Farewell early 00's! We still haven't even agreed on a name for you, yet.
The less said about the events spanning from January 2001 through December 2005, the better. Not a lot of beauty, and more than a lot of ugliness. It's not an era too many people are liable to feel much nostalgia for, unless it is possible to become nostalgic for bad news.
So on to the music. What are the sounds of the early 00's you will be taking with you across the threshold into the late 00's, in a little over a week?
I'm going to have to stick with what I think was the best.
You're welcome to load up on what you like.
And somehow, we'll make it through.
My criteria: I have to love the song, the artist must be vaguely relevant in some way, all genres were open, although my tastes generally run toward rock. I allow myself one shamelessly guilty pleasure. Any song qualifies, didn't matter if it was a single or not; a few favorite album cuts made the list (in most cases, that is an indication that the whole album is pretty good) Here's what sat best with me; I'm sure I didn't hear a lot of good stuff...
Readers are encouraged to nominate their own favorites of the half-decade.
The best single year of the 00's for music? 2002, by far.
A top-20 playlist of the best tunes of the first half of the 00's: 2001-2005
1. Neko Case: Things That Scare Me
Neko Case is also among the finalists for artist of the first half decade; she's managed two vital careers, solo and with the New Pornographers. She's one of the most convincing alt-country artists, unconventional and smart with an indie rock epic. "Things That Scare Me" is spooky, scary, atmospheric, and earthy in its realism; its production gives it an epic quality that doesn't intrude; her vocal is rich and assured. From her 2002 disc Blacklisted, an excellent album; Furnace Room Lullaby from 2000 and The Tigers Have Spoken from 2004 are also very good albums. All right, I'm smitten, I'll admit it.
2. Death In Vegas: Scorpio Rising
"Scorpio Rising" gets props here, even if Death In Vegas' 00's output doesn't come close to The Contino Sessions from 1999. "Scorpio Rising", the title track from their 2002 album is a jagged and jaunty psychedelic rock number, sung by guest vocalist Liam Gallagher. Chock full of backwards guitars, sinewy bass, guitar crunch, ominous lyrics, a druggy haze, real propulsion, and spit and snot, it's one of the best psychedelic rock songs in many a moon. Unfortunately, that distinction may have hurt Death In Vegas; critical response of the day was lukewarm, suggesting the underground electronica masters had taken a overground rock turn. Maybe they did; but "Scorpio Rising" can also qualify as the best Oasis-related song in nearly a decade, too.
Article comments
1 - uao
Honorable mentions (just so you know where I'm coming from):
Broadcast "Arc of a Journey" from Tender Buttons (2005); Doves: "Sky Starts Falling" from Some Cities (2005); Iron and Wine "Jezebel" from Woman King (2005); Kaiser Chefs: "Everyday i Love You Less" from Employment (2005); Morcheeba "The Antidote" from The Antidote (2005); Sgigur Ros "Gong Endir" from Takk (2005); Air "Mike Mills" from Talkie Walkie (2004); Kasabian "Cutt Off" from Kasabian(2004); Rush "The Seeker" from Feedback (2004); U2 "Vertigo" from How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004); Espers "Meadow" Espers (2003); The Chemical brothers "Setting Sun" from Dig Your Own Hole (2003); The Shins "Saint Simon" from Chutes Too Narrow (2003); Zwan "Of A Broken Heart" from Mary, Star of the Sea (2002); Pearl Jam "I Am Mine" from Riot Act (2002); Primal Scream "Some Velvet Morning" from Evil Heat (2002); T.A.T.U. "How Soon Is Now?" from 200 Km/h In The Wrong Lane (2002); Bob Dylan "Sugar Baby" from Love and Theft (2001); Eagle Eye Cherry "Been here Once Before" from Living in the Future Present (2001); Coldplay "Yellow" from Parachutes (2001); Hope Sandoval "On The Low" from Bavarian Fruit Bread (2001); Mogwai "Take Me Someplace Nice" from Literati (2001); Saul Williams "La La La" from Amethyst Rock Star (2001)
2 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
some great stuff on there, I love the DEath Cab for Cutie album and the song "Transatlanticism" - HUGE fan of Wilco, of course, and Mercury Rev since i know a few people who are/were involved.
My list would have included Lambchop, Evan Dando, Moby's "James Bond Theme" which is amazing and you need to hear it to love it, let's see, Carla Bruni (French singer) who while not normal for me, right now i'm really into europop (could it be because i'm European@!?)
I made my own list of Songs of the Moment every now and then in which i include what i'm listening to and why, and they can be from any era.
I like your list though, so cheers... don't agree with all, but there is much there and i'll check out the stuff i didn't know.
Rock on,
Sadi
3 - uao
Thank you for the well thought out reply, sadi. I'll look into some of the names you've mentioned (I used to like some of the Lemonheads' stuff, but I haven't heard Evan Dando solo). Lambchop is good, but I've never heard an entire album by them.
I picked the ones on the list to be fairly broad; I didn't want to lean too hard on one genre.
I'm still hoping some other people might mention what stood out for them this decade; I hear so many people say "I haven't heard good music in years". It's out there; it's just not always on your radio.
Thanks again!
4 - Connie Phillips
"It's out there; it's just not always on your radio."
Very true - uao. There is some good mainstream but there is a lot of great stuff off most people's radar. I've listed some of my favorites in the Blogcritics' Best of lists and in my reviews this past year.
5 - Eric Berlin
Wow, great column, uao -- you continue to highly impress! I dig on the J 5, Beck, Radiohead, and Wilco myself. "E-Pro" is great but I would choose three or four songs first, particularly "Girl."
6 - ClubhouseCancer
Great stuff on here, especially the underappreciated Rev and the gorgeous Neko. Cat Power's new album is astounding " you can download the title track for free easily on various mp3 blogs.
But, please, give up on Courtney. She's a no-talent.
7 - godoggo
I just want once again to recommend that Wilco fans (and everybody else) explore the ever-expanding discography of their recently-added guitarist Nels Cline.
Haven't heard enough recordings to make definite recommendations (though I've seen Nels live countless times over the past 15 years), however some months ago I saw an awesome gig with him as a member of the violinist Jeff Gautier Goatette, which included an amazing piece composed and conducted by Nels's former bassist Stuart Liebig, by the Goatette supplemented by the a classical woodwind - hmmm let's count (clarinet, flute, bassoon? oboe? french horn?) - quintette, I think, that was the most effective fusion of jazz, rock, contemporary classical, and free improv that I've ever heard. There's a CD now, according to the Stigsite.
Mostly this half decade for me has less about music than it has been about chronic pain, incapacitation, and multiple failed operations, just like the previous half decade, but my new orthopedic surgeon (Hello, Dr. Johnson! Goodbye, Dr. Itamura!) seems fairly confident the operation on Thursay will be the key, assuming my proximal humerus isn't dead, which I find out for sure tomorrow.
Happy Festivus.
8 - uao
Thanks for the info on Nels Cline, godoggo; his website is nice and has a generous supply of downloadable mp3's to sample his work though. I had no idea he had been around as long as he has.
You've really pointed out some useful stuff to me over the last few months; I'm very grateful.
I'm not sure what a 'proximal humerus' is (okay, just Googled it; ouch!!), but I sure do hope things go well for you too; it sure sounds like a rough bunch of years for you. Hope the new doc is the key.
9 - Scott Butki
Great list. I need to download some of those.