Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (recap)

25. Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills (2001)
24. White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
23. Strokes - Is This It (2001)
22. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
21. Decemberists - The Crane Wife (2006)
20. Beulah - Yoko (2003)
19. James - Pleased to Meet You (2001)
18. The National - Boxer (2007)
17. Bright Eyes - Lifted... (2002)
16. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer (2008)
15. Broken Social Scene - s/t (2005)
14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)
13. Superchunk - Here's to Shutting Up (2001)
12. Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (2002)
11. Wilco - A Ghost is Born (2004)
10. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
09. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (2007)
08. Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)
07. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam (2007)
06. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
05. Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree (2005)
04. Destroyer - Rubies (2006)
03. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)
02. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
01. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

2000: 1
2001: 4
2002: 4
2003: 3
2004: 2
2005: 3
2006: 2
2007: 3
2008: 2
2009: 0

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (5-1)

5. Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree (2005)

The Mountain Goats' fifth release (of nine) of the decade is surely their most anthem-worthy. "This Year" is the anthem for naive party-child. "Up the Wolves" is for the punched-in-the-gut. "Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod" is for the lost child. "Pale Green Things" is for the redeemed. If none of these songs speak to you, then you have not experienced life.


4. Destroyer - Rubies (2006)

This is one very effortless album. At least that's how it sounds. However, the more you listen to these songs, the more complex it becomes. This is one of the wordiest albums I have ever heard. Years after first listen I still find myself surprised every time I hear it. Because of this, Rubies is probably the most rewarding album of the decade. I don't know how many times I have listened to Rubies, but I never get bored with it. It is an absolutely perfect album


3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)

At first glance, this is one of the most daunting albums I have in my collection. 74 minutes of state history? However, I am actually sad when this album ends. It's not nearly long enough. Extremely complex and infinitely rewarding, this album is just as good now as it was when it was first released. I hadn't listened to this album in quite a while before this week, and I think I like it even better now. Now Sufjan, please release another!


2. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

Endlessly bizarre. Just as meek as it is huge. This follow-up to OK Computer could very easily fail, but this may be Radiohead's greatest album. It is for me. It's like Radiohead's Sgt. Pepper. A band at the peak of their popularity releases a massively weird album, and knocks it out of the park. Nearly a decade later, it still holds up as a weird album, but also a masterpiece. I have always been disturbed by the content of this album, and it seriously impacted me at its release. Listening to it now, I find it just as impactful. The timeline I live in often seems slightly skewed from the modern world. I often feel out of touch with the speed of technology and the speed life in this world. That disjointed way of living is what I hear in Kid A. How do you live a life filled with ever-changing advancements and not feel disconnected? Life is non-linear now. Even modern social networking is life in a virtual world. It's disorienting. It's disconnected in a connected world. That is what Kid A is.


1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

So how could this not be my favorite album of the decade? I mean, Wilco is my favorite band. They were my favorite band for half of the previous decade too. I like for music to challenge me as a listener. I don’t like predictable things. I like music as art. All of this is displayed perfectly on this album. And the songs are just wonderfully constructed. And chaotic. The recording of this music is a landmark in studio usage. And beyond simply how strong the music is, this album is the most important album of the decade. It has shown how important the album as a package is, even if it did help usher in the music-as-download era. Albums still work. The album is not dead. Artists will not starve, even as their music is stolen. Everything will be just fine. It’s a defiant moment in music history. Any album that can define a generation of art, and still just be good to hear, will live on forever. This album is this decade. That’s all.

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Well that's all I got. As I have been working on this for the past month+, I have been re-listening to many of these albums. I also noticed that not all that were on my original list held up over time, so I have listened to a lot of music lately with a purpose. When I finished listening to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot today, I felt a little lost. It was weird to just find something random that sounded good and not focus on it like a project. (I ended up listening to Destroyer's Your Blues and am now listening to The Most Serene Republic's And the Ever Expanding Universe).

This decade saw me at my musical highest... at least listening to music. Now that the decade is almost over, I'm just buying music to buy it. It's my goal right now to slow down and just focus on music that I know I love. This project has helped me focus my attention inward. There's something far more satisfying to re-discover music I already own, rather than discover something I don't own. It's cheaper too, and that's nice.

That said, I'm very proud of my collection. And I'm very happy to have such a vast collection of music that allows me to rediscover stuff for a very long time. So while I close this project out, I want to throw out some of the albums I considered and for this list. So my apologies to Love Songs for Patriots, Noble Beast, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Person Pitch, I Am a Bird Now, National Anthem of Nowhere, You Forgot it in People, Let it Die, The Reminder, New Magnetic Wonder, Neon Bible, Sea Change, The Life Pursuit, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle, The Letting Go, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, Fevers & Mirrors, Smile, A Rush of Blood to the Head, Heartbreaker, Gold, Your Blues, Electric Version, Twin Cinema, Bitte Orca, Gorillaz, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Black Sheep Boy, The Stage Names, Return to the Sea, Night Falls Over Kortedala, the last Songs: Ohia (or is it the first Magnolia Electric Co.?), Dragonslayer, Apologies to the Queen Mary, Cellar Door, American III-V, Sound of Silver, Loose Fur, i, The Moon & Antarctica, Good News for People That Love Bad News, Population, Tallahassee, Alligator, Abatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, Hissing Fauna, Give Up, Amnesiac, In Rainbows, Wincing the Night Away, A River Ain't Much to Love, Dear Science, Our Endless Numbered Days, Michigan, Seven Swans, You & Me, any Spoon album not called Kill the Moonlight, and of course I Am Not Afraid of You and Will Beat Your Ass. I love you all and thanks for helping through my third decade.

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (10-6)

10. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

I really didn't care for the Flaming Lips suddenly crowd-pleasing tendencies this decade, and I should probably blame this album for that. However, there is way too much to love about this album that I can't help but love it. It's a perfect follow-up to their masterpiece, The Soft Bulletin. It's not at all understated or apologetic, and it's "the world is ending, but that's okay" themes make for the most melancholy party of the decade. It's brilliant, and the Flaming Lips are a brilliant band.


9. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (2007)

This is the one I forgot. I still don't know how I forgot it because this album really overtook my life for a long period. And even now, it overtakes me when I hear it. It's a complete album. The first thing you'll take notice of is the great upbeat songs that dominate the first half of the album. However, with repeated listens, you'll notice just how remarkable the slower second half of the album is too. Musical perfection.


8. Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)

As soft as this album is, it is probably the ballsiest album of the decade. Sure it's gorgeous. It's overwhelming at times in its sweeping beauty. However, realize that Joanna Newsom plays a harp, has an extremely unique voice, and wrote a massive album with five nine-plus minute songs (including one at seventeen minutes). That's ballsy.


7. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam (2007)

There have been plenty of freakout bands that broke out the latter half of the decade, but nobody has been a big as Animal Collective. This album (combined with Panda Bear's Person Pitch) helped usher this band in as the godfathers of the freakout scene. It wasn't their first popular album, but it was their most accessible. Sure it's still weird stuff, but it's a less difficult album to listen to every time you hear it.


6. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

The Arcade Fire has been this decade’s most important band with only two albums. Impressive. They are like this decade’s Neutral Milk Hotel, but they don’t seem destined to prematurely dissolve. You can probably make the argument that the Arcade Fire did more for indie music than any other band. This decade might be the decade of the backlash, and the Arcade Fire is a major victim of backlash. It’s all very unfortunate however because the Arcade Fire is a near-perfect band.

((ALMOST THERE!!))

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (15-11)

15. Broken Social Scene - s/t (2005)

While You Forgot it in People was a quiet and understated album, their self-titled follow-up was like an explosion. I guess that could count in more ways than one. The band was less of a secret after this album. Feist found huge success solo. Broken Social Scene became less of a band and more of a brand, but still have always kept their indie cred... because they are still an indie band after all.


14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)

In this new world, everybody can be a guru. Some artists stand out from the bloggers (James Murphy?). But amongst the congestion we can still find the older-aged gurus like Tom Waits and Nick Cave going strong. The biggest difference between these two is that Tom Waits is fine as he is, and Nick Cave will never settle. On this album Nick Cave sounds like a reverend wanting to party as the world ends. Sounds fun.


13. Superchunk - Here's to Shutting Up (2001)

This album really stands out in the Superchunk discography for two reasons. First of all, it sounds completely different than any other release they have. The sound textures they had been toying with in the previous decade are much more prevalent here. It works beautifully too. And it’s mature. It’s the most mature Superchunk album. Secondly, this is the last proper Superchunk album. They are still together, and just started releasing new material, but this is the last album they put out. Hopefully they will put out a new album soon because this album left me wanting much, much more.


12. Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (2002)

When you talk about the most important bands of the decade, Spoon has to be considered. Album after album their allegance keeps growing. Everybody has a favorite Spoon album, and nobody would be wrong with their choice. This just happens to be my favorite Spoon album.


11. Wilco - A Ghost is Born (2004)

Jim O’Rourke’s partnership with Wilco was arguably the best and most important producer-artist relationship of the decade. While Yankee Hotel Foxtrot featured O’Rourke, that was a Wilco album. On A Ghost is Born, however, the partnership is much more prevalent. “Hell is Chrome” would be a perfect fit on any of O’Rourke’s Drag City releases. Okay, so this album is great. Everything about it is great. It’s a little pretentious at times, but it’s art. The songs are so strong that they are pure art on record, and some of the best music I heard live this year. In fact, it took hearing these songs live to truly understand this album.

((MORE SOON!!))

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (20-16)

20. Beulah - Yoko (2003)

This is the last Beulah album. And listening to this album, you know that it's the last Beulah album. It's unfortunate that Beulah is no more, but at least they went out with the highest note they had as a band.


19. James - Pleased to Meet You (2001)

Ah memories. I don't know what else I can say about this album without just defending it. It's not like this album is well-known, even among James fans. But I just love this album, and that's all I can say. The return of Brian Eno is exactly what James needed, and they killed it on this album. It's may be James' most underrated album, and it deserves more attention than it has received.


18. The National - Boxer (2007)

The most cozy album of the decade. Something about this album just makes me very comfortable. Everything will be okay while you listen to this album. This is the sound of summer Friday nights. It's all romantic. It's all sweet. Just thinking about how beautiful this album is will change your day.


17. Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)

I know I give Conor Oberst plenty of shit, but I cannot deny how excellent he was in Bright Eyes' prime. This album is nearly perfect, and maybe that's why I can't stand Conor now. This was his peak. The self-destruction was so genuine on this album. It was beautiful to hear. So many bands this decade wanted to flaunt how self-destructive they were, but there was no flaunting on this album. It just was, and it was great.


16. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer (2008)

Quite possibly the most underrated album of the decade. While their debut got plenty of attention in 2005, this album barely caused a blip last year. It's unfortunate because this is one truly amazing album. There is no way you cannot get into a song like "California Dreamer." And "Kissing the Beehive" closing the album is by and far one of the best songs in years. It's a crime that this album isn't defended more, and it gets better every time I listen to it.

((MORE SOON!!))

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (25, again)

I made a very serious error while compiling this list. I completely forgot about one of my favorite albums. Not just any favorite albums, but like one of my favs ever! In fact, when I was just thinking about this list I was thinking about where to put this album. It's just that I completely didn't think when I was pulling albums out of my shelves to work on this.

Now because of this (and indecision), I've reordered things slightly. The only album so far this affects is Yo La Tengo's I Am Not Afraid of You and Will Beat Your Ass. That album now comes in at 26. So I guess I can make this my favorite 26 albums of the decade.

As I said before, this whole list was extremely difficult to put together. There were quite a few albums that were close, but not quite there (Gold, Twin Cinema, A Rush of Blood to the Head to name a few). Actually some of these were originally on this list but I was less thrilled listening to them for the first time in years.

So anyways, let me get things straightened out again for the last time. This album, by the way, was not the album I forgot...


25. Guided By Voices - Isolation Drills (2001)

GBV went through a very short-lived phase at the turn of the century while they were on TVT Records: They sounded like an actual band. It worked too. It's not necessarily the best era of their career, but it really sounded great. This phase also rang in the final era of GBV. Oh lord, not the end of Robert Pollard's songwriting career though. However, the last truly great thing he put together was this album. It's not necessarily a great GBV album, but it's just a great album.

Sunless Shortlist: Best of 2000's (25-21)

This is a daunting list, but here we go. I just had to do this.

This list is for the most important decade of my life. It's my twentieth decade... no wait, my second decade. My twenties. I turned 20 this decade. And 21. And 29.

I also lived in four cities in three states. I got a nephew. And a niece. I went to Seattle. I totaled my car. Broke my neck. Then bought a couple more cars. I swam in the ocean for the first time. Touched a jellyfish... gross. Got a Playstation 2. Then got a Playstation 3. And a Wii. Got and lost Huxley. And Daniel. Still have Sophie and Mika, though. I also got really into running. Then I got really lazy again. Then again. Then again. I really broke down with technology, got a digital camera and an iPod. I went to DC for the first time. And went back a million more times. I got engaged. It's been pretty nice.

I also bought a shit ton of music this decade. Like a ridiculous amount of music. That's why this list was so daunting. I have changed this list a million times, so I figured I better go ahead and start posting and second guess myself later. Which I will. I'm going to post this in sections. As I go through this list, I've been listening to every album again. Being that I work a lot, and have a relationship at home, and there are only so many hours in the day, it's been a slow process. And it will be a slow process. But I think the list is set now. I think.

So I'll begin. This is the 2000s. Or was. Or the two-thousands. Or aughts, right? Or the oh-ohs. Whatever this decade was called. Or is, I guess...


25. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (2006)

Epic. Everything about this album is epic. Yo La Tengo is famous for their 10+ minute guitar shreiks, and this album starts with one of their best. As if that wasn't enough, the album ends with one that's even better. Epic. Even the intermission at the center of the album is almost 9 minutes. With the length of this album, it's amazing that it never gets boring. Every song skews a musical genre, and makes it a Yo La Tengo song.


24. The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)

There are plenty of bands that appeared this decade that had some flashes of brilliance, but now seem dismissible. Some of those bands appear on this list. The White Stripes do not fall into this category. Jack White's personality falls into this category. No matter what your thoughts on his celebrity, or Meg White's terrible drumming, you cannot deny this band's impact on this decade. This album is the best example of who the White Stripes are. There isn't much experimentation here, and the sound they use is best exemplified in these songs. Plus the best videos of the decade came from this album. So there.


23. The Strokes - Is This It (2001)

The Strokes were the first hype band of the decade. I tend to start the backlash against hype bands before they are even released. This is definitely the case with the Strokes. I really, really wanted to hate the Strokes. Thankfully, I took a chance with this album and loved it. The other problem with hype bands is their value over time. Well I listened to this album again as I was making this list and it still holds up just fine. I'd rather listen to the Velvet Underground, but still not bad for the present wannabe equivalent. That wasn't a burn, by the way. I don't think.


22. Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)

As I have been working on this list, I have been listening to many albums I know I once loved. Quite a few of these don't exactly hold up over time. Maybe it's my change in taste, and often it's just that the music wasn't as strong as I once thought. I didn't expect to appreciate this album as much as I once did, and I am stunned that I do. Death Cab is definitely not my thing anymore, but I'm glad I'm mature enough to understand good music when I hear it. This is really, really good music.


21. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (2006)

This album took my life over during the fall of 2006. Even now this album reminds me of the fall. I guess it's hitting me perfectly all over again. I had worn this music out, and now it's like I'm hearing it again for the first time. And it still reminds me of the fall. And it's just great.

((MORE SOON!!))