Pop music maestro Max Martin (him of Britney and Backstreet Boys song writing fame) talks about the power of a math-based formulae in a successful pop track.  Far too technical to fully get into here, Martin’s overall belief is that there’s a certain indenti-kit structure which is integral when building a winning pop track.

I’m not aware Martin has written such a formula for the creation of a modern indie piece, but if he did it might sounds like ‘Better’ with its Manic Street Preachers guitar opener, lyrics including the word ‘shiiiinnnne’, and a pounding Reverend and the Makers rhythm section layered with electronics and effects.  It may not be particularly original but Better is well constructed, well produced and it knows what it wants to be.