My 10 Fave Albums From 2000-2009

Well, everybody else is doing it, so why shouldn’t I?

I won’t be selectively cropping my list to reduce doubling up – you can read about that here. I also won’t be including compilations, live albums, or EPs.

So, without further ado, here’s a shot at it (in no particular order).

1. Sufjan Stevens – Come on! Feel the Illionoise! (2005)

‘when the revenant came down they couldn’t imagine what it was’

When I was first introduced to this album, it came with the comment “this is what I imagine your music would sound like, if you’d gone to music school”. I was never quite sure what to make of that, but after consideration, I will take it as a compliment.

Without a doubt, this is in my top ten. I love the eccentric audacity of the song titles, and the sweetness of the subjects and delivery.

I could rattle off the best songs on the album, but instead I’ll just note that it contains my ‘onions’ song (it always makes me cry) – Casimir Pulaski Day. This song alone gives reason to exist on my top 10

2. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)

‘red squirrel in the morning, red squirrel in the evening’

I became aware of this album at the same time as Midlake’s Trials of Van Occupanther. Midlake won the early battle – their Fleetwood Mac-esque stylings easily capturing my ears.

After a little time though, with the help of my dear Hardman (see ‘Falling Yaks‘), I managed to penetrate the wistful nature of this album and discover the beauty inside the reverb. And man, I love me some beards, goats and agrarian sentiment.

And speaking of beards….

3. My Morning Jacket – Z (2005)

’so much going on these days, forget about instinct – it’s not what pays’

While they may currently be regarded as America’s most rockingest band, they first piqued my interest with their 2003 compilation – Sweatbees. This grand collection of reverb soaked sweetness won me over in no time. Alas, I have not allowed myself to include compilations. Having said that, you should definitely check it out.

After much deliberation, I have chosen Z over It Still Moves. While It Still Moves serves up some truly beautiful moments like Golden and I Will Sing You Songs, Z is a more polished and flowing piece (although I wouldn’t be upset if they’d dropped Into The Woods).

From the first keyboard stabs of Wordless Chorus, through the rocking power of What a Wonderful Man and Off The Record (complete with prog-rock coda), the delicate sweetness of Knot Comes Loose, and the rocking crescendo’s of Dondante – Z gives a taste of My Morning Jacket’s ability to build a truly rocking dynamic set. And as much as the studio work rocks, the live shows take it up several notches, and that’s before even considering their constant guitar changes, and capes.

4. Feist – The Reminder (2007)

‘I’m sorry – two words I always think after you’ve gone’

Before this show runs the risk of being a beardy love-in, I’ll shift gears a little….

Feist won her way into our collection when Kym first heard Mushaboom on the radio one morning. A sweet little ditty about settling down – it was right up our alley.

The Reminder features ‘that iPod song’, 1-2-3-4, which is a nice little tune in its own right, but is overshadowed by the gentle opening track So Sorry, the guitar cracking splendour of I Feel It All, and the simply lovely The Park.

With lots of close mic action, and a voice to swoon on, this is a gorgeous album. Noted by Tall Paul as being ‘undeniably talented, but not my thing’

Double action youtubing here with live, in transit versions of I Feel It All and The Park

5. Hayden – Skyscraper National Park (2001)

‘parked underground the night you left – took me an hour and a half to find my way back up above. There’s nothing up there without your love’

Hayden found initial fame with his super-deep drawl in Bad As They Seem from Everything I long For (1995). 6 years later he knocked me between the eyes with Streetcar, the delicate and lonesome opener to Skyscraper National Park.

The deep voice and any hint of pose is gone. We’re left with the wistful humility of a man who isn’t afraid to write short songs and beautiful songs.

This album is a lovely collection of tracks that remind me of Fargo – perhaps influenced strongly by the descriptive flow at the beginning of Bass Song

6. Kissing Book – (s) (2001)

‘hey, kids. move over, another year and getting nowhere’

Here’s my indie cred. You’ve never heard of Kissing Book. You get the reference, but you’ve never heard of them – unless I have played them for you (or, I suppose, if you are Vetti). Be honest about it.

They really pulled this album out of nowhere, and should have become millionaires from it. It’s an astonishingly good sounding pop-jazz collection of cracking pop tunes. A tasteful collection of Wurlitzer organ, woody bass sounds, and tight jazz drums – the album is full of thoughtfully appropriate transitions from song to song, and again, the drumming is splendid. Just listen to the way that Selfish transitions into Set of Numbers, and the great zippy drumming.

Unfortunately, I had no luck finding a youtube of them, so instead I will send you to the album on Amazon, or iTunes.

7. The Apples In Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder (2007)

‘turn up the stereo’

The Apples in Stereo are purveyors of power-pop. Nothing more, nothing less. In their own words – ‘can you feel it? It makes you feel good’.

New Magnetic Wonder is an album of pop hits that make me bounce. I can’t say much more than that, this isn’t the kind of album that needs to – just a collection of great, easy to love pop hits. I should add that the Hardman also loves this album – particularly Hello Lola, Energy, and Sun is Out

8. Grandaddy – Sumday (2003)

‘now that the k is in place where the c used to be, seems like i’m ceasing to be in the season of the old me’

Another album of great pop tracks. I have a few Grandaddy albums that can come across as a little impenetrable. It seems that on Sumday, for better or worse, they tightened it all up and put together a tasty collection of 12 quirky pop tracks.

Sure, these songs may come across as lightweight and humourous – but I hear somthnig else. Just as some bands like to sell depression to teenagers, Sumday pushes a slight malaise and dissatisfaction with the nine-to-five. Take The Group Who Couldn’t Say, with lyrics like ‘her drag’n'click had never yeilded anything as perfect as a dragonfly’ and ‘the sprinklers that come on at 3am sound like crowds of people asking “are you happy what your doing?”‘. It’s an album that makes me restless for my home and my family.

9. The Strokes – Is This It? (2001)

‘Can’t you see I’m trying? I don’t even like it, I just lied to get to your apartment’

Sure, they might be spoiled New Yorker brats with private school educations and far too much hype and buzz, but their first album was an unbridled celebration of rock (Garage Rock, perhaps?). Lots of simple downstroke guitars, a slight distortion on the vocals, and bugger-all superfluous noise.

Much like Architecture in Helsinki, theirs was such a distinct sound that it seems to define the album above the songs themselves – making a follow-up album hard to pull off (see, In Case We Die).

The Strokes certainly aren’t the melodic genius of Andy Partidge or the heart-wrenching beauty of Elliott Smith, they are what they are – 5 charismatic young men playing rock music in a band and having fun – and that’s something I think most of us can relate to wanting to be at least once in our lives.

10. New Buffalo – Somewhere, Anywhere (2007)

’so it goes, the ordinary people – they do not know who are or what we’re doing here’

I first heard (and saw) New Buffalo at Jazz Lane. The wonderful Vetti and Joffa had sent Kym and I to see Architecture in Helsinki, and New Buffalo was the support. It was a wonderful show – just Sally, a guitar, a grand piano and a sampler. Her voice was captivating, as were her quirky songs.

This, her second album built upon the sweet pop tunes on The Last Beautiful Day, and added a layer of polish and depth to her songs. You’ve Gone, My Friend is probably one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard.

Sally is also responsible for co-writing 1-2-3-4 with Feist, which also features in this list. I suppose that gives her >1 album, and makes her the winner, no?

Full disclosure: Sally married a man who played drums in a band with some other guys that I play(ed) bass with in another band.

And With All Apologies..

I had a long list of albums in consideration for the top 10. After selecting the final 10, these were the albums left (in no particular order).

• The Steinbecks – RMS (2000)

(Yeah, I like this one more than the ones I played on. No Strings kills me.)

• Pedro The Lion – Winners Never Quit (2000)

(I love me some embittered Christian Rock concept album.)

• New Buffalo – The Last Beautiful Day (2000)

(While not as polished as Somewhere, Anywhere, this is still a great album)

• The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)

(I would have loved to include this, but everytime I think of it, I can’t help but think how much better The Soft Bulletin is)

• Belle and Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)

(Oh come on, everybody loves this)

• Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Master and Everyone (2003)

(I was late on the scene for this album, and haven’t heard it enough yet to fully appreciate it. I imagine that if I re-write this list in another year or so, someone else would slip from the list)

• Cat Power – You are Free (2003)

(Again I quote Tall Paul, but this time completely out of context: ‘Pained, bittersweet bits from the gullet’)

• My Morning Jacket – It Still Moves (2003)

(MMJ really do rock me, and this album has some total corkers of tracks (ie: Golden), but overall it is slightly less great than Z)

• My Morning Jacket – Sweatbees (2003)

(This collection of the sweeter side of MMJ would totally have made the list if I hadn’t disqualified it for being a compilation. You must hear it, and you will love it – unless you are odd.)

• Architecture in Helsinki – Fingers Crossed (2004)

(Everyone loves these Brunswick kiddies)

• The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004)

(Yeah, I like it – Mike Skinner is an effing poet. What of it?)

• Viva Voce – The Heat Can Melt Your Brain (2004)

(A nod and a wink to Tall Paul for bringing this magic into our lives)

• Wilco – A Ghost is Born (2004)

(Wouldn’t dare put this in the top 10 without listening more to YHF)

• Pernice Brothers – Discover A Lovelier You (2005)

(I really did want to put Joe Pernice in here somewhere, even if just to mention his ‘chaps my ass’ email. But alas, Overcome By Happiness is their finest album)