The best albums of the year, so far.
15. Death Dreams by PS, I Love You
Japandroids-esque scuzz/ noise rock duo from Ontario, Canada. Heavy on the distortion and probably the most under-rated album of the year, so far. Definitely one of the heavier albums from the list.
Download: Princess Towers, Sentimental Dishes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/death-dreams/id518437876
14. OFF! by OFF!
Ex- Black Flag/ Circle Jerks frontman, Keith Morris, still being suitably angry at the ripe old age of 56. Hardcore supergroup of sorts happily deliver short, violent blasts of old school hardcore on this fourteen track debut LP.
Download: King Kong Brigade, Cracked
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/off!/id518351298
13. Plumb by Field Music
Messy British Indie album. Filled with fifteen experimental, avant, prog-pop (yeah, they're pretty un-pigeonholeable) tracks, it's not Field Music's strongest album, but it is one that shows a band developing and refusing to stick to a formula.
Download: Sorry Again Mate, A New Town
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/plumb/id476661488
12. Boys And Girls by Alabama Shakes
Soul tinged- blue-sy indie from, believe it or not, Alabama. Extremely powerful, bluesy, female vocals teamed with sweet melodies and a retro lo-fi production. Definitely deserving on the sudden success they've had, they're somewhat akin to The Black Keys, with a little less of pop touch.
Download: Hold On, Hang Loose
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/boys-girls/id498509882
11. Reign Of Terror by Sleigh Bells
New York City 'terror-dance' (hey look! I invented a genre!) duo, have returned with a combination of dance beats, pop melodies, heavy metal guitars and dream-pop vocals. Indeed, this may sound strangely specific, but it's a fairly accurate description. Generally schizophrenic music, but definitely catchy enough to be accessible. Made for the nearest indie dancefloor.
Download: Born To Lose, You Lost Me.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reign-of-terror/id490170428
10. Open Your Heart by The Men
Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore returning with a straight up punk album. Jumping from corner to corner of the punk rock room, The Men have crafted an album perfect for some mature moshing. At times, the album is tinged with a country vibe which leads to the release sounding fresh and multi-dimensional. A rock out album for the elders.
Download: Candy, Oscillation
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/open-your-heart/id497550506
9. Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired by Joyce Manor
Catchy punk rock anthems filled with poppy hooks. Reminiscent of 90's pop punk, and fitting in with bands such as Tigers Jaw and at a stretch, The Wonder Years, Joyce Manor have put out an album perfect for adolescent days whilst still maintaining an edgy vibe.
Download: See How Tame I Can Be, Bride Of Usher
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-things-i-will-soon-grow/id503661936
8. Ten Stories by mewithoutYou
Intelligent post-hardcore filled with obscure references and the odd Hayley Williams guest spot. As per usual, mewithoutYou are still getting stronger with some of the best lyrics you'll hear this year, and their experimental sound still expanding and getting stronger. Weiss' vocals are as distinct as ever and this album perfectly balances intelligence with rocking out.
Download: Fox's Dream Of The Log Flume, All Circles
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ten-stories/id514769040
7. Port Of Marrow by The Shins
James Mercer has returned with (not so) merry men with their fourth album, and first since 2007's Wincing The Night Away. Firstly, it's not old The Shins, so it hasn't re-created their early sound, but it is certainly a band (are they even a band anymore?) that are maturing naturally. Filled with Mercer's simply brilliant songwriting, the album holds endless indie-pop gems that bring to mind their indie elder peers, Death Cab For Cutie, and that certainly holds the attention of any new or long term fans.
Download: Simple Song, Bait And Switch
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/port-of-morrow/id509630005
6. What We Saw From The Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor returns with the quirk switch turned right up to eleven, on her sixth album. Bringing her back to her initial vibe from "Soviet Kitsch', she's crafted an album filled with pianos, peppy vocals and overwhelming quirky indie-pop smarts. Somehow managing to make childishness sound like a legit musical path, this could possibly be the strongest of her catalog.
Download: Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas), All The Rowboats
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/what-we-saw-from-cheap-seats/id511506672
5. Attack On Memory by Cloud Nothings
Backed by a full band, Dylan Baldi has returned to bless our ears with 8 tracks of melodic but scuzzy, post-hardcore. Leaving his pop-punk roots behind him, under the attentive ears of legend Steve Albini, Cloud Nothings have created an album that is filled with shouts, catchy but abrasive choruses, and one of the biggest surprise hits of the year.
Download: Wasted Days, Stay Useless, Our Plans
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/attack-on-memory/id493888693
4. Put Your Back N 2 It by Perfume Genius
Lo-fi indie powered by piano and acoustic guitar. Definitely the saddest album this year, Mike Hadreas a.k.a Perfume Genius, has released a record made up of extremely open (and at times, somewhat painful) confessions, and stories of heartbreak and loss. Coming across as a somewhat more professional version of Bright Eyes, Perfume Genius has crafted an album verging on the edges of being perfect for fans of the acoustic troubadour market.
Download: 17, Take Me Home
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/put-your-back-n-2-it-bonus/id494784427
3. Shallow Bed by Dry The River
The debut album of English folk-rock band, Dry The River, is one filled with some of the catchiest indie songs of the year. Sounding slightly like a less saccharine version of Mumford And Sons, Dry The River have released the strongest debut of the year, with every track having the potential to be a hit. Alternating between short, extremely British folk song, and atmospheric spurned-love ballads, at not one point does Shallow Bed lose momentum. Definitely going to become very famous men.
Download: No Rest, Bible Belt, Weights And Measures, History Book
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/shallow-bed/id485306307
2. Celebration Rock by Japandroids
After the success of 2009's Post-Nothing, Japandroids have returned with Celebration Rock, and this time their bigger and better. Celebration Rock is basically eight tracks of ridiculously catch, fist-pump worthy noise rock. Each track is an ode to living life the way one should, and leave the listener with a grin on their face. While these intentions may seem simple, one line sums up the entire album; "And if they try to slow you down/ Tell them all, to go to hell." 'The House That Heaven Built' is, by far, the catchiest song of the year, and as a whole Japandroids tick every box. Brilliant lyrics make way for catchy choruses, and strong hooks for fist-pumping sentiments. An all-round fantastic album.
Download: The House That Heaven Built, Continuous Thunder, Fire's Highway
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/celebration-rock/id527058833
1. Bloom by Beach House
Everyone remember Teen Dream? You know, the amazing album that shot Beach House into the higher realms of indie stardom? Well, they've returned and it's even better than before. Beach House have held on to the tried and tested formula of their previous outings, with lush dream-pop backgrounds and Victoria Legrand's androgynous spoken/sung vocals. The album combines purely beautiful musical atmospheres with a new found playful attitude, found on tracks such as 'Other People'. Every track is a success with the band sounding powerful and big but without losing the intimate vibe that they created on Teen Dream. Perfection.
Download: Myth, Lazuli
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bloom/id509665145
Bubbling Under: Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band's One Of My Kind/ Best Coast's The Only Place/ Sigur Ros' Valtari/ Boy's Boy/ Foals' Tapes
15. Death Dreams by PS, I Love You
Japandroids-esque scuzz/ noise rock duo from Ontario, Canada. Heavy on the distortion and probably the most under-rated album of the year, so far. Definitely one of the heavier albums from the list.
Download: Princess Towers, Sentimental Dishes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/death-dreams/id518437876
14. OFF! by OFF!
Ex- Black Flag/ Circle Jerks frontman, Keith Morris, still being suitably angry at the ripe old age of 56. Hardcore supergroup of sorts happily deliver short, violent blasts of old school hardcore on this fourteen track debut LP.
Download: King Kong Brigade, Cracked
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/off!/id518351298
13. Plumb by Field Music
Messy British Indie album. Filled with fifteen experimental, avant, prog-pop (yeah, they're pretty un-pigeonholeable) tracks, it's not Field Music's strongest album, but it is one that shows a band developing and refusing to stick to a formula.
Download: Sorry Again Mate, A New Town
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/plumb/id476661488
12. Boys And Girls by Alabama Shakes
Soul tinged- blue-sy indie from, believe it or not, Alabama. Extremely powerful, bluesy, female vocals teamed with sweet melodies and a retro lo-fi production. Definitely deserving on the sudden success they've had, they're somewhat akin to The Black Keys, with a little less of pop touch.
Download: Hold On, Hang Loose
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/boys-girls/id498509882
11. Reign Of Terror by Sleigh Bells
New York City 'terror-dance' (hey look! I invented a genre!) duo, have returned with a combination of dance beats, pop melodies, heavy metal guitars and dream-pop vocals. Indeed, this may sound strangely specific, but it's a fairly accurate description. Generally schizophrenic music, but definitely catchy enough to be accessible. Made for the nearest indie dancefloor.
Download: Born To Lose, You Lost Me.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reign-of-terror/id490170428
10. Open Your Heart by The Men
Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore returning with a straight up punk album. Jumping from corner to corner of the punk rock room, The Men have crafted an album perfect for some mature moshing. At times, the album is tinged with a country vibe which leads to the release sounding fresh and multi-dimensional. A rock out album for the elders.
Download: Candy, Oscillation
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/open-your-heart/id497550506
9. Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired by Joyce Manor
Catchy punk rock anthems filled with poppy hooks. Reminiscent of 90's pop punk, and fitting in with bands such as Tigers Jaw and at a stretch, The Wonder Years, Joyce Manor have put out an album perfect for adolescent days whilst still maintaining an edgy vibe.
Download: See How Tame I Can Be, Bride Of Usher
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-things-i-will-soon-grow/id503661936
8. Ten Stories by mewithoutYou
Intelligent post-hardcore filled with obscure references and the odd Hayley Williams guest spot. As per usual, mewithoutYou are still getting stronger with some of the best lyrics you'll hear this year, and their experimental sound still expanding and getting stronger. Weiss' vocals are as distinct as ever and this album perfectly balances intelligence with rocking out.
Download: Fox's Dream Of The Log Flume, All Circles
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ten-stories/id514769040
7. Port Of Marrow by The Shins
James Mercer has returned with (not so) merry men with their fourth album, and first since 2007's Wincing The Night Away. Firstly, it's not old The Shins, so it hasn't re-created their early sound, but it is certainly a band (are they even a band anymore?) that are maturing naturally. Filled with Mercer's simply brilliant songwriting, the album holds endless indie-pop gems that bring to mind their indie elder peers, Death Cab For Cutie, and that certainly holds the attention of any new or long term fans.
Download: Simple Song, Bait And Switch
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/port-of-morrow/id509630005
6. What We Saw From The Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor returns with the quirk switch turned right up to eleven, on her sixth album. Bringing her back to her initial vibe from "Soviet Kitsch', she's crafted an album filled with pianos, peppy vocals and overwhelming quirky indie-pop smarts. Somehow managing to make childishness sound like a legit musical path, this could possibly be the strongest of her catalog.
Download: Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas), All The Rowboats
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/what-we-saw-from-cheap-seats/id511506672
5. Attack On Memory by Cloud Nothings
Backed by a full band, Dylan Baldi has returned to bless our ears with 8 tracks of melodic but scuzzy, post-hardcore. Leaving his pop-punk roots behind him, under the attentive ears of legend Steve Albini, Cloud Nothings have created an album that is filled with shouts, catchy but abrasive choruses, and one of the biggest surprise hits of the year.
Download: Wasted Days, Stay Useless, Our Plans
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/attack-on-memory/id493888693
4. Put Your Back N 2 It by Perfume Genius
Lo-fi indie powered by piano and acoustic guitar. Definitely the saddest album this year, Mike Hadreas a.k.a Perfume Genius, has released a record made up of extremely open (and at times, somewhat painful) confessions, and stories of heartbreak and loss. Coming across as a somewhat more professional version of Bright Eyes, Perfume Genius has crafted an album verging on the edges of being perfect for fans of the acoustic troubadour market.
Download: 17, Take Me Home
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/put-your-back-n-2-it-bonus/id494784427
3. Shallow Bed by Dry The River
The debut album of English folk-rock band, Dry The River, is one filled with some of the catchiest indie songs of the year. Sounding slightly like a less saccharine version of Mumford And Sons, Dry The River have released the strongest debut of the year, with every track having the potential to be a hit. Alternating between short, extremely British folk song, and atmospheric spurned-love ballads, at not one point does Shallow Bed lose momentum. Definitely going to become very famous men.
Download: No Rest, Bible Belt, Weights And Measures, History Book
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/shallow-bed/id485306307
2. Celebration Rock by Japandroids
After the success of 2009's Post-Nothing, Japandroids have returned with Celebration Rock, and this time their bigger and better. Celebration Rock is basically eight tracks of ridiculously catch, fist-pump worthy noise rock. Each track is an ode to living life the way one should, and leave the listener with a grin on their face. While these intentions may seem simple, one line sums up the entire album; "And if they try to slow you down/ Tell them all, to go to hell." 'The House That Heaven Built' is, by far, the catchiest song of the year, and as a whole Japandroids tick every box. Brilliant lyrics make way for catchy choruses, and strong hooks for fist-pumping sentiments. An all-round fantastic album.
Download: The House That Heaven Built, Continuous Thunder, Fire's Highway
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/celebration-rock/id527058833
1. Bloom by Beach House
Everyone remember Teen Dream? You know, the amazing album that shot Beach House into the higher realms of indie stardom? Well, they've returned and it's even better than before. Beach House have held on to the tried and tested formula of their previous outings, with lush dream-pop backgrounds and Victoria Legrand's androgynous spoken/sung vocals. The album combines purely beautiful musical atmospheres with a new found playful attitude, found on tracks such as 'Other People'. Every track is a success with the band sounding powerful and big but without losing the intimate vibe that they created on Teen Dream. Perfection.
Download: Myth, Lazuli
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bloom/id509665145
Bubbling Under: Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band's One Of My Kind/ Best Coast's The Only Place/ Sigur Ros' Valtari/ Boy's Boy/ Foals' Tapes
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