Since we are music-oriented here at DIY, I will start with my top ten albums of the decade. These are solely Phyll’s opinions, and have nothing to do with Cory or his messed up mindset, and has a lack of swearing because of it. This takes a lot of effort to not fill it up with Against Me! albums, but here we go.
10. Heroes to Zeroes – The Beta Band
This album ate up a lot of my time, and I have no way to explain these guys. Wikipedia says it was described as “Folktronica” which is as accurate as I can image getting. The lyrics struck me as witty, or absurd. Both are good to me, and the laid back sound is wonderful to draw to.
9. The Complex – Blue Man Group
Yes, I’m a tool. This album was still amazing. The experimental nature of their percussion never ceases to amaze or please me, and combined with various vocalists, I enjoyed this album again and again. Plus commentary on rock music is always fudgin’ awesome.
8. Your Favorite Weapon – Brand New
I have consistently enjoyed Brand New’s albums because of the witty lyricism. I am a sucker for witty lyrics, and this album really was full of them. It was more raw sounding than their later works, and showed a youthful energy that I love to listen to.
7. Pulled Over – Kut U Up
Once again, witty lyrics, this time mixed with interesting punk rock sounds drew me in and held on. This album makes me feel like I am floating, and is a favorite while drawing. Identity confusion related well with my younger self, and is a nice reminder to remembering who I was and that I still have good taste in music.
6. Personal Journals – Sage Francis
Intelligent underground hip-hop with a dash of sarcasm. Sage Francis never stops pleasing your eardrums, and this album stands out to me as some of his greatest work. Dipping deep into his life, he pulled out the best lyrics I could imagine and creative rhymes abound. It makes me wish underground hip-hop would go mainstream, so we could have a little intelligence in the top forty.
5. Give Up – The Postal Service
Okay everyone, let’s face it. Ben Gibbard was alternative music these past ten years. I have absolutely no indie-cred, so I’m not afraid to say it. This album is amazing, and I wish Owl City sounded like this. Also, Neutral Milk Hotel still sucks.
4. Stankonia – Outkast
For a group with reasonable commercial success, Outkast does an amazing job of rapping intelligently, with interesting beats. This album has some amazing tracks, and I rarely get sick of it. I can hear social commentary, real life experience, and honesty. Honesty is a part of music that is a must to me, and I can see it here. That, and We Luv Deez Hoez.
3. As the Eternal Cowboy – Against Me!
Alright, so everybody knew they were going to make this list. This album is slowly becoming my favorite album by them and I can’t explain why. This album is kind of a mix of their old style, to where they are now. The song writing is magnificent as usual, and has a strong sense of honesty. Come over and we’ll spin the vinyl and get drunk off of cheap wine together.
2. Oracular Spectacular – MGMT
I love this album. Laid back drug references and wishes of selling out. It is everything the burnt out punk who finally started listening to music as a whole could wish for. This is the album I sit back, relax, listen, and think about life to. I would recommend it to anyone.
1. Fists Buried in Pockets – The Riot Before
This album is a work of art. If I could hang music on the wall, my walls would be covered with this album. It is a piece of work that MUST be listened to as a whole, seamlessly blending from one song to the next, intense with passion and extreme honesty. It is said that these songs exist because they must.
Honorable Mentions:
These are albums that didn’t make the cut, because I either felt like too much of a fanboy, or I didn’t listen to them until the last year, and felt it would be unfair to include. I would still recommend all of them.
Grand – Matt & Kim
Reinventing Axl Rose – Against Me!
Renegades – Rage Against the Machine
Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free – Reel Big Fish
Poses – Rufus Wainwright
Stellastarr* – Stellastarr*
Schmack! – Steriogram
Look What I Almost Stepped In – The Vandals
Raditude – Weezer
Minority Rules – Whole Wheat Bread
Want – 3oh!3
Scrambles – Bomb the Music Industry