Here's my list of favorite songs from the last decade, because I know your life just somehow won't be complete until you've seen it. There are comments on the first 10 and just a list after that.
1. Gary Jules/Michael Andrews…Mad World (2003)
It isn’t often that a cover song makes the original obsolete, but this stripped down version of a Tears for Fears song gives these poignant lyrics a more appropriately slowed-down tempo.
2. Alan Jackson…Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning (2001)
I’m not much of a country music fan, but no song summed up the anguish of 9/11 better.
3. Dresden Dolls…Sing (2006)
Are there any other lyrics that better sum up that absolute need to sing?: “There is this thing it's like talking except you don't talk/ You sing/ You sing…Sing for the teachers who told you that you couldn't sing, Just sing.”
4. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole…Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World (2001)
Technically, this medley dates back to 1990, but it didn’t really gain any attention until after Iz’s death in 1997 and it showed up in a variety of movies, TV shows, and commercials this decade.
5. Arnold McCuller…Free Bird (2000)
Yeah, yeah, another cover. This stripped-down, shortened version of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic closed out the little-seen movie Duets, leaving a lump in the throat as the singer realizes the fate before him.
6. Johnny Cash…Hurt (2002)
Has anyone ever recorded a better obituary for himself? And doing it with a Nine Inch Nails’ song? Beautiful.
7. Limp Bizkit with Johnny Reznik…Wish You Were Here (2001)
Before the Tribute to Heroes telethon to benefit the families of victims of 9/11, I remember reading some diss on Fred Durst (of Limp Bizkit) about he’d never be able to sing a moving tribute. His take on a Pink Floyd classic made this song feel like it was written about 9/11. Take that, critics!
8. Gnarls Barkley…Crazy (2006)
Was there any better pop song this decade?
9. Crowded House…Silent House (2007)
Originally recorded by the Dixie Chicks, but written by Neil Finn (of Crowded House). While the song appears to be about going through his grandmother’s belongings after her death, it took on another meaning after bandmate Paul Hester committed suicide.
10. Sandi Thom…I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker with Flowers in My Hair (2006)
Pretty much unknown on American shores, this clever song about missing out on the hippie and punk generations hit #1 in the U.K.
11. Evanescence with Paul McCoy…Bring Me to Life (2003)
12. Sheryl Crow…Safe and Sound (2001)
13. Pink with Indigo Girls…Dear Mr. President (2006)
14. KT Tunstall…Black Horse and Cherry Tree (2005)
15. Bruce Springsteen…American Skin (41 Shots) (2000)
16. Eminem…Lose Yourself (2002)
17. Plain White T’s…Hey There Delilah (2005)
18. OutKast…Hey Ya! (2003)
19. Eminem with Dido…Stan (2000)
20. Queensryche…Home Again (2009)
21. John Mellencamp…If I Die Sudden (2008)
22. Mika…Grace Kelly (2007)
23. Bruce Springsteen…When the Saints Go Marching In (2006)
24. Dixie Chicks…Travelin’ Soldier (2002)
25. Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova…Falling Slowly (2006)
26. Death Cab for Cutie…I Will Follow You into the Dark (2005)
27. Bruce Hornsby…Gonna Be Some Changes Made (2004)
28. Bruce Springsteen…My City of Ruins (2001)
29. David Baerwald…I Won’t Back Down (2006)
30. Chris Cornell…Billie Jean (2007)
31. Bowling for Soup…1985 (2004)
32. Beck…Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime (2004)
33. Eagles…Hole in the World (2003)
34. Alanis Morissette…My Humps (2007)
35. Blur…Out of Time (2003)
36. Fountains of Wayne…Stacy’s Mom (2003)
37. Eagles…No More Walks in the Wood (2007)
38. Eminem…Sing for the Moment (2002)
39. Tori Amos…’97 Bonnie and Clyde (2001)
40. Arnold McCuller/Paul Giamatti…Try a Little Tenderness (2000)
41. Bright Eyes…Road to Joy (2005)
42. No Doubt…Simple Kind of Life (2000)
43. Tracy Chapman…I Did It All (2008)
44. Bruce Springsteen…Empty Sky (2002)
45. Sierra Swan…Mother (2006)
46. The White Stripes…Hotel Yorba (2001)
47. Green Day…Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004)
48. U2…Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (2004)
49. Uncle Kracker…Follow Me (2000)
50. Eminem…Like Toy Soldiers (2004)
51. Pearl Jam…Love Reign O’er Me (2007)
52. Hooters…The Boys of Summer (2007)
53. Sheryl Crow…Lullaby for Wyatt (2008)
54. Bruce Springsteen…Radio Nowhere (2007)
55. The Killers…All These Things That I’ve Done (2004)
56. Alanis Morissette…Crazy (2005)
57. Tim Finn…Salt to the Sea (2006)
58. David Baerwald…If Wishes Were Horses (2004)
59. Mindy Smith…Come to Jesus (2004)
60. Dixie Chicks…I Hope (2005)
61. Pink…Don’t Let Me Get Me (2001)
62. Tricky with Ed Kowalczyk & Hawkman…Evolution Revolution Love (2001)
63. Youth Group…Forever Young (2005)
64. Amy Winehouse…Rehab (2006)
65. John Mellencamp…To Washington (2003)
66. Gorillaz…Clint Eastwood (2001)
67. Five for Fighting…Superman (It’s Not Easy) (2000)
68. The Airborne Toxic Event…Sometime Around Midnight (2008)
69. Amanda Ghost…Silver Lining (2000)
70. Del Amitri…Jesus Saves (2002)
71. Green Day…Wake Me Up When September Ends (2004)
72. Damien Rice…The Blower’s Daughter (2003)
73. Eddie Vedder…Hard Sun (2007)
74. Hooters…White Jeans (2007)
75. Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow…Picture (2001)
76. Eminem…Mosh (2004)
77. Eddie Vedder…Guaranteed (2007)
78. Eagles…How Long (2007)
79. Bruce Springsteen…The Wrestler (2008)
80. Sting…Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing) (2003)
81. Mika…Over My Shoulder (2007)
82. Badly Drawn Boy…Something to Talk About (2002)
83. Bob Walkenhorst…Primitivo Garcia (2003)
84. Nine Inch Nails…Only (2005)
85. Bruce Springsteen…The Rising (2002)
86. Avril Lavigne…Sk8er Boi (2002)
87. Eminem…Cleanin’ Out My Closet (2002)
88. Kelly Sweet…Dream On (2007)
89. Tears for Fears…The Devil (2004)
90. Lucinda Williams…Righteously (2003)
91. Hooters…Morning Buzz (2007)
92. Marillion…Half-Full Jam (2008)
93. Bruce Springsteen…Devil’s Arcade (2007)
94. Foo Fighters…Darling Nikki (2003)
95. Adele…Hometown Glory (2008)
96. Bruce Springsteen…Terry’s Song (2007)
97. The Killers…Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town (2005)
98. Eddie Vedder…Long Nights (2007)
99. D’Angelo…Untitled (How Does It Feel) (2000)
100. Blue October…Into the Ocean (2006)
DavesMusicDatabase.com is devoted to ranking, rating, and reviewing music of all genres and eras. The DMDB blog serves up album and song reviews, best-of lists, music history snapshots, and music-related essays.
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Showing posts with label decade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decade. Show all posts
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Top 100 Albums of the 2000s
 | 2000-2009:The Top 100 Albums |
These are the top albums from 2000-2009 according to Dave’s Music Database, which factors in sales, chart data, awards, album ratings, and appearances on best-of lists. Compilations, archival recordings, and reissues are not factored into this list. You can check out the top albums of all time or for other decades by clicking here.
1. The Strokes Is This It (2001)
11. Eminem The Eminem Show (2002)
21. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (2000)
31. Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (2003)
41. Kanye West Late Registration (2005)
51. Avril Lavigne Let Go (2002)
61. Carrie Underwood Some Hearts (2005)
71. Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium (2006)
81. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
91. David Gray White Ladder (2000) Resources and Related Links:
First posted 11/6/2011; last updated 2/5/2026. |
Sunday, September 20, 2009
My Favorite 50 Albums of the Decade
My Favorite 50 Albums of the Decade, 9/20/09
Thanks to a Facebook invitation, I’m compelled to engage in one of the most inane and narcissistic endeavors – the compilation of a personal favorites list – and not a moment too soon – there’s barely 100 days left in the decade. Of course, I have a whole website (Davesmusicdatabase.com) devoted to music lists, but I’ve convinced myself that throwing in the occasional personal favorites list amongst bigger and more important lists passes for acceptable. A list entitled “The Biggest Selling Albums of All Time” just seems to carry more import than one called “The Best 50 Albums of the Decade – According to Me.”
It is hard to imagine why anyone would care what my #12 album is from the last 9 years and 9 months, so I won’t delude myself that the world is waiting with baited breath. It comes down to this – I just love music lists. I was drawn in to music charts and countdowns in my pre-teen years and my interest has yet to wane.
If you’ve read this far, I’ll assume you are mildly interested in my list – maybe not #49, but you might want to check out my top few faves. I’ll take this as a misguided sign that I can test your patience a bit more and offer some insights into my tastes of the past decade. If you’ve had enough already, you can scroll to the list below or just close this monster up and roll your eyes at my obsession. It’s not like I’ll know the difference.
First, there’s just no denying what drives tastes. I’m still enamored with the same acts I liked 25 years ago – and I won’t apologize for their decidedly mainstream leanings. I will, however, attempt to prop up my rep by saying my listening pleasures gravitate toward “intelligent pop” – what is largely referred to today as triple A or adult alternative music. What can I say – I fit perfectly into the demographic.
Unlike some of my forty-something peers, it isn’t that I can’t name a new band from the last quarter century – I’ll get to my discoveries in a minute – but like memories of long ago crushes, the albums from one’s youth just won’t go away. Hence my love of Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood (my favorite album of any era), Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. or U2’s The Joshua Tree hold lingering effects – those acts all register in my top 10 two decades after releasing what I consider their masterworks.
At least those acts and others such as John Mellencamp, Tori Amos, and Fish have steadily pumped out new product for 20 years or more. Others haven’t been quite so prolific. Amongst acts like the Hooters, Crowded House, the Eagles, Toni Childs, Tears for Fears, Guns N’ Roses, and the Who, the most recent pre-2000 release of new material was 1995. Not only had all those acts had at least nine year droughts since their last releases, but the well has dried up again since. The “one and done” comeback trend. Sigh.
My list isn’t devoid of new music, but the new stuff largely rehashes tastes I’ve had for years. The White Stripes, the Strokes, the Hives, and the Vines are all a return to the garage rock ethos of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Scissor Sisters recall the dance-oriented new wave stuff of the early ‘80s.Finally, I have to give props to the Tuesday Night Music Club. This may click for people as the name of Sheryl Crow’s 1993 debut (and indeed she makes the cut here with Detours), but I’m referring to the collective behind it. In a much publicized spat at the time, Crow took credit for music that had been created by the most underrated supergroup that ever wasn’t. Amongst that talent was Kevin Gilbert, whose posthumous Shaming of the True claims my top spot on this list, Gilbert’s Kaviar project, and David Baerwald. Believe me, this list would be saturated with their contributions if only there were more. Sadly, KG died in 1996 and Baerwald all but retired from the music industry by the close of the ‘90s. What does show up on this list are retreads of their mostly ‘90s work, but the official release dates qualifies them for this list.
Well, I’ve blabbered enough. Here’s the list. Roll those eyes, scratch your heads in puzzlement, and stare in disbelief. Then, just maybe, give a few albums on this list a spin. You’ve still got time to make it one of your favorites of the decade! Click on the links below to read more extensive reviews at Davesmusicdatabase.com.
1. Kevin Gilbert The Shaming of the True (2000)
2. Bruce Springsteen The Rising (2002)
3. Hooters Time Stand Still (2007)
4. Crowded House Time on Earth (2007)
5. The Finn Brothers Everyone Is Here (2004)
6. Eagles Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
7. Marillion Marbles (2004)
8. Tori Amos Strange Little Girls (2001)
9. U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
10. Bruce Springsteen Magic (2007)
11. David Baerwald Here Comes the New Folk Underground (2002)
12. John Mellencamp Life, Death, Love & Freedom (2008)
13. U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
14. Toni Childs Keep the Faith (2008)
15. Dennis DeYoung One Hundred Years from Now (2007)
16. Uncle Devil Show A Terrible Beauty (2004)
17. Bob Walkenhorst The Beginner (2003)
18. Styx Big Bang Theory (2005)
19. The White Stripes Elephant (2003)
20. The Strokes Is This It (2001)
21. Green Day American Idiot (2004)
22. Mika Life in Cartoon Motion (2007)
23. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001)
24. Kevin Gilbert/Kaviar The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
25. Tears for Fears Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004)
26. Keb’ Mo’ Peace - Back by Popular Demand (2004)
27. Lyle Lovett My Baby Don’t Tolerate (2003)
28. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006)
29. Styx Cylcorama (2003)
30. The Killers Hot Fuss (2004)
31. Sheryl Crow Detours (2008)
32. The Who Endless Wire (2006)
33. John Mellencamp Freedom’s Road (2007)
34. Fish Field of Crows (2004)
35. Glenn Tilbrook Transatlantic Ping Pong (2004)
36. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (2004)
37. Ray Charles Genius Loves Company (2004)
38. Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy (2008)
39. Green Day 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
40. U2 No Line on the Horizon (2009)
41. Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
42. Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters (2004)
43. The Vines Highly Evolved (2002)
44. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)
45. The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
46. Eddie Vedder Into the Wild (2007)
47. Eric Clapton/B.B. King Riding with the King (2000)
48. Del Amitri Can You Do Me Good? (2002)
49. The Hives Veni Vidi Vicious (2000)
50. Eric Woolfson The Alan Parsons Project That Never Was (2009)
Thanks to a Facebook invitation, I’m compelled to engage in one of the most inane and narcissistic endeavors – the compilation of a personal favorites list – and not a moment too soon – there’s barely 100 days left in the decade. Of course, I have a whole website (Davesmusicdatabase.com) devoted to music lists, but I’ve convinced myself that throwing in the occasional personal favorites list amongst bigger and more important lists passes for acceptable. A list entitled “The Biggest Selling Albums of All Time” just seems to carry more import than one called “The Best 50 Albums of the Decade – According to Me.”
It is hard to imagine why anyone would care what my #12 album is from the last 9 years and 9 months, so I won’t delude myself that the world is waiting with baited breath. It comes down to this – I just love music lists. I was drawn in to music charts and countdowns in my pre-teen years and my interest has yet to wane.
If you’ve read this far, I’ll assume you are mildly interested in my list – maybe not #49, but you might want to check out my top few faves. I’ll take this as a misguided sign that I can test your patience a bit more and offer some insights into my tastes of the past decade. If you’ve had enough already, you can scroll to the list below or just close this monster up and roll your eyes at my obsession. It’s not like I’ll know the difference.
First, there’s just no denying what drives tastes. I’m still enamored with the same acts I liked 25 years ago – and I won’t apologize for their decidedly mainstream leanings. I will, however, attempt to prop up my rep by saying my listening pleasures gravitate toward “intelligent pop” – what is largely referred to today as triple A or adult alternative music. What can I say – I fit perfectly into the demographic.
Unlike some of my forty-something peers, it isn’t that I can’t name a new band from the last quarter century – I’ll get to my discoveries in a minute – but like memories of long ago crushes, the albums from one’s youth just won’t go away. Hence my love of Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood (my favorite album of any era), Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. or U2’s The Joshua Tree hold lingering effects – those acts all register in my top 10 two decades after releasing what I consider their masterworks.
At least those acts and others such as John Mellencamp, Tori Amos, and Fish have steadily pumped out new product for 20 years or more. Others haven’t been quite so prolific. Amongst acts like the Hooters, Crowded House, the Eagles, Toni Childs, Tears for Fears, Guns N’ Roses, and the Who, the most recent pre-2000 release of new material was 1995. Not only had all those acts had at least nine year droughts since their last releases, but the well has dried up again since. The “one and done” comeback trend. Sigh.
My list isn’t devoid of new music, but the new stuff largely rehashes tastes I’ve had for years. The White Stripes, the Strokes, the Hives, and the Vines are all a return to the garage rock ethos of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Scissor Sisters recall the dance-oriented new wave stuff of the early ‘80s.Finally, I have to give props to the Tuesday Night Music Club. This may click for people as the name of Sheryl Crow’s 1993 debut (and indeed she makes the cut here with Detours), but I’m referring to the collective behind it. In a much publicized spat at the time, Crow took credit for music that had been created by the most underrated supergroup that ever wasn’t. Amongst that talent was Kevin Gilbert, whose posthumous Shaming of the True claims my top spot on this list, Gilbert’s Kaviar project, and David Baerwald. Believe me, this list would be saturated with their contributions if only there were more. Sadly, KG died in 1996 and Baerwald all but retired from the music industry by the close of the ‘90s. What does show up on this list are retreads of their mostly ‘90s work, but the official release dates qualifies them for this list.
Well, I’ve blabbered enough. Here’s the list. Roll those eyes, scratch your heads in puzzlement, and stare in disbelief. Then, just maybe, give a few albums on this list a spin. You’ve still got time to make it one of your favorites of the decade! Click on the links below to read more extensive reviews at Davesmusicdatabase.com.
1. Kevin Gilbert The Shaming of the True (2000)
2. Bruce Springsteen The Rising (2002)
3. Hooters Time Stand Still (2007)
4. Crowded House Time on Earth (2007)
5. The Finn Brothers Everyone Is Here (2004)
6. Eagles Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
7. Marillion Marbles (2004)
8. Tori Amos Strange Little Girls (2001)
9. U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
10. Bruce Springsteen Magic (2007)
11. David Baerwald Here Comes the New Folk Underground (2002)
12. John Mellencamp Life, Death, Love & Freedom (2008)
13. U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
14. Toni Childs Keep the Faith (2008)
15. Dennis DeYoung One Hundred Years from Now (2007)
16. Uncle Devil Show A Terrible Beauty (2004)
17. Bob Walkenhorst The Beginner (2003)
18. Styx Big Bang Theory (2005)
19. The White Stripes Elephant (2003)
20. The Strokes Is This It (2001)
21. Green Day American Idiot (2004)
22. Mika Life in Cartoon Motion (2007)
23. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001)
24. Kevin Gilbert/Kaviar The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
25. Tears for Fears Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004)
26. Keb’ Mo’ Peace - Back by Popular Demand (2004)
27. Lyle Lovett My Baby Don’t Tolerate (2003)
28. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006)
29. Styx Cylcorama (2003)
30. The Killers Hot Fuss (2004)
31. Sheryl Crow Detours (2008)
32. The Who Endless Wire (2006)
33. John Mellencamp Freedom’s Road (2007)
34. Fish Field of Crows (2004)
35. Glenn Tilbrook Transatlantic Ping Pong (2004)
36. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (2004)
37. Ray Charles Genius Loves Company (2004)
38. Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy (2008)
39. Green Day 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
40. U2 No Line on the Horizon (2009)
41. Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
42. Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters (2004)
43. The Vines Highly Evolved (2002)
44. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)
45. The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
46. Eddie Vedder Into the Wild (2007)
47. Eric Clapton/B.B. King Riding with the King (2000)
48. Del Amitri Can You Do Me Good? (2002)
49. The Hives Veni Vidi Vicious (2000)
50. Eric Woolfson The Alan Parsons Project That Never Was (2009)
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