Stark songs about love. It's really a simple album by Dallas Green, so different than his day job with screamo act Alexisonfire, and while that band is certainly a great band, I always prefer Green on his solo releases, where his gift for melody and introspection shine.
Download: "Sleeping Sickness", "Waiting...", "As Much As I Ever Could", "The Girl"
4. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Flaming Lips (2002)
I'm sorry, but I love both the weirdo psychedelia of the 90s Flaming Lips, and the spaced out prog rock of the 2000s Flaming Lips. Both are entertaining as all hell, because both have Wayne Coyne, who is the most entertaining person in rock and roll. This, their melancholic masterpiece, remains their best known and best work.
Download: " Do You Realize??", "It's Summertime", "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1", "Fight Test"
3. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
Wildly expansive, highly original arrangements from a music collective who used personal tragedy to create an album so unique that it's really hard for me to come up with the words I want to use to explain how much I love this record. I'll try with the following: brilliant, fresh, powerful, and magical.
Download: " Rebellion (Lies)", "Wake Up", "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)", "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)"
2. Kid A, Radiohead (2000)
Radiohead's desire to reinvent itself at every turn has created a catalog of work that is mind-blowing in its creativity and quality. This, their inspired peak, was an album of jazzy orchestral mass of strange songs and cryptic lyrics that was originally divisive, but once the dust settled and everyone remembered that not every album could be O.K. Computer, it became clear that Radiohead was at its best when they surprised us.
Download: "Everything in Its Right Place", "Morning Bell", "The National Anthem", "Optimistic"
1. White Blood Cells, White Stripes (2001)
My favorite White Stripes album changes constantly, but I keep coming back to White Blood Cells. Maybe it's because I discovered them with this album, but certainly it has something to do with the ambition of some of the songs. The primitive percussion of Meg White suits the elaborate guitar playing of Jack White, and they remain the best indie rock duo I can think of. Ferocious, ground breaking rock and roll.
Download: "We're Gonna Be Friends", The Union Forever", "Fell In Love With A Girl", "Now Mary", "This Protector"
That is all for the decade, everyone. I know that some things are missing, but honestly, these are the fifty records released in the last ten years I wouldn't be able to survive without.
Article comments
1 - rachelintheOC
I read your article with interest as I'm working on something similar. With the exception of Arcade Fire, I'm familiar with all of the bands; I will definitely check them out. I'm not sure I see the brilliance of Radiohead that you and everyone else seems to--will have to give them another shot; and I can honestly say that I thought that Flaming Lips album was so incredibly unlistenable that I actually broke it and tossed it--that's how frustrated I was!! I had heard they were amazing and I am to this day still perplexed by what you and others consider their brilliance--but I am happy you enjoy them. Maybe I'm just looking for something more melodic. Thanks again for a great review.
2 - Glen Boyd
Nice list, though I would probably take issue with Outkast as best hip-hop of the decade. They made two great albums (three if you count the double), and then promptly fell clean off the face of the earth.
-Glen
3 - Sahar
Some really interesting choices! And rachelintheOC, you need to get yourself Arcade Fire's CD - it's awesome :)
4 - palais1977
Glen- I can see where your coming from re. Outkast. I'm a devoted Jay-Z fan, but there is something about the loose party vibe that appeals to me.