I’ve decided to get into this “best of the decade” game myself. These are my top 10 albums of the 2000s in chronological order with one special rule: No more than one album by any band/artist. This is to keep half of my list from being filled with Radiohead albums.

Primal Scream - XTRMNTR (2000)

I’m a big fan of 1991’s Screamadelica and 1997’s Vanishing Point as well, but I think a good argument could be made that this is actually their greatest album. Evil jazz electronic fuzzed out madness. XTRMTNR is a relentless attack and I love every minute of it.

Ween - White Pepper (2000)

White Pepper may be Ween’s most “straight” album to date. For some Ween lovers that makes it one to avoid (at least in comparison to their more “brown” albums) but I actually prefer my Ween a bit less silly because they’re really good and I like hearing them do their thing without the jokes. It should be noted that this is all on the scale of Ween. Most “normal people” will still find this album to be weird as hell. But it’s a good psychedelic weird, not a “jokey” weird.

Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

I’m a big fan of In Rainbows & Amnesiac too (and to a lesser extent Hail to the Thief) but because of my self imposed rule I can only choose one Radiohead album and if I can choose only one it has to be Kid A.

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s almost been 10 years since Kid A was released because it still sounds like the “future” to me. “The National Anthem,” “How to Disappear Completely,” & “Idioteque” are probably my three favorite tracks on the album.

Circulatory System - Circulatory System (2001)

This album is not as good as The Olivia Tremor Control’s two brilliant albums from the 1990s, but not much is. Circulatory System is made up mostly (entirely? I’m not sure) of former OTC members. I do think I like this one better than their 2009 album, Signal Morning. But that one is still growing on me, so perhaps I’ll change my mind.

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

I’m actually not a huge Wilco fan, but I do love Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. This is just one of those perfect albums where everything fits. It’s a lovely mix of experimental production and great tunes.

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

Like some of my fellow Music By Day music bloggers, I love The Lips new album Embryonic but I’m not ready to rank it above Yoshimi… just yet and since I can pick just one Flaming Lips album for the decade, this is it! (It’s definitely not At War with the Mystics.)

Brian Wilson - Smile (2004)

Is it as good as it would have been if Wilson had finished it in 1967? Probably not. It’s probably a little too sterile and of course Wilson’s voice isn’t as sharp as it was in the ’60s but still, I think Smile is a pretty incredible achievement.

Beck - The Information (2006)

Choosing this over Sea Change was a bit of a shocking choice to myself as I really do love Sea Change but as of right now, I’d probably prefer to listen to The Information which may just be my favorite Beck album yet. It’s quite deliciously tweaked out.

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (2007)

Emotionalism is my favorite Avett Brothers album to date, although the new one from this year (I and Love and You) is giving it a run for it’s money.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

I think this is Animal Collective’s best album to date. I know some of their fans think they are getting too “poppy” but for me they’ve always been a bit too “out there” for my tastes, now that they are honing in on more song oriented songs, I find their experimentation a bit more palatable. I like weird music, I love psychedelic music. But really, up until this album - I just haven’t really “got” the whole Animal Collective thing. Merriweather Post Pavilion has changed that for me.

Radiohead, 2000s, Brian Wilson, Animal Collective, Primal Scream

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