The Decade, Volume '03-'08

So, bla-dee-bla-bla, it's 2010 and we never wrapped up our decade project highlighting our favorite albums of the past 10 years. So rather than drag this thing out into 2011, we thought we'd give you a concentrated dose with 2003-2008 in one shot right here and follow that with a wrap up of '09 sometime early next week (don't hold your breath). Again, we apologize for hanging this thing out to dry for so long, but we promise you it'll all be worth it in the end. Let's do this!

2003

Jay-Z - The Black Album

Hova's swan song wasn't just a farewell to the game and but also a final declaration of his supremacy in said game. It ain't boasting if it's true and in this case it was most definitely true. From beginning to end, Jay's lyrics and delivery were second to none. Though he would be back just a few years later, The Black Album was truly his finest hour. Highlights include "Encore," "What More Can I Say, " and "Lucifer."

Four More

The Postal Service - Give Up

Atmosphere - Seven's Travels

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell

The Black Keys - Thickfreakness

2004

Arcade Fire - Funeral

What can be said about this album that hasn't already been said? Beautiful, soaring, anthemic. This album will shake the ground beneath your feet. One of the great debuts of all time. Highlights: "Wake Up" and "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)."

Four More

Danger Mouse - The Grey Album

The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free

Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News

Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

2005

Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Both a document and a response to the time in which in it was made. Conor Oberst's lyrics capture the angst and confusion in the air after four years of Bush with four more to come. Killer music doesn't hurt either. Highlights: "Lua," "Another Travelin' Song," and "Road To Joy."

Four More

Death Cab For Cutie - Plans

Kanye West - Late Registration

Spoon - Gimme Fiction

Nine Inch Nails - [With Teeth]

2006

Cat Power - The Greatest

Recorded with Chan Marshall's new Dirty Delta Blues Band, The Greatest served as a turning point for Cat Power. The southern rhythm & blues backdrop provided the perfect environment to transition Chan's once angsty sultry voice into a Dirty Delta sultry voice. Highlights: "The Greatest," "Lived In Bars," and "Where Is My Love."

Four More

Thom Yorke - The Eraser

Beirut - The Gulag Orkestar

TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain

Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways

2007

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

For the band's sixth full-length, Wilco peeled back layers of sonics to reveal subtle beauty and an incredibly tight group of musicians (musically speaking). Now, greatness is nothing new to Jeff Tweedy & Co. but here the music seems to exist on a higher plane, as if the sum of the parts is something much grander than one would have expected from the sum of the parts. Highlights: Every. Single. Song.

Four More

Radiohead - In Rainbows

M.I.A. - Kala

Feist - The Reminder

Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone

2008

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago,

Written in recovery. Recorded in solitude. Haunting your mornings and your evenings. Like a thought you've had but haven't found the words to express, these songs have journeyed with you through life, you just didn't know it until now. Tears of sorrow. Tears of joy. Tears.

Four More

Portishead - Third

Girl Talk - Feed The Animals

Santogold

TV On The Radio - Dear Science