A Decade in Music

Courtesy of PJ Bloom


Top three records from the past decade?
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' No More Shall We Part. Nick Cave is unquestionably one of the most prolific songwriters of the modern age. He is to the disenfranchised what Bob Dylan is to everyone else.
2. McLusky's McLusky Do Dallas. A truly exhilarating rock experience that picks up right where the Pixies Surfer Rosa and Nirvana Bleach left off. McLusky leader Andrew Falkous captures a lyrical cleverness virtually lost in this "poor me" decade and combines it with unrelenting vocals, merciless guitar, and clever pop sensibilities to create a true indie masterpiece.
3. The Darkness' Permission To Land. It's unfortunate most of the world dismissed The Darkness as a throwback, novelty metal act. If more folks took the time to listen, they would have discovered some of the most anthemic, well-crafted, sing-at-full-volume-in-your-car, arena-rock-driven pop songs to come forth in years.

Ultimate party-starter song of the decade?
Outkast's "Hey Ya".

Most underrated album of the decade?
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton's Knives Don't Have Your Back. Emily is better known as the leader of Metric or as a member of Toronto's Broken Social Scene collective (which also gave birth to iPod-friendly chanteuse Feist). But unless you were already a fan, you probably missed Knives Don't Have Your Back. The album features mostly piano-driven, introspective ballads amassed by Haines through years of unrecorded songwriting. She provides a heartbreaking window into her soul while expressing common moments of isolation we all encounter with pinpoint lyrical accuracy.

Best album cover?
Robbie Williams' Sing When You're Winning. Robbie's never been known for humility, but this soccer-themed album cover takes his bravado to new heights. The CD includes panel after panel of Robbie hanging out with Robbie. Robbie competing in a stadium with Robbie teammates, Robbie being raised to victory by other Robbies after the big win, naked Robbies in a spa bath toasting that win, drunk Robbies having a collective piss, defiant Robbies mooning the camera. It's sheer audacity at its rock' n'roll best!

Best guilty pleasure of the decade?
Justin Timberlake's Justified. Yeah, I wanted it to suck. Justin was simply too perfect and pure to be allowed additional success beyond 'N Sync. And yet, the fact The Neptunes wrote and produced most of Justified didn't help my cause. The fact that he had seminal artists like Timbaland and Janet Jackson join him as featured vocalists hurt even more. But the ultimate fact that sealed the deal? The album was simply really good! Damn you, Justin!

Biggest rock'n'roll badass of the decade?
Jack White. Anyone who can front three killer rock acts (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather), produce Loretta Lynn's first album in four years, earning her a Best Country Album Grammy, and still isn't afraid to throw a punch in a bar brawl (he gave Jason Stollsteimer from the Von Bondies a black eye in a Detroit night club) gets my vote!

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