10 Best Genre-Blending Rock Albums Of The 2010s

Freedom was the breakthrough album for Damon McMahon's musical project Amen Dunes.

It was essentially a concept album, aimed at exploring McMahon's internal struggles, his unresolved feelings towards his father, difficulties embodying a healthy form of masculinity, and his relationship with his terminally ill mother.

A subtle use of synthesizers underpinned the whole album, which imbued a certain degree of '80s ambience to the record - but it was tasteful - and that's what made this album great. Nothing about it was overpowering and it wasn't too obvious were the influences were coming from. At its heart, it was a indie rock record, but there's also hints of folky lyricism.

McMahon's vocal performances were infused with a good degree of vibrato, which added to the dreamlike and surfy feel of the album. There was certainly a sense he was exercising some unresolved emotions, particularly with the track Miki Dora, which had one of the slickest melodies on the album, but spoke about the trappings of overtly-macho tendencies.

Believe was the most personal track to feature. It began slowly, with spaced out guitar chords, and McMahon expressing his fear of death. But, as the song developed it began to pull all these other components in. Even as the lyrics started to express McMahon's coming to terms with mortality, the music became more assured of itself, culminating in a steadfast melody and an emotional crescendo.