Top 100 of Decade

Well, I certainly took a big crap when it came to my official list of top 100 albums of the decade. Of course I had great excuses for ignoring the list. First, My wife and I moved to the suburbs, specifically with my mother in law whose Internet access was crap. Second, my wife and I were building a new house which is a time suck. Third, my wife was pregnant. My daughter was born happy and healthy on November 18, 2009. Now, I am not a complete loser. I compiled my list last May and therefore I am going to publish it without comments. Maybe my blog followers have their own idea of top albums?

My list

100 Eddie Vedder Into the Wild(OTS) 2007
99 Girl Talk Feed the Animals 2008
98 Jets Overhead Bridges 2005
97 Dr Dre The Chronic 2001 2001
96 Wolfmother Wolfmother 2006
95 Nine Inch Nails With Teeth 2005
94 Dave Matthews Band Everyday 2001
93 Gorillaz Demon Days 2005
92 Jay Z Kingdom Come 2006
91 Dave Matthews Band Gru Grux King 2009
90 Dr. Dog Fate 2008
89 Eminem The Marshall Mather LP 2001
88 The Strokes Is This It 2001
87 Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake.. 2004
86 Tool Lateralus 2001
85 Shins Chutes to Know 2002
84 Queens of the Stoneage Songs for the Deaf 2002
83 The Killers Sawdust 2007
82 Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica 2001
81 Beyonce I'm Sasha Fierce 2008
80 Bloc Party Silent Alarm 2006
79 Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium 2006
78 Brian Wilson Smile 2004
77 Mgmt Oracular Spectacular 2008
76 Incubus Morning View 2001
75 Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad 2008
74 Beyonce Dangerously In Love 2004
73 Outkast Speakerboxx/The Love Below 2003
72 System of a Down Toxicity 2001
71 The Great Northern Trading Twilight for Daylight 2007
70 Wilco Wilco(The Album) 2009
69 Sufjan Stevens Illinois 2006
68 Thom Yorke The Eraser 2006
67 Keane Hopes and Fears 2004
66 Kings of Leon Only By The Night 2008
65 The Strokes Room on Fire 2003
64 The National Boxer 2007
63 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000
62 Staind Break The Cycle 2001
61 3 Doors Down The Better Life 2000
60 The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan 2005
59 Greeny Day 21st Century Breakdown 2009
58 Beck The Information 2006
57 Kanye West Graduation 2007
56 Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love. 2005
55 Ryan Adams Heartbreaker 2005
54 Mark Ronson Versions 2007
53 Jay Z American Gangster 2007
52 The Killers Day & Age 2008
51 Metallica St. Anger 2003
50 Pearl Jam Pearl Jam 2006
49 Coldplay Viva La Vida 2008
48 Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred 2006
47 Radiohead Amnesiac 2001
46 Beck Guero 2005
45 Jeff Tweedy Sunken Treasure 2006
44 Lil' Wayne Tha Carter III 2008
43 Amy Winehouse Back to Black 2007
42 Dave Matthews Some Devil 2003
41 Eve Scorpion 2001
40 U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic 2003
39 The White Stripes Icky Thump 2007
38 Maroon 5 Songs About Jane 2003
37 Jay Z The Blueprint 2001
36 James Blunt Back to Bedlam 2005
35 Jack Johnson Brushfire Fairy Tales 2001
34 Gym Class Heroes As Cruel as School Children 2006
33 Gorillaz Gorillaz 2001
32 Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand 2004
31 Danger Mouse The Grey Album 2004
30 Beck Modern Guilt 2008
29 Fergie The Duchess 2007
28 The Soundtrack of our Lives Behind the Music 2002
27 Kanye West Late Registration 2005
26 Radiohead Hail to the Thief 2004
25 Justin Timberlake Future Sex Love Sounds 2006
24 Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes 2008
23 The Killers Sams Town 2006
22 Metallica Death Magnetic 2008
21 Nelly Furtado Loose 2006
20 Wilco A Ghost is Born 2004
19 Coldplay X&Y 2005
18 Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend 2008
17 Beck Sea Changes 2002
16 The Killers Hot Fuzz 2000
15 Jay Z The Black Album 2003
14 Radiohead Kid A 2000
13 TI Paper Trail 2008
12 Weezer The Green Album 2001
11 Bright Eyes Cassadega 2007
10 The White Stripes White Blood Cells 2001
9 Radiohead In Rainbows 2007
8 The White Stripes Elephant 2003
7 Wilco Sky Blue Sky 2007
6 Green Day American Idiot 2004
5 Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head 2002
4 U2 All That You Cant Leave Behind 2000
3 Kanye West College Dropout 2004
2 Coldplay Parachutes 2000
1 Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2001

Update

I know it has been awhile people. Moving, and work, and school, and baby. I am back though, so be happy. :)

#99-Girl Talk-Feed The Animals-2008

There are no original ideas, only original people. This is a quote from Barbara Grizzuti Harrison but it just as well could be a quote from any of the artists lifted for this 2008 album. Girl Talk is as original as they come, despite the fact that he is stealing from every genre of music over the last fifty years.

Girl Talk, or Greg Michael Gillis, has extrapolated music from Procol Harum to Radiohead to Kanye West and even Twisted Sister. He has taken these original works, juxtaposed them to a beat and added lyrics, and created a cornucopia of music more appropriate for a frantic night at the club. Although I cannot find a single word online about pending copyright lawsuits or a disgruntled member of The Band trying to hunt him down, I believe Girl Talk has developed the next phase of music in a world where original music is falling into the crevices of recycled auto tuning and reprocessed drum beats.

#100-Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild-2007

The cinematic premise of Into the Wild was fated to be a powerful adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 book. The story of Chris McCandless and his journey from Atlanta to Alaska is heart wrenching, emotionally charged, and in the end a study of the American youth post-Kerouac on the road without a thought of the world around him. When the project was announced, my initial reaction was that Sean Penn would give the tender, affectionate treatment to the film that was needed to bring the story to the screen. It was my surprising when I heard that Eddie Vedder would be recording the soundtrack.

The Into the Wild soundtrack is in essence a solo album by one of the most underrated leaders of music today. It has everything an album would need to tell a story of an epic American adventure. It has the acoustic, haunting power of Dylan with the deep growl of a performer who not only sings the song of Chris McCandless but also of the millions who find themselves on a great journey. Each song is a testament to Sean Penn’s beautiful film as well as Krakauer’s narrative.

Eddie Vedder is the father of modern music. Through his years as Pearl Jam’s front man, he not only contributed to the current musical landscape, but also managed to keep his head above the tumultuous musical waters of the last 20 years. He is our Neil Young, our Dylan, and this album is a fine entry into what can only be described as a powerful discography.

Next #99

Ryan

Ryan's Top 100 Albums of the Decade

It has been a while since I have posted. This is mostly due to school, and work, and a new house we are building, and a baby that is coming in November. However, all of this aside, it is no excuse to ignore all four of my followers and therefore I think I will commit more time with this.

For some news( besides the house and the arrival of a child), I also quit smoking which has seriously impeded my creativity. Truly, the greatest synapse enhancer is nicotine, and with it drained from my body, I have lost a lot of energy to type out anything. Thus my absence.

Now, I am definitely feeling better and am ready to tackle a monumental task. I am going to compile my thoughts on the top 100 albums of the last decade. Now that a new decade is just around the corner, traditionally it is the job of VH1 and MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine to analyze what the greatest songs of the decade have been. If you want an expert opinion, I suggest following them. If you want a list of my top 100 songs, then keep reading. I will be posting my first album shortly and hope I can finish this list by Jan. 1st. We will see.

Also you can email me or post a comment on here if you have your own idea for a great album. I will then listen to the album and find an appropriate place on my list.

Ryan

This Morning and the Crazy Bus Driver

So the wife is off to Rockford for a day and I am home alone. It has been a very busy week, with the final revision to my globalization paper pending. I was hoping I was going to be done last week, but my instructor came back with some revisions. Last night I fixed up my Work Cited and today I am going to finish it all:). When the wife goes away she takes the car, and that means I have to hoof it. I am a die hard Dunkin Donut's fan and since there is not a single Dunkin Donut's around her, it means I have to take the bus. I could just have easily taken a bus to Clark Street, but that is the dirty Dunkin Donut's, so I decided to take the bus down to Ashland and then walk a mile down Lincoln Avenue to the good Dunkin Donut's.

I waited until it was somewhat light out and I made my way to the bus stop. The bus came along rather quickly and the entire bus trip would take only a few minutes. If I was a healthier man I would walk it but who cares. Now comes the Crazy Bus Driver story related to you the reader through our dialogue. Please let me tell you this conversation-three minutes in duration-came out of nowhere and I am really making it more PC then it really was. Gotta love the #77 Belmont at 6 a.m.

Me to the Bus Driver: Good Morning.

Bus Driver: Good Morning, afternoon and evening. I have been on this bus for the last 12 hours.

Me: Wow! Is your shift almost over?

Bus Driver: Oh yeah, and then I am going home to get me some.

Me(giggle): Great

Bus Driver: I've known this woman for 6 years and all she wants is for me to ****. (I am leaving this part out for the PC audience but it involves a sexual act that is not sex).

Me: really, for 6 years?

Bus Driver: 6 years I have been doing this, and now I am going to bang".

Me: well good for you.

Bus Driver: My only problem is the kids. She has four kids and I gotta watch out for them before I get me some.

Me: Sounds tricky.

Bus Driver: It is!! She has jet black hair that goes down her back. Oh yeah I love white woman.

Me: Ok (I stand and tell him I am getting off the bus at Ashland).

Bus Driver: Have a good morning man, hope you get some too.

Me: I just need a coffee.

Bus Driver: Well think of me getting some while you are drinking it.

I get off the bus.

I have no idea why the bus driver felt compelled to tell me this story but it seems it was monumental enoguh to share with a complete stranger. For your information I am drinking my Dunkin Donuts and trying really hard not to think about the bus driver getting some. This city is amazing.

Conversation Overheard

If you ride the Red Line you become privy to some great information. Case in point the three guys who stood over me today. By looking at them I could tell they were Art students, but the conversation alone was amazing. I have named them Dweezil, Johan, and Kevin. Please not I have taken some liberty with the dialogue, but the topics were true.

Dweezil: You know I am excited about graduating.

Johan: So it is your Masters, right.

Dweezil: Yep, but in writing. I am going to write the Great American Novel.

Ken: Then why are you working in the video department.

Dweezil: Digital media is my hobby, writing is my passion. That is why I am not living in Seattle.

Ken: Seattle? I thought you were from Kentucky.

Johan: Seattle, Kentucky..It is all relative.

Dweezil: No I was living outside of Seattle and was taking classes at the community college.

Ken: Tacoma?

Dweezil: Bellevue, and I was in community college and working at Nordstroms

Ken: Nordstroms is for girls.

Dweezil: no way man, I was pulling down some serious cash..enough cash that I almost didn't leave. I was shining shoes and pulling nearly 250 a day.

Ken: 250 a day for shining shoes.

Dweezil: yep, and it was cushy. I would get into work at 9 and work until 5. I would sit in a big leather chair and watch sports center and shine shoes for a living. It was the greatest job in the world.

Johan: Why did you leave?

Dweezil: It was a girl Johan, a girl made me leave my home and then I was living in Chippewa Falls for a while with her and doing the whole domesticated thing, and then when she left I came down to Chicago.

Ken: Sounds like you should have stayed in Seattle.

Dweezil: No Seattle is overrated, but shining shoes is amazingly profitable. I am thinking about taking it up again if I cannot find a publisher.

Johan: Great I have a few penny loafers at home you can start with.

ALL GIGGLE.

So for Dweezil, Johan, and Ken life went on when I left the train, and I have really no idea why I felt compelled to tell this story, but that Nordstroms in Bellevue sounds amazing.