Why There Are Mountains

Exploding onto the indie scene as a self-released debut, this album proudly wears its 1990s college-rock influences on its sleeve, channeling the chaotic energy of Built to Spill and Pavement. The tracks are remarkably ambitious, featuring multi-part song structures, screeching feedback explosions, and dense, wordy lyricism delivered through a strained yelp. It was a massive blog-era success story that revitalized the classic noise-pop aesthetic.