Yo La Tengo, Sebadoh, Stereolab, Low, Spiritualized - all built on their 80s roots. The 80s indie scene was a special time (for me at least) when innovation and creativity were not tethered to commerce.
For me the 90s will be remembered for the incredible compositions that came from artsits now classified as IDM - Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards of Canada, Richie Hawtin, etc. T