100. All the Day Holiday – The Sloth Sessions (2010)
I think there were only 50 of this tape made and it’s presence from the internet is pretty much dried up. It’s re-worked/re-mixed versions of songs from one of my favorite albums of the 2000’s, The Things We’ve Grown To Love.
Genre: Rock/Electronic
RIYL: Mute Math, Paper Route
Stream: N/A
99. Chvrches – Love Is Dead (2018)
Chvrches solidify their status as some of the top-dogs in synth-pop with their third album of catchy, synth-y jams.
Genre: Synth-Pop
RIYL: Now Now, Postiljonen, Harriet Wheeler
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/7EchhykwUf4ACDDABEDa7o?si=UIzGdc4PSsqHushVn0JV7Q
98. Paramore – Paramore (2013)
This is the album where Paramore decided to stop being a pop-punk scene band and deliver an album for their maturing audience. Ain’t it fun? Yes. Yes, it is.
Genre: Rock
RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, Metric
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4sgYpkIASM1jVlNC8Wp9oF?si=-6e5Dxo8TJaJJbFUAYWXAw
97. Waterfront Dining – Melodies & Mermaids (2016)
This is my favorite Vaporwave album by my favorite Vaporwave artist.
Genre: Vaporwave
RIYL: 80s & 90s R&B
Stream: Waterfront Dining – Melodies & Mermaids
96. Kye Kye – Fantasize (2014)
Smooth, dreamy jams from a band that has been way too quiet since this released.
Genre: Dream Pop/Synth Pop
RIYL: Copeland, Lovelite, Cannons
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/41Ifm24Z3c8pAIFxMWUJp3?si=Xfpze-xNQ_upoqyVnZOsuQ
95. Dream Cannon – Illusions (2011)
A project featuring Falling Up band member, Daniel Elder. This release is full of big, echoing guitars and synths with soaring, clean vocals.
Genre: Rock
RIYL: Falling Up, Dredg, U2
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/3QxtlwU7BE7frlTfi2mEYV?si=1ESqpPWJSEGwoVH2hinJvA
94. Jackie Hill Perry – The Art of Joy (2014)
It’s been a long time since I listened to a hip-hop album as much as I did this one. Jackie is a brilliant lyricist.
Genre: Rap
RIYL: Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte, Propaganda
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/5onYnoS1ziFOeS97mNukM9?si=v_uZ1tavTbSOojZ9kByXbQ
93. Anberlin – Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place (2010)
The fact this is one of my least favorite Anberlin albums and it’s still good enough to make this list says a lot about this band. There’s several great songs on every Anberlin album, including tracks like “Pray Tell” and “Art of War” on this one.
Genre: Rock
RIYL: The Classic Crime, Mae, House of Heroes
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/0aJvU0peEjLVYTOhaPVLXv?si=gJlyR-ppRbyAF3n0umtY_g
92. Continuance – Carry Ourselves (2010)
From the ashes of two of my favorite hardcore bands (Saints Never Surrender & Means) comes Continuance. I had the privilege of watching this band play in a garage in the literal middle of nowhere Kentucky when they were touring this albums and it was incredible. I’m really hoping for more music from this band or their previous bands at some point in the future.
Genre: Melodic Hardcore
RIYL: Saints Never Surrender, Means, Life In Your Way
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ojPYxkOxUlOiN80ooObKa?si=z9ubwNrwSQSOyupM2umYzA
91. Oceana – Cleanhead (2010)
Gritty, but melodic post-hardcore. Only four songs, but more than enough to make an impact.
Genre: Post-hardcore
RIYL: Saosin, Sparta, Thrice
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/6sUKYFZet57qfn9IlOCk5Y?si=5UYWCc3sR3SYlxRbS2gtbA
90. My Epic – Viscera (2016)
My Epic shift gears from the more worshipful Behold and Broken Voice towards seeming to try to address hard questions and topics in their songs. Not that this was something they shied away from before, but it seems to be more of a focus here and with the next couple EPs.
Genre: Post-hardcore
RIYL: Thrice, As Cities Burn, Oceans
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/76q9WrF4Lftzb6VX4I9M5V?si=8jLY_0kLS1-00fywQunzBA
89. Still Remains – Ceasing To Breathe (2013)
My favorite melodic metalcore band reunited after a lengthy hiatus to bring this album into the world. It has all the elements that made them my favorites in the genre: strong melodies, gorgeous harmonies, prominent keys/synths, great vocals/drums/guitars.
Genre: Metalcore
RIYL: Bleeding Through, Haste the Day, Bullet For My Valentine
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/534aS9XVVHRQpmdPrhMr4T?si=ozfECTf2RKOZWBbS4cF33A
88. Life In Your Way – Kingdoms (2011)
The masters of melodic hardcore up the metal for the Kingdom of Man and Kingdom of Darkness sections of this trilogy. The Kingdom of God is where they show the style that they mastered with their previous releases, and while it was nice to hear them go for a darker/heavier sound, they excel when they opt for more melody in the guitars.
Genre: Melodic Hardcore/Metalcore
RIYL: Misery Signals, August Burns Red, Shai Hulud
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4tfylKybFBlNAjPctZgo8s?si=7m51H3c_RVinhlc7HH0ltA
87. Jimmy Eat World – Damage (2013)
More great emotional, rockin’ jams.
Genre: Rock
RIYL: singing along, wearing your heart on your sleeve
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/3cTKLglWH2XfDfbwqXvaGo?si=2Um4R0LgTnyWczp5JSxGXg
86. Now Now – Saved (2018)
Now Now released a nice emo-influenced indie rock album called Threads in 2012, but decided to head in more of a pop direction for their sophomore full-length, and I think it worked out. I’m not a fan of the title track, but pretty much everything else here is stellar. Not to mention “Yours”, which is absolute pop perfection.
Genre: Synth-Pop
RIYL: Chvrches, Cannons, Priest
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2omSHllc8JtVw7CqyMvVOr?si=aIEEvjveT0-mpp4WqUbITA
85. Barrie – Happy To Be Here (2019)
This album is hard to pin down. There are some synth-y elements here, but I can’t quite call it synth-pop. The rhythm section has a 70s feel to it, which goes really nice with the smooth, soft vocals or Barrie Lindsay.
Genre: Pop
RIYL: Mute Math, Hatchie, Geowulf
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/74hkehs2cahKJ7jFLOrxYh?si=5I13XcyXTIqan38oD1dz5A
84. The Sleep Design – Kings (2012)
Gorgeous instrumental post-rock in the vein of Explosions In The Sky. I think one of these guys plays in Katy Perry’s band now, if that should make you want to listen for any reason.
Genre: Post-Rock
RIYL: Explosions In The Sky, Moonlit Sailor
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/6AsgIIcquQ1iGpFt3IxLlV?si=Mq3dFcFiQaKkfJuegDn09g
83. Polychrome – Polychrome (2018)
My pals in Polychrome deliver the goods here. It’s got a bit of everything you could want in a synth or electro-pop album. One of the more diverse bands I’ve heard in the modern synth-pop scene. Plus, Vicky Harrison is one of the most personable and kind people I’ve come across in my many internet interactions. Following their Facebook page is a must if you like to talk music online.
Genre: Electro-Pop
RIYL: Chvrches, M83
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/3n1pAJ0hDKtOaDpPpQRrHZ?si=8StJml4TQPG33gmZmcg0sg
82. Ellis – The Fuzz (2018)
The Fuzz is a great name for this EP as it’s got a fuzzy grunge/shoegaze feel that only adds to the sincere lyrics and sweet melodies of Linnea Siggelkow.
Genre: Indie Rock
RIYL: Longbeard, Great Grandpa
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/1f3Zh1IS7yMNLFU2G0lPOG?si=SOQvv_Y2SauP7X2-Je6qog
81. English Gardens – Rest (2017)
I came upon this album after reading that Jessy Ribordy of Falling Up produced it, and I really took to it. It’s got the feel of later Falling Up albums, but not quite as prog-y or conceptual. The basslines are another interesting component of this album as they become the most prominent aspect of a lot of the songs.
Genre: Rock
RIYL: Falling Up, Dream Cannon
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4Rc2O8jVdUp9aNnPLn9nEa?si=MOhDS91URxmhgIajbiQs3w
Ineverglow 