100.
Sunny Day Real Estate -
The Rising Tide (2000, Time Bomb): A fitting end to one of the best bands to ever play emo music. Check out "One" and it might very well change your life.
99.
The Drive-By Truckers -
Decoration Day (2003, New West): Probably one of the best country-inspired albums to be released in a long time. This band always delivers the goods, but they were never as good as they were here. "Sink Hole" is a classic.
98.
Ultimate Fakebook -
Open Up and Say Awesome (2002, Initial): After being dropped by Epic for not being a hit, this band went back to the indies and made what would be their best (and last) album. Probably the best geek rock album since the first
Weezer album. "Wrestling Leap Year" is one of the best songs you'll ever hear.
97.
Miracle of 86 -
Every Famous Last Word (2003, Lakeshore): Although better known for his subsequent solo career,
Kevin Devine was once in an awesome band who wrote what is quite possibly the most powerful song of the decade. "Every Famous Last Word" is that song, and while the rest of the album isn't as great, it's definitely a blast to listen to and a worthy addition to this list.
96.
Snapcase -
End Transmission (2002, Victory): It appears this hard-working band saved their best stuff for last. In what would be their last official album, this band finally delivered the classic album they had been aiming for all throughout the 1990s. "Coagulate" is simply awesome.
95.
Guster -
Keep it Together (2003, Reprise): The album where they finally stopped being a bunch of worthless hippies. It's a beautiful record from start to finish, and the band finally got the breakthrough album they deserved because of it. "Amsterdam" is one of the decade's best singles.
94.
Motion City Soundtrack -
Commit This To Memory (2005, Epitaph): Although music like this technically doesn't end up on lists like this, what the hell. It was a damn good album, and one of the catchiest and most re-playable of the decade. "Feels like Rain" and "Attractive Today" are two can't-miss hits.
93.
Face to Face -
How to Ruin Everything (2002, Vagrant): The album that ended the career of one of the 90s most beloved punk bands divided their fans even further. But as time went on, the non-believers came around. Why? Because it was the best album F2F had released in years. "The Take-Away" is brilliant.
92.
The Stills -
Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003, Vice): Although this band got a lot of press in magazines like Spin and Rolling Stone upon their initial release, they were unfairly bunched into a group of crap, pretentious music that they didn't belong anywhere near. This is one of the most heartfelt rock debuts of the decade. "Lola Stars & Stripes" and "Gender Bombs" are probably the best one-two opening punch of any album of its kind.
91.
Phantom Planet -
The Guest (2002, Epic): Before they became the poster boys of the hit FOX show "The O.C.", they were just a talented band that made a great record. After their song "California" became the aforementioned TV show's theme song, it all went to hell. The band tried desperately to shed their poppy image on their next 2 records and effectively drove their career into the ground. Indie purists should hold them in high regard for sticking it to the man in such a manner, but when it all boils down to it, their sound was fine the way it was. This band got popular for a reason -- and "California" is the weakest track on the album. Go figure.
90.
Midlake -
The Trial of Van Occupanther (2006, Bella Union): Probably the weirdest album ever to get mainstream attention, but definitely one of the best. They just don't make music like this anymore. "Head Home" and "Roscoe" both sound like they could have come out of the 1800s. Only one word is necessary to describe this album: wow.
89.
Ladytron -
Witching Hour (2005, Rykodisk): The album that Ladytron fans were waiting for. An eclectic blend of electronica, pop, and female sass. "Destroy Everything You Touch" is just brilliant.
88.
Eisley -
Room Noises (2004, Reprise): Family bands have come a long way since
The Partridge Family. These sisters and their brother make some of most beautiful music you'll ever hear. "Marvelous Things" and "Golly Sandra" are where it's at.
87.
The Rapture -
Pieces of People We Love (2006, Motown): One of the most energetic albums you'll ever hear. A perfect blend of pop, rock, and electronica. "Get Myself Into It" is funky without being overwhelming. One of the few 'trendy' albums that's held up over the years.
86.
The Bouncing Souls -
How I Spent My Summer Vacation (2001, Epitaph): One of the first classics of the decade. An absolute treasure when it comes to punk rock, Jersey style. "True Believers" and "That Song" are anthems you can listen to over and over again, and the album as a whole is fantastic.
85.
Koufax -
Social Life (2002, Vagrant): One of the most playable albums of the indie rock genre, with great sing-alongs that make you wish you knew how to make a piano rock like that. Unfortunately ignored upon its release, this album will stand the test of time as one of the best ever released by the Vagrant camp. The title track is a great one.
84.
Relient K -
MmHmm (2004, Gotee): You know you love Relient K. Don't hate on them because they're Christian or poppy or whatever. They're one of the best pop-punk bands of the decade, and in 2004 they made one of its best albums. Every track is a classic, but "Be My Escape" and "Which To Bury; Us Or The Hatchet" are obvious standouts.
83.
Ignite -
Our Darkest Days (2006, Abacus): Although their more well-known album came out in the same decade (2000), their better album came in the form of their comeback record in 2006. Absolutely jam packed with ferocious sociological anthems like "My Judgment Day" and "Know Your History", this is an album that's already proven it can stand the test of time.
82.
The Apples in Stereo -
Velocity of Sound (2002, Spinart): Although not really recognized as one of the band's best albums, it should be. This album contains some of the best pop-rock this millennium's side of
The Beatles. "Please" is the best track they've ever done.
81.
RX Bandits -
The Resignation (2003, Drive-Thru): The last good ska album, and it wasn't even really ska. The band threw in elements of reggae and mixed it all in with a crunching rock sound and made one of the better albums the genre has ever produced. "Newsstand Rock" and "Never Slept So Soundly" will give you goosebumps.
80.
Travoltas -
Endless Summer (2002, Fastmusic): A surf-punk record worthy of enormous attention, although it got zilch. If you're a reader of my site you've already read my overwhelming praise of this record, so you had to expect this to be on here. It's an absolutely fabulous record, it's fun, and it's memorable. "One for the Road" is a must-hear.
79.
Muse -
Black Holes and Revelations (2006, Warner): The album where they finally stopped aping
Radiohead and
Placebo and did their own thing, with magnificent results. "Exo-Skeleton" is crazy.
78.
Boy Sets Fire -
After the Eulogy (2000, Victory): Blessed with one of the most powerful vocalists in hardcore/punk, BSF pumped out a classic in the form of their second album. The fact that the same label as
Creed ended up purchasing the rights to this album and re-issuing it is saying something -- the label thought this could be a huge crossover hit. It wasn't, but that doesn't make it any less amazing. "Rookie" is one of the genre's most memorable songs.
77.
Rainer Maria -
Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (2006, Grunion): The band probably knew this was going to be their last record, so they went all out. Never before had they sounded so full and confident, and it shows with tracks like "Life of Leisure" and the title track. Overall, the album is a great mix of the great rock bands of the decade, but with someone as creative as
Tori Amos doing the vocals.
76.
Toadies -
Hell Below, Stars Above (2001, Interscope): Unfairly hated upon its release because it took them six years to make and it didn't have a single like "Possum Kingdom", the second album from Toadies was and still is a great work. It's basically what you would get if you combined
Talking Heads with
The Pixies and then threw in some crazy gospel singers every once and awhile. The title track will blow you away.
75.
Rival Schools -
United by Fate (2001, Island): How could an album featuring ex-members of
Gorilla Biscuits and
Glassjaw not be on this list? This album was one of the decade's most interesting surprises: a straight-up rock record from a bunch of guys who were used to being in bands way heavier. "Used for Glue" is probably in the Top 10 of Best Rock Singles of the decade.
74.
Aberfeldy -
Do Whatever Turns You On (2006, Rough Trade): The best album from anyone from Scotland this decade that isn't
Belle & Sebastian. It's a beautiful record, and "If-Then" and "Hypnotised" are a beautiful 1-2 punch.
73.
Death Cab For Cutie -
Transatlanticism (2003, Barsuk): You know it's coming. This album is going to be on everyone and their mother's list, regardless of how pretentious you are. It's just a great record from start to finish and it's the highlight of this band's illustrious career. It's depressing, haunting, and beautiful all at the same time.
72.
Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003, Temporary Residence): This just had to be on the list, too. After trying not to overcrowd the list with a bunch of instrumental releases (because they're unfairly superior to releases with vocals), this was the only one deemed worthy of making it. If you ever need to space out and remember why life is so special, this is your record. It's like meeting the girl of your dreams in musical form.
71.
Interpol -
Turn on the Bright Lights (2002,
Matador): Since
Joy Division is one of the best bands ever and they can't make music anymore, there was a need for a band like
Interpol. Although their subsequent releases pretty much blew, this album kick-started a resurgence of popularity for Joy Division-type stuff, and for that, it gets a spot on this list. They might not have even reissued their records or made the movie. Godspeed, Interpol.
70.
No Motiv - Diagram for Healing (2001, Vagrant): A catchy as hell rock record that was unfairly ignored. Although it could be argued that it was just before its time (Vagrant hadn't really caught on as being the 'it label' yet -- that came in 2002). "Give Me Strength" is a powerful, emotional song. This band was basically a distilled, emo version of
Quicksand, but they still made one of the decade's most rewarding albums.
69.
The Silversun Pickups -
Carnavas (2006, Dangerbird): Since its release, it's been notoriously over-hyped and accepted by the masses, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. If you combined
The Smashing Pumpkins with the shoegaze genre, this is what you'd get. "Lazy Eye" is one of the best singles of the last decade, hands down.
68.
Turbonegro -
Scandinavian Leather (2003, Burning Heart): These Norwegian bastards can play. On their comeback record, they rip and roar and make you a convert to their evil ways with every track. It's stood the test of time along with their best records of the 90s, which makes this one of the easier automatic entries to the list.
67.
Sense Field -
Living Outside (2003, Nettwerk): Much, much, much better than their commercial breakthrough album released 2 years earlier (which itself was made of songs from their unreleased 1997 album,
Under the Radar), Sense Field's final album was the final piece of the puzzle that cemented this band as one of the best bands the emo genre ever produced.
66.
Hey Mercedes -
Loses Control (2003, Vagrant): A band made up of ex-
Braid members is bound to have an album on this list, considering they're an amazing group of musicians.
Loses Control was this group's crowning achievement, and probably the best album this genre produced aside from
Jimmy Eat World's
Bleed American.
65.
Dinosaur Jr. -
Beyond (2007, Fat Possum): The best band of the 80s, 90s, and now 2000s -- and for the last one, all it took was one album. Their first album in a decade acted like no time had passed, and it was absolutely stunning. "Almost Ready" is one of the best songs they've ever penned.
64.
Starsailor -
Silence is Easy (2004, EMI): This band may have started out wimpy, but they ended up being more sincere and awesome than a lot of their counterparts. This album is a classic from start to finish, and "Shark Food" is one of the most haunting songs a British band has ever come up with.
63.
Lifetime -
Lifetime (2007, Decaydance): This is a no-brainer. The band that pretty much is responsible for mixing hardcore with emo came back with their first record in a decade and showed the kids how it was done, and by doing so, brought respect back to a genre that almost seemed irredeemable.
62.
Counterfit -
Super Amusement Machine for Your Exciting Heart (2002, Negative Progression): One of the best albums nobody's ever heard. It's hard to describe this in one paragraph, so just listen to it. If you like your punk with some pop but with a huge chunk of intelligent time signatures, this is your jam.
61.
The Receiving End of Sirens -
Between the Heart and the Synapse (2005, Triple Crown): The band that schooled an entire generation of wannabe musicians. This is one of the most musically complex and beautiful records released this decade, and it goes from heavy to melodic like nothing else. Yea, and that song about breaking out of prison will make all the haters sit down and take note.
60.
Porcupine Tree -
In Absentia (2002, Lava): Although this band had been kicking around since the very early 90s, outside of the prog metal circuit, nobody really gave a crap until they dropped this atomic bomb in 2002. Probably the best album this genre has produced in a long time, if not ever. "The Sound of Muzak" and "Blackest Eyes" are life changing.
59.
The Movielife -
This Time Next Year (2000, Revelation): Although this isn't a very original album, it was one of the most mimicked/copied albums of the decade. It's insanely catchy, and it set the stage for an entire genre to flourish. "Ten Seconds too Late" and "Single White Female" are where it's at.
58.
Poison the Well -
You Come Before You (2003, Atlantic): Yea, they signed to a major label, and yea they stopped giving a crap what you thought about them. And then they went and delivered the most in-your-face, explosive hardcore/whatever album of the decade. "Loved Ones" will melt your face off.
57.
Bigwig -
Reclamation (2006, Fearless): Although they were revered in the 90s, they also kinda sucked. But after taking a whole bunch of time off and getting their shit together, they came back and schooled the kids how political punk was supposed to be done. The best album of their career, and probably the best album Fearless released all decade.
56.
Idlewild -
The Remote Part (2002, EMI): The album where the band stopped trying to be a punk band and played to their strengths. If
R.E.M. weren't a bunch of whiners and upped the rock quotient, this is what they would sound like. "A Modern Way of Letting Go" and "You Held the World in Your Arms" are two of the best rock songs ever.
55.
Cat Power -
You are Free (2003, Matador): Chan Marshall is a goddess. You are Free pretty much just cemented her legacy by giving her an entry this decade. Of course she became commercially viable a couple years later due to the female indie explosion of 2005-2006, but this is her best effort of the decade by far.
54.
Every Time i Die -
Last Night in Town (2001, Ferret): Just a ferocious explosion of hardcore and metal. An album that changed the scene entirely and spawned a thousand imitators, none of which were as good. They're still kicking ass today, but this will most likely remain their best album.
53.
The Killing Tree -
The Romance of Helen Trent (2002, One Day Savior): A supergroup comprised of a bunch of awesome Chicago musicians, most notably
Rise Against vocalist
Tim McIlrath. An album that defies all explanation and convention, it just has to be listened to in order to be appreciated. If 6 minute hardcore epics are your thing, this is the best album you'll ever hear.
52.
A Wilhelm Scream -
Career Suicide (2007, Nitro): Although all of their albums are amazing, this is the one that cemented their legacy. Every song is a sledgehammer of awesome straight to your face. "We Built This City on Debts and Booze" is also the best play-on-words song title in awhile.
51.
Strike Anywhere -
Exit English (2003, Jade Tree): Straight of 1994 .. er 2003, Strike Anywhere solidified their place as hardcore punk legends with this fantastic record. There's not a single moment where these guys aren't kicking ass throughout the entire album.
50.
fugazi -
the argument49.
gatsby's american dream -
volcano48.
something corporate -
leaving through the window47.
minus the bear -
menos el oso46.
the one am radio -
a name writ in water45.
the national -
boxer44.
the sea and cake -
oui43.
neko case -
fox confessor brings the flood42.
at the drive-in -
relationship of command41.
belle & sebastian -
the life pursuit40.
thursday -
war all the time39.
the juliana theory -
love38.
the new pornographers -
electric version37.
the jealous sound -
kill them with kindness36.
hot rod circuit -
reality's coming through35.
engine down -
demure34.
nada surf -
let go33.
built to spill -
you in reverse32.
modern life is war -
witness31.
in reverent fear -
stomacher30.
denali -
the instinct29.
piebald -
we're the only friends we have28.
maritime -
heresy & the hotel choir27.
the good life -
album of the year26.
editors -
the back room 25.
tegan and sara -
so jealous24.
brandston -
fallen star collection23.
fall out boy -
take this to your grave22.
paulson -
all at once21.
park -
it won't snow where you're going20.
modest mouse -
the moon & antarctica19.
joan of arc -
joan of arc, dick cheney, mark twain18.
rise against -
the sufferer & the witness17.
jimmy eat world -
bleed american16.
alkaline trio -
good mourning15.
mclusky -
mclusky do dallas14.
saves the day -
stay what you are13.
thrice -
the artist in the ambulance12.
cursive -
the ugly organ11.
coheed & cambria -
the second stage turbine blade
15. Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
14. Jesse Harris - Watching the Sky
13. Bob Mould - Life and Times
12. Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson
11. AC Newman - Get Guilty
10. Magnolia Electric Co - Josephine
9. Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was in Love
8. Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
7. Owen - New Leaves
6. Vic Chestnutt - At the Cut
5. Brandi Carlile - Give Up the Ghost
4. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
3. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
2. Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
1. Maria Taylor - Ladyluck
