The War on Drugs - 'A Deeper Understanding' (2017)
If you love the expansive, driving feel of songs like 'Runnin' Down a Dream', this is your modern holy grail. Adam Granduciel builds shimmering walls of sound that feel like a road trip through a dreamscape. It marries the heartland rock sincerity of Petty
and Springsteen with lush, detailed production that rewards headphone listening. The songs stretch out, full of layered guitars, vintage synths, and a sense of searching that feels like a spiritual successor to Petty's widescreen ambitions. It’s rock music for the open road, full of melancholy and hope.
Jason Isbell - 'Southeastern' (2013)
Petty was, above all, a master storyteller. His characters felt real, their struggles universal. Jason Isbell is arguably the finest narrative songwriter to emerge in Petty's wake. 'Southeastern' is a raw, brutally honest collection of songs about sobriety, love, and confronting your own demons. Like Petty's best work, these songs are hyper-specific yet resonate universally. Stripped-down tracks like 'Cover Me Up' and the devastating 'Elephant' showcase a writer at the peak of his powers, proving that a guitar, a clear voice, and a powerful story are all you really need.
The Wallflowers - 'Bringing Down the Horse' (1996)
This one might seem obvious, but it’s essential. Fronted by Bob Dylan’s son, Jakob, The Wallflowers channeled the classic rock sounds of their parents' generation for the ‘90s alternative audience. This album is packed with the kind of well-crafted, roots-rock hooks that Petty built his empire on. With Heartbreaker Mike Campbell even contributing a guitar part on '6th Avenue Heartache', the link is more than just spiritual. Songs like 'One Headlight' are masterclasses in mood and melody, making this the perfect bridge between Petty's classic era and modern rock.
Big Star - '#1 Record' (1972)
To understand where Petty’s jangly Rickenbacker sound came from, you have to go back to bands like The Byrds and, crucially, Big Star. This album is a cornerstone of power-pop, a genre Petty helped define. '#1 Record' is filled with exquisitely crafted songs that blend sweet harmonies, melancholy lyrics, and shimmering guitars. It was a commercial flop upon release but became a cult classic, influencing generations of artists, including R.E.M. and Petty himself. For any fan of 'American Girl', the DNA of Big Star is unmistakable.
R.E.M. - 'Murmur' (1983)
While Petty was perfecting heartland rock for the masses, R.E.M. was taking a similar set of influences—jangly guitars, melodic basslines, folk-rock—and twisting them into something mysterious and new for the college radio crowd. Peter Buck’s arpeggiated Rickenbacker playing is a direct descendant of The Byrds, just like Mike Campbell's. 'Murmur' is less about straightforward storytelling and more about creating an evocative, atmospheric mood. It’s the other side of the '80s jangle-pop coin, a perfect companion piece to Petty’s work from the same era.
Courtney Barnett - 'Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit' (2015)
Petty had a knack for making the mundane sound profound. Courtney Barnett is his modern-day, indie-rock equivalent. Her songs are filled with witty, deadpan observations about everyday life, delivered over a bed of fuzzy, powerful guitar riffs. Part of her genius is her ability to blend rhythm and lead guitar playing out of necessity, creating a full sound that’s both intricate and raw. Like Petty, she’s a storyteller who finds meaning in the small details, proving that you don’t have to shout to make a powerful statement. She makes slacker-rock feel poetic.
