So Elizabeth Dillow posted a list of Paste magazine's top 50 albums of the decade, with the one's she owns in bold. It's kind of a hipster list, so I had to see how the Zielske family stacks up. (And yes, the ones we own are also in bold.)
50 Björk – Vespertine (Elektra, 2001)
49 Libertines – Up The Bracket (Rough Trade, 2002)
48 Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose (Interscope, 2004)
47 Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (Domino, 2006)
46 Once – Music From The Motion Picture (Columbia, 2007)
45 Radiohead – In Rainbows (self-released, 2007)
44 The Jayhawks – Rainy Day Music (Lost Highway, 2003)*
43 Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala (Secretly Canadian, 2007)
42 Jay-Z – The Blueprint (Roc-A-Fella, 2001)
41 LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver (Capitol, 2007)
40 TV on the Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain (Interscope, 2006)
39 Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (Merge, 2007)
38 Gentleman Jesse – Introducing Gentleman Jesse (Douchemaster, 2008)
37 Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop, 2004)
36 Pedro The Lion – Control (Jade Tree, 2002)
35 Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino, 2009)
34 Various artists – O Brother Where Art Thou? (Mercury, 2001)
33 Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head (Capitol, 2002)
32 The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (Warner Bros., 2002)
31 Death Cab For Cutie – Transatlanticism (Barsuk, 2003)
30 Damien Rice – O (Vector, 2003)
29 Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar, 2008)
28 Paul Westerberg – Folker (Vagrant, 2004)
27 Drive-By Truckers – Decoration Day (New West, 2003)
26 Over the Rhine – Ohio (2004)
25 Sigur Rós – Med ud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust (XL, 2008)
24 The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop, 2003)
23 Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker (Bloodshot, 2000)
22 The Decemberists – The Crane Wife (Capitol, 2006)
21 Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend (XL, 2008)
20 The National – Boxer (Beggars Banquet, 2007)
19 Beck – Sea Change (Interscope, 2002)
18 Amy Winehouse – Back To Black (Universal Republic, 2007)
17 Kanye West – The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella, 2004)
16 Rufus Wainwright – Want One (Dreamworks, 2003)
15 Patty Griffin – 1000 Kisses (ATO, 2002)
14 The Strokes – Is This It (RCA, 2001)
13 Josh Ritter – The Animal Years (V2, 2006)
12 Spoon – Kill the Moonlight (Merge, 2002)
11 The Hold Steady – Boys And Girls In America (Vagrant, 2006)
10 M.I.A. – Arular (Interscope, 2005)
09 The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You (Columbia/American, 2009)
08 OutKast – Stankonia (Arista/LaFace, 2000)
07 Gillian Welch – Time (The Revelator) (Acony, 2001)
06 The White Stripes – Elephant (V2, 2003)
05 Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (Saddle Creek, 2005)
04 Radiohead – Kid A (Capitol, 2000)
03 Arcade Fire – Funeral (Merge, 2004)
02 Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch, 2002)
01 Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty, 2005)
•Even though we do not own this record, Dan was promoted to be a cook at Cafe Global in 1988 because Mark Olson of the Jayhawks, who also worked at Cafe Global, left to go on tour.
A few notes:
• Yes, we do have the top five records in our collection and it makes me feel cool. Although I can only confess to personally listening to two of them (and liking them): Bright Eyes (which took me a looooong time to get), and Radiohead (which also took me a looooong time to get.)
•Of all the albums from the list that we own, the only ones I truly love are the soundtrack from Once and Radiohead "In Rainbows".
• The fact that American Idiot was left off makes me question the integrity of the list makers. Sorry. It just does. I mean, was it just too successful for a list like this? Seriously. I am surprised at the omission.
• Not one of the records on this list would I consider to be in my personal top 10 because none of the band names begin with "Journey."
• We have several Sigur Ros records other than the one on the Paste list, and though I cannot pronounce the names of any of them, I can attest that they are all magical.
• This list has led me to discover the music of Patty Griffin. Wow. How did I miss this?
There are a lot of these Best of Decade lists around right now. I find them all interesting to look at. Rolling Stone has a few more records on their list that I at least know:
Rolling Stones Top 100 albums of the decade
I have decided that in 2010, I'm going to hip-ify myself musically by making a point of only listening to 89.3 The Current in my car and at least a few days a week in my office, streaming through my iTunes. Now you local yocals know, this is a very hip station. Most of the time though, it has been TOO hip for me. Call me old fashioned, but I enjoy hearing a song I actually know every so often on the radio. On The Current, it's all hip all the time and I have NO CLUE what they're talking about.
In fact, sometimes I want to scratch at my ears and scream: ALRIGHT! ENOUGH WITH THE COOL!
But much like choosing a New Year's diet plan, sometimes we have to do things that might not feel so good in the beginning yet hold a promise of untold riches and rewards somewhere down the road.
I just need to broaden my musical horizons a titch.
Don't worry. It won't stop me from repeatedly emailing them requests for "Stone in Love." On that, you can bank.
Ria says
I rarely post my thoughts into this ‘comment’ section… This is twice now in one week… yikes! I would just love to say that in my mind you are already ‘hip-ified’… I love your musical commentary… I love how it is spread throughout your family and I love that you love Green Day! You are hip!
Christy says
Yikes! You are definitely more hip than I. I do not own a single album on the list. I never thought I would feel old because because of my music!!
Rachel says
This is a great list! We own several of the above listed. I love, love, love Patty Griffin, also the Drive-by Truckers, Ryan Adams (his older stuff), Bon Iver –check them out, too!
Nieka Apell says
I highly recommend Over the Rhine! Ohio is good, but Drunkard’s Prayer is just plain FUN to listen to. 🙂
karine says
euh… not a sigle one in my huge misic library… hmmm, that looks serious. should I get counseling??
Cass says
Hmmm… we score 1 out of 50 here! But I can sing a whole lot of Wiggles songs! 🙂
jenny says
Dear Kathy,
Have been away from your blog for a while. Of course upon my return you never disappoint. The reason for my comment is that I too am a giant fan of the under-appreciated Stone In Love. In fact when my kids got all enthused about Don’t Stop Believin I told them there was a far better Journey song they had to hear. In true teen form they did not think Stone In Love was fantastic because I told them they would love it.
margie scherschligt says
We love the current!
31 and 14 are my faves on the list.
Ginny Ritenour says
Patty Griffin is THE BEST! You must get EVERY album.
cathy says
Aw, thanks for posting Ria. I just feel though, that i’ve been in a bit of a musical rut. So, i’m going to find new music this year, come hell or high water!
cathy says
LOL! That’s just it. It’s a SUPER snobby list in some respects. I mean, like i said: where is the Green Day people? Where is the Green Day?
cathy says
Mashed banana, mashed bananaaaa…..
cathy says
Stone in Love makes me want to run through the streets screaming I LOVE THE WORLD AND MUSIC!
cathy says
You like the Strokes margie? I don’t quite get them. Dan loves them though.
Kim says
I’m in with the uncool – not a single album on the list, although I do have a lot of songs from some of those albums. I think a few of those songs were discovered right here on this blog :-). I discovered Patty Griffin a couple of years ago on iTunes – she was on a celebrity playlist. Love her.
sue Treiber says
You did better than I did! I have 2. And will admit to liking one (Amy Whorehouse) and loving one (Once). I do have individual songs by many of the artists, but the rest I have never heard of.
But hey, I have both ‘Glee’ albums!
Cindy says
Looking at this list makes me feel like I have just landed from another planet. And I listen to music all the time. Yikes. I think I need to stretch my musical wings!
Katrina Kennedy says
THIS makes me feel OLD! I do LOVE the Avett Brothers though! Hubby and I played this list as, who have we heard of!! (sad, sad, sad)
Anne says
How about a layout on the past decade best moments/changes
Lara Jane says
gah, I love the Avetts so much it hurts. As I mentioned in my other comment about music, Paste doesn’t always line up with what we love, but it IS our favorite magazine, and they’re the ones that turned us on to the Avetts.
I would add Monsters of Folk to my “rocked my face off in 2009” list.
Rachel says
Flaming Red is my all time favorite!
Gutsy Mom says
Wow. The only one on the list that I have is Patty Griffin’s 1000 Kisses. I can’t tell you how many times I have cried hysterically (in a good way) in my car because of “Making Pies.” “The Long Ride Home” also leaves me a bit breathless. That Emmylou Harris is so perfect… the fact that she stops singing at the end and Patty is “alone,” dear god I am a sap.
Ashley says
Lara Jane, I feel the exact same way about the Avetts. I think I may have uttered the same phrase: I love the Avetts so much it hurts. I am completely obsessed with them. We saw them last Friday night in Atlanta and they were amazing.
Cathy, please check out The Avett Brothers! They are so unbelievable! (And they are my hometown boys, too!)
Cynthia Friese-Hassanein says
Ah, this is one indie-alicious list. I have been thinking about this last decade and kind of felt it was extension of the 90’s in some way. But, looking at this music really defines it for me now. I was sorta cool in the 2000’s:) Even though I love myself some hip adult easy listening over at Cities 97:) I will give the current a try again too:)
Teal Myre says
Wow, I’m so not hip! I own precisely one of these CD’s. But that one, Rufus Wainright Want One, is totally worth it!
Jennifer Larson says
Wow, your post was priceless. I’ve gotta say, the only thing running through my playlist lately has been They Might Be Giants because I’ve got young kids–I’m totally not hip or cool. But I agree about Green Day.
Mary Jo says
Any list that doesn’t have U2 on it has already lost me ;0) :0)
D says
I some some of the groups – and some of the songs off their albums, but – alas – I don’t own any of these albums. Oh well!
D says
Make that “I KNOW some of the groups …” eish – too early for me to operate a keyboard …
cathy says
GLEE RULES!
cathy says
Okay, my hubby LOVES the Monsters of Folk. He played it for our drive down to southern MN the day after Christmas. I liked it a lot.
cathy says
You know, Elizabeth Dillow, who i linked above, said the same thing to me last week. Off to give it another listen!
cathy says
Oh, good idea!
cathy says
Cindy, i feel you. I hadn’t heard of a chunk of them either, and we stay pretty up to date, thanks to the fact that my hubby works with a bunch of young hipsters…
LoriHudson says
Thanks for posting the list Cathy. I’ve got a few of the CDs but more individual songs from them. I don’t have even one of the top 5, so I must get hipper. Love new music. Also, besides Journey, they missed a certain 60 year old rocker, Bruce Springsteen.
Kimberly L.C. says
Well, you’re about 10 years older than me, and if we’re judging hipness by that list, you’re WAAAAAY more hip than me! I think I own, maybe, 10 of those albums and a couple of them are by the same artist. I have a pretty wide variety of tastes, but not all of them are hip, and I’m OK with that. For what it’s worth, I think you’re plenty hip, but if you want to expand your musical horizons, that’s cool.
tara says
I want to do this too.
Can I do this too?
I have a lot – I want to have a higher score than you.
tara says
hahhaaaa
Kimberly L.C. says
OK, I’m more hip if we’re judging by Rolling Stone, but still…
shimelle says
with the exception of the fact that i am sure i have heard quite enough amy winehouse and coldplay to last several lifetimes, i do love this list. but now i have to come on here and comment on Sigur Rós because that is what i do. win! ironically, the album they have chosen for the list is the one that many fans disliked, because it is the happiest sounding record they ever created. it is not sunshine and rainbows, but it is happier than you know…music that makes you want to cryyyyyyy. except the final track, which probably will make you cryyyyyyy. 🙂 but way more fun: the next time i see you, i promise to teach you how to pronounce all of them! and then you can have so much fun sounding like such an amazingly confident expert in icelandic exports! win! 🙂
unrelated to iceland, i am quite surprised you do not have the shins (but get the first album, oh inverted world, because it sounds like what would happen if the cure were happy americans!) and more surprised that you don’t have WS’ elephant. now that just sounds like a record that would be best listened to behind a model of the band in red, black and white legos!!!
shimelle says
why am i never concise? sheesh.
LoriHudson says
Me again Cathy. How do you stream the station through iTunes. I can get the stream on the website, but I don’t know how to find it on iTunes. The search function doesn’t work under “radio”. Now I have really given away how unhip I am.
Deb J says
I’m definitely unhip. I haven’t heard of any of them and probably none on any other list. I have to admit that I cling to my Christian station out of Flagstaff (Shine radio). I wasn’t even hip as a teen in the 60’s.
Vickie says
My 20 year old daughter and my 37 year old son talk about this group and that…I have NO clue who they are talking about. I am so out of it when it comes to music. But it sounds tiring to try to keep up. I’ll stick with my oldies. Now where did I put that Beatles album?
deb says
I am also one of the “un-hip” and have tried to broaden my musical horizons with things other than the Disney Channel Playlist. Have you tried Pandora.com? I found it because it comes as an app on my new phone, but they let you make your own channels, by entering the name of an artist you like, and then it finds other stuff that is similar and plays it for you. It kinda helps introduce you to artists you might not have checked out. Then, I can go to iTunes and find more stuff. It’s totally addicting. You should try it. Go ahead, try it. Come on, you know you wanna.
Katie Johnson says
I just started listening the The Current a couple weeks ago. Stupid me never knew it existed. I do like the music, but like you I sometimes change the station just because I need to hear a song that I recognize.
It’s a great station to listen to while I’m scrapbooking though….very mellow and funky. 😀
Betheroo says
I am so unhip, it’s not even funny. Not only do I NOT own any of these albums, I haven’t heard of a lot of them. But then, I’m old! 🙂
Kelli says
I know of Arcade Fire, and Amy Winehouse, but the rest of the list left me clueless. I’ll stick to my Glee soundtracks. And Diet Schmiet, I think will at that music, you should just dance the wiggles away!
Julia Spencer says
I have to say I love a lot of the bands on that list… Although owning an album isn’t what I do. I download songs I like from bands I like, but I don’t do whole albums… I guess I’m too hip for that.
Shannon McEwen says
HAHAHAHA, that’s funny — my husband and I own all but one of those albums. But then, we have subscribed to Paste since 2004 and are introduced by the magazine to lots of music that way that we just wouldn’t hear any other way (you get an excellent sampler cd every month with your magazine). Decidedly NOT because we are hipsters.
Although we ARE cool. Just like the Zielskes.
cathy says
I haven’t really tried Pandora, but i hear great things about it. It’s on my list!
cathy says
Hey, you can NEVER go wrong with the Beatles. They influenced pretty much everyone.
cathy says
Lori, i think it gives you an mp3 option link. If you click on the listen now, a little window comes up and at the bottom, it says: having problems?
click on the mP3 link. it’ll give it to you in itunes.
cathy says
Shimelle, we have a lot of white stripes… and i think Jack White is absolutely ADORABLE in his gangly pasty-ness.
Aidan likes the Shins. I know i’ve listened to them, and am just not realizing it.
Dan just bought that Sigur Ros documentary and the accompanying album…. WOW. Amazing.
cathy says
I think you have to listen to what makes you happy! That’s why i love me some Journey! LOL!
shimelle.~* says
🙂 heima is the tour we followed along, in real life. in real iceland. 🙂 best. thing. ever. 🙂
i take back all of WS and shins then. things are more right with the world than i first thought. 🙂
~M~ says
You know what irks me about this list? How few black people are on it. Let’s see, Kanye, Jay-Z and Outkast jump out at me. I’m glad the editors think that some urban music is worth their snobbish hipster accolades. And Loretta Lynn is the only country artist who can make a good album?
I’m so glad I’m not a hipster. I hope no one learns I have Kanye and Jay-Z on my ‘pod. I guess hipsters don’t think most black people can make good music. Jazz, blues, gospel, none of it is good music, right?
I guess these editors can claim this is the “best” music but rock music makes me want to take a nap. So like you, Cathy, I must question their taste! 🙂
PS. I love Journey! Takes me back to high school. And Def Lepperd! And classic Bon Jovi!
~M~ says
My comment below was “Where are the black people?” There are 3 token acknowledgements of black urban music and that’s it. In 10 years, really?
~M~ says
TMBG is more cool than every band in the list, in my not so humble non hipster opinion. Give me them and a Violent Femmes album mixed in with a little Cure, any day!
~M~ says
I love Pandora bc on there I have created a whole playlist for Latin freestyle and you NEVER hear Latin Freestyle on the radio, ever. And then I got to go and buy every single beautiful song that I have loved since back in the day. I stream it thru my iPhone into the car and it is aweeeeesomeeee!
But now I am hearing great things about last.fm and I am wondering if they have more or better songs…
cathy says
Good point! Where are the black artists?
HOLY CRAP? WHERE IS PRINCE?
Really?
Maeghan M. says
I’m five out of fifty here–I also love Patty Griffin and my two favorite songs from her also come out of that album–“Rain” and “Nobody’s Crying”. Also, I can’t can’t CAN’T NOT recommend Josh Ritter’s “The Animal Years”. (AKA I MUST recommend it to you!) My personal favorite on the album is “Girl in the War.”
I guess what I also want to say is how incredibly heartbreaking a lot of the songs from these albums are– I only personally own five complete ones, but bits and pieces from at least twenty of them. And I must say, they are my favorite songs to create to!
Christine says
Patty Griffin is amazing and one of my faves, do you know Rosie Thomas?
Elizabeth says
I think it’s one of those consider-the-source things. Paste is a pretty indie/alternative magazine, with a very indie-editorial/alternative point of view. There aren’t as many black musicians recording this kind of music. Sadly. In my case, it’s best to study more than one list, and work hard to save up enough money to buy more music than what one source tells me is the best.
Here’s a good article that kind of deals with this a bit… http://www.slate.com/id/2176187/pagenum/all/#p2
Sherri P eh says
I am SO not cool! Or at least not current! I own Amy Winehouse, that’s it. I do own American Idiot. I think I’ve been spending more time listening to my ‘old’ music since I just got an ipod within the last year. That and First Wave on Sirius, which is 80’s alternative. My 14 year son likes to provide me with new stuff — he just put 3 Tool CD’s on my ipod!
This just reaffirms the fact that I am so middleage not cool!!
Marianne says
Oh Cathy, I’m so thrilled you discovered Patty Griffin. She is uber talented! My fave — When It Don’t Come Easy. Take a listen (if you haven’t already) and let me know what you think!
Marianne
Kate says
look at you trying to be hip – don’t do it!
I have 0 of these albums probably because the last full album CD I purchased was Justin Timberlake’s Sexy Back – and I didn’t even get the CD just the iTunes. Where is that one? My real CD collection consists of things from the 1990’s granted my ex took all the ones purchased from 1999-2008 since I got the house. these list markers need to get with the decade and realize it’s all about the singles – I probably have 3-4 songs from 15 of these albums but it is so rare that they release an album where there’s not 3-6 songs of junk on there.
justjane says
Have lots of songs from lots of albums but not a single FULL album on this list – that’s the Ipod age for you ! But do you know; I couldn’t care less if I’m hip or not; I listen to what I like – doesn’t matter to me if it’s from the 1950’s or fresh off the production line (in fact I’m not opposed to listening to the odd classical piece as well). It’s all about personal taste.
Lara Jane says
Well, since you’re listening to me (LOL) you should also try The Civil Wars. They have a free live album for download on their website. Utterly sublime. http://www.sensibilitymusic.com/thecivilwars/
cathy says
I will check it out. I’m sampling some Avett Bros right now on iTunes
bobbie says
I agree with you on the “Journey” things… But do you mean the old Journey or the new one???
Stevie-baby RAWKS!!!
Lowly says
Gotta love Bon Iver…after Thom Yorke anyway…and WHERE is anything from Foo Fighters??
Angie says
I’m with Margie & Dan, I LOVE the Strokes. And I’m almost as cool as you guys with my music tastes, but not quite. My list of bold albums would be slightly shorter than yours. If only I had bought into Amy Winehouse…and dang it, I have a Wilco album, but it’s not the COOL one apparently.
thursday says
I live with a music snob. And he doesn’t like most “new” stuff (all=crap). We’ve got more of the albums on the Rolling Stone list than this one (um, NONE on this one). Hello – no Bob Dylan? Seriously – Modern Times, Love and Theft are his best ever. They might take a while to get used to, though.
and I do love Ryan Adams. But I don’t have that album, oddly enough!
Lara Jane says
yessssssss.
Also, I’ve mentioned this before, but Brite Revolution has been, well, revolutionary, for us over the past several months. For $5/month you get roughly 40 songs, DRM-free. I think we signed up in April and have over 400 downloads. Lorien, Andy Davis, Drew Holcomb, Katie Herzig… TONS of great small-time, big-talent artists.
Shawnnita says
Oh My Goodnes! How sad am I!! While I listen to everything under the sun on the net, I have only ONE of these CDs. Number 48!!!!!!!!! I wish there was a {listen now} button on 89.3 I think I could really use it right about now!
Kiera says
I would highly recommend checking out Bon Iver and The National. Two of our faves…and my husband is a raging Neil Finn fan, so maybe you’ll take his advice..
Erica K says
Yeah…I definitely don’t love that list. The only one I have is the Flaming Lips. I think they were trying to be ‘different’ in picking non-mainstream stuff only. (I didn’t know Paul Westerberg had anything since ’99. I must be out of the loop now…)
Kim says
Cathy, I posted earlier about being unhip, but I wanted to reply again. The comments on this post are great and they are another reason I love your blog. Out of the comments, I’m discovering new music and getting educated (thanks, Elizabeth for the article link). Who knew? I just listened to what I like and I think I may have missed any message in most of it. I still listen to what I like. I also am thrilled my teenage son and I introduce each other to music and we like a lot of the same things.
A few you might want to check out –
Mishka – Above the Bones
A Fine Frenzy – especially like You Picked Me and Lifesize
Neko Case – anything off Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Laura Izibor – Don’t Stay
Katie Armiger – Unseen (heartbreaking but awesome vocals and worth a listen)
Tinkersdamn says
I only have 3 of those albums, and I’m shifting uncomfortably bc there’s a lot of them I haven’t even heard of. Didn’t realise I’d be so unhip at 29. Ouch.
REALLY pleased with The Current link- it’s working for me ATM, at least till they discover I’m in the UK. And it’s the Ramones! Yay!
Candace H says
0/50 for me but I wasn’t surprised. Totally not hip, but then I’ll be getting more educated soon as my almost 11 year old son has his first iPod nano and is loving his tunes… ‘course most of his are from the “old days” 80s and 90s from my dh’s music library… he does have a Green Day song and one or two from The Black Eyed Peas. My latest CD purchases were from Polecat Creek (http://www.polecatcreek.net/Home.html …not my usual style but was at a land conservancy benefit they played and loved them) and Go Fish (http://www.gofishguys.com) for the kids I teach at church.
Margy Eastman says
Wow, I’m so not-hip. I own #33 and #34, and have about three other individual songs on my i-Pod. I will definitely check out the Avett Bros and Patty Griffin. Very enlightening, yet sad. Well, off to i-Tunes. (My last album purchases were the “Curious George” soundtrack by Jack Johnson and the “Cars” soundtrack.)
cathy says
Love the tips, Kim!
desrochersnicole@videotron.ca says
I do not have any of those albums. I guess I am too old. Though, I always listen in my car to Patrick Watson’s album. http://www.patrickwatson.net/albums.php
Which get and big from a young collegue at work. Not bad for a 64 years old grandmother!
Kristen Zuro says
I have one word for the Paste list: “meh.”
Rhonda Markham says
Gawd. I feel old.
Katherine says
I don’t really understand why the Paste list is being turned into a hipness litmus test. Paste often celebrates lesser-known musicians in the alt rock/americana genre, but that doesn’t make it pretentious. I think it’s wonderful that these hard-working and talented artists are getting some publicity. Some of my favorite musicians are on this list – musicians who break my heart with the beauty of their songs.
Sandi M says
I’ve got to check out some of these on LaLa and see what I think. Maybe I’ll find some new tunes and I desperately can use and update for the ipod. Meanwhile, you really should check out the Shins and Bon Iver. Some of their stuff is really good.
Gretchyn says
I first discovered Patty Griffin years ago when she opened for Johnny Lang (at the Moore or the 5th Ave?) in Seattle. She was breathtaking. I’ve had an opportunity to see her a couple other times since then, my favorite was a show she did with Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Quite possibly the best show I’ve ever seen. Can’t beat the girls with guitars. 🙂 And I own a whopping 4 albums on that list. Hmmm, looks like I have some new to me music to go check out…
Sharon says
Not only do I not have any of these records on the list but I have never heard of any of them. I’ve got a whole different collection of music and must be really, really old.
Ann says
I honestly think that whatever music you like to listen to is hip, it shouldn’t be dictated by some list that some 20-something who thinks they’re the end-all, be-all creates. That being said, they left off a LOT of great music, but I’m glad to see Beck is on the list. He is one of my favorite artists of all time.
~M~ says
I see your point. In that case perhaps the should have stuck to the best 50 indie rock albums of the past 10 years. And named itself that. Instead this list smacks of the cultural elitism the writer of that article brings up. And since they specialize in indie rock, who are these people to judge whether this hip hop is as good as that hip hop anyhow? I think few would argue that Jay Z and Kanye at least are at the pinacle of fabulousity (I am not too fond of Outkast myself) but this whole list is just so self important for me.
Then again one of my favorite songs of all time is by Cypress HIll. Perhaps I need to turn in my “white” card.
Leah says
Ooh, what a great list to use to broaden my horizons! We only own Josh Ritter, Damien Rice and the Once soundtrack, ;)and American Idiot!
We saw The Swell Season (the Once people) in concert at The State Theatre in December and it was the Best Concert Ever!
marsha. says
Cathy, I know I am a little late with this comment, but I keep coming back to this list! Thank you so much for posting it. You’ve broadened my musical horizon!!!