Alienation

The Velvet Underground

Style: Folk Rock, Art Rock, Pop Rock

Moods: Bittersweet, Breakup, Alienation, Melancholy, Urban, Autumnal, Mellow, Introspective, Depressive, Intimate, Love, Sombre, Lonely

Musical Qualities: Soft, Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic

Julia Holter – Loud City Song

Styles: Art Pop, Progressive Songwriter, Ambient Pop, Chamber-Jazz (Influenced)

Moods: Nocturnal, Surreal, Elegant, Ethereal, Observational, Flowing, Alienation, Cryptic, Disaffected, Lonely, Longing, Melancholy, Mysterious, Poetic, Romantic, Winter

Musical Qualities: Lush, Orchestral, Progressive, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Dynamic, Complex, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: Keyboards, Piano, Upright Bass, Violin, Cello, Drums, Saxophone, Trombone, Percussion, Group Vocals

Smog – Dongs of Sevotion

Style: Slowcore, Experimental Songwriter, Slacker Rock

Moods: Alienation, Contemplative, Depressive, Eclectic, Intimate, Melancholy, Brooding, Cryptic, Introspective, Loner, Raw, Playful

Neil Young – Neil Young

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Country-Rock

Moods: Longing, Introspective, Loner, Bittersweet, Romantic, Alienation, Rustic, Sentimental

Musical Qualities: Melodic, Lush, Polished, Orchestral Arrangements

Brand New – Daisy

Style: Post-Hardcore, Art Rock, Noise Rock, Emo

Moods: Angsty, Self-Loathing, Misanthropic, Nihilistic, Depressive, Dark, Menacing, Aggressive, Existential, Shadow, Raw, Sombre, Alienation

Musical Qualities: Noisy, Lyrical, Dynamic, Riffs, Dense, Heavy

Holy Sons – Criminal’s Return

Style: Lo-fi Songwriter, Loner Folk, Bedroom-Psych

Vibe: Brooding, Alienated, Shadowy, Philosophical, Outsider, Misanthropic, Nocturnal, Hallucinogenic, Existential, Seeking

Musical Qualities: Studio-as-an-Instrument, Lo-Fi, Lyric-Driven, Atmospheric

Richard Dawson – Ruby Cord

Style: Progressive Songwriter, Prog-Folk, Art Rock

Moods: Sombre, Epic, Lonely, Futuristic, Dystopian, Cryptic, Melancholy, Poetic, Mythic

Themes: Alienation, Apocalypse, Medieval, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Qualities: Progressive Structures, Lush Arrangements, Storytelling, Suite, Conceptual, Complex

Old Fire – Voids

features vocals from Bill Callahan, Emily Cross (Loma), Adam Torres, & Julia Holter

Style: Haunted Folk, Ambient Americana, Southern Gothic

Moods: Desolate, Bleak, Haunting, Western, Cinematic, Stark, Sombre, Rustic, Melancholy, Brooding, Contemplative, Depressive, Nocturnal, Alienation, Dystopian, Impressionistic, Lonely, Moody, Mournful, Mythic, Noir, Personal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Atmospheric, Slow, Sampling, Electro-acoustic, Droney

Red House Painters – Down Colorful Hill

Style: Slowcore, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Depressive, Existential Late Night Bus Rides, Autumnal, Lethargic, Introspective, Moody, Alienation, Sad, Misanthropic, Sombre, Melancholic, Poetic, Pessimistic, Breakup, Sentimental, Lonely

Musical Qualities: Slow, Sparse, Atmospheric

Spirit of the Beehive – Entertainment, Death

Style: Noise Pop, Glitch Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Hyper Dream Pop, Shoegaze

Vibe: Disorienting, Woozy, Messy, Dreamy, Futuristic, Chaotic, Surreal, Dystopian, Cryptic, Alienation, Bittersweet, Colorful, Energetic, Washy, Urban,

Musical Qualities: Noisy, Dense, Catchy, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Vocal Manipulation, Suite, Melodic, Progressive

Media Jeweler – The Sublime Sculpture of Being Alive

Style: Post-Punk, Math Rock, Art Rock

Vibes/Moods: Alienation, Overstimulated, Anxious, Urban, Eccentric, Anthemic, Satirical, Dystopian, Angular, Chaotic, Colorful, Urban, Philosophical, Playful

Musical Qualities: Catchy, Dissonant, Riffs, Dynamic, Dense, Melodic, Rhythmic

Van Der Graaf Generator – H to He Who Am the Only One

Style: Progressive Rock, Jazz Rock, Symphonic Prog

Vibe: Alienation, Longing, Sentimental, Dramatic, Heartfelt, Cathartic, Introspective, Existential, Theatric, Lonely, Sad, Passionate, Epic

Musical Qualities: Technical, Progressive, Complex, Dynamic, Ballads

Instrumentation: Piano, Organ, Acoustic Guitar, Saxophones (Alto, Tenor, Baritone), Flute, Drums, Tympani, Electric Bass

Neil Young – On the Beach

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Ditch Americana, Country Rock, Folk Rock

Moods: Loner, Introspective, Melancholy, Alienation, Bittersweet, Apocalyptic, Depressive, Lonely, Sombre, Rebellious

Peter Hammill – The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage

Style: Progressive Songwriter, Art Rock

Vibe: Dramatic, Intimate, Longing, Existential, Theatric, Lonely, Alienation, Ambitious

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Complex, Progressive, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: Piano, Vocals, Guitars (Acoustic & Electric), Organ, Horns, Flute, Keyboards, Saxophone, Flute, Drums, Mellotron

Bobby Brown – The Enlightening Beam of Axonda

Style: Experimental Songwriter, Spiritual Folk, Avant-Folk, Outsider Folk

Vibe: Spiritual, Adventure, Alienation, Cathartic, Cryptic, Eccentric, Existential, Loner, Poetic, Psychedelic, Storytelling, Tribal, Tropical, Warm

Musical Qualities: Homemade Instruments, Acoustic, One Man Band, Percussive, Spoken Word, Progressive

King Krule – The Ooz

Style: Art Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Trip-Hop, Neo-Psychedelia

Influences: Lounge, Jazz, Post-Punk

Vibe: Brooding, Angsty, Woozy, Lonely, Nocturnal, Alienation, Depressive, Eclectic, Rainy, Urban

Slint – Spiderland

Style: Post-Rock, Math Rock, Post-Hardcore, Slowcore

Vibe: Angsty, Angular, Cold, Heavy, Impressionistic, Suspenseful

Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Existential, Poetic, Storytelling

Musical Attributes: Dynamic, Slow, Dissonant, Raw, Repetitive

Yves Tumor – Safe in the Hands of Love

Style: Art Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Trip-Hop, Experimental Electronic

Vibe: Nocturnal, Surreal, Introspective, Longing, Alienation, Abstract, Anxious, Dark, Depressive, Eclectic, Love, psychedelic

Black Sabbath – Paranoid

Style: Heavy Metal, Stoner Rock, Doom
Vibe: Heavy, Fuzzy, Anthemic, Dark, Ominous, Paranoid, Rebellious, Riffs, Stoned, Confident
Themes: Alienation, War, Political, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Tame Impala – Lonerism

Style: Psych Pop, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Neo-Psychedelia

Vibe: Dreamy, Catchy, Lush, Warm, Alienation, Psychedelic, Studio-as-an-instrument

Musical Attributes: Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Headphone Album

David Bowie – Station to Station

Style: Art Rock, Funk
Vibe: Energetic, Groovy, Spacey, Alienation, Anxious, Catchy, Eccentric, Futuristic, Longing, Passionate, Rhythmic, Spacey, Confident, ?

The Microphones – The Glow Pt. 2

Style: Lo-Fi, Experimental Singer/Songwriter, Loner Folk
Vibe: Heartfelt, Imaginative, Introspective, Nature, Intimate, Loner, Bittersweet, Depressive, Psychedelic, Raw, Lonely
Lyrical Themes: Existential, Alienation, Breakup, Philosophical, Poetic, Personal, Death
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Noisy, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Analogue Recording, lo-fi, Distorted

The Flaming Lips – The Terror

Released in 2013 on Bella Union UK Pressing Format: LPx2, Bonus 7″, Holographic Cover Studio album takes up sides A, B, & C. Side D contains “We Don’t Control the Controlled (mashed-the-fuck-up-remix, Dan Deacon and the Electric Worms’ Insight Violence)” 7″ includes “Sun Blows Up Today” b/w “All You Need Is Love (featuring Alex and …

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Fleet Foxes – Crack Up

Compared to the immediate songwriting and lush textures of Helplessness Blues, the progressive folk-rock opus Crack Up feels like an impenetrable wilderness on first listen with its dense, tangled arrangements and complex compositions.

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King

Released in 1969 on Atlantic Format: LP Pressing quality: While this album is a masterpiece, these early pressings/masters sound a little tinny and lacking in low end. The recent reissues I’ve heard seem to be improved quality.

David Bowie – Low

Style: Art Rock, Ambient (Side B)

Moods: Manic, Cryptic, Surreal, Alienation, Anxious, Abstract, Lonely, Futuristic

Musical Qualities: Studio-as-an-Instrument, Groovy, Atmospheric