But when I really started thinking about it, I came to the following conclusion: a decade is a terrible thing to waste. In all reality, I may not get another opportunity like this. After all, who knows what I’ll be doing ten years from now. Also, musically speaking, the past decade was an important one for me. Over the course of ten years, my muted appreciation of music gradually transformed into a full-blown obsession. I now spend most of my free time searching for, writing about, and listening to music.

In the end I guess it was a pretty easy decision. I would’ve been extremely foolish to let the decade pass without weighing in on my favorite albums. It was a lot of work, but I managed to compile a list of my 30 favorite albums from 2000-2009. Not necessarily the best or most important albums, but those that had the greatest impact on me.

With all that said, I proudly present the Top 30 Albums of the Decade…

ALBUMS 30 – 21

ALBUMS 20 – 11

ALBUMS 10 – 1

Like I said, compiling this list was no easy task. In the end, tons of amazing albums got axed. Check the comments to see which ones barely missed the cut. And leave comments to let me know which albums I missed completely!

As it turns out, every song on Mike Mix 11 is new to my site. I don’t know how this happened, but needless to say I have my work cut out for me.

So I guess I’ll start with the obvious: Mike Mix 11 features a ton of great music. And it starts out firing on all cylinders. After almost two minutes of quiet noodling, the first track, “Brother” by Annuals, explodes in a cacophony of guitars, drums, and violins. The next two songs keep the pedal to the floor. “Percussion Gun” by White Rabbits rides a thunderous drum beat while “Quiet Little Voices” by We Were Promised Jetpacks soars on a relentless guitar riff. It’s hard to imagine a more energetic start to a mix.

Following this fiery opening is a trilogy of fantastic songs. “Y’all Come Back Now” by Ten Kens is one hundred percent badass. “Available” by The National is the angriest, most bitter song the band’s ever recorded. And “Papillon” by The Twilight Singers is dark yet surprisingly upbeat.

The second half of Mike Mix 11 doesn’t quite pack the same punch as the first. But what it lacks in energy it makes up for with raw emotion. “Lies I’ve Told” by Yarn is completely devastating. So too is “Fool” by Cat Power, though for different reasons. In “Lies I’ve Told” the lyrics break your heart, whereas in “Fool” the instrumentation paints an overwhelmingly bleak picture. But the second half isn’t all doom and gloom, however. The mix closes on a relatively upbeat note with “Epilogue,” the soaring finale from Hospice by The Antlers.

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 11 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

Much like its older siblings, Mike Mix 10 is packed with tons of great music. And while I always recommend listening to the mix in its entirety, a few tracks stand above the rest.

The first is “Sublime” by The Twilight Singers. Drifting dangerously close to adult-contemporary, the song features sultry vocals, whiny guitars, and some unbelievably cheesy whispering during the bridge. In anyone else’s hands this song would be a train wreck, but The Twilight Singers make it sound heartfelt and sincere.

The second is “Trailer Trash” by Modest Mouse. Replete with depressing lyrics and fantastic guitar work, the song is vintage Modest Mouse. If you enjoyed “Broke” on Mike Mix 09, you’ll love “Trailer Trash.” Self-loathing never sounded so good.

And the third is “Love Vigilantes” by Iron & Wine. Originally recorded by New Order, the song tells the story of a soldier returning home after war. I would say more but I don’t want to give too much away. Just listen to the song. You’ll quickly discover why I love it so much.

But don’t forget there are 12 more songs on Mike Mix 10. I’ve written about a handful of them previously, but several are appearing on my site for the first time. There’s the sinister “DLZ,” the creepy-but-achingly-gorgeous “Borrowed Your Gun,” and the heartbreaking “Miss Me.” Listen to them all and let me know your favorites!

Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below. Enjoy!

#10 Shearwater – Palo Santo

Palo Santo is a definite grower. While Jonathan Meiburg’s haunting vocals may take a little while to get used to, they will soon become one of the main reasons you like Shearwater. And similar to the vocals, the excellent melodies only fully reveal themselves after several listens…

[mp3] Shearwater :: Nobody

#9 Beach House – Beach House

This album really came out of nowhere. At its core, Beach House is an incredibly simple project. The band consists of two members. The instrumentation rarely expands past an organ and drum machine. The songs plod along at a snail’s pace. Add to all of this some heart-wrenching lyrics and you have the perfect winter album.

[mp3] Beach House :: Apple Orchard

#8 M. Ward – Post-War

M. Ward is one of those artists who, with each new album, manages to both hone and expand his sound. Therefore, it was no surprise that Post-War kicked ass. And while it sounds different than its predecessors, it’s a typical M. Ward album through and through. In other words, more timeless, beautiful indie rock from one of the best singer-songwriters out there.

[mp3] M. Ward :: Post-War

#7 Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury

Let me first say that I do not identify with any of the lyrics on Hell Hath No Fury, which focus mainly on selling cocaine and spending ridiculous sums of money (from the sale of said cocaine). Unlike most hip-hop albums, Clipse don’t waste time on pointless skits and interludes. The twelve tracks never let up, especially if you find yourself hitting the repeat button when the wild ride ends.

[mp3] Clipse :: Hello New World

#6 Joanna Newsom – Ys

In one of the more ambitious projects of 2006, Joanna Newsom’s Ys features only 5 tracks, each of which are at least 7 minutes long. Similar to Beach House, I never thought I’d listen to, let alone enjoy, an album like this. Tracks center around Newsom’s high-pitched, squeaky warble and her harp. Despite this unconventional arrangement, I find something oddly enchanting in Newsom’s delivery. You’ll either love it or hate it.

[mp3] Joanna Newsom :: Emily

#5 The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

I must confess: I wanted to hate The Crane Wife. Much like Sufjan Stevens, the Decemberists either hit or miss the mark. While Colin Meloy’s lyrics are top-notch, the songs tend to wear thin once the story becomes familiar. Meloy’s best moments are also his most personal ones (see “I Was Meant For the Stage” from Her Majesty). Luckily, The Crane Wife hits way more than it misses, though I’m still hoping the next Decemberists’ album is a more personal affair.

[mp3] The Decemberists :: Sons & Daughters

#4 Califone – Roots & Crowns

After at least 15 listens, I’m still coming to appreciate Califone’s Roots & Crowns. It’s not a difficult listen, but you actually have to listen to it in order to absorb it. I have the bad habit of putting music on in the background and forgetting about it. And since nothing on the album grabs you immediately, I felt nothing after several listens. But like most great albums, Roots & Crowns is a grower. While the track posted below is technically not on Roots & Crowns, it’s very representative of the album’s sound.

[mp3] Califone :: Ladders

#3 The Twilight Singers – Powder Burns

This shouldn’t be too surprising of a choice – I mentioned in my previous post that Powder Burns would make my Top 10 Albums of 2006 list. And here it is. The #3 slot. There’s not too much more to say about the Twilight Singers that I haven’t said before. They are one of the most under-appreciated bands out there today. Please give them your undivided attention.

[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Forty Dollars

#2 Grizzly Bear – Yellow House

Wow, this is a long post. I’m kinda running out of things to say and laziness is setting in. Which reminds me: Yellow House is a lazy album. Not lazy in that nothing happens, but lazy in that it doesn’t rush to get where its going. Songs develop slowly, and take several twists and turns before coming to a close. Grizzly Bear sound like a softer, mellower My Morning Jacket, which is probably why I like them so much.

[mp3] Grizzly Bear :: On a Neck, On a Spit

#1 TV On the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain

Even before its release, Return of Cookie Mountain had album of the year written all over it. I may have mentioned in my Weekly Download post about TV On the Radio that I was digging the album. That was a few months ago but nothing has changed since then. Return to Cookie Mountain rocks. It’s the exact opposite Yellow House. Confused, angry, and disgusted, Return to Cookie Mountain is a challenging yet ultimately rewarding journey.

[mp3] TV On the Radio :: I Was a Lover

Any thoughts?

Slacking aside, I’ve been listing to a lot of new music lately (surprise, surprise). I’m still working on the top 10 Songs and Albums of 2006; there were a lot of great albums released at the end of the year. So in the meantime, enjoy what I call “The New to Me List.” It’s composed of bands I discovered in 2006, though they have been around for much, much longer.

Mono

My discovery of the Japanese post-rock band Mono may very well have saved this year in music for me. I was desperately looking for something worthy of obsessing over. When I heard One More Step and You Die for the first time, I knew Mono was it. Their collaboration with world’s end girlfriend (called Palmless Prayer / Mass Murder Refrain) features my favorite song of 2006, “Part Five.” I thought about including it in the Top 10 Songs of 2006 podcast, but it’s almost 20 minutes long.

[mp3] Mono & world’s end girlfriend :: Part Five
[mp3] Mono :: Sabbath

The Twilight Singers

I know that I’ve blogged about these guys before, but I feel the need to do it again. The Twilight Singers rock. Their album Powder Burns is definitely making my Top 10 Albums of 2006 list. Not to mention they also released a fantastic EP called A Stitch In Time in October. I highly, highly recommend checking them out if you passed on them the first time (the mp3’s are posted again below).

[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: The Lure Would Prove Too Much
[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Fat City (Slight Return)
[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Forty Dollars

Neko Case

2006 will go down in history as the year I started listening to bands fronted by female musicians. I don’t know why I held out for so long (actually, I know exactly why), I’m just glad I finally gave in. I guess Neko Case is responsible for the change. Her rootsy brand of indie rock features her gorgeous vocals, which remind me of … wait, what am I talking about, I don’t know any other female singers.

[mp3] Neko Case :: Hold On, Hold On
[mp3] Neko Case :: Star Witness

Shearwater

I originally started listening to Shearwater because I desperately wanted to find more music by Okkervil River. With the release of Palo Santo, Shearwater is no longer just an Okkervil River side project. In fact, the album sounds nothing like Black Sheep Boy. And while my love of the River may have initially drawn me to Shearwater, I’ve come to appreciate the ‘Water for what they truly are: a great band.

[mp3] Shearwater :: Nobody

Cat Power

I hate cats, which is why I also hate cat power. Not the band, but the thought of giving power to cats. Turns out the band Cat Power is quite good. I especially like the song “Good Woman.” I first fell in love with the live version, but after hearing the album version with its children’s choir, I think I like studio cut better. I can’t wait until my eMusic downloads refresh so I can finally listen to 2006’s The Greatest.

[mp3] Cat Power :: Good Woman
[mp3] Cat Power :: Good Woman [live @ KCRW]

There were many other great bands I discovered in 2006, including Calexico and Destroyer. I would also include Bishop Allen, but I feel like 2006 was their breakout year, thus violating the “been around for much, much longer” rule. Anybody wanna add to the list?

What a difference a month makes.

In the past 4 weeks, I’ve completely settled into my new apartment, taken my first midterm as a grad student, and partied about as much as I did during a typical year as an undergrad. Needless to say, this podcast is the exact opposite of last month’s.

I’ve been meaning to make a good driving mix for quite some time now. And the songs on this podcast need to be played loud. They could be the soundtrack to you and your friends’ drive into the city on the weekend, or the motivation you need to get some (home)work done.

Here’s the track listing:

1. Built to Spill :: Goin’ Against Your Mind
2. Interpol :: Evil
3. The Tragically Hip :: Escape Is At Hand For the Travellin’ Man
4. Weezer :: Say It Ain’t So
5. My Morning Jacket :: O Is the One That Is Real
6. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals :: Let It Ride
7. Belle and Sebastian :: Another Sunny Day
8. The Twilight Singers :: Teenage Wristband
9. Wolf Parade :: I’ll Believe In Anything
10. Silversun Pickups :: Lazy Eye
11. Tapes ‘n Tapes :: Jakov’s Suite

I know that a few of these songs are repeats from previous posts/podcasts, but they were just too perfect to leave out. You may also notice that this mix tape is an enhanced podcast, so feel free to skip from track to track, though I recommend listening to it in its entirety (as always).

Directly download my podcast here. Visit the archives here

I normally don’t take music recommendations from celebrities, but when I heard Denis Leary plug The Twilight Singers on the Daily Show I was intrigued. At the end of his interview, Leary busted out a thick stack of his favorite cd’s and dvd’s, none of which featured or involved him in any way. One of those discs was the Twilight Singer’s latest release Powder Burns.

A week or so later I was still thinking about his interview. Honestly, have you ever seen a celebrity plug something that he/she doesn’t directly benefit from?

I went to the Twilight Singers’ website and downloaded a few tracks from Powder Burns. Or at least I thought I did – I can’t seem to find the link anymore. Regardless, I mention this because it reinforces my post about how the internet helps bands. After downloading and listening to those two tracks, I decided to buy Powder Burns.

Within a few weeks I had acquired the entire Twilight Singers catalogue thanks to eMusic. I would describe their music as dark, moody, and melodic – but never mopey. When they want to rock, they rock hard. I can’t really compare them to anyone else in my collection.

As an aside, I feel like this is my first true post. So far it’s just been a lot of catching up. But now I’ve finally broken even. I hope this band is new to a lot of you. I really enjoy them. I never thought I’d say this, but thank you Denis Leary.

[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Fat City (Slight Return)
[mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Forty Dollars