The Best LO-FI Albums Of All Time

LO-FI. Is it born out of necessity? Is it born out of a desire to create something that purposefully sounds homespun? Personally I think it can be both. What is LO-FI? On a technical level, it is using technology with limitation. Sometimes this technology is older and possibly outdated, sometimes it is modern technology that is purposefully run through filters that make it appear to be created in a bedroom. The most common form of LO-FI recording is the 4 track cassette method. It is done on the cheap using one mic and by recording directly to tape. This usually produces a hissing that is very distinctive of tape recording. A lot of these recordings were made with what the artist could afford vs. what they might actually want. Other albums on this list were given these kinds of limitations on purpose. It's hard to tell which is which. They all have a quality of being both very personal and close to the artists heart. I highly recommend diving into these if you have not already. I present to you what I feel are the best 55 albums in the LO-FI Indie Folk/Rock genre. ENJOY!!!

1. Ween-The Pod(Shimmy Disc)

Genre: LO-FI, Experimental Rock, Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Noise Rock

2. The Frogs-It's Only Right And Natural(Homestead)

Genre: LO-FI, Comedy Rock, Indie Folk, Freak Folk

3. Pavement-Slanted And Enchanted(Matador)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Noise Rock

4. Guided By Voices-Bee Thousand(Scat)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Indie Pop

5. Beat Happening-Jamboree(K)

Genre: LO-FI, Twee Pop, Noise Pop, Garage Rock

6. Ween-God Ween Satan: The Oneness(Twin/Tone)

Genre: LO-FI, Experimental Rock, Alternative Rock, Noise Rock, Punk Rock, Comedy Rock, Psychedelic Rock

7. Sebadoh-3(Homestead)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Indie Folk

8. The Robot Ate Me-On Vacation(5 Rue Christine)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Pop

9. Olivia Tremor Control-Dusk At Cubist Castle(Flydaddy)

Genre: LO-FI, Neo Psychedelia, Psychedelic Pop, Indie Pop, Field Recordings, Sunshine Pop, Sound Collage, Experimental Rock

10. Ween-Pure Guava(Elektra)

Genre: LO-FI, Experimental Rock, Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Pop, Comedy Rock, Noise Rock

11. The Microphones-It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water(K)

Genre: LO-FI, Psychedelic Folk, Noise Rock, Indie Rock, Avant Folk

12. 1/2 Japanese-1/2 Gentlemen 1/2 Beasts(Armageddon)

Genre: LO-FI, Noise Rock, Experimental Rock, Punk Rock, No Wave, Art Punk

13. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti-Scared Famous(Demonstration Bootleg)

Genre: LO-FI, Hypnagogic Pop, Psychedelic Pop

14. The Microphones-The Glow Pt. 2(K)

Genre: LO-FI, Psychedelic Folk, Indie Folk, Noise Rock, Avant Folk, Singer/Songwriter

15. Neutral Milk Hotel-On Avery Island(Merge)

Genre: LO-FI, Psychedelic Folk, Indie Rock, Indie Folk, Neo Psychedelia, Singer/Songwriter, Drone

16. They Might Be Giants-Lincoln(Bar/None/Restless)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Pop, Alternative Rock, Power Pop, Jangle Pop, Art Pop

17. Tall Dwarfs-Hello Cruel World(Flying Nun)

Genre: LO-FI, Dunedin Sound, Indie Pop, Experimental Rock, Indie Folk, Noise Pop, Psychedelic Folk

18. The Moldy Peaches-Self Titled(Rough Trade)

Genre: LO-FI, Anti-Folk, Indie Pop

19. The Hospitals-Hairdryer Peace(Self Released)

Genre: LO-FI, Noise Rock, Experimental Rock, Garage Punk, Noise Pop, Neo Psychedelia

20. Royal Trux-Twin Infinitives(Drag City)

Genre: LO-FI. Noise Rock, Experimental Rock, Tape Music, Garage Rock, Noise, No Wave, Psychedelic Rock

21. Beck-Mellow Gold/Stereopathetic Soul Manure(Bong Load/Flipside)

Genre: LO-FI, Anti-Folk, Experimental, Singer/Songwriter, Noise Rock, Alt Country, Noise, Indie Rock

22. The Grifters-Crappin' You Negative(Shangri-La)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Garage Rock

23. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti-The Doldrums(Paw Tracks)

Genre: LO-FI, Hypnagogic Pop, Psychedelic Pop

24. CocoRosie-La Maison De Mon Reve(Touch And Go)

Genre: LO-FI, Art Pop, Freak Folk, Folktronica, Avant Folk, Experimental, Psychedelic Folk, Chamber Folk

25. Scout Niblett-Kidnapped By Neptune(Too Pure)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock\

26. Guided By Voices-Alien Lanes(Matador)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Noise Pop

27. Trumans Water-Spasm Smash XXXOXoX Ox & Ass(Elemental)

Genre: LO-FI, Noise Rock, Post-Hardcore

28. Beck-One Foot In The Grave(K)

Genre: LO-FI, Contemporary Folk, Acoustic Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Anti-Folk

29. Bright Eyes-Letting Off The Happiness/Fevers And Mirrors(Saddle Creek)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk, Midwest Emo, Contemporary Folk

30. Jandek-Entire Catalog(Corwood Industries)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Avant-Folk, Experimental Rock, Spoken Word, Free Improvisation

31. Dump-That Skinny Motherfucker With The High Voice(Shrimper)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Pop, Noise Pop, Prince

32. Sebadoh-The Freed Man(Homestead)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Folk, Indie Rock

33. They Might Be Giants-Self Titled(Bar/None)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Pop, Alternative Rock, Post-Punk

34. The Mountain Goats-All Hail West Texas(Emperor Jones)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk

35. Daniel Johnston-Yip/Jump Music(Self Released)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, A Cappella, Twee Pop

36. R. Stevie Moore-Delicate Tension(HP Music)

Genre: LO-FI, Art Rock, Art Punk, Jangle Pop, New Wave

37. Smog-Julius Caeser(Drag City)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

38. Elliott Smith-Self Titled(Kill Rock Stars)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk, Contemporary Folk

39. Chris Knox-Songs Of You And Me(Flying Nun/Festival)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Dunedin Sound

40. Beat Happening-Self Titled(K)

Genre: LO-FI, Twee Pop, Punk Rock

41. Supreme Dicks-The Unexamined Life(Homestead)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Slowcore, Psychedelic Folk, Freak Folk

42. Daniel Johnston-1990(Shimmy Disc)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Gospel, A Cappella, Hymns, Indie Folk

43. Tony Molina-Dissed And Dismissed(Melters)

Genre: LO-FI, Power Pop, Noise Pop

44. Karen O-Crush Songs(Cult)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Anti-Folk

45. Car Seat Headrest-Teens Of Style(Matador)

Genre: LO-FI, Noise Pop, Power Pop

46. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti-House Arrest/Loverboy(Ballbearings Pinatas)

Genre: LO-FI, Hypnagogic Pop, Psychedelic Pop

47. PJ Harvey-4 Track Demos(Island)

Genre: LO-FI, Alternative Rock, Punk Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Punk Blues

48. Alex G-DSU(Orchid Tapes)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock

49. The Folk Implosion-Take A Look Inside(Communion)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock

50. Tune Yards-Bird Brains(4AD)

Genre: LO-FI, Freak Folk, Art Pop, Indie Pop, Psychedelic Pop

51. John Frusciante-Niandra LaDes And Usually Just A T-Shirt(American)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter, Avant-Folk, Psychedelic Folk

52. Julie Ruin-Self Titled(Kill Rock Stars)

Genre: LO-FI, Punk Rock

53. Ty Segall And Mikal Cronin-Reverse Shark Attack(Kill Shamen)

Genre: LO-FI, Garage Punk, Psychedelic Rock, Noise Rock

54. Minus Story-The Captain Is Dead, Let The Drum Corpse Dance(Jagjaguwar)

Genre: LO-FI, Psychedelic Rock, Noise Pop, Neo Psychedelia

55. Peter Jefferies-Electricity(Raffmond)

Genre: LO-FI, Singer/Songwriter