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I've read countless 'Top Albums of the Decade' lists over the past couple months (most notably Pitchfork's and NME's). I agreed with some and vehemently disagreed with others. Since it is now December 2009, the last month of the decade, I thought I should make my own list.

I initially tried to make a straight 1-50 list, but it was physically and emotionally exhausting trying to rank albums from different years. So instead I picked the best three records from each year (and in some years multiple records tied for 3rd place lol).

(Just to avoid confusion, "1." is the best record of that year.)

2000
3. Parachutes by Coldplay / Black Market Music by Placebo
2. Kid A by Radiohead
1. The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem

2001
3. The Blueprint by Jay-Z / Origin Of Symmetry by Muse
2. Stillmatic by Nas
1. Is This It by The Strokes

2002
3. Songs About Jane by Maroon 5 / A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay
2. By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers
1. The Eminem Show by Eminem

2003
3. Hail To The Thief by Radiohead / Absolution by Muse
2. Sleeping With Ghosts by Placebo
1. Room on Fire by The Strokes

2004
3. Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand / Antics by Interpol
2. Hot Fuss by The Killers
1. Aha Shake Heartbreak by Kings of Leon

2005
3. Guero by Beck / Searching for Jerry Garcia by Proof
2. Late Registration by Kanye West
1. Demon Days by Gorillaz

2006
3. The Eraser by Thom Yorke / The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
2. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys
1. Meds by Placebo

2007
3. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT / Because of the Times by Kings of Leon
2. Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys
1. In Rainbows by Radiohead

2008
3. The Virgins by The Virgins
2. Hercules And Love Affair by Hercules and Love Affair
1. Only by the Night by Kings of Leon

2009
3. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand / The Resistance by Muse
2. Relapse by Eminem
1. Battle For The Sun by Placebo

Wed 2 Dec – Evan Dando

Es gibt Künstler, die man live gesehen haben muss. Unabhängig davon, wie gut sie live sind. Künstler wie Oasis, Pete Doherty, Travis, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand und, und, und. Künstler, die Musikgeschichte geschrieben und uns geprägt haben. Für viele sind The Lemonheads und insbesondere deren Frontmann Evan Dando einer dieser Künstler. Diese Menschen treffen wir am Abend des 2. Dezember 2009 im Berliner Magnet.

Zum Konzertbericht.

...the soundtrack would not be chosen by putting my music on shuffle. That's a stupid idea. Well, it's fun to do if it won't really become a movie, and you're just a bit bored. I did this on a forum elsewhere and decided it was good enough to transfer to my last.fm journal. If you can't be bothered reading everything, just skip to the funeral scene. It's amazing.

Opening Credits:
Main Titles (no, the ones from Mars Attacks!) - Danny Elfman
That's appropriate. Title music for the opening credits!

Waking Up:
Amateur Hour - Sparks
That's some good waking up.

Falling in Love:
No Spill Blood - Oingo Boingo
Less appropriate. I wonder who I'm supposed to be falling in love with here. This should have been the fight song. House of pain? Looking forward to that.


Fight Song:
Spastica - Elastica
It's okay, I suppose. Not...fighty enough, though.

Breaking Up:
In My Family - Sparks
Interesting.

Prom:
On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Vernian Process
Eh...so I'm a spy at my prom? Or maybe it's just all very dramatic and dark.

Life:
Slowly Growing Deaf - Mr. Bungle
I'm going to have a terrible life.

Mental Breakdown:
Eels - The Mighty Boosh
So...I'll become new rave during my mental breakdown? Well, The Mighty Boosh IS quite appropriate for the purpose.

Driving:
Dance This Mess Around - The B-52's
Mmm - driving with a hippy-hippy-shake. Fits fairly well.
"HEY! Don't that make you feel a lot better? WHAT'D YOU SAY? I'm just ASK-ing!"


Flashback:
Carousel - Mr. Bungle
That is one terrifying flashback. I really did have a terrible life. This scene would be one hell of a trip.
"Merry-go-round your head...awake, asleep, alive or DEAD!"

Wedding:
Insects - Oingo Boingo
Fantastic. I'm either getting married in a jungle or my husband is hygiene's worst enemy.


Birth of Child:
The Bitch Don't Work - Elastica
That will be a violent, painful birth, summed up in a two-minute montage of blood and screaming.

Final Battle:
Blue Monday - New Order
That's pretty epic. I'll go down like a hero. A fantastic, synthtastic, new wave hero.

Death Scene:
Dead Goon - Mr. Bungle
Appropriate for death.

Funeral Song:
This Fire - Franz Ferdinand
Damnit! I really wanted an Oingo Boingo song here. Can I at least choose to play Dead Man's Party at the reception? This song's probably okay, though. Maybe I'd be cremated or something, or better yet, THE GROUND OPENS TO REVEAL THE FIERY PITS OF HELL! Oh, that's one hell of an epic ending. The coffin goes down first, and then I drag the funeral-goers (my friends, family and, of course, my forgiving enemies who decided to turn up) down with me! Then the coffin opens and my flaming corpse floats into the air as I scream, "MY SPIRIT SHALL NEVER DIE!"
Oh wow. I want to die now, just for that to happen.


Credits:
Whole Day Off - Oingo Boingo
Oh yes.




That was great. I'd pay to see a film with that soundtrack.

#50. Pitty - Chiaroscuro
#49. Mariah Carey - Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel
#48. Maria Gadú - Maria Gadú
#47. Joss Stone - Colour Me Free
#46. Whitney Houston - I Look To You
#45. The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
#44. Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star
#43. Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe
#42. Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night
#41. The Mars Volta - Octahedron

#40. Florence + The Machine - Lungs
#39. Arnaldo Antunes - Iê Iê Iê
#38. Madonna - Celebration
#37. Sonic Youth - The Eternal
#36. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
#35. Basement Jaxx - Scars
#34. Little Boots - Hands
#33. KISS - Sonic Boom
#32. Shakira - She Wolf
#31. David Guetta - One Love

#30. Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
#29. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
#28. Frankmusic - Complete Me
#27. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
#26. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
#25. The xx - XX
#24. Röyksopp - Junior
#23. Passion Pit - Manners
#22. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
#21. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

#20. The Killers - Live From The Royal Albert Hall
#19. The Gossip - Music For Men
#18. Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
#17. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
#16. Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City
#15. Two Suns - Bat For Lashes
#14. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
#13. Nirvana - Live At Reading
#12. La Roux - La Roux
#11. Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster

#10. U2 - No Line On The Horizon
#09. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
#08. Rihanna - Rated R
#07. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
#06. The Dead Weather - Horehound
#05. Paramore - Brand New Eyes
#04. Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
#03. Muse - The Resistance
#02. Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

#01. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

Last year I done a really comprehensive list of the best tracks and albums and things from thhe whole 12 months that I essentially started working on as soon as my hangover cleared on the 1st of January. Yeah I totally didn't stay in last year watching Father Ted all night, I was out partying, yes that's right. In comparison to that comprehensive work last year, I really have not been paying much attention. So this is going to be a bit shit. All the same I'll try my best. For you.

15 Songs that make one helluva playlist.

01 Manic Street Preachers - Peeled Apples
I hated this band until towards the end of 2008 when I discovered the Holy Bible properly. This is probably my most played track of the year, mainly through the radio rip on youtube, complete with Zane Lowe telling me the song as going to "tear my face off". Of course.
02 Future of the Left - I Am Civil Service
I discovered mclusky recently, and went on this bands myspace to check out what Falcos newest stuff was like. I really hated what I heard. Somewhere along the line I decided to get hold of the bands last album, it's fucking awesome. My ears must have been playing tricks on me.
03 Asbestos - Black Diamonds
I'm online friends with the bassist. That's not to say this song doesn't tear most stuff apart. Someone please sign them so they can tour and I can see them live.
04 The Flaming Lips - The Sparrow Looks Up At The Machine
I'm not sure any of the songs from Embryonic will really work on thier own terms. It's one of those sort of albums. Still, this is groovy.
05 Jay - Z - d.o.a
Err Jay, more songs like this, and less of the other shit you put out, please.
06 Eels - Fresh Blood
The first new Eels track and album in ages came out this year. Plus there's another one out in January. Exciting times for Eels fans.
07 Polvo - Lucia
I must admit, I was hugely disapointed with the new Polvo album. It's horribly produced, boring and just kinda tame in terms of weird guitars. All the same, this song is one of the best Polvo songs ever, so fair dues.
08 The Horrors - Scarlet Fields
The bassline doesn't sound like Love Will Tear Us Apart.
09 White Lies - To Lose My Life
Catchy.
10 Sonic Youth - What We Know
Sonic Youth should count thier blessings they have Lee Ranaldo in the band.
11 Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
This song, no matter how good, doesn't make up for that horrible third album. Not one bit.
12 Biffy Clyro - That Golden Rule
Fun riffs and fun times trying to keep time with the last part.
13 Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers
Track of the year, I think. Probably the weirdest song to slip through the charts since "Soon" by My Bloody Valentine or something. Luckily no one was paying that much attention and just wanted to dance.
14 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Soft Shock
That electro album was totally hit or miss. This song is lovely, though.
15 Lightning Bolt - Transmissionary
The pinacle of Lightning Bolt's progression over the last ten years. 12 minutes of awesome, octave travelling awesome. Headbang motherfuckers.

Worst song of the Year
Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling
I got a feeling some people should learn to stay addicted to crystal meth.

Albums of the Year

01 Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
02 Future of the Left - Travels With Myself And Another
03 The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
04 Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
05 The Horrors - Primary Colours

No new bands in sight, but Welsh bands in the top two. Woohoo Welsh pride.

Writing this didn't make my headache go away. Goodnight.

20. La Roux
19. Placebo
18. Kelly Clarkson
17. Paramore
16. Phoenix
15. Black Eyed Peas
14. Muse
13. Taylor Swift
12. Fall Out Boy
11. Britney Spears
10. Kanye West
09. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
08. Green Day
07. Animal Collective
06. Beyoncé
05. Franz Ferdinand
04. Prodigy
03. Lily Allen
02. The Killers
01. Lady GaGa

wanna bet??

First, make a list of your top-20 artists overall. Then, for each of these artists, add the 8 most similar artists to your list. Delete any duplicates, count up the number of entries on your list and this will give you some idea of how eclectic your listening habits are. A score of 9 represents an extremely unvaried musical taste while a 160 represents an extremely varied one.

1. Muse (9)
// Franz Ferdinand
// Placebo
// Kasabian
// Radiohead
// The Killers
// Arctic Monkeys
// Kaiser Chiefs
// Keane

2. The Strokes (17)
// Julian Casablancas
// Albert Hammond, Jr.
// Little Joy
// The Libertines
// Kings of Leon
// The Last Shadow Puppets
// Moptop

3. Arctic Monkeys (20)
// The Rascals
// The Kooks
// Milburn

4. Radiohead (26)
// Thom Yorke
// Jonny Greenwood
// Coldplay
// Interpol
// Blur
// Beck

5. The Beatles (35)
// John Lennon
// George Harrison
// Paul McCartney
// Ringo Starr
// Paul McCartney & Wings
// Wings
// The Who
// The Rolling Stones

6. Oasis (43)
// Noel Gallagher
// The Stone Roses
// The Verve
// Stereophonics
// Richard Ashcroft
// The La's
// Ian Brown

7. Franz Ferdinand (45)
// The Fratellis
// The Rakes

8. The Cribs (53)
// The Maccabees
// Jamie T
// Bombay Bicycle Club
// Good Shoes
// The Paddingtons
// The Courteeners
// Johnny Foreigner

9. M83 (62)
// School of Seven Bells
// The Radio Dept.
// Slowdive
// Maps
// The Album Leaf
// Air France
// Hammock
// Eluvium

10. We Are Scientists (69)
// The Futureheads
// Maxïmo Park
// Boy Kill Boy
// The Automatic
// Bloc Party
// Mystery Jets

11. Nine Inch Nails (78)
// Modwheelmood
// Trent Reznor
// Marilyn Manson
// Tweaker
// Halo33
// Black Light Burns
// Puscifer
// KMFDM

12. The Presets (87)
// Pnau
// Midnight Juggernauts
// Grafton Primary
// Van She
// Cut Copy
// Muscles
// Bag Raiders
// Simian Mobile Disco

13. Foals (93)
// Maths Class
// Late of the Pier
// These New Puritans
// Friendly Fires
// Youthmovies

14. Hot Chip (100)
// LCD Soundsystem
// Junior Boys
// Metronomy
// Fujiya & Miyagi
// Lo-Fi-Fnk
// Grovesnor

15. Howling Bells (109)
// The Duke Spirit
// The Joy Formidable
// Giant Drag
// The Long Blondes
// Waikiki
// The Grates
// Little Birdy
// Sky Larkin

16. Friendly Fires (114)
// Passion Pit
// Jack Peñate
// The Temper Trap
// Frankmusik
// Delphic

17. The Last Shadow Puppets (115)
// The Little Flames

18. Glasvegas (123)
// White Lies
// Broder Daniel
// The View
// Timo Räisänen
// Kent
// The Twilight Sad
// Laakso

19. Rage Against the Machine (132)
// One Day as a Lion
// Audioslave
// Zack De La Rocha
// Street Sweeper Social Club
// The Nightwatchman
// Limp Bizkit
// Red Hot Chili Peppers
// Incubus

20. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (140)
// Metric
// The Kills
// Be Your Own Pet
// Arcade Fire
// Florence + The Machine
// The Gossip
// Bat for Lashes