Dry Reef's Top 5 Albums of the Decade
Dry Reef is a vivacious surf rock band, whose sound is rooted in everything from indie to reggae to jam-band.
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame (2010)
One of the most joyous rock albums we’ve ever heard - and it all came from Philadelphia. With warm, bubbly guitar and piano composition, crooning vocals, and soaring backing harmonies, Dr. Dog captured sunlight and brought the most colorful, exciting songs to the alternative musicsphere. Songs like "Shadow People" and "I Only Wear Blue" felt like if a spontaneous musical broke out in the middle of a Philadelphia neighborhood. Though they may draw from influences like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Dr. Dog created a completely unheard sound that could have only come from wandering around Philly with a dream of creating music.
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (2010)
Using earthy, minimal percussion, perfectly dialed-in synths, and the bellowing vocals of James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem brought their demanding sound to center stage with this 9-song album that spans over an hour. At first glance, their live show looked like a huge party, led by their singer holding a microphone that looked like it was attached to a radio transponder. Their album felt like being in the middle of that party, like you were sitting on their couch while they jammed, James Murphy being the eccentric host of the event. It was unlike anything we've ever heard - tenacious, unashamed, and the most effective dance-meets-rock sound ever attained.
Beach House - Bloom (2010)
Beach House created a sound that few have come close to topping - the ethereal, hazy waves of synth and fuzz guitar pull you into a safe, warm daydream. This was the most transportive work of music we'd ever experienced, with beautifully melodic vocals pulsing calmly in and out through the submersed, wavy instrumentation. Somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and Brian Wilson, Beach House seemed to speak to all of the lonely dreamers, and tell them everything was going to be okay. Their sound hypnotizes and quiets the noise of the world, making everything around you seem a little more simple and sweet.
Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts (2015)
The follow-up to "Sleepify", an album containing ten songs of complete silence, Vulfpeck had the attention of all the rebellious music-lovers when they released the amazing "Thrill of the Arts". The album was a warm, colorful walk in the park - with pleasant instrumentation including meandering electric piano, shirt-on-snare drums, cheap guitar riffs, and even woodwinds. Every song felt joyous and simple, but with each listen, the careful and able musicianship unfolds. It felt like no one had ever heard a band with such a sense of humor and playfulness, and Vulfpeck started a movement of "living room funk" - comfy, mindless, sitting on the couch music.
Explosions In The Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (2011)
This album is potentially the most evocative, inspiring pieces of music we've ever heard. Each song feels like the best day of your life, with uplifting guitar melodies, drums set on fire, and wailing ambient soundscapes - never knew music could accomplish that. This album showed us how powerful instrumentation is in songwriting. Without vocals, “Explosions “ tells a story beyond the limits of lyrics, each moment seeping with hunger, desire, and excitement. This album grounds you in the present moment, relieves you of distractions, and makes you feel hopeful - pretty sure that is what music is meant to do.