Artists' albums of the decade poll
Everyone's sick of end of decade lists by now, right? And yes, we are as guilty as any. But before you move onto the next ten years, we thought we'd ask some of our favourite bands - from Of Montreal to Frightened Rabbit - what their favourite albums of the period were. And what's different here is that we've polled over 60 responses together to find out which albums influenced these artists - themselves from a range of genres and territories - the most.
So below you'll find those most influential albums, ordered 1-50 and with an illuminating quote or two. If you then want proof that, yes, Josh Ritter's totally into his Aphex Twin and Girl Talk; The Strokes' Room On Fire is huge among hip-hop heads and that The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart think The Killers second record will be a classic in seven years time, then the right hand side of the page lists our jury and their top 10 picks, some with in depth explanations.
50-41
"Token hiphop or electronica record from an "indideschmindieguitarandsorrow" band geek? No ladies and sirs! This record is still one of the most sonically and lyrically inventive things I've ever heard. It's a lurching monolithic concrete slab of a record which sounds like nothing else. Pigeons, pigeons, pigeons," Sam Herlihy, The Northwestern/ ex-Hope Of The States
"I'm not a huge fan of anything he's done since this record, but I think this one is great. I love his sense of melody, and this album has an endearingly homegrown feel. It's simple, perfect power pop. I've listened to this so many times over the years and I never tire of it," Stuart Barter, Left With Pictures
"This was a record that had a huge effect on me when it came out. Hey Ya! for gods sake. The power of pop. Even the Mammy liked that one. Good thing she never listened to the rest of it though, it's awful rude in parts. I think I listened to nothing else except this album for about 6 months. Always wanted him to go back and finish off that last tune," Vinny, The Vinny Club
"Uncompromising, fearsome, psychedelic, reverent of the old school yet forward-thinking, “it‘s me against housing”, rolling like a freight train, impossible to ignore," Cadence Weapon
"Both affecting and playful. A serious record that doesn't take itself too seriously. She's a great singer." David Brewis, Field Music
"This has truly reinforced my belief in the power of electronic music to convey mood, tone and imagery in this masterpiece. It is limitless in subject matter and inventiveness while having the capacity to lend social commentary along the way and is equally conducive to subdued dance gatherings as it is to daydreaming on long bus rides. Still haven't gotten sick of this one," Adam Jensen, Sound Of System Breakdown
"Solid and totally immersive from start to finish, and maybe one of the most life-changing records of adolescence. Somehow this record penetrated the culture-proof bubble of idaho falls and was the soundtrack to often bizarre high-school years. it still makes me feel comfortably lonely," Aaron Chapman, Nurses
"Incredible album that mixes amazing pop melodies with weird, interesting orchestral structures. The Brewis brothers are heroes to us and everything they do seems to be gold," Michael Roe, Adebisi Shank
"I really didn't like Liars' first album and wrote them off as one more uninteresting dance-punk band for the pile (it's easy to forget how many dance punk bands there were at that time). I was eventually won over by the darkness of their second album, but it was this, their third album that really caught me. One of those albums that's greater than the sum of its parts, atmospheric and hypnotic. Liars are also one of the best live bands of the past decade in my opinion," Markland Starkie, Sleeping States
"The best album of this decade of one of the best bands ever. All the best bits of krautrock, dub, ambient, jazz and post-rock - like Conny Plank, Lee Perry, Rudy Van Gelder, Joe Meek and Steve Albini gave birth to a beautiful monster," Marcus Hamblett, Sons Of Noel And Adrian
40-31
"The day Elliott Smith died, I went to work at Fopp on Rose Street in Edinburgh, and selected that morning’s listening disc — Mr. Smith’s Figure 8. A co-worker came in, shook his head and said, “this guy’s so depressing. Let’s try something else, shall we?” and we took it off. Early in the afternoon, my co-worker Alison came down the steps, crying. The news had made its way to the UK, and Smith was gone. We didn’t put Figure 8 back on the stereo — it would feel too much like rubbernecking at a highway accident. It took a long time before I was ready to listen to him again, but by the time of Basement and New Moon, it was even more obvious how great of a talent we’d lost. I saw Elliott play a show in Vancouver at the Commodore on the Figure 8 tour, and it was a magical night. After the show, I saw him out on the street, hiding in the shadows, smoking. I made strides towards him, but stopped short before interrupting his smoke. The guy had just played an incredible show, but looked as though bombardment by a young, excitable fan was probably one of the last things he wanted at that moment, so I left him be," Mark Hamilton, Woodpigeon
"A stunning and brave vision of music as thought, executed to perfection on every level," Chequerboard
"Dirty Projectors have made huge strides in popularity since this album (very deserved I think), and are a pretty different band altogether (well, are an actual band, for a start, rather than a solo project), but for me this remains Dave Longreth's best creative achievement. Completely weird and pretentious, and all the better for it, I just loved this when it came out. The accompanying films make it even more enjoyable," Markland Starkie, Sleeping States
.jpg "Review of Sigur Ros - () by Sigur Ros")
"There are not words in the English language to describe how I feel about this band, and this record in particular. I lived by this record. I woke to it, I lived to it, I slept to it... I breathed in only Sigur Ros and breathed out only adoration," Micah P. Hinson
"This was certainly one of those records that was hotlisted by NME type folks, but I'll say it was for good reason. There's a nice contrast between Tunde Adebimpe's vocals and Dave Sitek's production, its a sort of weird new school soul and its got a real element of lo-fi disco-ness to it, but with lots of atmospheric guitars. The unfortunate upshot is LOADS of copycat bands, cause its a painfully trendy sound (believe me, I work in Shoreditch)---but whatever, these guys did it first, and this is a wonderful album to have on in the background while you do something constructive...like soldering cables, making flyers for your band, or, i don't know---knitting a really trendy bright-coloured jumper?" Jeremy Radway, Player Piano
"Lyrical genius on the level of Pavement and Gerard Manley Hopkins. She burns down every dollhouse she has," Josh Ritter
"Well, I saw that video of Scott punching the big hunk of meat and recording it and thought, this looks like something I could really get into! I like it cause it never sounds like Scott has forgotten the listener but maybe that's just cause there's a lot more vocals on it than most weird records like this. People are always saying "such and such records are nightmare music" and are really scary or whatever but this one really does sound like a bad dream and I really appreciate that," Josh Jones, Evangelicals
"Fragile & beautifully retro-futuristic (in a Space Odyssey kind of way)," Nick Hemming, The Leisure Society
"This was the last band that knocked me down the first time I heard them. I was on tour in America and they opened up for us. I thought it would just be some something so-so, but I was wrong. They were boxers, kicking the shit out of life," Micah P. Hinson
"I know everyone is going crazy over their new record but i still think this one is my favourite, it was the record that got me into them aswell. its a pretty good sunday morning album," James Graham, The Twilight Sad
30-21
"Nick (Hemming) brought this round and we sat and listened with bug smiles on our faces. I think Daniel Rossen has one of the greatest voices in music at the moment. He almost reminds me of Roy Orbison the way he can keep total control whilst sounding so emotive. Herringbone is definitely one of my favourite songs ever," Christian Hardy, The Leisure Society
"When this album came out i drove my parents mad by playing it as loud as i could as much as i could and the album also has one of the best openings to an album - Kill all hippies / Accelerator and exterminator. It was also the last release on Creation. Best Scream album too. I wish Kevin Sheilds would guest with us," Delorentos
"I listened to this fully through last weekend for the first time in ages and it floored me all over again. Like a weird, haunted dream of nineties dance music - a very good thing in my book. As cliched as it may seem, the best 4am night bus soundtrack of all time," Chris Coffey, Holy Roman Army
"While everyone else is losing their mind over Veckitamest, it’s Yellow House that I keep returning to. Another one of those “where did this come from?” moments of the decade, and a definitive record indeed. We opened for Grizzly Bear in a church immediately prior to their stint opening for Radiohead. Watching them from one of the front pews, I simply wanted to put down my guitar and quit. It felt as though these guys had it all figured out and there was nowhere else left to go," Mark Hamilton, Woodpigeon
"It's got it's own addled mythology. An entire world of silly clothes, dark lahndaaan taahn wonder,books, romance, drugs, fucking and drinking which made British guitar music interesting for the first time in years," Sam Herlihy, The Northwestern
"It's a total cliche, but you get so lost in this album. Everything is so dense and watery but you can pick out everything. Genius," We Were Promised Jetpacks
"Amazing songs, hooks, changes, vocal melodies and effects. Great recording and mixing ideas. Amazing lyrics. Anthemic songs about such sad stuff at times," Ciaran Smith, Crayonsmith
"Aphex Twin switches my brain waves to beta. This man is spiritual kin to Chopin, and I’ve fallen in love with this double record of prepared piano music over and over again," Josh Ritter
"The only thing that keeps us awake on late night drives on tour. Such a powerful album," Michael Roe, Adebisi Shank
20-11
"Evidence, as if it were needed, that James Murphy can do everything. At the same time. And make it coherent. And wonderful. And cowbelly," Chris Coffey, The Holy Roman Army
"Ever conceptual, it seems like he decided to make a kind of Zeppelin-esque album but with two drummers. The songs are brilliant and the lyrics cutting but it's the sound of the band playing hard which makes me tingle. The guitar playing is magic throughout," Peter Brewis, Field Music
"I'm still enamoured by this album due to the fact that it is so full of incredible screaming energy (without being angry) and addictive song writing that it remains now and will remain for sometime a true classic. Although many people are excited by The Mars Volta, I still frown when this album ends and I realise there won't be any more fresh At The Drive In in the foreseeable future," Adam Jensen, Sound Of System Breakdown
"I love Antony. I was confused when I first listen to it because I didn't know how to describe this and I think that's the great thing about his music. Antony is Antony," Banjo Or Freakout
"As much as I LOVE The Love Below (I'm still not tired of Hey Ya, amazingly), I still think this has been Outkast's best work. Back to front, there's not a dull moment and everything is brimming with intelligent, playful words and incredibly original beats. There still is no one in my opinion that has managed to command a mass audience whilst retaining artistic integrity like these dudes. As a native of the ATL, they make me proud," Jeremy Radway, Player Piano
"One of the most emotionally intense, charming, and innovative folk albums I know of, and my personal soundtrack to the Pacific Northwest," Aaron Chapman, Nurses
"This record is probably why I make music today. The first record I ever heard with content that I could truly relate to and a sound that I understood. Talking about eating pizza and playing Gran Turismo never seemed so exciting until this record," Cadence Weapon
"I'm sure I'm not alone in this one. What can I say that hasn't already been said? Music so intuitive is extremely rare," Benjamin Curtis, School of Seven Bells
10-1
"A beautiful and odd album. Who'd have thought lyrics about meteorites could make you cry?" David Brewis, Field Music
"Easily one of the most influential albums of the decade. It may just seem like a bit of silly fun but its the cleverest bit of fun produced all decade.Who hasn't danced to this record?" The Expert, MJEX
"I've been a pretty big fan of them, like all the rest, for a long time, and the thing that is remarkable about them is that they progress artistically, almost in a Miles Davis sort of way, never repeating themselves, and that is very commendable in a modern recording artist. In some ways I suppose I see them as being lucky, that they managed to come back from being a one hit wonder (Creep) and then slowly, organically morphed into a band that can pretty much do whatever the hell they want, and have done some really compelling stuff, particularly due in part to a really creative producer (Nigel Godrich) who helps make them sonically compelling, but also the thread of melody and emotion in Thom Yorke's songwriting and singing is really special, especially in this day and age of a mechanised music industry overrun with so many shallow imitations. In Rainbows might actually be their finest hour to date, and it certainly is a product of a band being allowed (or fighting, i dont know the ins and outs of their story) to mature and develop as artists, following their "muse", if you can forgive me for using that particular word. Amazing," Jeremy Radway, Player Piano
"This is the most beautiful, sensual, and uplifting record. I never really listened to much Bjork before Vespertine.. This album helped me realize what a visionary, talented woman she is and what amazing, unique records she has created," David Prowse, Japandroids
"Pretty much a masterpiece, but an intensely unwelcoming masterpiece. I love it but I always skip 'Machine Gun'. Too much evil. Pretty amazing Clockwork Orange-esque outro though," Conor O'Brien, Villagers
"I'm a big fan of all Sufjan's records, but this one is probably the strongest overall. Just great music - catchy, beautifully arranged, moving, heartfelt, intimate and epic all at once. I've never seen Sufjan live but I'm dying to," Stuart Barber, Left With Pictures
"Ah, the glorious sound of a band urinating in the authenticity police's cheerios. Classic "you-care-but-I-don't-care" rock with excellent hair and well-fitting jeans. Can we have more of this, please? Oh, and TOTALLY underrated songwriting skills. Mr Casablancas, your solo album I will buy," The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
"How could you leave this album out? It seems to have been the only album to have dealt with, albeit obliquely, with one of the defining events of the decade. 'Ashes Of American Flags' will go down as one of the great elegies, one of many intricate gems on this record. I still get something different from it on every listen," Chris Coffey, The Holy Roman Army
"This record meant a great deal to me. It was something else that truly caught me off guard. I was living in England at the time and every one and their fucking dog was praising them as if they were the new and improved jesus. I stayed away from it for some time, then one day, bought it across the street from my flat, "Bee's Records And LP's", took it back home, put it on, and listened clear through to the end," Micah P. Hinson
"... OK Computer was SUCH a big part of my youth that when Kid A came out it affected me quite deeply, I sort of hated it at first, then I caught up and started to get it and love it. It was an intellectual love though, it never got my heart," Christian Hardy, The Leisure Society
"My friend Clint had Napster and so I downloaded a few songs off of this and thought maybe they were digitally broken or something..." Josh Jones, Evangelicals
"In 1000 years, this record will still sound like it's from the future," Aaron Chapman, Nurses
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you," DM Stith
Other artist's top tens
All these lists were compiled into one Artist's top ten albums of the decade poll. But here are all the individual lists that went into it...
Add your words...