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The Streets 'Original Pirate Material' (2002)

 

Although Mike Skinner has now become a parody of his former self I still think his first album is fantastic. It was hip hop music like I'd never really heard it before and although it was a genre I didn't like at all at the time, I found this album very interesting. It's witty, it's inventive and it's great lyrically.

 

The Irony of It All

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Vampire Weekend 'Vampire Weekend' (2008)

 

I think Vampire Weekend are probably the most exciting band to emerge in the last couple of years. A distinctive and intelligent sound with clear but vast influences. It all makes for some very good music and I think Erza Koenig has a great voice which is well suited to the songs.

 

Campus

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The Shins 'Wincing The Night Away' (2007)

 

Released at a time when indie pop was at its peak I've no idea how this album didn't make the Shins massive in the UK. Maybe it was too intelligent and not repetitive enough? Either way, a magnificent album that's always guarenteed to perk me up!

 

Sleeping Lessons

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M.I.A. 'Kala' (2007)

 

M.I.A. is another artist who isn't exactly the type of thing I'd normally have listened to when it was released. I picked it up on a whim and loved it from first listen and it soon became my album of the year just beating The Shins (replicated in this list). She has a great and distinctive voice and the music is rather clever and imaginitive (although granted its best song heavily samples the Clash).

 

Bamboo Banga

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Kasabian 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' (2009)

 

This is something I never expected after their incredibly weak second album, but I couldn't stop listening to this when it was first released. It was a huge step up in quality and far better and more consistant than I'd ever have imagined it to be.

 

Vlad the Impaler

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Daft Punk 'Discovery' (2001)

 

Daft Punk originally said they'd release all 12 tracks as a single. They only managed to get to four in the end but they could've easily released any of the 12 songs on it, such is the quality of the album. I've always liked dance music but not loads of it, I find it's hard for a dance album to keep me interested all the way through but this is one of few execptions and is by far and away the best dance album I own.

 

Crescendolls

101 Stereophonics 'Language. Sex. Violence. Other.'

100 Fleet Foxes 'Fleet Foxes'

99 Knife 'Deep Cuts'

98 Idlewild 'Warnings/Promises'

97 Bruce Springsteen 'Working on a Dream'

96 Van She 'V'

95 Goldfrapp 'Supernature'

94 Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'

93 TV On The Radio 'Dear Science'

92 Nine Inch Nails 'With Teeth'

91 Coldplay 'Parachutes'

 

90 Ash 'Free All Angels'

89 Those Dancing Days 'In Our Space Hero Suits'

88 National 'Boxer'

87 Bloc Party 'Intimacy'

86 Bat For Lashes 'Two Suns'

85 Animal Collective 'Strawberry Jam'

84 Rilo Kiley 'More Adventurous'

83 Blur 'Think Tank'

82 Late of the Pier 'Fantasy Black Channel'

81 Stellastarr* 'Civilized'

 

80 Glasvegas 'Glasvegas'

79 Hold Steady 'Stay Positive'

78 Doves 'Kingdom of Rust'

77 Long Blondes 'Couples'

76 Santogold 'Santogold'

75 Little Boots 'Hands'

74 Interpol 'Our Love To Admire'

73 Long Blondes 'Someone To Drive You Home'

72 Los Campesinos! 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed'

71 Doves 'Last Broadcast'

 

70 Knife 'Silent Shout'

69 Jenny Lewis 'Acid Tongue'

68 Kasabian 'Kasabian'

67 Siobhan Donaghy 'Ghosts'

66 Razorlight 'Up All Night'

65 Athlete 'Vehicles And Animals'

64 Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand'

63 Muse 'The Resistance'

62 Horrors 'Primary Colours'

61 Friendly Fires 'Friendly Fires'

 

60 Red Hot Chili Peppers 'By The Way'

59 Gorillaz 'Demon Days'

58 Editors 'The Back Room'

57 Imogen Heap 'Speak For Yourself'

56 Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better'

55 Los Campesinos! 'Hold On Now, Youngster'

54 Rilo Kiley 'Under The Blacklight'

53 Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

52 Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'It's Blitz!'

51 Sally Shapiro 'My Guilty Pleasure'

 

50 Simian Mobile Disco 'Attack Decay Sustain Release'

49 Muse 'Origin of Symmetry'

48 Goldfrapp 'Felt Mountain'

47 Noisettes 'Wild Young Hearts'

46 Coldplay 'Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends'

45 Belle And Sebastian 'The Life Pursuit'

44 Idlewild 'The Remote Part'

43 Kings of Leon 'Aha Shake Heartbreak'

42 White Lies 'To Lose My Life'

41 Elbow 'Cast Of Thousands'

 

40 Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible'

39 Robyn 'Robyn'

38 Last Shadow Puppets 'Age Of The Understatement'

37 Temper Trap 'Conditions'

36 Futureheads 'This Is Not The World'

35 M83 'Saturdays = Youth'

34 Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'

33 Foo Fighters 'One By One'

32 Kings of Leon 'Becuase of the Times'

31 Phoenix 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'

 

30 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 'The Pains of Being Pure at Heart'

29 Stellastarr* 'Stellastarr*'

28 Maximo Park 'A Certain Trigger'

27 Monkey Swallows The Universe 'The Casket Letters'

26 Elbow 'Asleep In The Back'

25 Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm'

24 The Go! Team 'Thunder, Lightning, Strike'

23 Arctic Monkeys 'Humbug'

22 Sufjan Stevens 'Illinoise'

21 Hold Steady 'Boys & Girls In America'

 

20 Noah & The Whale 'The First Days Of Spring'

19 LCD Soundsystem 'Sound of Silver'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads'

17 Pipettes 'We Are The Pipettes'

16 Streets 'Original Pirate Material'

15 Vampire Weekend 'Vampire Weekend'

14 Shins 'Wincing The Night Away'

13 M.I.A. 'Kala'

12 Kasabian 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery'

 

The top 10 features 9 albums fronted by a male, just one by a female. 2001 and 2007 are the only years left unrepresented whilst 2002 and 2006 both produced two of the remaining albums. Just one of the albums did not produce one of my top 200 singles of the year, of the 9 that did all of them had a single in the top 60, 5 had one in the top 10.

30 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 'The Pains of Being Pure at Heart'

25 Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm'

24 The Go! Team 'Thunder, Lightning, Strike'

22 Sufjan Stevens 'Illinoise'

21 Hold Steady 'Boys & Girls In America'

 

19 LCD Soundsystem 'Sound of Silver'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads'

17 Pipettes 'We Are The Pipettes'

16 Streets 'Original Pirate Material'

15 Vampire Weekend 'Vampire Weekend'

14 Shins 'Wincing The Night Away'

13 M.I.A. 'Kala'

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery'

 

Epic :wub: to these. Especially MIA, LCD Soundsystem, Hold Steady, Sufjan Stevens, The Go! Team, and Bloc Party.

I couldnt remember where i last commented the full list, and i cba with looking back this is all i like including ones i have already said:

 

99 Knife 'Deep Cuts'

98 Idlewild 'Warnings/Promises'

97 Bruce Springsteen 'Working on a Dream'

94 Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'

93 TV On The Radio 'Dear Science'

92 Nine Inch Nails 'With Teeth'

91 Coldplay 'Parachutes'

90 Ash 'Free All Angels'

87 Bloc Party 'Intimacy'

83 Blur 'Think Tank'

82 Late of the Pier 'Fantasy Black Channel'

79 Hold Steady 'Stay Positive'

72 Los Campesinos! 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed'

65 Athlete 'Vehicles And Animals'

64 Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand'

63 Muse 'The Resistance'

62 Horrors 'Primary Colours'

61 Friendly Fires 'Friendly Fires'

59 Gorillaz 'Demon Days'

56 Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better'

55 Los Campesinos! 'Hold On Now, Youngster'

53 Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

50 Simian Mobile Disco 'Attack Decay Sustain Release'

49 Muse 'Origin of Symmetry'

46 Coldplay 'Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends'

44 Idlewild 'The Remote Part' -LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ALBUM

42 White Lies 'To Lose My Life'

41 Elbow 'Cast Of Thousands'

40 Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible'

38 Last Shadow Puppets 'Age Of The Understatement'

36 Futureheads 'This Is Not The World' -HELL YES

35 M83 'Saturdays = Youth'

34 Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'

33 Foo Fighters 'One By One'

28 Maximo Park 'A Certain Trigger'

26 Elbow 'Asleep In The Back'

25 Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm' :wub:

23 Arctic Monkeys 'Humbug'

21 Hold Steady 'Boys & Girls In America'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads' -one of my most favourite albums ever!

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery'

I couldnt remember where i last commented the full list, and i cba with looking back this is all i like including ones i have already said:

 

99 Knife 'Deep Cuts'

98 Idlewild 'Warnings/Promises'

97 Bruce Springsteen 'Working on a Dream'

94 Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'

93 TV On The Radio 'Dear Science'

92 Nine Inch Nails 'With Teeth'

91 Coldplay 'Parachutes'

90 Ash 'Free All Angels'

87 Bloc Party 'Intimacy'

83 Blur 'Think Tank'

82 Late of the Pier 'Fantasy Black Channel'

79 Hold Steady 'Stay Positive'

72 Los Campesinos! 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed'

65 Athlete 'Vehicles And Animals'

64 Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand'

63 Muse 'The Resistance'

62 Horrors 'Primary Colours'

61 Friendly Fires 'Friendly Fires'

59 Gorillaz 'Demon Days'

56 Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better'

55 Los Campesinos! 'Hold On Now, Youngster'

53 Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

50 Simian Mobile Disco 'Attack Decay Sustain Release'

49 Muse 'Origin of Symmetry'

46 Coldplay 'Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends'

44 Idlewild 'The Remote Part' -LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ALBUM

42 White Lies 'To Lose My Life'

41 Elbow 'Cast Of Thousands'

40 Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible'

38 Last Shadow Puppets 'Age Of The Understatement'

36 Futureheads 'This Is Not The World' -HELL YES

35 M83 'Saturdays = Youth'

34 Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'

33 Foo Fighters 'One By One'

28 Maximo Park 'A Certain Trigger'

26 Elbow 'Asleep In The Back'

25 Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm' :wub:

23 Arctic Monkeys 'Humbug'

21 Hold Steady 'Boys & Girls In America'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads' -one of my most favourite albums ever!

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery'

 

Thanks Chris! :D Good to see so many listed. ^_^

30 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 'The Pains of Being Pure at Heart'

25 Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm'

24 The Go! Team 'Thunder, Lightning, Strike'

22 Sufjan Stevens 'Illinoise'

21 Hold Steady 'Boys & Girls In America'

 

19 LCD Soundsystem 'Sound of Silver'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads'

17 Pipettes 'We Are The Pipettes'

16 Streets 'Original Pirate Material'

15 Vampire Weekend 'Vampire Weekend'

14 Shins 'Wincing The Night Away'

13 M.I.A. 'Kala'

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery'

 

Epic :wub: to these. Especially MIA, LCD Soundsystem, Hold Steady, Sufjan Stevens, The Go! Team, and Bloc Party.

 

Thanks! :D

 

I hope you like as many of the top 10, but I'm not convinced you will... ^_^

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Idlewild '100 Broken Windows' (2000)

 

The oldest album in the top 100, from April 2000. I've mentioned before that I feel Idlewild are the most underrated band of the decade and this album is exactly why. Probably not quite as good as their debut from two years previous but still a top notch effort. It's still quite a bit more edgy and punky than their late (more accessible) material and it's all the more better for it, especially the four singles they released from it. It's not all the same though, 'Idea Track' and 'Rusty' are both excellent rock tracks (and 'Idea Track' is incredibly beautiful too) and 'Let Me Sleep' being as good as any softer song they've produced since.

 

Little Discourage

 

 

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The Libertines 'Up the Bracket' (2002)

 

Like many others I was completely caught up in Libertines hype, although unlike most others, it was when their second album was released as I don't really remember much by them before that. It didn't take long to realise what the original hype was all about though, as this was a fine selection of 3 minute indie songs, possibly the finest there's ever been. The instrumentation was interesting and the Carl and Pete had between them written some fine lyrics about modern Britain. If they'd included standalone singles 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' and 'What a Waster' this would probably be top 3, definitely top 5.

 

Boys in the Band

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Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins 'Rabbit Fur Coat' (2006)

 

The highest placed album in the countdown (and my favourite ever) to be sung by a female. I quite liked Rilo Kiley but the descriptions I'd seen of this album weren't exactly something I thought would be my thing, as it seemed she'd made an album of a completely different sound. And she had, teaming up with identical twins Chandra and Leigh Watson, she'd made an album of fantastic alt-country/folk albums which was incredibly varied. Whilst a couple of the songs do go a bit too religious for my liking, most of the album contains some wonderful lyrics, and it's also home to one of the best and inspired cover versions of all time, teaming up with Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and M.Ward to cover the Travelling Wilbury's 'Handle With Care'. Incase you hadn't guessed, this is the album I took my user name from.

 

Rabbit Fur Coat

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Guillemots 'Through the Window Pane' (2006)

 

When I first heard this album I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It was a bit hard to get into and there didn't seem to be much there besides the singles they'd previously released. But after a few listens I soon began to see how good this album actually is, it's extremely varied and the bizzare instruments they use (they literally use anything they can get their hands on if it makes the right sound) along with often used orchestras can make for some beautiful music. The highlight is definitely album closer 'Sao Paolo', an 11 1/2 minute epic that never seems to stop building. Shame their second album wasn't up to much bar 3 or 4 songs.

 

Sao Paolo

I found it incredibly hard to pick a 'top 3' favourites from We Are The Pipettes because nearly every song is of equally high quality, although Dirty Mind and Pull Shapes are slightly ahead of the rest of the pack

 

I also really liked the Noah & The Whale album :o

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 'Howl' (2008)

 

Perhaps not the most obvious choice (either than band or the album) but this is an album I've always loved and have really grown to adore in the last 18 months or so. Whilst most people seem to like their first two albums most I've never really been able to fully appreciate their more garage-rock sound, however this was a completely different sound. Showing their Americana influences far more with blues, country and gospel sounds thoughout, this makes for a far more interesting listen.

 

Devil's Waitin'

I found it incredibly hard to pick a 'top 3' favourites from We Are The Pipettes because nearly every song is of equally high quality, although Dirty Mind and Pull Shapes are slightly ahead of the rest of the pack

 

I also really liked the Noah & The Whale album :o

Yes it is hard to choose off 'We Are The Pipettes', those two are definitely the two standouts but after that it's all pretty equal. I'd possibly rank 'Judy', 'Sex' and 'ABC' as slightly lower than the rest.

 

I was surprised at how much you liked 'The First Days of Spring'!

 

 

I will post the top 5 (highly unsurprising) albums tomorrow.

20 Noah & The Whale 'The First Days Of Spring' - Downloaded this but haven't listened all the way through. I will try and make an effort to soon.

19 LCD Soundsystem 'Sound of Silver' - Good, but nothing matches the sheer brilliance of 'All My Friends'

18 Futureheads 'The Futureheads' - Brilliant

17 Pipettes 'We Are The Pipettes' - Really like The Pipettes but have never downloaded this fully, will do soon.

15 Vampire Weekend 'Vampire Weekend' - Brilliant, I am so excited for 'Contra'

14 Shins 'Wincing The Night Away' - Good albums, some amazing songs, some are a bit weak for me.

13 M.I.A. 'Kala' - Love it.

12 Kasabian 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' - Like 'Underdog' and 'Fire' but haven't listened to the album all the way through, willt ry to soon.

11 Daft Punk 'Discovery' - Brilliant

09 The Libertines 'Up the Bracket' - Great album.