Fair and Kind: Blog

This is a list of my favorite albums that came out in the 10 years. I'm not a good critic. It is based on what I listened to the most and what influenced me the most. I can remember where I was and how I felt when I first heard all of these albums. 10. Is This It - The Strokes Back in my Napster days I downloaded Hard To Explain and for the first like 15 times I heard it, during the break in the song, I thought it hadn't downloaded fully. I wised up eventually. Favorite Tracks: Is This It, Someday, Trying My Luck 9. Give Up - The Postal Service How can I not love a band featuring two of my faaaavorite musicians? I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this album so by the time I saw them play at a sold out show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago, I knew all the words. Everyone loves this album. Favorite Tracks: Recycled Air, Nothing Better, Such Great Heights 8. Oh, Inverted World - The Shins One of my favorite musicians recommended this album when I asked her what she was listening [...]

Here are some of the songs that defined my decade.  It's sort of a haphazard list based on a number of intangible factors.  My only rule is that multiple songs per artist were not allowed.  I also left off Fair and Kind songs to appear modest.
Would love to hear your comments!
-Anand
50.  "She Wants To Move" (2004) - N*E*R*D
N*E*R*D's sensual hodge-podge of acoustic and electric guitars, piano, handclaps, dog barks and "HEY!"s over a floor tom heavy beat borders on being gimmicky and silly, but the genius that brings it all together is what made The Neptunes such a huge part of the 2000s.
49. "Young Adult Friction" (2009) - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
The whole album is a bit too cutesy, hipster, and one-note, but I kinda love that note, which perfectly combines upbeat melodies, drowning vocals, and '80s nostalgia (in the year that John Hughes passed away).
48. "Me & U" (2006) - Cassie
The minimalist beat and repetitive vocal counterpoint (which thankfully doesn't [...]