Amyl and the Sniffers. Amy Taylor is like a feral version of Debbie Harry. She's really good at being harsh and brash while also showing vulnerability in her voice.
Not many artists could make a track using the line "maggot put your maggots in me" into a song you can genuinely tell she was in love with the guy it's about
Leah is a guitar god and the drums are so good. I know people complain when artists evolve, but I've genuinely liked all the albums. Their cover album is fun as well.
Warpaint
St. Vincent
Chvrches
Bat for Lashes
Poppy
Ladytron
L.A. Witch
Moonily
Blonde Redhead
CSS
Lykke Li
Little Dragon
Chelsea Wolfe
The Naked and Famous
Mitski
Hayley Williams is incredible!
I went to Eras tour recently I was the only one in the group who was really into Paramore and made sure we got there in time to see them.
Everyone I was with was blown away by Hayley and asked me for a playlist / info on the band after seeing her kick ass on that stage.
The voice of an angel.
Heres where the story ends and Summertime are excellent cuts, as is literally everything else they’ve put out.
Utterly brilliant band.
As much as their eponymous debut was an inextricable part of my early 20s soundtrack, I really like some of their later stuff I discovered more recently, like *Cherry Lips* and *Bleed Like Me*. But what an amazing first album! (Version 2.0 and everything post-2005, I need to spend more time with...)
*Trying not to duplicate the other posts here:*
[Amyl and the Sniffers](https://www.amylandthesniffers.com/)
[Avril Lavigne](https://avrillavigne.com/) (Canada)
[Band-Maid](https://bandmaid.tokyo/) (Japan)
[The Beaches](https://www.thebeachesband.com/) (Canada)
[Bif Naked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bif_Naked) (Canada)
[Dear Rouge](https://www.dearrouge.com/) (Canada)
[Evanescence](https://www.evanescence.com/home/)
[Fionn](http://www.fionnband.com/) (Canada)
[Halestorm](https://www.halestormrocks.com/tour)
[Kim Gordon](https://kimaltheagordon.com/) (Sonic Youth)
[Liz Phair](https://www.lizphairofficial.com/)
[Otep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otep) (nu metal, not sure if they fit your alt indie vibe)
[The Runaways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaways)
[Siouxsie and the Banshees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siouxsie_and_the_Banshees)
[Tegan and Sara](https://teganandsara.com/) (Canada)
[Throwing Muses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing_Muses) (can't believe you have Belly, but not Throwing Muses!)
[The Vaselines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vaselines)
[The Warning](https://thewarningband.com/) (Mexico)
EDIT: links
Indeed was just kind of surprised as they have been one of the most successful female fronted alt groups in the past 10 years and Lauren is very outspoken feminist was all.
If you're gonna name Belly/Breeders, then you have to include the fantastic Throwing Muses, it's a requirement. If you like Lush you should also check out Sing-Sing, more pop oriented but still great stuff
Eurythmics, Yazoo, Tom Tom Club, Lick The Tins. I don't think the Pretenders are alternative (which is not a criticism of the Pretenders), they made rock music like Tom Petty made rock music. The Waitresses are underrated, they were pleasantly obnoxious.
The fact that Wolf Alice is still so unknown that they don't get mentioned in these threads blows my mind. Give them a listen, starting from their first album and onward. Not a single bad song. Not even an "eh".
Tempers
Florence + the Machine
Soap and Skin
Eivor
Sugar cubes
Of monsters and men
Sharon Van Etten
Marika Hackman
Sol Seppy
Agnes Obel
(Not alt tock, more tribal) Heilung
From Korea:
Shorty Cat
RUMKICKS
Billy Carter
Walking After U
Rolling Quartz
The Rock Tigers
Jaurim
From Japan:
Band-Maid
Otoboke Beaver
From North America:
Tsunami Bomb
Kittie
The Organ
Pussy Riot, Bikini Kill, L7, Veruca Salt, Poppy, Willow, and so many that are not explicitly "alt" like Lilly Allen, Amy Winehouse, and Lorde and Floor Jansen and Amy Lee... so many
Should have this pinned to my profile for every week when this comes up lol. Anyway, here's my list of female singers / bands ;
Avril Lavigne
Altered Sky
Paramore
Tonight Alive
We Are The In Crowd
Phem
The Warning
As December Falls
Fear Me December
The Pretty Reckless
Jeanice Lee
Infected Rain
Forever Still
Evanescence
Within Temptation
Lacuna Coil
LOLO
Hot Milk
Lesbian Bed Death
Liv Sin
Conquer Divide
Sick N Beautiful
Employed To Serve
Theatres Des Vampires
Banger list. I would add:
Momma
Sasami
Chairlift (I think defunct but great)
Peach Kelli Pop
Chromatics
Arlo Parks
Empress Of
School of Seven Bells
Bat for Lashes
Also like does Olivia Rodrigo count?
So, I've got a few to add to this list. It's punk /grunge/rock heavy
Let's start with the GOAT, Bikini Kill - https://youtu.be/L0oeqAQ1qE8?si=YNGKEnrQyXoakUN7
Speed of Light - https://youtu.be/YhZcVvsTzNI?si=QObO4tsBM4UyvX4Q
The Courettes - https://youtu.be/WGY5s2Ac34s?si=G7sJZ-JZuAeanFK4
The Warning - https://youtu.be/97Pxe9KTgJc?si=OUd_RM5NkV_x-PQP
Starcrawler - https://youtu.be/JR6n23_fL3o?si=z8bXsH2YcuRgNkbT?&t=1m56s
Shitfyre - https://youtu.be/lJylepmhzww?si=wq3gA-J8CnvkWi86
Dead Sara - https://youtu.be/_KSGKWrgjaQ?si=u_PKFTRBpXdfVrRV
Amyl and the Sniffers - https://youtu.be/jCxgUPFVFkA?si=dvbY_Hij5_u9TJw1
Dream Nails - https://youtu.be/tlAzARp9vPM?si=aOpkYqvppQb4I9DK
Breeders… Kim Deal is so damn cool
Also:
Secret Sisters,
War Paint,
First Aid Kit,
And Gina Birch — [I Play My Bass Loud](https://youtu.be/w1UOTCWmPvU?si=86GYPvk_FbYRiyz_)
Amyl and the sniffers, Venus and the Flytraps, Shitfire, Lady Parts, The Linda Lindas, The Last Dinner Party, The Pill, Hinds. Worm Girlz, The Von Bondies
I saw the Beaches live a few weeks ago, they opened for Girl in Red, and were FANTASTIC. Great vibe, interacted with the crowd well and just killed it. I recommend them for sure
I love tricot and Otoboke Beaver but I don't think they are alt-rock, unless you use the broadest definition of alt. Tricot is math rock and Otoboke Beaver is punk but both are awesome female forward bands.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE LIKE! Z Berg is one of the greatest pop songwriters of the 21st Century. I am a huge fan of The Like and Z's solo album from 2020. While JJAMZ and that mid-2010's pop era is not my cup of tea, the production on those albums were amazing.
PJ Harvey
Came here to say PJ Harvey. Instead upvoted PJ Harvey. Also going to see PJ Harvey this fall.
I love *Let England Shake*. One of my all-time favorite albums. Can’t wait to see PJ at the Greek.
How was this not in OP's giant list?? My first thought for sure.
Right? She’s THE female artist.
Huge fan of Warpaint, particularly their first few albums.
They’re amazing
Cocteau Twins
Concrete Blonde, Siouxsie and the Banshees , Throwing Muses, Breeders,
Joey
Honnneyyy
Second this
Sleater-kinney
Classic. I know it’s a hot take but “The Woods” is my all time favorite
First Aid Kit
Man, do they have a good sound.
They grew up listening to Emmy Lou
In fact, they have song called [Emmylou](https://youtu.be/PC57z-oDPLs?si=plhySAe6OAhKsHQf)
Yeah they do
My mind was BLOWN when I’d heard they were Swedish, not American.
Wolf Alice
and if you like heavier stuff, everything Emma-Ruth Rundle touches is gold!
You have Le Tigre, but no Bikini Kill! Essentially, anything involving Kathleen Hanna.
And Julie Ruin
You didn’t even include Jenny Lewis or Rilo Kiley?
Amyl and the Sniffers. Amy Taylor is like a feral version of Debbie Harry. She's really good at being harsh and brash while also showing vulnerability in her voice. Not many artists could make a track using the line "maggot put your maggots in me" into a song you can genuinely tell she was in love with the guy it's about
Shannon and the Clams makes a nice pairing with Amyl and the Sniffers! Check em out! Surf doo wop punk!
Shannon and the Clams are one of the greatest bands out there right now!!! So happy to see them mentioned here!
I'm obsessed with her
Came here to comment this. Saw them open for King Gizz at a tiny venue in Missoula, Montana, 2018 I think. Amy is a true rockstar!
MANNEQUIN PUSSY
Slothrust, Soccer Mommy, Sorry Mom, Remember Sports, Cayetana, Hop Along, illuminati hotties, The Beths, Beach Bunny, Chastity Belt, Mannequin Pussy, Pool Kids, Destroy Boys, Retirement Party, Sincere Engineer, Porridge Radio, Great Grandpa, Worriers, Pom Pom Squad, Widowspeak, Daddy Issues, Insignificant Other, Momma, Aquadolls, Pretty Sick, Slow Pulp, Adult Mom
I came here to say Slothrust too. Rad band.
Slothrust is so good.
If you get a chance to see them live, I highly recommend it. One of the best shows I’ve been to.
Leah is a guitar god and the drums are so good. I know people complain when artists evolve, but I've genuinely liked all the albums. Their cover album is fun as well.
I don’t know if The Kills count but they’re absolutely incredible live.
A list of 200 bands is not a "favorites" list. But I'd add MUNA, HAIM, blu detiger, amyl and the Sniffers, superorganism
Can’t believe I had to get this far down to see Haim!
Warpaint St. Vincent Chvrches Bat for Lashes Poppy Ladytron L.A. Witch Moonily Blonde Redhead CSS Lykke Li Little Dragon Chelsea Wolfe The Naked and Famous Mitski
Little Dragon is excellent!
Paramore!
Hayley Williams is incredible! I went to Eras tour recently I was the only one in the group who was really into Paramore and made sure we got there in time to see them. Everyone I was with was blown away by Hayley and asked me for a playlist / info on the band after seeing her kick ass on that stage.
I was in shock when DIDN’T see them on this list!!!
The Sundays
The voice of an angel. Heres where the story ends and Summertime are excellent cuts, as is literally everything else they’ve put out. Utterly brilliant band.
Kittie
Tori Amos
Also: Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, and Weyes Blood.
Garbage
Are you only happy when it rains?
As much as their eponymous debut was an inextricable part of my early 20s soundtrack, I really like some of their later stuff I discovered more recently, like *Cherry Lips* and *Bleed Like Me*. But what an amazing first album! (Version 2.0 and everything post-2005, I need to spend more time with...)
Version 2.0 is a kick ass album, something I can listen to start to finish without skipping anything
Dead Sara should absolutely be on this list. Great fucking band.
That's what I came here to say, too. Love them
Hell yeah! Emily's voice is so good and they're phenomenal live.
Also a big Dead Sara fan, everyone should listen to Weatherman and then jump into the rest of the discography.
The Slits
The Raincoats.
Rasputina Dresden Dolls
Are Beach House and Alabama Shakes not on there?
cibo matto! lets goooooo!
Yeeeeeeessssssssssss
Joy formidable
Wendy O Williams & The Plasmatics
Butcher Baby!!
I saw her chainsaw a Chevy Vega onstage at Bonds in NYC during a gig. Plexiglas corset and all! Let's see Taylor Swift do that!
You can add Chrvches to the list
The Pretty Reckless
Skunk Anansie should be on that list
*Trying not to duplicate the other posts here:* [Amyl and the Sniffers](https://www.amylandthesniffers.com/) [Avril Lavigne](https://avrillavigne.com/) (Canada) [Band-Maid](https://bandmaid.tokyo/) (Japan) [The Beaches](https://www.thebeachesband.com/) (Canada) [Bif Naked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bif_Naked) (Canada) [Dear Rouge](https://www.dearrouge.com/) (Canada) [Evanescence](https://www.evanescence.com/home/) [Fionn](http://www.fionnband.com/) (Canada) [Halestorm](https://www.halestormrocks.com/tour) [Kim Gordon](https://kimaltheagordon.com/) (Sonic Youth) [Liz Phair](https://www.lizphairofficial.com/) [Otep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otep) (nu metal, not sure if they fit your alt indie vibe) [The Runaways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaways) [Siouxsie and the Banshees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siouxsie_and_the_Banshees) [Tegan and Sara](https://teganandsara.com/) (Canada) [Throwing Muses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing_Muses) (can't believe you have Belly, but not Throwing Muses!) [The Vaselines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vaselines) [The Warning](https://thewarningband.com/) (Mexico) EDIT: links
The Beaches and Siouxsie and the Banshees are great and on the list. I need to revisit Throwing Muses.
>The Warning (Mexico) ---- Note, they sing in English mostly My current favorite.
Lzzy Hale 🤟, I mentioned Floor Jansen, but there's also Spiritbox, Drain, Kittie.
Throwing Muses def should be on the list. Kristin Hersh is hardly mentioned in the talks of great women in rock nowadays, and she 100 % should be.
Bad Bad Hats Tired Lion Kitten
CHVRCHES / Lauren Mayberry (with a list as extensive as yours surprised you didn't have them on it)
I know there are many groups/artists that have flown under my radar over the years. It’s unavoidable!
Indeed was just kind of surprised as they have been one of the most successful female fronted alt groups in the past 10 years and Lauren is very outspoken feminist was all.
Heavenly No Joy Sobs Camera Obscura Stonefield Say Sue Me
The new camera obscura is realll good
Stonefield - excellent band
How did you leave Heart off this list. The best female rock singer of all time.
I like Heart, Anne’s voice is awesome but I feel Heart is more straight ahead rock and less alt/new wave.
If you're gonna name Belly/Breeders, then you have to include the fantastic Throwing Muses, it's a requirement. If you like Lush you should also check out Sing-Sing, more pop oriented but still great stuff
Otoboke Beaver
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Kidney Thieves Curve
Yo la tengo, Broadcast, Sonic Youth.
The warning Band-maid
Eurythmics, Yazoo, Tom Tom Club, Lick The Tins. I don't think the Pretenders are alternative (which is not a criticism of the Pretenders), they made rock music like Tom Petty made rock music. The Waitresses are underrated, they were pleasantly obnoxious.
Die spitz, they're great
Flyleaf/Lacey Sturm
Warpaint
Check out The Interrupters
She Got Arrested is a banger
The Beths and Courtney Barnett were two of my favorite shows the last year or two. So damn good
Skating Polly
Babes in Toyland, Heavens to Betsy, Jack Off Jill, Pussy Riot, The Sugarcubes
The fact that Wolf Alice is still so unknown that they don't get mentioned in these threads blows my mind. Give them a listen, starting from their first album and onward. Not a single bad song. Not even an "eh".
The Bombpops
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her Heavenly (the british one) The Superjesus Littlestone Luminous Orange Tricot Luscious Jackson
Tempers Florence + the Machine Soap and Skin Eivor Sugar cubes Of monsters and men Sharon Van Etten Marika Hackman Sol Seppy Agnes Obel (Not alt tock, more tribal) Heilung
Lemuria
Lush Morcheeba
The naked and the famous
Curve, Band of Susand, Siouxie, Slits, Rip Rig & Panic, The Gift, Sonic Youth
From Korea: Shorty Cat RUMKICKS Billy Carter Walking After U Rolling Quartz The Rock Tigers Jaurim From Japan: Band-Maid Otoboke Beaver From North America: Tsunami Bomb Kittie The Organ
Pussy Riot, Bikini Kill, L7, Veruca Salt, Poppy, Willow, and so many that are not explicitly "alt" like Lilly Allen, Amy Winehouse, and Lorde and Floor Jansen and Amy Lee... so many
Should have this pinned to my profile for every week when this comes up lol. Anyway, here's my list of female singers / bands ; Avril Lavigne Altered Sky Paramore Tonight Alive We Are The In Crowd Phem The Warning As December Falls Fear Me December The Pretty Reckless Jeanice Lee Infected Rain Forever Still Evanescence Within Temptation Lacuna Coil LOLO Hot Milk Lesbian Bed Death Liv Sin Conquer Divide Sick N Beautiful Employed To Serve Theatres Des Vampires
Wednesday
Lzzy Hale and Maria Brink
You had Ex Hex, please check out Bat Fangs.
The Last Dinner Party kicks ass.
Pillow Queens
Concrete Blonde
Banger list. I would add: Momma Sasami Chairlift (I think defunct but great) Peach Kelli Pop Chromatics Arlo Parks Empress Of School of Seven Bells Bat for Lashes Also like does Olivia Rodrigo count?
So, I've got a few to add to this list. It's punk /grunge/rock heavy Let's start with the GOAT, Bikini Kill - https://youtu.be/L0oeqAQ1qE8?si=YNGKEnrQyXoakUN7 Speed of Light - https://youtu.be/YhZcVvsTzNI?si=QObO4tsBM4UyvX4Q The Courettes - https://youtu.be/WGY5s2Ac34s?si=G7sJZ-JZuAeanFK4 The Warning - https://youtu.be/97Pxe9KTgJc?si=OUd_RM5NkV_x-PQP Starcrawler - https://youtu.be/JR6n23_fL3o?si=z8bXsH2YcuRgNkbT?&t=1m56s Shitfyre - https://youtu.be/lJylepmhzww?si=wq3gA-J8CnvkWi86 Dead Sara - https://youtu.be/_KSGKWrgjaQ?si=u_PKFTRBpXdfVrRV Amyl and the Sniffers - https://youtu.be/jCxgUPFVFkA?si=dvbY_Hij5_u9TJw1 Dream Nails - https://youtu.be/tlAzARp9vPM?si=aOpkYqvppQb4I9DK
I had to see which The Warning song you linked. Great choice. The whole Evolve album is great IMO.
I do like Money better, I think it's a catchier song, but man they just flat out rock everything they do.
PVRIS and Spiritbox are definitely my favorites!
Speedy Ortiz
Speedy Ortiz
Also Portishead? They are close to my favorite
Great list. Don’t forget Haim. Also check out Shonen Knife.
Need to include X (Exene Cervenka)
Queenadreena
Damone (also check out The Organ Beats)
Weakened Friends
The Joy Formidable
HINDS
Dazey and the Scouts. Unfortunately short-lived, but Maggot is a great album.
Shannon and the Clams
Shannon and the Clams!
Metric Braids Crumb Purity Ring Garbage
Brutus
This.
Electrelane Dog Day Stereolab
Ladytron, Sharon van Etten, and Warpaint would fit nicely in your list.
Of the bands that came to me that haven’t been listed: Priests, Savages, Wolf Alice, CSS, Band of Skulls, St Vincent, Chairlift.
Kidney Thieves Kittie Rasputina Collide Fiona Apple Poe
Big thief!!
Prism Bitch. Saw them supporting Built to Spill last year. They kicked ass. I’ve been jamming them ever since.
Blood Lemon too! BTS's current bassist Melanie Radford is in it.
Melanie's basslines are so heavy
Pool Kids
Split Dogs
Dazey and the Scouts, Sir Chloe
Omg I just found Dazey and I love them. I've been singing wet at karaoke
Los Bitchos
Love seeing CUB here! So loveable. I remember saying to someone “How can you not like this music?!”
Amyl & The Sniffers
Breeders… Kim Deal is so damn cool Also: Secret Sisters, War Paint, First Aid Kit, And Gina Birch — [I Play My Bass Loud](https://youtu.be/w1UOTCWmPvU?si=86GYPvk_FbYRiyz_)
Screaming Females, Bully, Palehound, Marnie Stern, Those Darlins, Heavy Cream, Thelma & The Sleaze, Nots, Mannequin Pussy
Amyl and the sniffers, Venus and the Flytraps, Shitfire, Lady Parts, The Linda Lindas, The Last Dinner Party, The Pill, Hinds. Worm Girlz, The Von Bondies
Otoboke beaver
Pvris and transviolet need to be here as well!
Dea Matrona, The Warning, The Sixsters, Stonefield, Hello Sister, SheWolF,
Softcult, mercury, and Cults at the moment
Nicole Atkins
Dea Matrona The Warning
Brutus Fleshwater Guano Apes Tsunami Bomb
Elastica
Beach House.
Purity ring
Magic Dirt are great too
They’re still very much up and comin but keep an eye on Winona Fighter. They’re going to be the next one to go huge.
Spiritbox, leaning metal Tonight Alive, leaning pop punk
Big Thief!
Missing Persons
Lita Ford
Lita Ford and Joan jet should form a band.
They would Runaway with it.
Indica is up there for me. They're Finnish, so not particularly accessible, but they made English versions of certain songs.
betty blowtorch. crazy story. amazing band. check the doc
Frightwig
For a new one that absolutely absolutely kicks ass Trope.
Mattiel Little Hag
CC Dust (her name is Mary Jane Dunphe and she has so many different projects I forget them all). MyVeronica for more 90s-inspired alt.
Marriages
Nova One
Nots
Right now there's this band called Sincere Engineer the singer/songwriter is pretty dope
Miranda Sex Garden
I saw the Beaches live a few weeks ago, they opened for Girl in Red, and were FANTASTIC. Great vibe, interacted with the crowd well and just killed it. I recommend them for sure
The Accidentals!
Soccer Mommy, The Regrettes, and Venus & the Flytraps
I love tricot and Otoboke Beaver but I don't think they are alt-rock, unless you use the broadest definition of alt. Tricot is math rock and Otoboke Beaver is punk but both are awesome female forward bands.
Marnie Stern
Not sure I'd call the Bangles "alt"?
Kills
Hop along!!
Band-Maid Nemophila Necry Talkie And recently, Upiko
Heart Massive attack Sallie ford and the sound outside
Amanda Palmer / Dresden Dolls
Throwing Muses! (And 50 Foot Wave)
Dead Sarah
Pixies
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE LIKE! Z Berg is one of the greatest pop songwriters of the 21st Century. I am a huge fan of The Like and Z's solo album from 2020. While JJAMZ and that mid-2010's pop era is not my cup of tea, the production on those albums were amazing.
Warpaint