Probably the lesser-known scion of the El Paso art punkers At the Drive-In (the other being The Mars Volta), Sparta has claimed its own territory within the alternative rock space. Shedding some of the punk and amping up the art, the band has a modest discography that traverses a surprising dynamic range. These are my favorite songs from the inventive Texans.

*This list will be updated in the event of any future (including posthumous) releases.

Honorable mentions

Air

Collapse

Light Burns Clear

Lines in Sand

Spiders

Top 10

10. While Oceana Sleeps

9. Cut Your Ribbon

8. Sans Cosm

7. ℞ Coup

6. Red Alibi

5. Mye

4. Echodyne Harmonic

3. Glasshouse Tarot

2. Cataract

1. Assemble the Empire

Favorite Album Cover

Porcelain (2004)

Favorite Song on Each Album

Wiretap Scars (2002): Assemble the Empire

Porcelain (2004): While Oceana Sleeps

Threes (2006): Red.Right.Return (Straight in Our Hands)

Trust the River (2020): Spirit Away

Sparta (2022): Spiders

Albums Ranked

5. Trust the River (2020)

4. Sparta (2022)

3. Threes (2006)

2. Porcelain (2004)

1. Wiretap Scars (2002)