20091209

Artists of the Decade

I am in the process of creating a variety of lists to sum up the 2000-2009 decade in music, and the first of these is my top 20 favorite artists of the decade. In order to make this list, the artist needed to be active for most of the decade, with frequent album releases and touring. For each artist I am listing all of the studio albums they released this decade. (I am not listing live albums, b-sides, EPs, etc.) I am also including my rankings for each LP the year it was released. One of the reasons I created this list is because on my upcoming top 50 albums of the decade I limited each artist to only one inclusion.



  • Thrice
    2001- Identity Crisis
    Top 10 of 2002- The Illusion of Safety**
    #2 of 2003- The Artist in the Ambulance**
    #2 of 2005- Vheissu**
    #1 of 2007- The Alchemy Index Vols. 1 & 2**
    #3 of 2008- The Alchemy Index Vols. 3 & 4**
    Top 10 of 2009- Beggars**
  • The Appleseed Cast
    Top 10 of 2000- Mare Vitalis**
    #1 of 2001- Low Level Owl Vols. 1 & 2**
    Top 10 of 2003- Two Conversations**
    Top 10 of 2006- Peregrine**
    Top 10 of 2009- Sagarmatha**
  • Jeremy Enigk
    #1 of 2000- Sunny Day Real Estate- The Rising Tide*
    2003- The Fire Theft- The Fire Theft
    2003- United States of Leland movie score
    #3 of 2006- World Waits
    Top 10 of 2009- OK Bear*
    2009- Sunny Day Real Estate Diary** and LP2** reiusses & tour
  • Aaron Sprinkle
    Top 10 of 2000- The Kindest Days
    Top 10 of 2001- Bareface
    #2 of 2002- Poor Old Lu- The Waiting Room
    #1 of 2006- Fair- The Best Worst-Case Scenario
    2010- Fair- Disappearing World to be released on February 9
  • Mates of State
    2000- My Solo Project**
    Top 10 of 2002- Our Constant Concern**
    2003- Team Boo**
    #2 of 2006- Bring it Back**
    #1 of 2008- Re-Arrange Us**
  • Death Cab for Cutie
    2000- We Have the Facts and We are Voting Yes*
    #3 of 2001- The Photo Album*
    #3 of 2003- Transatlanticism**
    Top 10 of 2005- Plans**
    2008- Narrow Stairs*
  • Nada Surf
    Top 10 of 2003- Let Go** (released in 2002 in Europe)
    Top 10 of 2005- The Weight is a Gift**
    #2 of 2008- Lucky**
    2009- Vinyl Box set containing all 5 LPs
  • The New Pornographers and Neko Case
    (I am cheating by combining them, but oh well)
    2000- NC- Furnace Room Lullaby
    2000- TNP- Mass Romantic*
    2002- NC- Blacklisted
    Top 10 of 2003- TNP- Electric Version**
    Top 10 of 2005- TNP- Twin Cinema*
    Top 10 of 2006- NC- Fox Confessor Brings the Flood*
    Top 10 of 2007- TNP- Challengers**
    Top 10 of 2009- NC- Middle Cyclone *
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Top 10 of 2001- Bleed American**
    Top 10 of 2004- Futures**
    Top 10 of 2007- Chase This Light**
    2009- Clarity** vinyl reissue (#1 of 1999)
  • Over the Rhine
    Top 10 of 2001- Films for Radio
    Top 10 of 2003- Ohio*
    Top 10 of 2005- Drunkard's Prayer
    2006- Snow Angels*
    2007- The Trumpet Child**
  • Sufjan Stevens
    2003- Michigan**
    Top 10 of 2004- Seven Swans**
    #1 of 2005- Illinoise**
    2006- Songs for Christmas 5CD box set
  • Eisley
    #2 of 2005- Room Noises**
    #2 of 2007- Combinations
  • Tegan & Sara
    2000- This Business of Art (don't own, never heard)
    2002- If It Was You*
    Top 10 of 2004- So Jealous*
    2007- The Con**
    2009- Sainthood* (yet to purchase, soon!)
  • Tess Wiley
    #2 of 2001- Rainy Day Assembly
    Top 10 of 2004- Not Quite Me
    #3 of 2007- Super Fast Rock'n'Roll Played Slow
  • Starflyer 59
    Top 10 of 2001- Leave Here A Stranger*
    2003- Old
    2004- I am the Portuguese Blues
    2005- Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice**
    Top 10 of 2006- My Island
    2007- Ghosts of the Future** 10 x 7" vinyl box set
    Top 10 of 2008- Dial M**
  • Arcade Fire
    #2 of 2004- Funeral
    Top 10 of 2007- Neon Bible
  • Brandtson
    Top 10 of 2002- Dial In Sounds**
    #1 of 2004- Send Us a Signal
    Top 10 of 2006- Hello, Control
  • Fountains of Wayne
    #1 of 2003- Welcome Interstate Manager
    2007- Traffic and Weather
  • Mindy Smith
    Top 10 of 2004- One Moment More
    2006- Long Island Shores
    2007- My Holiday
    Top 10 of 2009- Stupid Love
  • Coldplay
    2000- Parachutes*
    2002- A Rush of Blood to the Head*
    2005- X & Y*
    Top 10 of 2008- Viva la Vida **
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