For ramblings on how I came to compile this list go here. And for commentary on previous selections: [#50-46]
45. The Weekend - The Weekend (2000)
Probably the most obscure selection on my personal list comes by way of London Ontario's now defunct The Weekend. At the turn of the century I was listening to a lot of embarrassing music and, as expected, when I took the time to revisit some of those old favorites, they did not hold up at all. Oddly enough, I was expecting to say the same about this pop gem, but interestingly, that was not the case. The lyrics are juvenile and very much in the vein of high school fluttery, but the songs are still incredibly catchy, while the vocals of Andrea Wasse and Lorien Jones complement each other in an exceptional way. While their future releases boasted more of a teeny bopper professional sheen, the debut is still surprisingly raw, with a true punk rock aesthetic. The retro keyboard sound of Link Cushman didn't become fashionable for a couple of years, although now you can hear that sound just about everywhere. For an idea on the sound itself, imagine if all of Metric's songs were as catchy as Combat Baby. If you're like me and you wish they were, then combine that idea with the sound of Blue-period Weezer (or more accurately the Matt Sharp side project The Rentals) and this hard-to-find gem may be right up your alley, as it is mine. Hard copies are hard to come by, but I think it may still be available to download on Zunior. [Myspace: The Weekend]
44. Sunset Tree - The Mountain Goats (2005)
I don't usually claim to be one of the forerunners when it comes to music, but I got into The Mountain Goats waaaaaay after everyone else. People have been singing the praises of John Darnielle since back in his lo-fi days, and there are others that got into him after he streamlined his sound a little bit. Myself, I didn't get into him until I heard 2007's Get Lonely, and I simply backtracked from that point on. However, I guess it's better late than never, because I've been turned on to a lot of great music in that prolific back catalogue. As far as this past decade goes, I would have to say that 2005's The Sunset Tree is the best of the bunch. Darnielle's poetic lyricism accompanied by his seemingly basic guitar playing is a combination that cannot be denied, as can be heard in passionate cuts like Next Year, a song that has to be lived in order to be as convincing as it is. He shows a flair for the dramatic with Dilaudid and some classic whimsy with Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapod. [Myspace: The Mountain Goats]
43. Is This It - The Strokes (2001)
Those who have heard me express my disdain for Julian Casablancas are likely surprised to see this album on my list. But a great album is a great album and this, my friends, is a great album. It's just that everything else Casablancas has ever done is terrible. (Ouch!) This is the album that was supposed to save rock 'n roll, and when I listened to it recently in preparation for this list, it's easy to understand why people thought that this would be the case. Songs like Soma, Hard To Explain, Take It Or Leave It and the rambunctious New York City Cops are presented so effortlessly that it's hard to imagine that a sound could be any cooler if the Fonz himself was in charge of the proceedings. The problem is that, like Fonzie, the band jumped the shark pretty quickly and what sounded so fresh and flawless on this debut, came across as forced and cartoon-like on all future releases. I've noticed that Is This It has appeared in the upper echelons of most other lists, and I tried my best to judge this one based on its own merits, but the truth is, that the fact that Casablancas has become such a caricature of his previous self has tainted the overall feel of this one for me, as great as it still is. [Myspace: The Strokes]
42. And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out - Yo La Tengo (2000)
Everything about Yo La Tengo screams ego-centricity, from their sprawling 17 minute epics to the titles of their albums and, my goodness, don't you just love them for it? Yo La Tengo has certainly released more pop oriented albums, and they've released albums that were also more upbeat, but they have never released anything as sparse or as beautiful than this one. It's true that the mellower approach caused some fans to feel that the release was a little bit too glum or even boring, but I find it to be truly captivating. Saturday, for example, serves as an exploration of atmospheric thoughts and tones, sounding like the soundtrack to a fairly intense lucid dream. Let's Save Tony Orlando's House is another subtle gem, with a sultry vocal that literally gives me chills. And then there's the 17 minute ambient opus of Night Falls On Hoboken, which is a song that I always get lost in. I'm not sure if I would call this one my favorite Yo La Tengo album, but it's definitely the one that I find most endearing. [Myspace: Yo La Tengo]
41. The Revolution Starts... Now - Steve Earle (2004)
Songs of anger and protest are not always my thing, especially since I usually have no interest in hearing other people complain about things that they really no nothing about. However, that opinion completely shifts when it's the articulate poison laced pen of Steve Earle spouting off these opinions. Steve Earle is the type of artist that I have little minor addictions to, meaning that there are times when he's all I feel like listening to. The events of this decade, namely 9/11, made Steve understandably angry, but it was by means of his caustic wit and incredible musicianship that he made his point clear through the material on both 2002's Jerusalem and 2004's The Revolution Starts...Now. The latter makes the cut for the simple reason that I liked the songs just a little bit better, but trust me, the former was only cut by a very small margin. Songs like the biting social commentary contained in the rocking title track, the personal declarations in The Seeker, the perfectly sappy Emmylou Harris duet (Comin' Around), and the hilarious love song to National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice (Condi, Condi) compile together to make this an album that I come back to regularly. [Myspace: Steve Earle]
Tomorrow: Bobby B's Top 50 Albums Of The Decade (#40-36)
Labels: steve earle, the mountain goats, the strokes, the weekend, top 50 albums of the decade, yo la tengo
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that most of my "weekly" features never make it past the first or second week, but I'm gonna try and start up a new one and see how it flies. I get literally tons of mp3's and videos sent to my inbox daily, and more often than not, these end up staying there, locked away in solitary confinement. So, I figure that what I'll start to do is set aside a day a week to limit my usual bla bla, keeping the commentary brief as I share some of these findings with you on a weekly basis. Normally I'll try to post them at the start of the weekend, but since I just thought of doing this now, Sunday night it is. Welcome to the first edition of the Weekend Whatevers.
