This is not the 10 Greatest Albums of 2000-2009, this is just a tribute - by henke
henke on 3/12/2009 at 21:09
We'll all be busy tring to figure out our favourite albums, films and games of 2009 once the year draws to a close so I figure we might as well get this thread out of the way right now. It seems unlikely that anyone is going to find a new favourite album from 2000-2009 between now and Jan. 1 anyway.
Deciding on your favourite albums of the past decade is not quite like deciding on your favourite albums of the past year. 10 years is a long time and a person's taste in music might've changed dramatically in that time. So you might feel inclined to leave out some of the stuff you've outgrown. Try not to. It won't be as funny that way.
1. Tom Waits - "Blood Money"
Sitting down any trying to sort our the positions of my fave 00's albums on this list I'm actually quite surprised that this one ends up on top of the pile. It's not Waits' best album ever(only about 3rd). But it's consistent as hell, flows nicely throughout, has some of his catchiest, rowdiest songs and some very tender, beautifull ones as well. Like most of the songs on this list I've actually recorded it onto a cassettetape which I regularly play in my car-radio while zooming down the highway and bellowing along. Misery is the river of the world, everybody row!
2. Loretta Lynn - "Van Lear Rose"
It takes a special kind of artist to make you sing along to their lyrics even when the beliefs and values expressed in those lyrics are contradictory to your own. Fiercely right-wing, conservative and Christian though she may be, I still love Loretta. And Jack White's production on this album is kick ass. My favourite Country album of all time.
3. Cake - "Comfort Eagle"
I put this album on, trying to figure out what I can write about that would justify it's inclusion on this list. 11 songs later the only conclusion I've reached is that I should defenitely listen to it more often.
4. Buck 65 - "Talkin' Honky Blues"
There's something very anachronistic about Buck 65. Although his songs are clearly hip-hop, they feel like they're taking place in the 50's. A 50's that's not in the past, but rather current time, for him. The illusion is so complete that when he does reference something from the modern world, like when he says of an ex-girlfriend "queen of the plasticbag, fork-tongue, and 80's retro / everything from new wave, metal and electro" you snap out of it for a second and go "whoa, does that stuff exist in Buck's universe?"
5. Todd Snider - "East Nashville Skyline"
The very first time I listened to Todd Snider I knew he would become one of my favourite artists. There was no barrier there. I don't need to figure out his lyrics, what he's saying or why he's saying it. I just get him. And his subjects are exactly the kinda stuff I like. Stories about real people, like D.B. Cooper, Mike Tyson and Marilyn Manson. Stories about low-life fuck-ups and petty criminals. And political ditties sprinkled with witty wordplay.
6. Madvillain - "Madvillainy"
Facts: DOOM has more flow than Bazooka Joe and more soul than a sock with a hole. He's in it for the quiche, you might as well not ask him for no free shit, capiche? A lot of bitches think he's overly chauvinistic. Egads! He has enough style to start three fads! And Madlib, his partner-in-crime on this album, plays the bass like the race card. It's a damn shame, just remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man's name.
7. The White Stripes - "Elephant"
White Blood Cells and Icky Thump are very good too, but Elephant really is the most solid one. Don't make me start reciting the tracklist just to prove it.
8. The Rapture - "Echoes"
"House of Jealous Lovers" is my fave track of the decade. The album surrounding it ain't bad either! Not as loose as the Mirror EP that came before it and not as restrained and formulaic as the Pieces Of The People We Love album that came after it either. Just perfect.
9. Sage Francis - "A Healthy Distrust"
Sage sorta blew his load with all the mixtapes he made before getting signed, his best songs are to be found on those, but A Healthy Distrust is still great. Especially the stretch of the last 7 songs which are just a seamless flow of brilliance. Considering that pretty much every track has a different producer it's amazing how well the second half of the album works.
10. Mindless Self Indulgence - "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy"
I can't say that the alphabetical order of the songs makes it flow particularly well but I still loved the shit out of most of these songs a few years ago. Although in retrospect it does feel a bit like it was more fun getting in peoples faces about this band than it actually was to listen to. THEY'RE PRETTY CRAZY I'LL TELL YOU
So what are your favourites?
Enchantermon on 3/12/2009 at 21:30
"Forget and Not Slow Down" - Relient K
Strong punk rock tunes laced with a few lighter edges and solid lyrics. Easily one of the band's best albums.
This LP is a great example of how Relient K's style has grown over the course of their career. Their demo in '98 displayed a dirtier sound than the lighthearted tracks they later became famous for. As the members matured, so did their music; they take themselves more seriously on this record than on any other, and while I will always love their goofy recordings (which I doubt are gone), I can feel the strong passions revealed in the lyrics; from the sweet fragrance of love to the pangs of remorse, from the pursuit of redemption to the desperate cries for rescue. I felt like I could identify with all of the struggles and the emotions that were presented, and as a musician myself, when you mix emotion with an appreciation for the underlying sound and rhythm, the result is a full heart and a desire to listen to the whole thing again.
Kolya on 3/12/2009 at 22:17
Daft Punk - Alive will still make me kick when I'm 65.
Deciding on a top ten though? Ask me again in 2020.
Jason Moyer on 3/12/2009 at 22:56
No real order, and off the top of my head. Not including any Waits since his musical rebirth has more or less been covered.
Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Mouse On Mars - Niun Niggung
The Bird and the Bee - The Bird and the Bee
Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
Ladytron - 604
The Faint - Danse Macabre
Komeda - Kokomemedada
Guitar Vader - From Dusk
Squarepusher - Just A Souvenir
Broadcast - The Noise Made by People
If you count 1999, then Stereolab's last really great album would be in there somewhere (and Guitar Vader's Die Happy). Felix Da Housecat - Kittenz and Thee Glitz should probably be in there somewhere too, but I think having 3 electroclashy albums is more than enough.
D'Juhn Keep on 3/12/2009 at 22:57
Jesus christ it really is almost 2010. Ordering these is hellish
#1Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/funeral.jpgArcade Fire - FuneralThis is a magnificent, once in a generation record. The wall of sound on some tracks is great, as is the simplicity of others. Unsuccessfully trying to not sound like a wanker and throw superlatives at it. Deserves the #1 slot for at least 5 songs off the album. When I saw them live during their Funeral tour I had hardly listened to any of their songs but their live show was just amazing. So much passion and energy (wanker) that I will never forget it.
#2Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/kida.jpgRadiohead - Kid AIt's kind of weird having this here; it seems it's been around so long. I still remember when I first got it, playing it until the batteries ran out on my cd player as I wandered round Troyes in late spring. I also don't know quite what I can say about it. There are so many individually fantastic tracks - Idioteque, The National Anthem, Motion Picture Soundtrack - that it's almost easy to forget how well it all works as a turn of the millennium album. Bleak themes about what kind of world we're going forward into but ultimately, I think, Optimistic.
#3Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/pj.jpgPJ Harvey - White ChalkI can't do much better than to quote myself from the 2007 thread. A drastic change from her (awesome) last 2 albums reveals undreamt depths of vulnerability and bleakness that make, for me, the album of the year by a mile. Everyone should listen to this album unless they mind being sad.
#4Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/lift.jpgGodspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenI haven't seen many middling opinions on GYBE (even their name inspires a lot of anger in some people) but I love them. The long moments of peaceful tones and melodies building up to incredible crescendos. Formulaic? I think that's harsh but even if it were I love what they do. This album, I think, best encapsulates them.
#5Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/whitestripes.jpgWhite Stripes - Icky ThumpElephant is great but it's no Icky Thump. A wide range of sounds - I especially like the Scottish folk rock thing in the middle - fun, sadness but above all rocking the fuck out. Icky Thump is an incredible song and opener for Jack's guitar work and A Martyr For My Love For You is so soft but powerful that it's the standout track.
=#6Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/boards.jpgBoards of Canada - GeogaddiThis was the first BoC album I listened to and so had little frame of reference. I loved what I heard, the gentle menace of many of the tracks, the immaculate - or deliberately distorted - sound and the great imagination that goes into their songs. I love how some songs are so cold and distant that you can only think of being alone in a ruined lighthouse in winter or wandering the streets of a ghost town. Whereas others make you feel like you're lying on a hideous 70s carpet watching tv as a child. Also in winter but this time in front of a fire.
Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/conelrad.pngConelrad - Function CreepThe simple fact is that I like the best songs on this album better than any on Geogaddi. The album hangs together brilliantly, again with it's feelings of distant menace but haunting beauty. The album cover couldn't sum it up any better.
#8Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/stories.jpgPJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The SeaWinner of the 2001 Mercury prize and pretty much completely different to White Chalk. Loads of awesome guitars but nothing could come close to eclipsing PJ's voice. Probably the finest opening duo of songs on any album in this list and the album doesn't slack carrying on.
#9
Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/grandaddy.jpg
Grandaddy - The Sophtware SlumpI don't think I've heard anything that's quite like Grandaddy. Every song on the album is beautiful and many are slightly eerie. In a more friendly way than Geogaddi but still as if there's something going on that you're not quite sure of. Really evocative tunes and lyrics, especially the rather heartbreaking saga of Jed the robot.
#10Inline Image:
http://www.backdrifts.co.uk/fever.jpgYeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To TellRock. FUCKING ROOOOOCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. Awesome, frenetic tunes on an album that just doesn't let up. Though Maps, the only change of pace on the album, is probably the best song on it.
Jason Moyer on 3/12/2009 at 23:00
I want to include a BoC album, but the only one I really like all the way through (LP-wise) came out in 98. That's sort of the thing that sucks about lists like these, most of the music I listened to the past 10 years came out in like, 96-99. Sort of like how all of the good 80's music came out in the 70's. :)
ceebs on 4/12/2009 at 00:30
Killing Joke - Killing Joke (2003)
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Jello Biafra and The Melvins - Never Breathe What You Can't See
Danger Mouse - Grey Album
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
Soulwax - Nite versions
Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague
Banco de Gaia - Igizeh
Zion Train - Glastonbury 2000
Bob Marley - Roots, Rock, Remixed
Tonamel on 4/12/2009 at 00:56
Joanna Newsom - YsThis was a massive improvement over the great-if-you-can-stand-to-listen-to-it
Milk-Eyed Mender. All the right steps were taken: Properly recording her so she doesn't start clipping, adding orchestral backing tracks to most of the songs to help mellow things out further, significantly less squeakiness in her singing (though it's still around). It takes nearly an hour to play all five tracks, but I never get bored listening to it.
i, cactus - i, cactusThis is the album that really got me into chiptune, which is odd because it's not really a chiptune album. When I'd first heard it, I hadn't heard anything quite like it before, so I went searching for more. I found chiptune instead.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenGathering Storm. That is all.
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the RingsDon't get me wrong.
Bromst, released earlier this year, is a fantastic album worthy of much praise. But there's something about its predecessor that leaves me so much happier after listening to it. It's a bit more insane and a bit more childlike, which are definite bonuses in my book. And as a lover of minimalism, (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ44w-tfSbo) Pink Batman is one of my favorite songs ever.
Alarm Will Sound - Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex TwinMost classical music that involves virtuoso performances is written for a virtuoso backed by an ensemble of mere mortals. This album is a virtuostic ensemble performance. I'm amazed every time I listen to (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3dCldgu5o4) Cock/Ver 10. That, and it's funny to hear classical performers shout "Come on you cunts, let's have some Aphex acid!"
IntermissionBoards of Canada - GeogaddiThis had to be in here, didn't it? Amazing music from start to finish, hitting all the right emotional points along the way.
Sufjan Stevens - IllinoiseI absolutely hated this album the first time I listened to it. I threw it in a drawer, and promptly forgot about it. Six months later, I came across it again and it was love at <strike>first</strike> second sight. I don't know what changed, but it's one of my favorites now.
Akron/Family - Akron/FamilyAll of Akron/Family's albums are good, but there's something about their first one that places it above the rest. It has more rough edges, and feels almost improvised which gives it a more raw, emotional feeling. Their later albums are much more obviously produced, which isn't a bad thing, just different. But it's that feeling of four guys sitting in their apartment inventing a new kind of music that I fell in love with, and that's what the first album has.
The Books - The Lemon of PinkAmong audio collage artists that use recordings of people talking as instruments, The Books do it the best. Their music is hard to describe, at best. (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeS6aEc7FLY) I'll let it speak for itself.
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post PavillionI was waffling between this and
Strawberry Jam, but in the end how could I say no to the album that has "My Girls" and "Lion in a Coma"?
Numerous Honourable MentionsArcade Fire - Funeral
Beirut - Lon Gisland EP
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
Sigur Ros - Takk...
Osvaldo Golijov - The Passion According to St. Mark
Stars of the Lid - ...And Their Refinement of the Decline
Justice - Cross
The Protomen - Act II: The Father of Death
Tunng - Comments of the Inner Chorus
Reelroad - I Get Around
Yu Miyake - Katamari Damacy OST
