January 18, 2021 by A.S. Van Dorston

While I was one of the first to publish a decade summary when the 90s wrapped up, and it was a given I was going to wrap up the 2010s at some point, I have to admit I lost my enthusiasm after seeing the flood of decade lists that started coming out as early as summer 2019, well before the decade was over. That makes no sense, especially when it’s difficult to grok how the 2019 albums stack up until one has had some real time to listen and think about it. Over a year after the decade ended, I’m still discovering albums from the decade I’d missed previously. Less than two weeks into 2021, and I’ve already heard over 40 albums from 2010-19 that I’d not heard before. Nearly half my top 50 from 2013, for example, is completely different than it was that year.

So looking at those premature decade lists, oof. What boring lists they were. It seemed most were put together by lazily slapping the most obvious consensus favorites from each year, with very little reflection on how the music has aged. By aged, I don’t mean that that music becomes irrelevant because it accurately reflects the time it was made. Music from any era can be representative of a particular snapshot in time, while still being so great that it also transcends time and place.

In some cases, popular favorites that I did not dig that much initially, like Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom, David Bowie’s Blackstar (2016) and Fiona Apple’s The Idler Wheel (2012), eeked their way into my top, er, 500. A vast improvement from where they were at before. My highest ranking consensus favorites were Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) at #16, Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires of the City (2013) at #39 and Tame Impala’s Lonerism (2012) at #65. I like plenty of the consensus picks. I like Arcade Fire okay. But I just like 1,363 other albums from the 2010s more than The Suburbs (2010). I’d love to see more decade lists from individual bloggers such as Raven Sings the Blues, The Finest Kiss, The Fragmented Flaneur and Grizzly Butts, people who are completely honest about what music they really enjoyed, rather than trying to second guess what music is most important or culturally relevant.

If you’re looking for someone to pretentiously mansplain the socio-political importance of music, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you want to know what albums I found most consistently enjoyable, moving, healing, cathartic, fun, colorful, addictively weird or weirdly addictive, then read on!

Artist

Longtime readers won’t be surprised that my clear favorites all had at least two albums in the top 40 — Motorpsycho (three), Elder, Ufomammut, Graveyard, Golden Void, Syd Arthur (three), The Sonic Dawn, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Rosalie Cunningham and her band Purson and Wolf People. The two most consistent and prolific artists were Motorpsycho, with seven albums in the top 200, and Ufomammut with five. Those tramp-stamp looking logos belong to those two bands. I’ve been informed that in the My Little Pony world, those would be called “cutie marks.” I’d love to see MLP renditions of Motor Psycho and Ufo Mammut, they would be some cool lookin’ ponies.

Genre

Psych Prog was my bread and butter with the majority of my top favorites, but at the beginning of the decade when Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker (2010) and Lonerism (2012) came out, the first couple shows were super fun club shows with an equally fun, colorful, quirky, joyful audience of psychedelic fans. That quickly changed when that “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” single hit, and the audiences quickly turned into, I hate to say it, but pseudo hipster lemming twats, who were way less pleasant to share breathing space with. I’ve seen mega popular bands in stadiums, tussled with mouth-breathing redneck AC/DC fans, and the audiences in post-2013 Tame Impala shows were the fucking worst. And their complete lack of curiosity of what other great psych music is out there is so . . . depressing. To counterbalance that, I explored with extra fervor, and discovered a slew of amazing Psych Pop bands, including The Sonic Dawn, The Dials, The Luck of Eden Hall, Custard Flux, The Galileo 7, The Sand Pebbles, The Greek Theatre, The Fast Camels, Lucille Furs, The Urges, The Honey Pot, Papernut Cambridge, Hollow Hand, The Beginner’s Mynd and many more. For the sheer joy of discovery, Psych Pop was the genre of the 2010s for me.

Comeback

Until they die, it seems very few artists totally retire from making music. Some just put an album out once a decade. The longest gap I can think of is Walt Mink’s John Kimbrough, who makes a living writing and producing music, but had not lead a rock band in over 20 years until Teen Judge.

Debut

Alas, the best debut was also the only album to be released by Hidden Masters. David Addison formed skiffle/surf noir/rockabilly band The Strange Blue Dreams, and Alasdair “Alpha Michelle” Mitchell joined Rosalie Cunningham’s band.

Memorium

This could be endless, but the death that still doesn’t seem real is Prince, who died on April 21, 2016. I keep expecting him to show up at the Grammys, strut on stage and blow people’s minds with some shredding. Reissues will pour out of his archives for years, but we were robbed of finding out what kind of madness he would have gotten up until he got to a proper old age.

Underrated

I’ve got a Between the Cracks section for that.

Disappointment

Honestly, it’s less about artistic decline than some of my favorite artists simply quitting in their prime, or dragging on some sort of writer’s block. Wolf People, Hidden Masters, Golden Void, Christian Mistress, The Soft Pack and Royal Headache broke up when they clearly had more great music in them. Spirits Of The Dead have been M.I.A. since their 2013 album. In March 1, 2019, they revealed the “Blueberry Chopper” single from their forthcoming album, then radio silence ever since. I’m also getting concerned about Syd Arthur. I hope I’m not cursing these bands when they make Fester’s Lucky 13. I also miss new music from the Jex Thoth, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio, The Sea Kings, The New Christs, and Blood Ceremony.

Surprise

Aside from literally hundreds of amazing discoveries, some artists who you start out nearly hating, can surprise you with hidden depths. That happened with The Arctic Monkeys. When everyone was losing their shit over their debut, I thought they were overrated louts. And they truly were. But they got better, and fulfilled their potential on AM (2013). It didn’t make my top 100, but that just goes to show how much great music came out that decade.

Fester’s Lucky 13 – The Best Albums of 2010s

1. Motorpsycho – The Tower (Rune Grammafon/Stickman, 2017)

What other band can say they have peaked on their 22nd album? Actually, Norwegian psychonauts Motorpsycho can’t even say that, as they arguably went on to top this one with the final album in their Gullvåg trilogy in 2020. Their adventurous experimental spirit and open-minded collaborations help keep things fresh and the creative juices flowing, resulting in one of the greatest bands of our era, even if the entirety of North America has never heard of them. | Full Review | Buy

2. Wolf People – Ruins (Jagjaguwar, 2016)

The mysterious British band hit a towering pinnacle with their third album of dark, murky, psych prog and folk, which makes their untimely breakup sting all the more painfully. Jack Sharp released a solo trad folk album in 2020 which was pretty good, but I miss his band already, and regret not seeing them live. | Full Review

3. Spirits Of The Dead – Rumours Of A Presence (The End, 2013)

Spirits Of The Dead - Rumours Of A Presence, #1 Album of Fester's Lucky 13 of 2013

This album blew my mind when it first came out, as I had only recently heard this Norwegian psychedelic prog band’s first two albums, which were good, but not nearly as memorable and haunting as this. The recording quality was a step up too, crisp clarity and creamy guitar tones. Even the artwork was amazing — I had to buy the LP in order to get the CD, and the gold embossed sigil was truly a thing of beauty. I no longer have a turntable, but I was tempted to get one just for this. Coincidentally I was invited to a vinyl listening party where every guest brings a record, so I brought this. The cuts from side one went over well, and I really thought this band could have a shot at Queens of the Stone Age level success. Alas, we’re approaching eight years and still no follow-up. I was in touch with the band from 2017-19, and they shared demos of a few songs that were promising. Alas, after they teased one track on YouTube in March 2019, as mentioned above, they’ve gone quiet. Fingers crossed the band pulls through whatever difficulties they’re dealing with. I ended up sending the vinyl along with an extra t-shirt to my old college mate John Kimbrough, who can be seen wearing the shirt in a couple photos of his band Teen Judge. | Full Review

4. Hidden Masters – Of This & Other Worlds (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013)

This album was slept on by most critics, despite the fact that pretty much everything released on Rise Above is worth hearing. That may be part of the problem, as the label was on fire in 2013, releasing a dozen high profile albums from the likes of Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Blood Ceremony, Purson, Horisont, Age of Taurus, Noctum, etc. Their ambition did not extend to properly promoting this amazing, hidden gem of a band, Hidden Masters, then they unceremoniously broke up before doing a proper North American tour. | Full Review

5. Elder – Reflections Of A Floating World (Armagedden, 2017)

Since their 2009 self-titled debut, Elder has been one of the most reliable of my top favorites. They have progressed with each album release, sticking to a fairly steady schedule, though there was a four year gap between Dead Roots Stirring (2011) and Lore (2015). The tasty Spires Burn EP (2012) was an enticing stopgap. The band has also been generous with making live recordings and demos available on Bandcamp, and have toured regularly. I must have seen them at least six times since 2011. Some prefer their second and third albums, but so far I have liked each new album better than the previous. While there were thousands of stoner doom/psych prog albums released that decade, Elder remained undisputed kings of Stoner Mountain (yes, I dubbed Colour Haze that in the 00s, and Elder earned the crown in the 2010s). | Full Review

6. Ufomammut – Eve (Supernatural Cat, 2010)

Snailking (2003) and Idolum (2008) may be the best entrypoint for Italian cosmic doom sludge trio Ufomammut, but Eve is the perfect distillation of their strengths. Considered a single piece of music in five movements, they manage to tell a story with minimal lyrics, other than the occasional screams of rage into the void. | Bandcamp

7. Troubled Horse – Step Inside (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2012)

Sweden’s Troubled Horse aren’t the first European band to mix stoner psych and proto-metal with slightly twanged Americana and Southern rock (see Norway’s Sugarfoot and Orango, Germany’s Coogans Bluff), but they’re the best. | Full Review

8. Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion, 2016)

Canterbury psych proggers Syd Arthur emerged on their first full length On An On (2012) with their gorgeous jazz infused tones fully fleshed out. They may have simplified and polished their sound on their third album, but it also has their best batch of songs. They totally blew away all other performers at Riot Fest in 2016 when hardly anyone was looking. I really hope they’ve been doing more since then than servings as a backup band for Jack Hues. | Full Review

9. Colour Haze – She Said (Elektrohasch, 2012)

After an incredible six album run through the 2000s, the first Colour Haze album of the 2010s was long awaited, four years after the brilliant All (2008), and worth it. It kicked off a series of exploratory experiments, and every second of it’s sprawling majesty is a sonic treat. Ripple will be reissuing their entire catalog in the coming year or so, making them available in North America and on Bandcamp for the first time. | Full Review

10. Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum & Opus Alter (Neurot, 2012)

While originally released as separate albums, Ufomammut was always clear that Oro was composed as a single 94 minute composition. Either way, with two entries in the top 13, and two more in the top 200, Ufomammut were winning the 2010s. Or at least runner-ups to Motorpsycho, who had seven in the top 200. They also finally made their first full North American tour in 2015, which was triumphant. With the band also serving as the Malleus art collective, their cover art, posters and videos all tie visual elements with the music beautifully. Cosmic terror never looked so lovely. | Full Review

11. Graveyard – Hisingen Blues (Nuclear Blast, 2011)

I love the cover art of Graveyard’s second album. On the raft is a buclic, idyllic setting, but beneath the surface of the water, some kind of creature is lurking that’s possibly going to pull one of the band members under. There be monsters amidst the album’s blues psych grooves too, most notably a demon ready to choke you in your sleep. I’ve gone back and forth between this and Lights Out (2012), and it’s a very close call. Graveyard could easily have had both in the top 13. | Full Review

12. Golden Void – Berkana (Thrill Jockey, 2015)

While Earthless are huge heroes in the stoner psych jam underground, I always preferred Golden Void. Isaiah Mitchell showed himself to be a great vocalist, and Camilla Saufley’s organ with Justin Pinkerton’s Moog and jazzy percussion made for a great psych prog unit. Unfortunately they split, but at least Mitchell is steering Earthless in a more song oriented direction, and Pinkerton is putting out interesting albums (Futuropaco and an electronic album under his own name) on the amazing El Paraiso label from Denmark, home of Causa Sui, Papir and fellow California’s Monarch, who just missed the Lucky 13. | Full Review

13. Witchcraft – Legend (Nuclear Blast, 2012)

Along with Dungen, Witchcraft really kicked the psychedelic renaissance into high gear starting with their self-titled debut in 2004. Magnus Pelander relinquished guitar duties with this one so as to focus more on his vocals, and his fourth album was a total success (except for, perhaps, selling tons of copies). His vocals were more up front and sounded better than ever, the production was more polished but plenty heavy, and it featured some of his best songs. The fact that it’s their last great album makes it all the more important to appreciate Legend’s greatness. | Full Review

Spotify Mix

I could spend an entire year writing blurbs for all the worthy albums of the 2010s, of which there are far more than 100. Hence, the genre lists, to help you track down possibly new discoveries.

Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum & Opus Alter (Neurot, 2012) | Italy | Bandcamp
Golden Void – Berkana (Thrill Jockey, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Witchcraft – Legend (Nuclear Blast, 2012) | Sweden | Buy
Rosalie Cunningham – Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric/Cherry Red, 2019) | UK | Buy
Monarch – Beyond The Blue Sky (El Paraiso, 2019) | USA | Buy
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (XL, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Elder – Lore (Armageddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Motorpsycho & Ståle Storløkken – The Death Defying Unicorn (Rune Grammofon, 2012) | Norway | Buy
Syd Arthur – On An On (Dawn Chorus, 2012) | UK | Bandcamp
Wolf People – Fain (Jagjaguwar, 2013) | UK | Bandcamp
Christian Mistress – To Your Death (Relapse, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Truckfighters – Universe (Fuzzorama, 2014) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Elder – Dead Roots Stirring (MeteorCity, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
The Sonic Dawn – Eclipse (Heavy Psych, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Savages – Silence Yourself (Matador, 2013) | UK
Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre (Spinefarm, 2016) | UK | Buy
Tame Impala – Lonerism (Modular, 2012) | Australia | Buy
Royal Headache – High (What’s Your Rupture, 2015) | Australia | Bandcamp
Golden Void – Golden Void (Thrill Jockey, 2012) | USA
Magic Circle – Journey Blind (Armegeddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Talk Tight (Ivy League, 2016) | Australia | Bandcamp
Bask – III (Season Of Mist, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light (Interscope, 2011) | USA
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Columbia, 2011) | UK
The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack (Kemado, 2010) | USA | Buy
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs (Sub Pop, 2018) | Australia | Bandcamp
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular, 2010) | Australia | Buy
Protomartyr – Relatives In Descent (Domino, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Lord Of Misrule (Rise Above, 2016) | Canada | Buy
Dungen – Allas Sak (Mexican Summer, 2015) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Christian Mistress – Possession (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Living With The Ancients (Rise Above, 2011) | Canada
Royal Thunder – CVI (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Euporie Tide (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Buy
Motorpsycho – Behind The Sun (Rune Grammofon, 2014) | Norway | Buy
Motorpsycho – Heavy Metal Fruit (Rune Grammofon, 2010) | Norway | Bandcamp
Algiers – The Underside Of Power (Matador, 2017) | USA
Wovenhand – Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Wolf People – Steeple (Jagjaguwar, 2010) | UK | Bandcamp
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Vol. 1 (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2010) | UK | Buy
Blood Ceremony – The Eldritch Dark (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013) | Canada
Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires Of The City (XL, 2013) | USA | Buy
Hypnos 69 – Legacy (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Monarch – Two Isles (El Paraiso, 2016) | USA | Buy
Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door (Rise Above, 2013) | UK
Motorpsycho – Here Be Monsters (Rune Grammofon, 2016) | Norway | Buy
Bent Knee – You Know What They Mean (InsideOut, 2019) | USA | Buy
Magic Circle – Magic Circle (Magic Circle, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Motorpsycho – The Crucible (Rune Grammofon/Stickman, 2019) | Norway | Buy
Khemmis – Hunted (20 Buck Spin, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Wovenhand – Star Treatment (Sargent House, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Spiders – Shake Electric (Reactor/Spinefarm, 2014) | Sweden | Buy
The Sea Kings – Woke In The Devil’s Arms (Iffy Folk, 2014) | UK | Bandcamp
White Denim – D (Downtown, 2011) | USA
Beastmilk – Climax (Svart/Magic Bullet, 2013) | Finland
Savages – Adore Life (Matador, 2016) | UK | Buy
Causa Sui – Return To Sky (El Paraiso, 2016) | Denmark | Buy
Truckfighters – V (Century Media, 2016) | Sweden | Buy
Dungen – Skit I Allt (Mexican Summer, 2010) | Sweden
Swans – To Be Kind (Young God/Mute, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Protomartyr – The Agent Itellect (Hardly Art, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Mode Moderne – Mode IV (Light Organ, 2018) | Canada | Buy
Disco Inferno – The Five Eps (One Little Indian, 2011) | UK | Bandcamp
Witch Mountain – Mobile Of Angels (Profound Lore, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Gojira – L’Enfant Sauvage (Roadrunner, 2012) | France | Buy
Papir – VI (Stickman, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Shellac – Dude Incredible (Touch And Go, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Been Obscene – Night O’ Mine (Elektrohasch, 2011) | Austria | Bandcamp
Cold Showers – Love And Regret (Dais, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Dark Blue – Pure Reality (Jade Tree, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Vibraciones Doradas (El Paraiso, 2017) | Denmark | Buy
Papir – Papir IIII (El Paraiso, 2014) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Fuzz Manta – The Stonewolf (Kosmik Artifactz, 2013) | Denmark
Levitation Room – Ethos (Burger, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade (Downtown, 2013) | USA
Papir – V (Stickman, 2017) | Denmark | Bandcamp
The Sonic Dawn – Into The Long Night (Heavy Psych, 2017) | Denmark | Bandcamp
And Also The Trees – Born Into The Waves (AATT, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Sungrazer – Sungrazer (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Netherlands
Been Obscene – The Magic Table Dance (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Germany | Bandcamp
Torche – Harmonicraft (Volcom, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Spidergawd – V (Stickman, 2019) | Norway | Buy
The Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions (Capitol, 2011) | USA
Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL, 2010) | USA | Buy
Royal Thunder – Crooked Doors (Relapse, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
The Dials – That Was The Future (Gear Discs, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp

See full list of 9,300+ albums here.

2010s Breakdown: Genre Lists

As always, you can deep dive any of these these genres with the list search. Do not underestimate the value of rabbit holes. Meaning, you may get far more satisfaction discovering a new album from a genre deep dive that’s pretty far down in the list than an album in the top 50.

Psych

Psych is a pretty big umbrella under which a lot of my music fits. The first band without an album in the Lucky 13 is Danish band The Sonic Dawn, who’s run of great albums continued with their fourth, Enter The Mirage in 2020. The psych is strong in Denmark, as they lead a batch of over 50 great albums from the likes of Causa Sui, Papir, Fuzz Manta, Spids Nøgenhat, Baby Woodrose and many more.

Bubbling under: Truckfighters, Dungen, Tame Impala, White Denim, Sungrazer, MaidaVale. | More

Wolf People – Ruins (Jagjaguwar, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues (Nuclear Blast, 2011) | Sweden
Graveyard – Lights Out (Nuclear Blast, 2012) | Sweden | Buy
Wolf People – Fain (Jagjaguwar, 2013) | UK | Bandcamp
The Sonic Dawn – Eclipse (Heavy Psych, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre (Spinefarm, 2016) | UK | Buy
Tame Impala – Lonerism (Modular, 2012) | Australia | Buy
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular, 2010) | Australia | Buy
Dungen – Allas Sak (Mexican Summer, 2015) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Euporie Tide (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Buy
Motorpsycho – Behind The Sun (Rune Grammofon, 2014) | Norway | Buy
Motorpsycho – Heavy Metal Fruit (Rune Grammofon, 2010) | Norway | Bandcamp

Psych Pop & Prog Pop

Australia has a deep history of psych and garage rock, and it’s fitting that Perth’s Tame Impala became the psychedelic crossover success of the 2010s. And when Kevin Parker faltered with the uninspired synthpop of Currents (2015), there were many other bands to fall back on that came out with great psych pop.

Bubbling under: The Urges, The Honey Pot, E.L. Heath, Carpet, Crystal Jaqueline, Papernut Cambridge, The Beginner’s Mynd. | More

Hidden Masters – Of This & Other Worlds (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013) | UK
Rosalie Cunningham – Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric/Cherry Red, 2019) | UK | Buy
The Sonic Dawn – Eclipse (Heavy Psych, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Tame Impala – Lonerism (Modular, 2012) | Australia | Buy
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular, 2010) | Australia | Buy
The Sonic Dawn – Into The Long Night (Heavy Psych, 2017) | Denmark | Bandcamp
The Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions (Capitol, 2011) | USA
The Dials – That Was The Future (Gear Discs, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
The Sonic Dawn – Perception (Heavy Psych, 2015) | Denmark | Bandcamp
The Luck Of Eden Hall – Victoria Moon (LOEH, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Hollow Hand – Star Chamber (Talkshow, 2018) | UK | Buy
The Galileo 7 – There Is Only Now (Damaged Goods, 2019) | UK | Bandcamp
The Greek Theatre – When Seasons Change (Sugarbush, 2019) | Sweden | Bandcamp

Kosmische & Space Rock

Well, it seems the Danish have got this list sewn up, with Causa Sui and Papir dominating the top half of the list. I’m a big fan of the El Paraiso label, run by Causa Sui’s Jonas Munk and Jakob Skøtt, who is responsible for all the artwork tying together the look of their eco-friendly album covers. There’s nearly 60 albums on the label, all worth hearing, including electronic, ambient and jazz fusion. Like the design aesthetic, the recording quality of every release meet their standards of acoustic/analog sounds portraying wide dynamics and imaging that make you feel like you’re in the room, reminding me of the high quality along the lines of the Impulse! jazz label. The electronic sounds lean to warm over harsh, like the best versions of kosmische legends like Cluster and Harmonia.

Bubbling under: Karkara, Slift, The Bright Light Social Hour, Mythic Sunship, Moon Duo, My Brother The Wind, Amplifier, Oh Sees, The Early Years. | More.

Ufomammut – Eve (Supernatural Cat, 2010) | Italy | Bandcamp
Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum & Opus Alter (Neurot, 2012) | Italy | Bandcamp
Tame Impala – Lonerism (Modular, 2012) | Australia | Buy
Causa Sui – Euporie Tide (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Buy
Hypnos 69 – Legacy (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Return To Sky (El Paraiso, 2016) | Denmark | Buy
Papir – VI (Stickman, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Vibraciones Doradas (El Paraiso, 2017) | Denmark | Buy
Papir – Papir IIII (El Paraiso, 2014) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Papir – V (Stickman, 2017) | Denmark | Bandcamp
The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream (Blue Horizon, 2010) | USA
Slowdive – Slowdive (Dead Oceans, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
Goat – World Music (Rocket, 2012) | Sweden | Bandcamp

Stoner/Desert/Fuzz

While their greatest strength is as a live band, Sweden’s Truckfighters still made some very good albums. The riffs! The fuzz! They took a hiatus, and then were ramping up for a tour last spring. Hopefully we’ll get to see them again. One time, two sets of amps ignited on fire! Truckfighters, wooo!

Spirits Of The Dead – Rumours Of A Presence (The End, 2013) | Norway
Elder – Reflections Of A Floating World (Armagedden, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Ufomammut – Eve (Supernatural Cat, 2010) | Italy | Bandcamp
Troubled Horse – Step Inside (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2012) | Sweden
Colour Haze – She Said (Elektrohasch, 2012) | Germany | Bandcamp
Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum & Opus Alter (Neurot, 2012) | Italy | Bandcamp
Elder – Lore (Armageddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Truckfighters – Universe (Fuzzorama, 2014) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Elder – Dead Roots Stirring (MeteorCity, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
Bask – III (Season Of Mist, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Royal Thunder – CVI (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Euporie Tide (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Buy
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Vol. 1 (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2010) | UK | Buy

Bubbling under: Fuzz Manta, Sungrazer, Sunder, All Them Witches, Snail, Goatess, Goat, Fuzz, Wo Fat, Asteroid, At Devil Dirt.

Jam

This looks a lot like the kosmische/space rock list. Just as essential as Danish label El Paraiso’s Causa Sui is Papir, who’s psychedelic space rock/kosmische jams are so elegantly celestial, they could just as easily serve as ambient music. While they moved to Stickman records for V, Nicklas Sørensen still releases projects on El Paraiso’s Impetus series of one off collaborations and jams (he has three albums in the Ambient & New Age list, and another in Electronic). Another band featured in the series is Psicomagia is based in San Francisco and includes Astra’s Brian Ellis.

Bubbling under: Crypt Trip, Elkhorn, Electric Moon, Space Debris, Øresund Space Collective, Monkey3, The Heads, Quantum Fantay, 3rd Ear Experience, Mother Engine, Earthless, Electric Orange, Chicago Odense Ensemble, Domo, Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno, Black Bombaim, The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol. | More.

Causa Sui – Euporie Tide (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Buy
Causa Sui – Return To Sky (El Paraiso, 2016) | Denmark | Buy
Papir – VI (Stickman, 2019) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Causa Sui – Vibraciones Doradas (El Paraiso, 2017) | Denmark | Buy
Papir – Papir IIII (El Paraiso, 2014) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Papir – V (Stickman, 2017) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Papir – Papir III (El Paraiso, 2013) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Futuropaco – Futuropaco (El Paraiso, 2018) | USA | Buy
Psicomagia – Psicomagia (El Paraiso, 2013) | USA | Buy
All Them Witches – ATW (New West, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Sitka Sun – Sitka Sun (The Long Road Society, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
3rd Ear Experience – Stones Of A Feather (Space Rock Productions, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Hans Chew – Open Sea (At The Helm, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp

Noir (Folk, Garage, Psych, Punk, Surf)

As soon as Jex Thoth was anointed Queen Witch of Psych Noir, she disappeared in a mysterious poof, never to be heard since 2013 (#13 album Blood Moon Rise). Rosalie Cunningham was primed to take over the throne, first with Purson (#8 and #4), then solo. The best album of 2019 tops this list, and just missed the overall Lucky 13, and her next album is highly anticipated for 2021.

Bubbling under: Rosegarden Funeral Party, The New Christs, The Janitors, Mansion, Bambara, Tropical Fuck Storm, Jess and the Ancient Ones, True Moon, The Oath. | More.

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Blood Lust (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2011) | UK | Buy
Rosalie Cunningham – Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric/Cherry Red, 2019) | UK | Buy
Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre (Spinefarm, 2016) | UK | Buy
The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack (Kemado, 2010) | USA | Buy
Protomartyr – Relatives In Descent (Domino, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Lord Of Misrule (Rise Above, 2016) | Canada | Buy
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Living With The Ancients (Rise Above, 2011) | Canada
Wovenhand – Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Vol. 1 (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2010) | UK | Buy
Blood Ceremony – The Eldritch Dark (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013) | Canada
Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door (Rise Above, 2013) | UK
Wovenhand – Star Treatment (Sargent House, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp

Psych Prog

Okay, more than half of my Lucky 13 are psych prog albums. I may be obsessed. Monarch kind of snuck up on me as a favorite in the year since their second album was released. The San Diego band got the honor to be one of the few American artists on the prestigious El Paraiso label. Their sprawling psych prog incorporates touches of Southern Rock via Allman Brothers improvisation, reaching a dizzying mountain peak on the three part composition, “Beyond the Blue Sky/Phenomena/Counterpart.” Guitarists Dominic Denholm and Thomas Dibenedetto also participated in the Ellis Munk Ensemble San Diego Sessions in 2020. I can’t wait for their third album.

Bubbling under: Purson, Hypnos 69, Been Obscene, Dungen, Fuzz Manta, Papir, The Dials, Blood Ceremony, The Luck Of Eden Hall, Birth Of Joy, The White Kites. | More.

Motorpsycho – The Tower (Rune Grammofon, 2017) | Norway | Buy
Spirits Of The Dead – Rumours Of A Presence (The End, 2013) | Norway
Hidden Masters – Of This & Other Worlds (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013) | UK
Wolf People – Ruins (Jagjaguwar, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Elder – Reflections Of A Floating World (Armagedden, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – Sound Mirror (Harvest, 2014) | UK | Bandcamp
Golden Void – Berkana (Thrill Jockey, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Rosalie Cunningham – Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric/Cherry Red, 2019) | UK | Buy
Monarch – Beyond The Blue Sky (El Paraiso, 2019) | USA | Buy
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (XL, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Elder – Lore (Armageddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Motorpsycho & Ståle Storløkken – The Death Defying Unicorn (Rune Grammofon, 2012) | Norway | Buy

Prog

I enjoy reading Prog Magazine and checking out all the favorites like Big Big Train, Steven Wilson, Haken, Caligula’s Horse, Pineapple Tree, etc. But my tastes lean toward psychedelic prog. The Canterbury prog of Syd Arthur’s Sound Mirror might be the closest to that sound in my top 13, who I’ve discussed previously.

Bubbling under: Elephant9 & Reine Fiske, Leprous, Bushman’s Revenge, Amplifier, Diagonal, Teeth of the Sea, Opeth, Horisont, Dead Quiet, Gazpacho, Needlepoint. | More.

Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – Sound Mirror (Harvest, 2014) | UK | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – On An On (Dawn Chorus, 2012) | UK | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Lord Of Misrule (Rise Above, 2016) | Canada | Buy
Dungen – Allas Sak (Mexican Summer, 2015) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Hypnos 69 – Legacy (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Bent Knee – You Know What They Mean (InsideOut, 2019) | USA | Buy
Dungen – Skit I Allt (Mexican Summer, 2010) | Sweden
Needlepoint – The Diary Of Robert Reverie (BJK/Stickman, 2018) | Norway | Bandcamp
Syd Arthur – Moving World EP (Dawn Chorus, 2011) | UK | Bandcamp
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Tao Of The Dead (Superball, 2011) | USA
Bent Knee – Land Animal (InsideOut, 2017) | UK | Buy
Needlepoint – Aimless Mary (BJK, 2015) | Norway | Bandcamp

Punk

How often does a band drop a masterpiece early in their career, then disappear? Not that often, but too often. Meaning, when it happens, it’s freakin’ frustrating, especially when the principal members don’t do anything that measures up afterwards, or even anything at all. Royal Headache’s Shogun released the “Hold on Kid”/”Pissing Blood” single in 2018, but nothing else. But at least we have the albums, and can retrospectively right wrongs and give High the fucking credit it deserves as garage punk/power pop classic. Australia rules the top with the first two releases from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Talk Tight is technically just an EP, but slap on the free singles from their Bandcamp page and you’ve got 46 minutes of the most exciting jangly post-punk guitar pop of the decade.

Bubbling under: Fontaines D.C., The New Christs, Patio, The Black Waves, Kills Birds, Bambara, Priests, These New Puritans. | More.

Savages – Silence Yourself (Matador, 2013) | UK
Royal Headache – High (What’s Your Rupture, 2015) | Australia | Bandcamp
Protomartyr – Relatives In Descent (Domino, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Algiers – The Underside Of Power (Matador, 2017) | USA
Beastmilk – Climax (Svart/Magic Bullet, 2013) | Finland
Savages – Adore Life (Matador, 2016) | UK | Buy
Protomartyr – The Agent Itellect (Hardly Art, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Mode Moderne – Mode IV (Light Organ, 2018) | Canada | Buy
Disco Inferno – The Five Eps (One Little Indian, 2011) | UK | Bandcamp
Cold Showers – Love And Regret (Dais, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Dark Blue – Pure Reality (Jade Tree, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
And Also The Trees – Born Into The Waves (AATT, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp

Garage Rock

Garage Rock is no stranger to one album wonders. It’s not unusual for a band to release one amazing debut album, never to match it again. Some will argue against The Strokes, but come on. Nothing they did measures up to Is This It. Same with The Soft Pack. The LA band tried to follow up the fabulously moody garage, surf and power pop on their debut with Strapped (2012), failed and broke up. An older album recorded as The Muslims was more successful. London based The Vaccines kept at it, but their subsequent three albums were disappointing.

Bubbling under: Fuzz, Bambara, Tropical Fuck Storm, RVG, The Buttertones, Maggot Heart, Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind, The Primevals, Zebra Hunt. | More.

Royal Headache – High (What’s Your Rupture, 2015) | Australia | Bandcamp
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Talk Tight (Ivy League, 2016) | Australia | Bandcamp
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Columbia, 2011) | UK
The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack (Kemado, 2010) | USA | Buy
Protomartyr – Relatives In Descent (Domino, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Wovenhand – Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Wovenhand – Star Treatment (Sargent House, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Spiders – Shake Electric (Reactor/Spinefarm, 2014) | Sweden | Buy
Protomartyr – The Agent Itellect (Hardly Art, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Levitation Room – Ethos (Burger, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade (Downtown, 2013) | USA
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – The French Press EP (Sub Pop, 2017) | Australia | Bandcamp

Hard Rock

Sweden certainly has this category locked down, with 8 of the top 13 albums. With previous ties to both Graveyard and Witchcraft, Spiders are not as well known outside of Europe, as they have never toured across the Atlantic. I hope they make it over someday as they would certainly win people over with their lethal combo of garage and glam.

Bubbling under: Snail, Torche, Blues Pills, Orango, Shaman Elephant, Crag Dweller, Baron, Queens of the Stone Age, Maggot Heart, Asteroid. | More.

Troubled Horse – Step Inside (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2012) | Sweden
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues (Nuclear Blast, 2011) | Sweden
Graveyard – Lights Out (Nuclear Blast, 2012) | Sweden | Buy
Witchcraft – Legend (Nuclear Blast, 2012) | Sweden | Buy
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Royal Thunder – CVI (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Spiders – Shake Electric (Reactor/Spinefarm, 2014) | Sweden | Buy
Truckfighters – V (Century Media, 2016) | Sweden | Buy
Shellac – Dude Incredible (Touch And Go, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Torche – Harmonicraft (Volcom, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Spidergawd – V (Stickman, 2019) | Norway | Buy
Royal Thunder – Crooked Doors (Relapse, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
MaidaVale – Madness Is Too Pure (The Sign, 2018) | Sweden | Bandcamp

Heavy Metal

Magic Circle has been my favorite metal band since the debut was released as a side project from a bunch of hardcore punkers. I suppose because they had so many other things going on, they never did a proper tour. I was finally set to see them at Hell’s Heroes III in Houston was scheduled for a killer lineup on April 18, 2020, including Candlemass, Satan, Slough Feg, Night Demon, Eternal Champion, Haunt, High Spirits, Magic Circle, Gatekeeper, Smoulder and Traveler. But we all know what happened to all live shows after early March. Something to look forward to in the future, hopefully.

Bubbling under: Castle, Wytch Hazel, Hammers of Misfortune, Pale Divine, Avatarium, Slough Feg, Noctum, Serpent Venom, Hour of 13, Green & Wood. | More.

Christian Mistress – To Your Death (Relapse, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Magic Circle – Journey Blind (Armegeddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Christian Mistress – Possession (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Magic Circle – Magic Circle (Magic Circle, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Khemmis – Hunted (20 Buck Spin, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Witch Mountain – Mobile Of Angels (Profound Lore, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Messa – Feast For Water (Aural, 2018) | Italy | Bandcamp
Premonition 13 – 13 (Volcom, 2011) | USA
Ghost – Opus Eponymous (Rise Above, 2010) | Sweden
Christian Mistress – Agony & Opium EP (20 Buck Spin, 2010) | USA
Messa – Belfry (Aural, 2016) | Italy | Bandcamp
Lucifer – Lucifer II (Century Media, 2018) | Sweden | Buy
Spirit Adrift – Divided By Darkness (20 Buck Spin, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp

Doom

Those first two Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats albums sound like the lost evil soundtrack to a 1972 horror film with a groundbreaking hybrid of doom, proto-metal and psych noir, which never really existed until Uncle Acid came along.

Bubbling under: Jex Thoth, SubRosa, Goatess, Avatarium, Electric Wizard, Castle, Blood Ceremony, Pale Divine, Messa. | More.

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Blood Lust (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2011) | UK | Buy
Elder – Reflections Of A Floating World (Armagedden, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Ufomammut – Eve (Supernatural Cat, 2010) | Italy | Bandcamp
Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum & Opus Alter (Neurot, 2012) | Italy | Bandcamp
Elder – Dead Roots Stirring (MeteorCity, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
Magic Circle – Journey Blind (Armegeddon, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Blood Ceremony – Living With The Ancients (Rise Above, 2011) | Canada
Royal Thunder – CVI (Relapse, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Vol. 1 (Killer Candy/Rise Above, 2010) | UK | Buy
Magic Circle – Magic Circle (Magic Circle, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Khemmis – Hunted (20 Buck Spin, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Witch Mountain – Mobile Of Angels (Profound Lore, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Sleep – The Sciences (Third Man, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp

Metal

The emotions I look to unleash when listening to metal are pure cathartic rage and anguish at the stupidity and cruelty of humanity, and how we’re barreling into an environmental apocalypse due simply to pure selfishness. No other band expressed that better than French death prog metalheads Gojira. While they may have peaked the previous decade with The Way Of All Flesh (2008) and From Mars To Sirius (2005), L’Enfant Sauvage still has the good stuff. And five years since their last album, they will finally have something new in 2021. See their new video.

Bubbling under: Blood Incantation, Imperial Triumphant, Spelljammer, Anciients, Moab, The Ocean, Ramesses, Death Penalty, Dreadnought, The Wounded Kings, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, YOB, With The Dead. | More.

Gojira – L’Enfant Sauvage (Roadrunner, 2012) | France | Buy
Morbus Chron – Sweven (Century Media, 2014) | Sweden
Electric Wizard – Black Masses (Rise Above, 2010) | UK
Vektor – Terminal Redux (Earache, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Blood Incantation – Hidden History Of The Human Race (Century Media, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Gulch – Burning Desire to Draw Last Breath EP (Lower Class Kids, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Vektor – Outer Isolation (Heavy Artillery/Earache, 2011) | Canada
Blood Incantation – Starspawn (Century Media, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Hammers Of Misfortune – 17th Street (Metal Blade, 2011) | USA
Inter Arma – Paradise Gallows (Relapse, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Mastodon – The Hunter (Reprise, 2011) | USA
Black Breath – Slaves Beyond Death (Southern Lord, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Inter Arma – Sky Burial (Relapse, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp

Avant, Experimental, Post-Rock, Modern Classical, Drone

While every album Radiohead has released since 1997 has been a highly anticipated event (even when we never knew exactly when the last three were going to drop), The King Of Limbs was a disappointment in hindsight. They seemed to get stuck in their idea of being electronica pioneers to the point of nearly forgetting how to be a band, resulting in their most boring album. Yet live they are always dynamic, so there was always hope. A Moon Shaped Pool is possibly their most cohesive work since Kid A, and overall their most beautiful. Much to my delight, several songs have them delving into psych prog, one my my own favorite pet hybrid subgenres. It makes sense that these Brits would show an interest, as there were some brilliant, folky English albums released during the early 70s when psych morphed into prog. Whether they heard some Comus, Dark, High Tide, T2, Gun or others, it’s hard to say, because they still sound like Radiohead, and as inscrutable as ever.

Bubbling under: Moon Duo, Circle, Dead Rider, The Resonance Ensemble, The Mermen, Circuit des Yeux, PJ Harvey, Chris Forsyth, Swans, Marriages, The Physics House Band, Monkey3. | More.

Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (XL, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Bask – III (Season Of Mist, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Bent Knee – You Know What They Mean (InsideOut, 2019) | USA | Buy
Swans – To Be Kind (Young God/Mute, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Disco Inferno – The Five Eps (One Little Indian, 2011) | UK | Bandcamp
Papir – Papir IIII (El Paraiso, 2014) | Denmark | Bandcamp
Messa – Belfry (Aural, 2016) | Italy | Bandcamp
Bask – Ramble Beyond (Self Aware, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Swans – The Seer (Young God, 2012) | USA
These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds (AIS, 2013) | UK | Buy
Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores – Sister Death (Cuneiform, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
Have A Nice Life – The Unnatural World (Enemies List, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band – Intensity Ghost (No Quarter, 2014) | USA | Buy

Industrial & Noise

Boston’s Bent Knee perked my ears with Say So (2016), and by Land Animal (2017), it was apparent that this was a creatively agile band who took a unique approach on each album, delving in art rock, prog rock and pop, dark cabaret, and most impressively, exploring experimental and noise elements on their latest, while coming up with their most accessible work at the same time. I was fortunate to see them live in 2019, memories that grow more valuable during our extended quarantines. I look forward to more brilliance from this band.

Bubbling under: clipping., Lonely Leary, The Ukiah Drag, DMBQ, The Rainbow Gland, Pinkish Black, Empath, The Physics House Band, Ifriqiyya Electrique, Birthing Hips, Mary Bell, Oxbow. | More

Savages – Silence Yourself (Matador, 2013) | UK
Bent Knee – You Know What They Mean (InsideOut, 2019) | USA | Buy
Savages – Adore Life (Matador, 2016) | UK | Buy
Swans – To Be Kind (Young God/Mute, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Protomartyr – The Agent Itellect (Hardly Art, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Shellac – Dude Incredible (Touch And Go, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Algiers – Algiers (Matador, 2015) | USA
Swans – The Seer (Young God, 2012) | USA
Have A Nice Life – The Unnatural World (Enemies List, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Shellac – The End of Radio (Touch And Go, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Kills Birds – Kills Birds (KRO, 2019) | USA | Buy
Protomartyr – No Passion All Technique (Urinal Cake, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
The Drones – I See Seaweed (Bang!, 2013) | Australia

Ambient & New Age

I got more into ambient and new age later in the decade, when the need for emotional palate cleansers became more necessary in November 2016. So the top album is a bit of a departure for E.L. Heath, as here he focuses on progressive psychedelic folk more than ambient pop. I’d love to hear more like this.

Bubbling under: Brian Ellis & Brian Granger, Dom Mariani, Eiko Ishibashi, Bitchin Bajas, Astral TV, Chuck Johnson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Matt LaJoie. | More.

E.L. Heath – Ty (Wayside & Woodland, 2013) | UK | Bandcamp
Bushman’s Revenge – Et hån mot overklassen (Hubro, 2019) | Norway | Bandcamp
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen (Ghosteen, 2019) | Australia | Buy
Quantum Fantay – Dancing In Limbo (Dutch Music Works, 2015) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Jonas Munk & Nicklas Sørensen – Always Already Here (El Paraiso, 2019) | Denmark | Buy
Moon Wiring Club – A Spare Tabby at the Cat’s Wedding (Gecophonic, 2010) | UK | Bandcamp
Quantum Fantay – Tessellation of Euclidean Space (Dutch Music Works, 2017) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Moon Wiring Club – Playclothes From Faraway Places (Gecophonic, 2015) | UK | Bandcamp
Quantum Fantay – Yemaya Orisha (Dutch Music Works, 2019) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Autechre – elseq 4 (Warp, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Grouper – A I A: Alien Observer/Dream Loss (Yellowelectric, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
Quantum Fantay – Terragaia (Dutch Music Works, 2014) | Belgium
Moon Wiring Club – Why Does My House Make Creaking Noises? (Gecophonic, 2015) | UK | Bandcamp

Art Pop & Dream Pop

Vampire Weekend may not be the first band that comes to mind when one thinks of art pop, but art pop they are, and while I still love their 2008 debut the most, Modern Vampires of the City is a gorgeous album. It’s too bad they lost Rostam and became essentially an Ezra Koenig solo project on Father of the Bride (2019), because this is clearly a case where a talented songwriter needs a band, or at least a songwriting partner.

Bubbling under: Crepes, Astronoid, Circuit des Yeux, Marriages, Steeple Remove, Katie Gately, Drab Majesty, Fiona Apple, Cate Le Bon, Girls Names, Comet Control, These New Puritans. | More.

Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires Of The City (XL, 2013) | USA | Buy
Mode Moderne – Mode IV (Light Organ, 2018) | Canada | Buy
The Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions (Capitol, 2011) | USA
Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL, 2010) | USA | Buy
Peluché – Unforgettable (One Little Indian, 2018) | UK | Bandcamp
Girls Names – The New Life (Slumberland, 2013) | UK
Slowdive – Slowdive (Dead Oceans, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
Elephant Stone – Elephant Stone (Hidden Pony/Burger, 2013) | Canada | Bandcamp
The Black Watch – The End Of When (Pop Culture Press, 2013) | USA
Slowdive – Slowdive (Dead Oceans, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
Candy Claws – Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time (twosyllable, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Girls Names – Arms Around A Vision (Tough Love, 2015) | UK
Interpol – El Pintor (Matador, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp

Shoegaze

Funny how the click of an effects pedal can instantly switch genres from space rock to noise rock to shoegaze. Perhaps that’s why there’s such a diverse, international group of artists mixing it up with noise pop, dream pop, post-rock, post-metal, post-hardcore, and even black metal (blackgaze). French band Alcest are pioneers of the latter, presenting a fresh approach to the marriage of beauty and devastation. Écailles de lune is their second album, and arguably their peak.

Bubbling under: Kairon; IRSE!, The Early Years, Marriages, Kinoko Teikoku, Steeple Remove, The Lucid Dream. More.

Alcest – Écailles De Lune (Prophecy, 2010) | France | Bandcamp
Abby Gogo – Abby Gogo (Double Phantom, 2010) | USA | Bandcamp
Slowdive – Slowdive (Dead Oceans, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
Have A Nice Life – The Unnatural World (Enemies List, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Slowdive – Slowdive (Dead Oceans, 2017) | UK | Bandcamp
Candy Claws – Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time (twosyllable, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
The Black Waves – Thousands Of Visions (Black Waves, 2013) | France | Bandcamp
Froth – Outside (Briefly) (Wichita, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Abby Gogo – A Perfect Whatever (Double Phantom, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Torche – Admission (Relapse, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Vanishing Kids – Heavy Dreamer (Svart, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Froth – Duress (Wichita, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Holy Fawn – Death Spells (Whelmed, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp

Indie Rock, Pop & Jangle Pop

It’s remarkable that within just a couple years I got to see Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, who came all the way from Melbourne, Australia, three times. It’s a privilege no one will take for granted going forward. And man, that first cut on their debut Talk Tight, “Wither With You” encapsulates everything I’d been missing from jangle pop for decades. I need to mention that their 2013 singles, available for Name Your Price on Bandcamp, are also essential, and fit well with the EP, making for a satisfying 46 minute album. Everything they’ve done is great, but mainly a refinement of that initial joyous explosion. Keep those four guitars janglin’ guys!

Bubbling under: The Drones, Tame Impala, The Black Watch, Arctic Monkeys, The New Christs, Kills Birds, The Feelies, Dark Blue . | More.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Talk Tight (Ivy League, 2016) | Australia | Bandcamp
TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light (Interscope, 2011) | USA
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Columbia, 2011) | UK
The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack (Kemado, 2010) | USA | Buy
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs (Sub Pop, 2018) | Australia | Bandcamp
Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires Of The City (XL, 2013) | USA | Buy
White Denim – D (Downtown, 2011) | USA
Mode Moderne – Mode IV (Light Organ, 2018) | Canada | Buy
Shellac – Dude Incredible (Touch And Go, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Dark Blue – Pure Reality (Jade Tree, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade (Downtown, 2013) | USA
Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL, 2010) | USA | Buy
Mode Moderne – Occult Delight (Light Organ, 2014) | Canada | Bandcamp

Jazz

For those fully immersed in the jazz world, I’m probably not going to offer a definitive list. But those interested in how psych, prog and art rock have intersected with jazz in the 2010s might find some inspiring stuff. I’ve been a big fan of Ken Vandermark since the early 90s. The dude was everywhere, playing with a huge variety of bands in many genres. He’d play with anyone anywhere. Such a work ethic has paid off with a huge discography, and I can’t say I’ve heard all of it. But this double album with The Resonance Ensemble is certainly worthy of attention for those interested in experimental big band and avant garde jazz.

Bubbling under: John Zorn, Bottle Tree, Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra, Makaya McCraven, Ezra Collective, Maisha, Al Doum & The Faryds, Tomeka Reid Quartet, Szun Waves, Matana Roberts, The Quiet Temple, Yussef Kamaal, The Comet Is Coming. | More.

The Resonance Ensemble – Head Above Water, Feet Out of the Fire (Catalytic-Sound, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
Fire! Orchestra – Arrival (Rune Grammofon, 2019) | Sweden
Kamasi Washington – The Epic (Brainfeeder, 2015) | USA
Jack Hues And The Quartet Featuring Syd Arthur – Nobody’s Fault But My Own EP (Dawn Chorus, 2019) | UK | Bandcamp
Muriel Grossman – Golden Rule (Muriel Grossman, 2018) | France | Bandcamp
Aziza – Aziza (Dare2, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Angles 9 – Injuries (Clean Feed, 2014) | Sweden
The Wayne Shorter Quartet – Without A Net (Blue Note, 2013) | USA
Terri Lynne Carrington – The Mosaic Project (Concord Jazz, 2011) | USA
Zach Brock | Matt Ulery | Jon Deitemyer – Wonderment (Woolgathering Records, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Maria Schneider Orchestra – The Thompson Fields (ArtistShare, 2015) | USA
Vijay Iyer Sextet – Far From Over (ECM, 2017) | USA | Buy
Gregory Porter – Take Me To The Alley (Blue Note, 2016) | USA

Jazz Fusion & Jazz-Funk

Motorpsycho’s collaboration with Ståle Storløkken (of Elephant9, Supersilent), Ola Kvernberg, Trondheimsolistene, and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra seemed as unwieldy as the title, The Death Defying Unicorn: A Fanciful And Fairly Far-Out Musical Fable (Rune Grammofon, 2012). But man, it’s awesome! It tells a maritime folk tale inspired by Owen Chase’s The Wreck of the Whale Ship Essex, “In the heart of the Sea” by N. Philbrick, and the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian. Motorpsycho and their collaborators manage to fuse their heavy psych and prog with jazz and classical, while still rockin’, sometimes heavily, other times whimsically. It really sounds like it’s pushing the narrative forward without getting lost at sea, the 83:50 going by quickly.

Bubbling under: Diagonal, Coogans Bluff, Bixiga 70 & Victor Rice, Amgala Temple, Rocket Juice & The Moon, Black Flower, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Orlando Julius With The Heliocentrics, Cave, Mythic Sunship, Chicago Odense Ensemble. | More.

Motorpsycho & Ståle Storløkken – The Death Defying Unicorn (Rune Grammofon, 2012) | Norway | Buy
Carpet – About Rooms And Elephants (Albert Matong, 2018) | Germany | Bandcamp
Carpet – Secret Box (Albert Matong, 2017) | Germany | Bandcamp
Psicomagia – Psicomagia (El Paraiso, 2013) | USA | Buy
Carpet – Elysian Pleasures (Albert Matong, 2013) | Germany | Bandcamp
Sitka Sun – Sitka Sun (The Long Road Society, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Elephant9 & Reine Fiske – Silver Mountain (Rune Grammofon, 2015) | Norway
Mythic Sunship – Another Shape Of Psychedelic Music (El Paraiso, 2018) | Denmark | Buy
Bushman’s Revenge – Et hån mot overklassen (Hubro, 2019) | Norway | Bandcamp
Bushman’s Revenge – Jazz, fritt etter hukommelsen (Rune Grammofon, 2016) | Norway
The Messthetics – Anthropocosmic Nest (Dischord, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Bushman’s Revenge – Never Mind The Botox (Rune Grammofon, 2012) | Norway
Elephant9 & Reine Fisk – Atlantis (Rune Grammofon, 2012) | Norway

Global, Reggae, Dub & Afrobeat

Most of these inhabit a cross-section between psych and global music such as Afrobeat, dub, Middle Eastern and such. Again, not anywhere definitive, just a snapshot from my own warped psychedelic lens. Sweden’s masked, dancing kosmische Afrobeat troupe Goat got the most spins. Unlike other masked bands like Ghost, I don’t think they’ve ever been revealed, which is impressive in itself in the low-privacy social media world of the 2010s.

Bubbling under: Abayomy Afrobeat Orquestra, Tony Allen & Jeff Mills, Nil/Resplendent, Nação Zumbi, Chicago Afrobeat Project Featuring Tony Allen, Elza Soares, Goatman, Ouzo Bazooka.| More.

Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band – Sira Ba Kele (Sublime Frequencies, 2018) | Burkina Faso | Bandcamp
Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band – Juguya (Sublime Frequencies, 2015) | Burkina Faso | Bandcamp
Goat – World Music (Rocket, 2012) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Sitka Sun – Sitka Sun (The Long Road Society, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Bixiga 70 & Victor Rice – The Copan Connection: Bixiga 70 Meets Victor Rice (Glitterbeat, 2016) | Brazil
Baba Zula – Derin Derin (Glitterbeat, 2019) | Turkey | Bandcamp
Goat – Commune (Sub Pop, 2014) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Rocket Juice & The Moon – Rocket Juice & The Moon (Honest Jon’s, 2012) | UK/Nigeria | Bandcamp
Black Flower – Abyssinia Afterlife (Sdban Ultra, 2014) | Belgium | Bandcamp
Dele Sosimi – You No Fit Touch Am (Wah Wah, 2015) | UK | Bandcamp
Golden Dawn Arkestra – Stargazer (Modern Imperial, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Orlando Julius With The Heliocentrics – Jaiyede Afro (Strut, 2014) | Nigeria
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Heavy Rain (On-U Sound, 2019) | Jamaica | Bandcamp

Electronic

Essex band These New Puritans progressed quickly from dancey post-punk to an arty mix of electronic post-rock. I don’t really dig most IDM and techno, house and their variations, so you won’t find much of that here.

Bubbling under: Föllakzoid, Flying Lotus, Jaga Jazzist, Kalax, Good NightOwl, Eat Lights Become Lights, Pinkish Black, Bitchin Bajas, Astral TV, Andy Stott. | More.

TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light (Interscope, 2011) | USA
These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds (AIS, 2013) | UK | Buy
Robyn – Body Talk (Interscope, 2010) | Sweden | Buy
These New Puritans – Hidden (Domino, 2010) | UK | Bandcamp
Soup – Children of E.L.B. (VierSieben, 2010) | Norway | Bandcamp
The Sea And Cake – The Moonlight Butterfly (Thrill Jockey, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
Jakob Scøtt – Taurus Rising (El Paraiso, 2014) | Denmark | Buy
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening (DFA/Virgin, 2010) | USA
Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III (Bad Boy/Atlantic, 2010) | USA
Jonas Munk & Nicklas Sørensen – Always Already Here (El Paraiso, 2019) | Denmark | Buy
Moon Wiring Club – A Spare Tabby at the Cat’s Wedding (Gecophonic, 2010) | UK | Bandcamp
Another Channel – (dub) excursion (s) (Moonshine, 2018) | Germany | Bandcamp
Tony Allen & Jeff Mills – Tomorrow Comes The Harvest (Blue Note, 2018) | Nigeria & USA | Buy

R&B, Soul & Funk

It took 14 years, but D’Angelo came through and followed up Brown Sugar (1995) and Voodoo (2000) with yet another masterpiece for his third decade. It’s a bold move, striving for a social statement on the level of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. I reckon we’ll have plenty of time to sort out how it fits into that pantheon until his next album. Durand Jones & The Indications has really been growing on me with his own brand of Chicago Soul. I hope to hear more from him soon.

Bubbling under: Ural Thomas & The Pain, Dwight James & The Royals, Twin Temple, Angélique Kidjo, Michael Kiwanuka, Vaudou Game, The James Hunter Six. | More.

D’Angelo and The Vanguards – Black Messiah (RCA, 2014) | USA
Durand Jones & The Indications – American Love Call (Dead Oceans, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Atlantic, 2019) | USA | Buy
Curtis Harding – Face Your Fear (Anti-, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III (Bad Boy/Atlantic, 2010) | USA
Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar (Ninja Tune, 2018) | UK | Bandcamp
Curtis Harding – Soul Power (Anti-, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
FKA twigs – Magdalene (Young Turks, 2019) | UK | Buy
Gregory Porter – Take Me To The Alley (Blue Note, 2016) | USA
Solange – A Seat At The Table (Saint, 2016) | USA
Durand Jones & The Indications – Durand Jones & The Indications (Dead Oceans, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
J.P. Bimeni & The Black Belts – Free Me (Tucxone, 2018) | Burundi/UK | Bandcamp
Bottle Tree – Bottle Tree (International Anthem, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp

Hip Hop & Rap

I know, sacrilege not to place the mighty Kendrick Lamar at the top. What can I say, Lizzo is more fun. It’s not a chore to get through her album as it is with a lot of hip hop and rap that strives to pack in sounds and ideas so densely it’s at risk of becoming a gray slurry. But overall it’s a pretty healthy genre, and obviously has dominated sales and mainstream culture in the 2010s.

Bubbling under: Roy Kinsey, Mick Jenkins, Jean Grae & Quelle Chris, Kanye West, MC Yallah & Debmaster, Aesop Rock, De La Soul, Yugen Blakrok, Jamila Woods, Mulatu Astatke + Black Jesus Experience, Luka Productions, Noname. | More.

Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Atlantic, 2019) | USA | Buy
A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (Epic, 2016) | USA | Buy
Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar (Ninja Tune, 2018) | UK | Bandcamp
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (Top Dawg/Aftermath, 2015) | USA
clipping. – There Existed An Addiction to Blood (Sub Pop, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too (Big Dada, 2015) | UK
Flying Lotus – You’re Dead! (Warp, 2014) | USA
Steve Lehman – Sélébéyone (Pi, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Backxwash – DEVIANCY (Grimalkin, 2019) | Canada | Bandcamp
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid: M.A.A.D City (Aftermath, 2012) | USA
Butcher Brown – Camden Session (Gearbox, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma (Warp, 2010) | USA
Dälek – Asphalt For Eden (Profound Lore, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp

Folk, Americana & Country

North Carolina’s Bask has never been strictly stoner metal, and on their third album, they’ve perfected a blend of Americana, psych prog and post-metal that’s totally unique.

Bubbling under: Joanna Newsom, Sugarfoot, Tom Waits, Hans Chew, Jacco Gardner, Kikagaku Moyo, Chris Forsyth, Sheverb, The Warp/The Weft, Elkhorn, Fleet Foxes. | More.

Wolf People – Ruins (Jagjaguwar, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Rosalie Cunningham – Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric/Cherry Red, 2019) | UK | Buy
Bask – III (Season Of Mist, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Wovenhand – Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Wovenhand – Star Treatment (Sargent House, 2016) | USA | Bandcamp
Spirits Of The Dead – The Great God Pan (The End, 2011) | Norway
Bask – Ramble Beyond (Self Aware, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
The Warp/The Weft – Dead Reckoning (Warp/Weft, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores – Sister Death (Cuneiform, 2012) | USA | Bandcamp
The Warp/The Weft – Mapping An Absence (Admirable Traits, 2017) | USA | Bandcamp
Sun River – Sun River (El Paraiso, 2012) | Denmark | Buy
Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me (Drag City, 2010) | USA | Bandcamp
Rose City Band – Rose City Band (Jean Sandwich, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp

Non-Metal For Metalheads

Haley Fohr’s sixth album as Circuit des Yeux struck a nerve with it’s avant-folk and experimental rock that might appeal to the more adventurous metal heads.

Bubbling under: Lingua Ignota, Senyawa, Godflesh, Sunn O))), Alcest, Pelican, Boris, Anna von Hausswolff, Ştiu Nu Ştiu, Pinkish Black, Les Discrets, Secret Chiefs 3, ONO. | More.

Bent Knee – You Know What They Mean (InsideOut, 2019) | USA | Buy
Swans – To Be Kind (Young God/Mute, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Disco Inferno – The Five Eps (One Little Indian, 2011) | UK | Bandcamp
Algiers – Algiers (Matador, 2015) | USA
Alcest – Écailles De Lune (Prophecy, 2010) | France | Bandcamp
Swans – The Seer (Young God, 2012) | USA
SubRosa – More Constant Than The Gods (Profound Lore, 2013) | USA | Bandcamp
These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds (AIS, 2013) | UK | Buy
Have A Nice Life – The Unnatural World (Enemies List, 2014) | USA | Bandcamp
Holy Fawn – Death Spells (Whelmed, 2018) | USA | Bandcamp
Tom Waits – Bad As Me (Anti-, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp
Lightning Bolt – Sonic Citadel (Thrill Jockey, 2019) | USA | Bandcamp
SubRosa – No Help For The Mighty Ones (Profound Lore, 2011) | USA | Bandcamp

Between The Cracks

Between the cracks is less about underground non-mainstream releases, in which case about 98% of these lists would qualify, but bands that inhabit multiple styles and have not been widely embraced by the communities of any of those genres. Bands like Motorpsycho, Ufomammut, Colour Haze and Circle have pretty established brands and audiences, at least in Europe. But the bands below didn’t (though Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats certainly did on their second album).

I’ve written plenty about most of these already, but going to #8, back in my 2015 Psych Noir piece, Lola Colt was the key focus in the section titled, “Guns, Peyote ‘n’ Dark Highways.” Their evocative debut Away From The Water (Fuzz Club, 2014) brought to mind garage noir pioneers like The Scientists, Gun Club, Gallon Drunk, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Italian western composer Ennio Morricone, post-punkers Au Pairs along with psychedelia and the lyrical B-movie revels of Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats. Their second album was even more expansive, touching on Israeli folk and North African percussion, while evoking peak peak Jefferson Airplane and Siouxsie & the Banshees. Post-punk psych noir, more please! In 2019 they released the synthpop Human Made EP. Hopefully their next full album won’t abandon the guitars.

Spirits Of The Dead – Rumours Of A Presence (The End, 2013) | Norway
Hidden Masters – Of This & Other Worlds (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2013) | UK
Troubled Horse – Step Inside (Rise Above/Metal Blade, 2012) | Sweden
Syd Arthur – Apricity (Harvest/Communion, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Golden Void – Berkana (Thrill Jockey, 2015) | USA | Bandcamp
Monarch – Beyond The Blue Sky (El Paraiso, 2019) | USA | Buy
Wolf People – Fain (Jagjaguwar, 2013) | UK | Bandcamp
Golden Void – Golden Void (Thrill Jockey, 2012) | USA
Lola Colt – Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) | UK | Bandcamp
Hypnos 69 – Legacy (Elektrohasch, 2010) | Belgium | Bandcamp
The Sea Kings – Woke In The Devil’s Arms (Iffy Folk, 2014) | UK | Bandcamp
Been Obscene – Night O’ Mine (Elektrohasch, 2011) | Austria | Bandcamp
Fuzz Manta – The Stonewolf (Kosmik Artifactz, 2013) | Denmark

Bubbling under: Sungrazer, The Dials, MaidaVale, Teen Judge, The White Kites, The Galileo 7, The Sand Pebbles, The Greek Theatre, The Fast Camels, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Snail.

Labels

While Relapse had the most releases that made this list in the 2010s, with 109 compared to Nuclear Blast’s 102, Nuclear Blast had the better albums thanks to hosting bands like Graveyard, Witchcraft, Blues Pills, Avatarium, Kadavar, Opeth, Enslaved, The Doomsday Kingdom, Earthless, Alcest and more. It’s amazing that independent labels such as those can be so prolific. While self releasing is increasingly feasible with the help of Bandcamp, labels like these still have much to offer.

Nuclear Blast
Relapse
Svart
Domino
Thrill Jockey
Sub Pop
Profound Lore
Metal Blade
Drag City
Napalm
Century Media
Fuzz Club
Ripple Music

Bubbling under: Merge, Sacred Bones, XL, Matador, Small Stone, 4AD, Rise Above, Seasons Of Mist, Cruz Del Sur, Trouble In Mind, RidingEasy, Transubstans, Tee Pee, Jagjaguwar, Warp, El Paraiso, InsideOut, Shadow Kingdom, Southern Lord, Rune Grammofon, Captured Tracks, Sargent House, Castle Face, Rocket, Fire, Cardinal Fuzz, Slumberland, In The Red.

Singles

Nope.

Videos

430+ videos.

Shows

I usually prefer shows at small clubs, but Iron Maiden is ruining it for me. Next show I’ll be like, but where are the flamethrowers? The best show was also one of the last I saw of the decade, and before the pandemic.

Bruce Dickinson just turned 61 that month, August 2019, and he’s still leaping from great heights, swordfighting, and hitting the high notes. And he’s the spring chicken compared to the other oriiginal members (Adrian Smith 62, Steve Harris 63, Nicko McBrain 67!), most of whom did plenty of running around and pogoing. Metal’s superheroes.

The Legacy of the Beast tour is my favorite so far, partly because of the great stage show, with Bruce literally pulling flames out of his sleeves for “Flight Of Icarus,” sword fighting the giant Eddie in “The Trooper,” a 90% size replica of a 1941 Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb for “Where Eagles Dare” (boasting the best drum intro ever), a giant Icarus stature, an even bigger evil Eddie head, a noose, and more costume changes than Beyonce (every song!). But mostly because the set favored my all-time favorite, and often underrated Iron Maiden album, Piece Of Mind (1983), with four cuts, including my all-time fave “Revelations.”

There were a couple surprise choices, two long songs from Maiden’s lean Blaze Bayley years in the 90s, “The Clansman” and “Sign Of the Cross.” While I’d have preferred to hear “Still Life” or “Powerslave,” I sat and listened. Solid songs. The biggest cheers came of course for the older classics “The Number of The Beast” and encore “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “Run To The Hills.”

Bruce got a bid greedy with his “Scream for me, Chicago!” requests, sometimes interfering with some of my favorite guitar parts, and weren’t we paying him to sustain that scream on “Number of The Beast” just a bit longer? But nevertheless we obliged. It was the least we could do for the best tour on the planet.

Looking forward to seeing any band again someday, but especially the ones I haven’t seen yet: Motorpsycho, Colour Haze, Troubled Horse, Lola Colt, Amplifier, Causa Sui, Papir, Blues Pills, Magic Circle, Monarch, Avatarium, Mythic Sunship, Spidergawd, Birth Of Joy, MaidaVale.

Iron Maiden – Hollywood Casino, 8/22/19
Black Sabbath – Lollapalooza, 8/3/12
Iggy & The Stooges – Aragon, 8/29/10
Rush, Charter One Pavilion, 8/23/10
ELO, Allstate Arena, 8/15/18
Syd Arthur – Riot Fest, 9/18/16
Roadburn Festival, 4/14-17/16
Ufomammut – Reggie’s, 5/13/15
Walt Mink – T.T. Bears, Boston, 7/27/11
Elder – The Burlington, 7/1/12
Gojira – Bottom Lounge, 8/16/12
Truckfighters – Ultra Lounge, 3/5/12
Graveyard – House of Blues, 4/26/14

Bubbling under: Golden Void – Empty Bottle, 1/25/16, Christian Mistress – Red Tap, 9/3/15, Baroness – Subterranean, 8/3/13, Sleep – Thalia Hall, 8/28/14, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Schubas, 5/2/18 & Thalia Hall, 6/4/19, Iggy & The Stooges – Riot Fest, 9/16/12, Iron Maiden – United Center, 4/6/16, Black Sabbath – United Center, 1/22/16, Purson – Subterranean, 5/23/16, Jex Thoth – Days of the Doomed, 6/21/14, Pagan Altar – Reggies, 8/31/19, Truckfighters – Reggies, 8/24/13, 5/12/14, 1/20/17, 10/25/17, Graveyard – Lincoln Hall, 2/16/13 & 12/5/15, Elder – Reggies, 3/12/15, 10/17/17, Kadavar – Double Door, 10/4/15, White Denim – Reggie’s, 10/23/13, The Replacements – Riot Fest, 9/15/13, Khemmis – Reggie’s, 1/13/17

Movies

I think 2010s might be remembered where television kicked movies’ asses. Seriously, for entertainment value, storytelling, world building and comedy, TV has it beat in every way. Get Out is the only movie that even comes close to the awesomeness of Lovecraft Country and Watchmen.

Get Out (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Moonlight (2016)
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
The Heat (2013)
Parasite (2019)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Booksmart (2019)
Lady Bird (2017)
Knives Out (2019)
The Big Sick (2017)

Bubbling under: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Midnight In Paris, Kids Are All Right, Roma, Avengers: Endgame, Coco, The Shape of Water, BlacKkKlansman, Arrival, Ghostbusters, Zootopia, Shawn The Sheep: The Movie, Long Shot, Inception, Paddington 2, Black Panther, Incredibles 2, Hidden Figures, Hugo, Searching For Sugar Man, A Band Called Death, Upstream Color, Boyhood, Inside Out, Paddington, Jojo Rabbit, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Television

It took me a while to get around to it, because I thought, I read the Watchmen comic, saw the movie, what’s the point. I realized the point was a dated piece of pop cultural history could be made very relevant with better writing, and a realistic approach to racial trauma, centering its righteous rage on the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, the single most horrific incident of racial violence in American history, which of course was covered up and ignored in textbooks and schools until quite recently. Lovecraft Country would do a similar thing the next year, and was even better. There was plenty of other great TV shows based on comics other than the good but inconsistent Marvel Shows (Agent Carter, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, etc), such as The Boys, Preacher, Umbrella Academy, HAPPY!, and American Gods, based on Neil Gaiman’s novel. How about a treatment of Warren Ellis’ Transmetropolitan next? Or Brian K. Vaughan’s Saga?

Watchmen
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Breaking Bad S03-05
Stranger Things
Schitt’s Creek
The Good Wife/The Good Fight
The Boys
Californication
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Master of None
Broad City
I’m Sorry
The Crown

Bubbling under: Altered Carbon, Parks & Recreation, Big Mouth, Pen15, The Mandalorian, Russian Doll, Grace And Frankie, The Kominsky Method, Glow, After Life, Umbrella Academy, Preacher, HAPPY!, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Bridge, Killing Eve, The Muppets, Metalocalypse, Endeavour, Sherlock, Inspector Lewis, 30 Rock, Bored to Death, Hung, Happy Endings, You’re The Worst, Elementary, Louie, The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Maron, Chewing Gum, American Gods, Ms. Fisher’s MODern Murder Mysteries.

Books

Fantasy and sci-fi were traditionally seen as escapist, and not serious literature. Yet more than ever, sci-fi makes better sense of all the insane developments and predicaments in the real world than most literary fiction. Johannes Johns’ The Redwood Revenger trilogy contends with the pandemic (paleomegavirus), climate crisis (the Great Warming), the dangers of AI technology (the Great Erasure), a West Coast secession (Cascadian Federation). We may not have killer sock monkeys or alien sasquatches, but it’s early days. Yes, there’s all kinds of books that ponderously take on ISSUES. But to find something that combines social satire with completely bonkers imagination and comic relief is a rare and beautiful thing. The RWR should be prescribed for mental health along with a healthy vegetarian diet and trail walk/runs.

Johannes Johns – The Redwood Revenger (2018) & Red Bush (The Redwood Revenger, Book Two) (2019)
Christopher Moore – Secondhand Souls: A Novel (2015)
Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland – The Rise And Fall Of D.O.D.O. (2017)
Neal Stephenson – Fall, or, Dodge In Hell (2019)
William Gibson – The Peripheral: The Jackpot Trilogy Pt 1 (2014)
Ernest Cline – Ready Player One (2012)
Christopher Moore – Noir (2018)
Michael Chabon – Telegraph Avenue (2012)
China Miéville- Kraken (2010)
Ian McDonald – The Dervish House (2010)
Thomas Pynchon – Bleeding Edge (2013)
Viv Albertine – Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys: A Memoir (2014)
David Stubbs – Future Days: Krautrock and the Building of Modern Germany (2014)

Bubbling under: Aaron Cohen – Move On Up: Chicago Soul Music and Black Cultural Power (2019), Rob Young – All Gates Open: The Story Of Can (2018), David Weigel – The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock (2017), Haruki Murakami – Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage (2014), Simon Reynolds – Shock And Awe: Glam Rock And Its Legacy from the Seventies to the Twenty-first Century (2016), Warren Ellis – Normal: A Novel (2016), Mark Lewisohn – Tune In: The Beatles, All These Years (2013), Will Hermes – Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever (2011), Neal Stephenson – Reamde (2011), Robert Kroese – Mercury Trilogy (2010-12), Jonathan Lethem – Dissident Gardens (2013), Gillian Summers – The Scions Of Shadow Trilogy (2010-12), David Cavanagh – Good Night and Good Riddance: How Thirty-Five Years of John Peel Helped to Shape Modern Life (2015)

Comics

Brian K. Vaughan is responsible for not one, not two, but three of the top 20 best comic series ever with Y: Last Man, Ex Machina and now Saga. Yes, it’s that good. Love and war, violence and non-violence, interracial love, how to raise children as fugitives, space ghosts, in-laws, it’s friggin’ Dostoyevsky but with jokes! If comics as so-so as Deadly Class, Umbrella Academy and HAPPY! can be made into TV series, Saga really needs to be done.

Saga – Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples (Image)
The Boys – Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson
Chew – John Layman & Rob Guillory (Image)
Daytripper – Fabio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Black Metal – Rick Spears & Chuck BB (Oni Press)
Incognito – Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
Dryad – Kurtis Wiebe & Justin Osterling
Ms. Marvel – G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona (Marvel)
Deadly Class – Rick Remender, Wes Craig & Lee Loughridge (Image)
Sex Criminals – Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky (Image)
Injection – Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, Jordie Bellaire
FreakAngels – Warren Ellis
The Unwritten – Mike Carey, Peter Gross & Vince Locke

Bubbling under: Heavy Vinyl – Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva, Paper Girls – Brian K. Vaughan & Cliff Chiang, G. Willow Wilson & M.K. Perker – Air, The Wildstorm – Warren Ellis, Jon Davis-Hunt, Trees – Warren Ellis & Jason Howard (Image), Karnak – Warren Ellis, Gerardo Zaffino, David Aja, Moon Knight – Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire [Brian Wood, Greg Smallwood] (Marvel Now!), Neonomicon – Alan Moore & Jacen Burrows, Dan Abnett & I.N.J. Culbard – The New Deadwardians, Scalped – Jason Aaron & R.M. Guera, Fatale/The Fade Out – Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips, Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore – The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode, Philip K. Dick & Tony Parker – Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, Secret Service – Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons, Nick Spencer & Joe Eisma – Morning Glories, The Wake – Scott Snyder & Sean Murphy (Vertigo), Chrononauts – Mark Millar, Sean Murphy, Archangel – William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Butch Guice, Cry Havoc – Simon Spurrier, Huck – Mark Millar, Rafael Albuquerque, Heartthrob – Christopher Sebela, Robert Wilson IV, Nick Filardi, Monstress – Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda, Fables – Bill Willingham & Marc Buckingham.

Posted in: Books, Features, Film, Listicles, Live, Lucky 13, Rants, Reviews, TV, Videos/Singles

Tagged: Bask, Bent Knee, Best Albums of 2010s, Causa Sui, Christopher Moore, Circuit des Yeux, Colour Haze, D'Angelo And The Vanguard, decade summary, E.L. Heath, Elder, Fester's Lucky 13, Get Out, Goat, Gojira, Golden Void, Graveyard, Hidden Masters, Iron Maiden, Johannes Johns, Lizzo, Lola Colt, Magic Circle, Monarch, Motorpsycho, Nuclear Blast, Papir, Radiohead, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Rosalie Cunningham, Royal Headache, Secondhand Souls, spiders, Spirits Of The Dead, Syd Arthur, Tame Impala, The Redwood Revenger trilogy, The Resonance Ensemble, The Soft Pack, The Sonic Dawn, These New Puritans, Troubled Horse, Truckfighters, ufomammut, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Vampire Weekend, Watchmen, Witchcraft, Wolf People

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