Top albums (non-poppy, alternative rock)
This is my top albums list. Items included are non-poppy, so don't expect to see anything familiar here. Items included are only in rock genre |
| 1 |  | Toboggan
Still Gleams On Hummocks
As energetic as it is contemplative, Toboggan's sophomore effort leaves a lot of space to dream not withdrawing from their heaviness and mathy edge. |
| 2 |  | Abilene
Abilene
Abilene's eponymous effort is in one word - bombastic (no pun intended). Personally I enjoy more of a contemplative and dreamy edge of this record rather than post-hardcore harshness of some songs. |
| 3 |  | Sonna
Keep it Together
This record is an exercise in reflection and contemplation. I've listened to it first in an absolutely appropriate period of my life, and the album has added to the overall feelings tremendously. I want to compliment those feelings. It's feelings of delicate, subtle intimacy and softness. |
| 4 |  | The Rebel Astronauts
Windmills vs. Shrapnel
This record is a direct continuation of all abovementioned traditions of the list. It's good in subtle guitar interplays, never or almost never crossing the edge of harshness. Too bad there was too little amount of bands playing that brand of music. |
| 5 |  | Computer Dating
To Weave A Wall
This is an epochal album for me. My recurrent dream is to hear more songs like "Replicating Social Order" and "Phil Gras". I wish the whole album consisted of this kind of bangers. |
| 6 |  | Love, Claire
The Forgotten Cinema
I want to note on the profound, unreachable sense of sadness and pessimism this album succeeds at. |
| 7 |  | The Scarecrow Frequency
Somber Pacific
Short and ethereal, this album compliments the softer achievements of Duster. I want to highlight the unique ability of the singer to drench a listener in a profound sense of beautiful melancholy and despair, if not hopelessness. |
| 8 |  | AG Form
Commons
This album is one of the dearest records I have. It masters all I adore in rock music: subtle guitar interplays, juicy mathy and jazzy drumming, an overall sense of abstract and uneven mystery surrounding the aesthetics of album design combined with song direction. |
| 9 |  | Duster
Contemporary Movement
This for me is the highest point of Duster. First album is too weak for me production-wise, while after-reunion releases sound too plastic. Here Duster is beefy, full of tasty, juicy meat. And here you have "Everything You See (Is Your Own)". Can't describe what I feel on this song. I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a beautiful Apocalypse. The world is not dying, it is being reborn. |
| 10 |  | Low
I Could Live in Hope
What characterizes this band - and precisely on this album - is their devotion to the principle of hopelessness. What I call the principle of hopelessness is for me the main principle of music. Music is built to carol hopelessness, only then it achieves its primal taste. And another interesting thing is that Low has never been so dismal ever since this album came out. I dislike their post-Vernon Yard discography, but even on two subsequent releases they have never ever sounded so grim. And it's a pity, although production-wise I like "Long Division" and "The Curtain Hits The Cast" better. |
| 11 |  | Ativin
German Water
Overall it's a variation on the existing entries but with a darker and heavier approach. I like this album for being softer than their other releases.
Something has to be said about Ativin's sonic formula. Behind only Toboggan it's the version of alternative rock I find priceless because of the formula precisely. Soft guitar interplays, loud and beefy mathy rhythms and distinct bass, short and concise songs, almost no vocals - this is everything I'm enjoying both in Toboggan and Ativin. Ativin is the most similar band to Toboggan on this list. |
| 12 |  | Early Day Miners
Placer Found
Sadly this is the only EDM release I'm keeping returning to. Because only on this release the band sounds like decent slowcore. On later releases they started to incorporate a fair share of acoustics to their music, which I dislike. They've started to turn into some mellow indie folk. But here they sound like one of the genuine best bands of slowcore. "East Berlin At Night" is one of the most important songs in my life. |
| 13 |  | Arms of Tripoli
Daughters
I like this album for being the best and most precise interpretation on what post-rock should sound like. Loud and intricate guitars, sometimes mathy rhythms and distinct and fresh highs of xylophone (correct me if I'm wrong). No riffs! Almost no distortion. This is the important detail of how I see post-rock at its best. In my experience, when it comes to riffing post-rock almost always starts sounding boring, stereotypical, banal and overall tiresome. Same goes to crescendo. There are no tiresome crescendoes on this album. Everything, as with Toboggan and Ativin, comes down to arpeggios and subtly distorted melodies. This is what characterizes post-rock, this is what the genre does best. |
| 14 |  | Tram
Heavy Black Frame
This is the best Tram album for me because on this album they sound the most minimalistic. There are no violins, almost no acoustic guitars, only standard rock formula with a little addition of organ which subtly adds to their urbanistic charisma.
What I like Tram for comes down to what I like slowcore at all for. It's slowness and subtle guitar interplay which allows for the dreamy and quite saddened introspection. And also androgynous voice of the singer. Surely Cigarettes After Sex must have been inspired by this band. |
| 15 |  | Zelienople
Hold You Up
I can't describe what this album is for me. It's a spiritual journey in the realm of reflection and introspection. It's great to travel by foot to this album. The sound is innovative, with these lush guitar parts being a unique thing for not only genre but all music. I also want to compliment lyricism. "I feel safer / Taking care of you"; "Just to make the country die" / "Just to make those dreams die"; and the whole of "America" being a contemplation on the state and destiny of the most important country of the world by native American who came disappointed by the state of affairs. |
| 16 |  | The Mercury Program
From the Vapor of Gasoline
Overall TMP is a continuation of Toboggan and Ativin traditions, albeit heavier. There are almost nu metal qualities to "From The Vapor Of Gasoline". Honestly I think their first effort is better than this one (because it's softer) but "FTVOG" is with me for a longer period of time so that's why I include it to this list. As many of the bands on the list, this contains urbanistic qualities. What is "urbanistic"? It's rocky and grim. And adventurous. |
| 17 |  | Cerberus Shoal
...and Farewell to Hightide
Unique band which elaborates on the post-rock genre to a tremendous result. There is a sense of mystery to their music, which is especially added on through the vocals. Personally I dislike their later output because they are either heavier on it or experimenting with some folk leanings, which is not my cup of tea. |
| 18 |  | Dianogah
As Seen From Above
This is pure math rock beauty. What I like 90'ies and 00's math rock for - it's not bright and it's not too loud. The problem with contemporary math rock for me is that it's too bright and optimistic to the point of some weird musical frenzy. It lacks minor chords and introspection. And old math rock like Dianogah, C-Clamp and Rumah Sakit is subtle. It doesn't showcase heaviness and technicality in favor of musicality. |
| 19 |  | Outlander (UK)
Acts of Harm
On 26 June of 2024, I was attending a listening party for this album and talked directly to band members. It was almost a life changing experience. I like this album over "The Valium Machine" for the improvement in the sound, in the mastering quality. And "Lye Waste" is a banger. |
| 20 |  | Cusper
The View From Above
This is dustercore. I love this album precisely for everything for which I love Duster but Cusper does it more fresh and overall better than Duster's both new releases. And also sound quality is better than on the majority of Duster's releases. |
| 21 |  | deathcrash
Sundown (A Collection of Home Recordings)
This is the best deathcrash album for me for being concise, simple and minimalistic. |
| 22 |  | toe
The Book About My Idle Plot on a Vague Anxiety
I love this album for crushing drum quality and intricate guitar interplay. It's strict and loud.
And also I love this album for featuring a little acoustic instrumentation which I dislike. Future will show toe's ongoing adoration with acoustic instruments, but I love their electric sound much more. |
| 23 |  | Air Formation
Daylight Storms
This might be one of my favorite shoegaze album. Here they play it soft, sometimes only bass parts remain palpable below the walls of formless guitar noise. I also want to compliment mastering of this album. |
| 24 |  | Paik
Hugo Strange
Initially two of my favorites from Paik were Corridors and The Orson Fader, but this night I decided to check out their first effort. And I was impressed even more than with the later outings because here they sound less droney and more post-rockey. More arpeggios, less indistinct wall-of-sounds. Also this band might be the only post-metal band I thoroughly enjoy. Except only 40 Watt Sun. |
| 25 |  | This Is Your Captain Speaking
ARC
This band has taken guitar interplays to a mystical completion. Nuff said. |
| 26 | | Starflyer 59
Starflyer 59 |
| 27 |  | Polaris (UK)
Polaris |
| 28 |  | Moscow Puzzles
Cicadas Are Sensitive to Parallel Lines
Tremendous post-rock outing which should have been higher in the list have I discovered it earlier. It features cascading guitar interplays to hypnotic reptetitive rhythms, something akin to early Do Make Say Think approach. |
| 29 |  | Lungfish
Love Is Love
This album is the band's best at creating relatively soft atmospheres. |
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