So I ended up compiling a list with the 25 greatest albums of the decade and it turned out to be a bit long. So sorry about that. About the list: these are pretty much my favorite discs from the past 10 years. Pretty much, because I decided to pick only one album from each band and artist, not counting the soundtrack that made it to the list. But it would've been a bore to write about Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan and the Drive-by Truckers three, four or five times in one list, so that's the reason. Unfortunately, my favorite band didn't make the cut, to say the least. A big thank you to anyone on these boards that pointed me towards some great music: it would've looked totally different without you. So here we go:

25. Deadstring Brothers – Starving Winter Report (2005) : Great, fun rock record form Detroit bunch. And energy blast like The Faces or the 70’s style Stones. Follow up to the self titled debut, this band got their sound more right on this one. Great keys on the Band cover Get Up Jake. Not a timeless masterpiece that’ll reshape music for the coming decades, but a rock record that was done by the book.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igAT9geAjcs

24. The Good, The Bad And The Queen – The Good, The Bad And The Queen (2007). Gloom from the UK. Damon Albarn (of Blur fame) teamed up with drummer Tony Allen, Simon Tong (The Verve), and Paul Simonon (from that small 70s/80s group that was called The Clash) to create this briliant mood piece. They took it to the stage too, and performed it in clubs and festivals in the year that followed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDb1Nw7IX9E

23. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros – Streetcore (2003). The late, great frontman of The Clash passed on before this one was released. The album is all over the place, from classic rock (Coma Girl), to a full soundblast (Get Down Moses) and accoustic stuff. Contains a Redemption Song cover that approaches the original, and closes with the song (I wanna do everything) Silver And Gold (but I have to hurry up before I grow too old). A understandable sentimental move from the producers: Strummer passed on way too early. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaynAm8Ftww

22.  Johan – THX JHN (2006) The only Dutch record on this list. Third album from the band named after legend Johan Cruyff, the greatest European football player ever (according to the European Football organisation Uefa). A great guitar-based pop band that was formed around Jacob de Greeuw. Think Crowded House, but add some Tabasco. Defining song on this one is ‘She’s Got A Way With Men’, which even made it to the (bottom of) the charts as a single. This year they released their fourth and final record. They currently tour the Netherlands with a farewell show. Naturally, I was there.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNEso9UrvPE

21. Neil Young – Living With War (2006) To say Neil was pissed off about the Bush Administration is a bit of an understatement. He transformed his anger to this energetic album, in which he more or less pleades for the coming of the current man in the White House. The choir that was added, gave it an extra punch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swSHQaatfdg

20. Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better (2005). Franz Ferdinand’s second was a blockbuster, just like the debut disc. In the end it was the ballad ‘Eleanor Put Your Boots On’ that made me give this one the nod instead of disc number one. Classic first lines on the opening track: ‘So they think you’re troubled boy, just because you like to destroy all the things that bring the idiots joy. Well, what’s wrong with a little destruction.’ This band completely fucked up their third disc (Tonight), so there’s no telling where FF goes next. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKwPkmnpRLw

19. Kings Of Leon – Youth And Young Manhood (2003). Before this band became a household name for teenage girls, KOL made a southern garage rock. Filthy sounds and sloppy riffs made a fantastic debut. They explored the range of their sound in the years that followed, but there never came another Molly’s Chamber or California Waiting. And while I think last year’s release has a few moments, something tells me this band will never reach the same level again. Enjoy the money guys… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMt1Xbofi4M

18. Rufus Wainwright – Release The Stars (2007). Yes. Artpop. Rufus made a few beautiful discs in the past decade, and this one has a few stories attached to it. The first is a sad one: we had great tickets for his show, but had to cancel because of a death in the family: my wife’s stephsister (sp?) lost her battle with cancer at age 41 and she had her wake that night. I’m glad I could find people who loved his music as much as we do, because he gave a stellar performance that lasted over three hours. The fun story has to do with the sleeve: I was visiting the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where I noticed a certain statue in the altar: it was pictured on the cover. Centerpiece of the album is a track called ‘Going To A Town’, a rant against the Bush administration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd8hd_Zz3Tg.

17. The Killers – Sam’s Town (2006). Perhaps the best new stadium rock act of the decade. Hot Fuss was great, but the Killers really hit the big time with Sam’s Town. The title track is an a-list rock song, and it’s followed by a stack of great tracks, including Bones, When You Were Young and This River Is Wild. It almost sounds like a greatest hit comp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V265hSkoaeI&feature=related

16. Paul Westerberg – Folker (2004). Great album by someone who keeps hanging out under the radar in Europe. Whenever I suggest his work or some of his old band, I still get the ‘huh?’ reply from people I would expect to dig his stuff. Anyway,  this and Come Feel Me Tremble (2003) are both great albums, but this one got so much spinning time in my cd-player that my wife asked my if it got stuck at a certain point. I’d say it’s a bit more mellow than CFMT (and a lot easier to get hold of in Dutch record stores). This is a real album: larger than the sum of its parts, so it’s hard to pick the winners. I had to get used to the opening ‘Jingle’ though.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoqS4NvSc9E

15. Lucero – Tennessee (2002) Had the decade ended three years ago, Tennessee would’ve ended up on a higher spot for sure. Not only did I find a bunch of great albums since then, but I also lost  a bit of interest in the band Lucero. Still, this is a solid recording and the only Lucero album I currently revisit from time to time. Bit slower than the rest of the records, but IMO the ballads suit this band best.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r4Ymyeuw_E

14. I'm Not There (OST/ 2007). Okay, so the weird Bob Dylan biopic may not be everyone's cup of tea. But the soundtrack that supported the film is one of the greatest movie soundtracks ever. It has a truckload of old and not so old talent celebrating the gift that is Dylan's music. This double disc is all over the place from Willie Nelson to Antony & The Johnsons. The song I'm not there finally got an official release...and a solid cover by Sonic Youth   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX7xddWLyYI

13. Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004).  My wife loved this album since the day it turned up here. It took some getting used to for me: AF is a bit too serious for my tastes, but they delivered the goods on stage in a great way, and a good gig makes me appreciate bands more. This album is larger than the sum of its parts, which is why it’s in this list instead of Neon Bible, that has one or two songs that are better than most here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTKLIv3SiRk

12. Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band – Magic (2007). Bruce saves his best stuff for records with the E-Street Band, and this one’s a gem. Some consider this as The Rising Part II, but it has its own vibe. More importantly, it’s a better collection of songs. Radio Nowhere proved to be a great kick-off for live shows, while Gypsy Biker and Devils Arcade prove The Boss is still on top of his game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pj6p2MpMfs

11. Okkervil River – The Stand-ins (2008) Recorded in one run with The Stage Names (released in 07), this album is an excellend showcase for the skills of Will Sheff and his band. Pop Lie is a fantastic sing-along track with a wink, while On Tour With Zykos and Calling And Not Calling My Ex are fantastic heartbreaking storyteller songs. These tracks make the Stand-ins stand out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVr1Scv4T1U

10. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga (2007) Conor Oberst managed to throw out an album a year. He was promoting this album in Amsterdam when I finally got to see him live. I think the entire Bright Eyes trick comes together on this album: a combination of weird indie pop with pretty old school singer-songrwriter stuff. Oberst made two pretty good albums after this one, but they pale in comparison. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNtu5w7azBQ

09. The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely (2008) I guess critics who say this isn’t the most solid Jack White disc are telling the truth. But it happens to be the disc I care for most, so fuck it. I was pretty surprised to see this one hit the stores, because I had the idea that the Raconteurs were a ‘one time only’ band.  The title track, Many Shades Of Black and the Rich Kid Blues cover are the shit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doPBoKt3OAI

08. The Hold Steady – Boys And Girls In America (2007) A great E-Street inspired band with a great songwriter who - to be truthful - can't sing. Craig Finn continues the tales of Holly, Gideon and Charlemaigne. Characters he introduced on the very first album and tackles just about every topic that inspires them in doing so. It's as convincing as the Beat Poets from yesteryear. This is expose on the vacant lives of the three main characters, and doesn't have a weak track on it at all. But Finn will make or break things for listeners: you love the way he sounds, or you'll hate the sound of his voice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isvn_Dsj2bA

07. Johnny Cash – American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways (2006). All of the American Recordings are must haves. I picked the last one to date because this is the one that got the most spins at my house. Further On Up The Road is the champ of this sessions, but I'm also very fond of Four Strong Winds. Needless to say I'm very pleased with the news that American VI is on it's way.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-37UHN7tOys

06. The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement (2008). Alex Turner has been one of the rising stars during this decade. The last Arctic Monkeys disc may be a stinker, but the boy wrote some serious good stuff in the past few years. It was this side project that made the biggest impression on me. The big retro pop he made with Rascals frontman Miles Kane proved that his qualities lie more outside of the loud rock he produces with his regular band. These dudes should be invited to make the next Bond Soundtrack IMO.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGV8xCkpXjE

05.  Bob Dylan – Love And Theft (2001). Dylan's best record of the past decade could've been called Time Out Of Mind part II. The god of music as we know it threw out some pretty grim images of the future. Undisputed champion song of this record is of course High Water (For Charley Patton).  The christmas disc aside, this easily the strongest decade for Dylan since the 70s. Gigs continue to be a hit and miss, but I wouldn't want to miss them for the world. The new songs lift up these shows, which is quite impressive considering the truckload of classics he can pick from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usu3CrjsHv0

04. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl (2005). BRMC made a solid debut at the beginning of this decade, followed by a poor collection of songs as a second. I thought this band was done for when reports of substance abuse came in instead of good new tunes. It was the people on the message boards (2000 Man/Sir Stonesalot) who convinced me to buy this record, and Howl did indeed blow me away. I love it when a band decides to explore the roots of rock music while keeping their own sound at the same time. It didn't rid them of the general dismissal as being clones of the Jesus and Mary Chain, but people who keep repeating that clearly didn't listen to this classic record. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVAiF15vV6c

03. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008). Bearded hippies with church like vocals...how the hell did this disc end up in my top three? Well for starters, the harmonies of this band are unmatched in current music. But it's the overall feeling of the disc that makes the Fleet Foxes' debut such a standout record. I'm a big fan of the outdoors, and when I hear this music, I'm right there. When the Fleet Foxes sing that the sun rises, you don't just hear it: you feel it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9NR2Yge_-c

02. Ryan Adams – Gold (2001). I had the local alternative music station on at work in 2002 and it had a live set from Ryan Adams on. After he finished Touch, Feel And Loose I dropped everything, put on my jacket and walked off to the local record store. Needless to say I was not disappointed.  This is Ryan's Exile On Main St. It has a bit of every style he ever covered in his music. Those of you who were unlucky and didn't get the 2-disc edition: the missing songs are available thru iTunes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jj3bzTdZiI

01. The Dirty South – Drive-by Truckers (2004). The best album of the best current American rock bands: rich lyrics and excellent country fuelled raw rock. This was their latest record when I found out about these guys, and it catches the band on a creative high. The Patterson Hood/Michael Cooley combo was at that time backed up by the amazing skills of third frontman Jason Isbell, and it's such a solid album that it's impossible to pick a favorite song. From the great Where The Devil Don't Stay to the heartbreaking lyrics of Goddamn Lonely Love, it's one gem after another. Overall the Truckers had the most solid run of albums during the decade. Southern Rock Opera and Decoration Day are almost just as good, as is last year's Brighter Than Creations Dark, the first record without Jason Isbell but with the astonishing Shonna Tucker on lead vocals. The only time they fell back for a bit was during A Blessing And A Curse, but that's still a good disc. Hell, even the leftover disc (The Fine Print) sounds better than most of the other stuff that arrived in the past few years. So thank you SheRat for pointing me in this direction: your suggestion gave me a great time for many hours in the past 5 years and will continue to do so in the coming decade: next record is scheduled for March. I can hardly wait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaF_-tirFeU

The Raconteurs and BRMC releases were FANTASTIC

THE ONLY ONE I HAVE IS CASH V..DECADE SUCKED

Oh my God, I only have two of the above and never heard about many of the others

Joe Strummer and the Mezcaleros (with "Z" as it comes from Mezcal a local booze with alcohol and some alkaloids), probably the name comes from the learnings Joe Strummer had during his years in Mexico City

And of course Love and Theft, however I like "Modern Times" and "Together Through Life" more

Thank you Thijs for showing up and bringing music back
to RO!

Damn Right Johnny Cash........

---

Good calls on the Strummer, Dylan, Adams, Neil and Bruce choices.

I'd probably have given American Recordings III the nod over Vol V, and I prefer Arcade Fire's second album (Neon Bible) to the first one, but thats a minor quibble.

SweetVirginia wrote on Dec 28^th, 2009 at 11:15pm:

Thank you Thijs for showing up and bringing music back to RO!

I'll second that!

Not much for lists and yours really was a lot of work!  Thanks for sharing.

My personal favorites would include a lot of yours.  ;)

Like Gazza I liked Cash's "American III" better ( one could argue for them both).

Dylan's "Love and Theft" and "Modern Times" both deserve to be up there as well as Bruce's "The Rising" and "Magic"

Wilco's great "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" is definitely in my top 10!

I would argue for both "Funeral" and "Neon Bible" by Arcade Fire

Ryan's "Heartbreaker" over "Gold"

Toss up between "Hot Fuss" and "Sam's Town" by the Killers

"White Blood Cells" by the White Stripes rather than the Raconteurs

And a few that are pretty damn good if not top 25 would be :
"Sea Changes" by Beck
"All That You Can't leave Behind" by U2
"By the Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Is This It" by The Strokes
"Mermaid Avenue" by Billy Bragg and Wilco

I am sure there are more I missed.  (I am suppose to be working right now-LOL)

Music is not dead.  Neither is rock and roll......

Is This It actually got voted top album of the decade in a bunch of Dutch media. I like the album, but that's all.

A bunch of bands and artists were on a creative high in the 00's, which is why I chose to pick one of each first: it would be pretty boring to write and read (if it isn't already).

Wilco didn't move me much until very recently, which is one explanation for why I didn't pick that band. I'll pick up Mermaid Avenue one of the days..U2 and the Peppers don't work for me anymore..

'By The Way' by the Chili Peppers was my favourite album of the entire decade.

no mention of Amy's Back to Black??

one of the best  of the aughts for mine

Oh I like that Amy Winehouse album and quite a few others I didn't mention, but I just like the ones I mentioned better. Do you have any other favorites because I'm always looking for new stuff. Anything local (from you pov that is) perhaps?

meg dear

"mermaid avenue" was released in the late 90s..you mean "MA II"?...and "yankee hotel foxtrot" is the only wilco album i have that i honestly don't like.

and 15 minutes of an air conditioner humming at the end of "a ghost is born" leaves my head in need of scratching too. was tweedy trying to recreate "sing this all together see what happens"? "revolution 9"?

Starbuck wrote on Dec 29^th, 2009 at 5:34pm:

meg dear "mermaid avenue" was released in the late 90s..you mean "MA II"?...and "yankee hotel foxtrot" is the only wilco album i have that i honestly don't like. and 15 minutes of an air conditioner humming at the end of "a ghost is born" leaves my head in need of scratching too. was tweedy trying to recreate "sing this all together see what happens"? "revolution 9"?

oh ok it was Volume 2 of Mermaid Avenue but remember I was suppose to be working.

And Johnnycakes I was not talking about "Ghost is Born." I don't know which one is worse -that song or the 31 minutes of pond noises at the end of Neko Case's album.

i forgive you for missing out Wilco's masterpiece 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrott'

and Ryan Adams' 'Heatbreaker' should be added to the list.

@Ade: I decided at the very last minute that it was Gold and not Heartbreaker for me, because of the eye opening experience I wrote about. So what are your favorites?

My 25 of the 'aughts....
(in no particular order)

Love and Theft—Bob Dylan
Together Through Life—Bob Dylan
Black Ice—AC/DC
Chinese Democracy--Guns N Roses
Guero--Beck
January 07003—Brian Eno
The Equatorial Stars—Fripp & Eno
The ConstruKCtion of Light—King Crimson
Year Zero—Nine Inch Nails
Consolers of the Lonely—The Raconteurs
Heartbreaker--Ryan Adams
Elephant—The White Stripes
Straight to Hell—Hank Williams III
One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This—The New York Dolls
Trampin'—Patti Smith
Back To Black—Amy Winehouse
Live In Gdansk—David Gilmour & Rick Wright
Honeytribe—Devon Allman
It Is Time for a Love Revolution—Lenny Kravitz
Binaural—Pearl Jam
Heathen Chemistry--Oasis
A Bigger Bang—The Rolling Stones
No Line on the Horizon—U-2
Endless Wire—The Who
Raising Sand—Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Teiz,

a very cool list...but no Libertines or Babyshambles, or solo Pete???  Certainly Up the Bracket was one of decade's best.

Happy New Year,

FG! :booze

My Top 5

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
Bob Dylan - Love & Theft
Social Distortion - Sex, Love & Rock 'n' Roll
Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

Rest of the Top 30 in no particular order:

Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome : The Seeger Sessions
Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Streetcore
Neil Young - Living With War
Neil Young - Prairie Wind
Johnny Cash - American Recordings III - Solitary Man
Johnny Cash - American V - A Hundred Highways
Lucinda Williams - Essence
Lucinda Williams - West
Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl
Carlene Carter - Stronger (pre-release fan club mix version)
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang
Steve Earle & The Dukes - The Revolution Starts Now!
U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
Cocktail Slippers - St Valentines Day Massacre
Ryan Adams - Gold
Warren Zevon - The Wind
White Stripes - Elephant
Various Artists - Enjoy Every Sandwich - The Songs of Warren Zevon

I didnt include live albums, compilations or reissues. Two honourable mentions to sets of (mostly) previously unreleased material which were recorded before and after 2000.

Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs Bootleg Series Vol. 8 Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006
Johnny Cash - Unearthed

Dylan gave us some great stuff with those Bootleg Series. My favorite among those of the past ten years is the Rolling Thunder album. Did you guys check out the two-disc edition of Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac? It's briliant.

The music-DVD department gave us a glimp of the greatness of the Stones that IMO is missing on Bang: Four Flicks is the best set I got in the past few years, though I skipped Neil Young's box from this year.

@FG: I kinda lost track of Pete after The Libertines split. And I don't spin those albums very often anymore. Still like them a lot though, especially the second one. Your post is a good reminder to give these guys a spin once more.

That's why I alway dig these kinds of threads: I already gave Zevon's The Wind a go this morning. And Straight To Hell. Hank III was great a the Lowlands Festival in august.

Ween - Quebec
Tom Waits - Real Gone
Tom Waits - Blood Money
J. J. Cale - To Tulsa And Back
Sparks - Lil' Beethoven
Sparks - Exotic Creatures Of The Deep
The Residents - Animal Lover
Deep Purple - Bananas
David Bowie - Heathen
Nick Cave - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus


And some others I can't remember. I'm pretty much living in the past. My favorite 'noughties album' is Dylan's 'Bootleg Series Vol. 5'.

I liked those Tom Waits albums, but I don't listen to his more recent work very frequently. I think Mule Variations is the best of the recent bunch. I love the stuff he did in the early 70's.

Gazza wrote on Dec 29^th, 2009 at 3:49pm:

'By The Way' by the Chili Peppers was my favourite album of the entire decade.

Mine too!

Great choices and lists....:) Glad you mentioned Fleet Foxes!! ;D

No mention of the Eagles of Death Metal or the Black Keys in the entire thread...shame on us! Their albums rocked.

GimmeExile wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2010 at 9:19pm:

Gazza wrote on Dec 29th, 2009 at 3:49pm: 'By The Way' by the Chili Peppers was my favourite album of the entire decade. Mine too!

You're from LA though - you're biased! That album always reminds me of my trip there (for the Stones gigs) at Hallowe'en 2002. It had just came out at the time.

"Wet Sand" from 'Stadium Arcadium' is one of my fave songs of the entire decade, though. That solo by Frusciante at the end may well be the most glorious minute of their entire career. He'll be hard to replace.

I think the Eagles Of Death Metal are great as a live act, but I hardly ever give their records a spin at home. The Black Keys are indeed great.

As for the RHCP: I never really knew what the fuss was about in the first place: I like Mothers Milk and have one two others, but I haven't even stored them in iTunes. I always hear their new stuff like it's more of the same. Bottom line: their stuff is just not for me.

Love EODM.

Gazza, BTW is a great RHCP album. I think my favorite on it is "Dosed".