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
