What I'm listening to (Rec's Please)
This is the stuff I've recently discovered and why it clicks with me. Please feel free to rec me anything that comes to mind if you are perusing this fine list. |
| 20 |  | Deftones
Diamond Eyes
They came to Madison... and they are one of the best bands on the planet. Chino's voice is some kind of a gift, and he and his band are fantastic live. |
| 19 |  | Cougar
Patriot
Have to represent this one as these guys are a hometown product. They have a really unique feel and sound that is immensely percussion-driven. And the sheer amount of instruments and orchestration is sick. |
| 18 |  | Fugazi
In On The Kill Taker
The best Fugazi album for me, the REAL start of their experimentation, and I don't skip a song (well, maybe the end of 23 beats off). This album will ALWAYS be with me. |
| 17 |  | 65daysofstatic
We Were Exploding Anyway
Their best album I'm convinced. These guys are WAY more enjoyable to me when they focus on an electronic sound vs. a rock one. Some of the coolest rhythmic stuff I've found. |
| 16 | | United Nations
Nevermind the Bombings, Here's Your Six Figures
Much better than their full length, more energy and cohesion. And wow, the drummer... just wow. |
| 15 |  | Sweep The Leg Johnny
Tomorrow We Will Run Faster
Simply one of the best instrumental (almost completely) albums of all time for me. Got me into instrumental, post rock and post modern rock. Fantastic! |
| 14 |  | Parades
Foreign Tapes
Just a breath of fresh air. Gorgeous male and female vocals and solid musicianship. Could be a young Radiohead in the making. |
| 13 |  | Modern Life Is War
Witness
Missed the boat on this one too, got into it after it got posted on a lot of best of the decade lists. A great hardcore album that even though somewhat monotonous, still has a ton of emotion and brings me back to the good ol' days. |
| 12 |  | Menomena
Mines
Can a band be melancholy and care-free at the same time? Yup. |
| 11 |  | Maps and Atlases
Perch Patchwork
Fantastically original, from the voice down to the instrumentals, and completely unexpected. I love the soft production and almost folky sound. Totally not what I usually dig but they do it so well. |
| 10 |  | Haste The Day
Attack Of The Wolf King
It's good metalcore, and I'm a sucker for it. I needs some melody with my brootal. And it doesn't get boring for me. But I'm not a fan of the production at all! |
| 9 |  | And So I Watch You From Afar
And So I Watch You From Afar
One of my favorite instrumental albums of all time. It's so energetic, loud and raucous. Great rhythm section too. |
| 8 |  | The Ghost Inside
Returners
I know, I know. Write your "derivative metalcore" comment below. I know it's not groundbreaking, or original, or even that technically impressive, but it brawls! Everything they try they do well. |
| 7 |  | Foals
Total Life Forever
I cannot shake this album. It keeps coming back. It's so damn good. This may be my album of the year unless something blows it away (new Interpol?). |
| 6 |  | Dance Gavin Dance
Downtown Battle Mountain
I know I'm frickin' three years late on this one. I'm old. I really like the clean vocalist in this band and the band is very competent and pretty technically savvy. Also the choruses are catchy as all hell. |
| 5 |  | Arcade Fire
The Suburbs
All the Springstien comparisons aside, this album grew on me like a fungus and is really great. Not super happy with their condensed feel, less instruments this time around and all, but a different great feel for them. |
| 4 |  | American Football
American Football
This is some beautiful, loose, low-key indie rock. With a singer that's not annoying. Oh and the songs aren't boring. So it's very non indie-rock indie-rock. |
| 3 |  | letlive
Fake History
This came out of left field for me, and holy crap was it worth it. It's an amalgamation of most of the musical styles I've ever liked. |
| 2 |  | Lights Out Asia
In The Days Of Jupiter
These guys are one of my favorite post-rock acts for the atmospheric nature of their music and ethereal vocals. Just sick. |
| 1 |  | Adebisi Shank
This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called...
This is one of my favorite live bands and one of the few performing groups in the world I'd consider traveling to see. Oh and this album is tits. |
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