Best albums of the 2000s

[masterofsparks]

Crazy seems a Top 20 lock.

[jbissell]

I don't know what they are. 

Pitchfork will tell you on Sept. 28.

I've been looking at their top 500 songs this week and there's a whole lot of songs that I didn't even remember came out this decade.  It was nice to see Ted Leo get 2 songs on so far.

Is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of the tracks are the openers to their respective albums? Something about that doesn't sit right with me. Not making fun of, or calling out, the 'Fork, but it just seems weird.

I noticed that too, especially when Ghostface Killah's "Nutmeg" made #60. Incredible song, but I didn't think it had the stature of "Cherchez La Ghost," or even "Apollo Kids."

Edit: Same goes for "Shakey Dog" vs. "The Champ."

I could be biased because I wrote the "Nutmeg" blurb but since it's the first (non-skit) track on the album and since it was just such a huge opening statement it kind of stands as one of those first-impression tracks that really sticks with you.

Nate, do you get any say in the songs you write blurbs for, or are they just assigned to you?

[Stupornaut]

I don't know what they are. 

Pitchfork will tell you on Sept. 28.

I've been looking at their top 500 songs this week and there's a whole lot of songs that I didn't even remember came out this decade.  It was nice to see Ted Leo get 2 songs on so far.

Is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of the tracks are the openers to their respective albums? Something about that doesn't sit right with me. Not making fun of, or calling out, the 'Fork, but it just seems weird.

I noticed that too, especially when Ghostface Killah's "Nutmeg" made #60. Incredible song, but I didn't think it had the stature of "Cherchez La Ghost," or even "Apollo Kids."

Edit: Same goes for "Shakey Dog" vs. "The Champ."

I could be biased because I wrote the "Nutmeg" blurb but since it's the first (non-skit) track on the album and since it was just such a huge opening statement it kind of stands as one of those first-impression tracks that really sticks with you.

Nate, do you get any say in the songs you write blurbs for, or are they just assigned to you?

I'm not sure how much of the inner workings I can reveal, but it was a democratic process that all contributing writers had a say in. Once the tracks were voted on and subsequently pared down to 200, I was assigned which tracks to review largely based on my previous reviews and stated interests.

[Chris L]

I predict "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire will be #1 tomorrow.  

[methanolcereal]

I predict "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire will be #1 tomorrow.  

I could live with that.

[jbissell]

Can't believe I forgot about Ignition (remix).

Wow. "B.O.B." is still #1.

Very surprised to see Animal Collective cracking the top 10 with a song from this year.  I'm guessing it'll end up being their #1 album of 2009.

Also surprised "Gold Digger" or "Stronger" didn't make it.

[Chris L]

I predict "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire will be #1 tomorrow.  

Undaunted, I predict Rolling Stone's #1 will be that Dylan/will.i.am Pepsi remix of "Forever Young." 

[samir]

that was some good predictin', FOT.

'all my friends' - i love that song more than i love most of my friends.

[yesno]

Overall, not a bad list, considering that it's limited to the styles of music that Pitchfork covers (indie rock, mainstream hip hop, and dancey electronic).  

Any "omissions" tend to be in styles of music I wouldn't expect PF to like.  Or songs by yucky old people! (e.g. Robert Wyatt's "You You" could be on there)

ps:  MGMT is "universally liked" eh? I bet that track would be at least 100 places down, even in the same author's opinion, if this was written a year from now.

[namethebats]

I figured OutKast's overexposure/inactivity would send "B.O.B." out of the top 10, but that "Hey Ya" would stick around. That one, I'm glad I got wrong. 

(Earlier post deleted; I didn't see Matt's post on the last page.)

[jbissell]

ps:  MGMT is "universally liked" eh? I bet that track would be at least 100 places down, even in the same author's opinion, if this was written a year from now.

Apparently I'm not part of the universe then, because I can't stand them.

[Matt]

(Earlier post deleted; I didn't see Matt's post on the last page.)

How weird is that? Still, that song's got legs!

[methanolcereal]

Very surprised to see Animal Collective cracking the top 10 with a song from this year.  I'm guessing it'll end up being their #1 album of 2009.

I'm not too surprised. For whatever reason, everyone is jerking off Animal Collective over this album (ew, sorry for such a graphic analogy). I like "weird" stuff, but I really don't see what the big deal is. I've listened to a few of their records, and it just doesn't click. In fact, I thought Merriweather Post Pavilion was flat out boring (Not Hospice by The Antlers boring or Dirty Projectors boring), really just a tedious listen.

I am also willing to take whatever hate I get for having a contrary opinion regarding Animal Collective. Feel free to bring it.

[ian]

the list is an almost total joke, except #1 which is exactly correct

weird

[yesno]

Very surprised to see Animal Collective cracking the top 10 with a song from this year.  I'm guessing it'll end up being their #1 album of 2009.

I'm not too surprised. For whatever reason, everyone is jerking off Animal Collective over this album (ew, sorry for such a graphic analogy). I like "weird" stuff, but I really don't see what the big deal is. I've listened to a few of the records, and it just doesn't click. In fact, I thought Merriweather Post Pavilion was flat out boring (Not Hospice by The Antlers boring or Dirty Projectors boring), but a tedious listen.

I am also willing to take whatever hate I get for having a contrary opinion regarding Animal Collective. Feel free to bring it.

I love it!  Nothing wrong with hating on music.  We can all be friends.  I think Animal Collective are great.  Nothing "weird" about them, they're just sunny pop.  When they get weird is when they're boring, and when I want weird there are better places to go.

Even though I would not come up with anywhere near the same list, I think Shovel did a good job.  These Shovel retrospectives have all been better than the laughably bad Pazz & Jopp surveys, for instance.  If you want a better list, it has to come from a single person.  Terre T's top faves introduce me to more stuff that I end up loving, but you don't exactly get a view of the musical zeitgeist from her.

I think we're seeing lots of the junky flavors of the month slowly moved into the memory hole (Interpol, Bloc Party). Of course plenty in the top 20 sucks in my opinion.  Let's see.  Gnarls Barkley--total garbage.  That idiot song "Crazy" irritated the hell out of me for a few months, it was inescapable and so very very mediocre. I deleted a comment I write about earlier about Radiohead being "shit-meisters" to avoid starting a fight, but seriously, I'm not on that train. The Arcade Fire:  most overrated band of the decade, not even the best Canadian band of recent years, and they suck live.  Indie rock for NPR listeners. "Maps"--The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are good, but not that good.  That song does nothing for me. Maybe top 50, definitely not top 10 good.  Yo La Tengo can improvise a better ballad on the air for cash.

The best song of the 2000s was clearly "Tunnel of Goats" by Coil.  Just parts V through IX though.