THE MUSIC TO END THE DECADE
A look at just a few of the top notch alternative albums released throughout the year of 2019.
2019 was a great year for music, and it was especially interesting within the indie alternative realm. The year was gifted with groundbreaking new music, from upcoming artists to surprise releases by some of the biggest names in the vast genre.
Over the summer of 2019, indie five piece, Hippo Campus released their perfectly imperfect, Demos I and Demos II. These two albums served to show fans the transformation songs and albums go through before the public gets to hear the final compositions. Demos I includes songs pulled from the recording of their sophomore album, Bambi, which were not up to the bands standards, with lyrics that didn’t sit quite right and extra rifs here and there. Demos I showed fans what Bambi was before it became the album they listen to on repeat. Demos II followed the same concept as Demos I, but included a new set of songs, as well as the beloved “No Poms,” which the group debuted in 2018. Fans quickly fell in love with the release, and a couple of their favorites, “Kentucky” and “Ease Up Kid,” were fit into the band’s live set following the release. Each song on Demos I and Demos II was one of its own, each with a different sound, lyric, or meaning, which is why they grew so quickly on those who listened.
With the release of their debut full-length album “Nothing Happens,” indie rock group, Wallows rapidly gained a large fanbase and rose to stardom. Much like the group itself, the album spent years in the making and made its mark upon its 2019 release. Nothing Happens contains largely popular “Are You Bored Yet” which focuses on the inner workings of young relationships. While each song is vastly different from the other, they all somehow fit together. From the transition between “Only Friend” and “Treacherous Doctor,” to the shift from “I’m Full” and “Do Not Wait,” the album is full of clever and enticing tracks. Nothing Happens is a record to remember.
Iconic alternative rock band, Cage The Elephant, returned to their psychedelic roots with the perfectly odd album, Social Cues, their fifth full-length release. Unlike their last release, Tell Me I’m Pretty, the sound and feel of Social Cues points back to their earlier albums Thank You, Happy Birthday, and Melophobia. Fans were drawn to the similarities that the new release had posed to the band's earlier work, and were thrilled. Quickly becoming fan favorites and gaining consistent radio play, “Ready to Run,” and the title track “Social Cues” gave the band heaps of attention, eventually gaining them a 2020 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. Each song is a testament to the bands flexibility and out of the box creativity, and overall, the bands pure, raw talent.
Dayglow frontman and self-taught creator, Sloan Struble, gained quick attention with the 2019 release of his impressive self-produced first album Fuzzybrain. The freshman album includes indie pop songs “Can I Call You Tonight.” and “Hot Rod which, less than a year after being released have collectively racked up more than 29,000 listens on Spotify. Prior to the release of Fuzzybrain, Dayglow put out their first single, “Nicknames,”which gained considerable attention with its catchy and upbeat tempo. The perfect mix of synth and guitar, “Nicknames” surely helped Sloan make his initial mark in the music industry.
Known and loved separately, Phoebe Bridgers and Bright Eyes frontman, Conor Oberst came together at the beginning of 2019 to form the duo now known as Better Oblivion Community Center. The duo stunned fans with the unexpected release of their self-titled album, which is the perfect combination of dread and bliss. Each song on the release is a duet between Bridgers and Oberst and is unique from its album mates Some songs are upbeat and playful, such as “Dylan Thomas”, and others are heavy and hard-hitting, like “Service Road” and “Big Black Heart”. This release left fans of both Bridgers and Oberst anxious to know what’s next for the duo.