What is the best indie album with male lead vocals?

Indie music's male voices range from hushed bedroom confessionals to stadium-ready tenors and sardonic drawls — and the albums built around them are equally varied. From lo-fi whispers to soaring anthems, which stands tallest? Cast your vote!

1

Either/Or

Elliott Smith's 1997 intimate acoustic indie folk album, his whispered voice expressing pain with extraordinary craft.

2

Illinois

Sufjan Stevens' 2005 orchestral folk album, his angelic tenor delivering a stunning 50-state concept.

3

For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver's 2007 debut, Justin Vernon's falsetto-heavy folk record from a Wisconsin cabin.

4

Grace

Jeff Buckley's 1994 debut, his astonishing voice spanning multiple octaves in one of rock's greatest vocal performances.

5

Boxer

The National's 2007 album, Matt Berninger's baritone the defining instrument in literate melancholic indie rock.

6

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Bright Eyes' 2005 album, Conor Oberst's quavering voice delivering folk-country heartbreak.

7

I Love You, Honeybear

Father John Misty's 2015 baroque pop album, Josh Tillman's sardonic and romantic voice at its most magnetic.

8

Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan Stevens' 2015 whispered grief album, spare voice and guitar conveying unbearable loss.

9

Lost in the Dream

The War on Drugs' 2014 expansive Heartland rock album, Adam Granduciel's voice buried in waves of guitar.

10

Singing Saw

Kevin Morby's 2016 album, his warm baritone the center of dusty literary indie folk.

11

Muchacho

Phosphorescent's 2013 album, Matthew Houck's yearning country-soul voice in sweeping indie Americana.

12

Teens of Denial

Car Seat Headrest's 2016 double album, Will Toledo's deadpan confessional voice in indie rock.

13

The Moon & Antarctica

Modest Mouse's 2000 album, Isaac Brock's ragged yelp delivering existential indie rock.

14

Funeral

Arcade Fire's 2004 debut, Win Butler's voice rising to the occasion of death and loss.

15

God Save the Animals

Alex G's 2022 album, his versatile voice shifting between falsetto pop and distorted indie rock.