Best of the Decade

by Katie

Apparently in late 2009, in addition to the million “best of the year” lists populating this little corner of the internet, we also have to endure “best of the decade” lists. (I’m looking at you, Paste!)

I’m not one for making ranked lists; I’m much better with grocery lists. Also, I’ve repressed a lot of memories from 2000-2004 or so. But in the spirit of recapping, here are some of the best things that happened to me, personally and musically, in the last ten years.

• Finishing college. Pretty great! (2007)
• Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, “Rabbit Fur Coat” (2006)–Probably my favorite album in the whole wide world.
• Finishing high school. Wow, feels like a lot longer. (2004)
• Rufus Wainwright, “Want One” (2003) and “Want Two” (2004)
• Related: that time Liz and I met Rufus! (2004 or 2005? I forget.)
• FINISHING MIDDLE SCHOOL. HOLY CRAP. (2000)
• Jason Mraz, “Waiting For My Rocket To Come” (2002)–Recent (highly overproduced and pretentious) work aside, Jason Mraz can write pop songs like nobody’s business.
• Turning 21 and being able to get into all of the shows I could ever hope to see (2007).
• Electing Obama. (2008)
• Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, “We Brave Bee Stings and All” (2008)–When I finally listened to Thao, I was angry I hadn’t heard her before. That’s how good this is.
• Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon. (2006)
• Bright Eyes, “Lifted, or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground” (2002) which only barely beat out “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” (2005) or, wait, I AM NOT SURE WHICH IS BETTER!
• Finishing the Steelman Triathlon. (2009)
• Washington Social Club, “Catching Looks” (2004)–The band that made Gimmy what she is today!
• Arrested Development
• Google. (Forever and ever?)
• Jukebox the Ghost, “Let Live and Let Ghosts” (2008)–OH MY GOD the dance parties I used to have to this in France.
• iPods. (2001)–I bought my first at the bookstore with my leftover dining hall money, freshman year of college. I have a sweet iPod Touch now, which is 50% of the reason I don’t have an iPhone. The other 50%? It costs too damn much.
• SSLYBY, “Broom” (2006)–Who knew that the band I heard play 3 songs before a Harry and the Potters show in a church basement would become one of my faaaaaaves?
• Getting political!
• Beirut, “The Flying Club Cup” (2007)–This album basically defines France for me. Zach Condon wrote most of it with France in mind, and it reminds me more of the country than anything I heard there. That’s probably because young French people listen to English music, and it’s considered old-fashioned and uncool to listen to French songs. Unless it’s techno, in which case all bets are off.
• Neko Case, “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” (2006)–epic and ambitious and so good to sing along with.
• Getting a grown-up job (2008)
• Olivia Mancini and the Housemates, “This Kind of Life” (2007)–I want to be Olivia when I grow up.
• Moving to France (2007). I was homesick and broke, but gosh darnit, I had a blast.
• Something Corporate, “Leaving Through the Window” (2002). I listened to this recently, and my friend asked if it was Simple Plan. Yikes! This album was so sad and yet pop-punky, which is exactly what I felt like in high school. Also, Andrew McMahon plays the piano, and I’ve always been a sucker for piano rock.

Ok, I’m fully aware that the albums listed on there are about the whitest list of white people EVER OF ALL TIME. I’m sorry. I’ll try better this decade. Probably I’m being more self-censoring than I should on this list, but I admit it: I had shitty taste in music until Liz brought home music from college and I got out of my boy band/wussy punk phases.

Your favorites of the past 10 years? Leave ‘em in the comments!