OTBKB Music: Best Albums of the Decade, Part One

This decade has been around for ten years now and we still don't have a name for it.  No, it will never, ever be called the aughts or the naughts.  The zeroes are a possibility, but I think eventually we'll settle on calling the last ten years the two thousands.  But no matter what it's called, these are the ten albums released during the past ten years I think were the best.  Presented in alphabetical order in two parts; part one is below:

Dan Bern – New American Language (2001): This album finds Dan singing about the Alaska Highway, playing with Keith Richards and hanging out with Britney Spears.  He also has a song in which he talks to God.  It's that latter song, God Said No, in which Dan shows what makes him a wonderful lyricist.  On this record, Dan's lyrics are all wrapped up in rock music that will make you move and smile and maybe even consider the metaphysical.

Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers (2008): A rocker who knows how to tell a story, this album finds Kathleen at the top of her game.  A remark by a friend suffering in a failing relationship gave rise to the title song.  Musically, Kathleen goes from solo acoustic to Neil Young like rockers and even plays a little violin.  A couple of all star players are on this record, including Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

The Hold Steady – The Boys and Girls in America (2006): I missed out on this one when it first came out, but when I found out that The Hold Steady were headlining a show in my backyard (Prospect Park) in 2007 I got hold of it.  What I found was 11 songs with incredible lyrical density and music not unlike early Bruce Springsteen.  Live this band, especially it's lead singer, Craig Finn, is charismatic.

Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (2002): When I reviewed this album back in 2002, I noted that this is not the kind of record I usually listen to, but that it was so good that I had to listen to it and then declared it my record of the year.  The passing years have not changed my opinion one bit.  Solid, subtle vocals and great songs (five by Jesse Harris) made this the runaway hit that it was.

Scott Kempner – Saving Grace (2008): Scott was a fixture on the New York music scene for years, appearing in bands like the Del Lords, The Dictators and for a while in the mid-90s, The Little Kings, Dion's backing band.  Then he moved out to LA about five years ago.  Last year a friend told me about this record and once I got it, it quickly became one of my favorites.  If a record can sound like New York City, this one does: gritty and heartbreaking, but resilient.

To be Continued...

 --Eliot Wagner