The Fuzz” (date unspecified)
• Temper Trap – “Sweet Disposition” (2008)
• The Undertones – “Teenage Kicks” (1978)
• The Vaccines – “Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” (date unspecified)
• Weezer – “Undone (The Sweater Song)” (1994)
• Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue” (2021)
• Wolf Alice – “Fluffy” (2013)
• The Wombats – “Moving To New York” (2006)
• The xx – “Crystalised” (date unspecified)

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