25. Is This It - The Strokes (2001)
On this debut album from The Stokes, the New York boys introduced us to their unique brand of jittery rock. This album helped to incite the so-called “garage rock” scene of the turn of the century(which never quite panned out). It may not be as good as some of the things put out by their red-and-white-clad contemporaries, but Is This It has some great songs on it. “Last Nite” is one of the most infectious songs of the 21st century, while “
When It Started” and “Take It or Leave It” are also signature Strokes stuff.24. Parachutes - Coldplay (2000)
Like The Strokes, Coldplay were a band that struck gold very early in their career. Parachutes is their debut album, and it earned them all sorts of attention. The album’s biggest hit, “
Yellow” is fine, but I find that the other singles from the album overshadow it. “Shiver” is one of the band’s most impassioned songs to date, and the bridge near the end is soul-crushingly great. Parachutes feels more visceral than anything that the band has released since, and it’s a sound that works well for them.23. Plans - Death Cab for Cutie (2005)
Plans is an album with a great atmospheric feel to it. The songs all have a dreamy quality about them. For me, “
Crooked Teeth” is the standout of the album. The song practically oozes summer, and the imagery of youth and adventure is superb. "Someday You Will Be Loved" and I'll Follow You Into the Dark are two beautifully crafted ballads.22. Continuum - John Mayer (2006)
Considering how sappy and poppy Mayer’s first two albums were, Continuum is a bit of a revelation. Although he seems to face much mockery from the media, I think Mayer is one of the best modern guitarists around. On Continuum, he maintains the romanticism of his previous work, but adds more of a blues influence to it (akin to his work with the John Mayer Trio). His cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “
Bold As Love” works surprisingly well, and “Gravity” is probably Mayer’s best song to date. Even "Dreaming With A Broken Heart", which is more akin to his previous work, seems to fit in well with the rest of the album. 21. Trouble - Ray LaMontagne (2004)
With his unbelievably gorgeous, raspy voice, it’s no wonder that Ray LaMontagne caused heads to turn. And when you combine that voice with a bunch of beautiful songs, you get a fantastic album. The album’s title track is soulful and stunning, and “
Jolene” is heartbreakingly perfect. The rest of the album is filled with hidden gems that just keep shining brighter as you listen to the album more.20. Michigan - Sufjan Stevens (2003)
Known for the large array of instrumentation he uses, as well as his ambitious projects, one might that that Sufjan Stevens is a tad pretentious. But rest assured, this album is not pretentious at all. “Flint” is the album opener, and the anguish is Stevens’ voice is haunting. The album explores many different sounds and styles, and it’s the perfect blend of experimentation, originality, and sincerity.
19. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse (2007)
Although Good News for People Who Love Bad News gave us the massive crossover hit “
Float On", We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is the superior album, in my opinion. “Dashboard" is almost as catchy of a hit as “Float On”. “Missed the Boat" and "We’ve Got Everything" are great tracks as well. Johnny Marr (of ex-Smiths fame) joined Modest Mouse as a guitarist for this album (and on tour), and he’s a great addition to the band and contributes his signature sound.18. Figure 8 - Elliott Smith (2000)
Figure 8 is Elliott Smith’s fifth album, and his last album released while he was alive. It’s not a big stretch from his past work, but Elliott brings a batch of consistently good songs to this album, and his signature voice sounds perfect. Elliott can basically do no wrong, and this album has lots to offer to fans of many different types of music. It’s no Either/Or, but Figure 8 perfectly represents the artist that Elliott was.
17. Kid A - Radiohead (2000)
Kid A is the follow up to the Radiohead’s (arguably) most beloved album, OK Computer. It takes the electronic influences of OK Computer and brings them to the next level, creating a kind of surreal vibe. Even though I prefer Radiohead’s more straight-ahead rock (I’m more of a fan of The Bends, myself), Kid A is a truly innovative, great album. It has a great atmospheric feel to it (pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman makes an interesting argument that it is unintentionally the soundtrack to 9/11), and great songs to boot. It took me a few listens to warm up to Kid A, but I think it is an albums that people will look back on fondly in the future.
16. Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins (2003)
The Shins certainly avoided the dreaded sophomore slump with Chutes Too Narrow. The album is filled with great songs infused with The Shins’ signature “indie” sound. James Mercer’s jaunty vocals work perfectly with the material. “
So Says I” is one of the album’s catchiest songs. Their follow up, 2007’s Wincing the Night Away, nearly made the list, but it lacks a bit of the exuberance that makes Chutes Too Narrow work so well. 15. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning - Bright Eyes (2005)
Indie poster boy/ "New Dylan”/ boy wonder Conor Oberst has had quite a career, and he’s still just in his twenties. But in many of the songs that appear on I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, he seems wise beyond his years. The album opens with a gripping spoken word story delivered by Oberst himself, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. Many of the songs make comments on our society and feature very introspective lyrics. But as a departure from the usual Bright Eyes fare, “
First Day of My Life” is a light-hearted, optimistic ode to new love. The album is minimalist, and it gives us some of Bright Eyes’ best work.14. Lapalco - Brendan Benson (2002)
Brendan Benson is getting a lot more attention now that he’s the underused vocalist in The Raconteurs (I must admit, I’d never really heard of him before he joined forces with Jack White), but his solo stuff is well worth checking out. His music, often described as “power pop”, is in the same vein as Ben Folds or Sloan, and his songwriting is deceptively simple. Lines like “You’re quiet/ we’re the same/ I’m Brendan/ what’s your name?” on
You're Quiet would sound stupidly basic if they were sung by a different artist, but Brendan pulls it off beautifully in this lovely little batch of songs. His voice suits his material well, and he seems very comfortable doing his thing on Lapalco.13. Poses - Rufus Wainwright (2001)
Rufus Wainwright’s debut album introduced the world to his “chamber pop” sound, and Poses continues to show us what Rufus is capable of. His second album expands his horizons a bit, with songs like “
Shadows” (featuring a funk bass line and pounding drums that propel the song to new depths). The album also gives us “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" and California”, which are two of Rufus’ most infectious songs. “One Man Guy" is a cover of a Loudon Wainwright III song, and the stark, beautiful number is a nice contrast to Rufus’ usual extravagant instrumentation. Poses is more accessible than some of Rufus’ other work, and shows us the many facets of his talent as a songwriter and performer.12. Love Is Hell - Ryan Adams (2004)
The always prolific Ryan Adams first released Love is Hell in two separate pieces, before joining it as one. The album as a whole works well, shying away from the country-influenced sounds of his previous work. Although the album is lengthy, many of the songs are instantly memorable. His cover of Oasis'
Wonderwall gives the original a run for its money. Love is Hell is balladry at its best, and “My Blue Manhattan", “I See Monsters” and “Afraid Not Scared” are other Adams classics. It;s a matter of opinion about which tone of Adams's voice you like best, but for what it's worth, his voice sounds more lush on Love Is Hell than ever.11. A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay (2002)
Coldplay and their fans are often given a hard time for being unusually sappy and earnest (think The 40 Year-Old Virgin), but I do honestly think that they make great music, and aren't given enough credit for their talent. And A Rush Of Blood To The Head is their masterpiece, thus far. “
The Scientist” is perhaps the most beautiful song that Chris Martin and co. have ever written, while “In My Place” has a sing-along chorus for the ages. The album has a very grand feel to it, while still managing to maintain intimate (something that was lost with their follow-up, X&Y). “Amsterdam” and “Green Eyes” follow the band’s signature “romantic ballad” approach with great success, while the band branches out with the jolty album opener, “ Politik"10. New Wave - Against Me! (2007)
Against Me!’s fourth album, New Wave, was championed by critics (Spin magazine named it the best album of 2007), but some die-hard fans felt that their signing to a major record label made them “sell-outs”. But regardless, New Wave is packed with great songs. “Thrash Unreal" and "Stop" are insanely catchy, while “Piss And Vinegar" lives up to the ferocity that its name suggests. But the best song may be the album’s closer, “The Ocean”, where lead singer Tom Gabel earnestly wonders what life would be like as a woman. Introspection and thoughtfulness may not be two sentiments often associated with punk music, but Against Me! change that, while still maintaining their ultra-cool persona.
9. Consolers Of The Lonely - The Raconteurs (2008)
The Raconteurs’ debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, was a great introduction to their sound, but Consolers of the Lonely really kicks things up a notch. Jack White is as manic and fantastic as ever on tracks like “Top Yourself" and "Five On The Five". And while Jack White gets all the attention, Brendan Benson’s contributions on this album are indispensable. His crooning on “Many Shades Of Black” is awesome, and he provides stability to the Raconteurs’ music, which sometimes seems like it might careen right off the tracks. Almost every song on the album is memorable, and The Raconteurs’ sophomore effort shows that this is no mere “side project”.
8. Antics - Interpol (2004)
Even though I’m yet to really get into Interpol’s debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, Antics struck me right away. “Evil" and Slow Hands are two of the immediate highlights, but all the other tracks are great, and new favourites will emerge as you listen more. Paul Banks’ wonderfully sardonic voice suits the band’s trendy sound to a tee. Though they’re not everyone’s cup of tee, I think that Interpol is a band that is modern in the best sense of the word. They couldn’t really exist (much less succeed) in any other era but the hyper-fast, technology-focused present.
7. Elephant - The White Stripes (2003)
I realise that Jack White will appear in the top 10 of this list far too much, but he’s done too much phenomenal work in the past eight years not to make it on multiple times. Elephant, The Stripes’ third album, kicks off with the mega-hit "Seven Nation Army" (that riff is guaranteed to get ingrained into you mind). It’s one of the tightest songs that Jack White has ever written, but there’s plenty more gems to follow on this album. "Black Math is suitably fierce, while You've Got Her in Your Pocket takes a slightly more mellow approach. Despite the “third man” and “seventh son” mysticism, “Ball and Biscuit” is totally authentic, bluesy, and fantastic. Elephant might be their “biggest” album (both in sound and commercial popularity) but it is still completely refreshing.
6. Sea Change - Beck (2002)
Since Beck Hansen’s usual fare is electronic, hyper, and complex, the dulcet tones of Sea Change seems to come completely out of left field. But after hearing the album, you have to wonder why Beck didn’t do something like this sooner. It’s considered a break-up album, and Beck’s forlorn voice and swooning melodies make that easy to believe. The slightly urgent strings on “
Paper Tiger” suit the song perfectly, and offer something a little different to the album’s very mellow sound. “Lonesome Tears” is another standout track among a string of gems. Though you might not have expected Beck to reinvent himself as a quasi-folk artist, the results are spectacular, and it makes for a beautiful listening experience. 5. Gold - Ryan Adams (2001)
Though the album may be a bit lengthy (it clocks in at just over 70 minutes), Gold is chock full of classic Ryan Adams work. “
When the Stars Go Blue” has become well known from covers by artists like Garth Brooks, but surely it’s the superb song writing that makes it work so well for others. “New York, New York" and "Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd. bookend the album, and while the odes to city life are rather different, they frame the album perfectly. The Fiona Apple-esque “Touch, Feel, Lose” proves that blues-influenced stuff suits Adams well. Adams manages to balance his genre-jumping penchant well on this album. For example, “Gonna' Make you Love Me” is fierce and attention-grabbing, only to be followed by the understated, uncertain “Wild Flowers”. While Heartbreaker was very heavy on country, and Love Is Hell focused on balladry, Gold doesn’t restrict itself to one style, and it shows that Adams is a true renaissance man.4. Amnesiac - Radiohead (2001)
Although the term “underrated” is overused, I would have to say that it applies to this album (if anything done by Radiohead can be classified as “underrated”, that is). Amnesiac was the first Radiohead album that I heard, and it was actually the boozy, stumbling jazz of "
Life in a Glasshouse” that really caught my attention on first listen. “Pyramid Song” is one of the most beautiful Radiohead songs to date. The whole album has a very unsettling feel to it, but really, it wouldn’t be a Radiohead album if it didn’t. And I feel that this album works really well cohesively, with its reverb-y sound and unique songs. Radiohead once again proves that they can do no wrong. 3. O - Damien Rice (2003)
Damien Rice had a big hit with “The Blower's Daughter” from this album, but even if you’re sick of that song, the rest of the album is well worth checking out. "
Cannonball" and Amie" are a couple of the strongest tracks, but every song on the album is a gem. Damien Rice’s voice is perfect for the songs he sings, with all it’s uncertainty and sincerity. And even though I wasn’t that crazy about all the focus put on background vocalist Lisa Hannigan at first, as I listened to the album more I realised that she is an indispensable part of the O experience that helps makes it so great. His follow-up, 2006’s 9 was a disappointment – it lost sight of the simplicity that works so well on O. 2. The Woods - Sleater-Kinney (2005)
Obviously, Sleater-Kinney’s heyday was in the mid-90’s. Their aggresive music proved that the girls could rock just as hard as the boys, and cemented their place as alt-rock royalty. But with The Woods as their (ostensibly) final release, the girls of Sleater-Kinney clearly quit while they were ahead. The album is much more influenced by classic rock than their prior punk- y work. For better or worse, they have a fuller sound because of this, which works well on massive tracks like “The Fox" and "Entertain”. And although it’s on the mellow side for Sleater-Kinney, I would say that “Modern Girl” is one of my favourite songs of theirs. Although The Woods may not be Sleater-Kinney’s “definitive” album, it’s certainly a masterpiece in its own right, and will most likely age well right along with the rest of their catalogue.
1. White Blood Cells - The White Stripes (2001)
Picking a favourite White Stripes album is no easy task, but I think that White Blood Cells is the most well-rounded of their discography. Their breakthrough hit “Fell in Love With a Girl” picks up right where “Screwdriver” left off in terms of mega-riffage, while the rest of the album is a good balance of manic blues-rock (“The Union Forever”) and softer stuff (“We're Going to Be Friends”). The melding of styles suits the Whites well. The country-tinged “Hotel Yorba” may be an anomaly for the White Stripes, but it’s become one of their most beloved songs. Perhaps the best thing of all about White Blood Cells is that it feels like lightning captured in the bottle. Despite all the mysticism and bravado, The White Stripes sound genuinely surprised that they’re making an album this great. No other band culd’ve pulled this off
