Looking back at the decade, I think there are 20 albums that truly stood out in real time and since. Two artists on the list are no longer with us (Prince and Aretha Franklin). There's a live album, there's an album that MOTOWN locked away in the vaults. It's a mixed list. I started with a list of 50 and whittled it down to 20. I gnashed my teeth and banged my head throughout but I do believe these 20 albums represent the best of music for the decade.
1) Mavis Staples's LIVE IN LONDON.
2) Alicia Keys' HERE.
3) Stevie Nicks' 24 KARAT GOLD.
4) Chrissie Hynde's STOCKHOLM.
5) Cat Powers' THE WANDERER.
6) Janet Jackson's UNBREAKABLE.
7) Tori Amos' UNREPENTANT GERADLINES.
8) Sam Smith's THE THRILL OF IT ALL.
9) Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals' CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
10) PJ Harvey's LET ENGLAND SHAKE.
11) Diana Ross' DIANA ROSS SINGS SONGS FROM THE WIZ.
12) Prince's ART OFFICIAL AGE.
13) Aretha Franklin's ARETHA FRANKLIN SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS.
14) The Afghan Whigs' DO TO THE BEAST.
15) Joss Stone's LP1.
16) Roberta Flack's LET IT BE ROBERTA: ROBERTA FLACK SINGS THE BEATLES.
17) Animal Collective's CENTIPEDE HZ.
18) Radiohead's THE KING OF LIMBS.
19) Melanie's EVER SINCE YOU NEVER HEARD OF ME.
20) Coldplay's EVERYDAY LIFE.
Click here for my 2004 music piece, here for 2005, 2006 in music, 2007 in music, here for 2008, here for my 2009 piece, here for my look at the 00 decade, here for my 2010 piece, here for my 2011 piece, here for my 2012 piece, here for my 2013 piece, here for my 2014 piece, here for my 2015 piece, here for my 2016 piece. here for my 2017 piece, here for my 2018 piece, and here for my 2019 piece.
