Just outside the Top 10 sits a run of records that defined the year in quieter, stranger, and often more intimate ways.
From left-field pop and restless indie rock to deeply personal singer-songwriter turns, these albums reward repeat listens and long walks with headphones on.
11. Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
Michelle Zauner leans fully into atmosphere here, crafting a lush, slow-burn record that feels cinematic and inward-looking.
It’s Japanese Breakfast at their most refined—melancholy without ever sinking into self-pity.
12. Dijon – Baby
Tender, unguarded, and beautifully messy, Baby plays like a late-night confession captured on tape.
Dijon blurs R&B, folk, and indie pop into something deeply human and emotionally raw.
13. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
Berninger’s baritone remains one of indie rock’s most recognizable voices, and Get Sunk gives it room to wander.
World-weary, reflective, and subtly funny, this album feels like a companion piece for anyone navigating middle age with grace and doubt.
14. Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer
Buzzy guitars, anxious energy, and sharp songwriting make this a thrilling debut.
Divorce channel post-punk tension and indie swagger into a record that feels urgent, restless, and very much of its time.
15. FKA twigs – Eusexua
Fearless and forward-thinking, Eusexua continues FKA twigs’ evolution as one of pop’s true auteurs.
It’s a sensual, challenging listen—fragmented, physical, and emotionally charged.
16. Courting – Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’
Chaotic in the best way, Courting push their maximalist instincts even further.
The album jumps between tones and ideas with reckless confidence, yet somehow holds together as a sharp, self-aware statement.
17. Lucy Dacus – Forever Is a Feeling
Quietly devastating and beautifully written, this is Lucy Dacus at her most direct.
Each song feels lived-in, tracing love, loss, and time with an intimacy that lingers long after the record ends.
18. Hotline TNT – Raspberry Moon
A shoegaze-leaning blast of distortion and melody, Raspberry Moon balances noise with heart.
It’s loud, fuzzy, and oddly comforting—proof that big guitars still have plenty to say.
19. Tyler, The Creator – Don’t Tap the Glass
Tyler remains impossible to pin down.
Don’t Tap the Glass is playful, unpredictable, and packed with personality, showcasing an artist still refusing to sit still or repeat himself.
20. Subsonic Eye – Singapore Dreaming
Dreamy, jangly, and effortlessly charming, this album captures the quiet magic of everyday moments.
Subsonic Eye deliver a warm, understated record that feels like a snapshot of a scene and a place.
