Best Albums of the Decade: A Look Back at "The Aughts"

Welcome to February: 2009 is already in full swing, most New Year's Resolutions have either been tossed aside or modified, and nearly everyone is getting sick of all this snow. We here at Moxie and Mayhem suddenly realized just how momentous this year is: not just the end of 2009, but the end of the decade. So we figured we'd join the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, and Paste Magazine and pick our favorite albums of the "aughts."

Now, just as a disclaimer, this is by no means a definitive look at the past ten years in music. For one thing, most of the staff was still in elementary school back then (so please forgive us for such glaring omissions as Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot). For another thing, these are the albums we fell in love with, gushed about to our friends, and listened to on endless repeat . . . not necessarily the most critically acclaimed or genre-changing.

And one more thing: even though we dearly love being pretentious, we're not going to attempt to rate these albums by ranking them on some ridiculously subjective Grand Master List. That's just silly and a waste of time. So without further ado, please enjoy our choices for Best Albums of the Decade.

ELLIE'S CHOICES:

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (2009)

In a decade that saw the invention of 99-cent music downloads and the iPod, The Decemberists dared to make a prog-rock/folk opera/concept album of all things. Colin Meloy's daring venture paid off, and the result absolutely must be listened to in its entirety. Not that you can't listen to the individual tracks on shuffle if you so desire, but the true brilliance of this album is in the sum of its parts. Not only does each track flow seamlessly into the next, but they also serve to tell the fantastical, epic story of a lovelorn shape-changer, his pregnant lover, a murderous rake, and a jealous forest queen. You can't get much better than that!

Green Day - American Idiot (2004)

Ah, 2004: A post-9/11 US was frustrated by all the drama of the upcoming election and our troops had been occupying Iraq for a little over a year. (In happier news, 2004 also saw the invention of Facebook and The Return of the King won 11 Oscars).

In the midst of all this disenchantment, Green Day, a punk-rock trio that hadn't released an album in four years, came out with a rock opera/concept album that kind of summed up what everyone had been feeling. American Idiot holds a special place in my heart, since it marked my introduction to the world of alt rock. I was ridiculously excited that my mom would let me buy a CD that had a Parental Advisory label (I was a sheltered child).

The first four tracks (American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, and Boulevard of Broken Dreams) are my favorites, but St. Jimmy, She's A Rebel, and Wake Me Up When September Ends (now played during every graduation and summer camp slide show), are also quite excellent.

The White Stripes - Icky Thump (2007)

Probably not everyone's choice for best White Stripes album, but definitely my favorite. Jack and Meg White mix bluegrass, country, and metal and turn it into good ol'-fashioned rock with pounding drums, delightfully angry guitars, and even bagpipes. You should turn up the bass on your stereo and crank the volume as high as it will go when you listen to this album. In my opinion, the best tracks are "Icky Thump," "Conquest," "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)", "Rag And Bone," and "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn."

O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack (2000)

An outstanding masterpiece of a movie, and an equally brilliant soundtrack. I'm not a huge fan of country music, but I've found that the bluegrass and folk sound of this album appeals to nearly everybody.

Especially gorgeous, relaxing, and at times, haunting, are any of the tracks featuring Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch (Down to the River to Pray, I'll Fly Away, and Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby). Classic tunes like You Are My Sunshine, Big Rock Candy Mountain, and Keep On The Sunny Side are undeniably fun to listen to.

But of course, the song that everyone remembers from this movie is "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow." Sung by the fictitious Soggy Bottom Boys in the film, it was actually recorded by Dan Tyminski, Harley Allen, and Pat Enright, with John Hartford recording the instrumental versions (So that's unfortunately not George Clooney's singing voice you're hearing).

An often overlooked track that deserves some attention is "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a quiet, sorrowful acoustic track with beautiful vocals delivered by the actor himself.

ALLY'S CHOICES:

Picking an album of the decade. Scwhoa! What a daunting task! Having to pick one

album out of the hundreds of thousands they have been released all over the world in

the ten years since the ball dropped in Times Square, marking the beginning of the new

millennium. I was clearly in over my head. But after some careful consideration, Iʼve

narrowed it down to three albums: Coldplayʼs Viva La Vida, Taylor Swiftʼs Fearless and

Eric Whitacreʼs Cloudburst and Other Choralworks.

Coldplayʼs Viva La Vida is an experimental album that combined the bandʼs signature

crowd-arousing melodies and infusions of Japanese, Persian and other ethnic music.

This album made my list not because of itʼs musical ingenuity, but for the impact that it

had on me personally. The albumʼs title single was the first encounter that I had with

Coldplay, and the album as a whole inspired me to widen my musical tastes beyond the

Top 20 hits on the charts.

Taylor Swiftʼs Fearless made my list for itʼs symbolic significance, as well as itʼs

award-winning tracks. Swiftʼs sophomore album landed her 4 CMA awards, 5 American

Music Awards and 8 Grammy nominations. Personally, I love this album. I think I was

more excited than my sister was when she got it as a Christmas present last year. Itʼs

upbeat tunes are catchy and fun to sing, and takes me away to a carefree, high school

world where life is simpler. But the cultural symbolism that the success of this album represents is the main reason it made my list. Iʼve heard it said that the 2000ʼs is the decade of the Tween. And judging by the popularity and success of this album, this is true. The evidence of this is

the obsessive fans of the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and her show Hannah Montana

and the Twilight series. The huge success of this album is just another example of why

the 2000ʼs is the Tweenʼs Decade. And that is the main reason it made my list.

Eric Whitacreʼs Cloudburst and Other Choralworks completes my list. Sure, go

ahead and call me a choir nerd for picking this album, but I think the impact of this

album on future music will be enormous. Whitacre is the hot new composer on the

choral scene, and I think his style of close-knit harmonies will have a large impact on

indie and eventually pop music in the coming decades. His work will continue to be

inspiration for all those young songwriters out there who are singing his music in choirs

because they want a musical outlet and an easy A. I expect to see Whitacreʼs musical

style creeping into todayʼs music within the next couple of years. And for that, this album

makes my list of top albums of the decade.

JUNO'S CHOICES:

I honestly can’t believe that 2010 is already here. 2009 had been a year of tremendous, colossal, monumental, exponential, and overall BIG change for me, as I’m sure it has been for many of you. And what better way to celebrate change with music? Not only have we as individuals experienced and embraced change but so has the music industry as a whole. New artists, genre revivals, band reunions…We’ve seen it all jam packed into the last nine years. This list I’ve compiled is the soundtrack to my last nine years. They’re in no particular order, in fact I’m mostly making this up as I go along. And this is, of course, abridged (you really think I can put a limit on my favorites?). Some of these names will be familiar to those who’ve read my earlier posts (which I hope is all of you…*sniffle*), but some of my choices just might surprise you…

1. Fall Out Boy- “From Under The Cork Tree” (2005)- I don’t love this album because it’s what gave FOB their claim to fame; if anything that’s a reason for me to hate it since I’m not big on the “breakthrough” albums (it’s hard for me to like a band as soon as everyone else starts to like them). I love this album because of the authenticity. Artists who write their own music and lyrics hold a huge place in my heart. I love this album because it came out when I was in high school. It has the personality, wit, and energy of its audience. And let’s face it, whether you like them or loathe them, you WILL get “Dance, Dance” stuck in your head.

Fave tracks- A Little Less “16 Candles”, A Little More “Touch Me”, The Music or the Misery (available on the special edition released in 2006), Of All The Gin Joints In the World

2. Juno Soundtrack (2008) - Arguably one of the cutest soundtracks ever released. If not for this movie I would have never been introduced to Kimya Dawson and her affiliated projects, nor would I have fallen deeper in love with Buddy Holly. The movie was phenomenal, but no movie is complete without a spectacular soundtrack. I read in a review of the album once that as a standalone it was horrible. Mr./Mrs. Reviewer, wherever you are, I would just like to tell you that you’re wrong and should see a surgeon about getting that stick removed from your butt, it could cause an infection.

Fave tracks- All I Want Is You (Barry Louis Polisar), Sea of Love (Cat Power), Loose Lips (Kimya Dawson), Dearest (Buddy Holly),

3. t.A.T.u., “Люди инвалиды/Lyudi Invalidy/Disabled People” (2005) - When t.A.T.u. burst onto the European music scene in 1999 they were pure gimmick, courtesy of their conniving former producer Ivan Shapovalov. This album, their follow up to their record breaking debut (the first Russian band to have their debut and it’s English equivalent go gold in the US and Russia? Yeah, that was them) was sans the faux-lesbian romance, but just as emotionally driven as the last. While it’s English counterpart “Dangerous and Moving” staggered behind, “Люди инвалиды” was the perfect way for the girls to prove that there was more to them than school girl uniforms and kissing in the rain. It was a testament to the maturity of the band and their ability to keep going above and beyond without the smoke and mirrors of greedy Ivan. It was also the girl’s first concept album, centered around the greedy (irony…), immoral, and soulless people in the world. The title was a reference to such but caused mass controversy upon release, and rights groups for the physically handicapped saw red. Later the girls explained in a TV interview that by “disabled” they did not in fact mean physically handicapped, but those who are morally disabled. On the album’s insert they included a description with the dark line, “They do not live, they function”.

Fave tracks- All About Us (also available on the English equivalent, “Dangerous and Moving”), Вся Моя Любовь (Vsya Moya Lyubov’, All My Love), Обезьянка Ноль (Obez’yanka Nol’, Monkey Zero)

4. Otep, “Sevas Tra” (2002) - Female-fronted metal never sounded so good. Before they even struck a major record deal they played Ozzfest after being noticed by Sharon Osbourne at a concert. For all you metalheads and metal-educated, you know how huge of an accomplishment that is. For those you don’t, I’ll use this analogy- that’s like winning American Idol from your audition alone. Otep has become one of the most successful nu metal bands in history, courtesy of their lead singer Otep Shamaya. Tattooed, angry, and fierce, she is also a vegan, feminist, blogger, author, and poet (scramble the letters of her first name and you’ll see this was destiny). She’s also one of the only female vocalists in ALL of metal (not just nu metal, but ALL of metal) to produce the death growl. “Sevas Tra” solidified the band as one that was here to stay; this year they released their fourth album “Smash the Control Machine” and their success has yet to dwindle. Spiritual, in-your-face, aggressive, disturbing, and heartfelt, “Sevas Tra” is in my opinion the best Otep album, in not the greatest nu metal album of the decade.

Fave tracks- Menocide (you all saw this coming), Blood Pigs, Possession, Filthee

5. Josh Turner, “Your Man” (2005) - There is hope for country music, and his name is Josh Turner. With vocals strikingly similar to Johnny Cash (RIP) and the good ole’ Southern boy demeanor, Josh Turner embodies all that is country music- modesty, home cooking, romance, and cars. It was hard to choose exactly which Josh Turner album to pick (his insanely awesome debut? His exceptional sophomore attempt? His gorgeous third album?) but I settled on your man because I really can’t get enough of “Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln”. One of the funniest songs in country about cars after Cash’s “One Piece at a Time” and “I Love Nascar” by Cledus T. Judd, this album is –in my opinion- more well-rounded lyrically and emotionally than its siblings.

Fave tracks- Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln, Gravity, Your Man, Way Down South

6. 소녀시대 (Girls’ Generation), “Gee” (2009) - Asia couldn’tve started the year any cuter. The nine-piece group from South Korea attained a fan base when they released their eponymous debut the year before, but completely DOMINATED the charts when this little ditty dropped, courtesy of the titular track. Though only an EP (four tracks to be precise) it’s full of energy, charm, and is just plain cute. Have you seen the dance to Gee? There is NOTHING in this world that is more adorable than that dance. Go watch it. Seriously, go watch it. Right now. You won’t regret it.

Fave tracks- Gee (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!),힘 내! (Way to Go!)

7. Epica, “The Divine Conspiracy” (2007) - The band’s name contains the word “epic”. That alone should convince you they’re stellar. This Dutch symphonic metal band FINALLY released an album through a distributor with a subsidiary in the US in 2007 and their break into the American charts couldn’tve been better. After all, who doesn’t love a concept album about religion? Before you get your knickers in a twist because I just dropped the “r” word, let me explain. They cover the science vs. religion debate, suicide bombers, organized religion, and other controversial topics. The idea behind the name “The Divine Conspiracy” is that God created a multitude of religions for humans to explore so they could in time see that they all are the same. Not only is it thought provoking, it’s an incredibly musical experience from start to finish. I mean come on, an orchestra, death growl, and mezzo-soprano, a choir…What more could you ask for? Don’t even get me started on when they break it down in Latin!

Fave tracks- The Obsessive Devotion, Sancta Terra, The Divine Conspiracy, Fools Of Damnation ～The Embrace That Smothers Part IX (The Embrace That Smothers was an ongoing “series” beginning in an earlier album of songs about the dangers of organized religion; Fools of Damnation was the last)

8. Lil’ Kim, “La Bella Mafia” (2003) - I have nothing but respect for Lil’ Kim. She was one of the first females to be involved in hardcore rap back in the ‘90s, and has paved the way for other successful female rappers. While not everyone is a fan of how provocative rap is (I know I am!) it should be understood that she is defying the double standard of “guys can be raunchy, but when girls do it they’re sluts”. This album was also my introduction to rap/hip-hop, which I began to explore more in middle school. The single “Magic Stick” controlled the radio stations for weeks on end, as well being Lil’ Kim’s second highest charting single behind the collaborative “Lady Marmalade”.

Fave tracks- Magic Stick, Thug Luv, Came Back For You, The Jump Off, Get in Touch With Us

9. Britney Spears, “Britney” (2001) - No list on the beginning of the 2000s would be complete without a Brit-Brit album, and this just happens to be my favorite of hers. It marked her transition of cute girly girl in pigtails to raunchy pop icon, a transition both inevitable and enjoyable to watch (she danced with a SNAKE; what could top that?). Britney was one of the first mainstream albums I bought when trying to fine tune my musical preferences (what a tedious task that turned into; only five genres I disliked in the end). Part of the purchase was because it was popular (hellooooooo, BRITNEY!), the other part being because I had the previous albums and I couldn’t wait to see what she cranked out next. While I may not listen to it as much as I used to, the album remains my favorite because it “spoke to me” in that weird way songs and albums do when you connect with their message/theme.

Fave tracks- That’s Where You Take Me, Overprotected, Anticipating, Boys, Bombastic Love

10. Vanessa Carlton, “Be Not Nobody” (2002) - I fell head-over-heels for VC when she released this CD. She was the first singer that gave me confidence in my own voice, and the only singer I would use as inspiration or reference when working on my own vocals. She was also the reason I started songwriting and poetry, so I’m eternally indebted to her for instilling those passions so deep within me. It’s also a great album to relax to; too bad I still haven’t figured out the whole “how to relax” part.

Fave tracks- Twilight, A Thousand Miles, Rinse, Pretty Baby

11. Emilie Autumn, “Opheliac” (2007) - Words can’t even begin to describe my love for this woman. A Victorian/steampunk style, gothic lyrics, and violin/industrial/electronic music. Yeah, she does it all. If you’re looking for something new, offbeat, and interesting, look no further ‘cause Emilie is your girl. Her first album “Enchant” was more atmospheric/folk (and sane) but this album here has the most punch, depth, and attitude. It’s experimental, it’s emotional, and it’s unique. The Malibu native is hella gifted, able to play at least four instruments (including the outdated viola da gambo) and composes her own music and writes her lyrics. She also makes her own clothes, a gift she picked up from her seamstress mother.

Fave tracks- Misery Loves Company, Marry Me, At What Point Does a Shakespeare Say (poem), Gothic Lolita, I Know Where You Sleep, The Art of Suicide

Editor's Note: Thanks for putting up with our recent bout of technical difficulties. Regular posting resumes today! Keep an eye out for more fantastic articles from the oh-so-talented staff here at Moxie and Mayhem.