View our picks for #21-30 here.
View our picks for #11-20 here.

Compiling a list of this magnitude is a daunting task, so we’re going to start with a disclaimer. This is “our” favorite albums of the decade and we make no claims that this is the defining, music snob list that you should bow before as you read it. While we shunned the concept initially, we’ve been disappointed to see a lot of our favorite albums being ignored by the likes of Pitchfork and others. Obviously, there will some overlap (how many Radiohead albums does your list have?), but in general we think this list gives you a taste of what The Dumbing of America has been listening to for the last decade.
Each Wednesday, we’ll present you with a new list for you to peruse. We’ve done everything we can to make it easy for you to listen to and purchase each of these records. And with that…..

40) Longview- Mercury (2004)
Recommended Track: Further

39) Ida Maria- Fortress ‘Round My Heart (Released in Europe in 2008. Please make fun of anyone that puts this on their 2009 ‘Best of’ list)
Recommended Track: Oh My God

38) Longwave- The Strangest Things (2003)
Recommended Track: Everywhere You Turn

37) The Futureheads- S/T (2004)
Recommended Track: Decent Days and Nights

36) The Electric Soft Parade- Holes In The Wall (2002)
Recommended Track: There’s A Silence
Not available from Lala or iTunes. Click on the Amazon link to listen and order.
The Electric Soft Parade- Holes in the Wall

35) Iron & Wine- Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)
Recommended Track: Naked As We Came

34) Division of Laura Lee- Black City (2002)
Recommended Track: Pretty Electric

33) The Distillers- Coral Fang (2003)
Recommended Track: Drain The Blood

32) The Black Keys- Thickfreakness (2003)
Recommended Track: Set You Free

31) The Distillers- S/T (2000)
Recommended Track: Oh Serena

Comments? Predictions of the #1 album? Questions on why our list doesn’t look anything like Pitchfork? Leave a comment!

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ED NOTE: View our picks for #’s 21 thru 30 here.

Our criteria:  1) Not a one-hit wonder.  They’ve got a 30 to 45 minute set at their disposal that’ll blow you away.

2) Great live band.  Either we’ve seen them personally or the weight of public opinion merits seeing this band live.  Their show at SXSW is going to be an “event”.

3) They’re on the cusp of something bigger.  This may be the last time you can see them in a smaller venue.

In no particular order:

An Horse

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Duke Spirit

White Lies

The Soft Pack

Minipop

Longview

Ida Maria

The Living Things

Division of Laura Lee

No videos this time.  We’ve done oodles of videos on each of these bands.  Time to get out there and see ‘em folks!

Lenka- A little bird clued me in on Lenka and I’m charmed!  Imagine Lily Allen with a better voice, writing her own songs, better vocal melodies and less drama.  The words catchy and cute have been used to describe her music.  As someone who grew up listening to Joy Division this might not seem like a logical fit for me.  But, it’s all about the melody and chord progressions for me and Lenka’s are brilliant.  Guaranteed Lenka will draw a crowd at SXSW.  Get there early and prepare to fall in love.

Longview- Technically they’ve had to change their name to Long-view because some tiny bluegrass band has the name.  But just as I review to call Verve, The Verve, I’m sticking to Longview.  Shouldn’t there be some law that says you get to keep your name if you suck less than the other band?  Just asking…

Loney, Dear

As previously discussed, Loney, Dear are the tremendous work of Swedish singer/songwriter Emil Svanängen aka the Bill Callahan of the new millenium.  Loney, Dear just released their fifth album, Dear John on Sub Pop and it continues the upward trajectory of Emil’s work.  As hard as it is to write one good record, Loney, Dear have produced five flawless records.  Quick; name another band that has made five records of equal greatness.  I can’t think of anyone either.  That Loney, Dear aren’t on the cover of every music magazine is a sure sign of TDOA.  We’ re thrilled to report that we just completed an interview with Emil (tonight!) which we’ll publish in the next day or two.  In the meantime, go see the band, get on your knees when they go on stage and start chanting “thank you” until you receive permission to stand.

The Living Things- For some reason, the Pitchfork’s of the world don’t think Living Things are “cool”.  This means the band must have not paid Pitchforks bar tab as often as Foals did (because there’s no other explanation for Foals success).  They’re political (they hated Bush and got shot at during their show in Dallas), they sound like Iggy at his best and they are tight as hell.  Best live performance at SXSW 2009?  Don’t be surprised.