Most of the music that I listen to is of the "indie" variety and the bands don't usually last too long. They are on small record labels, they usually don't sell a lot of records and hipsters are so damn fickle that they are always looking for the next new thing and will drop their interest in bands that they just loved 6 months ago. For example, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's first CD was one of my favorite discs of 2005. They released a not as good follow up disc in 2007, and then there were rumors that they were breaking up in 2009. Because of these and other factors, its really enjoyable when an indie band that you like happens to string a few good discs together and starts to show some longevity. Below is the list of the top 5 bands that I think are putting out the best music right now. The criteria I used for this list is that they have to have at least 2 really good CD's released in the last 4 years (1 excellent disc and 1 mediocre disc do not count) since every 2 years seems to be the cycle for releasing CD's these days. I picked that timeframe because I wanted bands that are putting out music on a fairly regular basis so you can enjoy their music more often. This is why Radiohead is not on the list - its obvious that they are still excellent, as In Rainbows proved. However, that CD took 4 years to come out after Hail To the Thief and who knows how long it will be until their next one comes out. Also, the band still has to be together - this list is about bands that are making great music and hopefully will continue to in the future.
5.) Animal Collective
Animal Collective (as I wrote about in my 2009 Top 10 entry) put forth some of the most eclectic music out there today. Some of their songs sound like they are being played on your back porch by a jug band at a hoedown. Others sound like you should be listening to them in a dark room with only a blacklight and some glow in the dark posters. Their output is pretty prolific, too - since 2005, they have released 3 albums (Feels, Strawberry Jam and Merriweather Post Pavilion) and 1 EP (Water Curses). I will admit that their sound is not for everyone, but they manage to consistently impress me with each new release.
The National play pop/rock with a little bit of a darker edge. However, I think even if they tried to play a little lighter-sounding fare, their music would still sound dark due to the deep baritone voice of their lead singer Matt Berninger. His voice adds a little something extra to their sound that helps achieve the kinda "chamber pop" sound that their music leans towards - there's just something about a lot of their songs that sounds like you should be listening to them in the parlor, with some gaslights and a glass of scotch.
3.) TV On the Radio
TVotR's sound is pretty hard to pin down. Their songs mix alternative rock, jazz, and soul in a way that very few bands could pull off. Their last 2 discs - 2006's Return To Cookie Mountain and 2008's Dear Science - were both critically praised by both the indie music press and more mainstream publications, like Rolling Stone. In fact, Rolling Stone (along with Entertainment Weekly, Spin, MTV and a few others) named Dear Science as the Best Album of the Year (thank you Wikipedia). This band knows how to groove and they know how to rock. And they can blow you away with either. "Wolf Like Me" from Cookie Mountain my be my favorite song released this decade.
2.) Spoon
Spoon plays rock music, but they mix up their sound with a little more pop sensibility than the other bands on this list. They have shown that they know how to groove too, as evidenced by "I Turn My Camera On" from 2005's Gimme Fiction and "Don't You Evah" from 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Their 2007 disc was one of the best released that year and has me really looking forward to their next disc. They released an EP this year that really only served to tease me. DAMN THEM!
1.) The Hold Steady
I know that I have previously written about this band, but they really are my favorite band currently. They have one of the most fun, high-energy live shows around (I have seen them live 3 times, including once in a bar in Las Vegas where the stage was outside next to the back alley). In the last 4 years, they have released 3 great discs (Seperation Sunday, Boys and Girls In America and A Positive Rage) as well as one live CD (which sounds great but doesn't hold a candle to the experience of seeing them in person). They are just a great, straightforward rock and roll band, making music that has some heart and doesn't sound like it came out of some cookie-cutter rock band template (there are far too few of those bands around these days).
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