Brooke Rae-Hunter is my wife. For that, and countless other reasons, I love her. Here’s her decade music picks.
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This list is not the best music of the aughts. This is a list of albums and songs crafted and released in the aughts (including reissues would have resulted in a different list) that were like great friends to me. They are albums I invited into my life every day or whenever a particular mood struck. (Picks after the jump.)
Elliott Smith, Figure 8
I was in this mood for the first 4-5 years of the decade. And it was very important that Elliott Smith was there to understand.
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Oh My Girl
This was like hanging out with your slightly more strung out, sad friend. [Editor's note: not available to stream. Lame.]
Radiohead, Kid A
Beyond compare. It combines the best of many musical worlds, and remains evocative.
Gillian Welch, Time (the Revelator)
This is superb music. The attention to detail is matched with soulfulness. The echoes of music from decades ago in the guitar playing adds even more depth. An essential album, regardless of decade. [Ed's note: Were I to collate the various picks, I think this would be our friends and contributors' Album of the Decade.]
M. Ward, Transfiguration of Vincent
Transfiguration of Vincent is the sound of someone who lost a close friend, and needed to tell the tale in music. There is respect, loss, resignation, and an odd kind of peace here. Truly thoughtful music.
The Contrarian, Soft Rock, Northern Lights, Eldritch Musicks
The great thing about living with a musician who records in a home studio is that you get to hear all of the iterations of songs as they develop into a record. I’m happy to have been here for the development of these albums, which have been an important part of my decade.
Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
I like sad music. Look at this this list. I need something to give a semblance of balance, to give some pep-pep to my step on a commute to work. This was it in the aughts.
The Dresden Dolls, The Dresden Dolls
The drama! The anger! The stagecraft! This appealed to the angsty high-school drama nerd in me.
Outkast, Stankonia
Not quite as warm as Aquemini, but artistic, bold, energetic music that I listened to a lot.
The Books, Lost and Safe
They do the best sound collage. And when I saw them on this tour, I knew I wanted to marry my husband.
Antony & the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now
Exquisite.
Honorable Mentions:
Wilco.
I spent a lot of time listening to Wilco in the aughts, and enjoyed several live shows. It’s good, reliable music.
Bohren and Der Club of Gore, Geisterfaust
I keep coming back to it. Give me another decade, and it might not be on the list.
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
Full of great stories, with humor.
Mastodon
Catchy, melodic metal.
Julie Doiron
Spare, lonely music.
Josh Ritter
He’s charming, he’s a good writer, and he captures coming of age sweetly.
Aimee Mann, Magnolia Soundtrack, Bachelor No. 2
“Save Me” and “Wise Up” are songs that I feel like I wrote (this is Aimee Mann’s special talent).
Sigur Ros
Reminds me of dark, icy, eerie nights.
The Shins, Oh, Inverted World
Morrissey, You Are the Quarry
Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins
Midlake, The Trials Of Van Occupanther
“Roscoe” was one of my favorite songs of the last five years. It’s a solid album, it just doesn’t live up to the perfection of the opening track.
Slowblow, Soundtrack to Noi Albinoi
Esmerine, If Only a Sweet Surrender
Lovely music that stood the test of five years.
Feist, Let It Die
I loved this when it came it. I loved the pure joy of it — the disco accents. But then I heard it everywhere, and I stopped listening to it as much.
+1 Roscoe. That song still floors me.
Thanks Josh and Ken.
I was happily surprised that Gillian & Co. ranked so high on the cumulative list.
And Roscoe…that song is such a great, layered, evocative thing…it’s like an excellent short story.
Brooke, you and I enjoy a lot of the same music. Great minds…
Hooray for Gillian again, and when is she going to release more work? Also, hooray for Aimee Mann; I really wanted to include her in mine.
Great list!
Great list, Brooke. I’m glad to see another contrarian voicing affection for Josh Ritter. I guess he isn’t “cool” here, which is utterly ridiculous. He’s the best young lyricist around, and a damn sweet guy.
Wow, you are so, totally, biased. The Contrarian made the list, thrice? You must be Casey’s wife or something.
I’m a little surprised Hank & Dad didn’t make the list–Spendin’ the Night? Come on.
Giddyup!!!
Jebson,
Thank you for noticing my oversight. Hank & Dad is an official pick for the decade. I often hum tunes from the unforgettable album. Highly recommended! Not sure where you can find it to stream, though. Can someone post a link?
great list, brooke! i love it that gillian is getting so much love on these lists. justice prevails!