10 Greatest Garage Rock Albums Of The 2000s
2. Baby Darling Doll Face Honey - Band Of Skulls (2009)
The only Brits on this list, Southampton trio Band of Skulls slid onto the scene in 2009, making a last-minute entry into the canon of best garage rock albums of the 2000s with their debut record Baby Darling Doll Face Honey.
Russel Marsden (guitar) and Emma Richardson (bass) harmonise vocals throughout, sharing the lead to offer a satisfying blend of fine-tuned and intemperate soul on a distortion-laden first record that manages to run the gamut from garage to blues without ever once putting a toe in White Stripes or Black Keys territory. No mean feat for any band, least of all one from the UK who would have had to try equally as hard not to be nudged towards the brand of indie rock that made stars of the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and the Arctic Monkeys, and which was seen as eminently more profitable at the time.
Matt Hayward (drums) rounds out the group, completing a sound that is far larger than might be expected from just three musicians, with each member pulling more than their own weight. There is a song for any mood and any garage fan on this record, from the reverb-heavy, venue-ready "Death By Diamonds and Pearls", to Kills-channeling "Blood", and even an acoustic ballad in "Honest". 14 years on, the entirety of Baby Darling Doll Face Honey still feels assuredly fresh and relevant.