A horrid, unnamable decade has come to an end. A unique opportunity for all the makers of lists arises with its finish. For reasons that are not clear to me, I have not been quick to seize this moment. I cannot explain why the end of ten years seems more arbitrary than my beloved years' end. Yet I do not seem able to move forward without at least acknowledging this supposed milepost along time's highway. I have picked 45 CDs/LPs of the decade, listed in order of preference. I am only allowing one selection per artist to prevent favorite artists (for example the White Stripes) taking all the top positions. I have at least once cheated my system allowing Nick Cave to slip in twice under his own name and his "side project" Grinderman.

Favorite LPs & CDs of a Decade:

1. White Stripes: De Stijl (XL, 2000)
2. Cat Power: The Covers Album (Matador, 2000)
3. Tom Waits: Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (Anti, 2006)
4. Joe Strummer & the Mascaleros: Global A Go Go (Epitaph, 2001)
5. John Fahey: Red Cross (Revenant, 2003)
6. Portishead: Third (Island, 2008)
7. Yo Le Tengo: And Then Nothing Turned Inside Out (Matador, 2000)
8. Bill Dixon: Bill Dixon with the Exploding Star Orchestra (Thrill Jockey, 2008)
9. Grinderman: Grinderman (Anti, 2007)
10. Tricky: BlowBack (Hollywood, 2001)
11. The Ex: Dizzy Spells (Touch & Go, 2001)
12. The Kills: Midnight Bloom (Domino, 2008)
13. Patti Smith: Gung Ho (Arista, 2000)
14. Liars: They Threw Us In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top (Mute, 2001)
15. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Show Your Bones (Polydor, 2006)
16. Brian Jonestown Massacre: My Bloody Underground (a Records, 2008)
17. Mercury Rev: All Is Dream, (V2, 2001)
18. Bjork: Medulla (Polydor, 2004)
19. Robert Wyatt: Cuckooland (Hannibal, 2003)
20. Von Bondies: Lack of Communication (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2001)
21. OOIOO: Taiga (Thrill Jockey, 2006)
22. Massive Attack: 100th Window (Virgin, 2003)
23. The Roots: The Tipping Point (Geffen, 2004)
24. Magik Marker: Boss (Ecstatic Peace, 2007)
25. Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part One (Universal Distribution, 2008)
26. Goldfrapp: Felt Mountain (Mute, 2000)
27. Roots Manuva: Stime & Reason (Big Dada, 2008)
28. These Are Powers: Terrific Season (Dead Oceans, 2007)
29. Throbbing Gristles: Part Two: The Endless Not (Mute, 2007)
30. Enon: High Society (Touch & Go, 2002)
31. Radiohead: Kid A (Capitol, 2000)
32. The Bird & the Bee: The Bird & the Bee (Blue Note, 2004)
33. The Warlocks: Heavy Deavy Skull Lover (Teepee, 2007)
34. The Dandy Warhols: Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia (Capitol, 2000)
35. Telescopes: # Untitled Second (Bomp, 2004)
36. Nick Cave: Dig Lazarus Dig (Anti, 2008)
37. Sonic Youth: Murray Street (Interscope, 2002)
38. The Bug: London Zoo (Ninja Tunes, 2008)
39. Absolut Null Punkt: Metacompound (Important, 2006)
40. Kurt Vile: Childish Prodigy (Matador, 2009)
41. Grizzly Bear: Horn of Plenty (Kanine, 2005)
42. Blues Control: Local Flavor (Silkbreeze, 2009)
43. Q Is Not U: Different Damage (Dischord, 2002)
44. Godspeed You Black Emperor: Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (Kranky, 2000)
45. De Kift: De Kift (North East Indie, 2006)