The top fifteen, plus bubblin’ under, bands with majority of albums in 21st century, and new bands.
I have a tie for first place, then below I’ll include some bubbling under lists, including bands who had a majority of their best/most significant albums in the 21st century. Both bands are in a dead heat. Both formed in 2006. Both have released five albums. One is Swedish, the other American. Both should have album number six coming out hopefully by the end of the year, which might serve as the tiebreaker.
#1: Graveyard
Formed: 2006, 5 albums
Hisingen Blues (2011)
#1: Elder
Formed: 2006, 5 albums
Reflections of a Floating World (2017)
Elder could have the edge in that their two most recent albums are better than Graveyard’s last two, and are showing more artistic growth recently. However I have logged a lot more hours listening to Graveyard than Elder, especially their first three albums. Their last two albums are growing me as my appetite grows for album number six. But Elder has more extras, the colossal Spires Burn EP (2012), the space rockin’ Gold & Silver Sessions (2019) and their collaboration with Kadavar, Eldovar.
#3: TV On The Radio
Formed: 2001, 5 albums
Dear Science (2008)
Williamsburgh, Brooklyn’s TV On The Radio may have been overshadowed by more accessible peers from the local scene like The Strokes and Interpol early in the decade, and then Animal Collective. But through it all, they were my number one. Critics like Greg Kot in Sound Opinions agree, stating that TVOTR has best stood the test of time. Even when they were getting pretty universal raves in the mid-2000s, they were never able to cross over to a larger pop audience, despite having a number of singles that could have done the job (“Wolf Like Me,” “Golden Age,” “Will Do”). In their art rock with a fascinating blend of doo wop and post-rock, David Bowie recognized kindred spirits and made a guest appearance on their Dear Science album. It’s been 8 years since their last album Seeds (2014) but they haven’t officially disbanded that I know of. Tunde Adebimpe has gotten a lot of movie roles, and I hope they will gift us with more music someday.
#4: Ufomammut
Formed: 1999, 10 albums
Eve (2010)
I don’t listen to a lot of sludge metal bands, mostly because they are not Ufomammut. No offense to innovators like Neurosis and YOB, it’s just that this Italian band’s cosmic space doom delivers exactly what I need with the subgenre. They really ought to start getting more credit for it. As the Malleus Collective they are also accomplished artists, doing the covers, T-shirts and posters for the band and others. Some of their best is collected in a book. Eve is conceptualized as a metaphysical space opera. Their core elements were distilled in perhaps the best introductory package with Idolum (2008), though their two Oro albums (2012) are also a must hear. Their latest, Fenice, is a contender for this year’s Lucky 13.
#5: Truckfighters
Formed: 2001, 5 albums
Mania (2009)
Truckfighters may have been preceded by bands like Demon Cleaner, Lowrider and Dozer, but due to relentless touring and really fun albums, they became the defacto Swedish ambassadors of fuzz. At a time when many European bands had never played in North America, Truckfighters would criss-cross the continent nearly every year, sometimes twice. Dango, Ozo and Pezo put together the most energetic, exciting stageshow of any of their peers. More than anyone, they reminded me of footage of a young AC/DC in the mid-70s. Though there’s some irreverent song titles, their music actually leans toward somewhat sprawling epics with touches of prog. Aside from the enthusiasm from hardcore fans I’ve seen at the over half dozen shows I’ve seen, they seem under represented in the general discourse on modern heavy stoner psych and fuzz. Don’t sleep on ’em! There’s a documentary about them too, with Josh Homme calling them the best band in the world.
#6: White Denim
Formed: 2006, 10 albums
Fits (2009)
I knew this Austin band was special right when I heard their first EP Let’s Talk About It (2007). By their second album, Fits, their chaotic garage rock included influences from the same psychedelic wells that Tame Impala and Dungen drank from. They could appeal to fans of Meat Puppets, Southern Rock and even hang with jam bands. Their often irreverent, deceptively messy albums distracted people from the fact that they are actually ambitious, virtuoso musicians, and one of the very best American bands of the 21st century. I like everything they’ve done, but also check out D (2011), Corsicana Lemonade (2013) and Performance (2018) for starters.
#7: Syd Arthur
Formed: 2003, 3 albums
Apricity (2016)
Once about every decade, slightly more if I’m lucky, I stumble upon a band whose sound hits EVERY pleasure button. Hearing Syd Arthur for the first time gave me a niggling sense of deja vu, not because they don’t sound unique, but because I felt like I’d had reoccurring dreams with their music. Referred to as Canterbury prog mainly because they literally came from Canterbury, England, they mix in psychedelia, Afro pop and subtle textural influences of electronic music the band listened to in their teens. The jazzy flow, addictive guitar tones and Liam Magill’s unique reedy voice all contribute to a floaty, ethereal listening experience. Live, they were transcendent. Like many bands I fell hard for the past decade, they suddenly became dormant, with no sign of them for the past six years aside from serving from a backing band to Jack Hues of Wang Chung. No, seriously. I really hope this band isn’t finished. I find myself digging up their early EPs and demos on YouTube like a freaking crack addict. The earliest work the band has available on their Bandcamp page is Moving World EP (2011). They’re probably right to leave off their formative recordings from 2006-08, which lack the magical sheen of their three main albums, On an On (2012), Sound Mirror (2014) and Apricity. Fingers crossed there’s more to come.
#8: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Formed: 2013, 4 albums
Talk Tight (2015)
Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is the jangle pop band I invented in my imagination years before they existed — a three guitar jangle machine that starts with the essential base of The Feelies and builds upon it all the best jangle pop and post-punk influences. Plus New Order (see “French Press”), which is could be concerning. Fingers crossed, a band with three guitars isn’t going to abandon their guitars like it seems requisite with any band that flirts with indie and mainstream pop. Best place to start is probably their debut Talk Tight. Considered an EP, bundled with the early singles that come free on Bandcamp, it’s a very strong 46 minute album. While Hope Downs (2018) edges the other proper albums out, they’ve maintained consistent high quality, with Endless Rooms a shoe-in to make this year’s Lucky 13.
#9: The Sonic Dawn
Formed: 2013, 4 albums
Enter the Mirage (2020)
The Sonic Dawn are an immensely talented Danish psych pop band who seem destined to become one of those obscure buried treasures that record diggers crow about discovering in subsequent years. I hope not. These days, there’s a lot more competition, with literally thousands of stoner psych bands. Those who occasionally experience fuzz fatigue like myself, however, find it refreshing to find psych pop bands that let up on the effects pedals and rely and some superb musicianship and a wide range of influences from jazz to Global pop. The competition seems to pretty much shoot themselves in the feet by going synthpop like Tame Impala, breaking up (Hidden Masters) or remaining dormant for a half dozen years (Syd Arthur). The Sonic Dawn have been productive and progressive so far, and hopefully have a new record coming that will help them expand their audience. If not, at least they left behind nearly four perfect albums.
#10: Witchcraft
Formed: 2000, 6 albums
Legend (2012)
Along with Dungen, Witchcraft became a new favorite Swedish band in 2004, really nailing a satisfying mix of Black Sabbath and Pentagram influences amongst more obscure European psych prog and proto-metal on their first two albums. They kept getting better, incorporating some progressive folk on The Alchemist (2007), and peaking with their most accessible album, Legend. Unfortunately Nucleus (2016) indicated a decline, which reached a nadir with Black Metal (2020), basically a solo acoustic album documenting Magnus Pelander losing his marbles. If it weren’t for those two, Witchcraft would have been duking it out for at least the #3 spot.
#11: Baroness
Formed: 2003, 5 albums
Blue Record (2009)
I understand why Pete doesn’t want to rank these bands, he wants more time to think about that kind of thing. I probably spend more proporationate time listening to these versus older music, so I’m pretty confident in this order for now. Lucky 13 is Baroness, a really great band from Savannah Georgia released two EPs that mix post-hardcore punk and sludge metal, their second album, Blue Record being my favorite. All cover art is done by the multitalented John Dyer Baizley. They expanded their scope to include psych and indie rock on the Yellow & Green double (2012), and barely survived a horrific bus crash in England, with two members leaving due to the severity of their injuries. They returned triumphant with the Purple (2015). Gold & Grey (2019) was a bit disappointing, but I expect great things from their upcoming album, with the latest lineup having had a few years to settle in.
#12: Torche
Formed: 2004, 5 albums
Meanderthal (2008)
Steve Brooks and Juan Montoya played in Florida’s Floor since 1992, and while they recorded a lot of material that was eventually released on a box set, only a self-titled album in 2002 actually was released. They carried on with the E-bombs, but the songs got shorter and catchier. Meanderthal was so accessible, it seemed their brand of sludge pop was going to blow up and cross over. Not quite, but an essential band of the 21st century nonetheless.
#13: Dungen
Formed: 1998, 8 albums
Ta det lugnt (2004)
To me, Dungen signify the rapid growth of stoner/psych/prog and proto-metal bands from Europe, perking up North American ears with their catching song “Panda” from their second album. I was fairly on top of stoner psych through the 90s with Monster Magnet, Sleep, Kyuss, Fu Manchu, QOTSA and all the stuff coming out on the Man’s Ruin label. However I hadn’t yet heard much that tapped into that warm, bulbous sound of 70s recordings exemplified by Black Sabbath, but employed by a wide range of hard rock, psych prog and proto-metal bands. Stockholm Sweden’s Dungen started to scratch that itch, and they were just the tip of the iceburg. Insisting on keeping their lyrics in Swedish has limited their growth on this side of the Atlantic, but those savvy enough to recognize the brilliance of Gustav Ejstes and Reine Fiske have been rewarded with a rich catalog that explores psych prog, jazz rock and psych folk. Their 8th full length En Är För Mycket Och Tusen Aldrig Nog is out October 7, and I can’t wait.
#14: Gojira
Formed: 2001, 7 albums
From Mars to Sirius (2005)
Entering the dirty dozen is the mighty Gojira. Liberal ecological rage expressed through equal parts brutal and progressive death metal. It’s a close race between From Mars to Sirius and The Way of All Flesh (2008). Their most recent trio of albums are good, but I don’t always love the direction they’ve taken in incorporating stiff industrial elements. I’m optimistic that they will eventually pivot and return to a more organic, flexible sound. But they remain one of the best live bands in the world. I had a ticket to a show originally scheduled summer 2020 that was postponed by nearly two years. By the time it happened, I was in a different part of the country. Hopefully next time.
#15: Spidergawd
Formed: 2013, 6 albums
V (2019)
We’re really getting into major heavy rotation bands now. Norway’s Spidergawd included Motorpsycho’s Bent Sæther on bass until 2016. The main thing in common is that they’re nearly as prolific, with Spidergawd releasing a half dozen albums in a span of just seven years. Their stoner psych is more hard driving like Fu Manchu, less proggy, with Rolf Martin Snustad’s saxophone evoking Hawkwind at their most rocking. Such a consistently great batch of albums, V just barely makes it over the others, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.
#16: Causa Sui
Formed: 2004, 8 albums
Euporie Tide (2013)
Denmark’s Causa Sui was formed in 2005 by Jonas Munk, who has another career as an electronica musician known as Manual, who’s debut came out in 2001 on the famous IDM label Morr. Since then he’s had a dozen releases as Manual, and Euporie Tide is his seventh with the stoner psych project, counting the three separate volumes of Summer Sessions (2008-09). Like Colour Haze, on whose label Elektrohasch they started out on, Causa Sui specialize in liquidy psychedelic jams that explore a multitude of tones, textures and jazz-like improvisation. In recent years they’ve gotten pretty loosy-goosey between the five discs of Summer Sessions and Pewt’r Sessions (2011), adding up to over three and a half hours of jams that work great in the background, but can be a bit much to focus on in singular sittings. Not so with Euporie Tide, which feels a bit more composed and orchestrated, but no less trippy, resulting in an engaging listen despite its relatively epic 64 minute length. It grew on me gradually since its late summer release, especially when the rich sounds stood out when I’d listen to the new releases on random. It’s revealed itself as a career highlight, and a great place to start for people new to the band, along with Return to Sky (2016), Vibraciones Doradas (2017) and Szabodelico (2020). Or you could start at their most rockin’ beginning with the self-titled first album (2005) or Free Ride (2007), which I found just yesterday in a new arrivals bin.
Bands that released their best/most significant albums in the 21st century.
1. Motorpsycho
Formed 1989, 23 albums
The Tower (2017)
Okay, they released six albums in the 90s, which certainly disqualifies them from this series. BUT but but . . . their very best work began with an incredible run in the 00s, starting with Black Hole/Blank Canvas (2006). Arguably their very best work has been in the last five years, with five albums, three of them double albums.
2. Colour Haze
Formed 1994, 13 albums
All (2008)
While their first three albums were released in the 90s, all of them were very formative, meaning only Periscope (1999) was remotely close to achieving their signature sound. In an astounding run that few bands have achieved, they released seven albums from Co2 (2000) to She Said (2012) where they maintained an extended peak. Fan opinions are split on favorites — their first double Los Sounds de Krauts (2003) and the self-titled from 2004 are popular, whereas mine is All (2008). In the past decade, they’ve taken risks and experimented, but all the albums are worth hearing. Like many of their releases, a new album Sacred was announced with little fanfare, and no information on the actual release date. Guaranteed it’ll be a treat when it drops though.
3. Radiohead
Formed: 1991, 9 albums
Kid A (2000)
This is debatable of course, but I didn’t really like Radiohead until Kid A. The Bends (1995) and OK Computer (1997) grew on me after the fact, but I still think the bulk of their best music came later.
4. Queens of the Stone Age
Formed: 1996, 7 albums
Songs for the Deaf (2002)
5. The Lord Weird Slough Feg
Formed: 1990, 10 albums
Down Among the Deadmen (2000)
6. Spoon
Formed: 1993, 10 albums
Kill the Moonlight (2003)
7. The White Stripes
Formed: 1997, 6 albums
Elephant (2003)
8. …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Formed: 1994, 11 albums
XI: Bleed Here Now (2022)
9. The Sadies
Formed: 1995, 10 albums
Colder Streams (2022)
New bands
Plenty of these bands formed a while ago, and may even have as many as four or more albums. But if their first ones didn’t quite catch fire, but they showed to be developing on more recent work, I consider them eventual contenders.
- Monarch
- Mother Island
- The Buttertones
- Fooks Nihil
- Bask
- Crypt Trip
- Kings of the Valley
- Turtle Skull
- Vitskär Süden
- Shaman Elephant
- GYASI
- Limousine Beach
- Slift
- Elephant Tree
- Lord Buffalo
- Soft Hearted Scientists
- Nathan Hall & The Sinister Locals
- The Pink Moon
- The Lancashire Hustlers
- The Moons
Their previous bands already made the list:
Rosalie Cunningham (Purson)
Molassess (The Devil’s Blood)
Large Plants (Wolf People)
The Long List
- Graveyard
- Elder
- TV On The Radio
- Ufomammut
- Truckfighters
- White Denim
- Syd Arthur
- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
- The Sonic Dawn
- Witchcraft
- Baroness
- Torche
- Dungen
- Gojira
- Spidergawd
- Causa Sui
- Papir
- The Black Angels
- Wolf People
- Magic Circle
- Spirits of the Dead
- Troubled Horse
- Hidden Masters
- Golden Void
- Christian Mistress
- Mastodon
- Khemmis
- Spirit Adrift
- Kadavar
- Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
- Torche
- Purson
- Wo Fat
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Tame Impala
- Vampire Weekend
- The Dials
- Arctic Monkeys
- Bambara
- Algiers
- Amplifier
- Tropical Fuck Storm
- Lola Colt
- Om
- The Strokes
- The Coral
- Interpol
- Savages
- Maxïmo Park
- Witch Mountain
- Blood Ceremony
- The Vintage Caravan
- My Sleeping Karma
- The Rakes
- Vektor
- Franz Ferdinand
- Castle
- The Futureheads
- Royal Thunder
- The Warp/The Weft
- Been Obscene
- Sungrazer
- The Libertines
- Bloc Party
- Jex Thoth
- Asteroid
- Demon Eye
- The Sea Kings
- The Early Years
- Hits
- Serpent Venom
- Grave Pleasures
- Messenger
- Pete & the Pirates
- Good Shoes
- Wand
- The Buttertones
- Bent Knee
- Wovenhand
- The Vaccines
- The Soft Pack
- Royal Headache
- Teen Judge
- Haunt
- Protomartyr
- Sugarfoot
- Goat Girl
- Mere Women
- Groupie
- Garcia Peoples
- Orango
- All Them Witches
- High on Fire
- Chris Forsyth
- Shaman Elephant
- Fuzz
- Spiders
- Fuzz Manta
- Bask
- Orango
- The Galileo 7
- The Sand Pebbles
- High on Fire
- Birth of Joy
- Sungrazer
- Hammers Of Misfortune
- Hollow Hand
- Wardruna
- Tami Neilson
- The Greek Theatre
- The Fast Camels
- Sunder
- Elephant Stone
- Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows
- Steve Gunn
- Wooden Shjips
- Wovenhand
- Real Estate
- Elephant Stone
- Papernut Cambridge
- Elephant9
- Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores
- Moon Duo
- Gazpacho
- Triptides
- Greenleaf
- Pale Divine
- Nina Nastasia
- P.K. 14
- Oh Sees
- The Ocean
- Fooks Nihil
- Warpaint
- The Black Keys
- The Ocean Party
- Franz Ferdinand
- Ryley Walker
- YOB
- The New Pornographers
- The Hellacopters
Pete’s Picks
We actually had seven bands in common, which is pretty good, plus a handful of other picks that were just bubbling under the top 31 for me.
Between the Buried and Me
Black Bonzo
Blues Pills
Bubblemath
Communic
The Devil’s Blood
Earthless
Elder
Ghost
Gojira
Graveyard
Greta Van Fleet
Haken
Kadavar
King Buffalo
Lords of Black
Magic Pie
Mastodon
Night Demon
Obscura
Rival Sons
Riverside
Seventh Wonder
Siena Root
The Sword
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats
The Vintage Caravan
Witchcraft
Wobbler
Wo Fat
April 2, 2026
Fester’s Lucky 13: 1986
February 27, 2026
Fester’s Lucky 13: 1976
