2000 in music. • Page 3

That would be great, thank you!

 

Bummer that this doesn't appear to be on streaming. Guess I can find it on Youtube or something.

 

I'm not sure if this was widely known, and I missed it, but there's a series of re-recordings of early Bright Eyes records coming out shortly as "companion" releases, with additional guest vocals;

Bright Eyes | Secretly Store

Here's Haligh, A Lie with Phoebe Bridgers;

Might be interesting to see what he does to these old songs a couple of decades later. Always hard to hear new recordings of songs that you know so well though.

 

Here's a Youtube playlist. I have no idea why it's not on streaming.

 

Really surprised at the love of Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. That this full-on mid tempo bore Oasis for me but glad other people like it.

 

Fucking in the Bushes is a great openingn track. Thanks Snatch!

 

Well, in fairness - @phaynes12 and I are probably the two biggest Oasis fanboys on this site lol

All of their studio albums will be in the top 10 for me for the year they came out haha.

 

I don't lie about these things! I'll post a picture of it tonight when I get home from work!

 

this thread makes me wanna listen to nothing but boy bands and Limp Bizkit for a week straight lol.

 

Please indulge me in one of my long write-ups as these threads have given me a great opportunity for some old man musings.

01) LINKIN PARK - Hybrid Theory

I remember buying this on the day of release for like $7.99 (that was a STEAL in those days, kids). I understand the angst is a bit out-dated but there is no denying the attention to songcraft, production and the fact that both Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington precision-targeted their demons for the largest amount of appeal. The influence and reach of this record is crazy and I think it still holds up well 20 years later.

02) DEFTONES - White Pony

Insane leap in terms of artistic credibility and ambition with this one. Chino Moreno had hinted at being a Cure/Depeche Mode fan in interviews but this album found the Deftones embracing sounds outside of skate metal and the atmospheres created are just incredible. Sadly, it was a bit of a commercial dud (while still sold well) compared to their nu metal peers but time has proven they were right in taking these risks.

03) GREEN DAY - Warning

One of those albums that is claimed to be "under-rated" so much that it's practically over-rated at this point that's a separate conversation. Green Day were out of step with the current pop-punk trends and seen as a passe 90's trend by many casual listeners since both the mainstream and punk fans had long abandoned ship. The success of "Good Riddance" also freed them up to slow down their tempos, bring in acoustic instrumentation and essentially make a Green Day version of a Springsteen album.

04) RADIOHEAD - Kid A

Not much to add here that hasn't already been said but, if you were around in this era, this record was very controversial. It wasn't as universally acclaimed as OK Computer with many, particularly the British press, claiming this album was a self-indulgent mess. When you actually listen to it, it's really not THAT obtuse as there are still some songs that sound reminiscant of OK Computer and The Bends along with electronic experimentation. A grand statement made by a band who could have easily gone the U2/Coldplay route.

05) OUR LADY PEACE - Spiritual Machines

Similar to Kid A this was another concept record about how technology would severely impact our lives (and likely for the worst). Since Our Lady Peace did not have the critical clout nor the commercial base (at least in the US) it fell by the wayside but it's an incredible collection of late 90/early 00's alt-rock mixed in with musings from Ray Kurzweil's 1999 book of the same name (AND the band just released a sequel to this a few weeks back).

06) EVE 6 - Horrorscope

Probably the most uncool album on this list but I listened to this a ton in 2000-01. One slick alt-rock joint after another highlighted by Max Collin's obsessive wordplay.

07) COLDPLAY - Parachutes

People disappointed by Kid A and sick of Travis had this album for solace. It's the most compact and tender Coldplay album (and also the era of many great B-sides).

08) FINGER ELEVEN - The Greyest Of Blue Skies

Actually, this is probably the most uncool album but my friends and I were obsessed with this band thinking they were the most forward-thinking hard rock band (not true but we were young). This album is butt-rock done thoughtfully with an emphasis on songcraft and melody (as well as a cool Depeche Mode cover).

09) THE OFFSPRING - Conspiracy Of One

The Offspring learned their lesson the hard way by shying away from success on Ixnay On THe Hombre after they had a big record so with this one, they essentially did Americana on steroids. Everything is bigger, faster, broader and louder and it's the last front-to-back good record they've made.

10) FUEL - Something Like Human

I loved Fuel's debut so this was highly anticipated by me at the time. Nice balance of Drop-D rockers and melodic ballads. If you missed when the Goo Goo Dolls used the distortion pedal, this album satisfied that need.

11) A PERFECT CIRCLE - Mer De Noms

While we all waited for a new Tool record this was an interesting detour allowing Maynarad James Keenan to showcase more range on Billy Howerdel's moody post-grunge art-rock.

12) THE AVALANCHES - Since I Left You

Didn't get into this until adulthood but, wow, an incredible collage of sound and samples that plays so well together.

13) MARVELOUS 3 - ReadySexGo

Butch Walker and co. did the cheeky cock-rock thing about 3-4 years too early and most of his audience didn't get it. Chock full of big slutty glossy jams, this may be a better listen than Hey Album.

14) BAD RELIGION - The New America

Probably the most loathed album of the most loathed period of Bad Religion (which makes no sense given how bland and toothless No Substance was just two years earlier but I digress). To me, this album is shiny and bright with excellent production and a bigger focus on dynamics and melodies. "Hopeless Housewife" is one of my all-time favorite Bad Religion songs.

15) NEVE - Neve

I always like including one of these big major label releases that just never went anywhere. Neve played in the same sandbox as Vertical Horizon, Matchbox Twenty, Nine Days, etc. and the cover of this probably made people think like they were buying a boy-band album. Big glossy and shiny pop/rock songs with a bit of edge that hold up well (even if the ballads are a little corny).

16) GOLDFINGER - Stomping Ground

Ska/punk had disappeared from the mainstream but there were still plenty of bands cranking out excellent long-plays of jams. This is the most concise and energetic Goldfinger album to date.

17) NEW FOUND GLORY - New Found Glory

I think this album kicked off a whole scene of whine-y singers signed to drive-thru. Amazing listening back to this being a major label debut and how NOT polished it sounds. The youthful enthusiasm and puppy-dog lovesick melodies still hold up.

18) THE JULIANA THEORY - Emotion Is Dead

I first heard to term "emo" when hearing about this album. This led to The Juliana Theory getting a major label contract and for good reason. They sound fully formed and ready for arenas on this album. They never had the crossover of Jimmy Eat World but I imagine this supplied some late night comfort to a lot of teens (myself included).

19) THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Mass Romantic

Another I didn't discover until later but, in contrast to the slick alt-rock records above, this is a neat quirky power-pop record made be excellent indie songwriters.

20) PEARL JAM - Binaural

Someone mentioned this is the last "classic" Pearl Jam record and I'd agree with that. So many great slow-burning moody songs on here, I suspect influenced by Eddie Vedder's divorce. "Sleight Of Hand" is an all-timer.

Honorobale mentions because there was so much great stuff this year:

U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind

The singles bothered me at the time since I was a cynical 16-year-old and dismissed this as "music for lonely 45 year olds" (which is unfair). 20 years later, this is the most song-centric U2 album of the last 20 years.

SPOON - Girls Can Tell

If Spoon has ever put out a bad record, I've never heard it.

PAPA ROACH - Infest

If Side B were as strong as side A (seriously the run from "Infest" to "Blood Brothers" is excellent Faith No More inspired rap-rock) this would have my list. The secret track "Tightrope" is also excellent.

ZEBRAHEAD - Playmate Of The Year

Dumb and fun rap/rock influenced pop/punk. Oddly enough these guys were HUGE in Japan around this time (as in Blink 182 would play BEFORE them at festivals)

ORGY - Vapor Transmission

Similar to Infest, Side A is much better than side B but it's a major step up from Candyass.

LIMP BIZKIT - Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Loud, dumb, obnoxious and (mostly) fun, this was like an action movie getting a bigger and more bloated sequel. Unlike Significant Other, there isn't too much of the cloying self-pitying on this album and it's mainly Fred Durst swagger with a few cool ballad breaks.

THE HIVES - Veni Vidi Vicious

Gets a bit monotonous evne though it's short but taken in small doses, The Hives are a lot of fun.

THE CURE - Bloodflowers

And speaking of monotonous, The Cure basically just offered a fan-service record in 2000 full of long, moody and droning songs. That sounds like an insult but it's exactly what makes The Cure great.

AFI - The Art Of Drowning

Really where AFI started to inject more melody and theatrics into their music. You can hear the seeds of Sing The Sorrow planted in this one.

LESS THN JAKE - Borders And Boundaries

A bit of a let-down after Hello Rockview but still some all-timers on here.

 

That is the only song from this album I've ever heard Oasis do "live". Even on the Heaven Chemistry tour two years later, they pretty much abandoned both this and Be Here Now.

 

This song was always requested on Friday nights at Roller kingdom and any after a football game school dance, lol

 

Really appreciate someone else making some long write-ups haha. Few thoughts/responses:

1) "Rest Stop" is one of the best MB20 deep cuts of all time. Was really happy the one time I saw them they played it.

2) Five For Fighting guy does get punchline status as he was part of that soft rock movement of the early 00's. Is he one of those background songwriter guys these days? Feel like he has to be.

3) ReadySexGo is really great, wish I had caught them on that tour. Not sure why "Sugarbuzz" didn't land on radio with all the other nu metal stuff but I guess because it was partly celebratory while the big hits of those days ("Kryptonite", "Last Resort", "Otherside", etc) were all about the wallowing.

 

Great list man but you have these two flip-flopped

Also - very odd, I had Mass Romantic by New Pornographers as '01 - but in double checking, you are right, it was a 2000 release.

Lastly - Girls Can Tell is definitely a 2001 release - I panicked for a second when I saw it on your list lol

 

"Rest Stop" is such an interesting take on a breakup song. Thomas never got enough credit for being a really good songwriting.

I have no idea where the Five for Fighting guy is. I lost track of him after Slice in 2009. Apparently there was one record after that, in 2013. Felt like he got progressively less good each album.

"Sugarbuzz" was out of step with what was happening on radio at that time. I think Butch always said they were 10 years too late and five years too early, or something to that effect. Trying to think of what single from that album might have had a better shot, but kind of drawing a blank.

 

1. LL Cool J - G.O.A.T.

One of my favourite albums of all time. The first album I bought myself, when I was just a little kid. The reason I fell in love with Hip Hop, which had such a huge impact in my life. It's hard to imagine who and where I would be hadn't I picked up this album on that day on a whim.

I do not really have a firm ranked list after that right now, but for the sake of the thread:

2. Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
3. Ja Rule - Rule 3:36

More:

Jay Z - Dynasty: Roc-La-Familia
Trina - Da Baddest Bitch
Black Rob - Life Story
Common - Like Water for Chocolate
Big Pun - Yeeah Baby
Nelly - Country Grammar
Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought
Slum Village - Fantastic, Vol. 2
Black Eyed Peas - Bridging the Gap
Wu-Tang Clan - The W
Zion I - Mind Over Matter
Beanie Sigel - The Truth
Rah Digga - Dirty Harriet
M.O.P. - Warriorz
Ludacris – Back For The First Time
Craig David - David Born to Do It
Joe - My Name Is Joe
Musiq Soulchild - Aijuswanaseing
Boyz II Men - Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1
Romeo Must Die: The Album
New Found Glory - ST
Good Charlotte - ST
R. Kelly - TP-2.com

 

Holy hell, How did I forget about Craig David!?!?

 

It's fascinating to me that an album like Stankonia is far and away the cool or essential hip-hop release from this era with critics, but doesn't make the list for someone who is clearly a true hip-hop fan like @The Lucky Moose .

Edit also - that's not meant to be a dig whatsoever. If anything makes me question the validity of albums that are constantly ranked so high by critics.

 

If you're looking for the man that can
Go check all the girls messing up with your program
With lyrics that make you say damn
The booty man can

 

In Butch's book he talks about always being a few years early and I think for the most part that is pretty true until American Love Story haha

 

The man had a way with words

 

Well, to be fair, I forgot to add Stankonia to the list. However, I'm also not a huge Outkast fan (I acknowledge the brilliance and have listened to their albums plenty of times, but they were never one of my favorite groups/acts), so it would not have made my top 3 regardless.

Also I would say the Common album could also be that album for this year, Dilla/Soulquarians and all. I certainly prefer it over Stankonia.

Also fuck critics.

 

I can't wait for the 2003 thread where I can obsess over Fefe Dobson

 

I think that album would have missed the mark for me whenever it came out, but I got the advance of it like two weeks into quarantine in late March 2020, and that was NOT where my head was.

 

I cant believe I forgot about "we have the facts..." that would probably be number 3 for me