BEST OF THE DECADE (The last two)

2. Alkaline Trio-Good Mourning (2003)

This is by no means my favorite Alkaline Trio record, but it definitely the first one I bought and got me into them. I know all the songs by heart and they are second nature to me. Yes, it's a bit overproduced for an album released on an "indie" label like Vagrant, but the songs are catchy and just as terribly tongue-in-cheek. It also marked the first album with current drummer Derek Grant, who may not be Glenn Porter, but he can play the older songs just as well. This record also saw Matt Skiba writing songs for Dan to sing. This album kind of defined my crushes on girls in high school. It will always be etched into my memory.



1. Gorillaz-Gorillaz (2001)

Surprised? I don't think you should be this album is incredible. It set a new standard for records I listened to that followed. When I heard this album I was still into nu-metal, so there was no surprise that I enjoyed the hip hop influence, but who knew this could get me to look beyond that narrow spectrum. If it were not for this album I would not be where I am today. Damon Albran and Dan the Automator really created a masterpiece with a fictional band. Of course, the music is real and real good at that. This record never gets old to me and always brings back the fondest memories.

Well, that is all for the best the decade list. I hope everyone had a good holiday. Coming up next is my best 2009!

BEST OF THE DECADE

3. 3 Prong Outlet-Now...or Never (2003)

It saddens me to know I can't find any traces of this band through a Google search anymore. If you never heard of them, I'm not surprised. I think only people who are pretty close to me have any idea who they are. 3 Prong Outlet was a small band from Catonsville, Maryland that no one really got a chance to discover. They were around from about 1998 till 2003 or 2004. They released three full lengths and an EP/Demo before breaking up. This was their last record and I bought it as soon as it came out. I was so excited in high school, I felt like that cool kid who knew about a band no one else knew about. The music itself is pop punk in it's purest form. I didn't have much to compare it to back then, because all I knew was Blink-182, but they sound very similar to Screeching Weasel and other Ramonescore bands. The lyrics are snotty, but at times actually rather thoughtful. Matt Pless, the song writer/guitar player/vocalist is still one of my all time favorite artists. Whether he's singing about blowing up his school or just being plain depressed he is amazing. I think I can blame this record for how I am now. It made me realize that there is more to music then major labels and indie rock cred.

BEST OF THE DECADE

4. Modest Mouse-Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2003)

This record will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only did it make me pay attention to "indie" music, but it also the first album to make me feel genuinely upset. The best or worst memory I have of this album is listening to it to and from my grandmother's funeral. Even though this record can come off as terribly bitter something about the songs just made me sad, but it was real emotion. Even if they made their first major pop hit with this song, it is far from a pop record. It is on a major label, but it is pretty far from your typical lighthearted pop record. I am glad this album had as much exposure as it did because it turned to one of my all-time favorite bands. Thanks for the memories Mr. Brock.

BEST OF THE DECADE

5. Cursive-The Ugly Organ (2003)

When I first heard this record, it was unlike anything I had been listening to at the time. It was well into the large success of bands like Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, and Dashboard Confessional. This is what the "media" was selling as emo. I was buying into it until my cousin told me about Cursive. I gave this record a listen and something about it just connected with me instantly. I think it might have been Tim Kasher's amazing story telling. That seems to be the number one selling point of Cursive, at least for me. The music isn't exactly post-hardcore, but it isn't exactly indie either. It is however "emo" in the greatest sense of the word, but Kasher seems invoke real emotion into this wonderful tales of lost love and artistic integrity. The eerie cello of Gretta Cohn is what really made the record for me. The atmosphere is dark and brooding leaving you with the feeling that you just listened to an entire scary movie. The Ugly Organ feels so much like a movie, that there is only a slightly happy ending with the repetition of "the worst is over" in the last track "Staying Alive." Not only is this album a great full length, but it is also an amazing concept album which set me on a path of only being album to write concept albums. Damn you Tim Kasher.

BEST OF THE DECADE

6.Against Me!-As the Eternal Cowboy (2003)

I know, loving this band has become slightly dated. Too be honest though, I remember hearing "Cliche Guevara" for the first time and claiming this was the future of punk rock. In a way, I was right. So many slightly similar sounding bands popped up here and there in every scene and record label, but this sound was nothing new. Bands have been doing "folk punk" way before Against Me and will continue doing it way after them. However, in 2003 this was groundbreaking. For me at least.

Some might contend that Axl Rose is the stronger release, but I would challenge that argument. For one, the production on this album is ten times better. I know, that is not punk rock, but at least I can hear the vocals and instruments clearly. Plus, this record is full of no filler. Where as, let's be honest, there are some tracks on Axl Rose that you are tempted to skip. Don't lie to yourself, you know it is true.

Second, the lyrics on this release are better and less reactionary. Axl Rose is all about being pissed and being at the riot. Cowboy is all about I'm pissed, but I am more informed and ready to make thoughtful decisions that might effect the rest of my life. That's right people, this is grown up folks punk rock. Resist all you want.

Seriously though, this record for me was a turning point in how I looked at genres and introduced me to the ever growing No Idea catalog of bands that I have now grown to love. I don't think I would ever be attending the Fest without hearing Against Me and that is what brings me joy into my meaningless life.

BEST OF THE DECADE

7. Lawrence Arms-Apathy and Exhaustion

That's right people, orgcore is alive in well in my heart. How can you go wrong with the album though? Not a single bad track on the whole thing. It has that punk rock energy you have come to expect from Chicago bands and that odd thoughfulness. Sure, the Brendan songs are just as sarcastic as always, but even he seems a tiny bit depressed. I think the one thing that stands out the most about this record are Chris' songs. Before this record, Chris wasn't highlighted as much as the singer in the band. He had a few songs on Ghost Stories, but fans (and even the band) seem to ignore that release for whatever reason. But on this record, he truly shines. "Brick Wall Views" is a song that defines exactly how I feel when I look back at my life 3 three years ago. "Right as Rain Pt.2" is such a beautiful song and pretty much my all-time favorite Lawrence Arms song, ever. It took me a little more time to discover the other great Brendan songs on this release, but there is nothing worth skipping. No matter where I am in my life the Lawrence Arms will always hold a special place in my heart. Whether it is those sad moments or the best moments of my life I am forever in debt to them.

BEST OF THE DECADE

8. Atmosphere-Godlovesugly (2002)

I have never been a huge fan of hip hop. Let's be honest(white)people we were just not built to do it. Some artists over the years have been able to find their niche in this at times saturated genre. There was Vanilla Ice, who was an embarrassment and then Eminem who people actually liked in a non-ironic way. Not gonna lie, the Marshall Mathers LP is brilliant, but did not come early enough to make this list. Instead, I take a cue from the "underground" and revel in this indie hip hop masterpiece.

The one thing that makes hip hop great is the production value. The beats and the samples, that is what drives the music. Yes, there are some live instruments, but that's not where this grand tradition of music originated. Ant, the producer and DJ of Atmosphere knows exactly what he is doing on this record. Tons of old soul samples and some great sounding snares and kicks. I have a theory that if you can't listen to hip hop cruising with your windows down in your car, it is not worth your time. This record has that element mixed with the thoughtful and clever lines of Sean Daly aka Slugg. Call it emo rap or love rap, Slugg has great delivery and an even better story telling skill. He is able to, excuse the pun, wrap you into that little twisted head of his. At times humorous, obscene, angry, or just looking for a laugh, Slugg is one the best MCs of the last 10 years. With this album, I was able to grow a stronger appreciation for hip hop as an art form and for that I am thankful.

BEST OF THE DECADE

9. Bomb the Music Industry!-Get Warmer (2007)

Let me just say this first, this record is a masterpiece. Given, most of these records are, but by god it is amazing. The only song worth skipping is the first one, but if you skip it you are kind of ruining the experience. Seriously though, not a terrible song on this record. I think Jeff Rosenstock really out did himself with this record. The production, the music, and the lyrics are all balled up into this epic under 40 minute opus. It was the first official release I bought from BTMI! and it is the newest record on this list. I tried to refrain from including "newer" records, but I had to put this on the list. This record has influenced so many of my own song writing ideas and most of my life decisions. Not really about that last part, but you know what I mean. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this album. I always find new tracks to adore for about a week or two. I can't say that for most records, so that is why it made the list.