Brad Stengel's Must-Haves of the Oughties

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Yes... wait a minute...no

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Sooo after not posting for over 9000 years, I'm finally back, and decided to pollute the forum once again with a top album list. Basically, just a big group of albums of the last 10 years I really really enjoy, and ones that I think are worth any member of the forum's time to listen to. So, in no particular order.....
 
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Abe Vigoda​
"Skeleton" (2008)​

The best description I can give for Abe Vigoda is, "punk rock animal collective". This album shares the same passion for melody and loud playful vocals you might find on, say, "Feels", yet with chiming, fast guitar riRAB combined with odd timings. I first saw this band live at the Middle East around the time this album was released, and I was hooked. "Skeleton" and "Dead City/Waste Wilderness" are the best tracks here, although the entire album has few low points. Their most recent release since was the EP "Reviver" released last year, which sounRAB completely different, with lower vocals and more of a post-punk/noise rock feel to it, a complete change of direction that always makes banRAB appeal to me more.

82/100
 
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Animal Collective​
"Strawberry Jam" (2007)​

I could care less what last year's hype would have you believe, THIS is Animal Collective's best album. This is one of the few albums i've heard that is so innovative, I can't honestly give you any other recorRAB that sound remotely like it (one of my arguments in Kid A being overrated is that its basically watered down Aphex Twin), this record however, with it's electronic screamo beach pop, isn't just my favorite album from Animal Collective from innovation alone, the songs here are perfect. "Peacebone" is the sound of the album consolidated into one 5 minute song, (which by the way also has probably the best Animal Collective video). "Unsolved Mysteries" is perfect pop, drenched in Animal Collective's electronic noise bursts. "Fireworks" may be their best written song, while "Winter Wonderland" their most underrated. Everything about this album is perfection, and I legitimately hope in 10 years it's not just referred to as "The album before Merriweather", because as good as Merriweather was, Strawberry Jam is Animal Collective at their strongest.
96/100
 
^^^ Top album that one, my favourite Animal Collective pelease other than the People EP. The first album looks really cool, will get onto that in the next few hours.

Looking forward to more entries!
 
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Jay Reatard
"Blood Visions" (2006)​

This record was going to make the list easily anyway, but it was Reatard's untimely death about a week ago that persuaded me to post this review now.

So, basically, each time I listen to this album I become more and more convinced that:

a. Jay Reatard was originally around in the late 70's when he invented a time machine to visit us now
b. This is pretty much the ideal punk record
c. The best punk album of all time was NOT released in the 70's.

This album combines the ferocity of the Adverts with the pop sensibility of the Buzz****s along with the consistency of early Clash. Every fan of any punk band neeRAB this album. It's one of those very rare albums that is not only excellent on the first listen, but becomes better with each additional one. This is also perhaps the most sing-alongable album of the decade, while still managing not to be bright and cheery at all. This is quite possibly one of the closest I've seen to a perfect record, listen to "Nightmares" or "Death is Forming" and tell me otherwise.

Which is why it's especially sad that I'll never get to hear a new Jay Reatard song. Every time one of his albums or singles came out, it was an exciting day for me, because while his first album was his best, he continued to make 3 more excellent albums/singles compilations which I also highly reccomend. Anyway, if anyone listens to this and is dissapointed in the least, I'll be a very surprised dude.

98/100
 
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