For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.
50) Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (2004)
Halfway through the list, and we pick up with another legendary band in prime form. Last year, Thurston Moore confessed his belief that Sonic Youth's biggest faux-pas was never breaking up. After successful reunions by the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and now even My Bloody Valentine, he hinted that people don't appreciate what they have until it's gone. Thankfully Sonic Youth never threw in the towel because excellent albums such as 2004's Sonic Nurse would never see the light of day -- and this would just be tragic. Peaking at 64 on the Billboard 200, yet topping critics' end of year lists, this trend that pretty much sums up the band's career. At least they get lots of love from this guy.
49) Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)
Austin's Explosions In The Sky pack so much punch in their beautifully orchestrated catalog that they render useless the need for lyrical content. And that's fine with me, because quite frankly, these songs tell stories that voices simply cannot carry. Earth contains only five tracks, yet the shortest clocks in at a mighty eight minutes and seventeen seconds. So in summary, this one does not exactly fit in well with the pop-rock paradigm that is most associated with the TV show-watching audience it's oddly connected to (Friday Night Lights). Yet, Explosions seem to add that extra touch of glory that blends in perfectly with high school football, or any other menial activity for that matter.
48) Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill (2004)
Smith's first posthumous release, From A Basement On The Hill contained the remnants of what was supposed to be the singer/songwriter's studio follow-up to 2000's acclaimed Figure 8. It really is heartbreaking to hear how good this collection of songs is because it conjures up thoughts of all that could have been. This record was originally intended to be a double album, but contractual obligations from DreamWorks prevented it from being released as an independent extended disc. In any case, Basement was completed by Smith's former producer and ex-girlfriend and remains extremely unpolished due to fact that most songs hadn't gotten Smith's final seal of approval at the time of his death. This didn't seem to disappoint fans and critics alike who unanimously praised this one as a fitting swan song.
47) My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (2003)
My Morning Jacket had been around for over five years before experiencing the acclaim that It Still Moves brought them. Their perseverance has since paid off big time, and they've never looked back (and rightfully so). Their third studio album strengthened the band's reputation as being not only one of the best alt-country acts around, but one of the best live acts period. Jim James and gang have been known to rock out ISM favorites "One Big Holiday" and "Run Thru" at most of their gigs -- making them the front runners on even the jam band circuit. I had the privilege to see these guys play the 9:30 Club in D.C. back in 2005. Sucks to know that there is no turning back. Case in point -- they are playing MSG on New Year's.
46) Wolfmother - Wolfmother (2005)
Another potentially controversial pick. But sometimes you just gotta call out good old fashioned rock and roll music when you hear it. The debut from this Australian trio had quite the prolonged stint in my stereo system when it came out, despite having gone through iPod commercial treatment a la Feist and Jet. Some of the guitar riffs on this album are so complex, they will make your head spin. "Dimension" bears a striking similarity to some of the songs on Led Zeppelin II, and it doesn't hurt Andrew Stockdale to have a set of pipes that Robert Plant would be proud of. "Woman," put quite simply, is one of the best pure rock songs of the decade. It's been about three years since this record has come out, so I expect big things on Wolfmother's sophomore release.
45) Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
While we're getting a little mainstream, I might as well throw this one in here. Green Day will always get points in my book because I grew up on Dookie, and this remains one of the greatest albums of all time. Although their popularity waned over the years, Green Day's perseverance paid off handsomely a decade after the release of their smash. American Idiot is a concept album in the purest form and follows the rise and fall of characters "Jimmy," "Whatshername," and the infamous "Jesus of Suburbia". Think punk-rock version of Tommy. The accolades poured in, solidifying Green Day's stance as one of the greatest punk bands of all time. For those anxiously awaiting this band's follow-up, they recently released an album of garage pop rock under the moniker Foxboro Hottubs. Supposedly new material is on the way for Green Day, as Billie Joe has hinted at a potential 2008 release. With all these "surprise" albums popping up, who knows what's in store!
44) Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer's Block (2006)
For a country as cold, isolated, and homogeneous as Sweden is, it sure has its share of kick-ass bands. And while ABBA is experiencing quite the revival this summer, I am unfortunately not referring to them this time around. Stockholm's Peter, Bjorn, and John had been around since 1999, but only recently got some exposure in the States thanks to their excellent third record, Writer's Block. Who cares if this is pop music? And don't let the title fool you. This record's got more catchier hooks bass tournament. Yes...I went there. If you think these guys might be a little too obscure for your liking, I guarantee you've heard the whistly "Young Folks" used in a commercial or TV show -- it's gotten around. Peter left Bjorn and John this year temporarily to pursue a solo album which is actually very good.
43) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
Spawning one of the better debut albums of the decade, Britain's Bloc Party is post-punk band that has a penchant for piercing guitar riffs, jarring rhythms, and a political attitude to boot (just take a look at their name). This band borrows heavily from their predecessors, as indicated by singer Kele Okereke's sincere, Cure-like narratives on tracks like "Blue Light" and arrangements taken out of the book of Gang of Four (see "Helicopters"). This band made headlines recently for Okereke's recent backstage altercations with the Sex Pistols' abrasive (and apparently racist) frontman Johnny Rotten. When it was all said and done, Okereke left the scene with facial bruises and a split lip.
42) Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (2008)
Talk about getting better with age. This Southern rock/alt-country outfit has been cranking out albums for over ten years, culminating with their most recent 19-track opus Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Combining the wailing guitar work of Skynyrd with the songwriting pen of Waylon Jennings, the Truckers hit a home run on the first gem of 2008. Despite the departure of very talented songwriter and guitarist, Jason Isbell, these guys...well...kept on truckin'. Bassist Shonna Tucker fills in some of the gaps, and even lends her vocals to the heartwrenching "I'm Sorry Houston". The band really gets the led out on rockers "3 Dimes Down," and "The Righteous Path".
41) Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)
It's reassuring to know that Spoon have finally been experiencing some commercial success with their most recent effort. This Austin-based indie band has been around since 1993, and has been making fantastic albums since I can remember. Gimme Fiction is no exception to this. Although, at its core, this record is one that is brimming over the top with perfect pop, Spoon deftly incorporates an array of musical elements that makes Fiction equally complex. Synthesizers flirt with acoustic balladeering, strings, and the occasional guitar-driven numbers to make this one as cacophonous as it is harmonious. If this makes sense...
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