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.
For 50-41 (Part 6), click HERE.
For 40-31 (Part 7), click HERE.
For 30-21 (Part 8), click HERE.
20) Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
Put quite simply, Stankonia is the album that transformed this Atlanta hip-hop duo into one of greatest acts of all time. This record got the ball rolling for Andre 3000 and Big Boi, who followed up with the near perfect Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. In an time when Southern rap oozed mediocrity (Juvenile, B.G., Hot Boys), this band was a breath of fresh air. And who would have thought these guys were clairvoyant? Three years before the Iraq debacle, Outkast rocked our world with the jarring anthem "Bombs Over Baghdad". But it didn't stop there. Follow-up R&B-inspired singles "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean" occupied some pretty prime real estate on the Billboard charts a year later. Stankonia never got even one bad review -- chalking up an unheard of 95 score on Metacritic.
19) Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
Seattle's Fleet Foxes are perhaps the most exciting new band of the year (yes, more so than Vampire Weekend). And sure, it might be a little bold to throw these guys in the top 20, but I have this much faith that we are going to be hearing great things from this band for years to come. If you take a listen to their self-titled debut, you'll discover that this band is mature beyond their years. They've definitely done all their homework in Neil Young 101, and have already learned to perfect a country/folk sound that rivals even the mighty My Morning Jacket. Combine this with the songwriting sincerity of Mark Kozelek, and you get a band that's pretty difficult to criticize.
18) Queens of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf (2002)
When Queens of The Stone Age's Rated R was released in 2000, I remember reading in numerous publications that this was a band to watch. And although these guys scored some radio credentials with "The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret," their breakout album went largely unnoticed by the general public. But this must have only fueled the band's creative fire. Josh Homme and gang went on a tear with their follow-up magnum opus, Songs For Deaf. Recruiting Dave Grohl for drumming duties, the band put on a rock and roll clinic that spawned several smash singles that included "No One Know," "Go With The Flow," and "First It Giveth". Unfortunately all this success couldn't prevent the internal drama. The only other original member, bassist Nick Oliveri, was kicked out of the band shortly after Songs For The Deaf hit it big.
17) The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (2008)
I think I've made my sentiments abundantly clear about this album. Stay Positive is my undisputed pick for record of the year. There, I went ahead and said it. I don't care if some critics claim that this one's awfully similar-sounding to their last record; if you've got a great thing going on, why mess around with it? The Hold Steady are everything that's good about music -- excellent songwriting, top-notch musicianship, infectious charisma, zero pretentiousness, and a great attitude. For my (comprehensive) review of Stay Positive click HERE. Nuff said.
16) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
If Stay Positive is this year's pick for record of the year, then Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is 2007's tour de force. This band's consistency is something that should be applauded, and any mainstream exposure they've achieved as of late is definitely well-deserved (the record debuted at #10 on the charts). If you haven't caught these guys on the Letterman or Saturday Night Live circuit, then you've more than likely heard "The Underdog" on the radio or during some obscure movie trailer. And yes, you have heard it before -- the horn section in this song is just too infectious to resist. In case you were wondering, the album's title used to be the temporary name of one of their songs, "The Ghost of You Lingers". They scrapped the nonsensical song title, and instead opted to make it a nonsensical album title.
15) Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)
It's a shame that the commoner will always associate Fountains of Wayne with that song about Stacey's mom (no thanks to those Sunny D commercials). And while there's no denying that this song is as catchy as it is corny, this really doesn't do justice to the album or the band. In all its glory, Welcome Interstate Managers is a loose concept album that follows the doldrums of suburbanites placed in less than ideal situations. Whether it's North Jersey-dwelling contractors, alcoholic sales executives, or recently fired United Airlines employees, Managers perfectly juxtaposes FOW's shimmering power pop with the dark nature of everyday living. We haven't heard three-and-a-half minutes storytelling this perfect since "Eleanor Rigby" or "Oh-Bla-Di, Oh-Bla-Da". By the way, "interstate manager" is a nice way of saying toll taker.
14) Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
Although I may have originally had some reservations about Death Cab's most recent offering, this was hardly the case for this band's 2003 breakout, Transatlanticism. It's no wonder why Ben Gibbard and crew were finally able to break the mold of anonymity from their first three disappointing efforts. Transtlanticism is much more emotionally charged than some of Death Cab's earlier work and this allows the band to soar, as evidenced on standout songs "The New Year", "Title and Registration," and "The Sound of Settling". This album soon became a cult smash thanks in part to its content's inclusion on countless movie and television soundtracks. Before long, it would go gold. Their 2005 follow-up, Plans, is not a particularly bad record, but certainly doesn't have the same consistency as Transatlanticism.
13) Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
(2005)You've got artists who come out with concept albums, and then you've got Sufjan Stevens. After releasing a record entirely dedicated to the people, places, and things from his home state of Michigan in 2003, Stevens decided it would be a good idea to keep the state thing going. In 2005, he released Illinois to unanimously positive acclaim. In fact, if you look at its score on Metacritic, you'll see it's the best-rated album of that year. And quite frankly, it's not too difficult to see why. This album is a musical explosion -- frequently utilizing strings, horns, and harmonized vocals. Illinois was so well-received, that a year later, Sufjan released an album of songs that just didn't quite make the cut. There's no resting on laurels, however. Stevens has made the bold assertion that he plans on releasing an album dedicated to each of the 50 states. He better get back to work.
12) Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
The Arcade Fire are a really strange band for me. When I first heard this record back in college, it didn't really do anything for me. I thought, "eh". But after it was received as the best thing since sliced bread, I gave it another shot and then gradually became hooked. It goes without saying that I expected big things for last year's follow-up, "Neon Bible". And despite critics' overflowing positive feedback a second time around, I didn't think it was anything special. But then again, I guess one out of two ain't bad. I've never seen this army of a band in concert, but supposedly it is quite the spectacle. Hey, if Springsteen thinks highly of the Arcade Fire, maybe there's something I'm missing.
11) Elliott Smith - Figure 8 (2000)
Although From A Basement On The Hill was nearly completed at the time of his death, many consider Figure 8 to be Elliott Smith's last official album. After releasing several amazingly stripped down, simplistic records, this was definitely the most ambitious effort of Smith's tragically short career. Unlike most of Smith's catalog, Figure 8 features complex instrumentation and detailed arrangements as evidenced on the remarkable "Son of Sam". While this one garnered some mixed reviews at first, Figure 8 has aged like a fine wine. Like most of rock's legends, Elliott left us way too soon.
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