As some people may or may not know I used to be a writer/editor for the now-defunct (and goofily named) music webzine,
RockingtheScene.com as well as a writer for the music section of
The Daily Orange. It has been awhile since I have done any editorial music writing so I am going to use this blog to fill the void left by posting a list of my favorite albums of the decade. I have also included links to mp3s, music videos and live performances I found on the web of some of my favorite tracks from each. Enjoy!
01
Piebald -
We Are The Only Friends We Have (2002)
"
Just A Simple Plan" (Video)
Applying a numerical ranking to art always seems like a strange thing to me. That being said, I would easily put this right behind Weezer's Blue Album as my favorite album of all time. It is flawless beginning to end and really seems to capture everything I love about music.
02
Death Cab For Cutie -
Transatlanticism (2003)
"
The Sound Of Settling" (mp3)
Transatlanticism reminds me of a building. 906 Ackerman Avenue in Syracuse, NY in the dead of Winter 03/04 to be more specific. Lyrically, it hit me like a ton of bricks and as "he's totally speaking to ME!" as it sounds it mirrored a lot that I was experiencing at the time. When a similar situation happened with a track on
Plans I had to tell Ben Gibbard to stop reading my diary.
03
Cursive -
The Ugly Organ (2003)
"
A Gentleman Caller" (mp3)
I feel like this song shows every color of the insane spectrum used to paint this record. Truly Cursive at their peak.
BringbackGrettaCohn.com.
04
Sigur Ros -
() (2002)
"
Untitled 1" (Video - Live on Carson Daly)
"
Untitled 4" (mp3)
I could type volumes but it would not compare to viewing the video linked above.
05
Ratatat -
Ratatat (2004)
"
Seventeen Years" (mp3)
Hip-hop beats? Brian May guitars? Instrumental music that feels like it was created specifically for my ear drums.
06
Bright Eyes -
Lifted...Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground (2002)
"
Let's Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and To Be Loved)" (Streaming audio)
I let my friend Justin borrow this a few days after I picked it up and he gave it back to me with a scratch. Thanks Justin. Fortunately the epic folk song linked above was unaffected.
07
Midtown -
Save The World, Lose The Girl (2000)
"
Just Rock And Roll" (Video)
Fact: I was a member of the Midtown street team when this record was out.
08
Tegan & Sara -
The Con (2007)
"
Call It Off" (Video - Live on Letterman)
Whenever I listen to an album for the first time I will generally wait at least a day to spin it again in order to not burn myself on it too soon and to let it really soak in. After hearing the album closer "Call It Off" I lasted about 6 seconds before hitting play again.
09
Say Anything -
...Is A Real Boy (2004)
"
Alive With The Glory Of Love" (mp3)
I remember reading about this album before it was released and being extremely intrigued by the concept. I heard a few tracks and was immediately put off by the vocals but when I received a copy to review in the mail it gradually grew on me and I all but wore it out.
10
New Found Glory -
New Found Glory (2000)
"
Hit Or Miss" (Video)
Fact: There is a VHS tape somewhere in my house with the above video recorded from MTV.
11
Saves The Day -
Stay What You Are (2001)
"
Firefly" (Streaming audio)
"
At Your Funeral" (mp3)
I bought this album because a lame girl I was into at the time told me to. Silver linings, my friends.
12
Criteria -
When We Break (2005)
"
Prevent The World" (mp3)
This band, record and song are criminally underappreciated and I have absolutely no idea why. Please take a listen and change that.
13
Weezer -
Weezer (The Green Album) (2001)
"
Don't Let Go" (Video - Live AOL Sessions)
I'd be remiss not to include an album from my favorite band and though there are many with their feet firmly planted in the "Weezer should have stopped after
Pinkerton" camp I am a lover and appreciator of all of their albums. This concise (10 songs in just over 28 minutes) record is intentionally formulaic and that is part of the reason I think it is so great.
14
Bright Eyes -
Fevers And Mirrors (2000)
"
Something Vague" (mp3)
The first time I heard this song was when
Amanda Rogers covered it at a show in Syracuse, NY at Armory High. Thank you, Amanda for being my gateway to a beautiful album. P.S. Please record your cover at some point.
15
Ryan Adams -
Heartbreaker (2000)
"
Come Pick Me Up" (mp3)
I was admittedly way late to the party on Ryan Adams but I am sure glad
Heartbreaker didn't pass me by. Not to make a bad pun with the all too appropriate title but this album is truly heartbreaking.
Feel free to post back with your take on any of the albums/songs above or with some of your favorites from the past decade!
- matt.