My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #23

#23 - Outkast

While the late 90s were definitely the group's heyday, Andre 3k and Big Boi began this decade off in a remarkable fashion, releasing one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time, Stankonia. Taking their strong lyrical style and fusing it with beats that sounded at the time like they came straight from outer space, this was one of the most groundbreaking releases of our time. A few years later things began to change as the two started to drift apart, releasing Speakerboxx/The Love Below which was basically a collection of solo albums packaged together under the Outkast name. Overall the content wasn't quite as strong, as Big Boi just wasn't the same without Andre, and Andre completely drifted off to another planet with his half of the double album.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Stankonia (2000)

2. The Love Below (2003)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #24

#24 - LCD Soundsystem

Like Broadcast, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem was also strongly influenced by music from the past. Instead of the 60s sound, however, LCD Soundsystem leans heavily towards the production work of the late 70s disco era, mixing this with the styles of bands/artists such as Brian Eno, Can and Kraftwerk. Along with releasing some of the best dance singles of the decade, Murphy also helped craft some of the best remixes of recent times for his record label DFA, as well as putting out two unbelievably high quality albums.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Sound of Silver (2007)

2. LCD Soundsystem (2005)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #25

#25 - Broadcast

Of all of the artists that I've chosen to represent my favorites of the decade, this band sounds the most out of place. I don't mean out of place in that their talent level isn't as high, or their music isn't as great, but out of place in that Broadcast seems like they belong more on a list of my favorite bands of the 1960s. Borrowing heavily from the 60s band The United States of America, Broadcast mix vocalist Trish Keenan's heavenly voice with a sometimes harsh electronic clattering that in theory may sound a bit rough, but in practice went towards making some of the strangest and best indie-pop music of the decade.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Haha Sound (2003)

2. The Noise Made by People (2000)

3. Tender Buttons (2005)

End of the Decade Extravaganza

During my brief hiatus, I've been putting the finishing touches on a couple of lists comprising my favorite music of the past 10 years. Starting today, I will begin my list of my 25 Favorite Artistsof the 2000s. Over the next 3 days, I will do the first 15 choices on my list, 5 each day along with a short description of what it is that's made me appreciate their work so much. Then, beginning on Saturday, November 21st I will begin the top 10, adding one more artist per day through the end of the month.

Following this, beginning on December 1st I will begin listing my 250 Favorite Songs of the Decade. From December 1st until the 24th, I will post 10 songs each day counting down from #250. On December 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th I will post 2 songs each from the top 10, and then for the final 4 days of the year I will announce my 4 favorite songs of the decade.

As I move along in the process, please feel free to post comments on my choices.....let me know if you agree with my choices, or even if you think a choice I've made sucks. I've put the last 10 years into making these lists, so I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I've enjoyed listening to the music.

The Calendar of Events

11/18 - 25 Favorite Artists - #25-21

11/19 - 25 Favorite Artists - #20-15

11/20 - 25 Favorite Artists - #16-11

11/21 - 25 Favorite Artists- #10

11/22 - 25 Favorite Artists - #9

11/23 - 25 Favorite Artists - #8

11/24 - 25 Favorite Artists - #7

11/25 - 25 Favorite Artists - #6

11/26 - 25 Favorite Artists - #5

11/27 - 25 Favorite Artists - #4

11/28 - 25 Favorite Artists - #3

11/29 - 25 Favorite Artists - #2

11/30 - 25 Favorite Artists - #1

12/1 - 250 Favorite Songs - #250-241

12/2 - 250 Favorite Songs - #240-231

12/3 - 250 Favorite Songs - #230-221

12/4 - 250 Favorite Songs - #220-211

12/5 - 250 Favorite Songs - #210-201

12/6 - 250 Favorite Songs - #200-191

12/7 - 250 Favorite Songs - #190-181

12/8 - 250 Favorite Songs - #180-171

12/9 - 250 Favorite Songs - #170-161

12/10- 250 Favorite Songs - #160-151

12/11- 250 Favorite Songs - #150-141

12/12- 250 Favorite Songs - #140-131

12/13- 250 Favorite Songs - #130-121

12/14- 250 Favorite Songs - #120-111

12/15 - 250 Favorite Songs - #110-101

12/16 - 250 Favorite Songs - #100-91

12/17 - 250 Favorite Songs - #90-81

12/18 - 250 Favorite Songs - #80-71

12/19 - 250 Favorite Songs - #70-61

12/20 - 250 Favorite Songs - #60-51

12/21 - 250 Favorite Songs - #50-41

12/22 - 250 Favorite Songs - #40-31

12/23 - 250 Favorite Songs - #30-21

12/24 - 250 Favorite Songs - #20-11

12/25 - 250 Favorite Songs - #10 & 9

12/26 - 250 Favorite Songs - #8 & 7

12/27 - 250 Favorite Songs - #6 & 5

12/28 - 250 Favorite Songs - #4

12/29 - 250 Favorite Songs - #3

12/30 - 250 Favorite Songs - #2

12/31 - 250 Favorite Songs - #1