This is a very good list; the jesus and mary chain, felt, the wedding present, my bloody valentine, spacemen 3, swell maps, echo and the bunnymen, this mortal coil...that is all great stuff. There were so many excellent independent records on 4AD, Mute, Beggars Banquet and Creation Records in the UK that this list could have gone on forever. How about Bauhaus, Slowdive, Nick Cave and The Chameleons for a start?

The Stone Roses number 9...come on!!!!!

where are the Boo Radleys?

...they should definitely be on there somewhere...

Arctic Monkeys @ 7? Naaaa....

What about "Common People" by Pulp?

Not sure if it counts, but the Research is a great UK band!

This makes NO sense to me. Why are some of these singles and some of these albums? Does “record” imply best single or album? 'Son Of A Gun,' 'Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken,' and 'On Tape' are all songs… but Up For A Bit With The Pastels, Psychocandy, and Crocodiles are all albums. This list is NOT clear! Can someone explain?

And Inspiral Carpets -- they were 'indie' right? And of course, dear be, The Bluetones! Where are my Bluetones!?

Unless there's a horrible misspelling, I don't see any Art Brut. What gives?

I've given up on list after reading the 6 page footnote on list in Seller's Perfect from Now On. There is no joy in them.

@Nikki, I'm with you. What is going on here? I had this same question when I saw that Amy Wino is up for both "Album" and "Record" of the year at this weekend's Grammy's too.

As curiosity was boring a hole in me, I checked it out and this is what wikipedia says on the subject. Perhaps this is the same rationale MOJO is using?

The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer. In 1962, the award name was extended to Album of the Year (other than classical) but reverted to the shorter name by 1965. A rock 'n' roll album did not win the award until 1968; a hip-hop album did not win until 1999...

Many wonder what the difference is between Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Record of the Year is awarded for a single or for one track from an album. This award goes to the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer, and/or mixer for that song. Album of the Year is awarded for a whole album, and the award is presented to the artist, producer, recording engineer, and mastering engineer for that album. So, in this context, "record" means one song and "album" means the whole collection of songs on a CD or LP.

Unlike Record of the Year, which goes to the artist and production team of a single song, Song of the Year goes to the composer(s) of the song. Therefore, Record of the Year is awarded to the best recording.

Oh, and for my 2cents, this list is sorely lacking some Depeche Mode. What gives?

@7:
the inclusion of albums and singles (and non-single album tracks) is simply lazy. shouldn't mojo be working on their bi-monthly joy division special edition issue?

@12:
i think the uk takes depeche mode much less seriously than america. i've read it before and i definitely see it in indie lists.

also:
what constitutes indie, really? are radiohead not indie because a lot of people like them or because they are on a major label? if either is the case, why are the smiths #1 on this list when they are both very liked and very much on a major label?

That is a pretty amazing list for MOJO. Heavy on the 80's, which is the way I like it.

@13 - "indie" refers to the albums/singles being released on an independent record label. A lot of what might seem completely obvious that's missing on the list is missing due to the artist not releasing anything (or anything remarkable) on an independent record label, or so I'm guessing.

I'm guessing overall the inclusion of singles/EPs versus albums was an independent release versus major label release thing.

Though, if they're really talking amazing British singles, they're missing an inclusion of the best 80's jangle band, the Bodines. But overall, the inclusion of both McCarthy and Aztec Camera makes me giddy.

The list has some impressive titles and showcases probably some of the best labels ever......BUT for my own top list I'd want to include:

Bronski Beat - smalltown boy.... music that today is still recognizable, Jimmy Sommerville's falsetto and an anthem to gay youth and anyone who felt polarized by the world around them....

Suede - Animal Nitrate.....Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler were an unstoppable combination on their first album. In the mid 90s you couldn't be somewhere in the UK and not hear something of theirs...

Echobelly - I can't imagine the world without me....ah, the band I wished had been the idols of britpop but sadly they came in 4th behind Blur, Oasis and Elastica....

McAlmont & Butler - Yes........Bernard Butler back. Brilliant brilliant brilliant song and album. Probably in my Top Ten of all time, just a little behind Jeff Buckley's Grace album...

Yaz - Situation......a sentimental favorite. I love Alison Moyet

@ 14
The Bodines are on there! They're at number 37 with "Therese," which thrilled me to no end.

By that regard though, where are the Siddeleys?

And no Field Mice, no "Emma's House," in particular?

And no Talulah Gosh, or Heavenly? It seems like the P.U.N.K Girl would be a perfect fit on this list, but who knows? :)

I like that "Up for a Bit..." made it as the representative Pastels album. I know they arguably released better albums and better singles, but that one for some reason has cemented itself as my favorite. It contains some of my favorite lyrics pretty much anywhere, ever.

Oh Marion - you're right! Heavenly should totally be on there. Shame on MOJO. How do they expect to ever get a girlfriend without Heavenly on their mixtape?

The Bevis Frond should have made this list! Vavona Burr is one of the best records of all time!