Now that we’ve moved into the 2020s, I thought I’d compile a list of my favorite lesser-known albums of the past ten years. While not all of these are super obscure, you’re unlikely to find most of them on other best-of-the-decade lists. Hope you discover at least one or two that tickle your eardrums.
Black Sands by Bonobo (2010)
Downtempo
Listen to “Kong”
Early in the Morning by James Vincent McMorrow (2010)
Indie Folk
Listen to “This Old Dark Machine”
Steeple by Wolf People (2010)
Psychedelic Rock
Listen to “Silbury Sands”
Tamer Animals by Other Lives (2011)
Chamber Pop
Listen to “For 12”
Say Us by Zeus (2010)
Indie Rock
Listen to “Fever of the Time”
Within and Without by Washed Out (2011)
Chillwave
Listen to “Amor Fati”
Days by Real Estate (2011)
Jangle Pop
Listen to “Easy”
CoCo Beware by Caveman (2011)
Indie Pop
Listen to “Old Friend”
Celestial Electric by AM & Shawn Lee (2011)
Indietronica
Listen to “Somebody Like You”
Nocturne by Wild Nothing (2012)
Dream Pop
Listen to “Shadow”
Django Django by Django Django (2012)
Neo-Psychedelia
Listen to “Hail Bop”
We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic by Foxygen (2013)
Psychedelic Pop
Listen to “San Francisco”
Falling Bough Wisdom Teeth by Kiev (2013)
Art Rock
Listen to “Ariah Being”
Corsicana Lemonade by White Denim (2013)
Indie Rock
Listen to “At Night in Dreams”
II by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (2013)
Psychedelic Pop
Listen to “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”
Antiphon by Midlake (2013)
Folk Rock
Listen to “The Old and the Young”
Sun Structures by Temples (2014)
Neo-Psychedelia
Listen to “Colours to Life”
Entropicalia by The Soundcarriers (2014)
Psychedelic Pop
Listen to “Low Light”
First Mind by Nick Mulvey (2014)
Indie Folk
Listen to “Fever to the Form”
Wiggle Room by Drug Cabin (2014)
Indie Pop
Listen to “Steely Dad”
Arranged Waves by Stephen Steinbrink (2014)
Indie Pop
Listen to “Now You See Everything”
The Universe Smiles Upon You by Khruangbin (2015)
Thai Jazz-Funk
Listen to “White Gloves”
Green Lanes by Ultimate Painting (2015)
Jangle Pop
Listen to “Kodiak”
Primrose Green by Ryley Walker (2015)
Chamber/Guitar Folk
Listen to “On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee”
Architect by C Duncan (2015)
Indie Pop
Listen to “Say”
City Sun Eater in the River of Light by Woods (2016)
Neo-Psychedelia
Listen to “Sun City Creeps”
Those Who Throw Objects at the Crocodiles Will Be Asked to Retrieve Them by Bruno Pernadas (2016)
Art/Jazz Pop
Listen to “Spaceway 70”
The Party by Andy Shauf (2016)
Chamber Pop
Listen to “Quite Like You”
Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka (2016)
Soul
Listen to “Cold Little Heart”
On Poppy Island by Fantasy Guys (2016)
Tropical Dream Pop
Listen to “Bae Caught Me Vapin'”
Music for the Age of Miracles by The Clientele (2017)
Chamber Pop
Listen to “Lunar Days”
Live at the Barn by The Wood Brothers (2017)
Folk Rock/Americana
Listen to “Tried and Tempted”
Life & Love by Skinshape (2017)
Downtempo
Listen to “Don’t Call My Name”
Life Is Magic, Where Is My Rabbit? by Fraser Ross (2018)
Alt-Folk
Listen to “Aladdin’s Eyes”
Phase by Mildlife (2018)
Jazz-Funk
Listen to “The Magnificent Moon”
Parcels by Parcels (2018)
Nu-Disco
Listen to “Lightenup”
Crumbling by Mid-Air Thief (2018)
Korean Folktronica
Listen to “These Chains”
The Fernweh by The Fernweh (2018)
British Psychedelic Rock
Listen to “Next Time Around”
It’s a New Day Tonight by Michael Rault (2018)
Sunshine Pop
Listen to “New Day Tonight”
The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers by YĪN YĪN (2019)
Far East Surf Rock
Listen to “One Inch Punch”