Best Albums of the Decade (2000-2009)
Oh my… The decade is already over. I can’t decide if that makes me feel really sad because I’m getting old or because we still haven’t figured out what to call it yet (the aughts…?). But, with these neatly-defined dividing lines in history, we have an opportunity to look back on things and reflect. What is it that I’m passionate enough about in reflection that I develop a scoring system to articulate my reasoning and opinions and thoughts? Music, of course.
As with many others in the media world (my favorite of which is Pitchfork’s list), I’ve developed my Best Albums of the Decade list (you can see my Excel sheet used to determine this list here). I’ve always shied away from saying “best” instead of “favorite,” but this time I have a scoring system, so it all feels more objective (although it’s certainly not). Keep in mind, my list only contains albums I own and have been listening to this decade. This will answer most of your, “But where’s [insert album name here]?” questions (the other answer is, “Yeah… about that… That album sucks.”) Deal with my incompleteness.
Also, I’ve included a 140 character explanation — since this decade has become the Twitter age, as CNN will tell you every 15 minutes (By the way, does anyone else think Twitter is paying off CNN to talk about them so much? It’s the only explanation for the obsession, right?).
Scoring explanation — my friend Dave Sandell and I have come up with ten categories an album can be scored within, with a score of 1-10 in each category (for a possible total of 100 points). Each explanation comes with an example from decades prior to give you a feel for what I mean. The categories are as follows:
Accessibility [AC]: Some albums are hard to get at first. Some just seem natural and easy to listen to upon your first go-around. I’ve based this system not only on what I thought about an album’s accessibility, but what others that I have listened to this album with have thought. If too many people say, “I just can’t get into that,” then it’s probably not very accessible (or not very good…). [The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds]
Re-listenability [RL]: This is a more personal score (see, I told you this is not objective). But, when I think about a particular album, this is a rating of how likely am I to think, “Ooo! Let’s listen to that right now!” I also try to throw in a little bit of the general public’s sense as to how much this album has held up over the years. But honestly, my general thoughts on it highly skew the score. [Radiohead - OK Computer]
Execution [EX]: Some albums are just so brilliantly orchestrated, thought out, and performed that you’re just in awe of the musical talent. Some albums you think to yourself, “Sure, I can play along with that right now, but I never would have come up with it myself.” And, some albums leave you wondering why you don’t have a record deal yet — either because it’s just not creative and you’re so much more so, or the quality is just lower than you would expect it to be. [Jeff Buckley - Grace]
Influence [IN]: There are certain albums that have defined so much of a genre that almost every artist mentions these albums as what got them into music or what got them to record their own album. Heck, sometimes these albums even create their own genre causing a generation of copy-cats. When those albums influence other albums I love, I have to give them some attention. [The Sex Pistols - Nevermind the Bollucks]
Original [OR]: Have you ever heard something so different and completely out of left field that you wonder where on earth it came from? Who could possibly think up something like that!? In fact, has anything ever sounded like this before? That’s an original album. [Beck - Odelay]
Risk/reward [RR]: I think you have to give special props to someone who sets out to do something really ambitious and actually pulls it off. Sometimes someone sets out to do something awesome and it doesn’t quite work (and therefore they get a lower score), and sometimes they don’t try anything fantastically different at all. But, the ones who do try and succeed? Those are special. [Talking Heads - Remain in Light]
Atmosphere [AT]: When an album just sounds like a place, a season, or a time of your life and there’s absolutely no way to separate it from that reality in your mind — so much so that listening to it out-of-place feels totally awkward — then it has a special something called atmosphere. Whenever you engage with this music, it just transforms you and your surroundings, maybe just to keep you from that awkward state of hearing one thing but being in a completely different place. Since this is based on personal history, to an extent, this is obviously quite subjective as well. [Paul Simon - Graceland]
Ahead of time [AH]: Have you ever heard an album and thought to yourself, “What a great album from such-and-such a time,” and then found out the album came out five to ten years earlier than you thought it did? The album in question — that’s ahead of its time. [U2 - The Joshua Tree]
Cultural significance [CS]: This is a ranking of how much a particular album played a role in defining a generation, doing something important on a grand scale (like changing the way music is shared with the public), or just generally affecting the lives of many people I know. [Nirvana - Nevermind]
Critical acclaim [CA]: You know those certain albums that everyone who knows anything about anything fawns over? Those ones that you sort of get sick of hearing about how brilliant they are, even if you don’t get what the fuss is all about? This is a catch-all to make sure that I’m not ranking something too low just because I don’t like it — although I’m often such a sucker for being “right” that I tend to agree with everyone else’s rankings just out of principle. [The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]
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First, the honorable mention pile-up with scores of 69:
Modest Mouse – Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism (2003)
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver (2007)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (2005)
Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
Rufus Wainwright – Want One (2003)
Four Tet – Rounds (2003)
Björk – Vespertine (2001)
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
Now, without further ado, here is one man’s list, from 25 to 1.
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25. Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
2009
I tell you what, this one grows on you. I really didn’t like it (or Animal Collective) at first, but it’s not half bad. A critical darling, for sure.
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24. Alligator
The National
2005
A rare low, monotone-singing gem. Most successful singers have a much higher range than Matt Berninger, but I like the baritone.
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23. Elephant
The White Stripes
2003
Sure, they’re not my favorite, but they more than deserve a spot on the list. I mean, they’re one of the three biggest bands of the decade.
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22. Takk…
Sigur Rós
2005
Sigur Rós’ most accessible album, this is nearly perfect and the one I go to most. Sæglópur live is the greatest thing I’ve ever heard.
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21. The Shins
2003
According to Natalie, the Shins will change your life. And this is far and away their best. Maybe not life-changing, but really good.
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20. The Reminder
Feist
2007
Before iPod commercials made her famous, everyone into Broken Social Scene knew she was brilliant. Watch her live- her talent’s shocking.
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19. Give Up
The Postal Service
2003
Among the last great things Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard did (except marry Zooey Deschanel — lucky…). Truly fantastic electronic-pop bliss.
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18. & Yet & Yet
Do Make Say Think
2002
Although almost any album from these guys could fit here, this is my favorite. Infused with jazz elements, a post-rock masterpiece.
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17. Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
2000
The most ambitious of the post-rock genre this decade. Elements of minimalism and traditional Explosions in the Sky sound = fantastic.
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16. Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
2009
Just a diverse album filled with all sorts of sounds and styles, executed perfectly. Another one to watch live and marvel at their talent.
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15. We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes
Death Cab for Cutie
2000
I think Death Cab was one of the most influential bands of the decade. They first reached their potential here (sorry Transatlanticism).
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14. Bon Iver
2008
This is winter. When Justin Vernon’s heart was broken he retreated to a cabin to write, which sounds so Dashboard, but this is actually good.
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13. Kala
M.I.A.
2007
If not the coolest person in the world, she’s at least in the discussion (daughter of a Tamil Tiger!). This is as hip-hop as I get.
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12. Sufjan Stevens
2003
An album that exemplifies a state and actually feels like it? Sufjan pulled it off with the second most shocking thing I heard all decade.
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11. Spoon
2002
One of the decade’s indie giants, Spoon has a talent for producing the most sound with the least effort. Voice as percussion? Yes please.
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10. In Rainbows
Radiohead
2007
I swung and missed on this one at first. “Ah, just another Radiohead album. Meh…” Oops. Plus, it was given away on the internet for free.
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9. Wilco
2002
Their label refused to put this album out — it was too experimental. They failed to realize it was brilliant. Good work, Chicago music.
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8. Modest Mouse
2000
Lots of indie rock of the decade owes a ton to this album — the logical next step to the ground Built to Spill was breaking in the 90’s.
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7. Interpol
2002
Although it sounds like Joy Division down to the low, emotionless voice, it’s still an amazing effort. Unlike the rest of their catalog…
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6. Is This It?
The Strokes
2001
This may be the decade’s defining album. It’s up for debate. But, when I look back on the decade in music, it will be this album’s fault.
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5. Sufjan Stevens
2005
Like Michigan, but fully-realized and perfectly executed. Who knew folk music had such new ground to break? I wish he’d continue his States.
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4. Sigur Rós
2000
The most shocking, un-earthly, beautiful, and unique thing I’ve ever heard. Who cares if you can’t understand the lyrics? It’s not the point.
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3. Broken Social Scene
2003
My all-time favorite album. A bunch of experimental post-rockers giving pop music a try. Sure it’s not exactly pop — but it is genius.
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2. Funeral
Arcade Fire
2004
An album about the pains of growing up might sound melodramatic, but it just feels right. This band may become one of the all-time greats.
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1. Kid A
Radiohead
2000
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone has this album as the album of the decade. But, everyone can’t be wrong, right? Look at the scores. Can you argue?
I’m not so sure the decade is ending…
What does that mean!? Are we in one of those time-warp things I hear about in all of my physics text books?
Or are you just referring to the great 1999 vs. 2000 / new millennium thing? Because we got over that years ago, Jim.
The lack of Neko Case’s Blacklisted on this list is disturbing. But, otherwise, solid list. Loving the graphical display of the scores. I maintain that this system is the periodic table of awesome.