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Indie Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Indie Quizzes, Trivia

Indie Trivia

Indie Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
23 Indie quizzes and 260 Indie trivia questions.
1.
  Pitchfork's Top Rated Albums of the 1990s by Year    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Pitchfork has been a preeminent indie/alternative website for a quarter of a century. This quiz relates to their highest rated albums in each year from 1990 to 1999.
Average, 10 Qns, balkerwack, Jun 04 24
Average
balkerwack
Jun 04 24
80 plays
2.
  The 2004 "Left of the Dial" CD Compilation    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
When it came out in 2004, this compilation was like a trip down memory lane for me as an adopter of Punk music in 1983 and a lover of New Wave since 1979. This compilation may be a tad obscure, so I will try to provide helpful hints with each question.
Average, 10 Qns, woodychandler, Sep 13 24
Average
woodychandler gold member
Sep 13 24
49 plays
3.
  Indie Rock - Songs and Bands    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
I'll give you three songs and you need to match it with the artists/bands who released them in the indie/alternative genre. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, kyleisalive, Feb 04 18
Average
kyleisalive editor
1367 plays
4.
  An "Above Ground" Indie Quiz   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I so totally knew about this quiz before you did. We'll take a look at some of the more well-known indie rock bands. Dedicated to all those Indie music fans who are so far from underground that they're, well, above ground.
Average, 10 Qns, trident, Mar 06 10
Average
trident editor
614 plays
5.
  Indie Music for Non-Hipsters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The indie genre is a very diverse one and includes everything from electronic to folk music. It has something for everyone to enjoy, hipster or not. Here is a quiz on ten of the more "mainstream" indie acts. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, Daaanieeel, Dec 16 12
Average
Daaanieeel
519 plays
6.
  Indie Bands You Should Know    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A number of Indie acts in history have broken through and seen mainstream success; this quiz tests your knowledge on some of these acts. Enjoy the quiz, and give these artists a go too.
Average, 10 Qns, Daaanieeel, Oct 27 14
Average
Daaanieeel
476 plays
7.
  Gimme Indie Rock Quotes!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Indie rock. What exactly is it? Rock on an independent label? Or does it have to do with style, attitude or era? One thing is for sure, there's no exact definition. Anyway, all the following lyrics are by bands who have been accused of being 'indie'.
Tough, 10 Qns, hootch, Jan 11 06
Tough
hootch
502 plays
8.
  College Radio Darlings    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Bands or songs you're bound to hear on heavy rotation on college radio, past and present. Enjoy!
Average, 20 Qns, MajorKong, Jan 11 06
Average
MajorKong
1571 plays
9.
  College Radio   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
College Radio Geek Quiz: this is for all the 'indie' rock, college-radio geeks out there like me. It covers the 1980s onwards. Some of these bands did go on to become a commercial success, but their legends will forever live in the underground.
Difficult, 20 Qns, theslumlord, Jan 11 06
Difficult
theslumlord
1564 plays
10.
  For "New Musical Express" Readers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you read NME or are into Indie music this should be pretty easy...hope you enjoy it
Average, 10 Qns, jungleeyes, Dec 01 06
Average
jungleeyes
469 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Wim Wenders is obsessed with this band. Specifically, the band is featured prominently in Wenders' feature 'Until the End of the World.'

From Quiz "College Radio Darlings"




11.
  How Well Do You Know Your Indie Lyrics?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Questions about great indie bands and their lyrics.
Tough, 10 Qns, a_stuart, Dec 11 07
Tough
a_stuart
347 plays
12.
  Indie Music Extravaganza: Vol. 1: The Albums    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the first in a series of quizzes on album titles by current indie and alternative music artists. I will give you the album title, you need to tell me who the artist is. Format is all multiple choice. Good luck and enjoy the quiz!
Average, 10 Qns, scooter1981, Nov 11 12
Average
scooter1981
270 plays
13.
  My Indie Lyrics Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is my first quiz and it is about my favorite bands; just choose the band that matches the lyric. Enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, musicismylife, Apr 13 07
Tough
musicismylife
465 plays
14.
  2002 British Indie    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quick quiz about the state of music in 2002.
Tough, 10 Qns, rusty_peanuts, Jan 11 06
Tough
rusty_peanuts
2015 plays
15.
  My Indie Lyrics Quiz Part 2    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
So I haven't been to this website in a long time, and about two years ago I made an Indie lyrics quiz. Here I am two years later with part 2, I wonder how much my music taste has changed. I am thinking this one will be harder.
Difficult, 10 Qns, musicismylife, Apr 02 09
Difficult
musicismylife
231 plays
16.
  Women Who ROCK!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you are looking for Britney, Christina, Pink or Shakira here, you may want to hit the "Back" button now. This quiz deals mainly with women in Indie/College radio.
Difficult, 10 Qns, play_stairway, Oct 23 04
Difficult
play_stairway
864 plays
17.
  Indie Music That Rocks    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the music that I like. I think it rocks, I hope you do too!
Tough, 10 Qns, fabalbert, Jan 11 06
Tough
fabalbert
1254 plays
18.
  Indie Rock/Punk Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
I'll give you a line or two from an "indie" rock or punk song, you give me the next line. Easy enough.
Very Difficult, 15 Qns, bacharachattack, Dec 01 06
Very Difficult
bacharachattack
857 plays
19.
  Indie Music of 2005    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is a small quiz about 2005 and the Indie music that it held.
Difficult, 10 Qns, fabalbert, May 18 06
Difficult
fabalbert
772 plays
20.
  "Indie" Rock    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Rock music trivia covering mostly indie, punk and not-very-"mainsteam" rock artists.
Impossible, 15 Qns, bacharachattack, Aug 18 10
Impossible
bacharachattack
1103 plays
21.
  UK Indie    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
You think you know UK indie? Well, try this then!
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, ika, Jan 11 06
Very Difficult
ika
1381 plays
22.
  Indie Rock Albums    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short quiz on some of my favorite songs and which album they hail from. I'll provide the artist and title, you choose the album. Enjoy.
Difficult, 10 Qns, rage02, Jan 11 06
Difficult
rage02
770 plays
23.
  Indie Alt Punk    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Each question pertains to one of my favorite bands. If your into 80-90's Indie rock, Alternative, or Old School Punk, it's for you.
Difficult, 10 Qns, BeatnikBarbie, Dec 01 06
Difficult
BeatnikBarbie
689 plays

Indie Trivia Questions

1. The debut album by this band, titled "Is This It", had an immediate impact on music and culture upon its release in 2001. Which band is responsible for this album?

From Quiz
Indie Bands You Should Know

Answer: The Strokes

The Strokes and The White Stripes from America, The Hives from Sweden and The Vines from Australia were four bands dubbed the "The" bands by critics after the release of four massive albums by them during 2001-2002 ("Is This It", "White Blood Cells", "Your New Favourite Band" and "Highly Evolved" respectively). In October 2002, "Rolling Stone" released an issue with the words "Rock is Back!" on the cover, featuring articles on these bands and The Vines on the cover. "Is This It" had an immediate and massive impact on music and culture. Electric guitars and skinny jeans quickly became the flavour of the month, and members of bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Kings of Leon have cited the album's release as a moment that made them want to start a band. The massive success of the album opened the doors for new bands to reach a more mainstream audience such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand. "NME" put them at number five on their 100 Most Influential Artists list of 2014. The album also spawned singles in the tracks "Last Nite", "Someday" and "Hard to Explain". The album wasn't without its controversy however. The album cover was altered upon its release in the US for being "too sexually explicit", and track number nine (of eleven) was changed from "New York City Cops" (which the band wrote in good taste after 9/11) to another track titled "When it Started" on the US version of the album. The album's legacy continued to stay strong long after its release. "NME" ranked it number three on their list of the 100 Best Albums in 2003, "Rolling Stone" named it number 199 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time issue in 2003 and number two on their list of the Best Albums of the Decade (behind Radiohead's "Kid A"). "Q Music" put the album on spot number 21 on their list of the 21 Albums That Changed Music, while "The Observer" put it at spot number 48 on their list of the same topic (out of 50). The album was also featured in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" (edited by Robert Dimery) and "The Guardian" put it in their special "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

2. Which Canadian indie rock band released an album in 2010 titled "The Suburbs", which went on the win the award for Album of the Year at the 53rd Grammy Awards?

From Quiz Indie Music for Non-Hipsters

Answer: Arcade Fire

The Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire formed in 2001 and released their first album, "Funeral", in 2004, which was critically acclaimed, ranking number six on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the Best Albums of the Decade. In 2010 they released their third studio album "The Suburbs", which won the Grammy and Juno Award for Album of the Year and the 2011 Brit Award for Best International Album. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, one on the UK Albums Chart, one on the Canadian Albums Chart and six on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and it received much critical acclaim. "Rolling Stone" Magazine named it number four on their list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010. The band also contributed the song "Abraham's Daughter" to "The Hunger Games" soundtrack and "Lenin" to the AIDS benefit album "Dark Was the Night". The other three bands are notable American indie rock bands.

3. What Canadian chanteuse's album is called "The Reminder"?

From Quiz Indie Music Extravaganza: Vol. 1: The Albums

Answer: Feist

Feist was nominated for four Grammy Awards from this album, mostly on the strength of the track "1,2,3,4", which was featured in an Ipod Nano tv ad. Another significant work of hers is the disc called "Let It Die", which featured another of her signature tracks, "Mushaboom".

4. In the Arctic Monkeys song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor", we find the line "Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets". To which Shakespeare play is the song alluding?

From Quiz An "Above Ground" Indie Quiz

Answer: Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's characters in the play are named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. In "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" (2005), the lyrics suggest that the narrator of the song isn't looking for love like Romeo and Juliet, but instead "just banging tunes and DJ sets and / Dirty dance floors and dreams of naughtiness".

5. Which band sings this lyric: "For your last encore You sawed yourself in half It was just you and your raft and this crummy requiem Shooting rockets"?

From Quiz My Indie Lyrics Quiz Part 2

Answer: Destroyer

This song, "Shooting Rockets (From The Desk of Night's Ape)" was actually remade by Dan Bejar for the Destroyer album "Trouble in Dreams". It was originally recorded with a side project of his, Swan Lake, with Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Casey Mercer of Frog Eyes.

6. Which indie band is responsible for the following lyrics: "The last few months I've been living with this couple. Yeah, you know the kind who buy everything in doubles. They fit together like a puzzle."

From Quiz How Well Do You Know Your Indie Lyrics?

Answer: Bright Eyes

The name of this song is "Waste of Paint" and it comes from the album "Lifted or The Story Is In the Soil Keep Your Ear to the Ground". Bright Eyes is a folk/alt-country/indie rock band based in Omaha, Nebraska. This band helped popularize and cultivate the independent label, Saddle Creek Records. If you are a first-time Bright Eyes listener, I would recommend the album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" to start out with.

7. "And she was beautiful but she didn't mean a thing to me" is a lyric from which band?

From Quiz My Indie Lyrics Quiz

Answer: Death Cab For Cutie

From "Tiny Vessels." Death Cab for Cutie is headed by singer songwriter Ben Gibbard, who has also done many side projects, including the band The Postal Service.

8. In May, Sam from Nine Black Alps became ill with what illness?

From Quiz Indie Music of 2005

Answer: Mumps

Nine Black Alps were forced to cancel appearances on the NME new music tour, due to Sam's illness.

9. What was the title of The Strokes debut album?

From Quiz Indie Music That Rocks

Answer: Is This It?

The Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. is the son of singer-songwriter Albert Hammond Sr.

10. "What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy. 'I know him and he does'. And you're my fact-checkin' cuz." For many the embodiment of indie. What band and which song is this?

From Quiz Gimme Indie Rock Quotes!

Answer: "Stereo" - Pavement

In the beginning Pavement were all in their 20s, except for Gary Young, their drummer, who was an old hippie. During gigs he'd often start to juggle his drum sticks instead of keeping the beat or start drumming on the stage instead of his drums. Anyway, he was kind of a wild figure. So when Pavement started to get more serious, the first thing they did was kick out Young. He released three solo albums, the first of which was "Hospital" (1995). In the video clip for its minor hit "Plant Man" Sonic Youth singer Thurston Moore walked around dressed up as a tree.

11. Which band contained sisters with the surname "Deal"?

From Quiz For "New Musical Express" Readers

Answer: The Breeders

Kim and Kelley Deal were in the Breeders together. Kim was obviously in the Pixies and led the Amps. Kelley headed up her own project The Kelley Deal 6000.

12. To what Afghan Whigs song do these lyrics belong..."Twist your head so I can witness, come and crawl inside my sickness.."?

From Quiz Indie Alt Punk

Answer: Hated

Lead singer Greg Dulli (pronounced Dooley) did the singing voice for John Lennon's character in the film "Backbeat".

13. Frank Black: "Speedy Marie"

From Quiz Indie Rock Albums

Answer: Teenager Of The Year

Frank and The Pixies are no longer together, but he has a plethora of albums he's done with The Catholics that are definitely worth a listen. Also, Kim Deal went on to The Breeders, who have released several albums that are fantastic as well.

14. She sings about wanting to be a "Dolphin" and being "Haunted."

From Quiz Women Who ROCK!

Answer: Poe

"Dolphin" is from Poe's debut album, "Hello." "Haunted" is from an album by the same name.

15. "Put the bark in the dog..." (Pavement)

From Quiz Indie Rock/Punk Lyrics

Answer: "...and you've got a guardian"

From the song "Blue Hawaiian" on "Brighten the Corners". Pavement broke up after a tour to support their last album, "Terror Twilight". Singer Stephen Malkmus now fronts Steve Malkmus & the Jicks, guitarist Spiral Stairs focuses on his project Preston School of Industry.

16. Complete the band name: The Cooper Temple ________ ?

From Quiz 2002 British Indie

Answer: Clause

And thoroughly great, they are too.

17. What is ex-Stone Roses member Alan Wren's nickname?

From Quiz UK Indie

Answer: Reni

Mani played the bass!

18. Glasgow group formed in the early 1980's who popularized 'shambling' or 'anorak' pop music. Frontman created the legendary label 53rd and 3rd.

From Quiz College Radio Darlings

Answer: The Pastels

Original members included Stephen Pastel (McRobbie), Brian Superstar (Taylor) and Chris Gordon.

19. Natasha Khan received Mercury Prize nominations for her albums "Fur and Gold" in 2006 and "Two Suns" in 2009, but what recording name is Natasha Khan better known under?

From Quiz Indie Bands You Should Know

Answer: Bat for Lashes

Bat for Lashes is the baroque/dream/art/indie pop project of multi-instrumentalist and singer-sonwriter Natasha Khan. She began recording material for her debut album "Fur and Gold" after finishing a degree in music and visual arts at the University of Brighton and while studying as a nursery school teacher. The album was well received and was nominated for the Mercury Prize, a feat repeated by her second album "Two Suns" (which focuses on Kahn's desert-born alter-ego Pearl and "the philosophy of the self and duality"). She experienced intense writer's block before the release of her more stripped-back 2012 album "The Haunted Man" and drew inspiration for music from drawing (upon the advice of Radiohead's Thom Yorke) and dancing. This album entered in at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number six on the UK Album Chart and finished on many end-of-year Best Albums lists including number six on "Spin"'s, number 17 on "Pitchfork"'s, number 22 on "The Guardian"'s and number 32 on "NME"'s. In 2014, "NME" put Bat for Lashes at number 48 on their 100 Most Influential Artists list, calling her the "proto-Florence" (in reference to Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine) and name-dropping artists like Oh Land and Austra as artists she has influenced. The other artists are also notable solo female indie acts.

20. Which female-lead indie band released their debut, Mercury Award-shortlisted album, titled "Lungs", in July 2009, which contained such hits as "Dog Days Are Over" and "You've Got the Love"?

From Quiz Indie Music for Non-Hipsters

Answer: Florence + The Machine

"Lungs" was the debut album for English indie band Florence + The Machine, fronted by Florence Welch. It was shortlisted for the Mercury Award and at the BRIT Awards in 2010 it won the Mastercard British Album. "You've Got the Love" (a cover of The Source) was the fifth single from the album, released as a single after a positive response as a B-Side to "Dog Days Are Over", which wa named in the book "1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die" (edited by Robert Dimery). Florence + the Machine performed a spin-off to this song titled "You've Got the Dirtee Love" with Dizziee Rascal at the 2010 BRIT Awards. The others are also female led indie bands except Feist, who is a female solo indie singer.

21. What US band based in California has an album called "King Of The Beach"?

From Quiz Indie Music Extravaganza: Vol. 1: The Albums

Answer: Wavves

This is their second disc, which was released in the US on Fat Possum Records in 2010. The album title is also the title of the hit song on this cd.

22. Finish the lyric from this Azure Ray song: "It's just an ordinary try. We learn to ____, we live to ___. Just accept and don't ask why. My lips they form a crooked smile".

From Quiz How Well Do You Know Your Indie Lyrics?

Answer: live, die

The name of this song is "Nothing Like a Song" and it comes from the album "Hold on Love". "Hold on Love" was released in 2003. The members of Azure Ray--Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink--have not made another full-length album as Azure Ray since "Hold on Love," but have been pursuing various exciting solo projects. Maria's latest album is the beautiful, "Lynn Teeter Flower" released by Saddle Creek in 2007, and Orenda has started a new band, Art in Manila, whose debut, "Set the Woods on Fire," was also released on Saddle Creek in 2007.

23. This lyric is from a song by which band? "The creature in the sky, got sucked into a hole, now there is a hole in the sky".

From Quiz My Indie Lyrics Quiz

Answer: Pixies

The song is "Monkey Gone to Heaven", from their 1989 album "Doolittle". The Pixies alternated vocals from Kim Deal and "Black Francis" (Charles Thompson IV) on their songs.

24. Which band released "Hey Scensters" and "Mirror Kisses"?

From Quiz Indie Music of 2005

Answer: The Cribs

"Hey Scensters" and "Mirror Kisses" appeared on The Cribs' second album "The New Fellas".

25. Who is the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs?

From Quiz Indie Music That Rocks

Answer: Karen O

Karen O is half-Polish, half-Korean.

26. "My girl Sasha. Lookin' good on the street. "Mannequin" was filmed at Woolworth's. Boyz II Men still keepin' up the beat, yeah." Lyrics from a funky almost hit by whom?

From Quiz Gimme Indie Rock Quotes!

Answer: "Freedom of '76" - Ween

Dean and Gene Ween are in fact not brothers. They're actually called Mickey Melchiondo and Aaron Freeman. Sorry to rob you of your illusions.

27. In which town in the English county of Somerset was PJ Harvey born ?

From Quiz For "New Musical Express" Readers

Answer: Yeovil

She was born on 9th October 1969 and grew up on a sheep farm.

28. Which member of the band Fugazi was in the 80's punk band Minor Threat?

From Quiz Indie Alt Punk

Answer: Ian MacKaye

Fugazi contributes to many charity organizations in Washington. They have also never made a video.

29. Belle and Sebastian: "Like Dylan In The Movies"

From Quiz Indie Rock Albums

Answer: If You're Feeling Sinister

Unfortunately, the cellist and female voice of the group, Isobel Campbell, left the band in 2002. Have not heard as of yet of any replacement.

30. This band guested on the Go-Betweens' "Friends of Rachel Worth" album.

From Quiz Women Who ROCK!

Answer: Sleater-Kinney

Janet Weiss, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney appeared on the "Friends of Rachel Worth" album. They have put out a number of albums on their own, including "Dig Me Out," "The Hot Rock," and "All Hands on the Bad One."

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Last Updated Dec 07 2024 5:48 AM
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