Music of the decade
Seems to me as if 'best albums of the decade' lists are cropping up everywhere lately. There's NME's top 100 albums of the decade, NPR's 50 Most Important Recordings, The A.V. Club's best music of the decade ...
I'm tempted to make a list of my own but it'll be cluttered with bands I like (not that this one isn't!). Instead I'll give you a list of the best records I've listened in the past years. If you know me a little, this list is VERY predictable, hah. They're not ranked in order or anything. I'm pretty much writing as I go... oh, and I haven't included best scores because film music deserves its own list :)
Grizzly Bear, Yellow House/Veckatimest
I've only got Veckatimest recently so I'd better hold my horses. But when I first listened to it, I knew; that it was one of the most beautiful, poetic records I'd ever heard. It's full of subtle and delightful notes. It's almost like walking in a dream. An odd one, too. Yellow House, their previous album, is in every aspect as good as the new one. I REALLY can't decide which one I like best. But the idea is: Grizzly Bear is awesome.
Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Life-defining stuff. It's all so dramatic with all the trumpets and being at sea and the crazy singer. Oh and Johnny Marr joined the band for this one. Yes the guitarist from the Smiths! I love the insanity and genius of it all. All the songs are worth listening to, it takes you places..
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
Oh, of course I was going to mention Coldplay! So yeah they're a massive band and blah blah Gwyneth Paltrow. I still love the guitar riffs.
And honestly, Politik as an opener is HUGE. There hasn't been such a meaningful album since then. It's sincere, that's what I love the most about it.
Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
Yes well, that was predictable too. The drums are incredible for one. And it could have easily been a sort of annoying, pretentious album, but I reckon it's Alex Turner's finest songwriting. It's full of unhappy memories, it's almost hard to say why. Intelligent texts + maturity + that irresistibly entertaining sound = the most amazing album.
Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
I wasn't too much into it at first. It seemed a bit 'meh' to me. Not enough sound, maybe. But it GROWS on you that record, that's what it does. It's terrible.
It's not happy-bubbly music, really. Can't really dance to it. But it's a very intimate, almost pervasive album. You'll almost end up crying because it's so beautiful.
Arcade Fire, Funeral
Who could ever forget that record? It's impossible to define what Arcade Fire really is. So much melancholy and craziness in this album.
The best in this record are the little details, the little notes, that make it so perfect. And sad at the same time.
Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
The album that changed everything.. It's big sound, I have to say. Enpowering stuff. But sooo very enjoyable!
And I've never heard so many good tracks at the beginning of an album (Knocked Up, Charmer, On Call...).
Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism
Oooh classic one. Yes I know. It's been used in every teenage TV show ever made.
But come ooon, it's Transatlanticism. It's overwhelming listening to the song itself. So much emotion, but in a good way.. Some songs are rather happy but other than that, it's an avalanche of very sad, low-key sounds.
Radiohead, OK Computer
But of course this one was going to make it! Listening to it is like reuniting with an old friend :)
Everything's been said about Radiohead being the best band in the world, so innovative etc. It's not my belief, but I still reckon this album is outstanding by any standards. It's genuine and intense.
The Strokes, Is This It
It was hard to pick out one of their three albums! But the first one is such a symbol, it's such an adventure, the beginning it seems.
It's a celebration of being young, of our generation, of new times. I love it to bits. It's going to stay in people's minds for a long time I think. No wonder it's made every best music of the decade list. It's because it is!!
So that's it for now. Why haven't I included Sufjan Stevens, the Kaiser Chiefs, Muse, the Killers, Franz Ferdinand etc? It's because I've tended to single out songs on their albums, not the entire record. Hot Fuss and Illinoise almost made it to be honest.
Image credit: Wikipedia
I feel like I will be making a lot of lists on this LJ :)
See you later, innovator!
I'm tempted to make a list of my own but it'll be cluttered with bands I like (not that this one isn't!). Instead I'll give you a list of the best records I've listened in the past years. If you know me a little, this list is VERY predictable, hah. They're not ranked in order or anything. I'm pretty much writing as I go... oh, and I haven't included best scores because film music deserves its own list :)
Grizzly Bear, Yellow House/Veckatimest
I've only got Veckatimest recently so I'd better hold my horses. But when I first listened to it, I knew; that it was one of the most beautiful, poetic records I'd ever heard. It's full of subtle and delightful notes. It's almost like walking in a dream. An odd one, too. Yellow House, their previous album, is in every aspect as good as the new one. I REALLY can't decide which one I like best. But the idea is: Grizzly Bear is awesome.
Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Life-defining stuff. It's all so dramatic with all the trumpets and being at sea and the crazy singer. Oh and Johnny Marr joined the band for this one. Yes the guitarist from the Smiths! I love the insanity and genius of it all. All the songs are worth listening to, it takes you places..
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
Oh, of course I was going to mention Coldplay! So yeah they're a massive band and blah blah Gwyneth Paltrow. I still love the guitar riffs.
And honestly, Politik as an opener is HUGE. There hasn't been such a meaningful album since then. It's sincere, that's what I love the most about it.
Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
Yes well, that was predictable too. The drums are incredible for one. And it could have easily been a sort of annoying, pretentious album, but I reckon it's Alex Turner's finest songwriting. It's full of unhappy memories, it's almost hard to say why. Intelligent texts + maturity + that irresistibly entertaining sound = the most amazing album.
Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
I wasn't too much into it at first. It seemed a bit 'meh' to me. Not enough sound, maybe. But it GROWS on you that record, that's what it does. It's terrible.
It's not happy-bubbly music, really. Can't really dance to it. But it's a very intimate, almost pervasive album. You'll almost end up crying because it's so beautiful.
Arcade Fire, Funeral
Who could ever forget that record? It's impossible to define what Arcade Fire really is. So much melancholy and craziness in this album.
The best in this record are the little details, the little notes, that make it so perfect. And sad at the same time.
Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
The album that changed everything.. It's big sound, I have to say. Enpowering stuff. But sooo very enjoyable!
And I've never heard so many good tracks at the beginning of an album (Knocked Up, Charmer, On Call...).
Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism
Oooh classic one. Yes I know. It's been used in every teenage TV show ever made.
But come ooon, it's Transatlanticism. It's overwhelming listening to the song itself. So much emotion, but in a good way.. Some songs are rather happy but other than that, it's an avalanche of very sad, low-key sounds.
Radiohead, OK Computer
But of course this one was going to make it! Listening to it is like reuniting with an old friend :)
Everything's been said about Radiohead being the best band in the world, so innovative etc. It's not my belief, but I still reckon this album is outstanding by any standards. It's genuine and intense.
The Strokes, Is This It
It was hard to pick out one of their three albums! But the first one is such a symbol, it's such an adventure, the beginning it seems.
It's a celebration of being young, of our generation, of new times. I love it to bits. It's going to stay in people's minds for a long time I think. No wonder it's made every best music of the decade list. It's because it is!!
So that's it for now. Why haven't I included Sufjan Stevens, the Kaiser Chiefs, Muse, the Killers, Franz Ferdinand etc? It's because I've tended to single out songs on their albums, not the entire record. Hot Fuss and Illinoise almost made it to be honest.
Image credit: Wikipedia
I feel like I will be making a lot of lists on this LJ :)
See you later, innovator!