By Matt Love and Associates
Everybody else has their decade in music lists ready, so I decided to get mine done, too. But I spent most of the decade in a bottle wrapped in a newspaper inside a gutter, so I don't remember much of what happened. I invited a hand-picked team of musical scholars to assist me in compiling the following summary. It's hard to include everything, but I believe we have come as close as possible. I'd like to thank Cat Kinney, Ed Dove, Dunstan Skinner, and Mandala Weber for their assistance.
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The 00s were a turbulent, yet exciting decade for music that witnessed many important developments.
The 00s were a decade where the Internet allowed important music fans to reconnect with important artists like Brad Love, Bonnie Hayes, and Laurie Spiegel. On the other hand, technology didn't help in the slightest to get people off their asses to organize or attend a Tropicana Reunion.
The 00s saw the breakup and reformation of Blood Paradise and That Stupid Love Experience, and the return of the Human Skab, perhaps the most eagerly awaited event in all of human history, but passed without a single performance by The Wimps (who finally decided to drop the "The" from their name after decades of indecision). Wimps, who were seemingly unable to get into print (always identified as "and others" in the press) back in the day, were mentioned in passing in two rock music books, " Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991" and " Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit" Immorality, at last. Also a Wimps myspace page was developed, and at least a dozen people have listened to music there.
2009 was the year Rolling Stone Magazine finally discovered the Young Pioneers. Good job, guys, you're right on top of all the current trends.
The decade, keeping pace with an increasing population, saw a renewed interest in "Heffalumps & Woozles," from 'Winnie the Pooh & the Blustery Day', as well as the entire sparkling musical canon from the never-ending 'Land Before Time' series. Now a whole new generation delights in the songs, "Big, Big, Water," "Eggs," "When You're Big," "The Lone Dinosaur," and "It's Great to Have a Dad".
Mary Win, not yet of legal drinking age, is making awesome music in the Seattle area. She will be a major artist in the coming decade.
A-ha continued to make amazing music through the decade, only to shock the world by announcing they will split after a worldwide tour in 2010, giving us something to dread in the coming decade, other than the total destruction of the whole world in 2012. But without A-ha... why go on?
Allison Bencar is a Singer/Songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio. Allison combines a wide spectrum of music genres including pop, rock, blues, and jazz to create her own unique sound. With haunting melodies and honest lyrics Allison truly connects with her audience.
Elton John proved what a music slut he is, he'll perform with anybody that will ask him... Eminem, Shania Twain... I expect that in the 10s he'll rehabilitate his career by performing with Matt Love. Love reports that he is working on a song especially for the occasion, which he will call "Elton John is a musical slut (he surely is)"
Speaking of Matt Love, this burnt out husk of a never was has been rejuvenated by unexpected popularity in Brazil, where he has performed and toured on more than one occasion with two outstanding bands of musical specialists, The Waiters, and Petrichor. However, his offer to go anywhere else in the world to play for an audience of at least 3 people so far has not been accepted by anyone.
To great critical acclaim, the noughties were rescued from mediocrity by one vault release after another by the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. There are reports of tent cities cropping up before each release in front of the studios in which the remastering occurs. "I want to make sure I get my bonus disc this time," said one fan, sticking skull and roses pins into his bandana. "I order through the internet on the last one, but I was too late for the bonus disc; boy was I pissed! If it happens again, I'm going to raise Hell." Free love is still going strong, folks.
In the 00s, Brazilian indie rock sensation Lulina left Recife to conquer Sao Paulo, which she has done, and she is now poised to take over the rest of the world. She's released a number of brilliant albums, culminating with Cristalina, without a doubt the highlight of the decade.
Former Lulina bassist Six is dazzling audiences with his new project Homiepie.
Also in Sao Paulo, Some Community kicked it new school, and will keep on kicking to the intense pleasure of anybody with taste.
in Bela Horizonte, The Migration Heads from Babylon make hip now happening music that is going to bust a cap on the ass of anybody not ready and willing to have a good time all the time.
Xavier Naidoo, the founder of German soul music, continues to release important music. His 2005 album Telegramm für X greatly expanded his audience.
One unforgettable moment came during the Superbowl Halftime Show when Sir Paul McCartney's second wife, Heather Mills, exposed his left breast to the unsuspecting television audience. Though his mantit was only exposed for the fractional part of a second, the lawsuits and congressional investigations multiplied beyond all reason.
Country music asshat Toby Keith spent most of the decade hiding from Matt Love, who challenged him to personal combat. "I'm a peaceful man," Love said, "but there's only one thing peabrains like Toby "I'm such a wuss I always wear a cowboy hat to cover my bald head" Keith understand, and that's force. I don't care if he played semi-pro football, whatever that is, I'll prevail because I'm right, and he's a jerk!"
Keith's fellow country music star Alan Jackson (who also fears the prospect of people seeing his bald head), while taking a more moderate position on putting boots up people's asses, made headlines by acknowledging he doesn't know the difference between Iran and Iraq, but he was assured of his ability to make a fast buck by convincing his fellow Americans he's just as stupid as they (and Dubya) are.
Dubya inspired some great music. Blood Paradise's "(whatcha gonna find beneath) The Christmas Bush" tore up the Holiday Music charts. Tore them up, swallowed them, and then puked them up in technicolor glory.
Olympia band, Heliotroupe, after winning fame nowhere outside of Olympia, and after having disbanded for over a decade, reformed, cut another mediocre album, played a couple dozen unbelieveably fantastic shows, and then disbanded once again into obscurity. The stuff of
exceedingly provincial fanatical hippie legend.
In 2002 Herbert Grönemeyer showed that the Germans are second to none when it comes to musical excellence with his outstanding Der Weg.
In Koln, Lingby, featuring the charismatic frontman Willi Dück, continues to play enchanting independent rock.
Joe Joyce continues to enliven the music scene in Cleveland Ohio. His live performance in the WJCU studio set a new standard for live radio performances, and his CD, Pelican Skeleton, sets a new standard for CDs with the names of birds in the title.
Speaking of birds, Seattle's Danger Bird lead by the sublime Lisa Smith created great, great music this decade. Though the fame they deserve has eluded them so far, this is yet one more good thing that will happen in the 10s... commercial success to match their artistic success.
Proving that Cleveland Ohio is the world capital of music made by guys named Joe, Joe Barone also improves the world with his musical offerings.
And though Cleveland's The Uncanny XeLa has no members named Joe, that didn't stop them from doing a song called Dead Dog Blues that is amazing.
The Simmons brothers of Wenatchee, making sensational music since the 70s, recorded brilliant music under the name Dweebish, and once again failed to gain the wealth and fame they deserve. But there's always the 10s to look forward to...
Neil & Bob, Neil & Bob: Bob, of course, has croaked, I mean cranked, out a lovely Christmas album, marking a singular departure from his entire previous career. Mr. Dylan is obviously a man continually willing to take his career in brave and dangerous directions. Very nice, Bob. Neil slides easily back and forth from forgettable to memorable, but his fans don't mind; in fact, there is some disagreement among them regarding whether or not Mr. Young's forgettable albums are better, and his memorable albums mediocre, or the other way around. One thing is certain, the man still knows how to rock. And he still know how to rearrange the same group of chords in surprising ways that belie negative reviewers who claim he simply rehashes all his old melodies. One Zebra Trucks reviewer strongly believes the his album 'Greendale' to be the finest, if not the only, rock 'n roll novel ever made.
Leapy Lee, who recorded Little Arrows, the only classic rock standard to surpass Stairway to Heaven and Layla in popularity, recorded his 40th anniversary album in 2009.
Hawksley Workman continues to make great great music, and it's widely speculated that he will put Canada on the map someday. He says that when he does, he will locate it in some tropical location. What a kidder that guy is!
Other Canadians doing stellar work through the decade include Wendy McNeill who puts the accordion to better use than anybody since Weird Al Yankovic, and Edmonton bands F&M, Hot Panda and Silent Rock.
While on the subject of obscure English-speaking countries, Taco Leg rocks Australia like no other band has before. Lets hope they never break up, because if they do, Australia might as well just have a big garage sale, and move back to England. There will be nothing left to stay for.
Jonathan Coulton expanded his following in the geek rock arena. His cover of "Baby Got Back" obliterates the original.
The World Folk music had a revival this past summer, centered in the Skinner/Mewhirter front yard. The movement rested on the acoustic appropriation of a canon of Buffalo Springfield songs.
A teenager in Wisilla, Alaska reported a skin ailment was healed after he applied a Nirvana CD to the afflicted area. If just two more miracles are documented, Kurt Cobain's canonization as a saint will be assured. An Olympia man enjoyed 15 minutes of fame when he claimed Nirvana's box set caused raised blisters upon contact with his daughter's foot. A Mr. Bono contacted the Vatican, insisting points should be deducted from Cobain's sainthood bingo card because of this, but the Pope has not texted him back at this point.
Departures
Contemporary music composer Joe Sibley died in 2007... it's unfortunate that his work is so little known, because he was brilliant. Perhaps the 10s will see the discovery of his amazing work.
Vernon Green, who brought the phrase "the Pompatus of love." into the English language (via a little mutation on the part of Steve Miller) died of a stroke in the year 2000.
Bassist John Entwistle died of a heart attack in 2002.
The members of Lynnyrd Skynnyrd continued to die at an alarming rate, if the prospect of a Lynnyrd Skynnyrd with no original members living is the sort of thing that alarms you.
Yma Simek, who was Yoko Ono decades before Yoko was, died.
Drummer Bill Bruford announced his retirement from live performance in 2008.
Top music of the Decade
2000:
A-ha ~ Minor Earth Major Sky
Big Daddy ~ The Best Of Big Daddy
Sarah Brightman ~ La Luna
Camper Van Beethoven ~ Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead, Long Live Camper Van Beethoven.
The Cure ~ Bloodflowers
Duran Duran ~ Pop Trash
Flogging Molly ~ Swagger
Peter Gabriel ~ OVO
George ~ Bastard Son
HIM ~ Razorblade Romance
JJ72 ~ JJ72
Kula Shaker ~ Tattva (Lucky 13 Mix)
Linkin Park ~ Hybrid Theory
Mansun ~ Little Kix
Matchbox Twenty ~ Mad Season
Orgy ~ Vapor Transmission
Radiohead ~ Kid A
Suede ~ She's In Fashion
VAST ~ Music For People
Veruca Salt ~ Resolver
Marty Willson-Piper ~ Hanging Out In Heaven
2001:
Bush ~ Golden State
Dave Matthews Band ~ Everyday
Depeche Mode ~ Exciter
Garbage ~ Beautiful
Josh Groban ~ Josh Groban
James ~ Pleased To Meet You
Moulin Rouge!
Placebo ~ Black Market Music
Placebo ~ Special K
Radiohead ~ Amnesiac
Roxette ~ Room Service
Howard Shore ~ The Fellowship Of The Ring
Suzanne Vega ~ Songs In Red And Gray
Chris Vrenna ~ American McGee's Alice
The Wonder Stuff ~ Love Bites & Bruises
2002:
30 Seconds To Mars ~ 30 Seconds To Mars
A-ha ~ Lifelines
Tori Amos ~ Scarlet's Walk
David Bowie ~ Heathen
Camper Van Beethoven ~ Camper Vantiquities
Camper Van Beethoven ~ Tusk
The Church ~ After Everything Now This
Coldplay ~ A Rush Of Blood To The Head
The Flaming Lips ~ Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
Peter Gabriel ~ Up
Josh Groban ~ Josh Groban In Concert
James ~ B-Sides Ultra
Matchbox Twenty ~ More Than You Think You Are
Moby ~ 18
Howard Shore ~ The Two Towers
Suede ~ A New Morning
2003:
AFI ~ Sing The Sorrow
The Creatures ~ Hai!
Evanescence ~ Fallen
Martin L. Gore ~ Counterfeit²
Josh Groban ~ Closer
Linkin Park ~ Meteora
Placebo ~ Sleeping with Ghosts
Radiohead ~ Hail To The Thief
Howard Shore ~ The Return Of The King
Sting ~ Sacred Love
Suede ~ Attitude
2004:
Breaking Benjamin ~ We Are Not Alone
Camper Van Beethoven ~ New Roman Times
The Church ~ Forget Yourself
Duran Duran ~ Astronaut
Embrace ~ Out Of Nothing
Josh Groban ~ Live At The Greek
Tomoyasu Hotei ~ Electric Samurai
Nightwish ~ Once
Siouxsie & The Banshees ~ Downside Up
Tears For Fears ~ Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
VAST ~ Nude
2005:
30 Seconds To Mars ~ A Beautiful Lie
Tori Amos ~ The Beekeeper
Iain Ballamy ~ MirrorMask
The Church ~ El Momento Descuidado
Greg Edmonson ~ Firefly
Farmers ~ Loaded
HIM ~ Dark Light
David Newman ~ Serenity
2006:
AFI ~ December Underground
Breaking Benjamin ~ Phobia
The Church ~ Uninvited, Like The Clouds
Evanescence ~ The Open Door
Ghostland Observatory ~ Paparazzi Lightning
Josh Groban ~ Awake
Loreena McKennitt ~ An Ancient Muse
Pet Shop Boys ~ Fundamental
Placebo ~ Meds
The Wonder Stuff ~ Suspended By Stars
2007:
Tori Amos ~ American Doll Posse
Duran Duran ~ Red Carpet Massacre
Josh Groban ~ Noël
Linkin Park ~ Minutes To Midnight
Nightwish ~ Dark Passion Play
Siouxsie ~ Mantaray
Vangelis ~ Blade Runner Trilogy
2008:
Josh Groban ~ Awake Live
James ~ Hey Ma
Kula Shaker ~ Strange Folk
2009:
The Guild ~ (Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar
Rob Thomas ~ Cradlesong
