The Saintpaulista Music Club / The Electric Tapes
Chris Tures' tumbling blog. Music, movies, writing, Saintpaulista propaganda, and word-nerdery.
The Best* 111 Albums of the Decade
Inspired by my co-worker and fellow audiophile, Mister JT Williams, I have compiled a list of what I think to be the best 111 albums of the past ten years (2000-2009). As much as I’d like this to be a universal guide - say an alien came to earth and said “What’s the best representation of the best music from this era?” this probably wouldn’t be the most accurate list. However, the alien probably wouldn’t be any the wiser, so I would give it this list and be all like “This list. Right here. The best.”
Yes, I play favorites. But I think it’s still honest. It is certainly flawed. It took about 6 hours to select (narrowing down from 199 was a pain) and order (which is still a bit loose outside of the top 25). I’m an Allmusic guy rather than a Pitchfork guy, though i reference both when i look for new stuff). It was a trip down memory lane and i tried my best to stick to what stands the test of time rather than what is just flat-out nostalgic. I feel good about it.
What it comes down to is these are my favorites. And i genuinely believe this is the best of the decade - that i’ve heard at least. Albums that play from open to close stronger than a water buffalo on viagra. The key factor was consistency. Albums that I love. Albums that, if I was stuck on a desert island, I could be happy being limited to. These are the best, in my humble opinion. It’s been a really marvelous decade for music.
I didn’t include compilations, reissues or soundtracks that didn’t consist of original music. No, Garden State is not on here. I recognize that it’s rock-heavy. And looking over it, that makes sense - I’m a rock dude. Always have been - or at least have been for the past 10 years.
I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you make your own. You can see JT’s list at Jtismo.tumblr.com
1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
2. Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight (2008)
3. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (2002)
4. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
5. At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command (2000)
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
7. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2003)
8. TV on the Radio - Dear Science (2008)
9. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Behind the Music (2002)
10. Murder City Devils - In Name and Blood (2000)
11. Iron and Wine - Woman King (2005)
12. Beck - Sea Change (2002)
13. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (2005)
14. The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium (2003)
15. CocoRosie - La Maison de Mon Rev (2004)
16. Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak (2005)
17. …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart(2005)
18. Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas (2002)
19. Sigur Ros - ( ) (2001)
20. Parts and Labor - Receivers (2008)
21. Barry Adamson - Back to the Cat (2008)
22. Burial - Archangel (2008)
23. Ween - Quebec (2003)
24. Psapp - The Only Thing I Ever Wanted (2006)
25. The Libertines - Up the Bracket (2002)
26. The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (2005)
27. Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun (2000)
28. The Hives - Veni Vidi Vicious
29. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes (2004)
30. Hank III - Straight to Hell (2006)
31. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell (2005)
32. Tomahawk - Mit Gas (2003)
33. Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
34. Sleater Kinney - All Hands on the Bad One (2000)
35. My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (2006)
36. Ween - White Pepper (2000)
37. Chocolate Genius - Godmusic (2001)
38. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine (2004)
39. Mogwai - Rock Action (2001)
40. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)
41. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero (2007)
42. System of a Down - Toxicity (2001)
43. A Band of Bees - Sunshine Hit Me (2002)
44. Clinic - Walking With Thee (2002)
45. The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We Are Gone? (2003)
46. Johnny Cash - American IV: When the Man Comes Around (2002)
47. The Roots - Phrenology (2002)
48. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around the World (2002)
49. The Black Keys - Thickfreakness (2003)
50. Cat Power - You Are Free (2003)
51. The Knife - Deep Cuts (2006)
52. Killswitch Engage - End of Heartache (2004)
53. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003)
54. TV on the Radio - Young Liars (2003)
55. Cody Chesnutt - The Headphone Masterpiece (2002)
56. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times (2007)
57. Mastodon - Leviathan (2004)
58. Tom Waits - Real Gone (2004)
59. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
60. Jose Gonzales - Veneer (2006)
61. Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze (2005)
62. The Decemberists - Piquaresque (2005)
63. Requiem for a Dream Soundtrack (2000)
64. Low - The Great Destroyer (2005)
65. Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic (2005)
66. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
67. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin Vol. 1 (2005)
68. Ween - Shinola (2005)
69. Tool - Lateralus (2001)
70. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
71. Once Soundtrack (2007)
72. Les Breastfeeders - Les Matins de Grands Soirs (2007)
73. Man Man - Six Demon Bag (2006)
74. Nellie McKaye - Get Away From Me (2004)
75. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part (2001)
76. Cloud Cult - The Meaning of 8 (2007)
77. Los Campesinos - Hold On Now Youngsters (2008)
78. The National - Boxer (2007)
79. Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
80. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)
81. Tunng - Good Arrows (2007)
82. The Velvet Teen - Cum Laude (2006)
83. Fireballs - Fireballs Loves You (2007)
84. Ween - La Cucaracha (2007)
85. Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light (2009)
86. The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
87. Pearl Jam - Backspacer (2009)
88. Sigur Ros - Takk (2005)
89. The Darkness - Permission to Land (2003)
90. Rain Machine - Rain Machine (2009)
91. The Triplets of Belleville Soundtrack
92. Belles of Skin City - You Do the Company Proud (2006)
93. Fields - Everything Last Winter (2007)
94. Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2000)
95. M.I.A. - Arular (2005)
96. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (2006)
97. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites (2006)
98. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (2001)
99. Eels - Souljacker (2001)
100. Destroyer - Destroyer’s Rubies (2007)
101. Battles - Mirrored (2007)
102. Justin Timberlake - Justified (2002)
103. Rufus Wainwright - Want One (2003)
104. Interpol - Antics (2004)
105. A Perfect Circle - 13th Step (2003)
106. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (2006)
107. City on the Make - In the Name of Progress (2007)
108. The Arcade Fire - Funeral (2005)
109. The Appleseed Cast - Perregrin (2006)
110. Why? - Alopecia (2008)
111. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords (2008)
Inspired By Ashry: My Top 10 Most-Played Artists of the Past Week
I accidentally forgot to turn my Itunes last night. So i had to do a bit of filtering. Here are the most JAMMED ON BANDS of the past seven days.
1. City on the Make (by a long shot, their new CD is out and it’s simply incredible)
2. Bon Iver
3. La Roux
4. David Bowie
5. Radiohead
6. Love
7. Stabbing Westward
8. The Dodos
9. Why?
10. The Dandy Warhols
Move over, lol, here comes NEFRI:
NEFRI: Not Even Fucking Remotely Imaginable
Stumbled upon this mix while listening randomly through my at-work ITunes library. It’s been so long since i’ve listened to it, it’s kind of like getting a brand new mix from myself…man, i wonder if this means i have a crush on me…details to follow.
The fantastic owners of Eclipse Records - more lengthy blog to follow - have embraced me into their community by making me a volunteer manager. Aside from living one of my dreams of working in a record shop, I am honored to be able to help out one of the true institutions of truly DIY/Independent music in the Twin Cities. Music shop, all ages music venue and arcade. They’re barely getting by, and it’s awesome to be part of keeping this wonderful community going. Every time i work there, i bring in a new “Local Music Sampler” to play in the store - all local, mostly unsigned and underground bands from the Twin Cities - many of whom can be found in Eclipse’s extensive local section - everything from jewel-cased and shrink-wrapped to handmade in a plastic baggy. Above is the playlist i’ll be spinning tonight.
April Psychedelic Trance-Out Mix
Hello everyone,
Been a while, yes. Here is my April mix. Definitely trippy, droney, trancey psychedelica. This is not your typical trippy mix. It’s very cerebral, and kind of a weird grouping but somehow they work really well together. I owe a great deal of this mix’s inspiration to Frank Rogers, who introduced me to Faust, Can, Ethiopian jazz/funk and Godspeed You Black Emperor - Frank, your music changed my life. Thank you.
Spend a couple bucks and download these tracks (until i figure out how to post downloadable mixes to the Interweb). Until then, strap on those ear goggles, fire up the Frankensence and enjoy:
1. Simon and Garfunkel - Scarborogh Fair
2. Neutral Milk Hotel - Communist Daughter
3. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
4. The Make-Up - Do You Like Gospel Music
5. The Doors - Riders on the Storm
6. Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
7. The Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow’s Parties
8. My Bloody Valentine - Lose My Breath
9. Can - Mother Sky
10. Tomahawk - Ghost Dance
11. Bon Iver - The Wolves (Parts I & II)
12. Ritchie Havens - the Klan
13. Mulatu Astaqe - Yerkemo Sew
14. Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly
15. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Who Are the Brain Police
16. Bardo Pond - Inside
listening to "Release - Pearl Jam"
somewhere there are headphones attached to an Ipod on a table next to a chair on a beach where the sun is shining and the wind is blowing…
listening to "It's Easy-eeeee To Be Full Of Shit And Look Good In Black - Giraffes? Giraffes!"
this is one to remember. not to self: Giraffes? Giraffes! is a neat band.
listening to "Friends - Ween"
this one goes out to Ashry and Haiti.
