Day 53 - End of '09

New Year's Eve. End of a year. End of a decade. No "Best New Rock of 2009" this year though. I'd like to have made one, but there was just too much going on. I didn't have nearly the time to search for new music this year. So I was thinking what to do instead--it occured me during the last few weeks to make a list of my favorite music albums from the last decade. Turned out to be pretty fun looking back at all my music, so here's what I came up with. Some of it might surprise you. Keep in mind, these are just my favorites. I'm not going to pretend to know enough to judge the "Best" or "Most Important" albums or anything. With that said, presenting "Mark's 20 favorite Albums of the aughts":

20. Guster - Ganging Up on the Sun
Guster's latest effort took me a while to get used to, but then what Guster album didn't (see below)? The Satellite-Manifest Destiny-One Man Wrecking Machine-The Captain combo has just about everything you could ask for from a great band


19. Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head
This album was released when I was in high school, and like every other guy I refused to listen to it, well, because it's Coldplay. I'm glad I came around (Thank Viva la Vida for that). "The Scientist" got me hooked but the whole album is stellar.


18. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The first Lips album I ever heard and of any I've heard since. Does Yoshimi defeat the Pink Robots? And if so, what happens to Unit 3000-21? Listen to it and decide for yourself. Experimental and wonderful, an album with a grammy it actually deserves.


17. Keller Williams - Laugh
Although Keller is really best enjoyed live, this album comes close. Perfectly listenable even over and over. The guitar work is amazing and the songs happy and care-free.


16. The New Pornographers - Challengers
First I heard "Myriad Harbor" and loved it. Then "Challengers". Then "Adventures in Solitude". It took long enough for me to actually listen to the entire album, but it was worth it. Now I need to branch out and check out the rest of their albums.

15. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Incredible Album. I'm listening to it right now actually. I don't know what half of their lyrics are about sometimes, and other times i listen and it seems perfect. "Keep the Car Running" hits home every time, though.

14. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
The first time I listened to Muse was the song "New Born" in 10th grade. 5 years later I heard "Supermassive Black Hole" and thought it was the catchiest tune I'd heard in a while. Until I heard the rest of the album. Wonderfully political and operatic, despite not containing my favorite Muse song ("Hysteria" from Absolution), it is definitely an incredible piece of work.

13. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
One of my favorite night-time driving albums. This band is so chill it just puts me into a trance. I especially like "Soul Meets Body". The first song is especially relatable to my current situation ("If I could open my arms and span the isle of Manhattan, I'd bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson").

12. Incubus - Morning View
I love Incubus. There, I said it. It's no secret actually. It was very difficult to pick an album of theirs though. I think my two favorites were the two that are ineligible for this list (came out in the 90's). Classic tracks and brilliant lyrics. Also watch the video for "Warning". One of my favorites.

11. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
If I were to pick an Artist of the Decade, it would be Jack White. Everything he puts his hand to becomes music magic. This is just my favorite of the half-dozen or so albums he's made this decade. It's refreshing to hear pure rock when so much nowadays is so muddled, mixed up, formulaic or just plain bad.

10. Arcade Fire - Funerals
Whoa, top 10! See my comments abou Neon Bible above, only better. The Neighborhoods saga is crazy. They're so passionate about it. I don't even know what else to say. This album rocks. Uncle Stophers recommended these guys to me when this album first came out. I listened to one song and then not again for 4 years. Shame on me. Pick this one up.

9. The Fratellis - Costello Music
If you were to have spent time with me during the summer of 2007, this would be the only thing you'd have heard in my car, room or head. Pretty much embodies my last summer of college (and only summer in Athens). Provided the backdrop for an incredible trip to Virgin Festival in Baltimore. Every song is about drinking, partying and loose women. If only Here We Stand had been as impressive. First album on this list to have a #1 song from my "best of 20XX" lists.

8. The Killers - Hot Fuss
With 6 (I think) singles on a debut album, you know a band is bound for big things. Or maybe not, actually. But this band is awesome. Every song rocks. So many bands have tried to sounds just like them and while some are close, none can pull it off. If you've only heard the singles like "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside", check out some of the song "On Top" to see what I mean. "All These Things I've Done" was my #1 song from 2004.

7. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts
Probably the latest of the albums on this list, Feel Good Ghosts has everything. It's experimental, operatic and rockin' all at the same time. Great themes of clouds and weather and space and god. No other album has such uplifting songs and positive lyrics. Definitely the underdog of the decade.

6. Mae - The Everglow
There is (or was, anyway) a link on Mae's website called "What is The Everglow". I never clicked it. I didn't need to. After listening to this album once (and yes, you have to listen to it all the way through to get the whole experience) I knew what The Everglow was. The story is fantastic, emotional and perfectly paced. More of an experience than an album.

5. Red Hot Chili Pepper - Stadium Arcadium
The best double-album since Mellon Collie. Red Hot Chili Peppers are the best rock band of a generation. 28 unbeatable tunes. It was okay that RHCP went on a hiatus afterward, because this album will last longer than any other on this list

4. The Postal Service - Give Up
Wow. Actually, wow might not be the right word. This album says everything I want to say. It's perfect for long drives at night or during the day, flying on a plane or laying in bed, curing unhappiness or enhancing joy. Give Up is always the first album I put on an MP3 player, because I know I'll always want to hear it.

3. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
As Costello Music was to 2007, The Hold Steady is to 2009. Another band and album that took me a long time to come around to, The Hold Steady has quickly become one of my favorite bands. And this is the best they've made (that i've heard, anyway). Craig Finn's abrasive voice fits perfectly to the recurring characters and themes of catholicism, drugs and intrigue and make every song so deep and cryptic. The heavy and complicated riffs are addicting. In their own words "Our songs are sing-along songs!"

2. Guster - Lost and Gone Forever
My go-to album. Lost and Gone Forever took me a while to come around to, but it's now one of my favorites, period. It has a song for everything. L&GF came out when Guster was still Brian Rosenworcel was still using his hands for all the drumming (no sticks). The harmonizing is pitch-perfect and the guitar riffs are simple and beautiful. My favorite album from possibly my favorite band.

1. Green Day - American Idiot
There's no doube in my mind that this is the best album of the 'Aughts. I listened to green day a bit growing up, but in my opinion American Idiot is far-and-away their best work. It redefined them. This album gets me so worked up listening to it, to the story of "Jesus of Suburbia" as he tries to find truth, love, wisdom and a place in the world. I can talk about this album for hours (just ask keegan). Every song is just great, and when put together they make what the best rock-opera since Tommy and the best album of the last 10 years. My favorite line, is from the end of Letterbomb, when JoS is reading the letter from Whatsername: " 'You're not the Jesus of Suburbia, and St. Jimmy is a figment of your father's rage and your mother's love' Made me the idiot, America". I'm getting chills just thinking about it.





Man! Hard to choose a song after all of that. I guess i'll have to go with

Song: "Letterbomb" by Green Day

Happy New Year!
-U