Top 50 Albums of the 2000s

I was going to do a lengthy discussion of my top 50 albums from the 2000s, but I don't have time before the end of the year. So I'm just going to list them.

A few notes:

1. This list is not hip in any way. See, unlike hipsters, I actually think lyrics are valuable. Stupid lyrics are the equivalent of a kazoo solo in the middle of a rock song. Also, there's a zillion good things I've never heard. You only have so much time in your life. No doubt that some of the rock selections make those with greater facial hair, asymmetrical hair, or square glasses cringe. But I don't care.

2. All genres are mixed up in here--I'm just listing them in the order that I have them in right now.

3. The Drive-by Truckers are clearly the band of the 2000s.

4. It's been an interesting decade for music--unlike other decades, it doesn't seem easily summed up with 1 or 2 bands (say, Nirvana for the 90s or hippie bands for the 60s). A lot going on but nothing that says, THIS IS THE 2000s! This might be a good thing.

5. Generally a solid decade for jazz, bluegrass, and other less popular musical genres.

Anyway, here's the list. We can discuss in comments:

1. Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day
2. Hacienda Brothers, Hacienda Brothers
3. Tom Russell, Borderland
4. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
5. Cat Power, You Are Free
6. Robbie Fulks, Georgia Hard
7. Alejandro Escovedo, A Man Under the Influence
8. The Postal Service, The Postal Service
9. Don Rigsby, The Midnight Call
10. Joanna Newsom, Ys
11. Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose
12. Drive-By Truckers, The Dirty South
13. Iron and Wine, The Shepherd's Dog
14. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
15. Beck, Sea Change
16. Billy Bang, Vietnam: The Aftermath
17. Buddy Tabor, Abandoned Cars and Broken Hearts
18. Tom Ze, Estuando o Pagode
19. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
20. Touch My Heart: A Tribute to Johnny Paycheck
21. Death Cab for Cutie, Plans
22. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
23. James McMurtry, Childish Things
24. Midlake, The Trial of Van Occupanther
25. Wayne Horvitz, Way Out East
26. Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelation
27. Emiliana Torrini, Fisherman's Woman
28. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
29. Bill Frisell, Unspeakable
30. The Gibson Brothers, Bona Fide
31. Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight
32. The Blue Series Continuum, The Good and Evil Sessions
33. Matt Sweeney and Bonnie Prince Billy, Superwolf
34. William Parker, William Parker Violin Trio
35. Buddy Tabor, Earth and the Sky
36. Bill Callahan, Woke on a Whaleheart
37. Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career
38. The Gourds, Cow Fish Fowl or Pig
39. David Budbill, Songs for a Suffering World
40. Sun Kil Moon, Tiny Cities
41. The White Stripes, Elephant
42. Matthew Shipp, Equilibrium
43. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
44. John Adams, On the Transmigration of Souls
45. Irving Fields & Roberto Rodriguez, Oy Vey Ole!
46. Catherine Irwin, Cut Yourself a Switch
47. Panda Bear, Person Pitch
48. Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator)
49. Bradley Walker, Highway of Dreams
50. The Decembrists, The Crane Wife