Five Best Female-Fronted Albums Of The Last 5 Years

Five Best Female-Fronted Albums Of The Last 5 Years
Picks & Words by Anjel Lopez

Female-fronted bands are always an interesting topic of discussion, specifically in the rock genre. Most commonly, girls who front bands are compared to each other and put into generalized categories. Female vocalists have always been something I’ve admired, just on the fact of being a girl myself and seeing strong female figures representing such a male-dominated genre of music. Classics like Joan Jett and Blondie are obvious picks as pioneers for the ladies in rock, but I decided to focus my top five favorites into the five best female-fronted albums of the last 5 years.

Paramore – Brand New Eyes (2009)
Paramore seems like an obvious choice, of course, but there is no denying the fact that Hayley Williams has some of the best lady-pipes in the current rock industry. Brand New Eyes does a great job of showing the band’s musical ability in every aspect as a band, while also being a catalyst to what Paramore has currently become as a 3-piece. The album is full of raw emotion and angst that reflected the turmoil going on with the band at the time, and is definitely one of my favorite releases from the band thus far.

Tegan & Sara – Sainthood (2009)
Both Tegan and Sara Quin front what is Tegan & Sara, and the sister duo know how to mix their talent vocally and instrumentally to make brilliant music. While their new album, Heartthrob, is taking their sound in a new, more pop-influenced direction, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for their foreboding, intelligently written indie sound and lyrics on Sainthood.

Now, Now – Threads (2012)
Now, Now is a band that everyone needs to be on the lookout for, because they’re one of the best up & coming bands out there today. Their most recent album, Threads, is the perfect example of indie rock at its finest. Ambient sounds blended with soft vocals and consistent themes & motifs throughout make for an impressive release from a band only on its second release. And, while having female lead vocalist Cacie Dalager, the band also boasts a female guitarist, Jess Abbott, which is always good for some more girl power.

States – Room To Run (2012)
States have been veterans in our magazine pages, and I’ll stick by the fact that their album Room To Run is well worth the listen. Members of Copeland coupled with the vocals of  Mindy White, formerly of Lydia, have molded themselves together to create the band States. Room To Run was an album I constantly kept playing in my car, and I still catch myself itching to listen to it almost a year after its release. Mindy White’s sweet vocals mixed with the catchy indie pop sound States have developed make for a perfectly balanced mix of tracks with catchy melodies and soft, sweet sentiments.

Best Coast – Crazy For You (2010)
Coming from the more pop side of things is Best Coast’s album Crazy For You. If the cat on the cover of the album doesn’t lure you in, then the catchy surf pop/indie pop vibe you get from the album will definitely capture your attention. Best Coast’s sound isn’t something I’d normally catch myself being into, but something about the air of summer Crazy For You exudes mixed with Bethany Cosentino’s laid back yet complex vocals makes for the perfect feel-good album.