The ranking of the 25 best indie rock debut albums of the 1970s, according to Radio X

The 1970s weren't just one of the most fertile and important decades in the history of rock. They were also the period when the indie galaxy began to make a serious impact on the record market, through a continuous evolution of genres and styles. The magazine Radio X has attempted to compile a ranking of what it considers the 25 best indie-rock debut albums of the decade. "From the first stirrings of the punk era to the flourishing of new wave and electronic music, the 1970s were the decade that kick-started the first indie wave as we know it today, with landmark albums by Clash, Sex Pistols and Jam, right through to the now-iconic works of Joy Division, Public Image Ltd and many others."
But what exactly do we mean by "indie"? Officially, according to Radio X, the term "indie" only began to take on a precise meaning in January 1980, when the magazine Record Business published the first Independent Chart, a ranking that gathered the best-selling singles and albums released by labels without the backing of major record companies. The "indie" spirit, however, had already taken hold during the punk years, even though the two most representative bands of the movement, Sex Pistols and Clash, had signed with major labels. That's why, the magazine points out, when compiling a list of the best indie debut albums of the 1970s, it's possible to adopt a fairly broad definition: from punk rock pioneers like Patti Smith and Ramones to strong-personality singer-songwriters like Elvis Costello and Ian Dury, through British bands like Stranglers, Jam and Damned, all the way to the post-punk experiments of post-punk by Magazine, Public Image Ltd and Joy Division.

So here's the ranking of the best indie rock debut albums of the 1970s, according to Radio X (full feature here)

1. Patti Smith – "Horses" (1975)
2. Ramones – "Ramones" (1976)
3. The Modern Lovers – “The Modern Lovers” (1976)
4. Blondie – "Blondie" (1976)
5. Television – "Marquee Moon" (1977)
6. The Damned – “Damned Damned Damned” (1977)
7. The Clash – “The Clash” (1977)
8. The Stranglers – “Rattus Norvegicus” (1977)
9. The Jam – “In The City” (1977)
10. Elvis Costello – "My Aim Is True" (1977)
11. Talking Heads – "Talking Heads: 77" (1977)
12. Ian Dury – “New Boots And Panties!!” (1977)
13. Sex Pistols – “Never Mind The Bollocks” (1977)
14. Wire – “Pink Flag” (1977)
15. The Cars – “The Cars” (1978)
16. Magazine – “Real Life” (1978)
17. Devo – “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” (1978)
18. Siouxsie & The Banshees – “The Scream” (1978)
19. Public Image Ltd – “First Issue” (1978)
20. Stiff Little Fingers – “Inflammable Material” (1979)
21. The Cure – “Three Imaginary Boys” (1979)
22. Joy Division – “Unknown Pleasures” (1979)
23. The B-52’s – “The B-52’s” (1979)
24. The Slits – “Cut” (1979)
25. Gang Of Four – “Entertainment!” (1979)

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