Top Albums 2000-2005

The decade is half-over, and I think it's a good time to look back and see the highlights musically of the past five years. Submit as many albums as you like, I'll post my favorite ten just for simplicity's sake. I also think these lists will be interesting because the forums on Neo were created in 2000, if I'm not mistaken, and all of this music will be from the Neo-era, so to speak. With that being said, here's my list:

10. The Shins "Oh, Inverted World" (2001)


Must-hear Tracks: Caring is Creepy, New Slang, Pressed in a Book

It's true that I was sold on this album by the movie Garden State, and many consider The Shins' subsequent release, Chutes Too Narrow, to be a superior album to this effort, but the rhythm of Inverted World and the lyrical majesty of its tracks, especially "New Slang," make it the superior Shins album, in my opinion.

9. Brian Wilson "SMiLE" (2004)


Must-hear Tracks: Heroes and Villains, Surf's Up, Good Vibrations

I thought this album was overlooked by many last year in an overall slow year for music, in my opinion. Brian Wilson is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and in this finished product of the incomplete 1967 Beach Boys album. Not as great as Pet Sounds, in my opinion, but certainly great in its own right and deserving of more praise.

8. Ryan Adams "Heartbreaker" (2000)


Must-hear Tracks: To Be Young (Is to be Sad, is to be High), Oh My Sweet Carolina, Come Pick Me Up

I was not a fan of Whiskeytown, to be honest I'd never heard of them when Adams cut his first solo album. I picked this one up a few years ago after a friend recommended it, and was pleasantly impressed with the quality of the songwriting as well as the attitude that permeated each of the songs throughout the album. Adams' subsequent releases are great, but only Heartbreaker remains in my stereo to this day.

7. Jay-Z "The Black Album" (2003)


Must-hear Tracks: Change Clothes, Moment of Clarity, 99 Problems

I didn't like Jay-Z until this album, which was, unfortunately, his last. I rarely purchase rap albums if the word "Kanye" isn't on the cover, but a friend who also loathes rap recommended the album, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jay-Z attempts to go out on top with some pretty defiant rhymes and basically a propers-fest with "My 1st Song" at the end of the album, which might be a tad over-the-top, but the album has a flow that I have yet to see any other artist match.

6. Beck "Guero" (2005)


Must-hear Tracks: Girl, Hell Yes, Broken Drum

While Odelay is unquestionably Beck's greatest album in my mind, this year's release approaches it in terms of rhythm and catchy hooks, but doesn't attain true greatness because of its recycling of older Beck tracks (how many times can a chorus be na-na-na?) But, recycled Beck is better than a lot of the new stuff coming from other artist today, and propers for the use of the Spanish language to add some flavor to the album.

5. Sigur Ros "Agaetis Byrjun" (2001)


Must-hear Tracks: Svefn-G-Englar, Staraflur, Flugufrelsarinn

Wow. All I can say. I was reluctant to listen to an entire Sigur Ros album a few weeks ago, but a friend loaned me their copy of this gem, and I'm hooked. If I had a few more weeks with it, I might put it at number one, but maybe I haven't had enough time to examine its faults yet, if indeed it has any. This band creates an actual wall of sound-an overused phrase, I feel. Listening to them will change the way you feel about music. Period.

4. The Gorillaz "Gorillaz" (2001)


Must-hear Tracks: 5/4, Punk, 19-2000

Though Demon Days is up for 5 Grammys this year, the Gorillaz debut album is unquestionably their better album, in my opinion. From start to finish, Damon and Dan the Automator create an amazing musical experience that will make you forget the gimmicky cartoonish characters that make the masses eat their videos up with their five-second attention spans. They may make the band unique and interesting-but the quality of music makes this band a legitimate candidate for best new artist of the young millenium.

3. The Strokes "Is This It" (2000)


Must-hear Tracks: The Modern Age, Hard to Explain, Take It or Leave It

How can something so simple grab my attention for so long? With simplistic guitar riffs and the usual "*bleep* you" attitude inherent to rock stars, you'd think you could write the Strokes off as another poser indie band...until you realize they led the way in the early days of this decade. This album, as damn catchy as it is, maintains a level of energy that the band was unable to emulate in Room on Fire, in my opinion. Regardless of your personal feelings about the Strokes and their recent releases, one cannot deny the impact Last Nite had when it was first released, and how the band established a grip of the national media with this release. An excellent album and still groundbreaking five years later.

2. Radiohead "Kid A" (2000)


Must-hear Tracks: Kid A, The National Anthem, How to Disappear Completely

I'll give Radiohead their respect, even though I'm not a huge fan. Kid A is a great album from start to finish, though that finish comes all too quickly, in my opinion. I love the drums in Kid A, and the album just blends so well together that I was discouraged to hear it end. It's a haunting piece of music, one that will stick with you because of its immersive qualities. Excellent album, but because Radiohead isn't my cup of tea, I can't place it in the top spot, unfortunately. And I know that will piss some people off.

1. The White Stripes "De Stijl" (2002)


Must-hear Tracks: You're Pretty Good Looking (for a Girl), Death Letter, Sister, Do You Know My Name?

The Style, indeed. Jack and Meg White hop in and out of genres, mix melodies, and write some damn fine lyrics to put together, in my opinion, the greatest album of the last five years. Death Letter remains my favorite track of the decade, with its amazing guitar riff and solo and some powerful percussion behind it. The White Stripes do an incredible job of varying their song styles and melodies, resulting in a treat for all music lovers and putting it atop my list of greatest albums of the young millenium.

There it is, the product of another snow day at my high school. What do you all think? I'm probably nuts, right? Nine Inch Nails, The Flaming Lips, Eminem, Modest Mouse, God Speed You Black Emperor? Lay it on us...

This message was edited by trendyskaman on Dec 08 2005.

2000 -
Rotting Christ - Khronos


2001 -
Burning Inside - Apparition


2002 -
Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors


2003 -
Old Man's Child - In Defiance Of Existence


2004 -
Deicide - Scars of the Crucifix


2005 -
Sentenced - The Funeral Album

here are my top 10 (I might add comments later, it's late right now)


10. A Silver Mt. Zion - Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upwards


9. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes


8. Animal Collective - Feels


7. Arcade Fire - Funeral


6. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People


5. Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium


4. Radiohead - Kid A


3. Sigur Ros - Ágætis Byrjun


2. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven


1. Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn

quote trendyskaman

5. Sigur Ros "Agaetis Byrjun" (2001)...

Listening to them will change the way you feel about music. Period.

Yes, these guys along with Godspeed You Black Emperor definitely revolutionized my musical taste.

This message was edited by I MOTHER EARTH on Dec 09 2005.

Ummm.. extensive thinking required.. O__O;; I couldn't think up 10 good albums in the past 5 years if I tried. >__>;;

My top 11 albums (2000-2005) are...

1. 2Pac: Better Dayz (2002)
2. Jay-Z: Blueprint (2001)
3. Gorillaz: Demon Dayz (2005)
4. 50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)
5. Twista: Kamikaze (2004)
6. Kanye West: Late Registration (2005)
7. Nas: Stillmatic (2001)
8. Kanye West: The College Dropout (2004)
9. The Game: The Documentary (2005)
10. Eminem: The Eminem Show (2002)
11. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

I'll just do top ten.

1. Draconian - Arcane Rain Fell
2. Haggard - Eppur Si Muove
3. Draconian - Where Lovers Mourn
4. Opeth - Blackwater Park
5. Camel - A Nod and a Wink
6. Opeth - Damnation
7. Haggard - Awaking the Centuries
8. Opeth - Deliverance
9. Lacrimosa - Lichtgestalt
10. Opeth - Ghost Reveries

Maybe I'll make a list containing one album each from many bands later.

quote Flip

My top 11 albums (2000-2005) are...

1. 2Pac: Better Dayz (2002)
2. Jay-Z: Blueprint (2001)
3. Gorillaz: Demon Dayz (2005)
4. 50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)
5. Twista: Kamikaze (2004)
6. Kanye West: Late Registration (2005)
7. Nas: Stillmatic (2001)
8. Kanye West: The College Dropout (2004)
9. The Game: The Documentary (2005)
10. Eminem: The Eminem Show (2002)
11. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

Nice choices man; The Marshall Mathers LP made Eminem, just like Get Rich or Die Tryin' did for 50.

10. Finch - Say Hello To Sunshine (2005)

Favorite Track: Insomniac Meat

9. System of a Down - Steal This Album! (2002)

Favorite Track: Roulette

8. Audioslave - Out Of Exile (2005)

Favorite Track - Man or Animal

7. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (2005)

Favorite Track: The Denial Twist

6. Coheed & Cambria - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 (2004)

Favorite Track: Three Evils (Embodied In Love & Shadow)

5. Sevendust - Animosity (2001)

Favorite Track: Praise

4. The Used - In Love & Death (2004)

Favorite Track: Sound Effects & Overdramatics

3. Slipknot - Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004)

Favorite Track: Vermilion

2. Mudvayne - L.D. 50 (2000)

Favorite Track: Death Blooms

1. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)

Favorite Track: Walk On