Albums: 2000

1. Ryan Adams' HEARTBREAKER2. Radiohead's KID A3. The Strokes' IS THIS IT4. Grandaddy's THE SOPHTWARE SLUMP5. Sole’s BOTTLE OF HUMANS6. Badly Drawn Boy's HOUR OF THE BEWILDERBEAST7. Modest Mouse’s THE MOON AND ANTARTICA8. The Microphones’ IT WAS HOT WE STAYED IN THE WATER9. Common’s LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE10. Yo La Tengo’s AND THEN NOTHING TURNED ITSELF INSIDE OUT 

Ahh, yes, 2000. I was 20 and had a full head of longish hair and was trying to figure out how to be a person. I was temporarily living with my mom by the end of the year, which led to a whole lot of late nights spent sitting on my bed with my boombox and stacks of CDs. Afternoons were spent either at the theater or at work. I'd just met one of my most influential music friends (John Springer), was working full-time at a record store with some other great friends, going to school, looking for a girlfriend and falling HARD for the Rolling Stone, the Stooges and David Bowie. Jagger and Pop were my girlfriends back then.

This was also the year where I first started reviewing albums. I remember an album review I wrote for Sole's BOTTLE OF HUMANS album getting published in a couple of papers, including the Indiana Daily Student.

Anyhow, I post this simple, plain list because I want to "keep it real." This is the list I posted in the record store in 2000 and the list I e-mailed to all my friends. I'd made lists years before, but this is the first one I remember meaning a whole lot to me. I worked on it for days, no joke. And sure, I could rework it, turn it into a Top 50 or whatever, but who cares. These are the 10 albums I loved right before I turned 21. Happy times, back then. Feels like a lifetime ago.

Just look at those Top 3. Any of those could be Album of the Decade candidates.