20 Greatest Alternative Albums Of 2016
11. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Pretty Years
This lot have been impressing indie music fans ever since they dropped their 2009 debut album Why There Are Mountains. On their fourth studio album, Cymbals Eat Guitars deliver their most infectious and addictive record to date.
There's such a good natured vibe surrounding this outfit's music, but while there are plenty of upbeat elements at play, there's a bittersweet undercurrent to much of Pretty Years. They yearn for lost loves on the excellent 'Wish', recount car crash acidents on the introspective '4th Of July, Philadelphia (SANDY)' and bear their souls on the heart-wrenching 'Well', showcasing the grade-A lyrical talents of frontman Joseph D'Agostino.
Musically, Pretty Years is wonderfully bouncy. They take inspiration from bands like Eels, The Strokes and Hot Hot Heat, while maintaining their own artistic vision in the process. However, what really makes the record such an immersive long player is the first class pop sensibilities that Cymbals Eat Guitars exhibit.
Indie rock may not hold the same clout as it once did, but you wouldn't know it listening to this songwriting masterclass.