The First Decennial Viskterisk* 100 Favorite Albums of Years Starting with "200"! Numbers 80-71.

Before we start in again, I direct your attention to my friend's list of the best albums of the Aughts. It will be worth it, I promise.

80. Misery is a Butterfly - Blonde Redhead (2004)

Blonde Redhead belongs is a band that the singer's voice should drive me far, far away*. However, it blends so well with the rest of the sound that I actually end up really liking her voice in context.

*Other bands in this list:

• Clap Your Hand Say Yeah
• The Decemberists
• The Hold Steady
• Neutral Milk Hotel
• Rural Alberta Advantage
• Destroyer

79. Strange Geometry - The Clientele (2005)

This is pretty much exactly the type of pop music you'd expect from a guy name Alasdair. Quiet, orchestral, thoughtful music.

78. God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl (2009)

So, Stuart Murdoch gets bored with making amazing music in Belle and Sebastian, writes a bunch of songs, holds open tryouts on iMeem for female singers, puts out this awesome album, and is currently turning the album into a film. Not too shabby. Anyway, I love the vocals on this album (the contest winners).

77. Hold On Now, Youngster - Los Campesinos! (2008)

Fun, high energy pop music from the UK (that's three in a row). Plus, I love punctuation in a band name*. Bonus points for clever lyrics (if a little melodramatic).

* Honorable mentions for this list include two other punctuated bands: The Go! Team, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

76. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse (2007)

Modest Mouse + Johnny Marr? Yes, please. This album cover also ranks highly on my list of favorite album covers of the decade.

75. Summer in Abaddon - Pinback (2004)

Not so fun fact: Abaddon essentially means "Hell". So, Summer in Abaddon doesn't sound so fun. However, this album is significantly more enjoyable.

74. Shake the Streets - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (2004)

Two incredibly awesome things about this album: 1. The song "Me and Mia" (probably the best song ever about eating disorders). 2. The list of medications in "Heart Problems". Ampicilin, Bepridil, Chloroquine, Cisapride...

73. Abattoir Blues - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (2004)

This is kind of cheating, since I only have half of this album. I'm missing the whole Lyre of Orpheus part. However, There She Goes, My Beautiful World by itself is more than enough to make up for the missing half.

72. Fate - Dr. Dog (2007)

Feeling nostalgic for the 60s? Dr. Dog has the cure (cue rimshot). You can pretty easily pick out the Beatles/Beach Boys/Band influences, but who cares? Those bands are good.

71. The Mouse and the Mask - Danger Doom (2005)

Well, we've reached the end of hip hop on this list. This one has a little bit of everything: Danger Mouse laying the beats, MF Doom, guest spots from Talib Kweli and Ghostface Killah (among others), plus all the Adult Swim you can handle. Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Space Ghost appear on the album and there are tons more references to other shows. Good stuff.




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