Looking back on the first decade of this century I think it might have been the most rewarding, musically speaking.
Everyone and his brother has a blog and a decade end list and none of them are alike. Well, there are overlaps on every album. And it seems that just about every single one of them features a bunch of Radiohead and Arcade Fire. I didn't really ever give Funeral a chance so it won't show up here despite the fact that it's currently playing in the background.
The decade started off with a subscription to Columbia House, moved on to Amoeba's opening, the transition to buying through iTunes, then Soulseek, BitTorrent, emusic, trading and even more consumption than ever before. It turns out that making music available for free didn't stop me from spending more on it than any other decade before.
And given the breadth and wealth of music from the past 10 years it would be impossible for me to distill it down to one record a year. Especially in a decade as diverse as the one that the iPod and “Shuffle” has allowed.
So, what I will try to do is highlight the albums that I just couldn't get enough of from each year of this decade. The ones that seemingly never left my CD player and then my iPod. The dates that I fell in love with the record has no bearing on when it came out. Many of these I just plain came to late.
With the songs, it's the same. Just what I kept turning to, replaying or loved.
There are no links to mp3s or places to purchase or videos. I don't think I have enough readers to warrant that kind of work.
But, if you trust me, give all of these a listen.
Let's take a look.
2000
1.The Strokes – Is This It?
When the video for Last Night came on MTV, it was 9 in the morning. I watched mainly because it was directed by Roman Coppola and I went to school with him. By the end of the song I knew that I would be trudging up the hill to Virgin Megastore a block away. I did and this record was part of the soundtrack to that year.
2.Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
I was a little late to the Eminem phenomenon. When I finally hunkered down to listen I was blown away. I started with the next album but, pretty soon grabbed this as well and the two of them were played nonstop.
3.Everclear – Songs from an America Movie Pt 1.
I was given a copy of So Much For The Afterglow by a member of my band and I enjoyed it so much that I got this on the day it came out. I was mesmerized by the over-production, the care, the smarts involved. Too bad nothing the band ever did after was of any use.
4.Green Day – Warning
The big departure, right? Except I thought it was even more punk than Nimrod. All the different directions they were heading in and mastering so well, it's almost crazy that we didn't know they were going to be one of the biggest bands of the decade.
5.Radiohead - Kid A
I got this from Columbia House because my Bass player told me how great it was. I gave it away after one listen. This was shit. Bad. Inorganic. And then, about 7 years later I gave it another listen. I wasn't old enough or mature enough to appreciate it when it came out. It's is one of the greatest achievements of the rock era.
Favorite from 2000 –
Tie: Warning/Kid A
Songs of the Year:
1.Faded by B9 (Local band does great)
2.Happiness in New York City by Dalton Grant (Local band does better)
3.AM Radio by Everclear (White boys can sample, too.)
4.Last Night by The Strokes (The sounding bell for change in rock)
5.Misery by Green Day (The hint of diversity to come
2001
1.Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American
My girlfriend loved the single. So I got her the album. It didn't hurt that my friend's band, The Piper Downs, were in love with it. After one listen I realized it was a modern pop rock masterpiece.
2.The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
An actor told me about this little band at an audition. Said I might like the rekkid. If lasers were needles I would have worn this one out.
3.Betty Blowtorch – Are You Man Enough?
I loved the name. I loved the big hair unapologetic hair metal. I loved it so much. Then Betty died. I felt like Rock might have died with her. Certainly any chance for this to be revived did)
4.Weezer – Green Album
Rolling Stone said it was the first 5 star album of the decade. Sure, why not. It's a great piece of plastic. Pure pop at it's gummiest.
5.Tenacious D – Tenacious D
THE soundtrack to my band's road trip to SXSW. Impossible not to love. With Betty Blowtorch it almost felt like a real metal revival was on it's way. Not to be...
Favorite from 2001 – Bleed American
Songs of the year:
1.The Middle by Jimmy Eat World (Impossible to hate)
2.Designs on You by Old 97s (Pop craft at it's 1-4-5 finest)
3.Chop Suey by System of a Down (Because it was unavoidable and cuz you wanted to)
4.Fuck her Gently by Tenacious D (Sentiments to be adhered to)
5.Yeh Yeh by They Might Be Giants (Liz and I sang this over and over on a road trip)
6.Fell in Love With A Girl by The White Stripes (the return of the 2 minute rock hit)
2002
1.Bowling for Soup – Drunk Enough to Dance
There is so much confection and fun on DE2D that you just have to hear it. Dumb, frat boys worshipping at the altar of Green Day, Jaret and the guys sing songs not about how much they suck and that's why girls leave them, but rather that girls leave them and they are better for it. It plays better than I am describing it.
2.The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
THE concept album of the decade. Where did this come from? I fought so hard to be against this record but, in the end, I just fell in love.
3.Eminem – The Eminem Show
I dare you to listen to this and not see the genius and artistry in Eminem. More punk than most punks ever try to be. This is a screed. I don't think it could ever be topped. But it's the album that defines the era.
4.The Hellacopters – High Visibility
I kept reading the name The Hellacopters in Joel Harrington's book, Sonic Cool: The life and death of Rock and Roll. I finally succombed. The retro rock that I had been hoping would return? This is the album where it did. It's perfect.
5.Irving – Good Morning Beautiful
Beth and I were killing time before a show at Amoeba. The band that was playing...Irving, a local Silver Lake band....it was that holy fuck moment when you know that you want to hear more. I bought the album and it is a contender for best of the decade. True Indie Pop.
6.Bruce Springsteen – The Rising
I didn't cry on 9/11. But sitting, alone, in my house, listening to The Rising, that's when I did. It always takes music to get me where I ultimately want to be.
Favorite from 2002 – High Visibility
Songs of the Year:
1.Girl All The Bad Guys Want by Bowling For Soup (Grammy nominatingly great)
2.Need More Time by Epoxies (Retro New Wave at its finest)
3.Sleeping Aids & Razor Blades (Great pop by a doomed band)
4.Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly (I want to perform this with a 40 piece band)
5.Did I Ever Tell You I'm In Love With Your Girlfriend by Irving (The perfect beta male indie song)
6.Oceans by Paper Sun (A local band writes a song I never could)
7.Hail by The Piper Downs (A local band writes an epic I wish I could)
8.My Dad's Gone Crazy by Eminem (The pain of 9/11 burst forth on a rap album)
9.Toys And Flavors by The Hellacopters (Rock, baby)
10.If Ozzy Was My Dad (Then that Would Rock) by Danny Blitz (Local rocker cracks me up)
2003
1.Ima Robot – Ima Robot
I have no idea what prompted this purchase but from the moment the first retro-new wave beats and disaffected robotic lead singer's voice burst through I knew that THIS was the real nostalgia band and NOT The Killers. Too bad the follow up was so awful.
2.The Libertines – Up The Bracket
Mojo Magazine reported on these guys so much I thought they should rename the mag. But was the hype worth it? Yes. The Libertines were where BritPop and Punk met, fell in love, beat each other to a pulp and created a modern classic.
3.Fountains of Wayne – Welcome Interstate Managers
Stacy's Mom was inescapable and the rest of the record was just as good. Rich, poppy, Cars meets Springfield hooks with dynamite execution.
4.The White Stripes – Elephant
This actually might have been the album of the decade but it took me forever to listen to it in full. A lot of it came to me via downloads and shares. I think it was the first album I didn't buy as much as “obtain”.
Favorite from 2003 – Up The Bracket
Songs of the Year:
1.Toxic by Britney Spears (bubblegum goodness)
2.Bright Future in Sales/Stacy's Mom/Hey Julie by Fountains of Wayne (a trio of perfectly crafted pop songs)
3.A is for Action by Ima Robot (The bridge between 1981 and the 21st Century)
4.Cold Hard Bitch by Jet (This song just smells like 1977)
5.Against All Odds (Cover) by The Postal Service (Take cheese, rework, make into classic)
6.Ballad of the Sin Eater by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (Ted Leo never met a bridge he liked but on Sin Eater he is forgiven. How the hell can I believe in Beau Geste?)
2004
1.Bowling for Soup – A Hangover You Don't Deserve
B4S continued their formula and, while I don't think it's as good as the predecessor, AHYDD, was THE soundtrack for when Beth and I were cleaning the house we just bought. This album reminds me of the 1000 carpet nails I pulled up over the holiday season.
2.Green Day – American Idiot
I listened once and knew that this was different. Then friends would say, “hey, how is that new Green Day?” and I found myself with not only nothing bad to say, but it got better and better with each review. In retrospect, it's a perfect record and easily one of my choices for album of the decade.
3.The Libertines – The Libertines
The follow up to Up The Bracket is sadder, really. The songs portend the breakup and implosion of the songwriters with such edge and verve I was kind of glad that this was it for them.
4.William Shatner – Has Been
I stand by what I said (and was mercilessly mocked for) when it came out. “Easily one of the best spoken word albums of all time.
5.The Hold Steady – Almost Killed Me
I didn't listen to this record until this year. I wasn't all that much in love with Separation Sunday and kind of held to the belief that, while I liked The Hold Steady, I really just loved Boys & Girls in America. Then I heard this. This is better. And Positive Jam is the greatest first track on an album I've heard in ages.
Favorite from 2004 – American Idiot
Songs of the Year:
1.1985 by Bowling For Soup
They didn't write it and the truth is the original is better, but still a masterpiece)
2.Burnin' Up (Cover) by Drag (Local band does great Madonna)
3.Jesus of Suburbia/American Idiot by Green Day (Queen as angry punk)
4.King Epiphany by The Heavenly States (The 1st of the anti-Bush songs that I heard_
5.Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley (Possibly the best lyrics of the year)
6.Common People (Cover) by William Shatner (Joe Jackson, The Shat & Ben Folds are formidable)
7.Positive Jam by The Hold Steady (This song sort of sounds the opening knell for a very sad and angry decade. Might be the song of the decade, too.)
2005
1.Nightmare of You – Nightmare of You
Some albums take a hold of you and don't let go. A trainer/band manager I knew told me I HAD to get this. I took his advice, picked up a used copy at Amoeba and I've never looked back. Lush, smart, melodic, catchy. It's one of the best albums that no one's heard.
2.The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday
It took a while for me to get into but “You're Little Hoodrat Friend” and all the rest paint a very difficult picture of characters that Springsteen would have been proud to have created.
3.Beth Hart – Leave the Light On
So, the wife dug Beth Hart. And we went to see a friend play in a little club when we were surprised to learn that the headliner was Beth Hart. (When I say small, I mean, like 18 people small) And we bought this record. And it's great.
4.Jeff Daniels – Live and Unplugged to Benefit the Purple Rose Theater
You gotta be clever by half for me to put an album which is mainly toss offs and jokes on a list. But Daniels does it. And You Can Drink....is one of the best bar tunes ever.
5.Weezer – Make Believe
Everybody hates it. I love it. This is the real conversion record by Weezer. The album where they tossed off the emo-heartsleeves beta boy clothes forever and become hitmakers.
Favorite from 2005 – Nightmare of You
Songs of the Year:
1.Look at Me, I'm a Winner! By The Aquabats (The theme for narcissist)
2.Bounce by Danko Jones (Crazy catchy. Never could match this, Danko)
3.Asparagus Dance by Reservoir Ticklers (Soulseek friends who traded music with me)
4.Stroke of Genie-us by Freelance Hellraiser (The 1st and best mashup. Proves that all music is basically the same)
5.Lifts You Up by Beth Hart (White girl gospel)
6.I Want to Be Buried in Your Backyard by Nightmare Of You (One of many from this great Brooklyn band)
7.The Sporting Life by The Decemberists (Letter Sweater Rock)
8.Your Little Hoodrat Friend by The Hold Steady (Outdoes Springsteen in a way Arcade Fire never could)
9.You can drink an Ugly Girl Pretty (but you can't drink a fat girl thin) by Jeff Daniels (Just get this track. You will be happy)
2006
1.Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
By now it was impossible to resist the pull of downloading. And everybody was grabbing this record. I was just as guilty (although I later bought it because I loved it). In the world of great debuts, this ranks in the top 20.
2.The Fratellis – Costello Music
Lots of people in the UK had this on their hard drives on Soulseek. Someone gave me a track and I knew I had to have the record. It's the first import I've purchased since college. And it was worth every penny. You feeling down? Put on Costello Music. You will be happy in less than a hlaf hour.
3.The Hold Steady – Boys & Girls in America
Another contender for the greatest record of the decade. If you miss classic rock but feel like most of it is stale, this record will have you believing again. You might have to use that lighter app on your iPhone but that's okay, we get it.
4.Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat
Another highly traded record. It was impossible not to crave more once you heard a couple tracks. I love Jenny Lewis. I think she was also the one of the first blog entries on my old old old blog. The way she has of forcing too many words into sentences and making them WORK is remarkable.
5.My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
After American Idiot this is the bombastic uber-theatrical record of the decade. Grand, dynamic, angry, operatic. Satisfies my Queen-need wholly.
6.The Thermals – The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Bloggers and soulseekers went on and on about this record. I found a promo copy at Amoeba. It has been in heavy rotation for 3 years now.
Favorite from 2006 – Boys & Girls in America
Songs of the Year:
1.Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure by Arctic Monkeys (Manic & catchy britpop)
2.Suzie by Boy Kill Boy (The band you don't know about. And the song that should have made them stars)
3.Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken by Camera Obscura (Is it the 80s already?)
4.Sly by The Cat Empire (Zoe's theme)
5.Candyman by Christina Aguilera (Sex on a stick)
6.Chelsea Dagger/For the Girl/Henrietta/Flathead by The Fratellis (4 great tracks from an album of all great tracks)
7.Stuck Between Stations by The Hold Steady (The opening of one of the most accomplished set of songs)
8.Rise Up With Fists by Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins (She will wake up with babies....)
9.Woke up New by The Mountain Goats (When you lose someone, listen to this song)
10.Welcome to the Black Parade/Dead by My Chemical Romance (American Idiot Pt 2)
11.Valerie by The Zutons (The Jam wish they wrote this)
12.Here's Your Future – The Thermals (God has never sounded this punk. Even though he is)
2007
1.Against Me! - New Wave
The blogs were afire about this band and once I got the album I understood why. 30 minutes in length, New Wave is a brash, bold, vitriolic attack force. Every song is a keeper and I can't wait for the next one.
2.The Builders & The Butchers – The Builders & The Butchers
Another Blog discovery. This is soundtrack music for the Green River Killer.
3.Grace Potter & The Nocturnal – This is Somewhere
Blogs blogs blogs. Potter was on everybody's short list and it was worth it.
4.Mika – Life in Cartoon Motion
I was so glad that I liked Mika as much as I did. It's like what Freddie Mercury's Mr. Bad Guy was supposed to sound like. Instead of sucking, I mean.
5.Okkervil River – The Stage Names
I really wanted to not like this album. It was so darling-of-the-Indie scene. But, it grew on me until I realized that I liked every song and was turning to it for background music more than anything else.
6.Radiohead – In Rainbows
The download phenomenon. The game changer. I paid about $5 for it. Worth double.
Favorite from 2007 – New Wave
Songs of the Year:
1.White People for Peace/Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart/Thrash Unreal by Against Me!
(Punk you can dance to)
2.Online by Brad Paisley (Funny cuz it's true)
3.Vampire Lake by The Builders & The Butchers (The vampire zeitgeist can be summed up here)
4.Cornfields! Cornfields! By Cheese on Bread (The goofiest track on this list)
5.Ah, Mary! By Grace Potter & The Nocturnals (Psst. Mary is America.)
6.Big Girl, You Are Beautiful by Mika (The second theme song for Zoe)
7.You Made Me Like It by 1990s (Power Pop at it's Knackiest)
2008
1.Blitzen Trapper – Furr
I avoided this like the folk-revival plague I assumed it was. It is. But it's also not. It's as much a power pop album as anything else. With a dark humor that offsets the seriousness of it's sound.
2.Taylor Swift – Fearless
The girl can write a song, lemme tell ya. With this record 10s of thousands of 13 year old girls asked for guitar lessons this year.
3.Lady Gaga – The Fame
I think we bought this more based on the performance on SNL. I was kind of hoping that there would be more actual singing than it turned out to have. That said, the songs are all great, retro disco, mirrorball funness.
4.Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
This was on a few top ten lists last year so I gave it a go. Elbow is the way station between Radiohead and Coldplay. With the worst name for a band...um...ever.
5.The Gaslight Anthem – The '59 Sound
Springsteen reborn. If you can get past the annoying vocal production this is a great record for people who like their songs to resonate with defined characters.
6.Jukebox the Ghost – Let Live and Let Ghosts
THE album for me. The bloggers were chatting about Good Day and Hold it In, but the real treat were the song suites in the second half. A much more assured album than one would expect from skinny 20 somethings. Let alone a band that is drums, piano and guitar. If Queen bred with Ben Folds THAT is what Jukebox the Ghost sounds like.
7.Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Who doesn't have this record by now? Easily the most traded of any on this lists. This is also the first year where none of the albums on this list were purchased on plastic. All digital, baby. And VW, with a terrible name and bad album cover, made one of the best, comfortable, exciting albums ever.
8.The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
I was asked to review this album for the now defunct Shuffleboil. It became my favorite of that month. And I still go back to it. Sadly, I don't really care for any other MG album. This is the only one you really need. It's really terrific.
Favorite from 2008 – Let Live and Let Ghosts
Songs of the Year:
1.Furr by Blitzen Trapper (Folk song about transforming into a werewolf. Really)
2.The Fame by Lady Gaga (We live for it)
3.The Best Day by Taylor Swift (The stanza about her dad made me cry)
4.Angelina Jolie by The Chevelles (None of their other songs rock this hard)
5.Some Riot by Elbow (Lush, beautiful, sad, morose, insert adjective here)
6.The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem (ain't supposed to die on a saturday night)
7.Hold It In by Jukebox the Ghost (Indie Pop finds it first piece of true perfection)
8.Sax Rohmer #1/Autoclave/San Bernadino by The Mountain Goats (the three MG songs that made me fall in love with John Darniell)
2009
1.Owl City – Ocean Eyes
I want to hate this record. It sounds JUST LIKE POSTAL SERVICE. Ben Gibbard should sue for stealing his sound. But, it's so catchy and poppy and irresistible.
2.Lily Allen – It's Not me, It's You
I don't care for The Bird and the Bee. But the producer of that band produced this and Lily is more snarky and sardonic than before. It's a dance record but so much more.
3.Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
How do you follow up the best Rock Opera of the decade? Do another one. Bigger. Bolder. More self assured. There was no way this album could catch fire the way AI did. But, in many ways, it's much much better.
4.Mika – The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Mika tops Life in Cartoon Motion with an album so undeniably charming it's a shame he will never truly cross over.
5.Ida Maria – Fortress Around My Heart
This album had me wanting more more more. There are almost no lyrics. The singer can't really sing. But it's rock at it's garageiest.
6. fun. - Aim & Ignite
I should have been listening to this all fall but I forgot about it. I just got it. It's great. It's like the best parts of Mika, ELO, Queen, Power Pop, Rock, Theater all rolled up into a big pie of....well, fun.
Favorite from 2009 - 21st Century Breakdown
Songs of the Year:
1.Fireflies by Owl City (I defy you to not like this song)
2.Now We Can See by The Thermals (Who knew the Thermals could write a pop hook?)
3.If You're Wondering if I Want You To (I Want You To) by Weezer (The catchiest, coolest and most resonant song Weezer has penned in a while)
4.Got Some by Pearl Jam (Pearl Jam finally rocks again)
5.Blame it on the Girls by Mika (You will want to salsa dance with somebody)
6.I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked by Ida Maria (Song of the year)
7.Viva La Gloria/Peacemaker by Green Day (Epics)
So, there ya have it. I should have probably broken this down by year and done each entry separately. But I'm too lazy. And maybe I should have been more diligent about links and such. But, I'm not.
These were my favorites of the decade. I think there was more to love than just about any decade prior. Anyone who says that rock or pop music is dead isn't really listening. I barely scratched the surface.
It was a pretty good decade. We'll see what the next brings.
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