These are the albums that defined the decade for me. I reserve the right to suddenly remember an amazing album I’ve overlooked and hastily include it. Or drastically back peddle on one of these choices, claiming I was concussed.
In no particular order:
Arcade Fire: Funeral
There are so many members of Arcade Fire - how do they fit on the stage, let alone play their instruments? Cirque du Soleil meets angst rock.
Tour bus DVD: the collected works of Krzysztof Kieslowski.
The White Stripes: White Blood Cells
These guys make a lot of noise considering there are only two of them, and they’re made entirely from Lego.
Tour bus magazine: The Lancet.
Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
Urgent, charging Scottish rock that makes you want to grab a pitchfork and overthrow the Czar. In a nice suit.
Tour bus drink: Stolichnaya. And moloko.
Fujiya & Miyagi: Transparent Things
They whisper their witty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics over mechanical Krautrock beats, all while flicking through architecture magazines on fixed gear bikes. Sock it to me, uh!
Tour bus snacks: Edamame and Pocky.
M.I.A.: Kala
Best debut of the decade. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she’s, um, hot. And her videos make my eyes bleed; I didn’t know some of those colours existed.
Tour bus DVD: In The Night Garden.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
You’ve got to be pretty fucking good to release a double album - stuffed with classical references - with that haircut. Gospel singers, harps, and the fire and brimstone we all know and love.
Tour bus air freshener fragrance: Mountain Glade.
Portishead: Third
These layabouts finally got around to releasing another album after an 11 year hiatus. And it’s amazing. Dark, tortured, and beautiful, it’s like drowning in a spirulina smoothie.
Tour bus entertainment: The Bumper Book of Sudoku.
Radiohead: In Rainbows
“Hey everyone, pay whatever you want! We’re already rich!”
Tour bus DVD: The Best of Benny Hill.
The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come For Free
A UK Garage concept album? Jesus; I’m trapped in Fabric and can’t find the exit. This album already sounds dated, but that’s what Zeitgeists do, y’know?
Tour bus entertainment: a suitcase full of drugs, à la Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
The Veils: Nux Vomica
Frightening folk music. The lead singer, Finn Andrews, throws himself into the role with such terrifying conviction you’re afraid he’s somehow poisoned your pet rabbit. Like being punched in the eye by a leprechaun.
Tour bus board game: Cluedo.
… and there you have it. If nothing else, this should prove entertaining when I look at it in another ten years, incredulous that nothing by Michael Bublé made it on there.
Happy new year.
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