We've got only a few months left before 2010, and so I think it's probably not too premature to compile my "Best of the Oughts" album list. I was gonna do this as one big post, but it's taking me forever, and I know my legions of fans are anxious for my next post, so I'm splittin' this into two three parts.
Of course, these are just the albums I liked best. There may be others that are better that I haven't heard. But these are the best ones I bought. In alphabetical order:
Apples in Stereo--Velocity of SoundJust about thirty minutes of loud, fast, melodic guitar pop perfection.
The Apples in Stereo - Rainfall
Belle & Sebastian--Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
Okay, Push Barman doesn't really count, since it's a compilation of singles and b-sides that were mostly originally released before the oughts, but it's still a hell of a record with a bunch of their best songs on it. It kinda killed the thrill of finding the singles that weren't included on any album, though. And Dear Catastrophe Waitress, the album that got me into this band in the first place, is Belle and Sebastian's most wide-ranging album. I'd rank "Piazza New York Catcher," "I'm a Cuckoo", "Books" and "Stay Loose" among their best.
Belle And Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Dimmu Borgir-- Death Cult Armageddon
What's that you say? Norwegian Satanic Symphonic Black Metal isn't your thing? Well, that's what I thought, till I heard this record, which features the symphonic stylings of the Prague Symphony Orchestra over Dimmu Borgir's black metal growlings and guitar pummelings. It sounds like the soundtrack of the apocalypse, and it's cool as hell. Lyrics are incomprehensible, delivered in that self-parodying cookie monster style common to most metal bands, but they're all about Satan and stuff, which is a bunch of hooey as far as I'm concerned, but if that bugs you, avoid this record.
02 - Progenies of the great apocalypse
Hawaii Mud Bombers--Mondo Primo
People of the United States! The Swedes are eating our lunch, garage-pop wise. This is a high-energy guitar pop record such as we haven't heard here in...well, a long time. Maybe since the Go-Go's. A bunch of songs about girls, cars, and the beach, it's kinda hard to believe this was produced by Swedes. Not that they don't have girls, cars and beaches in Sweden, but my image of Sweden is Let the Right One In, and the image of this record is more Beach Blanket Bingo. Every song is a catchy, infectious delight.
The Hold Steady--Boys and Girls in America
Singer, uh, Neil Finn? Nah, that's the Crowded House guy. Or his brother, the Split Enz guy. Or were they both in Split Enz? Well, whatever the hell his name is decided singing his lyrics was preferable to declaiming them. Good call resulting in an amazing album, one of those once in a decade masterpieces that they'll probably be living up to for the rest of their careers. You know how people think Springsteen is some kind of bard of Americana whose songs provide keen insights into American life? Well, I like Bruce, but I never quite bought that--but I buy it about this album. It's a window into a stylized world of drug-addled losers that manages to feel both artful and authentic. Oh yeah, and it rocks.
