5 Indie Folk Albums That Shaped the 2010s Music Scene

In retrospect, the 2010s were an underrated time for music. Pop was at its peak, garage rock was in full swing, and indie folk revival had put a modern spin on a classic genre. Let’s look at just a few albums from the 2010s that helped shape that uniquely millennial indie folk sound.

1. ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’ by Iron & Wine (2011)

Iron & Wine really dominated 2010s folk music, and nothing beats this gorgeous 2011 record. It’s like a bath made of sound, with reverb bubbles accentuating every movement in every song. The Shepherd’s Dog (2007) is one of their most heralded works, but there’s something about Kiss Each Other Clean that just stays with you. Sam Beam’s voice is at its best on this record.

2. ‘Carrie & Lowell’ by Sufjan Stevens (2015)

For the uninitiated: Sufjan Stevens is not an easy musician to listen to for some. Carrie & Lowell, in particular, is a daring and extremely heartwrenching album. It’s a notable departure from Stevens’ earlier sounds of the 2000s, but it’s a beautiful and admirable evolution. The whole of the album was inspired by the death of Stevens’ mother in 2012, as well as the complicated life she led.

3. ‘Have One On Me’ by Joanna Newsom (2010)

Would this be a list of the best indie folk albums from the 2010s without mentioning Joanna Newsom? This is one of her finest albums, complete with all the elements you’d expect from a Newsom record: Gorgeous vocals, a hefty track list, and gorgeous harp tracks. While Ys will probably always be her most loved work, Have One On Me has elements that other indie folk musicians throughout the decade tried to replicate. A very influential album, indeed.

4. ‘Stay Gold’ by First Aid Kit (2014)

To me, this album just sounds like the 2010s. First Aid Kit deserves more love for this record, and few duos have the kind of vocal prowess that sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg possess. There’s a lot of emotional growth on this album, and the duo’s talent for storytelling brings to mind the brilliance of 1960s Greenwich Village folk music.

5. ‘Helplessness Blues’ by Fleet Foxes (2011)

First Aid Kit got big in the late 2000s for their Fleet Foxes cover, and Fleet Foxes themselves deserve a spot on this list. Their debut album was a huge deal, and their follow-up record Helplessness Blues is a gorgeous sophomore record. In good Fleet Foxes fashion, this album is sweet, soft, and full of dreamy vocals and well-thought-out compositions that have aged quite well.

Photo by Robin Little/Redferns

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