Top 50 Albums of the Decade

With the 00's coming to a close, I thought it would be fun to rank my Top 50 albums of the Decade. I have seen several top 50 lists in recent weeks that have frustrated me by their constant focus on hip-hop and rap and so many wonderful pop, folk, rock, and christian albums are being overlooked. I am not after the top selling albums with this list but quite simply the best top to bottom albums that I heard during the decade. The rules that I used to generate this list are as follows: 1. The album had to be released sometime from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2009. 2. The album could not be a greatest hits or box-set of previously released material. I welcome your critique of the list as I am very aware that everyone's list would be different. It is very daunting to put a list like this together and I am sure that I have left one or two albums off of here that I should have included. This is my best crack at this-no list is perfect. Enjoy!

50. "Winter Pays for Summer"-Glenn Phillips(2005): The former lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket released this beautiful record in the spring of 2005. Songs like "Duck and Cover" and "Courage" are among some of the best songs of the decade. I love the line, "Seems like life is a palindrome, cry when you die and cry when you're born. In between its all about the ups and downs-add them all together and they cancel each other out."

49. "Waiting by the Window"-Ryan Long(2000): This masterpiece by Ryan Long was released in 2000 and contains such classics as "Snow White", "Gypsy", and the beautiful Pierce Pettis cover, "Family". Ryan released several high quality albums this decade but this one stands out from them all.

48. "Jacksonville City Nights"-Ryan Adams and The Cardinals: Back in 2005, Ryan Adams put out a trilogy of albums: "Cold Roses", "Jacksonville City Nights" and "29". Jacksonville was the second of those albums released and really stands out as one of the few alt country albums that rocks like a rock and roll album. Highlights include, "A Kiss Before I Go", "The Hardest Part", and "Silver Bullets". Cold Roses is also notable in that it was a double album and marvelous. But this album stands above anything that he did this decade.

47. "A Place Where you Belong"-The Normals(2002): This Andrew Osenga and Cason Cooley led band broke up soon after this album but this album is about as strong as anything they ever put out. Osenga has put out some amazing albums this decade including "Photographs". On this album, highlights are "I'll Be Home Soon", "Romeo on the Radio", "King", and "Brittle Bone".

46. "Casting Crowns"-Casting Crowns(2003)-This is probably the most successful Christian band of the decade and it was with this debut album that Casting Crowns broke all kinds of records. Highlights are "Who am I", "If We are the Body", and their best song, "Voice of Truth".

45. "Universal United House of Prayer"-Buddy Miller(2004) and "Written in Chalk"(2009)-Buddy Miller and his wife Julie Miller are some of the most overlooked musicians around these days. This album released in 2004 is really a gospel folk album that is solid from top to bottom. Highlights include the gorgeous "Fire and Water" and the Mark Heard classic, "Worry Too Much". The Miller's recently released their beautiful, "Written in Chalk" this year. I am including both at #45.

44. "Before the Daylight's Shot"-Ashley Cleveland(2006)-Ashley Cleveland is probably the best voice in Christian/Gospel music these days and she has won 3 Grammy Awards over the past decade and a half and she is nominated for another one this year. This album just flows perfectly from song to song. Highlights are "Queen of Soul", "Streams of Mercy", and "The Blessing". This album won the 2008 Grammy Award for best Rock Gospel Album-they finally got one right!

43. "The Rising"-Bruce Springsteen(2002): This is a classic album from the boss. Released shortly after the 9/11 attacks, this albums 15 songs represents some of his finest songwriting of his career after a long drought before this release. This album will stand the test of time when we look back on his career.

42. "Pilgrim Days-Indelible Grace II"-Various Artists(2001): There have been so many worship CD's come out this decade that we could not even begin to count them all. The Indelible Grace series is the best worship music but on CD in my opinion this decade. Done by the Christ Community College Ministry, Volume II offers some of the most memorable worship music in quite some time with songs like, "Thy Mercy My God", "Free Grace" and "God Be Merciful". In an industry where a lot of worship music is commercialized, this is a rare example of the exact opposite of that model.

41. "Before the Robots"-Better Than Ezra(2005)-I will never forget listening to this album for the first time. It was on a very hot summer's night with my good friend Nick Walburn and we loved it at first listen. This is the quintessential summer album and it contains the classics, "A Lifetime", "Our Finest Year", and the cool "Juicy". Nick and I had a lot of fun with this album on our radio show during the summer of 2007 but this is by far Better Than Ezra's best CD.

40. "I am Sam"-Soundtrack-Various Artists(2001)-The I am Sam soundtrack is the only soundtrack on my list but this is not your typical soundtrack. The interpretations of these Beatles songs was so well done. Highlights include "Blackbird" by Sarah McLachlin and "I'm Looking Through You" by the Wallflowers.

39. "Songs from the West Coast"-Elton John(2001)-It may shock some people to see an Elton John album on this list but this is seriously one of his best records period. Coming out in 2001, it may be his last true rock album before he retires. This album includes his best song in 20 years, "Original Sin" and the memorable "Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes". Even if you don't like Elton John, you will probably like this album.

38. "Say You Will"-Fleetwood Mac(2003)-Hard to believe that a Fleetwood Mac album made this list but this is just a fantastic CD. My good friend Chris Scott and I played this album to death during the summer of 2003 and still listen to it together some 6 years later. There is a fascinating documentary called, "Destiny Rules" that talks about how hard this album was to make. Whatever the case, this is one of their best albums and one of my favorites of the decade.

37. "Not All Who Wander Are Lost"-Chris Thile(2001): This is the only instrumental album to make this list and it is a gem. Released in 2001, Thile was the lead man for Nickel Creek and this is his masterpiece in my opinion. Each song is textured with his mandolin playing and the melodies and hooks are very interesting and complex. This is a great album to listen to on a rainy day.

36.
"Up"-Peter Gabriel(2002): From what I have read, this album took over 10 years to make and it is one of the most complex records I have ever heard. There is no middle ground here-you either like this or you don't and I think it is a brilliant work of art from a pioneer in pop/rock music.

35. "The Killers"-Hot Fuss(2005): Truthfully, I am not a huge Killer's fan but this album is hard to pass up on for one of the best of the decade. There is really not a bad song on here and highlights include, "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It", "Somebody Told Me" and my favorite, "All These Things That I've Done". Some of their most recent material has stunk but this album is a classic.

34. "The Hymnal"-Randall Goodgame(2002): Randall Goodgame is one of our favorite artists and he put out some amazing stuff this decade. "The Hymnal" is one of my wife's favorite albums of all time---it is her desert island disk. You will never grow tired of listening to these original worship tunes such as "This is my father's world", "John 11" and the haunting "Jerusalem". Randall actually has two albums on this list.

33. "Living in Skin"-Jason Harrod(2000): This is Jason Harrod's first solo album after the breakup of Harrod and Funck. This album was a classic right from the beginning with songs like, "Waiting for my Day", "Lifeline" and "When I Get Home". He released another album, "Bright as You" which was amazing as well. Who will ever forget the Mark Heard produced Harrod and Funck album, "Dreams of the Color Blind"-their classic from 1992.

32."Ohio"-Over the Rhine(2003)Haunting, deep, and haunting again best describe this double CD from the rock duo Over the Rhine. This is the only double album to make this list but this album received 5 star reviews when it came out in 2003. Give this one listen and you will see why it is on this list. Personal favorite, "She".

31. "The Eleventh Hour"-Jars of Clay(2002). Even after their latest record, "The Long Fall Back to Earth" and the amazing, "Good Monsters", I still think this is their best record to date. This album flows so well from top to bottom. This album was followed by the fun companion, "Furthermore" which contains some great alternate versions of songs from this album. This album also contains one of their best songs, "The Edge of Water" and their best singles to date, "I Need You" and "Fly".

30."All That You Can't Leave Behind"-U2(2000): This was the decade of U2 and they released so many good albums. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" and the wonderful "No Line on the Horizon" were amazing records(No Line almost made this list). But it was this 2000 release that was their best of the decade. Songs like "Walk On", "Elevation" and "When I Look at the World" are reasons for that. This song was a ton of grammy's in 2001.

29. "A Rush of Blood to the Head"-Coldplay(2002): Even if you are not a Coldplay fan(which I am not a huge one), you have to appreciate the ground that this album broke in 2002. This album contains some of their most well known songs such as "The Scientist" and their best song, "Clocks". I also must point out the very interesting album cover.

28. "O"-Damien Rice(2003): This album will put you in a trance. Damien Rice outdid himself on this recording. Listen to "The Blower's Daughter", "Older Chests" and "Aime". This one will be talked about thirty years from now!

27. "Writing on the Wall"-Jill Phillips(2003): Jill Phillips is one of my favorite voices in Christian music these days and this 2003 album cemented that opinion for me. Maturity and deep lyrics make this album stand out from her others. I remember the night I bought this-I took it back to camp with me and listened to it for most of the evening.

26. "War and Peace"-Randall Goodgame(2005): Randall Goodgame took the theme from the peanuts and wrote a beautiful record back in 2005. Some of these songs appeared on the Caedmon's Call album, "Share the Well" including the song of the same title. The cool thing about this album is that kids from 10 years old to people in their 80's can appreciate this kind of writing.

25. "Great Big World"-Pierce Pettis(2004): It is hard to ignore the amazing Pierce Pettis on this list. This gem came out in 2004 and includes the classics, "Alabama 1959", the Mark Heard, "Another Day in Limbo", and "Shady Grove". This is one of two Pettis albums on this list.

24. "Stumble Into Grace"-Emmylou Harris(2003): Emmylou Harris has the voice of an angel and that is the case with her 2003 release. Highlights include, "Can You Hear Me Now", "Strong Hand", and one of my all time favorite's, "Cup of Kindness". This is one of three albums from her on this list.

23. "Share the Well"-Caedmon's Call(2005)-When this album came out, I remember that it received poor reviews from several publications. If you listen to this album four years later, you will see why those people were fools. This is Caedmon's Call's best album to date and when you consider the subject matter behind the record and what the significance behind the title, there are few Christian albums like this in existence. "Mother India" stands out as one of their best songs period--this album is a must have.

22. "1000 Kisses"-Patty Griffin(2002): This is the album the album that introduced me to the amazing Patty Griffin. Songs like "Rain", "Chief" and "The Long Ride Home" have cemented Griffin as one of the best songwriters around now. This album is so poetic and it best listened to on a day when you are bored because you will get lost in her beautiful voice. This is one of two albums from her on this list.

21. "You've Never Seen Everything"-Bruce Cockburn(2003): Besides some of the coolest cover art you will ever see, this album is Classic Cockburn. Bruce has released several albums this decade("Speechless" was great) but this one was by far his most complete and poetic work. Songs like, "Tried and Tested", "Open", "Put it in your heart", and my all time fav, "Messenger Wind" cemented this as the 21st best album of the 00's decade! Check out this guys catalog of music--he has been around since the 70's!

20. "Red Dirt Girl"-Emmylou Harris(2000): This was a grammy award winning album released in 2000 and it just about a perfect album. Highlights include the surreal, "The Pearl", "Michelangelo", "Red Dirt Girl", "My Antonia", and "Boy From Tupelo". No one alive sings any better than Emmylou Harris and this is one of her best solo albums of her career.

19. "Raising Sand"-Robert Plant and Allison Kraus-(2007). The irony of this albm being at #19 is that I hated it upon first listen. At the time, I was dating Alex and I wanted to give her this CD because I thought it was awful. But as with some albums, you have to listen to them 4-5 times before you "get them". This is an incredible CD as it won 5-6 Grammy Awards in 2007 and in 2008. Highlights include the haunting, "Killing the Blues", "Please Read the Letter", "Fortune Teller", and "Rich Woman". They simply don't make records like this very often and I hear that they are working on a follow up.

18. "Ending is Beginning"-Downhere(2008)--This is our families favorite Christian band right now. The guys from Downhere put out near perfect albums every time out. Their "Wide Eyed and Mystified"(2006-almost made this list) was top notch but this 2008 album is about as air tight as it gets. Highlights include, "Here I Am", "Hope is Rising", and "All at War" are Downhere classics. I love the dual lead vocals in this group and their lyrics are quite deep and unique. Check these guys out if you haven't heard them and also check out their new Christmas album, "How Many Kings". There are few bands as good as these guys.

17."The Tiki Bar is Open"-John Hiatt(2001)-John Hiatt is awesome and this is by far his best album of the past two decades. There is literally not a bad song on here. Songs like "Everybody Went Low", "All the Lilacs in Ohio", and "Come Home to You" spun in my car almost every week back in 2001. He would be hard pressed to make a better album than this.

16.
Music For Missions(2003-2009)-"A Remedy Raised"---"All This Time", "Under Green Canopies", "From the Shoulders of Giants". Because I couldn't differentiate between these epic four albums from the incredible Eric Parker and his musical colleagues, I have decided to include all four albums at #16 for the decade. Eric Parker started his label, Music For Missions in 2003. The unique thing about his label is that 2/3 of the profits form the sales of these albums goes towards World Missions---how many companies are doing that these days. In a world where there is so much selfishness, Parker has developed a model that I believe God is going to use and develop for the next 20-30 years-and hopefully longer. His first album, "A Remedy Raised" is his best in my opinion. Packed with his best songwriting to date, this album set the stage for this wonderful ministry. This album contains my all time favorite Parker tune, "Draw Me". "All This Time" is a compilation album that contains a wide assortment of independent artists. The highlight on this record is the chilling, "Under the Sun". "Under Green Canopies" features the multi-talented Christopher Slaten in what Parker claims might be the best album his label has released. Besides the best cover art of the decade, Slaten displays his impressive songwriting ability and "Paul Simon" singing ability. He is also a mighty fine brother in law. Finally, the 2008 epic, "From the Shoulders of Giants" features 10 ancient hymns that Parker has set to original music---worship that leaps straight to your heart. The highlight from this record is without a doubt, "O Sons and Daughters". I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this label!

15. "Get Lucky"-Mark Knopfler(2009): Mark Knopfler was the lead singer of the group Dire Straights and his last few solo albums have been among my favorites. 2007's "Kill To Get Crimson" was a great listen but this years, "Get Lucky" is an instant classic(as some other magazine called it). Knopfler's guitar and songwriting are in top form and his voice has never sounded better. What makes this album remarkable is the mix of celtic and rock that somehow works perfectly. Highlights include, "Border Reiver", "Cleaning My Gun", "Monteleone", "Remembrance Day", "Get Lucky", and the beautiful celtic benediction, "Piper To The End". One of 2009's best!

14. "Conversations"-Sara Groves(2000): What can I say about Sara Groves. I think she is the best female Christian song writer alive today and that is no exaggeration. She has put out a whopping 7 albums this decade and they are all tremendous examples of songwriting. Her most recent, "Fireflies and Songs" is set to become another classic. It was hard to pick which album to include on this list but 'Conversations" really set the bar for her this decade. What makes Groves so unique is that her lyrics are brutally honest and there is never anything sugar coated about her songs. How many artists do you know that write songs about having a fight with their spouse? Conversations will take you on a spiritual journey no doubt.

13.
"She Must and Shall Go Free"-Derek Webb(2003): You know you have hit a nerve when your album is banned from some Christian bookstores. Few albums struck a chord like this one this decade. Songs like, "Wedding Dress" and "Lover" slap you in the face as Webb is not afraid to discuss so called taboo Christian truths. I remember that a lot of people compared the writing on this record to Bob Dylan and I think they are right. If you want to be challenged to the nth degree, listen to this album!

12.
"Black Cadillac"-Rosanne Cash(2006): This is the only country album on my list but this album transcends all genres. Written as a tribute to her late father, Johnny Cash, this is one of the most beautiful albums that you will ever hear. Each song as some remnant of the longing for the past and the pain in saying goodbye. Nominated for a grammy award in 2007(it should have won several), this is one of Cash's best records.

11. "Summershine"-Vigilantes of Love-What gives for Bill Mallonee and Vigilantes of Love? After the tumultuous and genius, "Audible Sigh" was released in 1998 and 1999(one of the best records of the 90's released 3 different times) VOL came back with their most ambitious and tight record of their career. Unfortunately for us, this was the last VOL ever made to date and it is one of their best. Mallonee threw us a change up on this one with a Brit-Pop record with 13 tracks and probably 8-9 radio singles. Sadly, this album came out right around 9/11 and Compass Records decided to allow the record to die. If you have any way to get this album, I promise you that you are in for a treat. Since 01, Mallonee has released several solo albums and independent EP's.

10. "Magic"-Bruce Springsteen(2007): In my book, this is the best Springsteen album since Nebraska. Every song is hooky and it set to lyrics that are unforgettable. This album also contains the song, "You'll be coming down"-my all time favorite(why this was never a single is a mystery to me) and the grammy award winning, "Girls in Their Summer Clothes". When the boss stays away from his annoying liberal beliefs and message, he can be a lot of fun to listen to and this is the kind of album that everyone should take the the beach during the summer.

9. "The Beauty of the Rain"-Dar Williams(2003): Back in 2003, I walked into a Barnes and Noble and heard this album playing. I had heard Dar Williams but I had no idea what she sounded like. Upon hearing, "The World's Not Falling Apart", I asked the clerk, who is this? I previewed the album and bought it immediately. This is one of the most poignant and beautiful album in the last 10 years that I have heard. Dar Williams is quite a talent. She has released 2 albums since this one and they are solid as well("My Better Self" and "Promised Land")

8. "This Side"-Nickel Creek(2002): I had a friend who told me that this album was as good as anything the Beatles had put out. I am not sure about that but it is without a doubt one of the best I've heard this decade. It is a shame that this band has broken up but the left us with some great albums. On "This Side", we are greeted with a mixture of instrumentals(Smoothie Song) and great vocal tracks(This Side, and the witty Spit on a Stranger). This album broke the mold of the nonsense that was coming out around the 2002 time period. I am hoping that this group will get back together and make some more music like this.

7. "Stockholm Syndrome"-Derek Webb(2009): I am blown away by this record. This is the most ambitious, unique, and trippy record that I have heard since "Satellite Sky" by Mark Heard. When I first heard this album in the summer, it gave me a headache because I was not prepared to process it. But after listening to songs like, "Cobra Con", "Black Eye", and the amazing, "What Matters Most", I quickly embraced this work of art. This is the only Christian album I know of that literally has curse words in it and his label supposedly refused to initially release it(although I think it was a publicity stunt). Webb came out with two versions(a clean version and the original). Whatever the case, check this album out if you want to be challenged and amazed.

6. "Impossible Dream"-Patty Griffin(2004): I actually bought this album without ever listening to it because I loved the cover art. I am thankful that I did buy it because this is by far Griffin's best album of her career. This album contains her best song, "Useless Desires", and also the classics, "Kite Song", "When It Don't Come Easy", and "Top of the World". It is hard to sum up in words just how good her songs and voice are.

5. "Illinois"-Sufjan Stevens(2005): By friend Nick Walburn played this album over the loud speaker one summers day in 2005 and I thought I was listening to music from another planet. Little did I know that I was listening to one of the most remarkable words in the past 20 years. This is a revolutionary album and is unlike anything you will ever hear. If you are brave enough to dive this album a chance, you will not be sorry. Enough said.

4. "Love and Thunder"-Andrew Peterson(2003): I remember when my friend Eric Parker and I listened to this album back in 2003--we were both almost moved to tears. I also remember when my friend Drew Campbell got married to the song, "Canaan Bound" and how I almost shed a few tears at that event. Simply put, this album will make you cry. Every song is a classic including the unforgettable, "Family Man", "High Noon", "The Silence of God", and "After the Last Tear Falls". This is a resurrection album and my only regret is that the full version of, "Holy is the Lord" doesn't appear here(it appears on the City on a Hill album, "The Gathering"). AP released a whopping 7 albums this decade and this is his best. Honorable mention have to go to, "The Far County" and "Clear to Venus".

3. "State of Grace"-Pierce Pettis(2001): Some people have told me that this is their all time favorite Pierce record. I could not disagree with that(mine is 1993's Chase the Buffalo). I remember seeing Pettis perform these songs in Birmingham in 2002 and I just couldn't believe how good they sounded live. Songs like, "State of Grace", "A Mountaineer is Always Free", "Little River Canyon", and my favorite, "Georgia Moon" make this an epic album. Any Pettis album is a treat(as is the case with his new one, "That Kind of Love"), but this one stands out as one of his best!

2. "All the Roadrunning"-Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler(2006): Who would have ever dreamed up this duo? This album was in the works for years before it became a reality in 2006. I drove to Walmart one night to buy this album and I instantly loved it. From the opening, "Beachcombing", to, "This is Us", and "All the Roadrunning", to, "Beyond My Wildest Dreams", this is my favorite non-Christian album of the 00's bar none! I can guarantee that twenty years from now, my son and I will be listening to this album and loving it!

1.


"Behold the Lamb of God"-Andrew Peterson(2004/2009): This is one of the best albums that I have EVER heard, let alone the best of the decade. I have heard this Christmas album performed live at the Ryman twice now and I can honestly say that I can see God's children singing these songs in heaven. The crazy thing about this Christmas album is that I listen to it during all four seasons because it is that good. Thank you Andrew Peterson for creating a work of art that enables me to worship by God in a way that relates to both the Christmas season and beyond. This album was recently re-released in a re-mastered and live format.

Honorable Mentions that Just Barely Missed:
1. The Crane's Wife-The Decemberists
2. I see Things Upside Down-Derek Webb
3. The Chieftains-Down the Old Plank Road
4. U2-How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
5. U2-No Line on the Horizon
6. Magic Time-Van Morrison
7. All That We Let In-Indigo Girls
8. Tell Me What You Know-Sara Groves
9. Resurrection Letters Vol II-Andrew Peterson
10. Clear to Venus-Andrew Peterson
11. The Beautiful Letdown-Switchfoot
12. Children Running Through-Patty Griffin
13. Midnight and Lonesome-Buddy Miller
14. When Silence Falls-Tim Highes
15. The Builder and the Architect-Sandra McCarcken
16. On The Road to Beautiful-Charlie Hall
17. Good Monsters-Jars of Clay
18. Wide Eyed and Mystified-Downhere
19. Life in Slow Motion-David Gray
20. It's Not Big, It's Large-Lyle Lovett
21. Devils and Dust-Bruce Springsteen