My favorite albums of the decade

I believe in the album as a way to bundle music in a certain context. These are my favorite albums of the decade and I hope (and believe) that great albums continue to be released during the next decade.

Fever Ray - Fever Ray

Again, the newest album in the list, so the memory is the freshest. But Fever Ray's debut is one of those rare albums that I like more the more often I listen to it. There's also an excellent live version and a bunch of videos, each one a little more haunting (it seems to be worth noting, than none of the women singing is actually Fever Ray's Karin Dreijer Andersson)

Blonde Redhead - 23

Blonde Redhead is an amazing band: if you listen to their seven albums, you witness a slow but steady transformation from raw talent to creating beautiful pieces like "Misery is a Butterfly" and "23". Their last release is their best one, with  every song a masterpiece I can listen to over an over. Since "23" Blonde Redhead is my favorite band (Radiohead takes a close second place only because of their lack of any female contribution)

Radiohead - Kid A

Like everybody else I had difficulties to pick the best Radiohead album of the decade as all four are excellent. I picked - like most others - "Kid A" as it was the first one that showcased Radiohead's genius and the one that captured me for the longest time.

Swati - Small Gods

This is a truly great album and should be far better known. Unfortunately Swati wasn't able to release her second album so far, but I can't wait. It will have a chance to make the next decade list, then.

Portishead - Third

I think that Portishead is one of the greatest bands and their third album reinforced that. There seems to be something with bands with "head" in the name.

Magik Markers - Boss

This one hit me out of nowhere (after I read an article in Time Out New York) and for some reason I couldn't stop listen to it. It's probably because I just like Elisa Ambrogio's voice.

Charlotte Martin - In Parentheses

Elke and I saw Charlotte opening for the Psychedelic Furs and were deeply impressed by her. We bought her EP after the show, but for some reason it rested still shrink-wrapped for quite some time until I ripped and listened to it. And I loved it. She followed up with some more great work, but the first one has a special place in my heart.

Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold

This is such a pretty and rich album that it has to be in the list (I like it slightly more than its successor "Two Suns"). Natasha Khan is also great live and I would so loved to have met her while she was living in New York.

AIR - 10000 Hz Legend

AIR's most experimental and difficult album and in my opinion also the best.

Björk - Medulla

I really wanted to love this album, so I did for a while. It's in this list for its uniqueness: it's mostly voices and very few instruments. It makes a surprisingly good album, but it's good that she returned to more traditional sound generation afterwards.

Comments

[Will]

Swati's "Small Gods" is one I keep buying, every time I spot it for a dollar in the closeout bin of the local used CD store.

My intent is to give them away because Swati is absolutely fantastic with her 8-string (yes) and sharp lyrics. I hear she is really self-critical, and that is why we haven't seen a second album yet. She keeps feeling it isn't ready. I guess I'll have to believe her, but I really look forward to more from Swati.