We’d hate to be shallow, but these women are not only physically good-looking, they’re also immensely talented. Here are my 88 Hottest Women in Indie Rock:
1. Jenny Lewis
Not only is the #1 hottest woman of indie rock the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, she’s also sung with the Watson Twins, and DNTEL & Ben Gibbard in the iconic Postal Service. Oh, and she has her own solo career too, proving that not all childhood actors go the way of Macaulay Culkin. Put on your Rabbit Fur Coat and Rise Up With Fists, this fiery redhead Las Vegas native is hot enough to sustain lava. Her latest, “Acid Tongue” brings all the boys to the yard to test out that acid tongue for themselves. And hey, I’m into her. She’s hella hot.
2. Zooey Deschanel (She & Him)
For an actress turned “she” of She & Him, she makes crossovers look good. With acting chops in The Good Girl and the recent Yes Man, her soothing croon and huge seafaring eyes, Zooey marks number two on the list. Too bad she’s engaged though. According to Stereogum, Zooey is Ben Gibbard’s (Death Cab for) Cutie. Which gives hope to all hefty bearded soft men everywhere.
3. Joanna Newsom
It’s not difficult to mistaken Joanna Newsom for an angel. Her voice is this weird folky and entrancing slice of heaven. Also, she plays the harp.
4. M.I.A.
M.I.A flies like paper. If Beyoncé were into indie rock, she’d be M.I.A. Her blue hair and giant, corny sweaters has inspired many a Halloween costume, but not in a scary Dick Cheney kind of way.
5. Marnie Stern
Yeah, Marnie Stern is hot. and This Is hot and I Am hot and You Are hot and So Is That and He Is hot and She Is hot and It Is hot and That Is That.
6. Feist
Canadian Goddess of Ipod commercials, Feist played an angel on A Colbert Christmas and had the muppets humming “1, 2, 3, 4”. How cute.
7. Cat Power
Chan Marshall’s breathy seduction of a voice has made her the #7 contender on the list. Her stage name is also my favorite euphemism of lower girly parts, interestingly enough.
8. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
She’s so hot, it’s almost barbaric. Kim Gordon is the smokin’ female bassist behind the holy Sonic Youth and one of the frontrunners of indie rock. Now approaching her late 50’s, this is one cougar I wouldn’t mind being jumped by in the forest.
9. Emily Haines (Broken Social Scene)
Indian-native, Canadan-raised Emily Haines is probably one of the hottest women to come out of Canada and India at the same time. Her looks are as delicate as her piano and vocals with Broken Social Scene. She’s like if Kiera Knightley was in a kickass band but could probably still be that girl in your Spanish Diction class.
10. Tift Merritt
Tift Merritt looks more like a model than your average country singer-songwriter (think Reba). But don’t be fooled, this Carolina chanteuse can sing a gorgeous Americana piece like no other.
11. Santogold
She’s dropped her first album in her mid-thirties, opened for Coldplay, and co-wrote songs for Ashlee Simpson. And though the latter two seem to contradict each another, there is no doubt that Santogold can belt out beats to the likes of M.I.A. and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
12. Madeline
This DIY acoustic star has soft, approachable looks reminiscent of her quiet, honest songs from such albums as “Kissing and Dancing” and “The Slow Bang.” She’s as delightful as the cartoon french girl of the same name.
13. Kaki King
A pretty girl with sweet vocals and post-rock instrumentals? That deserves to be mentioned.
14. Kelly Crisp (the Rosebuds)
A local Raleighite, Kelly Crisp taught English at a community college before forming the Rosebuds. She’s also a comedian, (will her talents ever stop emerging?) which undoubtedly caught the eye of the charming Ivan Howard. And he’s not bad-looking either.
15. & 16. CocoRosie (Bianca Leilani and Sierra Rose Casady)
Twins! Bianca and Sierra Casady make for a pretty hot pair in their band CocoRosie. Bianca (Coco) and Sierra (Rosie) oftentimes wear elaborate makeup on stage, making it hard to figure which one is which. Luckily, they’re both hot sisters who make beautiful, psychedelic sounds.
17. Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)
She’s so tiny, I feel like I could put her in my pocket. But when this girl screams, she screams. With her mouth. It’s so evil and delicious.
18. Karen O. (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Part Korean. Part Polish. All hot woman. Her quirky, orgasmic-like vocals leave her an enigma as the centerpiece of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
19. Jill Andrews (The Everybodyfields)
Frontwoman of Tennessee’s The Everybodyfields, Jill Andrews, is a gem. Her soft country twang intriguing many a bearded male in plaid.
20. Mel Draisey (The Clientele)
So hot she makes the rest of her bandmates look bad. Her pouty eyes and sultry violen make Gwyenth Paltrow sulk.
21. Nicole Atkins
This “pop-noir” singer from Jersey, with her so-short dresses and duotone hair, can wear Old Navy and still look hot.
22. Anna Spence (The Annuals)
Raleigh’s own Anna Spence is the folksy next-door neighbor. You figure she’s cute, but really, you just want to court her and hold her hand.
23-25 The Pipettes (Rosay, Gwenno, RiotBecki)
Their kisses are wasted on you. Though the original members may have severed ties to the band, they were hot while they lasted. Their hits were catchy; their charm, infectious.
26. Thao Nguyen
27. Lykke Li
28. Beth Tacular (Bowerbirds)
29. Ladyhawke
30. Kathryn Calder (The New Pornographers)
31. Nicole Barille (Mr. Gnome)
32.& 33. Camera Obscura (Tracyanne Campbell, Carey Lander)
34. Charlotte Gainsbourg
35. Þórunn Antonía (Fields)
36. Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead)
37. Neko Case
38.-40. Au Revoir Simone (Erika Forster, Annie Hart, Heather D’Angelo)
40-44. Sleater Kinney (Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss, Corin Tucker, and Lora McFarlane)
45. The Ettes (Maria “Poni” Silver, Lindsay “Coco” Hames)
46-48. Pink Flag (Princess Ojiaku, Betsy Shane and Jessica Caesar)
49. Goldfrapp
50. Khaela Maricich (the Blow)
51. Kristin Gundred (Grand Ole Party)
52. Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups)
53. Eleanor Friedberger (The Fiery Furnaces)
54. Analee Fery (Monsters Are Waiting)
55. Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond)
56. Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond)
57. Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof)
58-59. Tegan & Sara
60. Victoria Legrand (Beach House)
61-61. Midtown dickens (Catherine Edgerton and Kym Register)
62-64. The Vivian Girls (Cassie Ramone, Kickball Katy, Ali Koehler)
65. Belinda Butcher (My Bloody Valentine)
66. Joan as Policewoman
67. Katrina Kerns (Sufjan Stevens)
68-70. Ladytron (Helen Marnie, Mira Aroyo)
71. Jolie Holland
72. Lovefoxxx
73. Nico Vega
74. St. Vincent
75-77. Tilly and the Wall (Kianna Alarid, Neely Jenkins, Jamie Pressnall)
78. Annie Hardy (Giant Drag)
79. Sia
80. Bat for Lashes
81. Gabriela (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
82. Anita Robinson (Viva Voce)
83. Emiliana Torrini
84. Mirah
85. Inara George (Bird and the Bee)
86-88. All Girl Summer Fun Band (Kathy Foster, Jen Sbragia, Kim Baxter)
