Top 10 2010s Alternative Albums

10. Lifted - Israel Nash (2018)

When this album comes to mind, I envision a thick and hazy cloud with washed out loads of heavy reverb. Nash's vocals truly do remind me of a modern day Neil Young. Lifted has a psychedelic presence at times, but there's nothing too harsh - utilizing a full mix of background vocalists, horns, and strings. There's always a satisfying build up and closure - as lots of layering is present especially with the pedal steel guitars. Yet the songs are so well constructed that they could blossom in a minimalist setup. The horns on the chorus of "Looking Glass" are reminiscent of those on "Penny Lane" from The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour release. "Golden Fleeces" ends the album on a high note and has an encore style feel to it that makes you wish the album could keep going.

9. Waiting on a Song - Dan Auerbach (2017)

Waiting on a Song is another consistent album, and there really isn't a bad song on it. Like the adjacent albums before and after on this list, the emphasis is on songwriting. There's such a great nostalgic feel going on with the recording and mixing process - the use of classic strings make the tracks sound like they're coming straight out of the '60s or '70s. "King of a One Horse Town" is a great analogy and song all in one. The slower songs such as "Never in My Wildest Dreams" and "Undertow" seem to be some of the more carefully crafted and meaningful. The only thing knocking this album is the length. Out of the 10 songs, none of them are over 4 minutes (33 minutes total).

8. This Old Dog - Mac Demarco (2017)

I could have just as easily put Demarco's other projects of the decade such as Salad Days and 2 on the list, but this album feels the most polished. His lazy style includes heavy vibrato induced swirls on the guitars/synths with his lo-fi textures. Mac Demarco shows that he is a true songwriter - as he is the sole instrumentalist throughout all the tracks you hear on This Old Dog. He talks about the distant relationship with his father in "Watching Him Fade Away" and "This Old Dog" while tracks such as "A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes" and "Baby You're Out" help to round it out with some energy. Demarco's lazy jack of all trades approach shines with some of the better songwriting I've heard in awhile. Likewise, his consistency throughout the years makes me expect quality releases in the future.

7. God's Favorite Customer - Father John Misty (2018)

This is perhaps Father John Misty's most accessible work, as I happened to I stumble upon it just a few weeks after it was released. The songwriting form on God's Favorite Customer has a true Beatles touch with a vocal style of Elton John. Tillman's usual satirical approach throughout is evident, but a serious tone is found more often than not. The title track "God's Favorite Customer" details a transparent experience with the ethereal during Tillman's time of need. He sees his creative perspective through the eyes of his wife on "The Songwriter", a hauntingly beautiful reflection. I can't get enough of compelling emotions invoked in "Just Dumb Enough to Try" (along with Jonathon Wilson's fuzz solo). Yet with all these despairing songs, there's always a cynical complement in "Date Night" and "Mr. Tillman".

6. Lonerism - Tame Impala (2012)

I was torn between either Lonerism or Currents making this list, but ultimately chose the former due to its musical fluidity. Keven Parker puts a new twist on commercially viable modern psychedelia by synthesizing grooves that are sonically distant while making others inviting and danceable. He integrates modular synthetic streams of color oozing into different dimensions - which feels bright but also hazy. There's a genuine late '60s vibe at various points throughout the album on tracks like "Sun's Coming Up" and especially "Keep On Lying".

5. Bad Self Portraits - Lake Street Dive (2014)

Lake Street Dive's blend of pop, funk, and soul stirs up a recipe of affable wonder. Likewise, Rachael Price's thick and sultry voice is featured heavily on Bad Self Portraits; bright and gentle elements are found on "Better Than", with bluesy conundrums on "Just Ask". The versatility of Mike Olson is seen through his touch on guitar, keyboard, and trumpet. And don't forget that all four members of the band can sing as well - which allows for layers of lush harmonies where needed. "Stop Your Crying" is a great example of this along with "Rental Love" which builds nicely and gives a proper sendoff.

4. Brothers - The Black Keys (2010)

The Black Keys built on their past repertoire to form Brothers, a lo-fidelity joyride of nostalgic benevolence. "Everlasting Light" sets the tone with a driving beat and "Never Gonna You Up" throws it back to simpler times with a Jerry Butler cover. The signature Black Keys fuzzed out madness appears on "She's Long Gone", which has grown on me over the years along with "Ten Cent Pistol". And the emotions felt during the first few listens of "These Days" will always stick with me.

3. I Love You, Honeybear - Father John Misty (2015)

Some of Tillman's best standalone songs come through on I Love You, Honeybear; it starts with a heavy love induced swirl but shifts towards a pessimistic stance as time goes on. "The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt." talks about his dealings with vacuous consumer women devoid of substance - which leads to the turning point on the 6th track "Nothing Good Ever Happens At the Goddamn Thirsty Crow". My personal top three songs follow consecutively at the end of the album. "Bored in the USA" takes a playful indirect jab at Bruce Springsteen's hit with a new version of the motto based around the pitfalls of modern America. "Holy S**t" feels like his most relateable track which best represents what Tillman's cynical nature is about. I Love You, Honeybear ends with one of the most beautiful songs ever written in "I Went To the Store One Day" about meeting his wife in a grocery store parking lot (of all things). And after all, love is seemingly just an institution based on human frailty.

2. Boys & Girls - Alabama Shakes (2012)

Brittany Howard at the age of 23 had the presence of a songwriter much older and wiser; this is how present day feel good music should sound. While there's definitely an old style soul/r&b influence, it ushers in a modern and compelling touch. "I Found You" and "Hang Loose" help to start Boys & Girls off on the right path while belting vocal performances on "Heartbreaker" and "I Ain't the Same" show Howard's prowess. Overall these bluesy ballads and tire-squeeling shakedowns allow for the Alabama Shakes' music to live on even after just two studio releases.

1. Pure Comedy - Father John Misty (2017)

Songwriting, experimentalism, and simplicity all combine into Pure Comedy's vocal message which improves as the album goes on. As much as it is a hazy psychedelic trip, it has a coherent direction challenging the pillars of the modern capitalist 21st century. At the end of the day, FJM is a brash and cocky bearded man giving his social critiques of the society we live in. The album begins with a full circle motif on the opening track "Pure Comedy", which is later referenced on "When the God of Love Returns There'll be Hell to Pay". It follows with a 13 minute reflection in "Leaving LA", that will scare off listeners within the first six minutes. Subsequently Tillman touches on polarizing themes that the American political landscape struggles with in "Two Wildly Different Perspectives". The album trails off with "So I'm Growing Old on Magic Mountain" - a fountain of youth induced aura that sonically is one of the best songs I've heard (it really is). Coming in at an hour and 14 minutes, Pure Comedy is nearly double that of other albums, and is a perfect balance of being ambitious while not over stepping the bounds. Not many albums can challenge god and the establishment in such a sonically perfected apocalyptic masterpiece. Quite frankly, this is one of the greatest albums I have ever listened to.