So I guess I’m doing my top 10 albums of the decade. I’m not doing them in any particular order, but these are the ones that stuck out to me the most and I’ll be posting my thoughts as well as my top 3 tracks. I will not be including EPs even though there are plenty I’ve loved that came out since 2010. Rate it, like it, share it, whatever you wanna do.
1. New Levels New Devils by Polyphia (2018)
This is the album I think of every time some old school famous rocker complains about nobody doing guitar music or anyone being interested in guitar music. Tim and Scott play some of the most interesting sounding riffs over the most fun tracks I’ve heard when it comes to straight guitar music. I used to be very into shredders(like Yngwie, Steve Vai, Statch etc) but fell out because it was all kind of eh. Polyphia brings a fresh take with their style and really makes it unique, and a good chunk of the tracks have other great modern guitarists making guest appearances.
Top 3 tracks: Nasty, Yas, Rich Kids
2. Efflorescence by covet (2018)
I’ve been following covet since around the time they released Ares as a single and have not been disappointed yet. Another instrumental band playing more chill math rock than Polyphia. Yvette Young’s playing can move from beautifully haunting to janky and cool in a matter of measures while Forrest’s excellent drumming and Dave’s steady basslines fill what space her guitar doesn’t.
Top 3 tracks: Shibuya, howl, falkor
Beck has always been one of my favorite musicians as he never let genre barriers limit him in his art. With Colors, there was a heavy pop influence, but he didn’t just stick to one aspect of it. Definitely one of the most fun albums I’ve heard in a while.
Top 3 tracks: Dreams, I’m So Free, No Distraction
4. The Black Market by Rise Against (2014)
I wasn’t super fond of Endgame so I was a bit apprehensive about The Black Market, but damn did Rise Against deliver for me. Rise Against was the first political punk band I truly enjoyed and the band on this list I’ve seen the most live. My only gripe is that they don’t play enough songs off this album at their shows because every song on here is great.
Top 3 tracks: Methadone, A Beautiful Indifference, The Black Market
5. French Ghetto by Strawberry Girls (2013)
Another album great for guitarists. Although they’ve put out plenty since this album(most of which was out before I discovered them) this album has my favorite feel of all of them. The band does an awesome job jumping from quick to slow and loud to quiet without taking away anything from the song and this album has some of my favorite riffs. It also has acoustic versions of my top tracks and a cover of Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar
Top 3 tracks: Do Peace, French Ghetto, Agua Verde
6. Love in the Time of Email by Antarctigo Vespucci (2018)
Ever since I found Fake Problems I’ve been wanting more and more from Chris Farren, and AV does not disappoint. They have a few EPs out but their first album was everything I could ask for from him and Jeff Rosenstock. I had this album on repeat for a while after it came out and enjoyed every single minute of this sort of optimistic sad boy music about anxiety and regret with sprinkles of fun guitar solos, synth bits and even some chants.
Top 3 tracks: Another Good Thing, Kimmy, Not Yours
7. Real Ghosts Caught on Tape by Fake Problems (2010)
When I decided to make this list, the first thing I checked was the year this album came out and I was ecstatic to find it just made it in. I heard Songs for Teenagers on a Spotify Discover Weekly list and fell in love immediately. This album has everything I love about Chris Farren’s writing, themes such as anxiety, drug use, growing up, and growing apart are all covered. There’s happier sounding songs and more chill ones but every song on here is great and I’m not exaggerating when I say it is one of my favorite albums of all time.
Top 3 tracks: Songs for Teenagers, Done With Fun, Grand Finale
8. The Pagan Manifesto by Elvenking (2014)
I found Elvenking’s cover of Heaven is a Place on Earth on a Pandora station for Alestorm and had no idea what I was getting into. I soon purchased Two Tragedy Poets and sort of tumbled into the rest of their discography from there. In The Pagan Manifesto they dive headfirst lyrically back into their pagan roots and produce a fantastic folk power metal album that really seemed to have their fans in mind.
Top 3 tracks: Pagan Revolution, Black Roses for the Wicked One, Moonbeam Stone Circle
I forget how I even found tricot(probably stumbled upon them looking for more math rock) but they are one of my favorite finds. A Japanese math rock band with some awesome janky riffs, quick fills, and great harmonies, THE is really my favorite album of theirs but all of their work is great. I’m just happy I got the chance to see them at Super Chon Bros.
Top 3 tracks: POOL, artsick, 99.974°C
The past 2-3 years I’ve been trying to get more into rap, and I have to say Tech is probably my favorite as of now, so I’d be remiss to not put Planet on the list since his music is what’s gotten me most into the genre. Planet is my favorite he’s put out this decade, showing his usual fast verses and bringing in other artists who I’ve also been looking into since and ends on a fantastic choice for an album closer.
Top 3 tracks: Bad Juju, We Won’t Go Quietly, Don’t Nobody Want None
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