The band at #14 has been around for over 10 years, yet, despite a minor blip when they released their debut album in 2010, they’ve remained in relative obscurity for the bulk of the decade. Warpaint, four women from Los Angeles, finally pulled all the right elements together for their self-titled 2nd album.

Their sound is indie-rock, with guitars and drums providing most of the foundation for reverb-heavy vocals. The songs are tight, well-produced, and quite a few of them have hooks that will stick in your mind for days. Bits and pieces of 90s rock bands like Luscious Jackson, the Cranberries, Mono, and Portishead all can be heard throughout the album.

A lot of the repetitive drum beats, bass lines and guitar licks seem so “on time” that they could be produced electronically rather than by live instruments. But that matters very little. These are haunting songs that will seep into your brain and bang around a little while. Download it, and hear for yourself.

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15. Heal by Strand of Oaks
16. Stay Gold by First Aid Kit
17. This is All Yours by ∆
18. Brill Bruisers by The New Pornographers
19. Only Run by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
20. Augustines by Augustines
21. El Pintor by Interpol
22. I Never Learn by Lykke Li
23. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes by Thom Yorke
24. The Voyager by Jenny Lewis
25. Voices by Phantogram
26. Morning Phase by Beck
27. Hungry Ghosts by OK Go
28. Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels
29. Cosmos by Yellow Ostrich
30. Teeth Dreams by The Hold Steady
31. With Light & With Love by Woods

2009-2013 Top 31s