Top Albums Of T'Thousands 90-81

2000-2009: The real countdown continues...

90. Poe - Haunted [Atlantic - 2000]

Not just the accompaniment to the brilliant post-modern novel House Of Leaves but a brilliant record in its own right. From the eerie soundscapes of 'Exploration B' and 'House Of Leaves', through the gothic pop of 'Haunted' and the trip-hop of 'Spanish Doll', this is an emotional rollercoaster into the psyche of a girl who has recently lost her father. Listen to this late at night, and much like the neverending corridors of House Of Leaves you will lose your mind in this record.





89. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire [Arts & Crafts - 2004]

Quite possibly the musical equivalent of a 1930s Clark Gable romantic blockbuster. This is a timeless love story told across 13 indie pop gems. Simultaneously heartbreaking and life-affirming, this album was recorded across one bleak Canadian winter and tells the story of two lovers lives intertwining. Lavish and decadent textures hide the heart-rending drama at the centure of this masterpiece. As the album suggests, this is ageless beauty.




88. The Books - The Lemon Of Pink [Tomlab - 2003]

Electronica, folk and acoustic sampling all collide on The Books' sophomore effort. More developed and consistent than Thought For Food, this is when the NY experimental duo really hit their prime. The incredible amount of samples crammed into the 37 minutes of this record range from timeless and poignant to downright messed up. One thing remains a constant though, and that is the sense of contemplation this record creates. Listen and learn, and as guest vocalist Anne Doerner says "All's well that ends well".




87. Elliott Smith - Figure 8 [DreamWorks - 2000]

The final album Elliott Smith finished before his untimely death makes for particularly poignant listening retrospectively. It marks the final stages of his transition from bedroom songwriter to the creator of more open thinking high-end compositions and shows signs of what he could have become. Though arguably not on a par with his earlier work, what you have here is a portrait of the promise and talent of one of the most accomplished writers of recent times.





36. Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering [Fat Cat - 2005]

The year is 1970, Vashti Bunyan's debut album Just Another Diamond Day has been released to lukewarm reviews and little success. Heartbroken, Bunyan retreated to the countryside and raised a family. Flash-forward 30 years and this solitary record has generated such a cult following including luminaries such as Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Animal Collective that Vashti Bunyan is now labelled as the 'Godmother of Freak Folk'. Her response, she releases an album of timeless elegance and wonderful minimalism. This is folk for rainy days and cold nights, find out what the fuss is about.



85. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans [Atlantic - 2005]

Opening with the lines "If I could open my arms, and span the length of the isle of Manhattan, I'd bring it to where you are." really says all you need to know about this album. It is characterised by its sentimentality, its aspiration to do great things and above all else, its view of the world with a sense of romance. The production is magnificent, a record truly worth listening to through headphones just to appreciate its little intricacies. Rest assured, this is the sort of record that will stay in your mind and follow you into the dark when you sleep at night.



84. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca [Domino - 2009]

Dirty Projectors have always been known for their ability to dismantle the boundaries of experimentalism, pop, indie, etc, and re-arrange them until they are a mutated mish-mash. Much like a frankenstein of indie rock. These songs are joyous, sporadic little ditties that slip in through the ear and dissolve into your subconscious until you find yourself humming them at the most inopportune moments. Listen with caution, this kind of optimism is infectious.





83. Beach House - Beach House [Carpark - 2006]

Dream pop, has been a relatively resurgent genre. Since the 4AD golden years of the mid to late 80s and bands such as the Cocteau Twins, it has seemingly existed in some form or another. What Beach House did for it with this record in 2006 was to reinvigorate it with a sense of lo-fi beauty. What they have brought to dream pop, is that lo-fi fuzz just underneath the surface. Crackles underscore what are already beautiful arrangements and give them a timeless sense of beauty. What links Beach House and their namesake, peace and tranquility, and quite possibly a fleeting sense of beauty. The sea will erode the beach and destroy the beach house, this album will be over in under 40 minutes.

82. Sea Wolf - Leaves In The River [Dangerbird - 2007]

Halloween rendezvous, gypsy women, waterfalls, all bountiful and iconic imagery, throw in Phil Elverum and you've got yourself a regular trek into the dark side of indie folk. This is a bleak record that is somehow simultaneously resplendent in its arrangements, a contradiction of sorts? For some unknown reason this record just clicks, it has a sort of timeless quality to it and is soaked in the sort of storytelling that has made American folk music great.





81. Sonic Youth - Murray Street [DGC - 2002]

A return to form of sorts for the kings of hipper than thou experimentalism. Gone are the art school clichés of A Thousand Leaves and NYC Ghosts + Flowers, and welcomed back into the fold are the alternative anthems of golden era Sonic Youth. These are classic left of centre songs brimming with unbridled joy and an undeniable summerish quality. Peaking and troughing through noisy guitar fuelled explosions and delicate ravines in their very signature wall of re-tuned sound. On their collaboration with peers Borbetomagus, the Youth refer to themselves as 'radical adults', on the basis of this record they are not only still youth but are as vital as they have ever been.

Until next time...