Best Albums of 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09
We’re finally closing the first half of the decade. So far, we’ve had to make some obvious, almost obligatory choices… as well as some that you may not have expected. Either way, Jeff and I are still relying on your votes and comments, and we thank you for sticking with us this long.
2004 was a crazy year for music. So crazy that I had to take an extra day to finalize this list. There was Kanye West’s debut album, arguably my personal favorite hip hop album ever. Arcade Fire also brought their Funeral that year too (and as you might know, that has been my favorite album of the last 10 years). Brian Wilson chose to finally release his SMiLE, 37 years in the making. I won’t go on… but hopefully you get the point.
As always, I looked through various year-end lists published by some of our favorite publications. The shortlist was created by looking through year-end lists by the Villiage Voice’s Pazz & Jop Poll, Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, Drowned By Sound, Stylus and PopMatters.
A. Kanye West: The College Dropout
B. Arcade Fire: Funeral
C. Animal Collective: Sung Tongs
D. Brian Wilson: SMiLE
E. Madvillian: Madvilliany
F. Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
G. The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come For Free
H. Elliott Smith: From A Basement On The Hill
I. Modest Mouse: Good News For People Who Love Bad News
J. TV On The Radio: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Seriously? Wow this is so cool. I’ll be honest here, the only Lady Sovereign song I’ve ever listened to was “Love Me or Hate Me” (or something like that), it was pretty forgettable but I do remember that I liked it. But nothing enough to make me want to listen to the rest of her album. I’m pretty sure I didn’t miss much.
