So a friend asked me to compile a list of my favourite albums of the 00s.

As it turned out, there aren’t so many records in the list that have come out recently, which I thought was interesting. I think this could mean one of four things:

1. I’m turning into a grumpy old git
2. People don’t listen to albums all the way through so much any more
3. I’m worried that I might stop liking a newer albums or that it might stop being cool
4. The newer albums haven’t had time to ‘bed in’ to my brain.

Personally I think there may be a small element of truth in all the above.  Anyway, here’s the ten, in no particular order:

The ten best albums of the decade, Obviously:

• Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004) - Neon Bible is a classic as well of course, but I prefer my indie unpolished
• Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (2005) - just as good as Seven Swans, only a little more so.
• Sigur Rós – () (2002) - Incredibly pretentious. Incredibly awesome. Was going to be either this or Ágætis Byrjun (although wikipedia thinks that came out in 1999?)
• The Strokes - Is this it? (2001) - Totally lost their way but this still sounds great
• 2 Many DJs - As Heard on Radio Soulwax, Part 2 (2002) -  launched Soulwax's career proper, really. Showed millions of indie kids that it was ok to like dance music, and millions of dance kids that dancin could be FUN.
• The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike (2004) – utterly brilliant. Original version with the illegal samples throughout still sounds better to this ear.
• Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (2005) - Bordering on a guilty pleasure these days... but I do love a good pop song.
• RJD2- Deadringer (2002) - Amazing first album, pushed hip hop forward. Catastrophic fall from grace with his third album. Why does that seem to be a common theme?
• Kings of Convenience - Quiet is the new loud (2001) - Still a classic, and a big influence on a lot of the best records of the whole decade IMAO
• The Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House (2003) - Yeah, not even the DW's best album of the 00s. But will forever remind me of driving through the crisp New Zealand winter of 2004 with my future wife.

Ones that came close:

• Gurls Allowed - What will the neighbours say? - obv.
• Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle. My fave album of 2009 so far, Pitchfork-tastic
• Ulrich Schnauss – A Strangely Isolated Place - not cool, but I love everything this guy does
• Four Tet - Rounds - can't be doing with his jazzy b'llocks, but this is a classic
• Elliott Smith - Figure 8
• Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of the Bewilderbeast - close, very close.
• PJ Harvey- Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea – ditto
• Paul Kalkbrenner - Berlin Calling - Been a little obsessed with this recently
• Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven - actually, this one is just "very, very good". Wanted it in the top ten to make me look cool but there wasn't room. :)
• Beastie boys - To the 5 Boroughs - still got it.
• I Am Kloot - Gods and Monsters. Why wasn't this huge?

Ones that didn't come close:

• Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below - was I the only person in the world who thought this was, well.... Meh? ('Hey Ya' excepted)
• Kanye West - Might have made it a year or so ago, but now he's succeding in showing himself up to be a complete tool.
• Radiohead - Yeah yeah yeah, very good, move along pls.