50 Favorite Albums

Read Time: approx. 40 minutes

Listen Time: approx. 22 hours

Introduction

This is something I’ve been working on over the past year. I’ve gone through my discography and tried to find the 50 albums which resonate the most with me. These aren’t necessarily the best or most critically acclaimed. Instead, I went with the gut test of what I enjoy. For an album to be selected, I needed to enjoy at least a large portion of it (maybe not majority but enough to say you like the album and not only a song off the album). The only other requirement is only one album per artist. I didn’t want 5-10 artists taking up the entire list. It forced me to dig deeper into my catalog and find albums and artists I had forgotten about, which was one of the best parts. With that, this list is purely subjective, and I encourage you to spend a little time and find some albums you enjoy. Now to get on with the process.

The list is broken into groups of 5 (so 10 groups). The position of each album into a range is correct but within each range there is no specific ranking. There are 5 top albums but there isn’t a definite list of 5-4-3-2-1. It really depends on the mood and when I last listened to it. Also, since this is my personal list of those albums I enjoy, it will slant towards 2008-2020 range of albums, probably in the alternative genre. I grew up listening to these as the fun new things where “the classics” were filtered by time. I don’t have any greatest hits albums as it wouldn’t be fair to compare a band’s entire discography against another’s debut album. Some of these albums are superficial and easy listens. Like reality TV for your ears or junk food for your soul.

Listen to the highlights here: 

Lastly, if you don’t like my list: cool, I’d love to hear your opinion. Reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram or email at thomas.nagle9@gmail.com. Better yet, make your own list and share it with me. Hope you enjoy!

50 to 46

Dayglow - Fuzzybrain (2018)

This is what a 2010s indie album sounds like. The levels of mixing and backing tracks come through with a rich and vibrant sound for a solo artist. Dayglow does an amazing job of creating the bedroom pop feel, with hints of 80s nostalgia coming through.  My favorite song is “Can I Call You Tonight?” with its spacey reverb creating a floating and imaginative feel. There isn’t a reason for the album besides the thoughts and feelings Sloan Struble came up with while creating music. This album is low on my list because it shows off a slight novice feel (which can be excused for only being 18 at publication). But at such a young age, it’s only a hint at what’s to come as Sloan keeps growing as a person. (Sidenote: he goes to my Alma Mater -The University of Texas at Austin! Go Longhorns!)

Described in a phrase:

Bedroom thoughts

Personal song highlights:

• Can I Call You Tonight?

• Hot Rod

• Nicknames

• Listerine

Everything Everything - Get to Heaven (2015)

Everything Everything creates a marvel with this one. Juxtaposed against pop beats and sounds, they explore the trepidation and peevishness that the world is causing today with their darker lyrics. Every song has a groove that drives the need to move; pushed forward by the bassline and underlying swell of sound. My standout is “Get to Heaven”, where the speaker is acting almost sarcastically when confronted with issues -the jaded sense towards others, only truly concerned about his password and where he parked his car. Some songs are duds to me, mostly on the back half of the album, but combining the art pop style with impassionate lyrics hooked me enough to include here.

Described in a phrase:

Deep dark groove

Personal song highlights:

• Distant Past

• Get to Heaven

• Regret

• Spring/Summer/Winter/Dread

half•alive - Now, Not Yet (2019)

half•alive reminds me of another band, OK GO. Where OK GO create wonder sets for video and then have an accompanying song, half•alive have turned their songs into music videos that capture your imagination. The first one (and the one that got big) was “still feel.” with its long shots and creative yet simple choreography. The highlights for me from this album are any of their music videos where it helps to solidify the imagery of the music. In the lyrics for still feel., the phrase “falling forward back into orbit” is one that hits me in the exact right way.

Described in a phrase:

Watch and listen songs

Personal song highlights:

• ok ok?

• RUNAWAY

• still feel.

• arrow

Hot Chelle Rae - Whatever (2011)

Forgotten 2010s pop songs that everyone will sing along to when they come on. Hot Chelle Rae (HCR) was the “fun party rock band” that managed to break through in 2011. I doubt anyone reading this knows their latest song or album – by the way, it’s different than this album but still good. This album is heavily carried by its singles. “I Like It Like That”, “Tonight Tonight”, and “Honestly” can hold their own with any songs. The album lacks depth after the first songs. Some songs I had only listened to for the first time going through all these albums. But damn if the hits aren’t jams. This is what pop albums are and that’s okay. Everyone can enjoy it without thinking too much.

Described in a phrase:

Tent-pole pop jams

Personal song highlights:

• I Like It Like That (feat. New Boyz)

• Tonight Tonight

• Honestly

• Radio (feat. Bei Maejor)

• Whatever

• Downtown Girl

• The Only One

Khalid - American Teen (2017)

Khalid brings a sound that reflects an aesthetic of a teenager in the digital age. I like to think this album is “the Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the U.S.A.’” for the digital generation. There is a drifting feel, lyrics have both a self-awareness and youthful naivety. Every sound has a flow and melody, though sometimes the words can get muddled or slurred. It comes off more as a house party album, with most songs having similar constructions, but this lets the album seem to roll out of the speaker. “8TEEN” is my favorite, with the signature line “let’s do all the stupid shit that young kids do”. Khalid has a realistic view of the world, while also being dejected about those days’ past.

Described in a phrase:

Aimless youthful love warbles

Personal song highlights:

• American Teen

• Young Dumb & Broke

• 8TEEN

• Shot Down

45 to 41

Big Time Rush - BTR (2010)

This would be considered as my guilty pleasure if I was concerned with what other people thought of my album choices. Big Time Rush is the manufactured boy band sound, but it is popular for a reason. For kids that grew up in this time, there are plenty of songs to jump to and shout the chorus. It’s a “don’t think, don’t worry” album. There aren’t many positives beyond nostalgia and fun teen hooks. Check out “City is Ours”, a driving jam of enjoying the city with friends (think “Ridin’ Solo” – Jason Derulo).

Described in a phrase:

Banal boy band pop

Personal song highlights:

• Til I Forget About You

• Boyfriend

• City is Ours

• Worldwide

• Halfway There

Fickle Friends - You Are Someone Else (2018)

Fickle Friends debut album hits the perfect blend of 80s-90s nostalgic sounds that give the listener feel-good, summery vibes. The vibrant sound is softened into a polished, dreamy electronic veil that hypnotizes. Fickle Friends gives off Paramore/The 1975 vibes of blended indie rock and electronic sound. Each song sounds “like a Fickle Friends song”, catchy lyrics that aren’t pithy and a sound that encourages energy and dance. Fickle Friends is still coming into their own and You Are Someone Else is a perfect springboard for future projects. The songs hit the feeling of being erroneous in the “perfect world” and provide a subdued comfort. “Heartbroken” is my first choice from this album. The electronic duds in the background add an encouraging backbone to the song. The lyrics describe how you open your endeavors to others and never get anything back.

Described in a phrase:

Vaporwave pop rock

Personal song highlights:

• Swim

• Bite

• Hard to Be Myself

• Lovesick

• Heartbroken

• Hello Hello

• Brooklyn

Grizfolk - Waking Up the Giants (2015)

Grizfolk’s first album hits all the indie-rock checkboxes. From the gritty guitar to the shimmering electronica, Grizfolk holds the listeners attention throughout the album. The middle of this album is extremely good, with back-to-back-to-back-to-back hits that make you want to sing along. Nothing on the album stands out, it all melds together into a cacophony of smooth sounds. It is the perfect album for driving, whether across town or across the country. The second half of the album deviates from pop into more of a folk genre, keeping the album fresh and gripping throughout. Take a listen to “Bob Marley”, the bassline and drums walking the song forward but balanced by the higher electronic interruptions, all leading to the singalong chorus.

Described in a phrase:

Road-rock songs

Personal song highlights:

• Troublemaker

• Bob Marley

• Waking Up the Giants

• Waiting for You

• Vagabonds

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - Razzmatazz (2020)

I got introduced to IDKHow through their “Do It All The Time” music video (a must check out). Razzmatazz is the most recent album on this list (Oct 2020) but Dallon Weekes has been at the music business a long time (former member of Panic! at the Disco). It combines an 80s theme with indie rock. The synth heavy sound is a refreshing combination of nostalgia and contemporary sounds. I prefer their 1981 Extended Play EP (with “Choke”, “Social Climb” and “Do It All The Time”), but Razzmatazz continues this success. My standout is “Nobody Likes the Opening Band”, a crooning ballad about how the audience isn’t there for you, but you still might convince a few.

Described in a phrase:

Nostalgic indie sounds

Personal song highlights:

• Leave Me Alone

• Nobody Likes the Opening Band

• Kiss Goodnight

• Lights Go Down

• Razzmatazz

Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (2001)

I was not listening to pop music when this album came out, so I don’t remember it being the new thing. This is a classic album for alternative and rock genres. Plus, “The Middle” is from this album; it’s a classic. It’s a rock & roll album with a little punk as well. Lots of guitar with some backing drums. There isn’t a lot of fluff or extra in its mixing, everything is laid out for the listener. The album itself doesn’t have much of a cohesive theme besides early 2000s punk/rock but I don’t hold that against it too much. The highs of the album show how good Jimmy Eat World is. For me, this album has some great pump-up music (minus the softer ballads which are good on their own).

Described in a phrase:

Classic 2000s rock

Personal song highlights:

• Bleed American

• The Middle

• Sweetness

• Hear You Me

• If You Don’t, Don’t

40 to 36

All Time Low - So Wrong, It’s Right (2007)

All Time Low can’t seem to make a bad album. Each one they make has something good about it but So Wrong, It’s Right takes the cake. The album takes what you expect from the pop- punk genre and capitalizes it. Melodies that catch your ear with bold guitar licks to support the experience. The lyrics are tender enough to balance out the heaviness of the sound, leaving the listener in a vibrant and upbeat mood.

“Dear Maria, Count Me In” must be mentioned; it is the big hit off this album. But my standout is “Remembering Sunday”, a softer ballad about how a relationship can be so fragile. Consistent with the genre, it can be very hit or miss if you want to listen to something so aggressive with its sound. Sometimes you need the pick me up (or the companion of a heartbreak) but other times it’s a quick skip to something else.

Described in a phrase:

Pop-punk anthems

Personal song highlights:

• Six Feet Under the Stars

• De Maria, Count Me In

• Remembering Sunday

• Poppin’ Champagne

Lime Cordiale - 14 Steps To A Better You (2020)

Hypnotic lyrics and easy melodies- getting lost in the music is too common an experience. I first discovered Lime Cordiale from the background song on a YouTube video. I really enjoyed “Addicted To The Sunshine”. It’s a simple premise of enjoying the weather and having fun accompanied with a catchy tune. This album is well constructed in indie pop style with not too much production, enough to complement the almost psychedelic mood. Lyrically it is not complicated, but the simplicity helps to match a feeling of friends singing out normal life and not taking yourself too seriously. It’s an album you can put on in the background of a get-together or while running errands. I feel like the songs can be hit or miss, with some great ones while others don’t really stand out.

Described in a phrase:

Simple indie pop

Personal song highlights:

• No Plans To Make Plans

• Inappropriate Behaviour

• Addicted To The Sunshine

• Screw Loose

MKTO - MKTO (2014)

In this self-titled album, MKTO create a pop album that captured me at the right time. Yes, it’s youthful but that’s the appeal. The adolescent imagery, pop fueled melodies and simple construction give the album the perfect overall theme. They work well together, showcasing an enjoyment in the creation and execution of the songs. “Classic” is the song from this album, but I’d like to shout out “American Dream”. You can tell there is some intention going into this song as well as the album with the lyric “Jack left Diane thirty years ago” (a reference to “Jack and Diane” by John Mellencamp – an American love ballad).

Described in a phrase:

Vanilla pop, fun lyrics

Personal song highlights:

• Classic

• American Dream

• Heartbreak Holiday

• Goodbye Song

Steely Dan - Aja (1977)

Steely Dan’s work of creating a jazz-rock fusion is put on full display in this album. The rich sax solos to the iconic guitar breakdown on “Peg” are perfect in creating the soothing sound Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are known for. Fagen and Becker are essential for any yacht rock enthusiast. The Steely Dan blend of blues, rock, and jazz creates a mood where the lyrics don’t matter; you’re just floating on the sonic cloud, as whispers drift by. But stopping to listen can be jarring, the wry cynicism off-putting. It has journalistic depictions of people who are existing through life and their thoughts or emotions. “Deacon Blues” is my highlight track, the mythos of a man to free himself from the “loserdom” of suburban life by becoming a musician. The juxtaposition of Crimson Tide to Deacon Blues rattles something inside of me that seems to say “Yes! that’s a perfect lyric!”

Described in a phrase:

Fastidious surreal sounds

Personal song highlights:

• Black Cow

• Aja

• Deacon Blues

• Peg

WALK THE MOON - TALKING IS HARD (2014)

Here’s a band that had 15 minutes of fame from a single off an album. “Shut Up and Dance” was the song for early 2015, a tune everyone is probably familiar with. The album has a great balance between youthful energy and optimism with hints of angst or cynicism. The album draws a lot from the 1980s, with its synths and pulsating dance beat (nostalgia is now an easy commodity to package and sell). WALK THE MOON is a pop band, with sugary hits that go down easy, something that’s enjoyed by younger generations for its fun, and lets older generations reminisce on those days.

Described in a phrase:

80s inspired neon dance

Personal song highlights:

• Different Colors

• Shut Up and Dance

• Avalanche

• Portugal

• Come Under the Covers

35 to 31

lovelytheband - Finding It Hard to Smile (2018)

This is what I see for the indie pop band for the 2020s. Their breakout hit, “Broken”, landed them into the driver seat of the synth/guitar pop sound (Broken is the first song to listen to on the album). Finding It Hard to Smile is their debut album and offers a good starting point for the band. There are hits and misses but lovelytheband are refining their sound. “Maybe, I’m Afraid” is another good song. The uncertainty of everything may exist but what we feel will hold true.

Described in a phrase:

Bright synth-pop

Personal song highlights:

• Pity Party

• Broken

• These Are My Friends

• Coachella

• Maybe, I’m Afraid

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

It’s hard to place a historically great album into a tier list like this. There is mystic and legend around past albums that it creates an experience beyond the music. Thriller is already one of the quintessential pop, if not musical, album of all time. Michael Jackson’s musical skill is undeniable. He was so absorbed with writing “Billie Jean” that he didn’t realize his car was on fire. Jackson has interlaced the drums and bass to keep your body moving throughout each song. The whole album rides on his signature falsettos and catching hooks, filled with hits (an impressive amount) that you still hear today. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is my underrated sleeper (granted it is extremely famous). Impressively he combines the light electric sounds into the simple backing sound into a fun disco funk classic.

Described in a phrase:

King of Pop’s Camelot

Personal song highlights:

• Wanting to Be Startin’ Something

• Thriller

• Beat It

• Billie Jean

• Human Nature

• P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

Parachute - Wide Awake (2016)

What a hard decision to choose a single Parachute album. There are hits on all their albums. “Kiss Me Slowly” is my top song by Parachute (though not on this album). It captures this perfect adolescence moment into a sonic bite. But Wide Awake is the most consistent and overall best album of theirs. But this gets to a little deeper issue I have with Parachute. Parachute is a band I add to my playlists, but I never say, “oh they’re my favorite”.

Parachute has always been a band that knows how to hit that perfect 8/10 right down the middle sound. It’s nothing to get upset about; they won’t start controversies or be in the news. But the downside is the sound can get lost into the music ether. Everyone knows a couple of their songs. They are the B student in music, getting good enough grades to pass the class and graduate. But it’s hard to stand out from fitting in. Wide Awake is the Parachute MO, the generalized pop/rock sound with catchy choruses and melodies.

Described in a phrase:

Innocuous pop rock

Personal song highlights:

• Without You

• Jennie

• Lonely with Me

• New Orleans

• Getaway

The Downtown Fiction - Losers & Kings (2014)

This was one where choosing the album was difficult. If the list was your amalgamation of the top 10 songs by an artist, The Downtown Fiction (TDF) might be even higher. But I had to choose one, so I went with Losers & Kings. It’s a little more refined than Let’s Be Animals. TDF can work the full range of emo-pop, from melancholy ballads to summertime road trips. It may be “generic emo-pop” but not every album has to rewrite the book, sometimes you want something that falls right into the comfort zone. I really like the album title being from a line the first track. It also sets the mood for the rest of the tracks. The entire album punctuates the growing up theme with plenty of singalong choruses. “Santa Cruz” is a good emo-pop anthem of being young and looking forward in life. The guitar solo at the end creates a nostalgic nod to older rock classics.

Described in a phrase:

Mall/School gym anthems

Personal song highlights:

• Hope I Die On A Saturday Night

• Santa Cruz

• No Generation

• Cool Kids

• So Called Life

• Sometimes

Tyrone Wells - Remain (2009)

I first discovered this album from hearing the song “More” on the radio. The sound of an individual, trying to discover that feeling of purpose. I feel like Wells is punching above his weight-class, possibly forgotten behind artist like Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, and Five for Fighting, all the while not getting credit for it. The entire album has an introspective mood, lamenting the external decisions of the former person he once was. Throughout the album, dynamic backing tracks help to augment the passion Wells captures with his voice. The song that hits me the most is “In Between The Lines”, the reaching for something, anything that can help ground him. The album does have a cinematic feel, something you would hear at the end of a touching drama but some evenings you want the cascading emotional sound, to feel the comradery with another that these sensations are normal.

Described in a phrase:

Swelling sound, elegiac lyricist

Personal song highlights:

• More

• Sink or Swim

• In Between the Lines

• Along the Way

• Before It Started

30 to 26

Bad Suns - Disappear Here (2016)

Bad Suns fit right into the alternative rock scene of the 2010s. The effervescent sound is balanced by slight despondency in the lyrics. This dichotomy makes the album an easy listen with doltish ears yet cuts deeper for the active listener. The back half of the album is where most of the better songs reside. This is an album worth throwing on shuffle. The only real downside is some songs have a confectionary feel, so you need moderation in enjoying the sugary sound. “Daft Pretty Boys” is the best song on the list, with its bubbly backing track tackling a vicenarian problem of chasing love with the wrong people. I would recommend it to any car trip playlist.

Described in a phrase:

Morose upbeat singles

Personal song highlights:

• Off She Goes

• Swimming in the Moonlight

• Defeated

• Daft Pretty Boys

• Violet

• Outskirts of Paradise

Set It Off - Midnight (2019)

Midnight is Set It Off’s fourth album, and I am ashamed it took me this long to find them. Their sound blends punk and dance, and it puts a bounce in your step. Their sound can seem raucous, but I see it as passion coming through. It comes together as a biting pop sound, working the bridge of pop-rock. If you’re a fan of The Cab, The Summer Set, or Marianas Trench (all coming up), then this album will also appeal to you. The album has this underlying exasperated feeling, never truly exposing itself but providing the driver for the beat and sound. “Lonely Dance” is an amazing song, hitting on the social anxiety put with a heartening spin.

Described in a phrase:

Fervent boisterous walking

Personal song highlights:

• Killer in the Mirror

• Lonely Dance

• Different Songs

• Go to Bed Angry

• Midnight Thoughts

• Criminal Minds

• No Disrespect

Styx - Paradise Theatre (1981)

This was the first album that articulated the idea of a concept album (that is where the tracks have a greater purpose/theme than on their own, like a musical or opera). I first got into this album because of the Styx hits on it and added it to my playlist, but I always got annoyed when a track like “A.D. 1928” ended because it built up so well and then tragically my phone would shuffle to something else. Finally, I listened to the whole thing and pulled up the wiki to learn about it. I was blown away. The metaphor for America and our attitude is carried beautifully throughout, accompanied by music that is so good it could stand on its own outside the album (shown by the fact it had two top ten singles – “The Best of Times” and “Too Much Times on My Hands”).

To me, this album was a must to get as a vinyl record. The Paradise Theatre shown on the cover is extravagant and grand, while the back cover depicts the abandoned disheveled remains of what once was. Styx has also been a favorite for me in the pop rock/rock of the 70s and 80s. I love listening to the melodic guitar threads woven in between the ensnaring vocals. The short instrumental sections also do a great job of breaking the tracks up from being too monotonous. My personal choice is “Half-Penny Two-Penny”, talking about how money is central in the American consciousness. Journey, REO Speedwagon, ELO, Boston, Foreigner, Kansas, and Styx all occupy the same portion of my head (call it arena rock or prog rock). That is comforting and approachable while still having musical integrity and complexity.

Described in a phrase:

Arena rock about America

Personal song highlights:

• Rockin’ The Paradise

• Too Much Time on My Hands

• The Best of Times

• She Cares

• Snowblind

• Half-Penny, Two-Penny

The Wombats - Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (2018)

Here’s a band where I think the biggest hit “Greek Tragedy” was good, but then they went less mainstream, and it worked out. Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (what a true statement) is The Wombats crafting and refining their sound of psych pop. There is a self- awareness in the lyrics; Matthew Murphy seems almost singing each line tongue-in-cheek. This is an album where pulling up the lyrics can really enhance the experience with some thought-provoking poetic phrasing, best shown in “I Don’t Know Why I Like You but I Do” (one of my top three songs on this whole list). The hypnotic and confusing lyrics flawlessly captivate the tango logic and emotion you go through- “you’re in the DNA between the molecules” or “I’m keeping up to date and you stay misinformed”.

Described in a phrase:

Illogical cathartic lyrics

Personal song highlights:

• Cheetah Tongue

• Lemon to a Knife Fight

• Turn

• Out of My Head

• I Don’t Know Why I Like You but I Do

Waterparks - FANDOM (2019)

Yes, this album continues the trend of my enjoyment of pop-punk/pop-rock. I would’ve chosen their 2016 album Double Dare, since one song (hint, it’s almost like a guessing game played with friends) hits way too hard. But I think FANDOM has a better overall song consistency which could be chalked up to, 1) I discovered then in 2019 so it was the new thing and 2) it is three years later so they have grown as artists. Waterparks blends electric pop, rock, and punk all together into something captivating to the ears. The title hints at the theme, having a fandom with the experiences and stresses that puts on a person.

“Dream Boy” is my must listened song of this album, describing how a person could create an idolization that does not remotely map onto you. Not every song makes sense (looking at you “Group Chat”) but there are enough lyrical word plays to make up for it. My only downside to this album is you need to be in the right mood to really enjoy, otherwise it can be abrasive. When you need it though, this answers the bell.

Described in a phrase:

Stardom ain’t what I thought

Personal song highlights:

• Cherry Red

• Dream Boy

• Easy To Hate

• Never Bloom Again

• I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore

• [Reboot]

• I Felt Younger When We Met

25 to 21

Billy Joel - The Stranger (1977)

Here is another classic in the list. Billy Joel won two Grammys from this album in 1978 (for Record of the Year and Song of the Year – “Just the Way You Are”. There are plenty of hits from this album and the album is his most successful (besides greatest hits compilations).The album is coaxed in expositive descriptions, capturing the listener’s mind while the melodic sounds hook the listener’s ear. The whistling on “The Stranger” is eerie and macabre, but perfectly sets the scene before the brash guitar comes in to carry the listener away. “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” is a fan favorite, with a “Bohemian Rhapsody” feel of intertwined stories and styles (it was originally three different songs).“Only the Good Die Young” has a sneaky bassline (if you listen closely you can hear it rubber-banding along) beneath the rest of the song, pulling you into a sock-hop groove. I fancy “Vienna” from the album, using the city as a metaphor for how dreams are there if keep working towards them (for those interested, Raleigh Ritchie has a song where he references Joel’s “Vienna”, or checkout his entire song breakdown.

Described in a phrase:

Sweeping melodies, infectious songs

Personal song highlights:

• Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)

• The Stranger

• Just the Way You Are

• Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

• Vienna

• Only the Good Die Young

fun. - Some Nights (2012)

This album came to the music scene as a breath of fresh air from the club and daft sound from the early 2010s (Todd in the Shadows describes it best). They sounded different without sounding like they were trying to make it big. And while “All the Pretty Girls” is their best song (though not on this album), Some Nights has plenty of memorable hits like “Some Nights”, “We Are Young”, and “Carry On”. The band has the proper indie aesthetic with its stylized band name, fun. The album is also a pick me up, helping reach out to people and connecting. As fun.’s last album, the band goes out on a high note, at the peak of their career. “All Alright” needs to get a little more respect on this album. Its message, you can be messed up and there’s always that person who will be there, is something a lot of people can hear and sing along with.

Described in a phrase:

Brooklyn’s take on Queen

Personal song highlights:

• Some Nights

• We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe)

• Carry On

• All Alright

Mating Ritual - Hot Content (2019)

This album, Hot Content, is a great blend of smooth lo-fi synth with and bouncy rock. You get lost in the drift of the music and lose track of time. Some lyrics get lost in the garble, but the music isn’t about what is said, it is about what is felt. The aesthetic feels nebulous, like sounds that come out of a fog at night. I like how the band name gives an indication of their music, where much of what they pontificate involves love and the way you to finally find it. “U.N.I.” is great but my favorite is the ballad, “Stupid Romantic Things”. The apprehension and hankering for love comes through so well and is something most people can relate to, wanting to do those little things all over again.

Described in a phrase:

Sonic whiskey in a bottle

Personal song highlights:

• U.N.I.

• Falling Back

• Future Now

• October Love

• Stupid Romantic Things

• Game

The Summer Set - Stories for Monday (2016)

The Summer Set describe their sound perfectly in the first song, “Figure Me Out”, when they say, “a bit too pop for the punk kids but I’m too punk for the pop kids”. That’s where The Summer Set has ended their career, never mainstream enough for success or counterculture enough to create a cult following. The album (which almost didn’t happen as the band felt like they were burned out) is a reflective one that hits a post-party vibe, enjoying life both in the moment and after it has happened. The album is a bookend to what I think is an underappreciated career.  The Summer Set is the band that captured the mood of youth in the 2010s. When I now listen back to this album, I feel sad regardless of the positive lyrics. As artists they created something great that impacted thousands (and me) but as people, they got burned out and had to move on. 30 years later, when there’s a 2010s station for all us oldies, The Summer Set will be “dug up from our collection” and we all say, “oh yeah them!” (writing this is giving me Ozymandias flashbacks to English class).

Stories for Monday has a feel that alludes to the 80s a lot, whether it’s all the Bruce Springsteen references or the synth and anthem rock sound. Actualization can be heard in all the songs, but in “All In”, I think it’s the strongest with lines like “Wherever it goes, I’m all in” and “singing Blink songs ‘til the sun comes up ’cause I don’t know if we’ll be here again”. One of the best ways to sum up the album is “youth wasn’t wasted on us” from “Wasted”.

Described in a phrase:

Wistful of the present youth anthems

Personal song highlights:

• Figure Me Out

• The Night Is Young

• Missin’ You

• All My Friends

• Change Your Mind

• All In

• When The Party Ends (Can’t Hardly Wait)

• Wasted

Watsky - Cardboard Castles (2013)

Watsky’s spoken word/rap album brandishes his lyrical skill. He comments on current issues in an analytical way that you never expect. The strong part of the album is the trifecta of “Tiny Glowing Screens Pt. 2”, “Sloppy Seconds”, and “Dedicated to Christina Li”. In “Tiny Glowing Screens Pt. 2”, there is one section that really stands out to my ear - “don’t paint me like the good guy ‘cause every time I write I get to choose the angle that you view me and select the nicest light” – describing how his music is only part of his persona, not his entirety. “Sloppy Seconds” accepts you for your baggage, no matter what, because of love. It’s the most pop of the three and likely the one most people would enjoy. “Dedicated to Christina Li” is the deepest and most touching song in the album, how Christina was someone who cared deeply about him when he was at his lowest and he will never have the chance to repay it besides for this song. Her selflessness was too good, shown in the dedication songs at the end. The line “most slow jam lyrics aren’t shit I’m brave enough to say without a smirk” hurts but it shows how we hide behind facades to stay safe and lose the ability to connect with someone.

Described in a phrase:

Rhapsodic rousing raps

Personal song highlights:

• Moral of the Story

• Tiny Glowing Screens, Pt. 1

• Tiny Glowing Screens, Pt. 2

• Sloppy Seconds

• Dedicated to Christina Li

• Cardboard Castles

20 to 16

AJR - Neotheater (2019)

I’ll openly admit, I have never been a huge AJR fan. I can totally see the appeal and I should fit squarely into the demographic. The orchestral pieces, the modern mixing along with poetic lyrics. If you were creating a band based on things I like, this would be it. But for some reason I never really got into it. My only real idea is that from my view, most songs feel fabricated, constructed with the end in mind instead of a meandering journey of sonic discovery based on an experience. But I can recognize the musical skill it takes to create them.

So why is it so high? I really bonded with this album listening to it with my brother driving to water polo practice. He enjoys AJR’s effusive pop, so through the album I became closer to him without having to say many words. The entire album tackles the feelings of growing up now that the band is in their 20s. “Next Up Forever” captures how the anticipation can be more rewarding that the actual action. “Turning Out Pt. ii” is a gut wrencher. Here is the band talking about the album, a great listen if you got a free evening.

Described in a phrase:

Symphonic synth songs searching for substance

Personal song highlights:

• Next Up Forever

• 100 Bad Days

• Don’t Throw Out My Legos

• Turning Out Pt. ii

• The Entertainment’s Here

• Dear Winter

• Finale (Can’t Wait to See What You Do Next)

Capital Cities - In a Tidal Wave of Mystery (2013)

I joke with my friends that Capital Cities is “The Band” that could write hit after hit if they wanted, but they don’t really care about fame. Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian cut their teeth writing jingles (hence why “Safe and Sound” can be heard in every car commercial and in Walmart stores), building their musical skill. And really besides this album, they haven’t really done much (yes there’s a 2018 album and it’s alright but nothing special). But In a Tidal Wave of Mystery is the perfect collision of musical sound and culture (the title is a line from “Safe and Sound”). The melodic electronic sounds and hooks captured this need for a fresh sound in the post 2010 heavy club noise (something that is shared with Some Nights – fun.). In a Tidal Wave of Mystery has arguably the best first half of an album on this list (I like each one), but the back half loses a little of the energy created. It’s a sports car that is sputtering into the gas station after a long road trip. The album feels a little like a way to add a backing behind their hit song and they only really had enough for half. “Farrah Fawcett Hair” is a must from the album, the interjections and electronic whimsy are perfect (I also love the double entendre with Lazy Hooks in the intro, both the label and the fact they make hooks for other artists).

Described in a phrase:

Synth dance demos

Personal song highlights:

• Safe and Sound

• Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast

• Kangaroo Court

• I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo

• Center Stage

• Farrah Fawcett Hair (feat. André 3000)

• Chartreuse

Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt (2008)

I am expecting two responses here. First “who?” followed by “Oh Stereo Hearts guys”. Gym Class Heroes are way more than that (like how the Black Eyed Peas are more than their album The E.N.D. but that’s a whole other story). Gym Class Heroes combine rap and rock in an amalgam that works to hook your ears and make you listen a little longer. Everyone in the group brought differing musical genres that gave way to the organic sound. The album is not heavy, with friends coming together, messing around with sounds they’ve been trying, and having fun together while doing it.

Every song on this album hits the right way, putting a groove in your step. The Quilt seamlessly stitches together aspects of hip hop, R&B, and alternative rock into one cohesive sound. The songs are smooth and approachable, though some turn up too long to be enjoyed on the radio. The standout track is “Cookie Jar” where if you don’t get the metaphor you’re probably not alone. It is so heavily plastered on; you start to block it out. My personal pick from this would be “Kissin’ Ears”. I enjoy the painted image of how a love for someone starts with simply being able to rest your head against theirs.

Described in a phrase:

Groovy rap hooks

Personal song highlights:

• Guilty as Charged (feat. Estelle)

• Drnk Txt Rmeo

• Peace Sign/Index Down (feat. Busta Rhymes.)

• Catch Me If You Can

• Cookie Jar (feat. The-Dream)

• Don’t Tell Me It’s Over

• Kissin’ Ears (feat. The-Dream)

Jon Bellion - The Human Condition (2016)

Jon can create pop anthems that captivate the heart and the ears. All his songs can be enjoyed in a perfunctory manner or can be thoroughly inspected. This fusion (mixed with the fact he can have it achieve commercial success) is the real edge Jon has over the rest of the music world. The Human Condition is Jon’s first album that shows his songwriting prowess was already known with contribution on Eminem’s “The Monster” and Jason Derulo’s “Trumpets”.

Along with the album, check out each song’s personal artwork. The colorful and eye- catching art elevates each song and creates a more complete sensory experience. So many songs are great stand-alone hits, but to have a collection in one album shows how good Jon is at understanding what music will resonate. I love when there is an overture for an album that combines different songs seamlessly. “Hand of God (Outro)” ends with snips and references to all the earlier songs, serving as the perfect swan song for the album.

Described in a phrase:

Hooks and heartfelt pop

Personal song highlights:

• 80’s Films

• All Time Low

• Woke the F*ck Up

• Overwhelming

• Morning in America

• iRobot

• Guillotine

• Hand of God (Outro)

The Friday Night Boys - Off the Deep End (2009)

I love a lot of songs off of this album. First the name of the band is great, the boys you hang with on a Friday night. Second, this genre gives me the warm fuzzies. Not for the lyrics or theme but the style. It’s a bunch of guys getting together to play some instruments in a garage and sing about life problems that aren’t that big a deal. It’s therapeutic for them, a way to digest. Through listening, it sounds so approachable, anyone can pick up a guitar, get together with some friends and make something, not for the mainstream success but simply to have something made. Indie pop rock is the best description of it (with the “do it yourself” sound and being signed by Fueled by Ramen) but describing anything as indie doesn’t really mean much. (And yes, I have used “indie” twelve times so far.)

Every song is fun and simple to follow. There aren’t crazy key changes or random instrumentals. It is constructed as a normal pop/rock album. You can bop your head along and reflect on a younger self. I know I’ve repeated myself a bunch but not everything has to be a magnum opus, it’s okay to be normal; okay to listen to a pop song or two. Wear sweats, eat ice cream, and laugh at reality tv every now and then. You’re not special for hating what others enjoy. One of my favorite songs is “Stupid Love Letter”. I can imagine one of the guys wanting to get this off his chest and they come up with song. “I poured out my heart and you said no, Fuck you”.

It’s not a band sustainable band model though. Either you make it big and your sound changes, or you stay irrelevant, and people move on to other things. But for that short moment of time, y’all made something that captured your thoughts and feelings. Last bit about the FNB, the lead singer, Andrew Goldstein, has gone on to write or produce some amazing songs/albums (some even on this album list!). If you’ve read this far, share this post with a friend so I can grow enough to be able to sit down with him.

Described in a phrase:

Heard through the garage door

Personal song highlights:

• Stupid Love Letter

• Suicide Sunday

• She’s Finding Me Out

• How I Met Your Mother

• The First Time [Natalie’s Song]

• Unforget You

• Sorry I Stole Your Gurl

15 to 11

A Rocket to the Moon - On Your Side (2009)

Another Fueled by Ramen band on my list (I think it could be fair to say I really enjoy FBR; here’s a list of the bands they have had that I enjoy: Against the Current, All Time Low, Flor, MisterWives, Panic! at the Disco, Paramore, Twenty One Pilots, 3OH!3, The Cab, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, SWMRS, Cobra Starship, fun., Gym Class Heroes, This Providence, and A Rocket to the Moon). This album is angst fueled without seeming overly emo, filling the emo pop genre to a T. The album is saturated with emotional vocals lamenting previous loves. Guitar forward, “On Your Side” is a perfect sing- along; with catchy hooks that snare that youthful exuberance of love and life. This album has probably been forgotten by most but for me it perfectly captures the youthful naivety for that period of my life (Don’t worry I still haven’t lost all that ignorance). The perfect broken-heart ballad “Like We Used To” still can tug on your heartstrings of seeing a person move on. One of my favorite things about this album is to pull up the chords and strum along (“Baby Blue Eyes” is a great start). It may not be lavishly constructed, but that simplicity makes it perfect to play and sing along.

Described in a phrase:

Summer teenage car radio

Personal song highlights:

• Annabelle

• Mr. Right

• She’s Killing Me

• Dakota

• Like We Used To

• Baby Blue Eyes

Plain White T’s - Wonders of the Younger (2010)

This was the first album I got into as a kid. I enjoyed how the tracks were fun and different from the typical club drudge I heard on the radio. Plain White T’s remind me how the music industry works. A band starts small, growing a following and having a sound. For some reason one song takes off and throws them into the spotlight and then it is time to decide how to follow it up. Bands either lean into the hit (which makes them sound one dimensional and forgettable) or they return to their own sound (and they go back to being obscure).

It holds some nostalgia for me, but it has slipped lower the past few years. It is supposed to be child forward and whimsical, but now all I get is a diluted Beatles sound. I think the part of this album that does hold up is in its genuine heart, songs like “Last Breath”, “Boomerang”, and “Body Parts”. The Plain White T’s are at their forte when the song is sincere and melodic (this is true going back to their one big hit, “Hey There Delilah”). All three are worth a listen, but I like “Last Breath” the best. The violin at the beginning is the musical allegory of your last nerve, getting whittled away. How to return a relationship to a better time is something felt at one time or another by everyone.

Described in a phrase:

Whimsical rock

Personal song highlights:

• Irrational Anthem

• Boomerang

• Rhythm of Love

• Last Breath

• Broken Record

• Our Song

• Body Parts

• Make It Up As You Go

• Wonders of the Younger

Owl City - Ocean Eyes (Deluxe Edition) (2009)

When “Fireflies” was the pop song on the radio, Owl City came to the public foreground. Adam Young, growing up in Minnesota, created this romantic imagery of what the ocean was like. His longing for wonder and adventure comes through this album (the title helping to match that gazing motif). The fun, electric sounds help to accentuate his ethereal soliloquies.

One of my favorite draws of this album is how Young wasn’t trying to create a massive worldwide hit, it was simply something to do while he suffered through the quiet night because of insomnia. Sure, some of the songs are sappy and goofy (“Dental Care”), but Owl City’s golden goose is in his creation of a magical electronic sound that goes down smooth.

Everyone enjoys “Fireflies” (it got to #1 for a reason), but if you want to explore a little deeper, I recommend “Hot Air Balloon”. It’s technically not on the album (part of the deluxe album) but it matches the theme of youth and adventure of the album. Listening to the crazy dreamy lyrics can make you bob your head along.

Described in a phrase:

Bubbly electric tunes from Myspace

Personal song highlights:

• Cave In

• The Bird and The Worm

• Hello Seattle

• Umbrella Beach

• Fireflies

• Vanilla Twilight

• Hot Air Balloon

• If My Heart Was a House

The Cab - Symphony Soldier (2011)

The best pop punk/emo pop album of all time. This is one of the first albums I ask people about, because if they know it, they probably love it as well. It was the album to say “I’m edgy in this suburban world” for a middle schooler. First the title and artwork. The title comes from “Angel with a Shotgun”, where the girl is a symphony in his eyes, this beautiful culmination of everything he likes, and he is so wrapped upon it that he’s willing to serve and dedicate his life. The superposition of a cello and gun into this amorphous shape, symbolizing passion and protection that comes with a young spark of love. The album is chalk full of clever allusions and metaphors; stuff to sink your teeth into after multiple listens. There is a song for every emotion you will ever have or need in a relationship from start to finish. The Cab self-funded and released this album and that freedom really let the band be ambitious with the songs and sound for the album. Listen to “Endlessly” from the album. I love the imagery of buying a plastic ring (for a quarter a piece) and hoping love will overcome the inadequacies. The adolescent crooning and soft piano set the mood perfectly.

Described in a phrase:

Ardent love story

Personal song highlights:

• Angel with a Shotgun

• Temporary Bliss

• Endlessly

• Intoxicated

• La La

• Her Love Is My Religion

• Another Me

• Grow Up and Be Kids

• Lovesick Fool

• Living Louder

Train - Save Me, San Francisco (2009)

I had to include a Train album (most of them are great), and Save Me, San Francisco was the album that got me into them (For Me, It’s You was a close second). If I made this list 5 years ago (2016) this album would be in the top 5. I used to love Train. As time went on, I changed and while it is still a great album, it’s not as high as before. In-between then and now, there was a time when I stopped listening to Train at all, as it would bring up too many bad memories, but now I’m back to listening and enjoying Train (now I’m avoiding COIN and the song Oversentimental by THE WLDLFE).

It may not be lavishly constructed, but that simplicity makes it perfect to play and sing along. “Hey, Soul Sister” was the biggest hit from the album, and it’s still hotly debated by music critics as to whether it’s a good song. There are plenty of power ballads with Pat Monahan belting out his heart (“Parachute”, “This Ain’t Goodbye”, “Words”, “Brick by Brick”). “Brick by Brick” is tucked near the end but really matches the Train experience, anecdotal lyrics with a swelling chorus behind leaning to a simply denude chorus.

Described in a phrase:

Lock it up power ballads

Personal song highlights:

• I Got You

• Parachute

• This Ain’t Goodbye

• If It’s Love

• You Already Know

• Words

• Brick by Brick

• Marry Me

• Half Moon Bay

10 to 6

Alec Benjamin - Narrated by You (2018)

This is the only album that is technically not an album. There are conflicting reports of whether this is a mixtape or an album. Semantics aside, it’s still going on this list. Alec Benjamin is Simon and Garfunkel of the 2010s. His capture of anxiety and unrequited love into song is impressive, especially at his young age (24 when released). The bedroom feel captures millennial languid and futility. The production isn’t heavy or overbearing. It lets the lyrics hit your ears plainly.

All the songs capture a story and should have a listen but for my money, I say check out “Water Fountain” or “Annabelle’s Homework”. Both capture a common adolescence moment through a more mature lens, whether losing a love to someone else or trying to impress someone who doesn’t care about you. If you need heartbreak songs, this album is there to give you a hug.

Described in a phrase:

New-wave folk pop

Personal song highlights:

• Water Fountain

• Annabelle’s Homework

• Swim

• Boy in the Bubble

• If I Killed Someone for You

• Death of a Hero

• 1994

The Alan Parsons Project - Ammonia Avenue (1983)

The Alan Parsons Project, hands down one of my favorite bands of all time (and probably one of the most abiding bands based on albums). I love the saga of the band, from the creation and band name to how each album approaches a subject you don’t often see in rock music, to the actual musical construction. I will eventually write a proper tribute for everything APP has inspired in me but for now this will have to do.

Choosing a single album is hard, there are six that I think are great (I Robot, Pyramid, The Turn of a Friendly Card, Eye in the Sky, Ammonia Avenue, Vulture Culture, and Gaudi) that span their whole discography. Each album has such a richness in the crafting, both lyrically and musically. But choosing one I had to go with Ammonia Avenue (probably because it appeals to the engineer in me). This is also the highest rated album that came out before I was born.

Ammonia Avenue tackle to disconnect between how the public views science and science’s lack of understanding toward the public. Ammonia Avenue (like all APP albums) is one where I want to listen and read the record sleeve throughout. The ingenious poetry Eric Woolfson has created is perfectly laid above the craftsmanship of Alan Parsons. Nothing sticks out of place; the burnish of the album makes every song intentional and well delivered. Every song works. I even enjoy the studio band feel, with different singers providing that change of emotion and tone with each song. The loss of communication and isolation come through with the lonely feel of the album.

My favorite song is the title track, “Ammonia Avenue”. It captures that division between science and people, how we reject what we don’t know and can feel broken inside without direction. I also love the little breakdown in the middle. It captures how your mind can drift with thoughts and emotions coursing through.

Described in a phrase:

Thematic introspective questioning

Personal song highlights:

• Prime Time

• One Good Reason

• Since the Last Goodbye

• Don’t Answer Me

• You Don’t Believe

• Ammonia Avenue

The Driver Era - X (2019)

The Driver Era is one of the newest bands on this list with only one album released so far, but X carries its own. Ross and Rocky Lynch (formerly of R5) have come together to make an album of enjoyment and grooves (also Ross Lynch was on Disney as an actor for a bit). The album gets you out of your seat, not really to dance but to match the liveliness of the sound. I love the bass in all the tracks, it is something many artists and albums devalue with some forgoing it completely. With The Driver Era, each song has a funk and jam to the bassline (Natural starts with a bassline and gives some Arctic Monkey vibes). It doesn’t stay on the root note of the chord but instead adds energy and direction to the track. This album is perfect for a evening stroll but be warned; you might break out into a little jig. “Nobody Knows” is the song I’d queue up to get someone in. A bassline guiding you through, with only detectable by the faintest “bwow” of each plucked note.

Described in a phrase:

Poignant grooves

Personal song highlights:

• Welcome to the End of Your Life

• Nobody Knows

• Scared of Heights

• San Francisco

• Low

• giveuwhatuwant

• Natural

• Afterglow

• Preacher Man

The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (2018)

To start, I love the title. It hooks me in (I’m all about inquiries into humanity’s behavior). This is something The 1975 have been doing well since their self-titled album in 2013 with I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware (2016) and Notes On A Condition Form (2020). The brief inquiry (only 58 minutes) then delivers this promise.

There are some great tracks on the album depicting modern relationships, but also some creative duds (looking at you “How To Draw/Petrichor” or “The Man Who Married A Robot/ Love Theme”). The hits off the album can even hold their own as singles, especially “Give Yourself a Try”, “Love It If We Made It”, and “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)”. “Give Yourself a Try” is a track of growing old and trying to come to grips with who you are now. It helps to move me forward. “Love It If We Made It” should be a must listen, how together we can come together and overcome. “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)” has a pop melody to juxtapose discussing Healy’s drug addiction. Their sound has fully moved into synth-pop with Matt Healy even stating, “Rock n’ roll is dead” and The 1975 is no longer a rock band.  The samples and synths solidify the band’s new sound as a staple of the 2010s.

My favorite song here must be “Sincerity Is Scary”. The message is perfect: irony and cynicism are a façade to keep from being “real”. The chorus comes in (with a backing chorus no less) asking a true question, “why can’t we be friends, when we are lovers?”. In these intimate moments, why can’t we be open about ourselves instead of pushing away or getting pied off.

Described in a phrase:

Temporal awareness pop

Personal song highlights:

• Give Yourself a Try

• TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME

• Love It If We Made It

• Be My Mistake

• Sincerity Is Scary

• I Like America & America Likes Me

• Inside Your Mind

• It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)

• I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)

Thriving Ivory - Thriving Ivory (2008)

This album and Through Yourself & Back Again were my jam back in middle school. This self-titled album is technically a rerelease from their 2003 album but since it was an indie release and never got proper distribution, I think it’s fine to choose the rerelease. Plus, the track “Alien” was added, solidifying its position in the top fifteen. In Thriving Ivory’s sound, you can hear their contemporary influences: U2, Train, Plain White T’s, and Matchbox Twenty.

I want to recognize Scott Jason who was the main songwriter for the band. His lyrics reach out and connect with the listener. I have an affinity for lyrics that are not quite explicit but still create a vivid emotive response. Plus, I love hearing the background going into a song creation (here’s Scott talking about this album).

The main reason this album is here is nostalgia and I am perfectly okay with its spot. Songs like “Angels On the Moon”, “Alien”, “Hey Lady” (really the entire album) capture an angst and roughness in the lyrics, helped by Clayton Stroope’s rough-hewn vocals. I recommend all those songs as they highlight what Thriving Ivory can do so well.

Described in a phrase:

Ardent lyrics, impassionate sound

Personal song highlights:

• Angels On the Moon

• Alien

• Hey Lady

• Twilight

• Long Hallway With a Broken Light

• Overrated

• For Heavens Sake

• Unhappy

• Light Up Mississippi

5 to 1

Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk (2009)

This is my go-to teenage album. It can put me (and probably anyone) into a great mood. Boys Like Girls have the flair of a group of guys playing in the garage and singing about adolescent problems. Boys Like Girls aren’t a one trick pony with only up-tempo pop songs, shown by the somber song, “Two Is Better Than One”. Granted there is a formulaic taste, but it has Taylor Swift on it! If you like this stuff, you’ll love this album; if you don’t care for it, then you can probably skip it. It is written for a specific audience, if you are that audience or want to relive those moments Boys Like Girls does it well. There isn’t much to add besides the highlight song, “Love Drunk”.

“Love Drunk” is the song from this album. The signature guitar solo at the beginning catches your ear. I like the soft hinting of the backing vocals on the verses that add a richness and even the occasional electronic echo at the ends of lines. Then the pause right before the chorus sets the whole room to stop and anticipate the thumping beat. You can’t help but nod your head and jump along once it starts. While the metaphor is a common one (love being drugs/alcohol), Boys Like Girls hit it out of the park. It is one of my three favorite songs on this entire list. They capture that vernal feeling in a perfect song.

Described in a phrase:

Puerile rock band

Personal song highlights:

• Heart Heart Heartbreak

• Love Drunk

• She’s Got a Boyfriend Now

• Two Is Better Than One (feat. Taylor Swift)

• Contagious

• Real Thing

• Someone Like You

• The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

• The First One

• Chemicals Collide

Gus Dapperton - Where Polly People Go to Read (2019)

While I do really enjoy his newer album Orca, Where Polly People Go to Read was what originally dragged me in. Plus, I got to go see him in concert with two of my friends (shout out Max and José) and had a great time. For those curious with the title, “polly people” are your friends and family, the people you choose to surround yourself with.

Gus has a way of making music sound approachable while still having a high production on it. I really enjoy the disconcerting lyrics sweeping you away without really hearing. But reading the lyrics contextualizes the songs and helps guide the listener. The strain Gus’ voice has on some lyrics is a little hit or miss for me, conveying the emotion but sounding almost painful. Pointed out to me by Rohan, Gus is so good in building the emotion of an album into a climaxing song (“Fill Me Up Anthem” or “Medicine” on his Orca album). “My Favorite Fish” is worth a listen. Using the cliché, it conveys being wrapped up with another extremely well.

Described in a phrase:

Drifting bedroom pop

Personal song highlights:

• Verdigris

• World Class Cinema

• Eyes for Ellis

• Coax & Botany

• Sockboy

• My Favorite Fish

• Fill Me Up Anthem

Marianas Trench - Ever After (2011)

Possibly the most underrated artist given their musical skill on this list! Marianas Trench has a whole discography rich with intricate albums and polymorphous songs. While most of their albums are great, this one is my standout favorite (sorry Daniel not Astoria). My confession is I came to the band by one of their singles, “Rhythm of Your Heart” (I’m not sure if there is a big divide within the fans of how their singles and Eps compare to their albums but I will say they have a different styles).

Thematically, Ever After is about a lost protagonist having to save a princess and the kingdom of Toyland from the evil queen to get home (the full storyline was included in a booklet with the album). To help with this, Marians Trench had a captivating video accompaniment to their live show (The full isn’t anywhere online but here is the most complete collection).

“Ever After” (the song) does a great job of setting the scene for the story (starting with Once upon a time – classic!). One of the draws of the album is how each song is complete with different sounding stanzas. The flow between songs is nice as each song evolves yet doesn’t lose its appeal. I sometimes get lost to which song I am listening to within the larger structure. “Haven’t Had Enough” and “Desperate Measures” have an accessible pop sound perfect for a radio single. Choosing one song, lend an ear to “So Soon”. While Marianas Trench can do anthems well, this brooding song captures how we feel following a breakup. I’m over you but still want you to feel the pain you caused.

Described in a phrase:

Cinematic sonic saga

Personal song highlights:

• Ever After

• Haven’t Had Enough

• By Now

• Truth or Dare

• Desperate Measures

• Porcelain

• Fallout

• Stutter

• Toy Soldiers

• B Team

• So Soon

Neon Trees - I Can Feel You Forgetting Me (2020)

When an album comes into your awareness circle at the right moment, it can stick with you and alter the lens you use. For me, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me or ICFYFM was the album. It touches on ghosting (highlighted with the track “Holy Ghost”) and developing self-love instead of looking for extrinsic validation (summed in the closing song “New Best Friend”).

I liked Neon Trees as a band before. Habits and Picture Show were good albums with catchy singles. Pop Psychology helped me realize concept albums are completely dead and move Neon Trees into regular rotation.

What helped solidify this album into its high location was this tweet by front man Tyler Glenn. The last photo starting with “I hope you listen, but I also don’t care if you do” hits close to home. The person was an integral part of what made you you, but as ships in the night you’ve drifted apart and moved on. Having someone forget you can hurt, but it can also be a good experience (or it can bring you together like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

The album is Neon Trees MO. It is pulsing pop with an atmospheric synth haze that keeps the sound feeling new. Tyler also helps connect the listener with his impassioned vocals on songs like “Living Single”. This is all best shown in “New Best Friend”. The crazy you have (and everyone is somewhat crazy) is something you must learn to live with and accept. You can’t love outside yourself if you don’t love yourself.

Described in a phrase:

Melodramatic self-acceptance

Personal song highlights:

• Nights

• Used To Like

• Skeleton Boy

• Mess Me Up

• Living Single

• When The Night Is Over

• New Best Friend

The Maine - You are OK (2019)

What a tough decision. If you ask my friends what my favorite band is, The Maine is on the short list. Ever since the album Black and White, I have thoroughly enjoyed each album they put out (I didn’t discover them for Can’t Stop Won’t Stop but it still has a few good songs). For the longest time (little Billy Joel reference there), my absolute favorite album by The Maine was American Candy with Lovely Little Lonely a close second.

I loved (and still enjoy) how the album comes together with hits like “English Girls” but also touching ballads like “24 Floors”. The title track is well written, using “candy” to describe the vices of society (it was originally supposed to be on their Forever Halloween album but didn’t fit, so they tooled it into an entire album). The bubblegum pop undertone to the album helped stitch together the pop rock with heartfelt thoughtful lyrics.

But You Are OK took the top spot for me with its messaging. You are OK. More people need to hear this. (I also was reading I’m OK – You’re OK by Thomas Anthony Harris about transactional analysis and loved the similarity). The album is really one of growth and change, all while knowing that you will get through the rough parts of life.

Most of the songs won’t make good radio hits due to their length (only really “Numb for You” works). But the length lets each song breathe and really speak for itself. “Slip the Noose”: you saved me. “My Best Habit”: you aren’t worth their time, and you’ll only let them down. “Numb Without You”: how you feel more alive with that person in your life. “I Feel It All Over”: being close to that person. “Heaven, We’re Already Here”: going and doing and being in the world. “Forevermore”: putting yourself out there, how you’re enjoying this. “Tears Won’t Cry (ShinjŪ)”: Romeo and Juliet love. “One Sunset”: the longing of meeting again (this song probably sounds the most “The Maine”). “Broken Parts”: everyone is broken in some way. Flowers on the Grave: growth and moving forward in life.

Every album The Maine puts out has a song that simply works (“Into Your Arms” – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, “Right Girl” – Black and White, “Misery” – Pioneer, “Love & Drugs” – Forever Halloween, “English Girls” – American Candy, “Taxi” – Lovely Little Lonely) and on You Are OK, there is one that stands out, “Flowers on the Grave”, the nine and a half minute meandering finale. The message (I’ve changed for the better, so I’ll put these flowers on the grave of my old self and I’d like to thank you for helping me) hits perfectly and I even enjoy the wandering path to get to the culmination of the album. The fading lyrics at the end serve as a nod back to a line in the first song, “I was on the verge of breaking down then you came around”. The Maine described the song as Full-Circle and I think that is very applicable. It is one of the top three songs on this list.

Described in a phrase:

Because of you, I’m a better person

Personal song highlights:

• Slip the Noose

• My Best Habit

• Numb Without You

• I Feel It All Over

• Heaven, We’re Already here

• Forevermore

• Tears Won’t Cry (ShinjŪ)

• One Sunset

• Broken Parts

• Flowers on the Grave

Conclusions

I applaud you for scrolling all the way down here (if you’re trying to find #1 you went too far). I found this whole experiment quite therapeutic. I got to rediscover some of my favorite albums and artists and listen with a critical ear. Most the time I passively shuffle my songs until something matches my mood. This gave me a deeper connection to the passion, effort and intention each artist put into their craft.

I realized I have missed some bigger artists (Taylor Swift, Kanye, Kendrick Lamar, Pink Floyd, The Beatles). I should have dug deeper but I needed to draw the line somewhere. Maybe at the end of the year, I’ll post an updated list (that’s hopefully shorter).

Out of all my albums, I found the average year for an album was 2010.84, let’s round up to 2011. This is what I expected since I’m biased towards albums for my generation. But I can confidently say my favorite genre is pop-rock. I used to say alternative (and which is still true but really what isn’t alternative?) but now I can be more precise in my word choice. Also, genres are so ambiguous it can be hard to nail stuff down into one or the other.

For music in general there is a dichotomy I really appeal to. One side is that it makes music seem approachable and honest, anyone can pick up a guitar or keyboard and start singing about their thoughts and feelings (see Friday Night Boys, Gus Dapperton, Boys Like Girls). The other side is highly produced and intricate art pieces (The Alan Parson Project, Marianas Trench, The 1975). Some of my favorite bands bridge the divide so well it is both raw and polished (The Maine, Neon Trees). From this dichotomy, one side shows the accessibility of the medium and the other shows me the quality it can become. The breadth and depth music can occupy is why I love it.

If you enjoyed this, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram or email me at thomas.nagle9@gmail.com. Hope you have a great day!

“Music would sing to me things no one else even said” – Barry Manilow (Beautiful Music)

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