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Kyle Gordon’s “We Will Never Die” Perfectly Parodies Early 2010s Indie But Some Albums Still Shine
Comedian Kyle Gordon is on a years-long run of successful musical parodies. This kicked off in 2023 with “Planet of the Bass”, a track parodying 90s Eurodance that went viral on TikTok. Gordon went on to parody country music, pop punk, and now early 2010s indie. On “We Will Never Die,” he satirizes the toxic optimism, stomping rhythms, faux-folk aesthetics, and shouting group choruses of the era, leading users to use the song as the soundtrack for viral videos critiquing the bad lattes and overpriced “millennial burger restaurants” of that time. However, the early 2010s produced a handful of albums that are inarguably classic as well. Here are five of those timeless albums.
Some Nights - fun.
Released in 2012, fun.’s massive sophomore album Some Nights was the face of indie pop for several years. Filled with screamable group choruses, acoustic guitars, and stomping rhythms, it’s a perfect target for Gordon’s ridicule. The first three words of “We Will Never Die” are ‘we are young’, mirroring the title of Some Nights’ biggest hit. Despite being an easy target for those looking to pick out 2010s pop cliches, the album continues to be a favorite among karaoke goers and nostalgia playlists. fun. also pushed Jack Antonoff into the spotlight, a producer and musician who would go on to form Bleachers and produce for artists like Lana Del Ray, Taylor Swift, and Lorde.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes is an unfortunate victim of type-casting — forever the face of flannel wearing, man-bun sporting, coffee drinking hipsters. The band’s debut self-titled album, released in 2008, brought West Coast indie folk to the forefront. Vocalist Robin Peckold’s light tenor and sophisticated songwriting were attractive to a group of music listeners looking to move away from the dramatic pop music of the 2000s. Absorbed by the growing hipster culture, Fleet Foxes and its 2011 follow up Helplessness Blues became soundtracks for those dressed as Gordon is in the “We Will Never Die” music video. However, tracks off Fleet Foxes like “White Winter Hymnal” are now indie folk standards, representing just how good the style can be.
A.M - Arctic Monkeys
With well over five billion total streams and created by the 41st-most-streamed band on Spotify, Arctic Monkeys’ A.M is a monolith of 2010s music culture. Arctic Monkeys grabbed the torch of popular rock music with A.M, going on to be a dominant face of 2000s garage rock revival and THE band of 2010s indie rock. They replaced the loud, wild sounds of their debut album with sleek, dark tones and slow rhythms. A.M felt modern on its release, like a city loft with dark concrete floors and metal fixtures. It’s the same atmosphere that TikTokers criticize using Gordon’s song — overpriced, over-modernized, burger joints with quirky tableware and uncomfortable metal chairs. While A.M received disapproval from critics upon its release, its continued popularity and impact on the era simply can’t be understated.
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
There’s writing about positivity and happiness in a toxic and unachievable way, and there’s MGMT’s 2008 masterpiece, Oracular Spectacular. Of the various aspects that make this album a modern classic, the stellar songwriting always sticks out. MGMT strikes a delicate balance of sarcasm, sincerity, and restraint while writing about joy and happiness. Unlike the toxic, cripplingly positive affirmations Gordon spouts on “We Will Never Die”, Oracular Spectacular’s tracks depict happiness as the back-and-forth struggle it truly is. The album’s biggest hit, “Kids”, is a cautionary tale about allowing vices in moderation to prevent overindulgence. “Time to Pretend” is a sarcastic critique on the dangers of pushing so far into a free-wheeling lifestyle that you forgo past loves and joys. MGMT affirms that we will die someday, but that’s ok.
Tourist History - Two Door Cinema Club
Two Door Cinema Club’s post-punky dance pop was the thinking man’s party music of the early 2010s. While borrowing musical cliches of the era — stripped down verses, clapping rhythms, high-pitched, light vocals, and a very bright tone — the band’s hit 2010 album, Tourist History, is simply too energetic and fun to feel corny. Even the corporatized, cold, steel walls of a millennial restaurant couldn’t hold these tracks in. The track “Undercover Martyn” has one of the era’s most recognizable synth melodies. Few tracks can match the playfulness of the bass and lead riff on “What You Know”. “Something Good Can Work” is a well-implemented example of the acoustic sounds and non-traditional percussion artists of the era experimented with. The album’s sounds are dated by today’s standards, but Two Door Cinema Club managed to pull together some of the decade's most infectious ear worms.
Despite Cliches, These Albums Prove 2010s’ Lasting Musical Impact
Every era of popular music has corny, overdone cliches. As an era defined by a transition to weird, “quirky” personalities and styles, the early 2010s is particularly full of them. Kyle Gordon correctly pinned down some of these on “We Will Never Die”, choosing the most obviously dated sounds and references. However, not every album from that time frame is so easily stepped on. Each of these five albums contributed to early 2010s indie culture, with arrangement tropes, visual style, songwriting, or attitude. However, they transcend their time period by being phenomenal works of art, despite their surroundings.
