THE PUSHING PAPER TOP 100 ALBUMS OF THE DECADE: PART TWO

The difference between how I evaluate and remember the albums in Part Two as compared to Part One is the slimmest between all eight levels in my list. In terms of how much I listened to them compared to Part One albums, there’s barely any difference. But these albums all have a certain, undefinable something not possessed by those in Part One, be it that they were made by an artist that I hold dear, that their originality strikes me a little bit more, or that these albums have a song or two that I still listen to frequently years later. (I apologize that I didn’t have more to say about these albums, but like I said in an earlier post, I’m not going to force myself to rewrite “I really like this album” if that’s all I have to say. After Part Two, the grunt work of the list is done, and then things will really pick up.)

79. Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Matt Sweeney — Superwolf (2005)

That Matt Sweeney was able to  pick up the pieces of his life and reassemble them into a starring role on an excellent Will Oldham album after the flaming disaster that was Zwan is nothing short of inspiring. (That’s right — another potshot at Zwan. I haven’t written the rest of the list yet, but I can’t say this will be the last one.)

78. Vitalic — OK Cowboy (2005)

77. Mission of Burma — The Obliterati (2006)

If I ever get enough money to build my long dreamed about Badass Hall of Fame, these guys will be first ballot entries. I actually think this album is a little uneven, but Burma’s comeback this decade was so fulfilling for me that the idea of not including them somewhere on this list struck me as dishonest. That “Spider’s Web” and “Donna Sumeria” were written by a group of dudes in their forties will never cease to blow my mind.

76. The Dismemberment Plan — Change (2001)

A lot of times when bands break up or artists die too soon, I think its a good thing for their careers in that, in all likelihood, they made the best music they possibly could have made and then spared the world of a protracted slide into irrelevance. I mean, just imagine how Weezer would be remembered if they stopped recording after Pinkerton. But I can’t help but think that the Plan really did have more to give. Oh, well. The fact that people like me silently revere them isn’t a bad consolation prize.

75. Boards of Canada — Geogaddi (2002)

74. Nadja — Truth Becomes Death (2005)

With how insanely prolific Nadja is, it’s tough to single out any particular album or EP as their best, but for my money “Bug/Golem” is their finest moment (that I’ve heard).

73. Lindstrom — Where You Go I Go Too (2008)

72. Watain — Sworn to the Dark (2007)

71. Erlend Øye — DJ-Kicks (2004)

70. The National — Alligator (2005)

69. Girl Talk — Feed the Animals (2008)

68. Ghostface Killah — Fishscale (2006)

67. Air — Talkie Walkie (2004)

66. Beanie Sigel — The B. Coming (2005)

Remember when I said that the cover to Heartbreak’s Lies skillfully summarizes the entire album’s sound and aesthetic? Well I can’t think of another album cover in history that’s nearly as descriptive as that depressing picture of Beans sitting up against his cell wall, marking off the days until he’s a free man again. Holy moly.

65. The Postal Service — Give Up (2003)

64. Ghostface Killah — Supreme Clientele (2000)