The Decade, Volume '00

The end is nigh! No, not that apocalyptic, fire-and-brimstone kind of end. The end of the decade is nigh. And as the 2000's come to a close, we at Airbag Radio are taking time to reflect on the past 10 years of music and all that our ears have enjoyed. For the next 10 weeks, we'll be featuring the best album of each year of the decade. It all starts here with Y2K, the millenium kickoff.

Radiohead - Kid A

Not only the best album of 2000, but likely the best album of the decade. At the time, Radiohead's Kid A was seen as a drastic departure from form for the band, however in retrospect, it can be seen more as a commitment to form as Thom Yorke & Co. continually pushed the envelope and moved in new directions with each subsequent release.

Kid A simultaneously embraces and pulls away from the dawning of new era. Drenched in electronic soundscapes, Thom Yorke's voice conjures up images of an old soul wrestling with our present future, a personal life lost in the magnitude of modern life. Does that make sense? No? It might after you listen to the album, or you may draw your own conclusions. Nonetheless, Kid A will make you uncomfortable, and in that discomfort you will likely arrive at a new understanding your world.

Beyond our artsy-farsty rambling-on, the music on this album straight kills. Dense beats, lofty beats, dense piano, lofty piano, muffled vocals, muddy vocals, strained vocals, soaring vocals. A true accomplishment in sound. Get your ears around this. Highlights include: "Everything In Its Right Place," "The National Anthem," and "Idioteque."

Four More

Here are four more greats from the year that was 2000.

The Hives - Veni Vidi Vicious

This one took a couple of years to catch on, but when it did it started a fire. All Rock. All Roll. All Rock & Roll. And matching suits to boot.

Deftones - White Pony

Sacto's finest move beyond the watered down metal scene of the late 90's, unleashing Chino's ethereal vocals and the bands atmospheric capabilities. At the same time White Pony never abandons the heavy core that makes Deftones Sacto's finest.

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

His greatness can't be denied and this was Eminem at his peak. The world hated him and he hated the world right back.

Coldplay - Parachutes

If you're a regular here at Airbag Radio, you know how much we hate Coldplay today, but there was once a time when these now-douchebags weren't concerned with pleasing all the soccer moms of the world. Parachutes is subtle, great, and subtly great.