10 Best Genre-Blending Rock Albums Of The 2010s
3. The Universe Smiles Upon You - Khruangbin (2015)
It's okay, no one knows how to pronouns Khruangbin... or spell it for that matter.
The three-piece ensemble released their debut album in 2015 and it's an incredibly refined display of musicianship. To call this experimental music would almost be a disservice to the band, as the term implies a hint of imperfection, and this record is near perfect in terms of musical technique and delivery.
It's certainly unique, and is hard to pin down genre-wise. Tracks like People Everywhere (Stay Alive) contain plenty of funk and soul elements, with the drums and bass creating a platform for the guitar to dance over. Other tracks, like Mr. White, feel like a slick jazz number with some bluesy rock guitar thrown in to punctuate the groove.
It's not surprising this album feels timeless, as the band were heavily influenced by Thai jazz and psychedelic rock musicians from the 1960s, as well as modern day electronica artists.
It's an album that can definitely be enjoyed for the music alone, but it also wouldn't be out of place setting the scene for some hazy jazz bar, back in the days when cigarettes could still be smoked inside.