(This post is part of Frequency’s coverage of the best music of the past decade. You can see all of that coverage in one place by clicking here. And be sure to tune in Dec. 18, when I’ll post “Near/Far,” our annual, downloadable MP3 compilation of the best music of 2009, to go along with our year-in-review package in that day’s GO! Magazine.)
The year 2000 was my last living in my home town in Kentucky, and my last working at the greatest college radio station in the world, WRFL, and living around the corner from a tremendous record store, CD Central. It marked the end of my opportunity to grab an unfamiliar CD or LP off the station’s shelves, give it a spin, and, sometimes, discover a new favorite band. Probably half the bands on the list below I found through DJing at WRFL. And it marked the end of my ability to stop at the record store on a regular basis and browse for hours. In early 2001, I moved to the wilds of Idaho, more than two hours from the nearest shop, and even that one was pretty underwhelming.
Here, in alphabetical order, are what I believe to be the best albums released in 2000, which was a pretty strong year for music. It’s a nice mix, I think, with some indie rock, some power pop, some twangy stuff and a little hip-hop, plus one of the weirdest records I own. (And yes, no “Kid A”.) Stick around to find out if any of these ranked among my favorites of the entire decade.
Ryan Adams, “Heartbreaker”
The Anniversary, “Designing A Nervous Breakdown”
Death Cab For Cutie, “We Have The Facts and We’re Voting Yes”
Steve Earle, “Transcendental Blues”
The Glands, “The Glands”
Godspeed You Black Emperor, “Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven”
Grandaddy, “The Sophtware Slump”
Marah, “Kids In Philly”
Modest Mouse, “The Moon & Antarctica”
The New Pornographers, “Mass Romantic”
Outkast, “Stankonia”
Pontius Copilot, “Madagascar”
Slobberbone, “Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today”
Sunny Day Real Estate, “The Rising Tide”
Superdrag, “In the Valley of Dying Stars”
Ultimate Fakebook, “This Will Be Laughing Week”
Wolf Colonel, “Vikings of Mint”
How about you? Sort your iTunes by “Year” and tell me what 2000 release still strikes a chord with you.
Tags: Best of the 2000s
Is this list serious? You’ve got to be kidding…
Not kidding, Steve. What albums from 2000 are your favorites?
I’m still trying to figure out if Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Howl” will make my list for 2005…
Helluva list, Ben. Nice work. I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing it is to see Wolf Colonel on the list. Vikings of Mint is such a fun album. The Moon and Antarctica could be the best Modest Mouse album, in my humble opinion. So many of the albums you list come back to me like 2000 was yesterday. I suppose that’s the mark of a good – or atleast notable – album. Can’t wait for the 2001 list.
Now it’s time for me to get a medium rootbeer.
This is a pretty good list. But I’d probably include these, as well:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – B.R.M.C.
(Not their best, but debuted one of the most consistently awesome bands of the aughts.)
Harvey Danger – King James Version
(A long-delayed but ultimately pretty fulfilling follow up to their fantastic debut.)
Our Lady Peace – Spiritual Machines
(I know every word to this album. And you should, too.)
PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
(PJ proves that she can make a “commercial” album and still be awesome. Also features a killer duet with Thom Yorke.)
Radiohead – Kid A
(Seriously? No Kid A?
Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker
(I’d probably drop Pneumonia and put in Heartbreaker. That’s just how I feel.)
Sleater-Kinney – All Hands On the Bad One
(Made me wish I a woman, just so I could feel empowered. But it turns out I still did.)
The Waxwings – Low To the Ground
(Knowing how much you like Brendan Benson’s style, I’m surprised you’ve never listened to these guys. Always gets me up when I’m down.)
The White Stripes – De Stijl
(Seriously? We really gotta have this conversation?)
I’m depending on iTunes to get the dates right on this, so I apologize if any of these are not from 2000.