A whole lot of great music came out of Seattle during the 2010s covering just about every genre on the pop music spectrum. Even better news is that many new faces who popped up the past decade have become scene mainstays and some, such as Odesza and The Head and the Heart (pictured above), have already made a lot of noise on national level.
Taking a look back at the bounty of great records released by Seattle artists the last 10 years it’s clear that the upper left was a thriving hotbed of artistic excellence. And while there were hundreds of quality albums made by local artists during the 2010s, here are the 25 that mattered most.
25. State of the Artist “ SeattleCaliFragilisticExtraHellaDopeness” (2010)
Why it’s important: With this album SOTA unknowingly perfectly captured the sounds of all the top local MCs of the late aughts, musically marking the transition into the new decade. Guest spots from P Smoov, Thig Nat, Grynch, Sol, Katie Kate, Champgane Champagne, OC Notes and just about every other notable Seattle rapper at the time not named Macklemore grace this album. The record not only documents a great period in Seattle music, it’s a love letter to the local hip-hop scene and somewhat serves as the ending to the Seattle hip-hop explosion everyone thought would come, but sadly never happened.
24. Thuderpussy “Thunderpussy” (2018)
Why it’s important: After several years of hard work, hype and excitement surrounding their exhilarating live show the women of Thunderpussy made their major label debut in 2018. The self-titled record is a rock ‘n’ roll tour-de-force featuring several scorching guitar-driven cuts like “Velvet Noose” and “Speed Queen,” putting a modern twist on timeless classic rock style.
23. Wimps “Garbage People” (2018)
Why it’s important: If you can’t have fun while listening to a Wimps record then I question whether you’re really human. This trio of fun-loving guys and gal created a batch of ridiculously catchy and witty tunes. “O.P.P.” is perhaps the greatest song ever written about the greatest food ever, pizza. “Giant Brain” is about building your own giant brain. “Mope Around” is the best dance sensation that never was. And “Quitter” is built on a simple and effective riff that helps punch through the sarcastic lyrics about the drag of responsibility that is having to quit doing things that are enjoyable for grown-up reasons.
22. Chong the Nomad “Love Memo” (2018)
Why it’s important: If Alda Agustiano keeps adding to the impressive body of work she’s already amassed under the moniker Chong the Nomad it won’t be long before she’s a household name. Her 2018 album is a shining six-track masterpiece that is a bright statement about the future of dance music.
21. Pedro the Lion “Phoenix” (2019)
Why it’s important: After several excellent solo albums David Bazan finally caved and gave his fans something they’ve wanted for 15 years, a Pedro the Lion comeback record. Bazan successfully resurrects his old moniker by drafting a new band and crafting up a set of emotionally powerful songs about his childhood. It’s an album that fits perfectly alongside both Bazan’s solo efforts and his catalog of Pedro the Lion albums.
20. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “The Vs EP Redux” (2010)
Why it’s important: A reissue of the duo’s 2009 EP of the same name, hence the redux, this release is more than just an extended version of a solid collection of songs. It’s this version of the EP that signaled the beginning of the pair’s star turn. They found their formula for success by combining Ryan Lewis’ masterful production work and sampling of Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers and Arcade Fire with Macklemore’s heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics about drugs, addiction and other topics. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Macklemore release if there wasn’t a lot of local love on the album. P Smoov, Jake One, Sabzi, Budo and others get in on the action too with excellent remixes rounding out the EP’s bonus material.
19. Jeremy Enigk “Ghosts” (2017)
Why it’s important: Another comeback record of sorts, the former Sunny Day Real Estate and Fire Theft frontman showed up this decade with his first solo album in eight years. The crowd-funded album leans a little more closely to “The Return of the Frog Queen” than it does “Ok Bear” and it’s a great return from one of the more influential songwriters to come out Seattle during the 90s.
18. Moondoggies “A Love Sleeps Deep” (2018)
Why it’s important: The Moondoggies appeared on the scene when a brand of campfire rock, popularized locally by the likes of Fleet Foxes, the Maldives and others, was one of popular sounds du jour. They fit well in that scene and that sound is nearly perfected on their first few albums. “A Love Sleeps Deep” trades in the group’s familiar folksy, down-home feels for songs that are rooted in classic rock with slightly progressive undertones. What you get is the sound of a group of stalwart Seattle musicians working together through an organic evolution of their sound. And the results are pure musical bliss.
17. Pickwick “Can’t Talk Medicine” (2014)
Why it’s important: Pickwick has grown beyond the sounds of their debut full-length record, but that doesn’t mean the band’s 2014 release isn’t one helluva album. It’s a jolt of soulful rock with a joyful spirit and sharp edge that matches the band’s delightful live show.
16. Travis Thompson “Reckless Endangerment” (2019)
Why it’s important: Former Sound Off! contestant Travis Thompson became a local name to watch thanks to the strength of his debut album “Ambuam.” He followed that up with 2018’s “YouGood?” which led to a major-label signing. This year’s “Reckless Endgangerment” is the natural evolution of a kid who wears his Northwest hip-hop influences on his sleeve, as evidenced in the track “Glass Ceiling” which features Sir Mix-A-Lot, Macklemore and Geo from Blue Scholars.
15. Sol “Yours Truly” (2012)
Why it’s important: Sol had been working hard to make himself known in the local hip-hop community for years and “Yours Truly” is the album that served as his coming out party. This is the record that helped him sell out the Showbox, launch a national tour and become a mainstay in local hip-hop.
14. Beat Connection “The Palace Garden” (2014)
Why it’s important: Beat Connection’s sophomore album is a slice of chillwave perfection. The group grew from a duo to quartet on this album, which allowed them to expand their sound and create a slickly produced, synthy, engaging record.
13. Sandrider “Sandrider” (2011)
Why it’s important: Seattle’s hard rock and metal scene tends to get overlooked by local media due to the niche nature of the genres. So how does a band overcome that obstacle and get noticed? If you’re Sandrider, you simply release a powerhouse of a debut album that so mightily pummels eardrums that it cannot be denied.
12. Thee Satisfaction “awE naturalE” (2012)
Why it’s important: Sub Pop dipped its toes into hip-hop with the signing of Shabazz Palaces and the subsequent signing Thee Satisfaction showed the label was serious about showing off some of Seattle’s finest hip-hop talent. Soulful vocals and sharp raps fill “awE naturalE” giving the album a distinct sound that could only be produced by the Black Constellation.
11. Soundagrden “King Animal” (2013)
Why it’s important: As if the welcome return of one of the greatest bands of the 90s wasn’t enough, this album is as powerful a comeback statement that any Soundgarden fan could want. Track after track on the band’s sixth studio album is a thunderous heaping of loud rock with Chris Cornell’s vocals soaring over wailing Kim Thayil guitar riffs and steady rhythms laid down by Matt Cameron and Ben Shepard. If this ends up being the group’s final studio album Soundgarden went out on the highest, and loudest, note possible.
10. Father John Misty “I Love You, Honeybear” (2015)
Why it’s important: Former Fleet Foxes drummer J Tillman had quite a decade releasing four widely acclaimed albums under his alter ego Father John Misty. It was on “I Love You, Honeybear,” his second FJM offering, where he seemed to fully come into himself as both the characters he creates for his songs and as songwriter.
9. Carseat Headrest “Teens of Denial” (2016)
Why it’s important: Will Toledo’s reworking of songs he released on Bandcamp might be the most indie-rock sounding record from a Seattle artist this decade. It’s lo-fi guitar-driven, bedroom rock given a big enough sound to appeal to a target audience of kids who have yet to discover Pavement. Adding to the indie appeal is that it was released by venerable Matador Records.
8. Odesza “In Return” (2014)
Why it’s important: Odesza had been making quite a lot of noise and having quite big impact locally prior to the release of “In Return.” But it was the success of this record that led to Grammy nominations, festival headlining slots (including Coachella) and many other impressive career milestones.
7. Mudhoney “Digital Garbage” (2018)
Why it’s important: Mudhoney is probably the essence of a Seattle rock band. They’re smart. They’re funny. And they make loud, kick-ass records. The band’s tenth full-length studio album hits all those marks and ups the ante by tackling Trump-era politics. The cultural commentary is smart and in typical Mudhoney style it’s biting and funny. “Digital Garbage” isn’t just the best rock record that came out of Seattle in 2018 or one of the finest albums of the band’s career, it’s one of the best rock albums of the decade.
6. The Head and the Heart “The Head and the Heart” (2011)
Why it’s important: The Head and the Heart’s signing to Sub Pop was probably the worst kept secret in Seattle music history. The band’s self-released, self-titled debut reportedly sold more than 10,000 copies before any labels made offers thanks to THATH’s feel-good live show and plenty of airplay from KEXP. Every record the group has released is excellent but its the first record in their discography, with its success story that makes Seattle music fans smile, that will likely go down as an all-time Seattle scene classic.
5. Blue Scholars “Cinemetropolis” (2011)
Why it’s important: Geo and Sabzi created a Seattle hip-hop masterpiece with this crowd-funded album. The record is an ode to Seattle with cinematic flair. “Slick Watts” should be the Seattle city anthem, “Seijun Suzuki” hits hard and of course there’s plenty of social commentary and calls to action with tracks like “Yuri Kochiyama” and “Oskar Barnack.” The latter uses a clever turn of phrase to encourage people to “shoot the cops” in order to hold law enforcement accountable. The shooting being done by a camera phone, not a gun.
4. Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues” (2011)
Why it’s important: “Helplessness Blues” is an album filled with stunning harmonies, beautiful instrumentation and an overall remarkably stunning album that is perfect listening for almost any occasion. It’s the band’s second full-length for Sub Pop and it is one of the greatest Sub Pop releases this decade. For this album the group expanded its sound quite a bit and added former Blood Brothers member Morgan Henderson, who makes his presence felt on the record’s most impressive track “The Shrine/An Argument” with a clarinet breakdown during the song’s second half.
3. Shabazz Palaces “Black Up” (2011)
Why it’s important: I’m not spitting hyperbole here by saying that when you listen to this record you will have a new understanding of the phrase “next level shit.” “Black Up” is one of those rare albums that not only gets better with every listen, it also seemingly evolves every time you press play. Whether you find yourself wrapping your mind around the seemingly mystical lyrical powers of Shabazz MC Palaceer Lazaro, or getting lost in its speaker-swelling bass, or digging deeper into some of its Afrocentric undertones, there’s so much complexity and outright hip-hop mastery here that it almost feels like Palaceer Lazaro and his partner Tendai Maraire are attempting to redefine a genre. Simply put, this isn’t an album you latch onto, “Black Up” latches on to you and it doesn’t let go.
2. Brandi Carlile “By the Way, I Forgive You” (2018)
Why it’s important: While anyone who follows the local music scene (and anyone who is a regular Guerrilla Candy reader) has known about Brandi Carlile for years, she made herself known to the world with this album. Not only did it rack up a few Grammys and generate some excellent videos, it helped lead to the Highwomen, working with Tanya Tucker and so many other amazing career accolades for one of the Northwest’s greatest modern day songwriters.
1. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “The Heist” (2012)
Why it’s important: You can’t talk about the decade in Seattle music without mentioning Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (see No. 20 above) and you can’t talk about Macklemore & Ryan Lewis without mentioning the inescapable earworm that is “Thrift Shop.” The video for the song alone has been viewed more than 1.3 billion times, and no that isn’t a typo. They were an unavoidable force in pop music this decade and they represent Seattle to their core.
But “The Hesit,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ first full-length album, is more than a record with a catchy single that has a goofy video. The album came loaded with hits. “White Walls” and “Can’t Hold Us” are equally as good as the cut about a cold-ass honky buying clothes that smell like R Kelly’s sheets. And then there’s the impact of “Same Love,” which was a boundary-breaking hip-hop track about same-sex marriage. The guest spots were well-chosen too with Schoolboy Q, Ab Soul and Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell appearing on tracks and locals like Buffalo Madonna, Mary Lambert, Hollis Wong-Wear, Ray Dalton, Allen Stone and others popping up too.
And as is if Macklemore & Ryan Lewis releasing the juggernaut that was “The Heist” into the world wasn’t enough, they did it all as independent artists. That’s right, no major label help (which is likely why a track like “Jimmy Iovine” made the record). With “The Heist” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis didn’t just create a record responsible for millions of copies sold and billions of streams and YouTube views, giving them both generational wealth in the process, they also created hands-down the most important local album of the decade.
