The nine albums I've included listed by album title alphabetically. I do not pretend to be unbiased and I also do not pretend that I've listened to every album released over the last nine years. This is just my list of the best nine albums I've heard that were released on January 1, 2000 or later.



Amnesiac by Radiohead: It's the ugly brother of Kid A. It's not as perfect as Kid A but in some ways it has even more charm. The album contains a lot of experimental directions for the band. In some ways I think it's their most "difficult" album to date but it's also a very rewarding listen.

The Eraser by Thom Yorke: I'm a huge Radiohead fan (as I'm sure you can tell by this list) and so I was very excited to hear Eraser when I heard that Radiohead's lead singer/songwriter Thom Yorke was going to be releasing a solo album. I'm happy to say that as high as my expectations may have been I was still blown away by Eraser. To me it sounds like the logical next step from Kid A. Sort of the alternate path Radiohead could have taken. But in a way I think they made the right choice and this music works better as a Thom Yorke solo album. Incredible imaginative scary music. Fantastic.

Hail to the Thief by Radiohead: This is probably my least favorite Radiohead album of the decade and yet I still include it in my top nine albums, yes I really think Radiohead is that good. This album is not as cohesive as their others. It seems to lack a bit in energy at times. But, it's still a great album with some incredible tracks.

In Rainbows by Radiohead: A lot was said about the creative way this album was sold ("name your own price online.") Unfortunately not as much has been said about the great music on this album itself. I'm sure over time that will rectify itself because with In Rainbows I think Radiohead created the best competition for their own Kid A for "album of the decade." This is a beautiful album. In a lot of ways it's more subtle and "mature" than their previous albums but don't let that make it sound boring to you. It's anything but.

Kid A by Radiohead: If I had to pick just one album of the millennium I'm pretty sure it would be this one. It still sounds like the future to me. As great as their albums have been since Kid A, I do feel in a way they have regressed (but in other ways they have grown, so it works.) To me this is an essential "must hear" album.

Sea Changes by Beck: I love Beck and his three most recent albums all have their moments but I don't think he's truly reaching for it the way he did with Sea Changes. This was a real attempt at a timeless classic album and I think he did it.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco: Just a marvelous album. I like what Wilco has done before and since but to me nothing else they've done quite reaches the perfection of this album. One of the contenders for album of the century!

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips: I no longer think this album is quite on par with The Soft Bulletin (I think TSB has aged better than Yoshimi) but I still think it belongs the top nine albums of the decade. I am one of the Lips fans who was a bit disappointed by At War with the Mystics (although it had it's moments.) Here's hoping that they get it together and release a 3rd album this millennium.

XTRMNTR by Primal Scream: It should be a crime how few people here in the United States even know who Primal Scream is. It drives me nuts that the "indie kids" (I'm looking at you Pitchfork) continue to fawn all over all of the forgettable stuff they fawn all over while barely noticing that Primal Scream exists. This is an incredible album. It's shreds brains like few others. I recommend it if you like intense music (and I mean really intense, not heavy metal nonsense.)

I do realize this album is a little tilted towards the beginning of the decade/century/millennium but I think that's a bit natural. As some of the newer stuff ages maybe it will make it's way onto my list (although I'm not sure what I could push off?) Akron/Family's self titled from 2005 is another one I considered for this list.