DECADE'S FINEST RECORDS

I recently asked a couple of friends about what they think are the 15 greatest records of the last decade. Here are the albums that brightened their days (& mine) during the last 10 years. I am convinced that you will discover a couple of records that you didn’t know were that great. After all, this is what makes these lists interesting and fun, both for the compiler and the reader. Big thanks to all the people who voted! Stay tuned for my favorite movies, concerts and records of 2009!

BAZOOKA TOM

1. Congotronics - KONONO N°1 (Crammed Discs 2004)

Some more in alphabetical order:

# The Pirate’s Gospel – ALELA DIANE (Fargo 2006)
# Bassholes - BASSHOLES(Dead Canary 2005)
# Let It Bloom – BLACK LIPS (In The Red 2005)
# Good Bad Not Evil – BLACK LIPS (Vice 2007)
# Ultraglide in Black – THE DIRTBOMBS (In The Red 2001)
# You Without Sin Cast The First Stone – ISAIAH OWENS (CaseQuarter 2004)
# In The Seventh Moon … - KASAI ALLSTARS (Crammed Discs 2008)
# Mauretanian Music from the Trarza Region – NEMA MINT CHOUEIKH (Popular African Music 2006)
# Timebomb Highschool – REIGNING SOUND (In The Red 2002)
# Aman Iman - TINARIWEN (Independiente 2007)
# Boulevard de l’Independence – TOUMANI DIABATE’s SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA (World Circuit 2006)
# Return To Cinder – WOODEN TIT (Hate 2006)


DANNY WYCKAERT

# As is now – PAUL WELLER (2005)
# Damnation - OPETH (2003)
# Is This It – THE STROKES (2001)
# Nailed – PLACE OF SKULLS (2002)
# In the future – BLACK MOUNTAIN (2008)
# Woven Hand – WOVEN HAND (2002)
# The Weirding – ASTRA (2009)
# Witchcraft - WITCHCRAFT (2004)
# Firewood - WITCHCRAFT (2005)
# II – ESPERS (2006)
# Things we lost in the fire – LOW (2001)
# The man on the burning tightrope – FIREWATER (2003)
# Black-Wave – LOST SOUNDS (2001)
# Lost Sounds – LOST SOUNDS (2004)
# Graveyard – GRAVEYARD (2008)

Also two outstanding live albums: Paul Weller & Opeth. The decade I got to know (fantastic) English folk (Spirogyra, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Trees, …), fully appreciate progressive rock (Pink Floyd, Camel, Caravan, Spring, Genesis, King Crimson, Kansas, …), realise 80’s metal is still the best metal of all and finally got to know … Bruce Springsteen. On a disappointing note: not one Classic rock or metal-band made a truly memorable album …



BART DE ROO

# Under and Under – BLANK DOGS
# Hex Dispensers – HEX DISPENSERS
# The Goodnight Loving – THE GOODNIGHT LOVING
# Midnight World – BLACK TIME
# Black Wave – LOST SOUNDS
# Porcella – THE DEADLY SNAKES
# The Western Lands - GRAVENHURST
# The Real New Fall LP – THE FALL
# Whiskey Flower – THE GOLDEN BOYS
# The Trials of Van Occupanther - MIDLAKE
# American IV: The Man Comes Around – JOHNNY CASH
# Time Bomb Highschool – REIGNING SOUND
# Guts of Steel – BRIMSTONE HOWL
# Our Love to Admire - INTERPOL
# Let It Bloom – BLACK LIPS


KEVIN DECOSTER

# Cellscape – MELT BANANA
# Yaweh of the Highway – ARAB ON RADAR
# Black One – SUNN O)))
# Six Litanies for Heliogabalas – JOHN ZORN
# Witchcraft Today – ELECTRIC WIZARD
# White Chalk – PJ HARVEY
# Fordlandia – JOHAN JOHANSSON
# 1000 Hurts - SHELLAC
# Defexiones Will & Testament – DIAMANDA GALAS
# MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE
# Dancer in the Dark OST - BJÖRK
# Dead Hills – WOLF EYES
# Drums not Dead - LIARS
# You Are There – MONO
# Conference of the Birds – OM


WIM COTTENIER

# Hex Dispensers - HEX DISPENSERS (Alien Snatch lp)
# Marked Men - MARKED MEN (Rip Off Records lp)
# Something to Crow About – THE RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS (Gearhead Records lp)
# Ten inch - SMUT PEDDLERS (Dead Beat Records 10”)
# Young, Tight & Alright - DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS (Spooky Records cd)
# Carbonas - CARBONAS (Raw Deluxe lp)
# Machine Gun - DRUGSTOP (P Trash 7”)
# Lose It - RETAINERS (P Trash 7”)
# Feast of Shame - BRUTAL KNIGHTS (P Trash lp)
# Here comes... – HEARTATTACKS (P Trash lp)
# American IV: The Man Comes Around – JOHNNY CASH (American lp)
# Demos - PERIPHERIQUE EST (Self released lp)
# Wheelchair Album – THE SPITS (Slovenly lp)
# Plastic Girls – THE MINDS (Alien Snatch lp)
# Hit After Hit – THE BRIEFS (Dirtnap Recors lp)


JAY HINMAN

# Sistema de Termancion Sexual – XYX 7” EP
# Blueberry Boat – FIERY FURNACES
# Numbers Life - NUMBERS
# Present the Paisley Reich – TIMES NEW VIKING
# Shrinking Moon For You – WOODEN SHJIPS 12”EP
# Seperated By Motorways / Big Infatuation – THE LONG BLONDES 45
# Make Out, Fall Out, Make Up – LOVE IS ALL 45
# Description of ther Harbor – SIC ALPS
# O – TILLY AND THE WALL
# Grass Widow – GRASS WIDOW
# Relentless Machines/Blasphemer’s Union – TOMAS FUNCTION ” 45
# Between You & Me – FABIENNE DEL SOL
# Fast Metabolism - TYVEK
# Songs III: Bird on the Water – MARISSA NADLER
# Problems – NOTHING PEOPLE 7”EP


M&M

1. Memphis Is Dead – LOST SOUNDS (2000)
2. Wolf In Sheeps Clothing – JOSEPHINE FOSTER (2004)
3. A Real Good One – THE LITTLE KILLERS (2006)
4. Aman Iman: Water Is Life – TINARIWEN (2007)
5. White African – OTIS TAYLOR (2000)
6. What Have You Done My Brother – NAOMI SHELTON AND THE GOSPEL QUEENS (2009)
7. Arrived in Gold - SIGHTINGS (2004)
8. Porcella – THE DEADLY SNAKES (2005)
9. Piercing The Veil – WILLIAM PARKER & HAMID DRAKE (2001)
10.Prinzhorn Dance School – PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL (2007)
11.World Without Tears – LUCINDA WILLIAMS (2003)
12.Blackout – BLACK TIME (2004)
13.Honour Valour Pride – BOLT THROWER (2000)
14.Diary of an Afro Warrior – BENGA (2008)
15.Rare Wood – SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN (2004)


STEVEN VDW

1. Memphis Is Dead – LOST SOUNDS (Big Neck '00)
2. Is This It – THE STROKES (RCA '01)
3. Let it Bloom - BLACK LIPS (In The Red '06)
4. Help – THE OH SEES (In The Red '09)
5. The Sophtware Slump – GRANDADDY (V2 '00)
6. Figure 8 – ELLIOTT SMITH (Dream Works Records '00)
7. Porcella – THE DEADLY SNAKES (In The Red '06)
8. White Blood Cells – THE WHITE STRIPES (Sympathy '01)
9. Midnight World – BLACK TIME (In The Red '06)
10.The King Khan & BBQ Show LP – THE KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW (Goner '04 )
11.Is A Woman - LAMBCHOP(City Slang '02)
12.Black-Wave – LOST SOUNDS (Empty '01)
13.Real Gone – TOM WAITS (Anti '04)
14.Bandana Trash – LIVE FAST DIE (Dead Beat '06)
15.Ta Det Lugnt – DUNGEN (Subliminal Sounds '04)


MARTIN VANTOMME

# Hit After Hit - THE BRIEFS
# Hex Dispensers - HEX DISPENSERS
# Hope For Men - PISSED JEANS
# The Lamps - THE LAMPS
# Butcher and the Butterfly - QUEEN ADREENA
# Petite Tu Es Un Hit - THE FEELING OF LOVE
# Is this it - THE STROKES
# Third - PORTISHEAD
# Punkrock at the British Legion Hall - BILLY CHILDISH & MUSICIANS O/T BRITISH EMPIRE
# LIVE BATACLAN PARIS 1972 – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (2x picture disc)
# Elephant – THE WHITE STRIPES
# XTRMNTR – PRIMAL SCREAM
# Deep in the Hole - MASTERS OF REALITY
# The Spits - THE SPITS
# American IV: The Man Comes Around – JOHNNY CASH


JASPER DE WILDE

1. Red Lite – MR AIRPLANE MAN (SFTRI)
2. The Horrors – THE HORRORS (ITR)
3. Black Lips – BLACK LIPS (Bomp!)
4. The Essential Fucked Up Blues! – THE IMMORTAL LEE COUNTY KILLERS (Estrus)
5. The Spits – THE SPITS (Slovenly)
6. The Fatals – THE FATALS (Yakisakana)
7. Thee Cavemen Sessions – THEE FLYING DUTCHMEN (Boom Boom of Renton)
8. Blackout – BLACK TIME (Concrete Life)
9. Tunnel of Love – TUNNEL OF LOVE (ECA)
10.In de Winkel – THE KRUNCHIES (Criminal IQ)
11.Yes. No. Shut It. – THE HUNCHES (ITR)
12.Grab Them Cakes – THE MISTREATERS (Big Neck)
13.Yer Last record – CHEATER SLICKS (Secret Keeper)
14.Rat's Brains and Microchips – LOST SOUNDS (Empty)
15.Tyrades - TYRADES (Broken Rekids)


BART BIZEUR

# White African – OTIS TAYLOR
# Leviathan - MASTODON
# Surrounded By Thieves – HIGH ON FIRE
# Zeïbekiko - DIMITRIS MITROPANOS, THEMIS ADAMANTIDIS, DIMITRIS BASIS
# War Crime Blues/Weed – CHRIS WHITLEY
# The Living Ground - LHASA
# Paseo De Los Castaños - TOMATITO
# Cositas Buenas - PACO DE LUCÍA
# Shine – DANIEL LANOIS
# Those Once Loyal – BOLT THROWER
# Slingshot Professionals - KELLY JOE PHELPS
# Downhome Sophisticate – CORREY HARRIS
# The Deep End, Vol. 1 – GOV’T MULE
# The Road We’re On – SONNY LANDRETH
# African Roots – MICHAEL ROSE


GUY PETERS

# The Argument – FUGAZI
# Live at the Performance Center – RAINER PTACEK
# American V: A Hundred Highways – JOHNNY CASH
# Crack The Skye - MASTODON
# The Narcotic Story - OXBOW
# Six Litanies for Heliogabalas – JOHN ZORN
# Here Come The Miracles – STEVE WYNN
# Songs for the Deaf – QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
# Given To The Rising - NEUROSIS
# Smile – BRIAN WILSON
# Phanerothyme – MOTORPSYCHO
# and then nothing turned itself inside-out – YO LA TENGO
# The Dirty South – DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
# Stay Positive – THE HOLD STEADY
# All the Falsest Hearts can try – CENTRO-MATIC


LUKE BATARANG

1. Time Bomb High School – REIGNING SOUND (In The Red Records 2002)
2. I’m Not Your Soldier Anymore – DEADLY SNAKES (In The Red Records 2001)
3. Elephant – THE WHITE STRIPES (V2 Records 2003)
4. Is this it – THE STROKES (RCA Records 2001)
5. The Ape of Naples - COIL (Threshold Records 2005)
6. Wheels On Fire – WHEELS ON FIRE (Rosa Records 2006)
7. Doctor Velvet – NICK CURRAN (Blind Pig Records 2003)
8. Brain Jail – LUIS & THE WILDFIRES (Norton Records 2008)
9. Shift – NASUM (Relapse Records 2004)
10.Corridors & Parallels – DAVID S. WARE (Aum Fidelity 2001)
11.Black Wave – THE LOST SOUNDS (Empty Records 2001)
12.Mutilation Nation - CPC GANGBANGS (Alien8 Recordings 2007)
13.Aman Iman: Water Is Life - TINARIWEN (Independiente 2006)
14.Raining on the Moon – WILLIAM PARKER QUARTET (Thirsty Ear 2002)
15.Vignettes - MARILYN CRISPELL (ECM 2008)