The List (Part 3)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.

80) Against Me! - New Wave (2007)
This Florida-based punk rock/folk band has been on the circuit for over a decade, but only recently turned some heads with their fourth release. Signing over to major label Sire, Against Me! recruited Butch Vig to produce a daring album chock full of political undertones. Just listen to the refrain on “From Her Lips to God’s Ears" -- “Condoleezza? What are we gonna do now?” New Wave is also the band's first release to not feature their trademark acoustic touch. Not since The Clash has a band made a punk record that seemed to matter so much. Ben Lee actually does a pretty good cover of this album, so if you're a fan, you need to check it out.


79) Radiohead - Hail To The Thief (2003)
Before Radiohead gave away albums for free, they relied on traditional brick and mortar sales. Well, maybe not this century. 2003's Hail To The Thief was one of the first major releases to suffer tremendously from premature digital leakage. As a result, everyone and their mother had a complimentary copy in their hands months before it hit stores. Fans of the band's earlier material were pleasantly surprised with Thief's sound, as it marked Radiohead's return to guitar-bass-drum realm. Although not nearly as experimentally computerized as Kid A or Amnesiac, the album retained the band's edge as evidenced on the brilliant single "There, There" and album highlights "Sail To The Moon" and "Go To Sleep". They get bonus points for some pretty great album artwork.


78) Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs (2004)
The Beasties' first new release in over six years, the boys got back to the basics in 2004 with their old-school hip-hop homage to the city that bred them. Although Mike D, AdRock, and MCA had been in the game together for over 20 years, this album proved that these guys only got better with age. With samples that included everything from the Sugar Hill Gang to The Dead Boys, this record appealed to MC's, DJ's, and b-boys alike. Although the Beastie Boys have been caught-up experimenting in some crossover endeavors as of late, To The 5 Boroughs is evidence that hip-hop is this trio's lifeblood.


77) Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Rodrigo Y Gabriela (2006)
I appreciate talent when I hear it, and this Mexican duo simply oozes it. If you really want to broaden you musical horizons with some beautiful classical guitar, I highly recommend checking out the self-titled debut by these former Dublin buskers. Rodrigo y Gabriela were literally discovered on the street by Damien Rice, who took them under their wing after he got a whiff of their talent. It truly is unbelievable how harmoniously in-sync these two are when they get up on stage. For those too shy to give these guys a shot, they do unreal covers of "Stairway To Heaven" and Metallica's "Orion".


76) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
Arguably this year's most critically-acclaimed album, this is the first release from indie-folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon under his new pseudonym. Written while sequestered in a Wisconsin cabin during the winter months, this record constantly criss-crosses the fine line between painstaking sincerity and desperate loneliness. Not since Iron & Wine have we witnessed closure spilled so beautifully into one man's lyrics. Definitely a keeper here.


75) Elliott Smith - New Moon (2007)
Considering this album is a collection of demos and b-sides Smith recorded in the mid-nineties, it's a little questionable as to whether this qualifies as being a release from this decade. However, upon further review, this album is just too good to pass up and will consequently be granted an exception. Containing some pretty excellent stripped down versions of some of Smith's more familiar tunes mixed in with a batch of equally brilliant unreleased material, New Moon epitomizes how tragic Smith's premature death truly was to the music world. After listening to few of this compilation's cuts, it's hard to believe that it took this long for these songs to reach the light of day. Just listen to "Whatever (Folk Song in C)," "New Monkey," and "All Cleaned Out," and you'll see why most of today's singer-songwriters could only wish their a-sides could even touch this man's "throwaway" work.


74) The White Stripes - Icky Thump (2007)
As crazy as this sounds, this is the White Stripes album that officially converted me over to the this band. Sure, I was well aware of the praise this duo had been getting for the better part of the decade, but nothing really did it for me until I really sat down and gave Icky Thump a few listens. Maybe it was the emptiness of having no bassist in the band. Or maybe it was the undeniable fact that Jack White has as much talent in his pinky that band mate Meg has in her whole body. Regardless, what they produce together on their most recent effort ain't half bad. Anyone who can bring back the blues as well as Jack does on "Rag & Bone" deserves a coveted spot on this list.


73) The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike! (2004)
I can't think of an album title that is as appropriate as The Go! Team's debut. Put quite simply, Thunder, Lightning, Strike! is an upbeat celebration of sound that brings back nostalgic feelings of comic books, convulsion-worthy action cartoons, and everything else that was glorious about the '80's. This Brighton-based sextet hails from the same stomping grounds as Norman Cook (a.k.a Fatboy Slim) and successfully carries on the tradition that the legendary DJ started over a decade ago. If percussion is your thing, you'll definitely dig that this band comes with a pair of drummers.


72) The Hives - Veni, Vedi, Vicious (2002)
Remember when the "The" bands stormed the scene back in 2001-2002? New York gave us The Strokes, Detroit gave us The White Stripes, and Australia was kind enough to export over The Vines. Taking advantage of this trend, Alan McGee (the man behind Oasis), quickly signed The Hives and re-released Veni, Vedi, Vicious in 2002 (it was originally released in 2000). Combining bombastic late 60's garage rock (a la MC5) with classic 70's punk elements, these Swedes stormed the States with a slew of hits that included "Hate To Say I Told You So," "Main Offender," and "Die, All Right". Since then, the guys have released a couple of equally amazing records that have somehow slipped under our radar. Last year's The Black and White Album may very well be 2007's most underrated record.


71) Kanye West - Graduation (2007)
As recent events will indicate, people either hate to love this guy or love to hate him. I think I will side with the former, because he is one of the rare talents who's music can actually back up an absurd ego. For those of you in the dark, just read about his little Bonnaroo fiasco. But letting the music do the speaking, this is one hell of a hip-hop album. Granted Kanye gets help from a host of musicians on nearly every song here, you can tell he's a perfectionist who will not stop to give his legions of fans his very best. Although some critics thought he lost a step on this effort, this album is his most polished to date.