A Decade of Music.. Top Albums :)

And now that I have collected my wisdom, here are the best albums of the 2000's



#25 Only by the Night, Kings of Leon (2008)
"Someone Like You, and All You Know, and How You's Be (speak)"

I was not a fan of the Kings of Leon when I first heard them. They were not critic darlings, and their albums were not getting the best reviews by people I normally trusted. But just how long did this record stay on the charts? Like a year and a half? I'm not even sure, I just know everytime I checked Itunes's most downloaded albums.. sure enough, it was there. And it wasn't a fluke, that chart time. It's because every song on here is so undeniably catchy, and you can't help but sing a long and dance. Especially on the two biggest songs, "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody". Essential to any popular music fan, or otherwise. And by the end of the year, the critics warmed up, and it was included on many "end of decade" lists.




#24 Original Pirate Material, The Streets (2002)
"Has it Come to this?"

I had never ever heard a british rapper before I heard The Streets. I never really put that together in my mind, how a british rapper would sound. But what a surprise, when one of the best rap albums of the decade, was from, not only a british guy, but a guy who flaunted that fact. But he's not a simple rapper either, he takes influence from British house music, electronic, techno.. he grabs everything around him and rolls with it. And as he says, "Let's push things forward." He's pushing everything forward, everything in Rap. No artist since OutKast has done as much for the genre as he has.







#23 Toxicity, System of a Down (2001)
"We're rolling suicide"

The Greatest heavy metal band in years, and the best heavy metal album in years. Metalheads just screamed they're head out in despair, right? System of a down? Yes. They sound like no one else, and they don't just scream pointlessly. They scream with purpose. And they've sold more records then any thrashers save Metallica and Megadeth. That is saying something. And this album, they're magnum opus, is a flurry of guitars, vocals, and rhythm. There is no break, they're is only short breaths of air. You are banging your head all the way through.






#22 Conquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse, Of Montreal (2001)
"Good morning, Mr. Edminton!"

Of Montreal creates landscapes of whimsy unlike any others. They don't make you smile because of the words, (well, most of the time).. they make you smile because they're music somehow taps into the pleasure centers of your brain. It's like a neuron connection. Just like Rage Against the Machine makes you upset, whether you like it or not, Of Montreal makes you happy. And they never made anything quite as whimsical as Conquelicot. It's a collection of stories about people, even one of them is told simply as a story. It's a celebration of everyday life. And it even has moments of pure beauty, like "It's a Very Starry Night". And, it's finest hour, or 2:38, "Let's Do Everything for the First Time Forever", the perfect love song. :)




#21 Turn on the Bright Lights, Interpol (2002)
"Sleep Tight. Grim Right. We have two hundred couches where you can.."

Interpol started what everyone likes to call the "post punk revival". If you will excuse the ridiculousness of the notion of reviving something that's post something, what exactly does that mean? It means that they were one of the biggest innovators this decade knew. Always being compared, rightly, to Joy Division, Interpol brought back the sound of classic Alternative music. And the decade responded by shooing out a flurry of bands that sounded just like them.



#20 Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem (2007)
"That's how it starts. We Go back to your house"

When LCD Soundsystem's first single came out, "losing my edge", it was brought with a ton of critical attention and public approval. But I doubt anyone knew what genius James Murphy was going to conjure. No one knew that he would write such a touching song as "Someone Great". And no one could have possibly figured he could write such a genius song as "All My Friends". But he did. And he did it with such dance ability, that never leaves his records. It's hard to balance dance and art, but LCD Soundsystem do it perfectly.




#19 Kala, M.I.A. (2007)
"No one on the corner has swagger like us"

M.I.A. came out like she knew she was kind of a big deal. She was so creative, and political, challenging every third world country and otherwise. And not mention catchy, she proved she could take a beat from anywhere and turn into a dance song. She took beats from Sri Lankan temples, and turned even them into danceable songs. That takes an amazing musical talent, but M.I.A is more than that. She's a voice for people who don't have one.. Or she thinks she is. And we believe her.



#18 Fever To Tell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003)
"Y Control, Y Control"

They are the most vicious of the Garage Rock bands. And they are fronted by a girl singer, who sounds like she ate Pat Benatar for breakfast while rocking out to Siouxie and the Banshees. If you can even define them as Garage rock, they are almost more swirling and majestic then that. Evidenced on the beautiful ballad 'Maps'. But they rock, they rock hard. Just listen to "Y Control" and you know that. They're riffs are noisy, and they're bass lines strike fear into the hearts of bass players. But Karen O runs the show, as the beer swilling front woman.




#17 Oracular Spectacular, MGMT (2008)
"She got the power in her hand, to shock you like you won't believe"

As I've said time and time again, MGMT are the most promising young artist. And this, their debut, is the reason why. You listen to this from beginning to end, and you can't help but think that MGMT are going to do great things. And they will, if they don't stray to far from this perfect formula. They are creative, they are charming, they are undeniably catchy. Mark my words, MGMT, unless they really mess up, will be the most popular and critically acclaimed artist of the 10's.





#16 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Arctic Monkeys (2006)
"Without a sound, yeah your calling me, and I don't think it's very fair"

Influenced as much by The Strokes and The Libertines as they were by Oasis and Blur, The Arctic Monkeys bridged the gap between Post-Punk and Garage Rock. With they're ability to write beautiful lyrics about boring things, and create rhyme after rhyme, Alex Turner and the boys churned out some of the best music on this, their debut album. They also caused a lot of buzz about the way music is promoted, with a rumor that the band started through myspace. Truly their fans just posted some of their music on the site, and it got so many plays that the record industry took note. But the band had nothing to do with it.




#15 A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay (2002)
"God give me style, and give me grace"

Playing the cuddly version of Radiohead. That's what most people thought of Coldplay, and those types of bands were a dime a dozen (Starsailor?). But this album proved that they were actual contenders with their big influence, not merely followers. With the beautiful ballad "The Scientist" and the Ok Computer worthy "God put a smile upon your face". Coldplay were the most popular band of the decade, and they brought a whole new audience to the likes of bands that would normally have gone without.




#14 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips (2002)
"Her name is Yoshimi. She's a black belt in karate"

The Flaming Lips were childlike, creative, simple and complex. They brought a sense of childlike tales of love to rock music. Not to mention they were weird. Real weird. But that's okay, because they balance all these things in this beautiful album about.. well.. I'm not quite sure. But it's beautiful, make no mistake. It's got some of the best melodies I've ever heard. And one of it's songs, probably the best one "Do You Realize??", is actually the state rock song of Oklahoma now.




#13 Discovery, Daft Punk (2001)
"Music got got me feeling so free"

We're gonna do it right. Tonight. Daft punk did dance music and party music right. I can't think of an album that will get you to dance faster. Even people who don't like dancing, and think that it's much funner just to sit there and listen.. will dance to daft punk. (not that I'm hinting) :). From the moment he says "One More Time!".. your dancing. It's like an impluse from an unseen power you can't control. When people look back on the decade, and try and remember the music they liked to dance to.. Daft Punk will be at the top of the list. Who can't dance to "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" ?





#12 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco (2002)
"I need a camera to my heart"

Wilco was good before Yankee Hotel. They've always been a great band. But they never had, nor will they ever, pass up this beautiful album. It's the album that broke it all open for them, and is so acclaimed that one critic put it up there with "In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" on a list of albums you mention just to sound cooler. And you will sound cooler. It's majestic, it's masterful, and it perfectly reflects the disaster of September 11. Wilco was good before Yankee Hotel. Now they're just unforgettable.





#11 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective (2009)
"I don't mean, to seem like I care about material things, like my social status"

Man the cover of this album is cool. Am I right? I mean, it moves without moving! It's amazing! But, aside from that, this is a beautiful album. Animal Collective hit every right note possible to hit. After a decade of delivering psychedelic albums of genius without personality, (Sung Tongs) they finally brought everything together, and created this masterpiece. I'll never understand why it is this album did not top the charts. Is it weird? Yes, but no weirder than Lil' Wayne's seemingly 'won't shut up' annoying 'lollipop'. And this is one thousand times more meaningful then that. They talk about everything that we need to hear, from start to finish. And through beautiful melodies and swirling synths. Hats off, Animal Collective. You finally found yourselves, and help us do the same.




#10 White Blood Cells, The White Stripes (2001)
"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"

The Best hard rock band of the decade finally realized. That's what White Blood Cells was, and it's still fresh to hear Jack and Meg finally coming out of their little critic circle and rocking the world. And they did everything with such simplicity, one guitar, one drum, one voice. It was never much more than that. And they reflected that simplicity in their songs, "We're Going to Be Friends" the most perfect example. "Fell in Love with a Girl" changed rock music, for the decade, because many people had thought rock music was dead. Oh No, Jack insisted. It was just sleeping, and it's come back hard.





#9 In Rainbows, Radiohead (2007)
"I've no idea what I am talking about"

Forget all the hype about the "pick your own price" phenomenon that Radiohead started with this album, forget all of that.. and what do you have? Still one of the best albums and innovations of the decade. Radiohead is always forward thinking, always atmospheric. But in this album, it's also emotional. Almost as emotional as The Bends, and Radiohead actually sing a few love songs on here. That's right. In Rainbows is as essential as everything else Radiohead puts out, but it's special in its own right. This album might just convert newcomers to the band, better than any other release. I hope it's remembered as their best collection of accessible songs, rather then the first pick your price download.




#8 The Moon and Antarctica, Modest Mouse (2000)
"And your heart, if felt good, it was drippin' pitch and made of wood"

Modest Mouse will probably, among most people, be remembered for two things. Float On, and this beautiful masterpiece. Or just float on, depending on how into music you are. But this album, talks about humanity in a different way. It makes you look at things differently, science, philosophy, everything. And it's told through such abstract lyrics most of the time, it's hard to even tell what they're talking about. But a few lines, a few lines really catch your attention and make you notice, or ignore, things you didn't before. Modest Mouse are weird dudes. Or geniuses. With the truth probably falling somewhere in between.




#7 Dear Science, TV on the Radio (2008)
"And stop your crying"

TV on the Radio got soul. They got funk. And they got David Bowie praising them. Not a whole lot more of a combo you need to come out with a perfect album. And they did. From "Halfway Home" to "Golden Age". From the beautiful ballad of "Family Tree" to the funky freshness of "Crying". TV on the Radio did it right. So right, in fact, that TIME magazine even called them the most forward thinking band of the year. And every publication listed it the best album of 2008. Of course it was. Not a whole lot of other reasonable choices. TV on the Radio will keep going, I hope. They have so much more boundaries they need to push, so much more sonic waves of sound they need to create.




#6 Kill the Moonlight, Spoon (2002)
"Small Stakes tell you that there's nothing can do"

Spoon sound like a classic rock band that ate Nirvana and then barfed up Blur. Or something like that. It's really hard to define what Spoon sounds like, because they sound like.. well.. Spoon. And they sound like Spoon better than most people sound like Spoon. And Spoon sounding is good. Great. Wonderful. And you know that from the moment "Way we Get By" hit's your ear drums, or "Paper Tiger". They are perfect, but not perfect like everyone else. They're perfect like Spoon, and that's enough for me.





#5 Stankonia, OutKast (2000)
"I'm just so fresh, so clean"

OutKast has done more for hip hop, save Public Enemy, then any rap group that has ever walked the earth. Okay, that could be a lie. (Run DMC, Beastie Boys, N.W.A.) BUT, they are the best rap group of this decade, and probably the best rap group in a very long time. They are fresh and clean. Or fresh at least. They are a breath of fresh air, for sure. They come out with creative, musical, innovative hip hop. And that's hard to find, in a decade full of rap that sounds something like "I got the rollie on my arm, and I'm pouring Chandon, and I roll the best weed, cause I got it goin on". They came out with songs like Ms. Jackson, talking about a guy who broke a girls heart, and is apologizing to her mother. Or B.O.B., which, as stated, is the most creative hip hop song, possibly ever. OutKast is special. Very Special. Eminem, what? No. OutKast is the best hip hop artist of the decade. And this is their masterpiece.





#4 Elephant, The White Stripes (2003)
"A Seven Nation Army couldn't hold me back"

If your a Hard Rock Fan, and you don't love this album, your not one. And people who claim The White Stripes aren't hard rock? Listen. Listen to Ball and Biscuit, and tell me that that's not the most bluesy song you've heard since Dazed and Confused. Jack White is a guitar wizard, Meg's simple drumming perfectly compliments him. It's the perfect duo. The perfect rock band of the decade. When, in twenty or so years, our decade's music is considered 'oldies', The White Stripes will be the people, man. They will be the classic rock of our decade. And Seven Nation Army will be our Black Dog. If you'll excuse the redundancy of my explanation, that's The White Stripes.





#3 Is This It? The Strokes (2001)
"Up on a hill, is where we begin. This little story, long time ago"

What The Strokes did, will probably never, or can be, realized. For a moment, rock music sounded like the coolest thing ever again. For a moment, the city that never sleeps was it's forefront, it's stomping ground again. For a moment, nothing else mattered but Is This It?. But of course, that went away. But you still listen to this record, and you can still hear that revolution. That killing of the boy band craze, that ending of pop and rap's reign. You can still hear it, and you can still feel it. Every time you listen the record, you can feel rock going through your veins like adrenaline. The Strokes did something that can't be explained. You can only feel it if you listen. And you'll never stop listening, after one time. Is This It? will be in your heart and mind. And constantly in your CD Player, record player, or Mp3 player.

#2 Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
"Purify the colors. Purify my mind"

What a strange name 'Arcade Fire' is. When you first saw this at the record store, or on your flickering computer screen, that's probably what you first thought. And what a strange name it is. But when you first put the CD in the player, or when you first clicked on "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)", that was the last thing in your mind. You are immediately swept away in the piano, at first, and then the strings come in, and the guitar. And your thinking "Wow, this is different". And as soon as that singer says "And, if the snow, buries my, my neighborhood." your in a new world. A new world where children don't grow up, love has a crown, and every time you close your eyes, you hear lies. No one can forget the first time they heard it, and no one can forget this album. 'Arcade Fire' is a strange name. And this is a strange album. But it is also a masterpiece. A beautiful, spiritual, masterful representation of the horrors of death, and the joy of life.




And I'm sure you know what number one is going to be.



















#1 Kid A, Radiohead (2000)
"I think your crazy, maybe"

First I go back to the old reasons why. Why this is the best record of the 2000's, the defining moment. I go back to why. Because of it's computer representation, a fear of online music take over, and it's perfect represntation through unrepresentation. First I go back to when people said it was the first album to be sold only as an album since the online era started. First I mention how everyone said it was avant garde, so far ahead of it's time. First I mention how it was political without mentioning politics, how it ended suffering without comfort, how it changed people without philosophy. First I mention how it's the most musical album I've ever heard, how it's like a classical compositon turned inside out. First I mention how it's flawless in it's scope.

But you know what? When I put the CD in the player, or the headphones in my ears, I forget about all those reasons, and I'm transported to another world. A world of music beyond your wildest dreams. A place where I can examine my own emotions head on, like a dream. Where the landscapes I see are scary and loving, are staring and looking away. I realize I'm looking inside my heart. Kid A is a gateway to that, and it defines what music is. You know what? That's why Kid A is the best album of the decade. Because everyone needed an escape. And Kid A was the escape from the horrible world it was becoming. And not only that, it encapsulated our fears, our emotions, and let us face them. In a world all our own, we faced them. Music is the only thing man creates that they cannot turn around and destroy. Music goes farther then anything else man creates in changing lifes, perhaps even farther then the spoken world. And Kid A defines the very soul of music. And defines the very soul of the listener.

First I go back to the old reasons. And then I forget. And then I remember. And then I'm in that world again. Kid A.

A Decade of Music.. Top Songs :)

Man.. This is really kind of cool to me. I've lived through an entire decade of music! Hooray! I can say I'm a child of the 00's... kind of. Anyway, because I love music more then... well most things. And because I believe it's probably the only thing in this world that human's create without the ability to destroy... And because I'm pretty sure everyone knew I would do it anyway :). Here is Kason Hudman's list of the best songs of the 2000's. :) And, the albums will come.. I just have to figure that out first :).

Top 20 Songs of the 00's


#20 Keep The Car Running, Arcade Fire (2007)
"They're Not coming to take me away!"

I will always see Arcade Fire as an album oriented band, and they're songs most of the time work better when preceded with the song before and finished with the next song on the album. However, this shining moment of a song, which works just as well on it's own, I believe to be they're finest single. With it's falls and rises, in all it's glory. Keep the Car Running.




#19 You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb, Spoon (2007)
"I Could Pose for Good"

This song.. is actually my ringtone. I was basically obsessed with it for over 3 months. I listened to it intently, trying so hard to mimick SOMETHING about it in my own work. And I actually wrote a song, and the working title was 'spoon' since it was so heavily based on this song. (my band still calls it spoon, although it sounds nowhere near as good as this song, and is now 'officially' called 1,2).




#18 New Slang, The Shins (2001)
"Gold Teeth, and the curse for this town"

Easy going, breezy song. That's not necassarily talking about easy going, breezy things. But this melody is masterful. And this chorus must be sung... everytime. It's so undeniable. And the lyrics, such beautiful lines as "If you'd a took, to me like a gull takes to the wind. I'd a jumped from my trees, and I'd a danced like a king". It's not easy going, but it's told easily. I don't know if, by these terms, you could ever pass up this song.



#17 3rd Planet, Modest Mouse
"Everything that's keeping me together is falling apart"

I'm still not exactly sure what this song is talking about. Perhaps I'm not smart enough, or deep enough. But I do know this, whatever it IS saying, it's obviously a major statement. But whatever that is, is anyone's guess. But it's got a gorgeous arrangement, a perfect mix of Modest Mouse's two sides: They're rocking, and they're breezy. And this song is both.



#16 The Modern Age, The Strokes (2001)
"Don't want you here right now, let me gooo!"
For a very long time, this was the most played song on my Ipod. And now it takes the second place song, only behind the masterwork "Fake Plastic Trees". Oh, this song is so perfect. It defines the Garage Rock Era, and it defines Is This It?. The Strokes are amazing. Enough Said. (See my entry in 'Best songs of all time' for more information ha ha)



# 15 Clocks, Coldplay (2002)
"Confusion, never stops. Closing walls and ticking clocks"

If 'Yellow' was Coldplay's breakthrough hit, then this was the song that sent them into the stratosphere. When this song, along with the album it's on, came out, people started to actually believe Coldplay might just reach the potential of they're two greatest influences: U2 and Radiohead. Of course, that's probably not going to happen. But because of this masterwork of a song, and it's album.. I'm not sure it has to.




#14 Everything in its Right Place, Radiohead (2000)
"There are two colors in my head"

The Beginning electronic to Kid A. Weird, creative, beyond explanation. It first comes of as alienating and void of emotion.. until you realize it's simply the opposite. It's beautiful, beautiful keyboards... It's haunting vocals. It's very emotional.. and not alienating in the least.




#13 Let's Do Everything for the First Time Forever, Of Montreal (2001)
"And If Forever you are my friend, I'll never ever feel unhappy again"

What can I even accurately say about this song? Such a joyful, simple expression of love. Let's do everything for the first time forever. This song is so special to me. It probably always will be. Mine and hers. Let's Do everything for the first time forever. Let's. This is probably the decade's best love song. Simply celebrating love, to celebrate love. :)




#12 Paper Planes, M.I.A. (2007)
"I Fly like paper, get high like planes."

All I wanna do is (bang bang bang bang) and a (*click*chi chang) and a take your money? What in the world? I'm sure that's what we were all thinking when we heard this song, on mainstream radio, not to mention. True, this song is undeniably catchy. It fits mainstream radio, if you use that loosely. I love it though, love it because it proved that the billboard top 10 was not completely void of creativity. For the first time in a long time, I thought that the mainstream music scene was changing. Of course not, but it was a shining moment.




#11 Hey Ya!, OutKast (2003)
"Shake it like polaroid picture!"

Andre 3000 and Big Boi split up, in part, for their album Speakerboxx/The Love Below. Each member got their own half of the record, and that's just the way it was. OutKast was not OutKast, really. But Andre 3000 made up for this split, because he wrote 'Hey Ya!', one of the best pop songs this decade knew. And it's still played at every high school dance, because we demand it. It's apart of us, and our generation. So what's cooler than being cool? Ice Cold.




#10 Seven Nation Army, The White Stripes (2003)
"I'm gonna fight em' off. A Seven Nation Army couldn't hold me back"

Fell in Love with a Girl, kicked rock music right in the butt. It brought it back to the full front, even winning an MTV video award. But Seven Nation Army, kicked everything else right in the gut, and made The White Stripes the 'only band that mattered' for a while. And we are far from feeling the full effect of this song. How much impact it had. And just how much of punch does it pack? Enough that you feel it right in your chest, when that first bass (well.. guitar) note hits, to the end.




#9 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Arctic Monkeys (2006)
"Stop making the eyes with me, I'll stop making the eyes with you"

"Your name isn't rio, but I don't care for sand and lighting the fuse might result in a bang b-b bang go! I bet that you look good on the dancefloor" But I bet you don't look good on the dancefloor when your dancing to this. Just because it's so fast paced, and so undeniably catchy, you can't help but flail your arms and jump around. And Alex Turner's cockney accent, with he accents, is so perfect.





#8 Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003)
"Wait.. They Don't love you like I love you"

I remember belting this song out so loud, that day. I remember just yelling "Wait! They don't love you like I love you.." and "Your kind's my kind, I'll Stay the same!!" If 'Let's do everything for the first time forever' was the best love song of the decade.. this is the best losing love song of the decade. Karen O belts it, and you can feel your own emotions in her singing. And the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are not known for emotional ballads.. but this isn't really what this is. It's just humanity.




#7 My Girls, Animal Collective (2009)
"Is it much, to admit I need? A solid soul, and the blood I bleed."

In a world torn apart by Economic struggles, this song spoke what everyone needed to hear anyway. I don't care about material things. As long as I got what I need, and the people I love, I'm good. And Animal Collective told it through such swirling synth and musical majesty, not to mention beautifully crafted pop melodies.. it's a wonder it wasn't the number one song. Well.. then again, it's animal collective. But it will be remembered.



#6 One More Time, Daft Punk (2001)
"One More time, We're gonna celebrate, oh yeah, all right, don't stop the dancing!"

Daft Punk made the best feel good music of the decade. You can't help but smile and dance while listening to most of their albums, but this is their pinnacle of this feeling. As soon as he yells 'One More time!' is like a rush to your head. And your dancing, and jumping, and smiling. It's pretty simple, really.




#5 All My Friends, LCD Soundsystem (2007)
"And if it's crowded all the better"

What starts as a repetitive, piercing, dischordant piano part.. soon finds friends with it's bass, it's drums, and everything.. working so well together. And by the end, the piano now sounds euphoric, and no longer annoying. It's amazing, how James Murphy does this. When that bass first comes in, you start saying "hey, I like this" when only a second ago, you were ready to turn it off. It's amazing how the lyrics randomly relate to something in your life. And it's amazing that LCD Soundsystem made a seven minute song, sound fun the whole way through.





#4 Lose Yourself, Eminem (2004)
"But the beat goes on da da dum da dum da da"

Wow. Eminem rhymes so dang well. It makes me so jealous. When I sit down to write lyrics, and it takes me about.. 5 minutes to come up with the next rhyme.. I get so jealous of eminem, who just spits em out like.. well.. spit. And it's not just rhyme after rhyme.. he does series of rhymes within series of rhymes.. and it's just amazing. Awe inspiring. And this song.. is awe inspiring. From the moment that piano starts playing, to the end when eminem says "you can do anything if you set your mind to it". Your sucked in, to the beat, the guitar hook.. and most of all, the words.




#3 Time to Pretend, MGMT (2008)
"This is our decision, to live fast and die young."

MGMT are, in my eyes, the most promising young artist. They write such intelligent songs, and they couple it with such amazing music.. I expect greatness beyond measure from these boys. And this song, is their CURRENT masterpiece. A song about the problems with being famous, and the joys of a simpler life. And about being human, and pretending your happy when your not. And missing being a kid. And pretty much everything we all go through. It's a song you can relate yourself to, others to, and make yourself feel better after listening to. It's a guide on what matters most, and what doesn't.





#2 B.O.B., OutKast (2000)
"Power Music. Electric Revival"

There's a price for being so innovative, creative, and original. While this was blatantly the centerpiece of OutKast's album 'Stankonia', and it was OutKast's best song.. It only barely made the Rap charts at #69.. and didn't even make a dent in the Billboard 100. But just listen to this song.. and try not to get chills down your spine. It gives me goosebumps everytime, and I wonder how in the world did Andre and Big Boi come up with this? I don't think we really know how.. but we know they did. And we know that they are the most creative rappers of the decade for it.





And? Guesses?




















#1 We're Going to Be Friends, The White Stripes (2001)
"Walk with Me, Suzy Lee, Through the Park and by a tree"


I know. This song is so simple, anyone could write it right? There's no drum, or much else.. it's to simple right? Wrong. This song was written just when the world needed to hear it. And we still need to hear it. Just like 'Imagine' of the seventies (But not quite to the same degree and extremity) it reminds of what life is about. And am I making too deep a philosophical topic out of such a simple song? I don't think so. When this song came out, no one was writting songs about such simple happiness and love. No one was writing about walking with a friend, and dreaming about silly things. No. The Radio waves were filled with sex, drugs, and violence. Still are, of course. But this song brought such a message of optimism and love, in such a simple way.. and so lighthearted and childlike.. what more can you ask for? Just wait. This song, when people really start to look back.. will be remembered for bringing a spirit that no other song of the time brought. And Jack White is genius for bringing it to us. As a musician, I admire his songwriting talent. But even more, as a person, I thank him for filling my soul with the love and simplicity it needs.





P.S. I posted the songs on the blog. You are free to listen to them, all except 'Let's Do Everything for the First Time Forever'. I couldn't find that one, as wonderful as it is. Truly, the most special one to me :).

What'd Do?

I'm here I promise
I've been here
I promised

Your my friend
I don't say that meaninglessly
Your my friend
I mean that with my heart

Just don't forget
All the fun we had
And how many times you smiled
And I did

Let's do everything for the first time forever
Let's forget our troubles
Our worries
And take a walk

I don't know If I mean much to you
I get confused sometimes
But I know how much you mean to me
I know that your wonderful, if you let yourself be

I know that when you smile
Everyone around you does to
I know that your beautiful
I know that your spirit is unshakable

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I'm here

I know he makes you laugh
I try to, everyday
everyday just one laugh
from you
And that's enough for me

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I'm here

From the time I met you
way back when
I saw the light
I still see it there

What more can I say
You mean the world to me
I can't help you now
And that's helpless to me

But the world is wonderful
Don't forget that
Don't forget the smiles
Don't forget the laughs

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I'm here

I sort of think your
perfect
sometimes it doesn't make sense
But I know how wonderful you are
When you let yourself be

When I met you
I wanted to get to know you
And as soon as I did
I could tell we would be friends

And best friends we were
forever so long
Just don't be sad
I can't bear it

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I'm here

All my peeps
Spend part of their life
in fresh water
and part their life
in salt water. :)

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I've always been
Here.

Take it easy
Don't be so stressed out
Take time to smell the roses
There are things that matter more

Take it easy
Just be the girl I know
The one I've held onto for so long

You're such a sweet heart
I know you really are
Your loving and your kind
And You always make me smile

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I've always been
Here.

You've got a light that can't go out
Sometimes it just gets dim
Just be the girl I know you are
I know you are

Call me Kasonfish
Quote the abridged series
Be the girl I know you are
Your perfect, I know

Sometimes you just forget
I think that I do to
I'm still the same kason
still the same Kason

Please don't be sad
Don't shed a tear
I'm here
I've always been
here.

Do you trust me?
I helped you once I think
Your perfect, your perfect
Just let yourself be

I'm so grateful to call you my best friend
Whether you know it or not
I'm so grateful just to talk to you
So grateful just to know you

Please don't be sad
Don't you shed a tear
I'm here,
I've always been
here.

Just laugh
Just smile
It shines a light, I know
It cheers anyone up
Just laugh
Just smile

Maybe I don't know a lot
But I know how great
you are
I know you've made me so happy
Countless times

Please don't cry
Don't you shed a tear
I'm here
I've always been
here.

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose

Oh it snowed again today. I love it everytime it does, I can't get enough. Well, maybe up until March :). But it just fills me with happiness, overcast and snow. It's beautiful beyond description.

And we are simply happy during the christmas season. We are. The war of good and evil, the happiness versus misery fight... seems to take a halt during Christmas. And happiness prevails. People smile as they pass by, everyone has giving and love on their mind.

What happens after christmas, why does everything have to change? Maybe it doesn't. Can't be have others on our mind, even after the gifts stop? I think we can.

Selfishness is gone during christmas. No one cares about what they get, as far as I can tell. More about what they are giving.

Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire

Oh how much I love christmas time. Today, as we do every year, me and my family gathered for cookie day. Which is basically a day where we all decorate cookies, and then eat them. It was so wonderful, I love my cousins. I love my aunts and uncles. And I love this cookie I made. That is me, as a cookie. Believe it :).

And I'm looking forward, so much, to Christmas Eve. Not only because Santa is coming that night, but because so is my long missed uncle.

Oh christmas time, I wish you'd never go away. But then perhaps you wouldn't be special.

Silver Bells

On Every Street Corner You Hear.

I love christmas time. There is such a feeling of joy everywhere, and with the snow, it is only amplified.

I was not doing so good yesterday. I was really depressed, actually. For the first time in a while, I felt hopeless again.

But I listened to the song. Silver Bells. And I cried tears of joy. As I realized that God was with me. No one else was, it felt like, but I felt the spirit so strongly.

Silver Bells remind us of christ, this whole season reminds us so much of giving. I love to walk outside and feel the wintry air. I love to see christmas trees going up. And I love, oh I love, the christmas music.

City Sidewalks. Busy Sidewalks. Dressed in holiday style.

It's christmas time in the city.

And I hope it never goes away. This spirit of light, and of life. Christmas time.