[image-1] was “shocked and upset that out of all of Paramore's three CD's this decade, not ONE of them made the list. I definitely think that Riot! [2007] is one of the best CDs of the decade.”
Kristina felt we should have included The Killers’ Sam's Town (2006), Steve Earle’s 2004 album, The Revolution Starts ... Now, “and quite possibly Jason Mraz, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things (2008).”
Tracy’s sole write-in was KT Tunstall’s 2006 debut, Eye to the Telescope.
Some comments from readers:
P-la: "Kelly Clarkson but no Coldplay? Parachutes by Coldplay - when 95.7 was still an alternative station and I heard "Trouble" for the first time on the radio ... no one sounded like that in 2000 and hasn't come close since ...Chris Martin's voice, the lyrics and the way they sound."
Ima let you finish: "I know his outburst was the reason the term 'douchecanoe' exists, but Kanye's first three records are three of the best rap albums in the history of rap. Further, No HOVA? Where are Daft Punk and Phoenix on this list? I love PJ, but the Avocado Album is easily the worst of their careers ... And another thing: I've seen Illinoise pop up on other 'best of' lists recently. Have you listened to it, because no one I know who owns it has spun that record in years; in fact, outside of Kid A, that may be the most overrated album of the decade ... to end on a positive note, I think the inclusion of APC, Tenacious D, Frank Black and Al Green are thoughtful touches."
MarkonCape: "I don't know where to go with this list. Is the problem with the CD's included or the ones excluded? This is a list only those who are snobbishly hip could love. I think I'll concentrate on who's not here and should be: Green Day-American Idiot, Coldplay-A Rush of Blood to the Head, Springsteen-The Rising, Norah Jones-Come Away With Me, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss-Raising Sand, Alicia Keys-Songs in A-Minor, Linkin Park-Hybrid Theory, for a start ..."
Click here to check out the original list of 100.
And now, without further ado, here's Creative Loafing's Top 10 BEST Albums of the Decade:
[image-2]10. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (2006) Amy Winehouse kickstarted the Motown sound revival with her powerfully resonant vocals and modern take on R&B and soul. Producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi provided generous creative help and brought on a backup band that fleshed out the throwback funkiness and accompanied brash grown-up lyrics about anything from infidelity in “You Know I’m No Good” to drug abuse in “Rehab.” –LP
9. Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day (2003) For their fourth studio album, Athens, GA’s Truckers lightened up on the stomp and story of acclaimed 2002 breakthrough disc Southern Rock Opera to produce a lovely and eclectic suite of songs that spans the entire raggedly mapped territory known as “alternative country,” rendering the term both incredibly open-minded and woefully inadequate in the process. The addition of Jason Isbell as guitarist and contributing songwriter provides an extra depth that fans didn’t know they were missing until he came around, and subsequently split. –SH
[image-3]8. Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf (2002) They helped popularize the term “stoner rock” with their eponymous debut, then tore the genre’s cliches to shreds with Rated R. For their third act, Josh Homme & Co. delivered their most diverse and memorable set, cruising the California desert and flipping from hypnotic drone to soulful dirge to blazing road-rock like they were working their way through some utopian FM band. It probably didn’t hurt that Dave Grohl provided the immaculate and energetic rhythms. –SH
7. The White Stripes, Elephant (2004) Moments of exquisitely earnest melody are scattered throughout the dark and heavy album, bluesy garage rock given tasteful treatment by charismatic multi-instrumentalist singer, producer and creative train conductor, Jack White. –LP
[image-4]6. Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) The Lips evolution reaches an electrophantasmic psychedelic alt rock peak in their 10th studio effort, Wayne Coyne’s longing warble pondering love, hate, existence and transience via a loose, sci fi storyline about a karate-chopping heroine and her evil pink nemeses. –LP
5. Elliott Smith, Figure 8 (2000) Even before Smith’s death solidified his transcendent status, Figure 8’s pop kaleidoscope swirled on its own merits, creating a blend of Beatlesque memories and folk sensibilities that towered alongside those masterpieces he echoed. –SG
[image-5]4. Arcade Fire, Funeral (2004) The Canadian foursome’s debut full-length is almost painfully poignant, intense moments of euphoria, yearning and devastation wrapped in richly-textured baroque rock and seasoned with vintage pop. –LP
3. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) It’s not just the groundbreaking Chicago act’s best-selling release. It’s not just the fulcrum on which the band’s transition from ambitious singer-songwriter project to iconic experimental-pop juggernaut turned. It’s not just jammed with great tunes, from the gorgeous “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” to the all-out fun of “Heavy Metal Drummer.” It’s also one of the most compelling pieces of evidence to date that if you trust your fans, you can give your album away and still make money. –SH
[image-6]2. Outkast, Stankonia (2000) Outkast, where art thou? The Atlanta group set the hip-hop gold standard with this epic of wit, social conscience, catchiness, fun and groove. Andre 3000 and Big Boi deftly merged their contrasting muses, which grew further and further apart as the decade wore on. –ES
1. Radiohead, Kid A (2000) The follow-up to OK Computer revealed a marked next step in Radiohead’s electronic revolution. Kid A is an ambient abyss of ominous pop with minimalist textures and tasteful digital effects that extend to Thom Yorke’s vocals, his distinctive high-pitched wail at turns a clipped and stuttering instrument of alienation. –LP
