From a universe of 123 albums (view all of them at https://www.pinterest.com.au/bigdecade/rock-music-big-year-reviewlets/), here is the cream:
- Destroyer – Ken. Obtuse but brilliant.
- My Friend The Chocolate Cake – The Revival Meeting. Buoyant musicality aligned with David Bridie’s searing lyrics.
- Conor Oberst – Salutations. Today’s singer-poet backed by terrific musicians.
- The National – Sleep Well Beast. Sophisticated, propulsive, yet dreamy.
- Teleman – Fünf. In search of the perfect pop toon, plus five different producers.
- Robert Plant – Carry Fire. Still the supreme voice, now controlled and allied to a rattling, eclectic band.
- Grandaddy – Last Place. Back to his hypnotic catchy best.
- Angel Olsen – Phases. Outtakes and offcuts showcase the heir to Dusty Springfield in arresting form.
- The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding. Songs of yearning buried in that wall of sound.
- Fischer-Z – Building Bridges. After so long, mighty and distinctive, sounding 18 years old.
- Mountain Goats – Goths. Guitar-less masterpiece from another poet of modernity.
- Eluvium – False Readings On. Elegaic even when fuzzy, ambient electronics at its peak.
- Kelley Stoltz – Que Aura. Brilliantly written garage pop classics.
- Tiny Little Houses – Snow Globe. Australia’s best band, a spitting, sneering showpiece.
- Tobin Sprout – The Universe and Me. Lo-fi gems penned with genius.
- Elbow – Little Fictions. Another stately, chugging set filled with grand homely stories.
- Beach Baby – No Mind No Money. Fizzing classy example of Brit-rock.
- Arcade Fire – Everything Now. Singalong yet oblique, repetitive, varied songs that don’t let go.
- Slowdive – Self-titled. Original shoegazers produce career-best triumph of burning, melodic distortion.
- The Shins – Heartworm. Exploding joy, melodious and bouncy as all heck.