Tune Time: Best of the Decade

The mission, should I choose to accept it: Pick the 30 best albums of the decade.
The criteria: Only one album per artist. Each album must be one I've listened to, front to back, more times than is generally acceptable.
The setbacks: There were way more than 30. Also, I'm easily distracted and end up listening to 90 percent of these albums again.
The conclusion: This music is what inspired me for the past 10 years, and I'm certain it will continue to inspire me for years to come.


30. OK Go - OK Go
Play: At a kegger
Listen: The Fix Is In


29. The Coral - Magic and Medicine
Play: At a retro party
Listen: Dreaming of You


28. Hot Hot Heat - Make Up the Breakdown
Play: After drinking your fifth cup of coffee
Listen: No, Not Now


27. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Play: At a summer bonfire
Listen: 1901


26. The Little Ones - Morning Tide
Play: On a flight to an exotic vacation
Listen: Tangerine Visions


25. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Play: On a stormy night
Listen: Supermassive Black Hole


24. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Play: When you're feeling creative
Listen: Electric Feel


23. Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty
Play: When you're on a date with a bottle of wine
Listen: Something Is Not Right With Me


22. French Kicks - One Time Bells
Play: On a snowy day
Listen: 1985


21. Rilo Kiley - The Execution of All Things
Play: At a critical juncture in your life
Listen: With Arms Outstretched


20. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Play: When battling a bout of insomnia
Listen: Sit Down, Stand Up (Snakes and Ladders)


19. The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
Play: At the beach on a beautiful day
Listen: New Slang


18. Dressy Bessy - Electrified
Play: When you want to d-d-dance
Listen: Electrified


17. Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire
Play: When you're in mourning
Listen: Parachute


16. The Features - Some Kind of Salvation
Play: When you need to let off some steam
Listen: Lions


15. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
Play: During rush-hour traffic
Listen: Pin


14. Little Joy - Little Joy
Play: At a backyard barbecue with close friends
Listen: With Strangers


13. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Play: At happy hour
Listen: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa


12. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Play: At last call
Listen: 40 ft


11. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
Play: On a rainy night
Listen: Obstacle 1


10. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
Play: When you need inspiration
Listen: 11th Dimension


9. Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album
Play: When you're feeling introspective
Listen: Coney Island


8. The New Pornographers - Electric Version
Play: To get this party started
Listen: Electric Version


7. The Libertines - Up the Bracket
Play: During a rousing game of Flip Cup
Listen: I Get Along


6. The Kooks - Inside In Inside Out
Play: During chores, to make them bearable
Listen: Naive


5. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Play: To ramp up your workout
Listen: Hotel Yorba


4. Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
Play: When you're nostalgic
Listen: Use Somebody


3. Spoon - Girls Can Tell
Play: On a long road trip
Listen: Everything Hits at Once


2. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Play: When you're reading
Listen: Ashes of American Flags


1. The Strokes - Is This It
Play: Anywhere and all the time
Listen: Someday