Top Records of the "Aughties"

As promised to both of my loyal blog readers (if I have even that many), here is my Top 10 of the "aughties", which to those of you keeping score at home is top records for the last decade. Let's get started by ranking things that I really liked first. My favorites of the last 10 years.

1. The Wrens - The Meadowlands - (2003) I didn't come to this record 'til 2005 and when I did, it really took me by storm. It wasn't like I succumbed to the hype. I bought it by word of mouth, saw 'em live, then read all the praise the record got. Very deservedly so. Buy it on vinyl from the band!

2. Drive by truckers - Southern Rock Opera - (2001) Great concept record about living in the south, Skynard, and going to rock shows, among other things. It's a double CD, an opus. By the end of the decade this bit had kinda worn thin with me with DBT but this record stands out on it's own. If your in the same boat as me, give it a listen . . . again.

3. Son Volt - Okemah and the Melody of Riot - (2005) Are ya looking for a good Americana rock record? This is my suggestion and scathing lyrics against the Bush administration and the 2003 Iraq Invasion. It's a modern day protest record.

Bruce_Springsteen - Magic - (2007) Though "The Rising" is strong, I liked this one better. Great melodies, key changes, sax solos, character angst, wait, am I reviewing "The River"? A compact 12 songs on one vinyl record. Includes two of Springsteen's better songs in recent years, "You'll Be Coming Down" and "Your Own Worst Enemy".

4. Okkervil River - Black-Sheep-Boy (2005) - Like many others, this was my intro to Okkervil River. One of the more powerful songs of the decade is "For Real". Go see 'em live!

5..Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)- (2001) Perhaps one of my favorite records of all time. "April the 14th (Part 1)" is a history lesson onto itself.

6. The_Black_Keys - ThickFreakness - (2003) A little late to the party with this band but am I glad I found them. All their records are good so I guess this was a "just pick one".

7. Gentleman Jesse His Men/ - self titled (2008) Great guitar pop record. Period.

8. Centro-matic - Love You Just the Same(2003) Will Johnson is probably one of the more underrated songwriters of this decade. Oddly, the other underrated songwriter from this decade is Okkervil River's Will Sheff.

9. The Eels - Soul Jacker (2001) Two words, "You little punks think you own this town!"

10. We'll call it a three way tie for tenth place

Richard Buckner - The Hill (2000)

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

Others bearing at least some consideration:

Paul Westerberg - Stereo/Mono

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (someday I'll prolly laugh at this omission from my top 10)

The White Stripes - pick any record and put it on

Beck - Sea Change

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cold Roses

The Roots - Phrenology

Okkervil River - The Stage Names

Calexico - Carried to Dust

By my lastfm counts (which is linked in the margins, click 'em) here are the records I listened to most via lastfm. Keep in mind, it may be a little skewed since I didn't start scrobbling til late 2005. Also, one song played on an album counts as an "album play". So if a song is included on a playlist, for example, the "album" the song is on gets a play count. If that makes sense.

1. The Wrens - The Meadowlands

2. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

3. South San Gabriel - Dual Hawks

4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

5. Calexico - Carried to Dust

6. Bruce Springsteen - Magic

7. Son Volt - Okemah and the Melody of Riot

8. Son Volt - American Central Dust

9. Radiohead - In Rainbows

10. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

11. The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music

12. Raconteurs - Consolors of the Lonely

13. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll

14. Pink Nasty - Mold the Gold

15. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day

Top Ten Records 2009

Before we get too far into the month, I better do a quickie write-up of my Top Ten records of 2009. My main criteria for making such lists? What did I listen to most. Now, with any list I have creative license to change it, rearrange it, and this time next year, in 5 years, or 10 years, mock it. But as I sit here on a frigid January morning, these are my Top Ten Records for 2009. Hey kids, look for my Top Ten Records for the "aughties" in the near future too!

10. "Hombre Lobo" - The_Eels- There some people I listen to and I think, "Gosh, this guy could just wake up and write great songs." Mark Everett, a.k.a. "E" of The Eels is one of those guys. He writes dark songs about suicide that sound like sunny pop songs. They rock out on this record I prefer their mellower songs like "That Look You Gave That Guy" also, from this record. And, no, the record doesn't come in a humidor!

9. "Vulture Whale" - "Vulture Whale" - Get yer rawk show clothes on for Vulture Whale! Raw live sounding band outta Birmingham Alabama reminds me a little of early Faces. You can download their new EP for free! Check 'em out! www.vulturewhale.com/

8. "Together Through Life" - Bob Dylan - What more can be said regarding The Bard that hasn't already been said? Some may say he looks like an old wrinkled up prune but I think he's aging gracefully and if all geezer rock stars from the 60's continue to release records like this in their 60's we'll live in a good musical universe. Members of Los Lobos contribute.

7. "21st Century Breakdown" - Green Day - The hipster doofus in me tells me I can't put Green Day on my Top Ten. Well, I'm tellin' *that* guy to go to h-e-double guitar neck! Never was much of a fan, sure I'd listen to the hits, and own the best of disc, but with these last two records they've written music for people like me, fwiw. It's maybe one or two power ballads too heavy but hey, they gotta please the kids still. For those who cited references from The Who

with this record download their cover of "A Quick One (While He's Away) from iTunes.

6. "March of the Zapotec/Real Holland People" - Beirut - This is a two record set by band leader Zachary Congdon. The first record was recorded with native Mexican musicians from Oaxoca Mexico. It sounds fantastic but not like a mariachi band but not like Cafe Tacuba either. The second record is more electronic music. It works for me.

5. "Post-Nothing" - Japandroids - Here's a record released by a duo. But don't you go thinkin' they're like; Hall and Oates, Sonny and Cher and Simon and Garfunkle. Wrong 'Em Boyo! Think more along the lines of more recent duos like Local H, The White Stripes, or the Black Keys. Probably the most rockin record on this list.

4. "Veckatmist" - Grizzley Bear - Someone recently asked how you pronounce this record. I have no idea. It's hard enough to spell. Perhaps a critics darling of a record but I found it to my liking as well. Should I use critic-speak here? "Lush harmonies with Pet Sounds like production bring out the pop sensibilities in the thoughtful lyrics".

3. "At the Cut" - Vic Chesnutt - It pains me to say "the late Vic Chesnutt" but this is really a strong record. You can read a little more of what I wrote regarding his passing a couple blog entries below. His estate still has a slew of medical bills, you can donate donate here if you wish. Buy his records too. Well, *buy* all of your music!

2. American Central Dust - Son_Volt - Son Volt may not be a household name but I foresee big things from this band. Chuckle. Really. One of these days a "hat country" artist is gonna cover one of their songs and it's gonna be a big hit. Another scenario I have is that they have great fame after the fact like Skip Spence or Nick Drake. I just hope it's not posthumous for Jay's sake. Great history lesson with "Sultana" and my personal favorite song is, "No Turning Back"

1. "One False Move or I'm Gone" - Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard - Great record by two dudes moonlighting from their day jobs, Farrar from Son Volt and Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie. Jack Keruac's "Big Sur" is their muse. Outstanding.

My Top 10 Records of 2008

Here is a not so quick run down of some of my favorite records of this past year.  I would say it was a pretty decent year for music.  If you continue to say that today's music is awful, you aren' t looking hard enough.  There's a lot of great music out there, you just have to search for it.  For some of you reading this, I know I am preaching to the choir.

1.  Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse

Rockin' little power pop record with great sing-a-long choruses, jangly guitars, and wonderful harmonies.  Here is his myspace page:  http://www.myspace.com/gentlemanjesse

2.  Foxboro hot tubs - An alter-ego to a more famous band.  Look them up and then buy the record.  Turn it up!  The website has a cool picture of the record cover

3.  Calexico. - Carried to Dust

Emotional output from Tucson's finest.  Joey Burns and John Convertino are truly masters of their craft.  How do you classify Calexico?  You can't really, literate lyrics, masterful instrumentation, spanish lyrics, whistling, hard to top.  Find them on Quarterstick records

4.  Okkervil_River - The Stand Ins

Singer-songwriter Will Sheff never ceases to amaze with his songwriting.  Quite possibly one of the great living songwriters of this time.  It's a shame he's not a household name.  Buy it on viny!  okkervilriver.com

5.  Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies 

Jangly guitars, harmonies, this is what Matthew Sweet does best and this record is no different.  Those of you with just "Girlfriend" may have to pay a vist to this record.  The vinyl has 4 bonus tracks.  Also, a nice picture of Jeff Goldblum in the gatefold!

6.  The_Black_Keys - Attack and Release

Criminally under-rated not only in the "2 piece hard-rockin' outfit" genre but under-rated in the rock world as a whole.  Dangermouse handles the production duties.

7.  The_Raconteurs - Consolors of the Lonely 

Jack White and Brendan Benson's 4 piece ode the classic 60's and 70's rock.

8.  Head_of_Femur - Great Plains

Is there a trend here with me with pop, or power-pop records?  This one is no exception other than it is exceptional.  Download "Covered Wagons"

9.  Centro-Matic - Dual Hawks

Double album by Centro-matic and their alter-ego South_San_Gabriel with SSG being the more melow of the two.  Another great song-writer named "Will" is in this band in the form of Will Johnson.

10.  Will Quinlan - Navasota

Anyone here looking for 1997 era alt.-country?  This gem truly captures the moment of that time.  They'd have been the "No Depression" cover boys instead of that bratty Adams kid.  ;-)

Here is another blog entry that I could only hope to write:  http://www.hearya.com/2008/11/14/will-quinlan-and-the-diviners-navasota/

Nice long url I got there, right?  

Well, there they are, thanks for reading and even reading this far down the page.  Ask me tomorrow what my Top 10 may look like and it may have3,4 or 8 different entries.  Enjoy your day and most importanly . . . Enjoy the Music!

Other records that warrant consideration for this list

Dr. Dog - Fate

Deerhunter - Microcastle

The 49 minute Paul Westerberg Amazon download

Nada Surf - Lucky

Jay Reatard - Matador '08 singles

Sea and Cake

Vampire Weekend

British Sea Power

Fleet Foxes