Patrick's Best of the Decade

Happy New Years everyone! As I reflect on the decade in music I think about how my relationship with music has changed so dramatically over the past ten years. Coming out of high school I thought I was into music because I really liked Weezer and Rage Against the Machine. What followed was a series of transitions: going to college, studying abroad, my senior year of college (and living with Paul Jackson and his NME bias), doing JVC, moving to Seattle, going to grad school, moving back to Seattle, getting married. At each of these transitions, I can think about the music that captures those moments. In many ways a best of the decade list makes more sense than the year end list, because it offers more perspective. There are many albums I got into a year or two too late. Looking back over my previous Paulies I saw selections that I ranked too high (Crystal Castles) and others that have grown on me (LCD Soundsystem). Yes, music has changed too, the biggest being how it's all digital (mp3, iPods, Napster, blah, blah, blah). One could make the case that Girl Talk is the artist of the decade. iTunes have given me a way to organize and put my music in one place, which I appreciate. But at the same time I don't sit and listen to a full album as often as I should. Hell, I don't even own a cd player anymore! But I love a good album. Something that I can obsess over. Something that I can go back to and find something new. Something that takes me back to a memory or time. With that being said, here are my top 25.

1. The Strokes: Is This It? (2001)
Hands down number one. No other album better captures this decade for me. A flawless album.

2. Radiohead: Kid A (2000)
I'm a reluctant Radiohead fan, but I must admit they're one of the best bands of all time. Following up with one of the best album of the 90s, Kid A does it all. Let me go on the record and say the bass line in National Anthem is the greatest bass line in music. I would give them band of the decade nod. I must also apologize for not liking In Rainbows as much as I should have originally. However, Hail to the Thief was nothing special and everyone who had that album on top in 2003 is crazy.

3. The Arcade Fire: funeral (2004)
Still love it.

4. Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It In People (2003)
Listen to it again. Do it.

5. Interpol: Turn on The Bright Lights (2002)
I listened to this album so much my senior year of college. Paul, thank you for introducing me and taking me to their show. Remember how cool they once were? Carlos D wore a gun holster without a gun for God's sake.

6. The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (2003)
How was this album made? It's like it just appeared out of the blue into my life. It's an album that feels it was made just for me. The Islands have not been able to live up to this.

7. TV on the Radio: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004)
A good way to measure your favorite bands is to look at what songs you put on mix tapes. Staring at the Sun goes on most mixes I make for people.

8-10 Tie. Animal Collective: Feels (2005)
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
Panda Bear: Person Pitch (2007)
This is my cop out approach to these three very different albums. Sometime around 2007 I realized I became a big AC fan. I'm not entirely sure how this happened.

11. LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver (2007)
I liked this album at first listen, but I didn't fully appreciate it until a year later. Many try to match James Murphy, but LCD Soundsystem is the best of their class.

12. The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004)
This is what I wrote in 2004: " I may be a sucker for a concept album, but this is really such a good story. I mean it starts out with a guy not being able to return a dvd and what happens when you lose a thousand quid, but evolves into dealing with relationships and friendships. There are some beautiful songs as well as some fun ones. It may not be your cup of tea, but I love it."

13. Daft Punk: Discovery (2001)
One of the best live shows of the decade.

14. DJ Danger Mouse: The Grey Album (2004)
It's odd to me to hear songs from the Black Album without Beatles samples.

15. Outkast: Stankonia (2000)
For all the BC people in the crowd, how on earth did we manage to get them to come to our campus? This was after Ms. Jackson blew up.

16. Modest Mouse: The Moon and Antarctica (2000)
Didn't know them at the time this came out, but have grown to love this album.

17. The Hold Steady: Boys and girls in America (2006)
Craig Finn: still makin' BC proud.

18. Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury (2006)
Interesting fact about me, I like to wash dishes to this album.

19. Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer (2007)
I loved, loved, loved this album in 2007.

20. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (2009)
In five years will this album be higher or lower on my best of the 2000s list?

21. Joanna Newsome: The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004)
Did anyone see the music video for MGMT's kids? It's a pretty creepy/funny video, but Joanna Newsome is it.

22. Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours (2008)
This one flew under the radar for me, but it's worth another listen. I would give it best of 2008 if I could change it.

23. El Perro Del Mar: El Perro del Mar (2006)
So sad, so beautiful.

24. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
I'm probably putting this here out of obligation, but it's still good and represents the decade.

25. White Stripes: White Blood Cells (2001)
I'm probably putting this here out of obligation, but it's still good and represents the decade.

There you go. There are my top 25 of the 2000s. There are only three artist on my list that I haven't seen live: DJ Danger Mouse (or the Beattles or Jay-Z to be fair), Clipse, and the White Stripes. In addition to listening to great music this decade, I also saw so much great music. That could be a whole other post and I've already written enough. I look forward to seeing other people's list and any comments you have of mine.

Later,
Patrick