My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #1

#1 - Radiohead

Of course, if you know me this shouldn't come as any surprise at all. However, this pick wasn't made solely on the fact that Radiohead is my favorite band in the world. They were also easily the most consistently great band of the decade, and spent the last 10 years showing just how capable of greatness they really are. When OK Computer was released in 1997, many felt that it was clearly a peak for the band, and that they after conquering the musical universe, the only way they could go was down. When Kid A came out in 2000, however, Thom Yorke and company showed that there would be no let down, and this album was one of the greatest re-workings of a band's sound in music history. Instead of the Pink Floyd and David Bowie references of the previous album, Kid A went deep into the electronic world, bringing to light a whole new set of artists who had previously been under-appreciated, such as Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin. Throughout the remainder of the decade, Radiohead would go on to incorporate the rock elements of their past with their newfound mastery of the electronic sound, creating three more of the greatest albums of the decade. The 1990's set Radiohead apart as something great, but the 2000's cemented their legacy as one of the most creative, brilliant artists in the history of recorded music.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Kid A (2000)

2. In Rainbows (2007)

3. Amnesiac (2001)

4. Hail to the Thief (2003)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #2

#2 - Animal Collective

The single greatest band to come entirely from this decade, Animal Collective will one day be looked back upon in the same light that the Beach Boys are seen today. If there were any band that can be compared to AC, as a matter of fact, it would have to be the Beach Boys, actually. Like the 60s band, both rely heavily on beautifully harmonized vocals and a very experimental way of doing things in the recording studio. Beginning early in the decade with a largely acoustic, free form sound, the group led by vocalists Panda Bear and Avey Tare produced a few great albums early. Beginning with 2004's Sung Tongs, though, the band began to incorporate more of a pop element into their music, and their sound became one of the greatest, and most unique things in music history. Just this year they've released two of their greatest records, only going to prove that this is one band that could continue to make hugely important music for years and years to come.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

2. Sung Tongs (2004)

3. Fall Be Kind (2009)

4. Strawberry Jam (2007)

5. Feels (2005)

6. Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished (2000)

7. Campfire Songs (2003)

8. Water Curses (2008)

9. Here Comes the Indian (2003)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #3

#3 - TV On the Radio

TV On the Radio are the perfect mix of Fela Kuti, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Radiohead, and My Bloody Valentine. This may seem like a pretty strange mix, but these guys do it amazingly. Also amazingly, between Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, TVOTR contain two of the 3 best vocalists of the decade. Their ability to harmonize and hit a seemingly impossible range of notes (for an indie rock artist, at least) is second to none. Their music has consistently gotten better with each full length release (their opening EP notwithstanding, which is probably the best thing they've done), and there seems to be so much more potential there that hasn't even been tapped......they've had an amazing decade, but the next one could be even better.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Young Liars (2003)

2. Dear Science (2008)

3. Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)

4. Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #4

#4 - Ghostface Killah

Ghostface, Ghost Deini, Ironman, Tony Starks, Pretty Toney.....whatever you wanna call Dennis Coles, you should also call him the greatest rapper of the decade. When Ghost made his name in the early 90s with the Wu-Tang Clan, he was (along with Raekwon) a clear standout amongst the group. His solo album Ironman in the 90s was outstanding, but it wasn't until 2000's Supreme Clientele that Ghost not only became the standout in the Wu-Tang, but also THE standout in all of hip-hop music. While his lyrics may not be for the weak-hearted (or weak-stomached at times), Ghostface Killah's rhyming abilities are unmatched. He can spit the most non-sensical things at times, but still do it in a way that will have you foaming at the mouth to hear more of it. It doesn't hurt that the production on all of his albums has always been top-notch, but it's Ghostface himself that is the reason why I would place 3 of his albums in my top 25 favorites of the decade.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Supreme Clientele (2000)

2. Fishscale (2006)

3. The Pretty Toney Album (2004)

4. The Big Doe Rehab (2007)

5. Bulletproof Wallets (2001)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #5

#5 - Kanye West

While not being quite my favorite member of the hip-hop community this decade, it's hard to argue that one person had a bigger influence on the genre as a whole than Kanye West had. Beginning early in the decade with his production work on the landmark Jay-Z album The Blueprint, Kanye set himself as someone to watch out for in the world of hip-hop producers. When his first solo album College Dropout was released, however, the world at large was put on notice that this was a man that had his sights set squarely on the complete domination of the music industry. While certainly not being the most technically skilled rapper alive, Kanye's abilities have opened the doors for the underground backpack hip-hoppers to garner some acclaim for themselves as well. While his personal antics at times may overshadow the more positive things about the man (especially lately), Kanye is still one of the most important musicians of our generation and respect must always be given to this man and everything he'll ever do.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Late Registration (2005)

2. Graduation (2007)

3. College Dropout (2004)

4. 808's & Heartbreak (2008)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #6

#6 - Arcade Fire

More than any other album this decade, Arcade Fire's 2004 debut Funeral was able to make the listener feel the emotions of the songwriters as if you had actually experienced the tragedies that had beset them. From beginning to end, it's probably the single most important album of the last 10 years, and all by itself is enough to warrant the band this spot on my list. The hype that preceded their follow-up album Neon Bible was also more than any other band experienced. While that album may not have been as emotionally charged as it's predecessor, it certainly wasn't any slouch itself, and went a long way towards proving that Arcade Fire is one band that will survive into the ages.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Funeral (2004)

2. Neon Bible (2007)

My 25 Favorite Artists of the 2000s - #7

#7 - Spoon

Spoon have made their way onto the number 7 spot on my list due to being easily the most consistent band of the decade. From Girls Can Tell in 2001 on through Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga in 2007, each album has been a classic in it's own right. While nothing the band ever does will ever top Kill the Moonlight, Britt Daniel's group has probably made 4 of my top 50 favorite albums this decade. I once read a comparison between Spoon and MacGyver....this might seem weird on the face of it, but when you hear the music you can start to understand. Each seems to get by fantastically using as little as possible....in Spoon's case some songs only contain a small guitar line, or a little organ piece, or in the case of one song nothing but Britt's vocals and some beatboxing. No matter what he does to make his songs, though, you can always count on a Spoon album to be something special.

My Favorite Albums:

1. Kill the Moonlight (2002)

2. Girls Can Tell (2001)

3. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)

4. Gimme Fiction (2005)