10 Legendary Dance Rock Albums
Dance rock is so intricately involved with the two genres that it almost seems beside the point to mention their pairing. Yet, the style has been massively influential.
dance rock
Franz Ferdinand Frustrate and Dazzle With ‘The Human Fear’
Franz Ferdinand dazzle and frustrate with The Human Fear, their return to the recording studio after a seven-year hiatus. It’s a patchy album with brilliance.
Electronic Rockers Fat Dog Go ‘WOOF’
Fat Dog’s combination of live instruments and rock influences with a more modern dance sound seems like a winner for finding an audience in 2024.
Meet the Beaches’ Beating Heart: Drummer Eliza Enman-McDaniel
Getting heard in a band of super-powered women can be challenging, but the Beaches’ Eliza Enman-McDaniel does so much more than bang her drum all day.
Yard Act’s ‘Where’s My Utopia?’ Suits Our Post-Pandemic Moment
Yard Act’s Where’s My Utopia? is a mother lode of cool sounds, critiques of late capitalism, meditation on fame’s futility, and a forecast of apocalyptic change.
New Order’s ‘Substance 1987’ Is Even More Essential on Re-issue
This is the complete story of how New Order assimilated US underground dance sounds and determined the direction of indie music for many years to come.
‘Come Together: Adventures on the Indie Dancefloor 1989-1992’ Celebrates Madchester
Full of gems from the Happy Mondays, the Charlatans, the Stone Roses, and many lesser-known acts, this massive Madchester retrospective leaves surprisingly few holes.
The Dare’s ‘The Sex EP’ Wants You to Have a Really Good Time
The Dare’s mission is urgent, as simple as breathing. Have a good time – a stupid good time – like your life depends on it. Because it literally does.
Talking Heads’ ‘Speaking in Tongues’ at 40
Speaking in Tongues captures Talking Heads at the zenith of their funk freakout and just before a big gray suit would change everything. It’s an art-pop funk masterpiece.
A Certain Ratio Move the Past Into the Future with ‘1982’
A Certain Ratio have always been willing to fiddle with their sound. That they do so in 1982 doesn’t surprise and fits with their rejuvenation in the 2020s.
We Are Scientists Add 1980s Synths to Their Power Pop on ‘Lobes’
We Are Scientists’ Lobes is notable for building its songs specifically around keyboard lines and exploration of 1980s-style synth tones.
The Orielles Break Old Patterns with a Film and a Card Deck
From releasing films as a band to using Brian Eno’s card deck to help guide the sound of their epic new double-LP, the Orielles remain as indescribable as ever.