January 20, 2011
What a Great Video
Best Coast have released a video for their 2010 single "Crazy for You," directed by lolcats. Check it out at I Can Has Cheezburger.
January 2, 2011
We Might Be Wrong: The Top 25 Albums of 2000
Our review of the year 2000 in music concludes with our top 25 albums of the year (actually 28, since there was a 4-way tie for #25). The album list was compiled in the same way as our singles list, with IMBW contributors submitting point-weighted lists of their favorite albums of 2000 (you can take a look at our individual contributors' lists here). Only albums released within the calendar year of 2000 were counted; greatest hits albums and most other compilations were excluded. A total of 106 albums received at least one mention.
It was fun looking back at the music of 2000, remembering what music was important to us then, and comparing that with what we find interesting to listen to now from that time period. For me, it's really interesting to look at a year in music historically; to see how things have held up over time; to remember things that were sensations of the moment but quickly faded from consciousness; to think about things that were overlooked at the time but gained recognition as time went on; to see how the music of a given year has influenced the music of today.
So, here's our list. You'll find a link to listen to each album in full at grooveshark.com. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
25. Tourist
St. Germain
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
25. Relationship of Command
At the Drive-In
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
25. Nia
Blackalicious
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
25. Back for the First Time
Ludacris
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
24. Ágætis byrjun
Sigur Rós
Points: 23 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
23. Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished
Animal Collective
Points: 24 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
22. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
PJ Harvey
Points: 24 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
21. Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
Fatboy Slim
Points: 25 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
20. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Kid Koala
Points: 26 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
19. Like Water for Chocolate
Common
Points: 26 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
18. Let's Get Ready
Mystikal
Points: 27 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
17. The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone
The Apples in Stereo
Points: 28 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
16. The Teaches of Peaches
Peaches
Points: 28 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
15. Veni Vidi Vicious
The Hives
Points: 29 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
14. Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Points: 30 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
12. Train of Thought
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek: Reflection Eternal
Points: 30 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
12. Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Points: 30 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
11. Parachutes
Coldplay
Points: 32 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
10. The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Points: 33 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
9. Quality Control
Jurassic 5
Points: 35 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
8. De Stijl
The White Stripes
Points: 36 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
7. The Moon & Antarctica
Modest Mouse
Points: 39 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
6. Vocalcity
Luomo
Points: 41 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
5. Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Points: 58 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Since I Left You is one of the premier records of sample-based music. In all, over 900 samples went into the making of this album, and the result is a mindblowing collage, a collection of sounds that together form a whole that is completely unique and something all its own. / David Mickelsen
4. Voodoo
D'Angelo
Points: 60 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
D'Angelo's first album, Brown Sugar, was an important moment in contemporary R&B and neo-soul. It took him five years to release a follow up, but it was worth the wait: Voodoo stands as D'Angelo's masterpiece, a masterwork of the neo-soul sound. / David Mickelsen
3. Stankonia
OutKast
Points: 72 / Mentions: 6
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Stankonia is a head-spinning listen, a kaleidoscopic array of sounds that ten years later still reveals something new upon each listen. On top of its sonic brilliance, Big Boi and Andre 3000 are two great rappers in top form, effortlessly delivering rapidfire raps on "B.O.B.," telling heartbreaking stories on "Ms. Jackson" and "Toilet Tisha," and keeping it gangsta on tracks like "We Luv Deez Hoez" and "Gangsta Shit." It's hard not to be disappointed that OutKast only made one great record as a group after this one..but of course, we always hold out hope that they hold something in store for us in the future.... / David Mickelsen
2. Supreme Clientele
Ghostface Killah
Points: 73 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Ghostface Killah has been arguably the most consistently interesting Wu-Tang member as a solo artist, and his furious stream-of-consciousness rhyming was at a high point on Supreme Clientele. Numerous excellent guest appearances by much of the rest of Wu-Tang also boost the album, making one of the best of the Wu-Tang solo albums. / David Mickelsen
1. Kid A
Radiohead
Points: 74 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
It seems pointless to try to say anything new about Kid A, since so much has been written and said about it. What remains important is that ten years later, Kid A is still a compelling listen, as stunning and affecting as it was upon its release. Radiohead's adoption of electronics and heavy use of vocal filters, converting Thom Yorke's voice into things inhuman, was and still is sure to be polarizing, but if there were risks involved, they yielded fantastic rewards: an album as adventurous as it is beautiful, as challenging as it is ultimately rewarding. / David Mickelsen
It was fun looking back at the music of 2000, remembering what music was important to us then, and comparing that with what we find interesting to listen to now from that time period. For me, it's really interesting to look at a year in music historically; to see how things have held up over time; to remember things that were sensations of the moment but quickly faded from consciousness; to think about things that were overlooked at the time but gained recognition as time went on; to see how the music of a given year has influenced the music of today.
So, here's our list. You'll find a link to listen to each album in full at grooveshark.com. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
St. Germain
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
At the Drive-In
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Blackalicious
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Ludacris
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Sigur Rós
Points: 23 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Animal Collective
Points: 24 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
PJ Harvey
Points: 24 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Fatboy Slim
Points: 25 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Kid Koala
Points: 26 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Common
Points: 26 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Mystikal
Points: 27 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
The Apples in Stereo
Points: 28 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Peaches
Points: 28 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
The Hives
Points: 29 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Points: 30 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek: Reflection Eternal
Points: 30 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Elliott Smith
Points: 30 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Coldplay
Points: 32 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Eminem
Points: 33 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Jurassic 5
Points: 35 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
The White Stripes
Points: 36 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Modest Mouse
Points: 39 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Luomo
Points: 41 / Mentions: 2
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
The Avalanches
Points: 58 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Since I Left You is one of the premier records of sample-based music. In all, over 900 samples went into the making of this album, and the result is a mindblowing collage, a collection of sounds that together form a whole that is completely unique and something all its own. / David Mickelsen
D'Angelo
Points: 60 / Mentions: 3
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
D'Angelo's first album, Brown Sugar, was an important moment in contemporary R&B and neo-soul. It took him five years to release a follow up, but it was worth the wait: Voodoo stands as D'Angelo's masterpiece, a masterwork of the neo-soul sound. / David Mickelsen
OutKast
Points: 72 / Mentions: 6
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Stankonia is a head-spinning listen, a kaleidoscopic array of sounds that ten years later still reveals something new upon each listen. On top of its sonic brilliance, Big Boi and Andre 3000 are two great rappers in top form, effortlessly delivering rapidfire raps on "B.O.B.," telling heartbreaking stories on "Ms. Jackson" and "Toilet Tisha," and keeping it gangsta on tracks like "We Luv Deez Hoez" and "Gangsta Shit." It's hard not to be disappointed that OutKast only made one great record as a group after this one..but of course, we always hold out hope that they hold something in store for us in the future.... / David Mickelsen
Ghostface Killah
Points: 73 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
Ghostface Killah has been arguably the most consistently interesting Wu-Tang member as a solo artist, and his furious stream-of-consciousness rhyming was at a high point on Supreme Clientele. Numerous excellent guest appearances by much of the rest of Wu-Tang also boost the album, making one of the best of the Wu-Tang solo albums. / David Mickelsen
Radiohead
Points: 74 / Mentions: 4
[Listen at grooveshark.com]
It seems pointless to try to say anything new about Kid A, since so much has been written and said about it. What remains important is that ten years later, Kid A is still a compelling listen, as stunning and affecting as it was upon its release. Radiohead's adoption of electronics and heavy use of vocal filters, converting Thom Yorke's voice into things inhuman, was and still is sure to be polarizing, but if there were risks involved, they yielded fantastic rewards: an album as adventurous as it is beautiful, as challenging as it is ultimately rewarding. / David Mickelsen
January 1, 2011
We Might Be Wrong: The Top 20 Singles of 2000
Any single released in 2000, as well as any single that appeared on an album that was released in 2000, was eligible for this list. Only officially released singles were considered..with a few exceptions that it seemed wrong not to include. In all, 130 singles received at least one mention.
So, with the math and technical stuff out of the way, it's on to the list. You'll find a widget or link provided to listen to each track. Here we go....
Ice Cube [ft. Mack 10 and Ms. Toi]
Points: 17 / Mentions: 2
Jurassic 5
Points: 17 / Mentions: 2
The Avalanches
Points: 18 / Mentions: 2
Air
Points: 18 / Mentions: 2
Dead Prez
Points: 19 / Mentions: 2
Daft Punk
Points: 20 / Mentions: 2
The White Stripes
Points: 20 / Mentions: 2
Eminem [ft. Dido]
Points: 21 / Mentions: 2
R. Kelly
Points: 21 / Mentions: 2
The Hives
Points: 21 / Mentions: 2
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Points: 21 / Mentions: 3
At the Drive-In
Points: 22 / Mentions: 2
PJ Harvey
Points: 23 / Mentions: 2
Coldplay
Points: 25 / Mentions: 2
Coldplay would go on to be one of the most respected and commercially successful bands of the decade, but they were never better than on their second single, "Yellow." Elements of Britpop, shoegaze, melodic pop, and vocal harmonies came together in a beautiful moment of rock music. / David Mickelsen
The Chemical Brothers
Points: 25 / Mentions: 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTif9a5l-7w
Man fucking "Music: Response". when i heard it back in 1999 i was like "this shit is such shit for gay euro clubs". then i fell in love with "Block Rockin Beats" a year later and then i was afraid of "Music: Response": "Music: Response" became the known-uknown for me; the geek i picked on in high school and was now going to be my boss. When I heard it that year, I don't think I really comprehended what I heard. When heard it a year a later, the universe made sense again. Music response was quietly yelling at me, "Do you fucking see? Do you fucking understand how beautiful a song can be using only one note and it's octave? Is your fucking brain melting yet?" / Jeff Kim
Jay-Z
Points: 25 / Mentions: 2
One of the Neptunes' first major hits, "I Just Wanna Love U" features Jay-Z in party mode, with rising star Pharrell threatening to steal the show, as he would with numerous other guest appearances throughout the following decade. This was one of the party songs of the early part of the decade; here, Jay-Z showed a party side to complement his street hustler side. / David Mickelsen
Jay-Z [ft. UGK]
Points: 30 / Mentions: 4
2000 was part of a very long period during which everything Timbaland touched turned to gold; his productions were endlessly creative, and resulted in massive commercial success. For "Big Pimpin'," he sampled the Egyptian composition "Khosara," giving the beat a Middle Eastern feel instantly recognizable as Timbaland's. Jay-Z was also in the midst of a long spell of brilliance during this time, and over Timbaland's beat he, Pimp C, and Bun B told us in typically convincing fashion that they were the shit, three great rappers at the top of their game. / David Mickelsen
Radiohead
Points: 37 / Mentions: 3
Radiohead didn't release any official singles from Kid A, but some songs did get radioplay as promo singles. Of these, "Optimistic" was the one that received the most airtime. This stands to reason; it's probably the most accessible song on Kid A, and the one that would most accomodate fans looking for another OK Computer. These things aside, it's also a beautiful song, the centerpiece to what was one of the great albums of its era; even if Kid A did alienate some fans of their earlier work, it was a stroke of artistic brilliance that would gain them a legion of new followers. / David Mickelsen
OutKast
Points: 46 / Mentions: 3
It seems only fitting that these two singles, which would prove to be two of the best singles of the decade, by one of the great hip-hop groups of their era, would tie for number one on our list. OutKast were a dominating force in pop music in 2000 (as well as several years before and after), and "B.O.B." and "Ms. Jackson" were two landmark achievements: for the year in music, for the group themselves, and for the entire genre of rap music. / David Mickelsen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)