The List (Part 7)

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

40) Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
There aren't very many modern bands that can carry on the progressive rock torch as well as Muse. And much like forebears Rush, this band is a trio that packs a wall of sound punch in each tune. These guys had been building steady momentum since their first release, Showbiz, in 1999. But they really hit it big with their most recent effort, Black Holes & Revelations, which came out just over two years ago. Spawning a string of hits, which included the expansive "Supermassive Black Hole," the face-melting "Knights of Cydonia," and the radio-friendly Radiohead-sounding "Starlight," this record refused to leave my radar. I'm willing to bet Guitar Hero had a little say in this, but who cares -- this is great stuff. Muse recently released their first live album, called H.A.A.R.P., which is simply epic.


39) Portishead - Third (2008)
Finally! A new Portishead album! Calling this trip-hop group's first release in over a decade "highly-anticipated" is like calling Kanye West "confident". And although diehards themselves doubted this record would ever see the light of day, Third was finally released earlier this year to much fanfare. Was it worth the hype? Absolutely! Third marked the trio's return to the mainstream -- debuting at number 7 on the Billboard charts. This record departed slightly from Portishead's signature trip-hop sound, and instead focused on darker elements often associated with industrial music. The good news is that when it rains, it pours. The band has already completed their promotional touring for Third to begin writing new material for their fourth.


38) Ryan Adams - Gold (2001)
What do Stephen King and I both have in common? Aside from kinda sharing names (my middle name is Stephen), we have an unhealthy obsession with Ryan Adams' music. And sure, when you slice and dice it, Gold is a pop record. But truth be told, it is one of the most well-written albums of the decade. There's a reason "When The Stars Go Blue" has been covered by everyone from The Coors to Tim McGraw. I remember when this album came out, I was a freshman in college and 9/11 just happened. Ryan had filmed the video for the album's first single "New York, New York" on September 7th. The morbid part is that the video featured the singer lip-syncing along the East River with a Twin Towers-adorned skyline behind him. People mistook this irony as a means for exploiting the tragedy for all it was worth. It may have just worked for him. Gold is Adams' best-selling album to date.


37) The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (2005)
The follow-up to their brilliant debut, Separation Sunday is another concept album by The Hold Steady that loosely follows the story arcs of characters "Holly" and "Charlemagne," as introduced on Almost Killed Me. Musically, this one is a little more refined than their first -- exploring complex classic guitar riffs, delving deeper into Franz Nicolay's ivory-tickling abilities, and staying away from the punky verse-chorus-verse formula often implemented on AKM. Separation Sunday is also lyrically more sophisticated -- taking advantage of Craig Finn's witty wordplay while simultaneously squeezing in Springsteen-like storytelling that only gets better on more recent Hold Steady releases.


36) Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
Despite being packaged as an Outkast record, this one is actually comprised of a solo album by each of the group's members. Good thing for Big Boi, because Andre 3000's "Hey Ya" is what really hits this one out of the park. This tune may very well be the number one played song during my college era, but it's one of the rare pop gems that is definitely deserving of its success. As for the rest of the content on the album(s) -- surprise, surprise -- it's Andre 3000 all the way. And although Big Boi's contributions are surely nothing to sneeze at, it's Andre's willingness to step out of the duo's comfort zone that pays off big time. Whereas Speakerboxxx is straight-up Southern hip-hop, The Love Below is unclassifiable -- exploring the depths of hip-hop, funk, rock, and everything in between.


35) M.I.A. - Arular (2005)
Talk about talent! This colorful British-by-way-of-Sri Lanka songstress is also an acclaimed producer, songwriter, and visual artist. And while we are on the subject of unclassifiable music, Ms. Arulpragasam takes it to a whole new level. Mixing in dance and hip-hop elements with punk and dancehall, Arular is perhaps the most original of the decade. The record, which was supposed to be released in 2004, was pushed back nearly six months simply because it was having authorization issues for its heavy sample use. When it finally did come out, M.I.A. turned the music world on its head. She recently played her final concert of the year at Bonnaroo to begin working on a new album, which is schedule for a 2009 release.


34) The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
I remember when this band burst onto the scene 13 years ago with "She Don't Use Jelly". The Flaming Lips had been around for 12 years before they struck it gold with this hooky song about preserves, tangerines, magazines, and well, masturbation. A song this kooky would surely cast these guys off into the depths one-hit wonder exile, right? Wrong! Turns out they were just getting started. Four years after "Jelly," the Lips released the epic The Soft Bulletin, and then three years after that, they came out with the now classic concept album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. A psychedelic electro-rock masterpiece whose songs follow the trials and tribulations of protagonist Yoshimi, this one's arrangements are on the same level as a Dark Side of The Moon. So much so that it has been confirmed that this album will be made into a Broadway musical! Move over ABBA.


33) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
Taking a page out of the Guns 'n Roses handbook, Bright Eyes released two albums on the same day in January of 2005 -- I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. While the latter is largely dismissible, the former is where Conor Oberst and gang really shine. Featuring collaborations along the likes of Jim James and Emmylou Harris, I'm Wide Awake is a folk album for the ages. And although the content of this one isn't exactly sunshine and butterflies (the album begins with a spoken word prologue about a plane crash), the record contains some of the most confessional and heartfelt songs of Oberst's illustrious catalog.


32) Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said by a million people? If the songs on In Rainbows had been garbage, then maybe Radiohead's "pay what you want" stunt wouldn't still be talk of the town in the music world (just an FYI, I gave the guys $5 of my hard-earned cash for this bad boy). In reality, this album is as good as it has ever gotten for Radiohead. Whether it's the whip-fast electro-beat of album opener "15 Step" or the hypnotically bass-heavy "All I Need," this album contains the perfect blend of what was great about rock-laden "Bends-era" Radiohead and experimental "Kid A-era" Radiohead. It's not too raw, and certainly not too contrived. And here's the best part -- after Radiohead basically offered the album for free, it hit number one on the charts (with over 100,000 units sold in the first week) when it was physically released on CD/Vinyl.


31) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell (2003)
Make no mistake about it; the physical aspect of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs show is as important as the music. So much so, that singer Karen O is arguably the most engaging frontwoman since Debbie Harry. But it's not all smoke and mirrors here. If you dissect the brash exterior of each one of the tunes on Fever To Tell, you'll discover some pretty crafty songwriting. "Maps" is one of the most sincere love songs of our time. The only downside to this record is that it ends as soon as it begins. Containing a batch of songs that fall under the three minute mark, this one's got all the underpinnings of a classic punk record. The trio got a little soft on us with their follow-up, Show Your Bones, which is a definitely an acquired taste for traditional YYY fans.

The List (Part 5)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.

60) Interpol - Antics (2004)
The New York foursome's follow-up to a tremendous debut, Antics proved that this "New New Wave" band had more staying power than Joy Division -- the very act that these guys unmistakably mimic. Whether it's Carlos D's thumping bass on tunes like "Evil," Paul Banks' hypnotically monotone singing style on "C'mere" or Daniel Kessler's throbbing punky guitar on leadoff single "Slow Hands," Interpol delivers an album that is wrought with nuances that collectively welcome a throwback sound. This band took indie rock to a new level when it most needed a swift kick in the ass. They returned last year with highly underrated Our Love To Admire.


59) Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (2006)
Often referred to as Scotland's greatest band, these indie rockers certainly have the pop song formula down pat. They kind of reinvent the wheel on this one -- churning out sing-along gems like album standouts, "Funny Little Frog" and "Another Sunny Day," but who says this is a bad thing? If you're ever in a crabby mood, I can't recommend a better band to lift your spirits. The Life Pursuit is the latest from Belle & Sebastian, and is thankfully their most successful to date in the States. It's taken awhile for this stellar band to catch up and it's reassuring to know that they are getting their just due. No word yet of a new album in the works, which is unfortunate.


58) Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
This is the album that started it all for 'Ye. Spawning three top ten hits in "Through The Wire," "All Falls Down," and "Jesus Walks," The College Dropout turned this producer into hip-hop's greatest superstar. And make no mistake about it, Kayne will be the first to agree with this claim. Featuring collaborations with Talib Kweli, John Legend and Jay-Z, The College Dropout is nearly flawless hip-hop and was a breath of fresh air for a genre that was struggling back in '04. Featuring a slew of hooky familiar samples mixed in with Kanye's super-intelligent rhyming scheme, this one set the tone for hip-hop's evolving state in the new century.


57) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (2007)
Named after a spiritual community in Florida, this record is appropriately themed. Oozing all things Americana, this one is Conor Oberst's most folky to date. First single "Four Winds" is one of the best songs of 2007 and features backing vocals from a very talented Maria Taylor. But the cameos don't end there. Cassadaga may very well go down in the record books as having the most collaborations in the history of rock and roll. If you listen carefully, you can also hear M. Ward, Rachael Yamagata, Davind Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and a host of others making their respective contributions. Fun fact: this album comes with a spectral decoder that allows users to uncover hidden phrases in the artwork. This was considered so novel that Cassadaga won a Grammy this year for "Best Recording Package".


56) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (2005)
Ryan Adams' first release with his current band The Cardinals, Cold Roses is a virtual homage to the Grateful Dead and Neil Young. After experimenting with a more rock-oriented sound on previous releases Gold, Rock N Roll, and Love Is Hell, this marked Adams' return to the alt-country realm most associated with Heartbreaker and prior band Whiskeytown. Critics who lampooned Adams for his disconnected and choppy feel on prior albums all agreed that this was a return to form. From the slide-guitar sprawl on cuts like "Let It Ride" and "If I Am A Stranger" to the heartfelt tenderness on "Now That You're Gone" and "Friends," Roses showcases some of the better songwriting of the decade. While we are on the subject of packaging, this record was released as a "vinyl" double-disc set despite the fact that all songs fit on a standard compact disc. Had to throw that out there.


55) Sigur Rós - ( ) (2002)
Yes, you're reading that correctly. Sigur Rós' third studio album is unpronounceable and simply titled using two opposing parentheses. If this isn't cryptic enough, all of the songs on this record are untitled. But hey, if mood music is your thing, naming conventions don't really apply. And plus, unless you are one of like 50,000 people who speak Icelandic, this would just be gibberish anyway. It's the content that matters, and Sigur Rós certainly knocks it out of the park on this one. The first four tracks are optimistically ethereal. After a 36-second pause the mood changes and they get dark and mysterious on us. Those of who saw 2001's Vanilla Sky got a sneak peak at "Untitled #4" -- the song was featured during a crucial moment in the film.


54) The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me (2004)
The debut from what is arguably the best live rock act around, this marked the beginning of four consecutive stellar albums from this Brooklyn-by-way-of-Minneapolis band. Centered around themes of near-death experiences, drug abuse, and youth partying, there hasn't been storytelling this top-notch since early Springsteen albums. And like the Boss' debut, this one is a little unpolished around the edges. But have no fear; it only gets better from here. The Hold Steady was supposedly formed after guitarist Tad Kubler got inspired from watching a DVD of The Band's concert feature The Last Waltz. These guys get some bonus points for being average Joe's.

53) Coldplay - Parachutes (2000)
Before Coldplay became COLDPLAY, they made a little-known record called Parachutes way back in 2000. That's when things exploded for these guys. Spawning a couple of well-known hits ("Yellow" and "Trouble"), this was the album that would not go away. Thanks to years of soundtrack help from movies such as Igby Goes Down, Garden State, and yes, even Wedding Crashers, Coldplay's debut remains on our radar eight years after it was released. Although I gotta give props for their most recent offering, nothing they've put out since comes close to topping Parachutes.


52) Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)
I am well aware that this is this band's "bandwagon" album. But I don't care; it's still fantastic music, and without a doubt their best. People went nuts for "Float On" in 2004 -- Modest Mouse's first commercially successful song after over a decade of existence. This spawned an equally amazing follow-up hit in "Ocean Breathes Salty," a song that was picked out by Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon) for his very own Modest Mouse cover album. Good News flirts with everything from the Talking Heads to The Cure and is as endearing as it is quirky. The band went on to release their follow-up last year called We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, which features The Smiths' Johnny Marr, who joined on as a permanent band member.


51) Sun Kil Moon - April (2008)
The current band from Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters fame, this is Sun Kil Moon's second body of completely original material. And much like Ghosts of The Great Highway, this one is a masterpiece. Admittedly, though, this is an acquired taste. Fans of upbeat, fast-tempo indie-rock need not apply. This one's a downer -- inspired by failed relationships, the passing of loved ones, and imagery of American landscapes. Kozelek's brilliant lyrical sense gets a little lost through his hypnotically mumbling singing style, but take my word for it -- this is one of the most talented singer-writers at his best.

A New Arrangement

Before Cassadaga, I was never really much of a Bright Eyes fan. Key word being before. After a buzz circulated about this album last year, I figured I'd throw this band a bone and give it a listen. I was gradually turned on to what I heard, and have consequently become a huge fan. I've since explored the depths of the band's prolific catalog and highly recommend doing the same. You might be surprised with what you hear. I sure as hell was. What does this have to do with anything? Well, Conor Oberst will be releasing his first (self-titled) solo album in 13 years on August 8th (depite what many think, he is NOT Bright Eyes inasmuch as Chris Carraba is NOT Dashboard Confessional) and the album artwork was released today (see below). Oberst has always reflected his surroundings in his music, and considering how this album was recorded in Tepoztlán, Mexico, this is sure to lead to some interesting results. Bottom line, this one's defintiely on my radar. For you New Yorkers, he will be playing a sold out show at the Bowery Ballroom on August 8th, and will be apparently be touring endlessly thereafter.

You can stream a couple of songs from the new record HERE.