Top 5 Albums of the Decade (according to me)

So I saw Rolling Stone's Top 100 Albums of the Decade, and found myself agreeing on some points, but clueless on some others (I really don't understand Radiohead, and never really liked Wilco.) That doesn't mean they're wrong, I bet they have better expertise than me, but I just thought it would be a perfect opportunity for my first real post. But I only picked 5 albums. They aren't necessarily my favorites, but what I think are the best.

Also, something I think to keep in mind, at the start of 2000, I was 11 years old. My music selection was pretty limited to Blink-182 and Sum41. I still listen to them today, but I was hypnotized by them.

5) The College Dropout - Kanye West

I don't claim to be much of a hip-hopper, but Kanye's first album was awesome. Previously he was behind the tracks producing Jay-Z and other's tracks. But his own album really blew everyone else's out of the water. It was the start of him on his way to becoming one of the biggest players in the game. He's featured on alot of other people's songs, and although he's REAL cocky (yo but this was the best album of ALL TIME) he's really talented, and we saw that in The College Dropout.



4) A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay


I struggle to pick my favorite Coldplay album, but when you look at the track listing, how can anyone argue against "Clocks", "The Scientist" (their best song ever in my opinion), "In My Place", among others. This album not only proved that Coldplay was better than just a one hit album, and became a phenomenon with X&Y and Vida La Vida. They're really something special, and this album really showed their brilliance.

3) American Idiot - Green Day


Okay, so if you knew me in 2004, you know that this album was the only one in my car, and no other CD was going to be played. There were so many levels of the album that appealed. The rock opera format is difficult to pull off, yet they did it brilliantly. The story summed up an American teenager from a broken home growing up in a war-torn, politically inept, country. While I don't consider myself political towards the left or the right, I really appreciate the commentary the band made on the choices the government made regarding war, and at the same time threading it into a magnificent story. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was one of the best songs of the 2005 (it was hard to compete with Kelly Clarkson that year.) Both "Boulevard" and the album won Grammy's. It was even made into a musical play, which last time I checked is a play in LA. Really a great story and a bold concept that many artists don't dare to take.

2) All You Can't Leave Behind - U2

I wasn't sold on this album when it came out (see above regarding listening to Blink and Sum41 in 2000) but over time I realized how huge this album was. Although it came out in 2000, I think everyone remembers their Super Bowl performance in February 2002, with the 9/11 Memorial featured. It was powerful and inspirational, and looking back nine years later, it's really grown to become one of their best, and swept the country with it's catchy songs, especially Elevation. Who wasn't addicted to that song?

1) The Rising - Bruce Springsteen

So again, if you know me, you know my obsession with Bruce Springsteen. It's taken over my life. But this album captured the soul of America post-9/11. For my generation, September 11, 2001 was the day that everything changed. It was our loss of innocence and freedom. For the first time in a long time, America felt vulnerable. It was a game-changer. The country needed to rebound, and Bruce provided that sense of hope that he always has, but this time America needed it. The songs were so powerful, motivating, and inspirational, it's hard to listen to it and not smile, especially for "Waitin' On A Sunny Day", and "Mary's Place." It isn't Bruce's best album, but it was definitely the most timely (of the three I've been alive for anyway)


And now the debate ensues (for the four people that read this blog)