The best albums of the decade
By JON?HOCHSCHARTNER, Special to the EnterpriseAs an art form, the album died in the 2000s. The rise of mp3s allowed listeners to devour music buffet-style, picking out singles while leaving the rest on the table. In turn, artists learned to pack their CD's with a few guaranteed hits then a whole lot of filler. That said, this admittedly incomprehensive list attempts to draw from a diverse range of genres to name some of the best records of the past decade.
10. "Stankonia" (2000) OutKast - While officially a duo, its clear Andre 3000 is responsible for the group's strange genius to a one-sided degree. With 24 tracks here, there's something for everyone. Even Time magazine, that crusty bastion of old journalism, recognized the "Stankonia" influence by naming it one of the 100 greatest albums of all time.
9. "American IV: The Man Comes Around " (2002) Johnny Cash - The Man In Black covers everyone from The Eagles to Nine Inch Nails in this somber final record before his death. Quite often, Cash's stripped-down performances, focusing on his acoustic guitar and weather-beaten baritone, are better than the originals.
8."MTV Unplugged No. 2.0" (2002) Lauryn Hill - A hip-hop Salinger, the former Fugee dove into reclusion following the massive success of her solo debut. She emerged a few years later with this intimate live set of new songs. It's so emotionally raw, you'll hold your breath hoping she won't break down.
7."Give Up" (2003) The Postal Service - Wikipedia, the most trusted of sources, defines The Postal Service as "electronic indie pop." So they might be an acquired taste, but this side project of Death Cab for Cutie singer Ben Gibbard will definitely grow on you. It's one of those few albums you can listen to from start to finish without skipping a single track.
6."The College Dropout" (2004) Kanye West - The most arrogant man in show business' first three albums were all reliably stellar, so the pick of his debut here is somewhat arbitrary. Lets hope he turns away from auto-tuned R & B and gets back to what he does best-rapping.
5."Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (2002) Wilco - On their fourth album, Jeff Tweedy and the gang found critical and (for indie standards) commercial success. "Jesus, etc." was surprisingly written before 9/11. But to date, it still sounds like the greatest musical response to the tragedy.
4."Hail to the Thief" (2003) Radiohead - In their strongest showing since "OK Computer," Thom Yorke and company back off the inaccessible experimentation and return to their roots.
3."The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000) Eminem - For his classic sophomore album, Eminem offers a meditation on fame and the responsibilities that come with it. If you're a fan of the Detroit rapper, definitely check out Cage's "Movies for the Blind."
2. "Is This It" (2001) The Strokes - They rode the garage-rock revival of the early 2000s to mainstream success, along with contemporaries such as The White Stripes, The Vines and The Hives. Here, Julian Casablanca's distorted vocals sound as if they were sung from a distant payphone. But whatever you think of their lo-fi asceticism, the boys from NYC had an undeniable ear for melody.
1."The Blueprint" (2001) Jay-Z - Not even a Sept. 11 release date could stop Sean Carter's soul-sampling sixth album from going double platinum. Hipsters resent his mainstream appeal, but sometimes artists are popular for a reason. Jay-Z is the best rapper alive. Enough said.
