Gabe’s Top 9 Albums of the Decade
*cross-posted from my Facebook*
There have been a literal f***-ton of Top 10 lists being released around this time of the month. Not just "of the Year" lists, but because there are two digits changing on December 31st, we also get to suffer through "of the Decade" lists.
So why not toss my humble opinions into the ring?
And just to be different, I'll knock a slot off the list to make it a Top 9.
And oh, how tough it is to narrow it down to 9. I don't often listen to albums start-to-finish, so the ones presented here are those that I make a point to.
There have been a literal f***-ton of Top 10 lists being released around this time of the month. Not just "of the Year" lists, but because there are two digits changing on December 31st, we also get to suffer through "of the Decade" lists.
So why not toss my humble opinions into the ring?
And just to be different, I'll knock a slot off the list to make it a Top 9.
And oh, how tough it is to narrow it down to 9. I don't often listen to albums start-to-finish, so the ones presented here are those that I make a point to.
#9: Scatman John - Listen to the Scatman (2001)
Posthumously released two years after John Larkin's death from cancer, this album was compiled from recordings made all the way back to 1986. Instead of being buried in synths and drum machines, Scatman's voice and piano truly thrive when playing jazz unencumbered. For an example of Larkin's phenomenal scat-singing, listen to So What, but my favourite on the album is Last Night I Dreamed. Hard to find, but definitely worth it.
Posthumously released two years after John Larkin's death from cancer, this album was compiled from recordings made all the way back to 1986. Instead of being buried in synths and drum machines, Scatman's voice and piano truly thrive when playing jazz unencumbered. For an example of Larkin's phenomenal scat-singing, listen to So What, but my favourite on the album is Last Night I Dreamed. Hard to find, but definitely worth it.
#8: Against Me! - New Wave (2007)
This was the album that opened my ears to the fact that good music HAD been made since Freddie Mercury's death. Thanks to Bryan for passing it along to me. I don't think there is a particularly weak song on the whole album. From the power ballad Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart to the snarling heaviness of Animal, it's a great set of tracks.
This was the album that opened my ears to the fact that good music HAD been made since Freddie Mercury's death. Thanks to Bryan for passing it along to me. I don't think there is a particularly weak song on the whole album. From the power ballad Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart to the snarling heaviness of Animal, it's a great set of tracks.
#7: Barenaked Ladies - Maroon (2000)
Tough pick here; I've been listening to Everything to Everyone and Are Men as well, but this one wins out on the strength of a few songs. Not just the singles, but the album tracks like the winking social commentary of Sell Sell Sell, the oddly melancholic Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep At The Wheel, and what may very well be my favourite BNL track of all, Baby Seat.
Tough pick here; I've been listening to Everything to Everyone and Are Men as well, but this one wins out on the strength of a few songs. Not just the singles, but the album tracks like the winking social commentary of Sell Sell Sell, the oddly melancholic Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep At The Wheel, and what may very well be my favourite BNL track of all, Baby Seat.
#6: Peter Katz and the Curious - More Nights (2007)
Fell in love with the guy's music when he played Wilf's back in 2006, and it's just as good here committed to CD. It's more low-key than his live act, but the extra polishing and production values help. Personal favourite off the album is Pictures, which will never see airplay on radio due to the one swear word in the chorus. He's got a new album coming out soon, though - I've already pre-ordered it.
Fell in love with the guy's music when he played Wilf's back in 2006, and it's just as good here committed to CD. It's more low-key than his live act, but the extra polishing and production values help. Personal favourite off the album is Pictures, which will never see airplay on radio due to the one swear word in the chorus. He's got a new album coming out soon, though - I've already pre-ordered it.
#5: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (2006)
I know, I know, they're little emo sh**s. But they pretended to be Queen for an album, and sounded more like Queen than the actual remnants of the band (why The Cosmos Rocks isn't on the list). They do get a little angsty in the early half of the album, but there are some gems to be discovered. The swinging House of Wolves, the strident Famous Last Words, but the true masterpiece is Teenagers, a perfect piece of low-slung rock swagger.
I know, I know, they're little emo sh**s. But they pretended to be Queen for an album, and sounded more like Queen than the actual remnants of the band (why The Cosmos Rocks isn't on the list). They do get a little angsty in the early half of the album, but there are some gems to be discovered. The swinging House of Wolves, the strident Famous Last Words, but the true masterpiece is Teenagers, a perfect piece of low-slung rock swagger.
#4: The Who - Endless Wire (2006)
24 years in coming, but in my opinion worth the wait. The first half of the album is hit-and-miss, but the mini-rock opera "Wire and Glass" that resides on the second half is the best the band's sounded in a long time. Daltrey's voice has taken a little step back, but Townshend's lyrics are as good as ever - check out Two Thousand Years for two old farts having fun for once, and Mirror Door for this album's "Tommy moment."
24 years in coming, but in my opinion worth the wait. The first half of the album is hit-and-miss, but the mini-rock opera "Wire and Glass" that resides on the second half is the best the band's sounded in a long time. Daltrey's voice has taken a little step back, but Townshend's lyrics are as good as ever - check out Two Thousand Years for two old farts having fun for once, and Mirror Door for this album's "Tommy moment."
#3: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Streetcore (2003)
Another posthumous album, but the former lead singer/guitarist for the Clash put his heart and soul into this album. Whenever I heard the album opener on my laptop, I had to turn off Shuffle and listen to the whole thing right through. The thing is excellent start to end, from the Johnny Cash homage Long Shadow to the semi-apocalypse of Burning Streets. It's the album finale Silver and Gold that has the emotional impact here; "I've got to hurry up before I grow too old."
Another posthumous album, but the former lead singer/guitarist for the Clash put his heart and soul into this album. Whenever I heard the album opener on my laptop, I had to turn off Shuffle and listen to the whole thing right through. The thing is excellent start to end, from the Johnny Cash homage Long Shadow to the semi-apocalypse of Burning Streets. It's the album finale Silver and Gold that has the emotional impact here; "I've got to hurry up before I grow too old."
#2: Andrew WK - I Get Wet (2001)
This might seem as an odd choice to most mainstream folks, but the album radiates sheer positivity. This is metal with a teeth-baring grin, an album that is so densely layered with guitars and vocals that it sounds like it could have been recorded at the parties it so adored. AWK shouts-growls-sings his way through the more popular, fast-paced songs like Party Hard and She Is Beautiful, but my personal favourite is the eternally-motivating Got To Do It. I just can't be in a dour mood when this album is played.
And the #1 album of the decade in my humble opinion is....
This might seem as an odd choice to most mainstream folks, but the album radiates sheer positivity. This is metal with a teeth-baring grin, an album that is so densely layered with guitars and vocals that it sounds like it could have been recorded at the parties it so adored. AWK shouts-growls-sings his way through the more popular, fast-paced songs like Party Hard and She Is Beautiful, but my personal favourite is the eternally-motivating Got To Do It. I just can't be in a dour mood when this album is played.
And the #1 album of the decade in my humble opinion is....
#1 - David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008)
This was the album that convinced me of David Byrne's talent. This was the album that compelled me to seek out his work with Talking Heads. It is equal parts electronic funk, pop, gospel, folk, and all merged together quite excellently. I wish I could get everyone I know to listen to this album from start to finish. Songs like the burbling Poor Boy and parading Life is Long are great, but it's the title track that makes the album for me. GET THIS ALREADY.
And that brings an end of my selections for the Aughts. What are your thoughts about my picks? Got any that would make your list?
This was the album that convinced me of David Byrne's talent. This was the album that compelled me to seek out his work with Talking Heads. It is equal parts electronic funk, pop, gospel, folk, and all merged together quite excellently. I wish I could get everyone I know to listen to this album from start to finish. Songs like the burbling Poor Boy and parading Life is Long are great, but it's the title track that makes the album for me. GET THIS ALREADY.
And that brings an end of my selections for the Aughts. What are your thoughts about my picks? Got any that would make your list?
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