Virtually every blog/music authority out there is releasing his/her/their/someone’s version of a ‘Best...of the Decade’ as if poor September through December never had a chance in hell to make a difference. Originally, I thought of championing those four months’ cause on my back, and channeling my inner clairvoyance to predict some sort of ‘Top 10’ list of their best songs. Ultimately, I realized, I don’t even know ten songs that would be heard by any more ears than mine, so I came up with an alternate plan: Weekly Top 10s. Every week, I’ll take a sub-category that applied to music in this decade, and crank out a Top 10 list. Obviously, as the weeks go on, more of 2009 will be able to run for a coveted position on the list, thus giving every itsy bitsy little month its due shot at a prize (feel free to leave donations for gift baskets to go to the winners). And, now, onto the kick-off…[Top 10 Brit Rock Imports of the '00s]
Beatlemania might have started it off in the ‘60s, but this decade has been NO stranger to our former bosses from across the pond. The intertubes helped us (many times, illegally) get music instantaneously from across the globe, and we spent the decade making good use of this rapid access. Mardy bums, Grace Kellys, Galangs, and Janie Jones alike - below are the lads and lasses who helped kick the global/viral music scene in the arse to make this decade what it was:
Their spot as one of my favourite bands aside, the Arctic Monkeys are the prime e
xample of the power of the mixtape. Or, in their case, the EP. Either way, their instant success with no discernible marketing or advertising revolutionized the way that new bands approached “breaking out” into “the scene”. Now on their third album, and (lead singer) Alex Turner decided he’s suddenly from the backwoods of the South (America’s, not England’s), they prove to make me feel entirely inadequate for being the same age, yet only rising to the level of BLOGGING about success stories.
“Do Me A Favour” – Arctic MonkeysBloc Party… talk about consistent track record. Bloc Party had critical acclaim the minute they came out with their first album, Silent Alarm, and haven’t managed to lose it since. With multitudes of 
EPs and pretty impressive standing in virtually every single notable music festival in the world – even Chicago’s finest – they are considered one of England’s biggest bands. I think the true testament to the massive affect they’ve had on their audience – over such a small span of time, no less – is embodied by the cavalcade of face-painted, English flag-toting, drunken blokes who boated across the ocean just to trample the weak and scream “FLUX!” over and over again on that fateful Lolla friday, one year ago. This mp3, below, is for them.
EPs and pretty impressive standing in virtually every single notable music festival in the world – even Chicago’s finest – they are considered one of England’s biggest bands. I think the true testament to the massive affect they’ve had on their audience – over such a small span of time, no less – is embodied by the cavalcade of face-painted, English flag-toting, drunken blokes who boated across the ocean just to trample the weak and scream “FLUX!” over and over again on that fateful Lolla friday, one year ago. This mp3, below, is for them.“Flux” – Bloc Party
S and I have talked about our sighing and swaying before, but the initial conver
sation behind this audible appreciation of music probably began with this song (below). The Kooks might be the best whole package representation of the English music scene, this decade: young, cockney, and a friend of the cover. The last one is what I find to be the most impressive, because it’s one thing to be recognized and adored for your own music, but it’s a whoooole ‘nother beast to also captivate by donning the vocal hats of the likes of Peter, Bjorn and John, Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, and MGMT.
“Naive” – The Kooks
sation behind this audible appreciation of music probably began with this song (below). The Kooks might be the best whole package representation of the English music scene, this decade: young, cockney, and a friend of the cover. The last one is what I find to be the most impressive, because it’s one thing to be recognized and adored for your own music, but it’s a whoooole ‘nother beast to also captivate by donning the vocal hats of the likes of Peter, Bjorn and John, Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, and MGMT.“Naive” – The Kooks
A Sri-La
nkan born, London-raised female rapper with critical acclaim? If you’d have told me this in the ‘90s, I’d never have believed it. M.I.A. seemed to spark one main trend that currently prevails in hip hop: hipster hop. Despite being banned from entering the U.S. to work on her much-buzzed-about album, since her daddy was a terrorist and she was da bomb (no, on the real, her dad is a Tamil Tiger), she still managed to go to some exotic island locale, crank out an amazing sophomore LP., and lead the way for fello laydee indie MCs (e.g., Lady Sovereign, Amanda Blank, Kid Sister). Not to mention, she managed to take a Clash sample, throw in some gunfire, and turn it into a Top40 hit. Kudos go where kudos are due.
nkan born, London-raised female rapper with critical acclaim? If you’d have told me this in the ‘90s, I’d never have believed it. M.I.A. seemed to spark one main trend that currently prevails in hip hop: hipster hop. Despite being banned from entering the U.S. to work on her much-buzzed-about album, since her daddy was a terrorist and she was da bomb (no, on the real, her dad is a Tamil Tiger), she still managed to go to some exotic island locale, crank out an amazing sophomore LP., and lead the way for fello laydee indie MCs (e.g., Lady Sovereign, Amanda Blank, Kid Sister). Not to mention, she managed to take a Clash sample, throw in some gunfire, and turn it into a Top40 hit. Kudos go where kudos are due.“Galang” – M.I.A.
Let’s ignore the fact that Perez Hilton thinks that he had ANYTHING to do with Mika’s rise to popularity, and just focus on the fact that the soprano songster managed to combine two major musical trends of the decade: emasculating falsetto (e.g., Scissor Sisters, Empire of the Sun, Magistrates) and sexual ambiguity (e.g., Sia, GaGa).
“Happy Ending” – Mika
“Happy Ending” – Mika
Bat for Lashes could go one of two ways, live in concert: (1) dull and slow-moving, (B) fucking awesome. Last month, I learned that Natasha Khan + a sequined leotard + a slew of international instruments = the latter. B4L manages to combine sweet songs that lullaby me to sighing… or have deep beats that lead me to sway. Either way, the sigh/sway test rating is high.
Though I’m sure Muse’s career goal was accomplished when Adam Lambert covered th
eir work during some episode of American Idol – thereby turning my adorable Korean coworker and her 12-year-old son onto them – I’d say they should feel content with just being known for being one of the best live acts of the decade (even if, technically, their first album was released in 1999). For 10 years that were so notable for technological advances that created great studio albums that turned into horrendous live performances, their standing as having conquered both sides of the musical fence is no small feat.
“Uprising” – Muse
eir work during some episode of American Idol – thereby turning my adorable Korean coworker and her 12-year-old son onto them – I’d say they should feel content with just being known for being one of the best live acts of the decade (even if, technically, their first album was released in 1999). For 10 years that were so notable for technological advances that created great studio albums that turned into horrendous live performances, their standing as having conquered both sides of the musical fence is no small feat.“Uprising” – Muse
When someone mentions Amy Winehouse, today, there’s hardly a person who thinks solely of her music. I
f nothing else, THAT is the true tragedy over what might be the music industry’s shortest, most violently condensed downward spiral. Screw up your own life that quickly if you’re a nobody, but when it’s plainly obvious that you still have years worth of talent and crooning… get your act together and give us another album, dammit! Winehouse DID help start one of the decade’s strongest musical trends within the UK: the female soul-singer/songwriter. The only problem is that after the success of that ONE album, while she was off wasting her time petting her crackpipe and snorting her cat, other singers like Duffy and Adele came through and showed that this good folk/soul music could come in a much more together package.
f nothing else, THAT is the true tragedy over what might be the music industry’s shortest, most violently condensed downward spiral. Screw up your own life that quickly if you’re a nobody, but when it’s plainly obvious that you still have years worth of talent and crooning… get your act together and give us another album, dammit! Winehouse DID help start one of the decade’s strongest musical trends within the UK: the female soul-singer/songwriter. The only problem is that after the success of that ONE album, while she was off wasting her time petting her crackpipe and snorting her cat, other singers like Duffy and Adele came through and showed that this good folk/soul music could come in a much more together package.“Tears Dry On Their Own” – Amy Winehouse
Oooh, from one hot mess to another, it’s hardly worth mentioning
Babyshambles without going straight into talking about Pete Doherty. He revolutionized the meaning of the new millennium’s version of a rock ‘n roll junkie might look like: fancier meds, more options to mix around, closely documented by media, much quicker physical deterioration of the body. He's a clear example of what decades of GOOD rock 'n roll music can do to an over-egoed lad with a guitar. Doherty's music, when he'd find the time to make it between doping up his cat and stealing from his former Libertines bandmates, is nowhere near the greatness of the fallen junkies' work he uses as rationalization for his entirely irrational behavior. But... by sheer virtue of having actually managed to stay alive, still making music that has potential to be genuinely amazing rock (should they ever manage to put out a complete album), and banging Kate Moss... Doherty & Co. deserve recognition for helping bring Brit Rock to the rest of us.
“Albion” – Babyshambles
Babyshambles without going straight into talking about Pete Doherty. He revolutionized the meaning of the new millennium’s version of a rock ‘n roll junkie might look like: fancier meds, more options to mix around, closely documented by media, much quicker physical deterioration of the body. He's a clear example of what decades of GOOD rock 'n roll music can do to an over-egoed lad with a guitar. Doherty's music, when he'd find the time to make it between doping up his cat and stealing from his former Libertines bandmates, is nowhere near the greatness of the fallen junkies' work he uses as rationalization for his entirely irrational behavior. But... by sheer virtue of having actually managed to stay alive, still making music that has potential to be genuinely amazing rock (should they ever manage to put out a complete album), and banging Kate Moss... Doherty & Co. deserve recognition for helping bring Brit Rock to the rest of us.“Albion” – Babyshambles
A not-so-obvious c
hoice for one of the best Brit imports of the decade, but Damien Rice might be the reason why this decade's TV shows and movies provided some of the best soundtracks Hollywood has ever seen. Full of angst and melodrama, his music is perfect for a good 'ol fashioned CW teen programming. On the other side, the music is actually deep and beautiful, so songs like "The Blower's Daughter" (below) make for Oscar-worthy scores. For a new generation who defines its life by the music it hears, Rice's music helped make the decade sound the way it did.
hoice for one of the best Brit imports of the decade, but Damien Rice might be the reason why this decade's TV shows and movies provided some of the best soundtracks Hollywood has ever seen. Full of angst and melodrama, his music is perfect for a good 'ol fashioned CW teen programming. On the other side, the music is actually deep and beautiful, so songs like "The Blower's Daughter" (below) make for Oscar-worthy scores. For a new generation who defines its life by the music it hears, Rice's music helped make the decade sound the way it did.“The Blower's Daughter” – Damien Rice
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