The Best Alternative & Indie Albums of the 2010s
Our pick of the essential alternative & indie records released in the 2010s, ranked.
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1AMArctic Monkeys
AM
A sleek, hip-hop-influenced reinvention of heavy riffs and falsetto hooks. Cool and huge. Their biggest crossover record.
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2CurrentsTame Impala
Currents
The pivot from psych-rock to glossy synth-pop, introspective and danceable. 'Let It Happen' anchors it. A crossover triumph.
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3High VioletThe National
High Violet
Lush, melancholic and immaculately crafted, their commercial breakthrough. Anthemic in a restrained way. A modern indie staple.
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4Modern Vampires of the CityVampire Weekend
Modern Vampires of the City
A leap into ambition and depth, full of intricate production and questions of faith and time. Their richest record. Widely acclaimed.
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5InnerSpeakerTame Impala
InnerSpeaker
A warm, psychedelic guitar debut of swirling retro textures. Hazy and assured. The start of Parker's run.
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6LonerismTame Impala
Lonerism
Woozy, psychedelic pop built almost entirely by Kevin Parker, dense and dreamlike. Inventive and warm. A modern psych landmark.
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7An Awesome Wavealt-J
An Awesome Wave
A quirky, intricate indie debut of folk, electronics and odd harmony. Distinctive and acclaimed. A Mercury-winning breakout.
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8The 1975The 1975
The 1975
A glossy, sprawling debut blending pop, rock and 80s textures. Tuneful and huge. Their breakthrough.
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9DogrelFontaines D.C.
Dogrel
A vivid, literate post-punk debut of Dublin energy. Sharp and acclaimed. A striking arrival.
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10A Moon Shaped PoolRadiohead
A Moon Shaped Pool
A lush, string-laden late peak of melancholy and beauty. Gorgeous and acclaimed. A graceful record.
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11BrothersThe Black Keys
Brothers
A soulful, fuzzy blues-rock breakthrough, home to 'Tighten Up'. Gritty and huge. Their commercial peak.
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12The SuburbsArcade Fire
The Suburbs
A sprawling, Grammy-winning meditation on suburban memory. Ambitious and acclaimed. A creative peak.
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13Holy FireFoals
Holy Fire
A muscular, groove-driven indie-rock peak. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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14Trouble Will Find MeThe National
Trouble Will Find Me
A refined, melancholic peak of literate indie rock. Understated and acclaimed. A fan favourite.
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15Salad DaysMac DeMarco
Salad Days
A woozy, laid-back indie record of slacker charm. Mellow and beloved. A defining lo-fi-pop record.
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16Be the CowboyMitski
Be the Cowboy
A sharp, theatrical art-pop record of compressed emotion and stylistic range. Inventive and acclaimed. Her breakthrough.
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17U.F.O.F.Big Thief
U.F.O.F.
A hushed, mysterious indie-folk peak of intimate beauty. Singular and acclaimed. A modern landmark.
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18Lost in the DreamThe War on Drugs
Lost in the Dream
A widescreen, heartland-indie peak of motorik drift and emotion. Lush and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.
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19Let England ShakePJ Harvey
Let England Shake
A haunting, war-themed art-rock peak. Bold and Mercury-winning. A late masterpiece.
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20Tranquility Base Hotel & CasinoArctic Monkeys
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
A divisive lounge-and-piano reinvention, conceptual and wry. Bold and acclaimed. A brave left turn.
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21Father of the BrideVampire Weekend
Father of the Bride
A sprawling, sunny double album of eclectic pop craft. Warm and Grammy-winning. A creative peak.
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22Sleep Well BeastThe National
Sleep Well Beast
A textured, electronic-leaning peak. Bold and Grammy-winning. A creative high.
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23Tourist HistoryTwo Door Cinema Club
Tourist History
A bright, danceable indie-pop debut. Tuneful and beloved. A breakthrough.
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24I Like It When You Sleep...The 1975
I Like It When You Sleep...
A sprawling, ambitious pop-rock peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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25A Brief Inquiry into Online RelationshipsThe 1975
A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships
An ambitious, genre-hopping meditation on the digital age. Bold and acclaimed. Their most acclaimed record.
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26Visions of a LifeWolf Alice
Visions of a Life
A dynamic, shapeshifting rock peak. Bold and Mercury-winning. Their finest.
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27Joy as an Act of ResistanceIDLES
Joy as an Act of Resistance
A cathartic, compassionate post-punk peak of fury and vulnerability. Loud and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.
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28BrutalismIDLES
Brutalism
A furious, visceral post-punk debut. Loud and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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29Nonagon InfinityKing Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Nonagon Infinity
A relentless, looping psych-rock landmark designed to never stop. Wild and beloved. A fan favourite.
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30Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just SitCourtney Barnett
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
A witty, deadpan indie-rock debut of sharp observation. Charming and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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31Puberty 2Mitski
Puberty 2
A raw, inventive indie-rock peak of compressed emotion. Sharp and acclaimed. A defining record.
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32Two HandsBig Thief
Two Hands
A raw, earthy companion to U.F.O.F. of live-band intimacy. Powerful and acclaimed. A standout.
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33Teen DreamBeach House
Teen Dream
Gauzy, gorgeous dream-pop of organ, slide guitar and reverb. Hypnotic and warm. The album that defined their sound.
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34BloomBeach House
Bloom
A lush, immersive dream-pop peak of widescreen beauty. Hypnotic and beloved. Their finest.
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35St. VincentSt. Vincent
St. Vincent
A jagged, art-pop peak of guitar fireworks and wit. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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36MasseductionSt. Vincent
Masseduction
A glossy, dark art-pop record of fame and desire. Sharp and acclaimed. A standout.
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37This Is HappeningLCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening
A wry, danceable peak of emotional dance-punk. Sharp and beloved. A strong send-off (for a while).
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38American DreamLCD Soundsystem
American Dream
A reflective, age-aware comeback of dance-rock craft. Bold and acclaimed. A worthy return.
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39ReflektorArcade Fire
Reflektor
A sprawling, dance-influenced double album produced with James Murphy. Ambitious and varied. A bold experiment.
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40Total Life ForeverFoals
Total Life Forever
A textured, dynamic indie peak. Bold and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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41Halcyon DigestDeerhunter
Halcyon Digest
A dreamy, melodic art-rock peak of hazy beauty. Inventive and acclaimed. Their finest.
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42All MirrorsAngel Olsen
All Mirrors
A dramatic, orchestral art-rock peak of swelling emotion. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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43Skeleton TreeNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree
A devastating record shadowed by personal tragedy, sparse and raw. Haunting and acclaimed. A profound work.
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44GhosteenNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Ghosteen
An ambient, grief-soaked double album of transcendent sorrow. Beautiful and acclaimed. A late masterpiece.
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45m b vMy Bloody Valentine
m b v
A long-awaited sequel to Loveless that picked up where it left off. Immersive and acclaimed. A worthy return.
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46SlowdiveSlowdive
Slowdive
A gorgeous, mature reunion record of refined shoegaze. Warm and acclaimed. A triumphant comeback.
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47ShieldsGrizzly Bear
Shields
A dense, intricate indie peak. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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48A Deeper UnderstandingThe War on Drugs
A Deeper Understanding
A lush, Grammy-winning continuation of heartland-indie drift. Warm and acclaimed. A strong peak.
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49Wakin on a Pretty DazeKurt Vile
Wakin on a Pretty Daze
A loose, hazy guitar peak of laid-back charm. Warm and acclaimed. A high point.
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50Wide Awake!Parquet Courts
Wide Awake!
A punchy, danceable post-punk peak of wit and groove. Sharp and acclaimed. A standout.
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51Teens of DenialCar Seat Headrest
Teens of Denial
A sprawling, literate indie-rock breakthrough. Raw and acclaimed. A defining 2010s record.
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52AntisocialitesAlvvays
Antisocialites
A bright, hook-laden indie-pop peak of dreamy melody. Charming and acclaimed. Their finest.