Top 20 albums of the decade so far?

[LMP]

Huh? Hate to be tangential to the firestorm, but who the fuzz is Daughtry? I don't live in an English-speaking country, and even when I did, I didn't listen to the radio for more than 90 seconds, from 2002 and on. And I didn't have cable, either. I've never had access to anything even vaguely MTV-esque. Fill a brother in, son/daughter.

One of the contestants on American Idol who's had a string of radio rock hits. Not a fan, but my friends like him.

 

[BigMacPhisto]

But how do you know you've heard more?

Because I listen to over 150 albums a year. And absolutely none of those are ones I already know suck (i.e. practically everything on a major label that wasn't on an indie one beforehand). Someone listing Coldplay, The Killers and the Boss in their list could not have heard that many albums from this decade. Sorry, but nobody I know who listens to the stuff of Pitchfork chucks those acts into their yearly lists. Go take a look at the MetaCritic annual user lists if you don't believe me. Those are people like me that listen to a bajillion albums a year and are very knowledgeable about popular music and its history.

One of the contestants on American Idol who's had a string of radio rock hits. Not a fan, but my friends like him.

For the record, I don't listen to the radio. I heard half a Daughtry song when my sister put a cable music channel on. The fact that they happen to be the best selling rock act at the moment makes me oh-so-sick. That sort of shit would've been openly mocked at even 5 years ago. Problem is ClearChannel one-day decided to continually compartmentalize rock radio until only bands that were LOUD and usually pretty dumb would receive airplay. Once listeners became accustomed to this, they pretty much reject anything else that would attempt to get airplay on the format because they associate Zeppelin as the gods of rock and these modern riff heavy weaklings as continuing the tradition. It's exactly the reason why U2's singles do so poorly here on rock radio. Which two did the best last time? Vertigo, followed by ABOY. Hmm.....

 

[Dalton]

I wasn't commenting on your point, I was judging your personality.

You've been found ... wanting.

I didn't have the Interpol albums on my Ipod for some reason and confused that album with Antics. That's the one I meant to list. I always adore it when I listen to it but forget about it immediately after. Deserving of listage in everyone's Top 100 of the decade at least. Not really sure what a U2 fan would find to object to with it.

And for crying out loud, I was not implying that taste isn't subjective. I was implying that some people here have pretty uninformed ears and haven't listened to a lot of modern music. Any list without anything indie isn't a coincidence and the user didn't like any of it. They obviously haven't listened to it.

Also, there is the factor of broadening your horizons. Practically everyone starts out really liking a sort of meat-and-potatoes rock band and expands from there. The more acts you listen to, the more you'll like and the more flavors you'll grow to like. Hell, Interpol (coming back to them) is one of about a half dozen artists I heard and went "hmph"....hundreds of other albums later, they make me wet.

I dunno. I just find it incredibly insulting that people would list a hardly innovative Springsteen record like The Rising as one of the decade's best. That's like saying the current crop is so watered down and icky that someone in their decline phase is better than most of it.




What did you think I was responding to? I gave you my reason why I lashed out like I did and received a comment on my personality. It had to be done. It's the same shit film critics get, being called "an elitist douchebag" by many...that's complete bollocks to say the least. Film critics have seen thousands of movie and your average filmgoer sees a half-dozen in theatres per year, most of them action fueled blockbusters. And then the masses complain when one of the one movies they saw had mediocre reviews or when the Oscars nominate "movies I've never heard of"...when it comes to music, it's the same thing. I get called an elitist for having liked, say, The Stars. But the truth is, I am more knowledgeable than most of you because I have heard way more. Two reasons, one - those that hear more have a wider pool to sift from rather than some of the lists of users here who I doubt have heard anywhere close to even a hundred albums this decade. Secondly, hearing more means you know more about quality and have higher standards. If you listen to six albums a year, you'll hold the ones you liked in pretty high contention similar to a six year old liking every movie they see. In all honesty, the thread title alone steered most of the Interference users away from it as I can attest from other posts that 90% of the people here really don't know anything about modern music aside from whatever's on the radio, has a U2 connection (see Arcade Fire) or is connected to another mainstream act with critical credibility (i.e. Radiohead fans hearing Yorke rave about Sigur Ros).

Anyway, quit saying I'm trying to be a taste maker or judging the opinions of others. I'm not. I'm just arguing that a lot of people making lists hardly have the same background as some of the others here. This in turn personally irks me when the music of people my age is continually trashed because the posters here equate the rock of the 00's with Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Nickelback or Daughtry.



I agree with this sentiment but it wasn't exactly a roll down the mountain () was another fantastic album, a classic of lesser scale. Takk was a pretty good album and so is the new one.

I would like to use BigMacPhisto's above post as confirmation that my quoted post is a "hole-in-one". Can I get an official ruling on this?

 

[BigMacPhisto]

What's your problem? It's a message board and people express opinions. I didn't flame anyone, post incomprehensibly or in an off the topic manner. All I did was give my opinion that some people here are less informed when it comes to modern music and the ones that jumped on me the hardest where mostly those befitting of such a category. Frankly, I don't see why you have to try and make it personal and say my personality is that of a douchebag when outside of this thread I'm positive nobody who knows me closely has ever seen me in such a light. Add to the actual discussion or don't post at all. Or better yet, you can flame me via PM.

 

[LemonMelon]

All I did was give my opinion that some people here are less informed when it comes to modern music and the ones that jumped on me the hardest where mostly those befitting of such a category.

Rule of thumb: You can think you're better, more knowledgeable, or more talented than someone else, but you should never say it (regardless of its truthfulness), especially if you don't want to come across as an arrogant douchebag.


I'm not upset with you, BTW. That's just a logical piece of advice in general.

 

[No spoken words]

What's your problem? It's a message board and people express opinions. I didn't flame anyone, post incomprehensibly or in an off the topic manner. All I did was give my opinion that some people here are less informed when it comes to modern music and the ones that jumped on me the hardest where mostly those befitting of such a category. Frankly, I don't see why you have to try and make it personal and say my personality is that of a douchebag when outside of this thread I'm positive nobody who knows me closely has ever seen me in such a light. Add to the actual discussion or don't post at all. Or better yet, you can flame me via PM.

I jumped on you and you don't know a blessed thing about my musical tastes.

You make it personal when you call people's taste or knowledge out, so, grow some thicker skin and be prepared for a rebuttal instead of feigning innocence. As you said, this is a message board.

 

[LMP]

What's your problem? It's a message board and people express opinions. I didn't flame anyone, post incomprehensibly or in an off the topic manner. All I did was give my opinion that some people here are less informed when it comes to modern music and the ones that jumped on me the hardest where mostly those befitting of such a category. Frankly, I don't see why you have to try and make it personal and say my personality is that of a douchebag when outside of this thread I'm positive nobody who knows me closely has ever seen me in such a light. Add to the actual discussion or don't post at all. Or better yet, you can flame me via PM.

But you are insulting everyone by saying they can't be right about a subjective topic if they haven't listened to everything else out there. Once that attachment to an album or band is there, people may find other things to like, but that shouldn't diminish their opinion of their preconceived favorite.

For the record, I've heard a great deal of the ones you mentioned, and if I wanted to list more than 20, as the title doesn't suggest, then they might've made the list, too. I'm not gonna speak condescendingly to everyone that disagrees, however, unless you use the word "cracking" regularly.

 

[Dalton]

What's your problem? It's a message board and people express opinions. I didn't flame anyone, post incomprehensibly or in an off the topic manner. All I did was give my opinion that some people here are less informed when it comes to modern music and the ones that jumped on me the hardest where mostly those befitting of such a category. Frankly, I don't see why you have to try and make it personal and say my personality is that of a douchebag when outside of this thread I'm positive nobody who knows me closely has ever seen me in such a light. Add to the actual discussion or don't post at all. Or better yet, you can flame me via PM.

I'm going to make a list of my problems:

1. I hate it when people say stupid things earnestly

2. I hate it when people say stupid things arrogantly

3. I hate it when older, mature people say stupid things earnestly and arrogantly

Point three is your saving grace because from your posts I can deduce that you are neither old or mature. That means I can chalk your arrogance up to petulance and think to myself, "Self, he won't be so arrogant when he gets a little life experience under his belt."

The fact of the matter is that you have no idea (as in none) what people are or are not listening to unless you ask them. You know what are nifty? Questions. Questions are good. Questions make you look like less of an ass because you don't have to make silly assumptions.

Again, I have no problem with your points. I have a problem with your personality. But, you're young so I'm dispensing this wisdom to you free of charge. I made NSW climb up a mountain on his knees before I gave him advice this good.

 

[No spoken words]

But you are insulting everyone by saying they can't be right about a subjective topic if they haven't listened to everything else out there. Once that attachment to an album or band is there, people may find other things to like, but that shouldn't diminish their opinion of their preconceived favorite.

For the record, I've heard a great deal of the ones you mentioned, and if I wanted to list more than 20, as the title doesn't suggest, then they might've made the list, too. I'm not gonna speak condescendingly to everyone that disagrees, however, unless you use the word "cracking" regularly.

But this was a cracking post.

 

[No spoken words]

I made NSW climb up a mountain on his knees before I gave him advice this good.

That's my wife, asshole!

 

[Dalton]

Rule of thumb: You can think you're better, more knowledgeable, or more talented than someone else, but you should never say it (regardless of its truthfulness), especially if you don't want to come across as an arrogant douchebag.

Unless of course you are better than everyone else AND an arrogant douchebag.

Those are another two of my problems.

 

[LMP]

But this was a cracking post.

That's my wife, asshole!

Two in the row, nice.

 

[No spoken words]

Unless of course you are better than everyone else AND an arrogant douchebag.

Those are another two of my problems.

1) Cut a Hole in a Box

 

[LemonMelon]

1) Cut a Hole in a Box

Three in a row.

 

[Dalton]

1) Cut a Hole in a Box

My favorite part of that post is the fact that I make comments about him based solely on assumptions while criticizing him about making assumptions. Wait until he realizes that. His little tween head will explode with glee filled rage and all we'll get is a post of "SEEEEEEEEEEEELkj ;asdapoiuf aasd;la ;vqoeija;sdoij fa[dsfja ;s"

 

[VintagePunk]

I'm going to make a list of my problems:

1. I hate it when people say stupid things earnestly

2. I hate it when people say stupid things arrogantly

3. I hate it when older, mature people say stupid things earnestly and arrogantly

Point three is your saving grace because from your posts I can deduce that you are neither old or mature. That means I can chalk your arrogance up to petulance and think to myself, "Self, he won't be so arrogant when he gets a little life experience under his belt."

The fact of the matter is that you have no idea (as in none) what people are or are not listening to unless you ask them. You know what are nifty? Questions. Questions are good. Questions make you look like less of an ass because you don't have to make silly assumptions.

Again, I have no problem with your points. I have a problem with your personality. But, you're young so I'm dispensing this wisdom to you free of charge. I made NSW climb up a mountain on his knees before I gave him advice this good.

Great. Now I have a crush on Dalton.

 

[LemonMelon]

This video is long overdue.

Indie Clerk Assholes

 

[No spoken words]

Great. Now I have a crush on Dalton.

Get in line. Wait. I mean, um, yeah. Shit.

 

[No spoken words]

My favorite part of that post is the fact that I make comments about him based solely on assumptions while criticizing him about making assumptions. Wait until he realizes that. His little tween head will explode with glee filled rage and all we'll get is a post of "SEEEEEEEEEEEELkj ;asdapoiuf aasd;la ;vqoeija;sdoij fa[dsfja ;s"

You have more to go on than he does.

I'd better make my list before this thing gets locked up.

 

[Dalton]

Get in line. Wait. I mean, um, yeah. Shit.

Apparently the line begins here:

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Good editing is key to making a great album. And that also applies to making a great list. It requires effort and some tough choices, but it pays off. So get your nose out of Pitchfork's ass and list the 20 albums of this decade you really, REALLY like.

I listed what I really like and Pitchfork helped me fine some of it. I wouldn't waste my time, especially with my favorite hobby, and listen to things I didn't like and I honestly REALLY liked all of those. But I'll bite and attempt at Top 20 in your fashion.


2000

U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (probably my #1 of the decade, my second favorite album from my second favorite band)
Radiohead - Kid A (probably my #2 of the decade)
Avalanches - Since I Left You
Modest Mouse- The Moon & Antarctica

2001

Daft Punk - Discovery
Beulah - The Coast Is Never Clear (forgot in my earlier list that this qualified)
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World

2002

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2004

Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Arcade Fire - Funeral
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike

2005

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
M.I.A. - Arular
LCD Soundsystem
Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary
Wilderness - Wilderness

2006

I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

2007

Okkervil River - The Stage Names


Guess 2003 and the first-half of 2008 go home hard up.

 

[VintagePunk]

Get in line. Wait. I mean, um, yeah. Shit.

I concede. You saw him first.

 

[Dalton]

I listed what I really like and Pitchfork helped me fine some of it. I wouldn't waste my time, especially with my favorite hobby, and listen to things I didn't like and I honestly REALLY liked all of those. But I'll bite and attempt at Top 20 in your fashion.


2000

U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (probably my #1 of the decade, my second favorite album from my second favorite band)
Radiohead - Kid A (probably my #2 of the decade)
Avalanches - Since I Left You
Modest Mouse- The Moon & Antarctica

2001

Daft Punk - Discovery
Beulah - The Coast Is Never Clear (forgot in my earlier list that this qualified)
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World

2002

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2004

Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Arcade Fire - Funeral
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike

2005

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
M.I.A. - Arular
LCD Soundsystem
Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary
Wilderness - Wilderness

2006

I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

2007

Okkervil River - The Stage Names


Guess 2003 and the first-half of 2008 go home hard up.

Aw shit QuarterPounder, you're never gonna believe this! I ownz all them albums accept Wilderness and The Pipettes!

 

[LemonMelon]

Aw shit QuarterPounder, you're never gonna believe this! I ownz all them albums accept Wilderness and The Pipettes!

Yeah, the list doesn't seem particularly indietastic to me. I've come across the majority of those without even doing much reading.

The Avalanches' debut is great, BTW. I should have included it.

 

[No spoken words]

Here are some albums from 2000 and on that I love. This might or might reach 20, in no real order:

Boxer - The National
Some Cities - Doves
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
The Stage Names - Okkervil River
Sea Change - Beck
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey
Cease to Begin - Band of Horses
Raising Sand - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
A Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Work - Junetile
Mute Math - Mute Math
Eisley - Combinations
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
Empire - Kasabian
Black Holes & Revelations - Muse
In Rainbows - Radiohead
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - U2
Potrishead - Third (Cannot stop listening to it)
Z - My Morning Jacket
Wincing the Night Away - The Shins
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case
In Absentia - Porcupine Tree
Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting
By The Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Yeah, the list doesn't seem particularly indietastic to me. I've come across the majority of those without even doing much reading.

Agreed. That's probably because a lot of these ended up being name dropped everywhere or earned a ton of press. This seemed to happen a lot in the first half of the decade which I still think was right before the big explosion around 2005 which I consider to be my favorite year for music. There's another ten albums from '05 that would've made my Top 40 most likely. I think BIG exposure for a lot of these indie acts came roughly a few years into the decade. Once all the young kids have high speed, it's pretty easy to spend a few minutes downloading an album from a band you've never heard of whereas on dial-up it'd be practically unthinkable. That was pretty much the jump for me from mainstream/classic rock to a whole 'nother world. Anyway, I still have no idea why there's less consensus picks now but it could be due to so much GOOD coming out, hence the lists of various publications differing more and more each year while the Yankee Hotel Foxtrots of this half of the decade (Illinois, Arular, etc.) still end up high on practically everyone's list. Perhaps every year produces the same quality at the top-end but the latter ones have produced a longer shopping list of good.

Boxer - The National

I'm part of the Alligator jihad. Maybe I thought they did what they did so well that I couldn't except the change? I can see why people really dig the newer one though, just not my cup of tea. I'd also take It Still Moves over Z which I didn't even bother to keep but I applaud their transition greatly. By The Way was also the best Chili Peppers album since One Hot Minute which was at least kind of interesting since it differed so much from their previous work. Californication hit with a thud when you weren't listening to a single and their last behemoth felt like their greatest hits watered-down and stripped of a soul...anyway, good pick on that one.

 

[LMP]

This video is long overdue.

Indie Clerk Assholes

That's where I heard "indietastic" for the first time and my life was never the same. Human Giant is pretty funny. There was one sketch with Will Arnett up on funnyordie.com that I absolutely loved, even if it's completely bizarre.

 

[LemonMelon]

Here are some albums from 2000 and on that I love. This might or might reach 20, in no real order:

Boxer - The National
Some Cities - Doves
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
The Stage Names - Okkervil River
Sea Change - Beck
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey
Cease to Begin - Band of Horses
Raising Sand - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
A Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Work - Junetile
Mute Math - Mute Math
Eisley - Combinations
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
Empire - Kasabian
Black Holes & Revelations - Muse
In Rainbows - Radiohead
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - U2
Potrishead - Third (Cannot stop listening to it)
Z - My Morning Jacket
Wincing the Night Away - The Shins
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case
In Absentia - Porcupine Tree
Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting
By The Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

Cracking list. I'd personally place about 10 of those within my own top 30 or so.

A few more albums I'd like to give credit to but didn't place in my top 20 (though I may on re-listening), largely because I simply forgot them the first time through:

Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
Blur - Think Tank
Paul McCartney - Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Steely Dan - Two Against Nature

 

[No spoken words]

I love Extraordinary Machine. Was glad to have Fiona back.

I think there are a few more I'd add, but, that list has more than 20 so it has to suffice. I'm sure if I made the list next week, it would be slightly different. Also, that list would make one think I only like a certain genre of music, but I listen to lots of different stuff....just none of it cracked that list, and I guess my overall tastes obviously lean towards what's on that list.

 

[No spoken words]

Did Neko Case get any love from anyone but me, outside of any New Pornographers albums she was part of? I love her voice.