By Tom Lynch
My fifty favorite records of the decade. Labored over this for the last couple months. Lists like these are never finished, you simply just run out of time.
50. Bon Iver, “For Emma, Long Ago” (Jagjaguwar, 2008)
49. Lil’ Wayne, “Tha Carter III” (Cash Money Records, 2008)
48. Sleater-Kinney, “One Beat” (Kill Rock Stars, 2002)
47. For Stars, “We Are All Beautiful People” (Future Farmer, 2002)
46. M.I.A., “Kala” (Interscope Records, 2007)
45. The Knife, “Silent Shout” (Mute U.S., 2006)
44. The Decemberists, “Picaresque” (Kill Rock Stars, 2005)
43. Styrofoam, “A Short Album About Murder” (Morr Music, 2001)
42. Nada Surf, “Let Go” (Barsuk, 2003)
41. Califone, “Quicksand/Cradlesnakes” (Thrill Jockey, 2003)
40. Pela, “Anytown Graffiti,” (Great Society, 2007)
39. Kanye West, “College Dropout” (Roc-a-Fella, 2004)
38. Crooked Fingers, “Red Devil Dawn” (Merge Records, 2003)
37. The Field, “From Here We Go Sublime” (Kompakt, 2007)
36. Say Hi To Your Mom, “Impeccable Blahs” (Rebel Group, 2006)
35. Danger Mouse, “The Grey Album” (N/A, 2004)
34. Wilco, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (Nonesuch, 2002)
33. Cat Power, “You Are Free” (Matador Records, 2003)
32. Beck, “Sea Change” (Interscope, 2002)
31. Stars, “Set Yourself on Fire” (Arts & Crafts, 2005)
30. Mclusky, “Mclusky Do Dallas” (Too Pure/Beggars, 2002)
29. The Postal Service, “Give Up” (Sub Pop, 2003)
28. M83, “Before the Dawn Heals Us” (Mute U.S., 2005)
27. Pedro the Lion, “Control” (Jade Tree, 2002)
26. Andrew Bird, “Armchair Apocrypha” (Fat Possum Records, 2007)
25. Death Cab for Cutie, “We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes” (Barsuk, 2000)
24. Kanye West, “Late Registration” (Roc-a-Fella, 2005)
23. Sigur Ros, “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust” (XL Recordings, 2008)
22. Low, “Things We Lost in the Fire” (Kranky, 2003)
21. Cut Copy, “In Ghost Colours” (Modular Interscope, 2008)
20. Iron and Wine, “Our Endless Numbered Days” (Sub Pop, 2004)
19. The Thermals, “The Body, The Blood, The Machine” (Sub Pop, 2006)
18. The National, “Boxer” (Beggars Banquet, 2007)
17. LCD Soundsystem, “Sound of Silver” (Capitol, 2007)
16. A.C. Newman, “The Slow Wonder” (Matador Records, 2004)
15. The Notwist, “Neon Golden” (Domino, 2002)
14. Stephen Malkmus, “S/T” (Matador Records, 2001)
13. Frightened Rabbit, “The Midnight Organ Fight” (Fat Cat, 2008)
12. B. Fleischmann, “Welcome Tourist” (Morr Music, 2003)
11. M83, “Saturdays = Youth” (Mute U.S., 2008)
10. The National, “Alligator” (Beggars Banquet, 2005)
9. Joanna Newsom, “The Milk-Eyed Mender” (Drag City, 2004)
8. Sufjan Stevens, “Illinois” (Asthmatic Kitty, 2005)
7. Radiohead, “Kid A” (Capitol, 2000)
6. Arcade Fire, “Funeral” (Merge Records, 2004)
5. Yo La Tengo, “And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out” (Matador Records, 2000)
4. Radiohead, “In Rainbows” (N/A, 2007)
3. Crooked Fingers, “S/T” (Warm, 2001)
2. Sleater-Kinney, “All Hands on the Bad One” (Kill Rock Stars, 2000)
1. The Mountain Goats, “The Sunset Tree” (4AD, 2005)
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