The 10 Best Baltimore Bands Right Now

We raved earlier this week about how much we’ve been enjoying Nootropics, the new album from Lower Dens. The record’s out this week, and should definitely be on the shopping list for anyone with ears. It’s also the latest of many excellent records to come out of the ultra-fertile city of Baltimore in recent years — we don’t generally buy into city-based hype, but it’s clear there’s something good happening down on the Maryland coast, and has been for quite some time. So with a bit of help from our resident Baltimore music expert, we’ve compiled a list of the best Baltimore bands right now — suggestions are, as ever, welcome. And no, Good Charlotte are not included.

Lower Dens

So, if you’re wondering — no, we still haven’t stopped playing Nootropics obsessively yet.

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Let me second Secret Mountains. A great band that belongs in great company.

Thanks for the constructive suggestions, Ian!

Wow... It's almost like the band's that make these lists over and over run in the same group. Why don't you actually do a little research in to other bands in Baltimore instead of just stating the obvious. You might as well ad Frank Zappa, All Time Low and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to that list.

NO DOPE BODY?! OUTRAGEOUS

Hello, J. Roddy Walston & The Business? The recordings are great, the live show is one of the tightest I've seen (local or not). Give me some bluesy, ballsy piano rock over some of this experimental stuff any day.

predictable list, artists like dan deacon and beach house hardly need publicity at this stage in the game. how bout some love for the bands that actually play locally still. whoever said animal collective up either isn't from here or stopped going to shows a long time ago... there's a difference in being 'from baltimore' and a baltimore band.

Hey, I shot the Roomrunner video linked up here. If you want to watch the entire set, it's linked up here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8DEE7082A2C2C357 Also, Dope Body got snubbed? Harsh. "Natural History" comes out May 19th and it's going to rule!

A lot of the music out of Baltimore is the type that I respect but don't actually enjoy. It can get a little too experimental for me. But many of the notable musicians there have some great staying power. Sound Opinions did a nice piece on the Baltimore music scene in 2010 with most of the same folks still sticking around. http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/2010/082710/shownotes.html

Oh, a list of Baltimore bands? Cue the pissy responses.

No love for Animal Collective? Dearest me.

Y'see, if I was in one of those bands, I'd really appreciate my fans leaving a) a link and/or b) some information, rather than a self-aggrandisingly pissy comment. For the record: http://wyeoakmusic.com/ http://secretmountains.tumblr.com/ http://celebrationelectrictarot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moss-Of-Aura/123657267704701 http://www.friendsrecordsbaltimore.com/artists/weekends/ http://pianosbecometheteeth.tumblr.com/ All excellent bands, and all worth investigating. You're welcome, etc

Pianos Become the Teeth?! You seriously omitted them?!

no secret mountains? celebration? moss of aura? weekends? eh this list is predictable and shitty

what about wye oak??