M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
2005
I usually find music most enthralling when its vivid enough to paint a picture that you wouldn't have normally seen on your own. And even though initial thoughts like "Mogwai scoring the soundtrack to prom on the moon" aren't exactly commonplace, M83 bring this and much more to mind with their 2005 album Before the Dawn Heals Us. M83 is the musical project of French musician Anthony Gonzalez, and along with a small supporting cast he brings forth of bevy of sound and emotion on Before the Dawn Heals Us that while heavily electronic, still has more in common with post-rock/shoegaze than it does a typical electronica or synth-pop act. This album literally makes me think things like "Who needs movies or television when you have an album that unfolds as cinematically as this one does?" While there doesn't seem to be a certain narrative present, each song manages to tell its own story while the album still feels right as a whole, most of the songs bring very different emotions forward and sometimes contain pre-recorded sound effects and dialogue. This is still mostly an album for the hopeful though, there's upbeat, dancier tunes like "Don't Save us from the Flames" just as much as there are mesmerizing post-rock scenes like the album closer "Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun" which are so triumphant that no other band in the genre could come close to matching them. M83 are masters of taking seemingly simple chord progressions and changing their meaning with whats played over them, making even the longer songs feel as if they are constantly building towards something. Apparently the combination of shoegaze and electronics work together really well and M83 figured that out at just the right time, because life has certainly been better since the release of Before the Dawn Heals Us. Literally one of the most strangely addicting albums I've heard in years.
18. Mono - You are There
Temporary Residence 2005
I'm going to try not to over-use words like beauty to describe the truly life-changing music of a band like Mono, even though this Japanese group (with the exception of maybe Sigur Ros) seem to have found a way to translate that word to a language that our ears can understand more than any other modern band. However, Mono's music is for more than just your ears, the same way the the music they make transcends sounds being made by musical instruments. These are pieces that exist in ones heart and are brought to life by living breathing people, not instruments, in a similar manner Mono's You are There is for your heart and soul. You are There is not simply an album defined to trite genre terms such as "chamber-rock" or post-whatever, but a deeply moving collection of music that balances every nuance of sound and melody perfectly. Not only are Mono's compositions here on classical caliber, but the level of detail payed to every note played is astounding. Reverb and delay swells fall as softly as snow while distorted climaxes burst forth with commanding power on tracks like "Yearning". The ghostlike, pushing and pulling melody of "Are You There?" makes one of Mono's finest pieces ever, and the grandiose strings on "Moonlight" further cement this albums' status as a true heart-wrencher. While I'm sure there have been many peak and valley comparisons used to describe the intensity of Mono's music I'll simply leave this one saying that they showed themselves as being head and shoulders above the rest of the instrumental post-rock movement of recent years with You are There.
17. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Warp Records 2009
Criminally underrated and overlooked British artist Stephen James Wilkinson (aka Bibio) is probably even more overlooked due to the fact that in recent years you may not even realize that song on that Nook commercial you just saw is the same artist that was once making obscure, lo-fi "folktronica" on albums like Fi and Hand Cranked. However there's absolutely no question that everything this guy has touched is golden. There are many artists that I consider to be exceptionally good, but its a true rarity when one comes along like Bibio that creates music so utterly beautiful and boldly creative that your mind could never conceive or imagine what it might be like until you've heard it. In short, there's nothing quite like Bibio, and the bold new step that he began taking on 2009's Ambivalence Avenue only brought his music closer to my heart. An artist once known for mixing nature field recordings, spine-tingling folk and vintage analogue electronics, Ambivalence Avenue would bring new ideas forward but with a similar artist touch that lets you know that you are indeed listening to the same person's music. Bringing in soul, funk, and psych samples that are so utterly convincing of not being from this era that its scary, Wilkinson began an all together groovier approach to his songcraft on gems like "Jealous of Roses". "Fire Ant" is Bibio's first foray into beat-making, and the song carries a strong J-Dilla/Madlib feel (coming from me thats about the biggest compliment a beat can possibly get). His acoustic moments are still there, this time with better production and trippier effects on tracks like "Lover's Carvings", which is the perfect summer day personified in song (no seriously, listen to it and tell you didn't smile inside). Which is really the most perfect thing about this perfect album, it simply makes you feel good. Ambivalence Avenue is the soundtrack to all of your great memories with friends and loved ones, and for that its an album I will always cherish.
16. Mouth of the Architect - The Ties that Blind
Translation Loss 2006
Bands like Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Mastodon, and Isis would usher in an altogether new heavy music movement in the first decade of the 21st century. Like any new music movement, some of the imitators fell short by large margins, but Ohio's Mouth of the Architect is not one of those bands. In all the "post-metal" albums that there were to sift through this past decade, few that I heard were better than this colossal sophomore effect by Mouth of the Architect. The Ties that Blind didn't merely follow the "Neur-Isis" blueprint as much as it did take notes where needed and then make its own permanent indention with both flawless production and a stellar understanding of composing this style of music. Mouth of the Architect observe the almighty riff but don't let anything drag on where it doesn't need to, the opening song "Baobab" lets several awesome ideas breathe and meld together, the second half of the song resulting in a buildup that manages to layer new riffs and melodies without ever sounding boring or trite. The album's second track "No One Wished to Settle Here" could be one of my favorite songs ever, with a hypnotic opening melody that is pure musical narcotic. At 15 minutes long and them some, the song never wears out its welcome and it resolves beautifully by going back to the main tremolo-picked melody that climaxes the first half. The rest of the album may still move at a slow pace but does so by leading the listener through some truly interesting chord progressions and changes (such as at the beginning of "Carry On"). At six songs and over an hours worth of music, The Ties that Blind balances beauty, crushing heaviness, and forward-thinking composing. The beauty element comes through most on the tranquil and heart-wrenching opening of "Harboring an Apparition" with pristine clean/delay guitar tones and faint keyboard bell chimes. Its the closest thing we got all decade to the genre's true masters, and it doesn't get far from their greatness.
15. Sigúr Ros - Takk...
Geffen 2005
Iceland's Sigur Ros are very far from an average music group. Through the years they've brought to life visions that no one else ever could. They've done it by unusual mean as well, not through skill at playing one's instrument per se but by an uncanny understanding of what brings forth human emotion. They tap into that part of you that you almost forget (or try to ignore) sometimes that leaves you vulnerable to feel. Often thought of as one of the band's most beloved albums, Takk... may do this to an even greater degree. Not to undermind the perfect chamber-rock of Ageatis Byrjun or the somber dirges of ( ), but Takk... Is almost too intense to take in at certain moments. Its a bit of a paradox then, the quality of the music here is so amazing that it could be one of the most addictive albums ever made, except for the fact that there are certain times when Takk... almost offers too much emotionally for us to digest. The ceremonial beauty of Saeglópur brings back innocent memories of a first snow, while Glosoli's constant crescendo is what every other band in this genre hopes to replicate. Sigur Ros have an excellent way of suggesting their own melodies, and things seem to find a way back into your head even when the notes aren't being played. Hoppipolla is triumphant celebration of life that has been known to bring tears, but its only the third track on the album. Whats in store for you throughout the rest of the album? I encourage everyone to find out yourself, you won't be dissapointed.
14. Isis- Oceanic
Ipecac 2002
It could be the album that launched a thousand metalgaze bands (or at least its partially to blame with any Cult of Luna release) but you can't blame people for being so entranced with what many consider to be Isis' magnum opus: Oceanic. While Isis' previous efforts would mostly just draw the listener's attention to how much Godflesh and Neurosis vinyl they had sitting around at home, who would have thought of what they had in store for us with one of the most notoriously expansive and and mind-altering albums in all of heavy music? With Oceanic, Isis began building upon a foundation of meditative post-rock with subdued progressive metal and hints of a sludge/doom-coated past that would set them apart as one of the most powerful and creative bands of the decade. Oceanic also stands out as a fan favorite often because of the albums balance between what Isis had previously done and the band's future evolution into prog that they would continue to push further with each release. This album made Isis into what they are today, and made plenty of imitators as well. Oceanic is a climactic movie scene played in slow motion, the scope of each precious second of music magnified by its slow movement and epic gestures. The track "Maritime" offers a glimpse of depressing melody to lighten up the atmospheric waves of heaviness, while "False Light" is mid-tempo riff nirvana, and quite possibly the most perfectly written post-metal song ever. Oceanic was even good enough to merit a remix and reinterpretation album (which is also essential listening) that featured everyone from the glitch-hop of Venetian Snares to the heavy shoegaze of Jesu's Justin Broadrick. Even though we no longer have Isis, Oceanic's impact can still be felt today.
13. Sufjan Stevens - Come On, Feel the Illinoise!
Asthmatic Kitty 2005
Nothing seems too ambitious for this seemingly gentle, prolific songwriter. He's done things like push the limits of freak-pop with crazed synthesizer chords and create beautiful indie folk. He's done things like taking on a project that involves making an album about every state in the USA, and thank God for that. Come on, Feel the Illinoise! is one of the most brilliant and essential albums of the decade, and its definitely the one that put this soft-spoken genius on the map. Trying to find a genre here won't do you any good, this is an album so diverse in emotions expressed that it literally goes from one of the most jubilant songs I've ever heard (complete with full horn and string ensembles) to a song about a mass murderer/rapist. There's laid-back banjo complimented modern-americana on songs like "JACKSONVILLE" and "Decatur, or a Round of Applause for your Stepmother!". There's the utterly breath-taking but all too short "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illiniose," and the heart-brightening choir of voice and woodwind on "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is out to Get us!" You get the point, if you don't then you're probably confused and you desperately need to acquaint yourself with this buffet of musical genius. There will truly never be another Sufjan Stevens, at least I hope not, no one else would do it anywhere nearly as perfect.
12. Think Differently Music - Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture
2005
A compilation this high on a list of the greatest albums of the decade? You obviously haven't heard this record. Even if it wasn't one of my favorite hip-hop albums ever if would warrant a spot even just for the fact that Treddy Kruger managed to get the Wu-Tang Clan in on a collaboration with some of the greatest indie hip-hop emcees out there right now. They just got my two favorite elements of hip-hop together is all, you'd be happy too. Anyway it certainly doesn't hurt that this comp has some tracks that are absolutely monster, some I would even consider to be perfect rap. The album's strength is in its balance. There's a track with the GZA and progressive political rapper (and general hater of the white man) Ras Kass, there's also spots from heavy hitters like Del the Funky Homosapian, Aesop Rock, and some of Wu's finest as well. But the beats, production, and the way its all brought together is what makes this album essential to any rap fan's collection. Tracks like "Listen" and "Verses" are nothing short of perfect for this reason, with as much collaboration as there is in hip-hop its good to see something come together this fluidly to make you think it might all actually be worth something. And you know you just can't help but love a good compilation, there's just something addicting about a good one that hooks you even more than a real album. This one just happens to do that about ten times more.
11. Hopesfall - A Types
Trustkill 2005
I'll continue to stand alone on this one and speak my mind on why I think Hopesfall's criminally underrated A Types is one of the best straight-up modern rock records that I've heard. Not unlike a North Carolinian take on Cave-In, Hopesfall started off playing hardcore that was known for its gripping emotional intensity, which gradually led them down a more melodic, spacey path on 2002's The Satellite Years. Three years and a few member changes later the band nearly scrapped the melodi-core template altogether and released a space rock album that had both the accessibility and creativity that should have been able to become a full on radio-hit success while still keeping its dignity intact. Well that success never quite came, as a matter of fact A Types really just brought about a bunch of pissed off ex-fans and a few new ones, but surely someone else out there appreciated the unadulterated modern rock goodness of this album? I certainly did when it came to the catchy groove of opener "It Happens", and even more so on the spacey chords and odd lead choices of "Start and Pause" a song that manages to strike an awkwardly delightful balance of heavy and melodic. The album's single "Icarus" should have definitely been a hit in an age when everyone wanted melodic metalcore crossovers, but the songs refusal to go in either screamo, metalcore, or radio rock territory made it slip on by the more close-minded. And while many may still make an argument for the raw emotion of Hopesfall's earlier material, I dare anyone to listen to the ending of "Breathe from Coma" and tell me that this band isn't at their most knee-buckling intense here. The triumphant lead guitar riff that brings out the last chorus takes just the right blend of delay and distortion to put the perfect cap on a modern space-rock classic. If this story would have ended happily then this album would have been the next Jupiter, but instead we have a piece of a legacy from one of North Carolina's greatest bands. Not too bad either.
