How to sum-up? A decade when I’ve had more disposable income to spend on music than before…and a decade when there’s been too much good new music to keep track of. Thought I’d pick the albums I’d listened to the most..and I’m leaving a LOT out, hence the strange number of top 14.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot – Wilco (2002)
Sad, fractured lyrics and arrangements, but cast-iron melodies. Might be my favourite album after Abbey Road. All their records this decade have been class and it was a dream come true to see them play in Dublin in August.
The Hour of Bewilderbeast – Badly Drawn boy (200o)
Ended up being a big influence on any music I’ve made since. Bewilderbeast really stood up when it first came out – scrappy, amateur-sounding in parts, but full of heart. Damon Gough hasn’t matched it’s charm since (and probably won’t).
Our Endless Numbered Days – Iron and Wine (2004)
Reminds me of getting engaged, old friends, and picking up a banjo for the first time. Went to see this guy play a support slot at the Queens Festival and left when he has finished. He was that good.
Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens (2004)
I spent a good bit of the nineties listening to often dubious “Christian” music. Thank God for artists like Sufjan Stevens and Bill Mallonee who avoid labels and stick to producing great art.
Rush of Blood to the head – Coldplay (2002)
Probably my most played album – not cool but still brilliant. Had to pick one of their albums and I think this one is Coldplay’s best so far.
The Sophtware Slump – Grandaddy (2001)
A vastly-underrated band and this is probably their finest hour – an affecting concept about the decline of machines wrapped in warm synths and fuzzy guitars. Listening to it as I write this.
Summershine – Vigilantes of Love (2001)
Bill Mallonee and VOL were one of the discoveries of the decade! Wonderful heart-on-sleeve roots rock that is truly lived-in. Singer-songwriters don’t get much better in my opinion, perhaps only Dylan.
The Valley – Brian Houston (2005)
Found some of Brian’s albums have been a bit patchy but these are stand-alone solid gold songs free from embellishment. Some real beauties here that sound like they’ve been around for years.
Modern Times – Bob Dylan (2006)
Yep he’s released better albums in his career but because this was released in my era I ended up listening to it loads. Don’t know where he mines these lyrics from the influences are so wide, plus his band are so tight.
The Seldom Seen Kid – Elbow (2008)
It was this or 2001′s Asleep in the Back. The two albums in between were alright but their debut and this album are almost perfect. They manage to be homespun and nostalgic while pushing boundaries with their arrangements. They performed Seldom Seen Kid with the BBC orchestra last year and it was breathtaking at times. Plus they actually turned the Elmwood Hall into a decent venue for a night.
Post to Wire – Richmond Fontaine (2004)
Went through a big alt-country phase before realising a lot of it was rich white boys singing about how they wished they were poor. These guys are the real deal though: punky, literate, and stirring. Nice guys too.
The Rising – Bruce Springsteen (2002)
Big, fun, (occasionally dumb) but mostly sensitive and stirring! Strong memories of listening to this when I was unemployed in between jobs – gave me a real boost.
Alright, Still – Lily Allen (2006)
She may have been inescapable the last few years but this is a classic pop album – totally of its time. I’d love to believe she had as much responsibility in creating this as Lily says she has. If not then whoever wrote this stuff has captured her personality brilliantly.
Funeral – Arcade Fire (2004)
Read the hype, bought the album, let it sit for a while until listening to it on my iPod at an Ards v Cliftonville match when is suddenly all made sense to me!
