(This was Published Dec. 3, 2009)
Buzz Bin Magazine’s top 40 Albums of this Decade:
Here at Buzzbin we’ve been hard at work developing algorithms and various other scientific things to bring you, our awesome readers, a top 40 list of the best albums from the past 10 years. Our scientists have taken into account record sales, critical reviews, cultural game changers and many other variables to give you all the most comprehensive (and don’t forget SCIENTIC) list ever put together by humanity.
The List:
*1. Kid A (Capitol Records, 2000) – Radiohead
Kid A marked a milestone in Radiohead’s long career, the band’s first record to debut at number one on the charts. Kid A also was the turning point for Radiohead from their Rock sound of the 90’s to the Progressive band they are today. This gem appears on countless numbers of top 10 lists and is generally touted as Radiohead’s greatest record. We, at Buzzbin, happen to agree.
*2. Love and Theft (Columbia Records, 2001) - Bob Dylan
Love and Theft continues Dylan’s musical comeback that started with 1997’s Time Out of Mind. The beauty of this album is the amount of variety Dylan packs into it. It goes from a boogie swing dance track like Summer Days to the dirty electric blues wail of Lonesome Day Blues. Dylan, in a single album, travels the spectrum of American music and he does it with grace and integrity.
*3. How the West was Won (Atlantic Records, 2003)- Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin released an album recently? Yup, they sure did! Jimmy Page took old recordings of Zeppelin’s 1972 U.S Tour, a time Page considers Zeppelin at their “artistic peak”, and compiled them into 3 disks of classic live Zeppelin. How the West features all of Zeppelin’s greatest hits in rare form. From a twenty-five minute psychedelic Dazed and Confused to a delicate Going to California, every fan of classic rock will be pleased.
*4. Elephant (V2, 2003) - The White Stripes
Remember that bass line from Seven Nation Army? Yea, this is that album. The White Stripes had loyal fans but, until this record, the critics weren’t impressed. Jack and Meg White bring on the dirty, guitar driven rock in this album with more finesse than their previous 3, totally rocking, records. And Meg even takes a stab at sitting behind the microphone. Elephant is The Stripes at their best.
*5. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope, 2004) - U2
U2 is either the most overrated band in history or they’re going to save us from the apocalypse but, the algorithms don’t lie, How to Dismantle is a great album. U2 stripped this down and took out all of the bells and whistles; it’s just pure rock and roll. U2 must have done something right, the band won eight out of the nine Grammies that they were nominated for. Good Stuff.
*6. SMiLE (Nonesuch, 2004) - Brian Wilson
If nothing else, this album gets the award for “album in development the longest”. Brian Wilson scrapped the original SMiLE project way back in 1967 after Wilson almost went crazy trying to write the music for Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow. Apparently, this album is a journey from east to west across American. Nobody ever said Brian Wilson was completely sane but, then again, nobody ever said we were either.
*7. Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below (LaFace, 2003) - OutKast
This double album is OutKast’s fifth studio album and their most successful thus far. Rather than being a single cohesive album Outkast created 2 separate solo albums for Big Boi and Andre 3000. This album made Grammy history by winning “album of the year” in 2003, making it the only album ever to win the prestigious award with a parental advisory sticker and also only the 2nd rap album in history to win.
*8. The College Dropout (Island Def Jam, 2004)- Kanye West
Love em or hate em, you can’t deny the great music that Kanye produces. Dropout was West’s first album and, arguably, his best. This album became a huge success around the world, producing 3 top 10 singles and winning a Grammy for “Best Rap Album” and nominated for 10 others. West also brings in music power houses John Legend and Jay-Z on several tracks.
*9. Modern Times (Columbia Records, 2006)- Bob Dylan
Dylan is going to be a staple in American music for a long time to come. Modern Times renewed Dylan’s status as the singer/songwriter king. It was his first #1 album since 1976 which made Bob Dylan the oldest living musician (65) to have such an honor. Modern Times is a classic mixture of blues, folk-rock and jazzy vocals. Check this out; it’s a great driving album especially if you happen to be driving down back roads in Mississippi.
*10. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warner Bros. Records, 2002) - The Flaming Lips
Wayne Coyne took The Lips from early 90’s pop sensations down a path of Technicolor and weirdness to what they are now, Technicolor-strange-progressive-ambient-pop-rock. Yoshimi combines modern recording techniques and musical production with good old school, guitar pushing musicianship. That said, this is a great headphone album. Yoshimi was also turned into a Broadway musical in 2007. What a strange trip that would be.
*11. Is This It (RCA, 2001)- The Strokes
12. Raising Sand (Rounder, 2007) - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Take rock’s #1 front man and bluegrass’s most powerful pipes and toss in T-Bone Burnett to produce it and you’ll have a Grammy winning album. Raising Sand is gentle, passionate, beautiful and so smooth. Plant and Krauss come together in silky harmonies that intoxicate your ear no matter what genre of music you prefer. This album also raised speculation about Plant’s return to Zeppelin for a reunion tour. We’re still waiting Plant…we’re still waiting.
13. Transatlanticism (Barsuk Records, 2003) - Death Cab for Cutie
14. *15. Lateralus (Volcano Entertainment, 2001) – Tool
Beware, this album might give you a 78 minute long freak out. Lateralus was Tool’s first album in six years and the hype wash huge. Amid legal troubles and bogus leaks online Tool still delivered one of the hardest rocking album experiences in the last ten years. Lateralus also ranks #1 on Digital Dream Door’s 100 Greatest Drumming Albums. This album will definitely send you on some sort of wild metal journey that you’ve never experienced before.
15. Alice (Epitaph, 2002) - Tom Waits
*16. In Rainbows (2008)- Radiohead
In Rainbows was the most anticipated album of 2008. This self-released beauty made shockwaves in the music industry with Radiohead’s “pay what you want” attitude towards the digital download. In Rainbows changed the way records were distributed to their audiences, cutting out the middle man. Musically, In Rainbows is Radiohead’s most ambitious album. Yet, it’s also Radiohead’s most subtle album. It’s quite the gem.
*17. American IV: The Man Comes Around (Universal, 2002) - Johnny Cash
The Man Comes Around is the last album released by Cash before his death in 2003. It is also Cash’s first (non-compellation) album that went gold for over 30 years. Also, The Man Comes Around won “album of the year” at the CMA Awards. The record is a mixture of covers, done in Cash’s sparse style, and original songs rarely heard before from Cash. This is a wonderful way to remember Johnny Cash.
18. Hail to the Thief (Parlophone, 2003)- Radiohead
*19. Live at the Reading (Geffen, 2009)- Nirvana
Unfortunately, Cobain didn’t grace enough of us with his presence so Nirvana released this CD/DVD combo for hungry fans around the world wanting another taste of the grunge masters. Curt whisky growls his voice and gnashes his guitar in ways that more casual fans of Nirvana may find off-putting but, damn, it just sounds so good. This is, hands down, the best live rock album of the decade.
*20. Kala (XL, 2007)- M.I.A
This British dance/alternative/hip-hop artist just happened to single handedly write the anthems for 2007. If you happen to have been living under a rock the last two years, we’ll let you in on a little secret. The song Paper Planes is the biggest pop culture phenomenon since The Slinky. Kala is a groovy mix of dance beats and political undercurrents all done in M.I.A’s signature style.
*21. 10,000 Days (Volcano, 2006)- Tool
22. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch, 2002) - Wilco
23. Rubber Factory (Fat Possum, 2004)- The Black Keys
Here’s one for the home team. Rubber Factory is The Keys’ third album and their most popular. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney recorded this volcanic album in an old tire factory, thus the name. This record gives us the duo at their most accessible. The gnarly guitar rock and perfect drumming drive this album into the top 20 of the decade.
24. Kill the Moonlight (Merge, 2002)- Spoon
*25. ( ) (Fat Cat Records, 2002) - Sigur Ros
What exactly is Sigur Ros? It’s hard to say but this album rounds out our top 25 albums of the decade. What separates this album from the rest is the dedication to the avant-garde aesthetic. Jónsi, the lead singer, sang the album’s lyrics in a completely created language he titled “Hopelandic”. ( ) combines powerful crescendos and wonderful melodies to make it, truly, one of the most beautiful albums on our list.
26. Graduation (Island Def Jam, 2002)- Kanye West
*27. Discovery (Virgin, 2001) - Daft Punk
Discovery revived Daft Punk and 80’s dance pop all in one fell swoop. It’s hard to tell if this album is poking fun at the era or embracing it with corny melodies and catchy beats. The biggest hit on this album is the, now cliché, song One More Time. Pop this baby in and crank it up and as you begin to gyrate your body like some diseased tropical fish remember how good it felt way back in March, 2001.
28. Hot Fuss (Island, 2004) - The Killers
*29. A Rush of Blood to the Head (Capitol Records, 2003) - Cold Play
A Rush of Blood is Chris Martin’s last album before he started going all falsetto on us so ,naturally, it’s the best album Cold Play has released. The events of 9/11 affected the songwriting. A Rush of Blood is much more piano oriented than Cold Play’s previous album Parachutes. The singles The Scientist and Clocks are nestled nicely in the Grammy’s “Best Alternative Album of the Year”.
30. The Blueprint (Island Def Jam, 2001) - Jay Z
31. Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic, 2004) - Modest Mouse
32. American Idiot (Reprise, 2004) - Green Day
33. Phrenology (Geffen, 2002)- The Roots
34. Demon Days (Virgin, 2005)- Gorillaz
35. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (Saddle Creek, 2005)- Bright Eyes
36. Continuum (Columbia Records, 2006)- John Mayer
37. Franz Ferdinand (Domino, 2004)- Franz Ferdinand
38. Food and Liquor (Atlantic, 2006)- Lupe Fiasco
39. Living with War (Reprise, 2006) – Neil Young
40. At War with the Mystics (Warner Bros. Records, 2006)- The Flaming Lips
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