Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1983):  Violent Femmes could be viewed as the quintessential indie rock band, with its near-acoustic sound and alternative-rock sensibility.  Gordon Gano (guitar and lead vocals) formed the band while he was still in high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 1980’s with Brian Ritchie (bass guitar) and Victor DeLorenzo (drums).  Their debut album, Violent Femmes (1983) features angst-ridden anthems like “Blister in the Sun”, “Kiss Off”, “Add it Up”, and “Gone Daddy Gone” (including a verse from a Willie Dixon song).  While it took nearly a decade, Violent Femmes eventually became a Platinum album.  Later hits not on Violent Femmes include “Nightmares”, “American Music”, and a cover of the T. Rex song “Children of the Revolution”.