10 Almost Perfect Alternative Rock Albums

10. Sam's Town - The Killers (2006)

When Mr. Brightside dropped in 2003, it became the indie-pop anthem of a generation. The album that followed it, Hot Fuss, was The Killers big break. The group championed a new wave inspired take on alt-rock - with swirling synthesiser intertwining with duelling guitars.

For the band's next album, they pulled back on the pop-ier sound, opting for a somewhat darker theme. Uncle Johnny, exemplified this. A heavily distorted guitar riff, dominated the mix, while a thicker bass and deeper drum beat, helped root everything in sludgy alt-rock. It helped imbue a sense of gritty despair as Brandon Flower's lamented the struggles of his substance-abusing uncle. When You Were Young was the sequel to Mr. Brightside. It had the same energy with an equally catching chorus hook, proving The Killers were on a winning streak.

The album's tone is one of mournful reflection. Flower's used a mixture of fictionalised and real-life characters to paint a picture of the sordid underbelly of Las Vegas. But the record wasn't without some excess fat. Why Do I Keep Counting featured some unintentionally comical backing vocals, with cringe-inducing, preachy lyrics.