The Best Albums Of The Decade: #1 - Saturday Night

MP3: The Bear Quartet - Birds Are Singing Deep Within the Greenery

#1 - The Bear Quartet - Saturday Night
A West Side Fabrication 2005

Matt On Saturday Night:

The middle of the decade, saw, unbeknownst to itself, it's musically defining moment. Largely neglected by most of the world, The Bear Quartet had constantly been getting better in their previous 15 years as a band, and when Saturday Night appeared, it signaled a change. Elements that would not work on their own do as a whole. Where music dared to tread in the early part of the decade it went, and whereas music in the latter half attempted to poorly imitate this masterpiece.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #1 - Master and Everyone

MP3: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Wolf Among Wolves

#1 - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Master and Everyone
Drag City Records 2003

Joey On Master and Everyone:

"Master and Everyone" is the album I judge any Will Oldham record on. There isn't much to be said as a whole because the music really speaks for itself, but the time and place that created it birthed a bloom of perfection in my soul that probably can never be replicated, but that's okay: all I need is this, forever and ever.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #2 - Alice

MP3: Tom Waits - Fish and Bird

#2 - Tom Waits - Alice
Anti Records 2002

Matt On Alice:

Released over a decade after its inception (due to the masters being stolen) perhaps might have made Alice even better. Originally a score, it's contextual separation from that event allowed the album to form its own visuals for the listener, and such a world that only Tom Waits can create. Our imaginations were always where a record such as this is meant to live.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #2 - Out Of The Fierce Parade

MP3: The Velvet Teen - Radiapathy

#2 - The Velvet Teen - Out Of The Fierce Parade
Slowdance Records 2002

Joey On Out Of The Fierce Parade:

This album changed my life completely. And I don't mean listening to it. I mean I never would've left Connecticut, made the connections I made or anything without the existence of this album. For that it will always be special, but musically it is so perfect it only adds to the myth of it for me. And for the record, I would like the closing song "Death" to be played at my funeral.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #3 - Springtime Can Kill You

MP3: Jolie Holland - Mexican Blue

#3 - Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You
Anti Records 2006

Joey On Springtime Can Kill You:

I was a pretty casual fan of Jolie Holland until "Springtime Can Kill You" came out and caused me to re-evaluate her back catalogue. It's such timeless music that again I can never see myself hating at any point in my life. "Mexican Blue" might be the saddest song ever written.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #3 - Let It Come Down

MP3: Spiritualized - Don't Just Do Something

#3 - Spiritualized - Let It Come Down
Arista Records 2001

Matt On Let It Come Down:

Grandiose opulence is what Jason Pierce aimed for, and such is what he got. On what is his most hopeful album, and most beautiful. The songs within contain so much depth, it takes tens—maybe hundreds—of listens to begin unravelling the web of beauty.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #4 - My Gods

MP3: Laakso - True Love

#4 Laakso - My Gods
V2 Records 2005

Matt On Mclusky Do Dallas:

On their second album, the Laakso finally came into their own. Mixing their pop sensibilities with noisy, angular indie rock complimented Markus Krunegård's self-depricating lyrics better than before. The music is tense and dark, making that step from autumn into the cold Swedish winter.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #4 - What's For Dinner?

MP3: The King Khan & BBQ Show - Why Don't You Lie?

#4 - The King Khan & BBQ Show - What's For Dinner?
In The Red Records 2006

Joey On What's For Dinner?:

Another game changer for me. Real dirty with plenty of doo-wop and rollicking punk something or others. Fuck yeah!

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #5 - Let Go

MP3: Nada Surf - Killian's Red

#5 - Nada Surf - Let Go
Barsuk Records 2003

Joey On Let Go:

Nada Surf were good but they got great and reached a peak with "Let Go" that I don't know they've ever reached again. A perfect album and one that got me out of the gutter of growing up on what Connecticut calls "music". Gross.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #5 - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus

MP3: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - O Children

#22 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Mute Records 2004

Matt On Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus:

After the uneven (in Cave/Seeds standards) Nocturama, the Bad Seeds reconvened and this was the result. A refocusing found them reaching highs (and loudness) that they had not done prior.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #6 - Let's Get Free

MP3: Dead Prez - I'm A African

#6 - Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
Loud Records 2000

Matt On Let's Get Free:

Nary two months into the decade, this debut was a statement to the world. Mixing leftist politics with amazing beats and flows, Dead Prez released what has since become one of the best hip-hop albums of all-time.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #6 - When

MP3: Vincent Gallo - Yes I'm Lonely

#6 - Vincent Gallo - When
Warp Records 2001

Joey On When:

The loneliest record I ever heard. It's so magical and cold, stuck between the window and the bed at the night. I remember so much when I hear this record and it's probably why I can only do it so often. But it is very great and when I can do it, there is nothing I'd rather be doing.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #7 - Unonou

MP3: Danava - Where Beauty & Terror Dance

#7 - Danava - Unonou
Kemado Records 2008

Joey On Unonou:

Solid record is metal goodness, kind of prog, all sorts of amazing. Danava was a shining star this decade, and I am grateful for them. Also maybe the best show I ever saw.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #7 - Spirit Stereo Frequency

MP3: All Night Radio - Oh, When

#7 - All Night Radio - Spirit Stereo Frequency
Sub Pop Records 2004

Matt On Spirit Stereo Frequency:

Coming out of the ashes of Beachwood Sparks, Farmer Dave Scher and Jimi Hey collaborated on what was one of the best psychedelic pop albums in years. Ebbing and flowing every instrument used, as well as the samples, they have created mind-bending subdued music seldom seen this side of Spacemen 3.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #8 - Supreme Clientele

MP3: Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids

#8 - Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
Sony 2000

Matt On Supreme Clientele:

The sophomore slump was thrown off Mount Everest on this one. Tony Starks delievered an epic 21 Burroughsesque view of the world barely two months into the decade, and, almost ten years later, the world is still trying to decipher it.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #8 - Wonderful Rainbow

MP3: Lightning Bolt - On Fire

#8 - Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow
Load Records 2004

Joey On Wonderful Rainbow:

It's fair to say my life changed entirely once I heard and got into Lightning Bolt. The sounds, the art, everything about them was completely mind melting and inspiring. "Wonderful Rainbow" is the best of the bunch, but they're all winners.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #9 - Spirit Stereo Frequency

MP3: All Night Radio - Daylight Till Dawn

#9 - All Night Radio - Spirit Stereo Frequency
Sub Pop Records 2004

Joey On Spirit Stereo Frequency:

Half of Beachwood Sparks doing the best drugs and hitting a whole other plane. They created and quickly destroyed a universe of endless possibility, one that is unique and special. I bet DMT elves helped shape this one, I swear it.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #9 - At Dawn

MP3: My Morning Jacket - Phone Went West

#9 - My Morning Jacket - At Dawn
Darla Records 2001

Matt On At Dawn:

One would think that the connector album between The Tennessee Fire and It Still moves would be awkward, but in true My Morning Jacket fashion it's an ethereal twilight trip through an Ozark-like countryside—and the one that put them on the map.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #10 - Penance Soirée

MP3: The Icarus Line - On the Lash

#10 - The Icarus Line - Penance Soirée
V2 Records 2004

Matt On Penance Soirée:

On Penance Soirée, The Icarus Line, thirty years after the release of Raw Power, picked up where The Stooges left off. Thirteen noisy, brutally loud rock and roll songs, oozing sex and violence in every note. Yet, in our times, an album like this is unfortunately an anomaly instead of the norm.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #10 - Madvillainy

MP3: Madvillain - Meat Grinder

#10 - Madvillain - Madvillainy
Stones Throw Records 2004

Joey On Madvillainy:

Duh.