best of the '00s, pt. 3

In response to a Paste magazine article, I've been listing what I feel to be the best 50 albums of the past decade, in no particular order. The ten I've posted so far were not included in Paste's list. The next five, however, Paste and I agree on. Here are 40 through 36.

40. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)

I must admit that when I heard "Yellow" for the first time back in 2000, I turned the radio off. Ugh. Another cookie cutter, sad sap pop band. A couple of my friends ran out and bought Parachutes and I secretly scoffed at them. Suckers. A couple of years later I was a tiny bit smarter. I had taken some recording classes at Temple and had been around a few musicians whose art and opinions I respected greatly (boy, I sound like a snob, don't I?). I found out that these dudes listened to Coldplay too. They were fans, with t-shirts and everything. This was enough to make me feel like I had to give the band a second chance. One listen to "Clocks" and I was pretty much sold. The repetitive drums, the circling piano and the airy feel make for a big sound.

Now I have a bit of a hard time calling this pop music. But if it is, it's the good kind - like U2, circa 1990. Rush of Blood made Coldplay huge - like U2 circa 1990. Enter your next international super band. This album is near perfect. The second half falls off a bit, but they resurrected piano driven rock music, filling a void left by Radiohead's metamorphosis. Too bad they couldn't live up to the hype this album created (burn!).




39. Beck - Sea Change (2002)

I would like to start by saying that I think producer/mixer/sound engineer extraordinaire Nigel Godrich is a genius. He's been behind almost all of Radiohead's work, Air's brilliant Talkie Walkie, Paul McCartney's solid Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and this, his second of three albums with Beck (the other two being Mutations and The Information). Godrich takes the simple and makes it sound beautiful. He has a way of stripping the sound down to it's core and then layering it on itself, like mom dressing you up on snow days. Take "Lost Cause," for example. It's a folk song at it's core. It's Beck, a guitar and some lite drums. But Godrich adds texture with distorted vocals weaving in and out of the background and Beck's own voice layered on itself. I just think the man does exactly what a good producer should. He brings out the best in the talent he works with and doesn't tread on their sound in process, he simply gives it a new, clear voice.

Beck deserves just as much credit for this album, of course. Agreeing to put down the sampling machines and computer trickery, he explores his deep sea of sadness with live instruments. After all, a good producer can only do his work with a willing talent (if you're in the Strokes and you're reading this, yes, I'm talking to you. Also, thank you for reading my blog). The result of Beck's willingness is a tragically beautiful record that is as equally inspiring as it is depressing. I still can't decide how serious he is about "The Golden Age".




38. The Strokes - Is This It? (2002)

Speaking of the Strokes, they happened to make a few decent records this decade as well. Highly anticipated and overly hyped are defined here. Bring us the band that represents the sound of New York's underground punk, post-punk, garage rock movement. If the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Interpol are not available, I'll take the Strokes. I've read a lot of bad press about these guys recently. Their subsequent releases just seemed to keep letting everyone down somehow. Well, I wasn't expecting much so, perhaps I was too easily entertained. Yeah, maybe Julian Casablancas' writing is not stellar. Maybe it often feels like the band is selling an image and not their music, but I happen to like their rather simple approach to regenerating vintage classic rock sounds.

All the hype and image aside, this album rose to the top of a pile of other similar garage rock trend followers. I happen to believe that Strokes were one of the first to start that trend, actually. I also happen to agree with just about everything Pitchfork has to say about this album and am having a hard time summing it up any better than they do. I just like it.

37. M.I.A. - Arular (2005)

Honestly, I know next to nothing about dancehall music. I know even less about "bhangra". The beautiful thing about Arular is how it has introduced an international audience to those two styles of music, while incorporating hip-hip and grime. This is global dance music, celebrating the sounds of several different continents and I think it's brilliant. It's not only educational, but it pulls together fans of reggaeton, baile funk and pop in general to create one large following. A melding that record companies have to love.

To make this mixture even sweeter, M.I.A.'s lyrics actually contain a message. She not only dances around the globe, but is aware of it's problems and politics. It never occurred to me to shake my booty while simultaneously starting a conversation about poverty until hearing "Pull Up the People". I very nearly dismissed "Galang" as just another throwaway dance track when I first heard it at the South Philly Taproom back in '05. Yeah, it's fun, but I don't dance so, no thanks. Then I had a listen to the entire album and was struck at M.I.A.'s global consciousness. All of a sudden, I was ready to do some dancing for awareness myself.

I also love that her popularity has given beat-making wizard and now Philly resident Diplo some exposure (I beg you to listen to his 2004 release Florida for his DJ Shadow impression and to check out his project from this year, Major Lazer's Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, for further education in dancehall/reggaeton/grime). Dude was nominated for a Grammy last year for his work on M.I.A.'s second album Kala. Love it!

36. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (2006)

I, for one, feel sad for Amy Winehouse. Yes, Back to Black was a huge success and carried her UK super stardom overseas, invading our airwaves and media with her retro vocals and sound, but it also put her rather manic personal life under further scrutiny. I suppose that's the price you pay for celebrity. I wish I could say it's possible to separate her personal life from her art, but Winehouse doesn't seem to want it that way. "Rehab" is not just a song, it's her experience.

I like the sound of this album, the tribute to '60s soul and jazz. Mark Ronson did a fantastic job with the production. What I like even more is the modern twist Winehouse gives to these songs. They may sound as if they are from 40 or 50 years ago, but she's singing about things of her generation and using language mom and dad would not approve of. It's Motown with a modern view and it comes very natural to Winehouse. She has a big voice, one that is surprising coming from such a little person, and despite the booze and blues, is very likable. I have doubts that we'll hear much more from her, but she's left us with a pretty great record.

best of the '00s, pt. 2

In response to a Paste magazine article, I've been listing what I feel to be the best 50 albums of the past decade, in no particular order. Here are 45 through 41.




45. Battles - Mirrored (2007)

Have you ever wondered what it might sound like if the Chipmunks were robots from outer space sent to earth to free computers from doing our bidding so that they might pursue their true passion of performing music? Then the Chipmunks form a band with the newly emancipated computers, giving us a strange combination of live instruments, machine blips and pulses and those famous tiny vocals? Well, look no further.

Mirrored is just plain madness. It's easily one of my favorite records of the decade and it's hard to describe exactly what it is. Essentially, I suppose, it is loops. It's one endless loop after another after another, piled high until a machine is formed that dances, sings and flexes. It's layers of drums, guitar sounds, synth sounds and over processed vocals that are highly calculated and assembled like a clock. Some call it "math" rock. Others call it "nerd" rock. I call it brilliant. If I could make or perform music, this is the kind of band I would want to be in.

I think it's safe to say that there is not another record on the planet that sounds like this. This day in age, that's truly an accomplishment. Many name "Atlas" as the album's best composition. It is a microcosm of the bands sound. One listen to "Atlas" and you know what they're working with. It's a bit bizarre so, it might take a couple of listens to truly appreciate it, but it weaves those layers into a bouncing rhythm. It sounds like the kind of rock music the Umpa Lumpas would have worked to. Much later in the album, "Trij" does the same, if not better job, of starting with nothing and adding one thing after another to create the tapestry of Battles best.

The drums on Mirrored are simply jaw dropping. Everything this band does with instruments is run through a computer or processor of some sort, except for the drums. John Stainer (formerly of Helmet) might as well be a machine though. The precision with which he drums is amazing. I saw the band perform at Johnny Brenda's here in Philly last year and was awestruck at his powers. Check out his control on "Tonto" or his pace on "Rainbow". It's flawless.

Also check out the video for "Tonto". Pretty great stuff.






44. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory (2004)

Yeah, you'd heard of the White Stripes. You'd heard their version of the blues and classic rock, and you may have thought that the Black Keys were just some copy cat band attempting to ride the success of the Whites. At least, that's what I thought, until I really listened to Rubber Factory. While Jack White injects his own experimental tendencies into the way-back-when sounds of the Stripes, the Black Keys are a bit more pure in their tribute to classic blues acts of the past. Their two albums prior, Thickfreakness and The Big Come Up are straight up blues records with a vintage sound. Rubber Factory keeps that vintage sound as the core and expands the duo's sound at the same time.

There is no departure here. The change in their sound is subtle. Dan Auerbach is still shredding and Patrick Carney is still pounding, but they seem to have developed more control which adds to the landscape of their sound. They incorporate additional instruments, more so than previous releases. "The Lengths" features an acoustic guitar, in addition to Auerbach's slid and is distinctly different from the blazing records they've laid down in the past. "When the Lights Go Out" has more atmosphere then we'd hear from them before, painting a mental image of the woods at dusk. "Act Nice and Gentle" is so very friendly, sounding more southern than I recall them being before.

With this album the band elevated their indie following while continuing to pay homage to the classic rock and blues legends of the past. It was a record that drew more attention to the band who have earned a following from a variety of folks like Danger Mouse (who later produced the bands 5th album Attack & Release), Robert Plant and now, Damon Dash, with whom they've released a hip hop record under the name Blakroc featuring guest vocals from the likes of Mos Def, RZA, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Ludacris and the late Ol Dirty Bastard. Now that's branching out.




43. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)

Forget the Joy Division comparisons for a moment. There are some bands who create an underground movement. There are others who attempt to take advantage of a trend. Then there are bands who so clearly define what the trend is about that it's impossible for others to have greater success. Here we have the album that is the peak of the post-punk revival. You can forget about trying to top it. If you were in a post-punk band in New York not named the Strokes, you probably felt your hopes crushed under the dark, menacing steam roller of Bright Lights.

Paul Banks voice was made for this band, this sound. If you don't believe me, take a listen to his solo effort, Julian Plenti is...Skyscraper. It's Interpol without the atmosphere. Banks' detached, unemotional vocals and Interpol's dark rumbling, their waterfall of epic guitar drone, are the perfect combination. It's no surprise that folks want to call them the new British invasion. It's understandable to want to make Paul Banks the new Ian Curtis (without the tragedy, we hope). What's different, however, is the feeling behind the music. Turn on the Bright Lights is the soundtrack to a love story, one born in the shadows to someone wholly unequipped of taking the pain out of the joy. Listen to "Obstacle 2" and tell me I'm wrong. Where Joy Division is minimal, where they are absent, Interpol is overflowing with both sound and feeling.

It's yet to be seen exactly how far Interpol can develop the sound started here, but I don't think it can be argued that this was an important record.




42. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)

No laughing. Regardless of how you feel about Mr. Timberlake and his career thus far, you've danced to a song from this album. And if you haven't yet, you will. It's infectious. But, while Timberlake has a decent set of pipes, it's Timbaland's production that really make this one shine.

I've always felt like Timbaland's beats are from the future, but for the most part have been wasted on lack luster talent like Magoo, Petey Pablo and Bubba Sparxxx. I've never quite understood that. Why can't one of the premier beat makers of our time get folks who can actually rhyme to sign with him? Fortunately for us, Timbo seems to have the right chemistry with Justin (whose also given production credits). Maybe it was Justin's input or a new freedom was given with this album, but Timbaland's work is slick and shiny and sounds like it's from the year 2016. Up until this point his work has always had a certain distinguishable quality to it. The hum of his own monotone voice usually serves as a part of the rhythm, which you can still find here and there on FutureSex/LoveSounds in tracks like "Losing My Way". If it's not his voice, Timbaland will typically find another to sample into the beat, like the baby coos on "My Love" or the yeahs thrown into "Sexyback". Historically, he also uses a distinct synth sound in just about every one of his productions. That's true for this album too, but it's all streamlined, ready to travel through time and dazzle like a hyperactive disco ball.

When I first heard this album I thought it would change hip-hop, r&b and pop music to come with the way it stuffs all three together to near perfection. I'm still waiting to find out if I'm right and keeping my fingers crossed that the Timbs are not done mixing things up.

As a side note, I think this is the first and only record my little sister and I both have in our collections.




41. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002)


Of all the albums Paste left off their list, this one surprises me the most. They seem to prefer singer/songwriters who make warm, heartfelt music the whole family can appreciate. Norah Jones certainly fits that mold. She has the voice of an older performer and the skills of a seasoned jazz musician, even here on her first album. What I liked most about Come Away With Me, however, is that it rescued us from the countless other talentless solo pop acts taking over music at the time and showed us that simple, well written songs by a singer who can actually play and perform music still sells.

This album was a tremendous commercial success, earning Jones six Grammy Awards and at the time I felt a victory had been won for music everywhere. Take that Britney! Jones' talent is clear in this blend of jazz, country and pop. I'm not really sure what else to say. It's just good old fashioned song writing. It's soft and tender and honest and quite pretty. The title track makes me want to curl up next to the fire. "The Nearness of You" is just Norah and her piano and it causes me to still, to close my eyes. It's a solid disc that saved us, temporarily, from being taken over by another lip syncing embarrassment.