After parts one and two went okay, this is where it goes to crap. Basically, I didn't keep up with new music in my younger years, let alone when I got older. I mean, if I didn't really get into Nirvana until after two years of being hammered upside the head with it, what are the chances I will listen to Arcade Fire and the Arctic Monkeys right away?
Moreover, it takes me a while to figure out if I like a band or if they just happen to have a flukey good single. Case in point, I love My Chemical Romance's "I'm Not Okay (I Promise.)" So I thought for a brief period that they were really cool. But subsequent songs proved me wrong. They suck.
1996: Nerf Herder by Nerf Herder
In an amazing upset, KP (or Kape as I think of him) and I agree on this one. This was mostly a dreadful year for albums, but Underball's Give Me Back My Ball and Wilco's Being There were good. Only the hilarious Murder Ballads by Nick Cave is close to being as fun as Nerf Herder though.
1997: Blur by Blur
You may have heard that one bit from Song #2 approximately 2,397,407 times by the time you read this sentence, but that doesn't mean it's not a good disc. Still, this may have been an even worse year for albums.
1998: Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg and Wilco
This was a difficult decision as I also like This Is Hardcore by Pulp and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel. I also could have totally cheated and picked Dylan and the Band's The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert, which was actually recorded in 1966 and totally rocks. Anyway, Billy Bragg singing Woody Guthrie works way better than it should.
1999: Summerteeth by Wilco
I can't say I'm exactly pleased with my selections in the latter part of the 90s. Summerteeth is a good enough collection of pop songs, but it's probably my fourth favorite Wilco album. Even though it was a lot of fun at the time, after listening to the Bloodhound Gang for a whole weekend in Cleveland, I don't ever need to hear them again.
2000: The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
I am covering my face in shame in choosing this album, because it's about 80% crap. However, it has Stan, which is the most impressive thing Eminem will ever achieve (and I love Lose Yourself as much as the next guy.) The rest of the sorry list does include Nerf Herder's solid second disc.
2001: Gorillaz by Gorillaz
It may have been because I heard it for a year straight at the Miracle, but I really like this album. Pulp's final disc and Tenacious D's debut are other strong choices for 2001.
2002: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco
Wilco's finest album was the perfect soundtrack for the post-9/11 malaise we still enjoy today. Paul Westerberg came back from the dead with the enjoyable Stereo/Mono two-CD set. Can't say anything else was that interesting.
2003: Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne
Easily the best top-to-bottom album of the year as competitor's like Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below and Paul Westerberg's Come Feel Me Tremble featured strong songs surrounded with filler. Managers is just smartly-written and perfectly-produced power pop.
2004: Nouvelle Vague by Nouvelle Vague
So shoot me, I like French chicks singing bossa nova versions of post-punk New Wave songs. Danger Mouse's The Grey Album and Hot Fuss by The Killers were the other notable release from this year. As for the latter, I hope someday to make a big-budget music video just so I can get Eric Roberts in it.
2005: The Best Little Secrets Are Kept by Louis XIV
Louis XIV plays sleazy disgusting glam rock. They are TEH AWESOME!!!111. Also notable: Demon Days was a worthy follow-up by Gorillaz and I like the tracks I've heard from CSS's Cansei de Ser Sexy. In the iPod age, I cannot be arsed to get the whole album sometimes.
2006: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys
I was totally into the Arctic Monkeys after everybody else was. Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere is also fantastic and not just because of the hit single. Dylan's Modern Times, The Fratellis' Costello Music, The Long Blondes' Someone to Drive You Home and Brazilian Girls' Talk to La Bomb are pretty solid too. And I'm still probably years away from discovering what else was good this year.
2007: Jarvis by Jarvis Cocker
It's difficult to decide which of Jarvis or the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible do a better job of capturing the deppressing spirit of the times. Today, I have to go with Mr. Cocker if only because Running The World gives the best explanation for our current state. Weaker follow-ups from Foutains of Wayne and Arctic Monkeys are other notables.
2008: Flight of the Conchords by Flight of the Conchords
I know it's only July, but I doubt there will be anything more inspired released this year. Any song that begins "It is the distant future, the year 2000" is cool with me. The fact that it is about robots destroying all human life just makes it beyond perfect.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment